Page 84 of Resist

And my heart melted. Because the man that demanded and took whatever he wanted refused to steal a simple kiss without my consent. And that, that proved to me that for all of Wes’s strength and hard-ass attitude, he really was just a fragile soul, trusting me to hold it safe, to shield it from the cruel world we lived in. In that moment, I vowed to myself that I would never betray his trust…that I would protect him, whatever it took.

I whispered back, “Yes.”

He smiled, a true, heartfelt smile that reached his eyes and only melted my heart further. And just when I thought I would have to take the kiss from him, he started lowering his lips toward mine, but they never reached me.

Silence fell across the crowd…except for one, steady clap. It vibrated loudly throughout the ballroom, causing Wes to pull back. As the sound grew closer, the sea of nobility slowly parted, revealing Charles Calvernon sauntering toward us.

Dread pooled in my belly, adrenaline pumping through me. Because I wasn’t stupid. I knew the smile plastered across Charles’s face was nothing more than a mask. A mask that hid the fury that swirled within. I realized then that I feared this man as much as I feared Belinda. Instinctually, I took a step back, the urge to flee rising within me. Wes grew stiff as he stood up to his full height, rolling his shoulders back, and sidestepping so that he stood in front of me.

Charles continued his steady, slow clap until he stood right in front of us. “Well, well, well,” he began as he stared at Wes. “What a grand surprise this is.” Charles turned to face the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, it seems we have a wonderful occasion to celebrate. And what a need we have to celebrate during these dark and difficult times.” He turned back to face us, his eyes locking on me, and I saw it—the rage burning within him. He stepped towards me, but Wes shifted his body another inch. It was hardly noticeable, but enough to send the silent message to his father not to take another step.

Charles’s mask faltered for only a second as he sent a scathing glare at Wes. And then it was gone, the smooth smile back in place. “Of course,” he announced aloud, “considering Miss de la Puente’s relationship with our enemy to the west, and her connections with our Dissenter allies, the North will certainly be happy to consider the possibility of this union.”

Charles faced his guests once again, raising his hands high in the air. “Tonight, we celebrate young love, which always blossoms no matter how impossible the odds. Maestro, cue up the music!” Within a few seconds, the music began again, and Charles’s well-trained audience followed their orders, clapping and then resumed dancing.

Charles swirled to face us again, taking two menacing steps forward until he was right in Wes’s face. “We will have words about this, boy. Do you hear me? And therewillbe consequences.”

I moved to stand by Wes. As much as I wanted to be as far away from Charles as I could, I also didn’t want Wes to face him alone. But no sooner than I came up to his left side, his arm shot out, pushing me back behind him.

“Yeah, I got it,Dad,” he said through gritted teeth.

Charles held his gaze, and then looked back at me, before shifting back to Wes. “You better be careful, boy. Or you might find yourself in a position that you can’t escape from.”

“Is that a threat?” Wes challenged.

“It’s a promise. A reminder of how quickly things can go wrong when you make enemies with the wrong people.” Charles took a step back from Wes and looked at me once again. “And you, cover yourself up. You’re disgusting my guests,” he spat at me. I didn’t hear anything else after that. I only saw Wes take one threatening step forward as his father walked backward with his sick smile back in place. Charles turned and disappeared into the crowd. I watched as Wes’s shoulders softened. He faced me with tenderness and grief in his eyes and reached out to take me back into his arms.

But I couldn’t move. I just closed my eyes, hanging my head, feeling the tears welling back up. How could something so beautiful be overshadowed but such darkness? I finally had Wes, finally found love, only to have Charles ominously looming above us. I was so happy, but at the same time, I was so afraid. What was going to happen to us? What was going to happen toWes?

Wes’s arms folded around me, pulling me against the warmth of his chest, the safety of his arms. And I buried my face in his tux, a small sigh escaping me as he rested his head on my crown. He held me, the seconds dutifully passing, until he pulled me back, and brought his face down towards mine.

“Hey,” he whispered, taking a hand to wipe away a stray tear. “Let’s get out of here.”

There was absolutely nothing else that Wes could have offered me in that moment that I would have wanted more than escaping that stupid gala. I nodded, trying to offer him a weak smile. He gave me one in return, wiping another tear off mycheek. “Okay,” was all he said before he pulled away from me, lacing his fingers with mine, and guided me out of the ballroom.

***

I didn’t want to see or deal with anyone. So much had happened in one night. Too much. Too much for any sane person to absorb. And I was a colossal mess of emotions. I felt everything from fear of Charles, fear of what was going to happen, to shame and embarrassment, to hate for Calista for what she’d done to me. And, of course, who could forget that I just gotengaged. I had finally put all the puzzle pieces together and realized that I liked Wes. And not justlikedhim, but I…I loved him. And that realization sent me tumbling over the moon.

So when Wes asked me where I wanted to go, I told him I just wanted to disappear where I wouldn’t have to face anyone. No surprises. I had had enough of those to last me a lifetime. Without another word, Wes guided me through to the opposite side of the castle, down a hall, and then stopped in front of one of several closed doors in the hallway. With a simpleclick, he opened it and pulled me inside.

Closing the door behind me, he flipped on the lights, and I realized I was in a bedroom. I stepped in further, glancing around, and noticed a similar set-up to my own. Except this room was more personalized, with a four-poster bed—no canopy—a luscious looking white comforter with stone-gray pillows and sheets, already turned down by the housekeeping staff for the night. By the window, two plush reading chairs, also stone-gray, waited by a cold fireplace. I walked over to a dark dresser along the wall, noticing a bottle of cologne, a discarded cummerbund, and several cufflinks across the top.

“Is this…?”

“My room?”

I turned around to face him. “Yeah?”

Wes slipped his coat off, tossing it on a clothes valet near him, and then undid his cuffs, rolling up the sleeves. “You wanted someplace where no one would bother you. I figured this was the safest bet. Unfortunately, during parties like this, there’s always people everywhere. But here,” he said as he took off his bowtie, undid the top three shirt buttons, and untucked his shirt. “Here…no one’s going to bother you here.”

Honestly, I didn’t even care about his answer anymore. It could have been his father’s room for all I cared. Because in that moment all I could focus on was how incredibly sexy Wes looked in front of me. And I soaked him all in. From his black dress shoes and slacks to the white shirt, rolled-up sleeves, and hands tucked in his pockets in a relaxed pose. The tempting peek of skin poking through the open V of his shirt, and his handsome face with eyes that blazed, sending shivers up my spine in the most tantalizing way.

Wes smirked then. That devilish smile he always gave me when he caught me gaping. And I…I didn’t care. I didn’t care that he saw me admiring his long limbs, broad shoulders, and gorgeous angular face that made him look like a god. Because he wasmine. And I was his.

As if reading my mind, knowing my thoughts, Wes shifted his weight and took slow, predatory steps toward me. Deliberate, measured, purposeful. Each one enflaming the intensity growing within me. And I couldn’t resist it. I didn’t want to. Not anymore.

I swallowed as Wes stepped in front of me, eyes burning just as hot as the inferno inside me. He drew up a hand, wrapped it behind my neck and slipped his fingers into my hair. With his other, he caressed my cheek, letting his thumb brush the sensitive skin of my lips, causing them to part. I shuddered. Withagonizing anticipation, I watched as Wes’s gaze shifted to my lips.

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