Page 21 of Never Been Worse

Before I even know what we’re doing, we’re moving out the door and into Ava’s car, getting Wes’s address from Jaime, and are on our way to my fiancé’s house.

“Go!” Ava says, pushing me out the car door as we sit, parked in front of Wes’ house. Jaime got us past the gated entrance, and now we’re outside the McMansion, and I’m…panicking.

“This was a bad idea,” I say, hoping it’s not too late to run away. “We should?—”

And then, because my life is what it is, the front light goes on.

And the front door opens up.

And my fiancé steps onto the front step.

“Harper?” he shouts across the lawn.

“Go!” Jules says. “If you run now, it’ll be weird.”

You wanted to be spontaneous, Harper, I tell myself as I move out of the car on autopilot, walking up the long path until I reach his front door.

“Harper. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” Wes asks. He’s wearing a white T-shirt that fits way too fucking well, it clinging to his chest like he just got done with a workout, with a pair of loose gray sweatpants to complete the look.

I look at him, then over at the car I just left, then step inside his house, closing the door because if this gets embarrassing, I don’t want witnesses. He watches me with an amused smile as I stand in his foyer, focusing only on him before taking two steps, closing the gap between us to barely a foot.

“I think,” I start, not bothering with a hello or explanation. I put my hands on my hips and try to approach this from a professional standpoint. “I think we need to kiss.”

“Kiss?” he asks, a shocked expression on his face. Then there’s a hint of a smile pulling at his lips, and I blush but continue on.

“Yes. If we’re going to have to fake it for the cameras and whatnot, we’ll have to make it seem real. I’ve seen those shows where they tear apart the body language of a couple, and I don't want to give anyone anything to dissect. I also very much do not want to do it for the first time on our wedding day in front of a lot of people.”

“Yeah, I definitely don't want that either,” he says, voice low and rumbly as he steps closer, a hand moving to the thin fabric at my waist. His wide hand burns there, but I force myself to stay focused.

“We’re already trending, you know,” I say. “On social media.”

“Mmm, I saw that. The burger place photo of us is good.” I wonder if he stumbled upon it, if he went looking, or if, like me, he has his friends sending it to him. He finishes closing the gap between us, and I’m forced to look up at him. His chin is tipped down as he smiles at me, his lips full and enticing.

How did I never realize how tall he is?

“So practicing kissing, huh?” Wes says, pulling me out of my reverie. “How does this work? Do I kiss you, or do you?—”

I cut him off, afraid to overthink this any more than I am. I shift onto my toes, erasing the few inches needed to press my lips to his, and kiss Wes Holden, taking him completely off guard by the small gasp he lets out before his other hand goes to my jaw.

It’s euphoric, his lips on mine. It’s better than I could have ever imagined, and terrifyingly, it doesn’t feel awkward at all. I like it all—the way his hand tightens on my lower back, the way he pulls me in against him, the way he takes over the kiss almost instantly. The way his lips part and how his tongue slides out to graze along my bottom lip.

I sigh, letting him in as his hand moves to the back of my head, using his fingers tangled in my hair to guide me where he wants me. He deepens the kiss, tasting me, nipping and sucking as he goes.

My hands move up, one looping around his neck, the other moving to his chest as he takes a step forward, pinning my back to the wall, and I groan, fingers tightening in the collar of his shirt to pull him closer.

My body is on fire, and I think the only way to put it out is to domore. To get more, taste more, have more. His skin on mine is the only thing that seems to soothe the ache taking over me. His hand on my waist moves down, grabbing a handful of my ass, and he groans loudly, pulling me closer to him, and I feel it then, his hard cock poking into my belly.

The man wants me, and not in a fake way at all.

It’s a relief, considering how my body is pulsing with need right now, canceling out any and all common sense I should be feeling and?—

My phone beeps with a new text in my pocket, my body tensing as another comes through, bringing me back down to reality.

And probably for the best, because I’m clearly too tired from a long day and out of my damn mind. Slowly, Wes breaks the kiss, leaving a few small kisses before leaning his forehead against mine, a smile playing on his lips.

“How was that for practicing?” he asks.

I step aside, moving away and wiping my hands down my dress, pulling my shoulders back and giving him a small nod.

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