Page 11 of Descent

A laugh escapes me, unable to hold it in.

“No truer words have been spoken. Thank you, by the way. I don’t hate lattes, I just usually take my coffee black, or lately I have preferred cider, but you don’t have to get me coffee in the mornings.”

Wesley hands it to me with a nod before handing me a small bag.

“I also figured you’d be hungry, so I got you a couple things. Whatever you don’t eat, I will, trust me,” he says, as he smacks his hand on his rock-hard stomach.

I smile in thanks when Asher cuts in, yet again.

“Why are you getting her coffee?”

Wesley’s brows dip slightly. “Ronan didn’t tell you? I’m her driver.”

“Since when?” Asher challenges.

“Since yesterday. Ronan said she didn’t drive and would need a driver for the foreseeable future.”

“And that person is you?” Asher asks dubiously.

“Hence the car and the coffee, yes,” Wesley answers flatly.

Oh, I like him.

“She can ride with me,” Asher says with narrowed eyes.

“No need. I’m here. Ready, Miss Parris?” Wesley smiles.

I nod, taking a step out of the door before Asher can say something else asinine. Wesley follows closely and I hear Asher call out.

“It’s fucking Putnam!”

“Not legally!” I counter, as Wesley opens the door for me.

I hear Asher say something else but can’t quite tell what it was, nor do I care. Wesley shuts the door once I’m inside the car, before hopping into the driver’s seat and taking off. We drive in silence for a few minutes, me taking a few sips of my coffee and eating half the bagel he brought me before he speaks.

“So, you and Asher are married?”

I hesitate to respond, worried about getting in trouble so I keep things vague.

“We had our ceremony on the thirty first.”

His deep blue eyes meet mine in the rear-view mirror, and I don’t miss the grimace on his face.

“I’m sorry.”

Surprise hits me first, well, he obviously knows what that entails. I nod in response as he continues driving.

“I know he’s a little shit, but you could have been paired with worse. He’ll protect you.”

I let out a bitter laugh as I keep my eyes towards the window.

“Who will protect me from him, though?”

“I can,” he says easily.

I give him a tight-lipped smile. It’s nice that he thinks that, no matter how wrong he is.

“Or maybe Ronan could.”

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