Page 35 of Setting Limits

I push my elbows backward, arching my back a bit so my breasts push forward, making them look large, full, and perky. For added measure, I tilt my head from side to side, as though I’m stretching it. As I slink back against the couch, I catch Wes’s face just in time, watching him drop a kernel of popcorn from his open mouth back into the bowl.

A giggle bursts from my chest, and I tip away from Wes, covering my mouth as a smirk pulls up my lips. If Lochlyn saw, he stays quiet, though I’m sure he wouldn’t have appreciated the move. It’s all in good fun and allowed me to loosen up a bit.

What Brendan said Friday is in my head and starting to take over my actions. I’ve never been nervous around a guy before, and I won’t start now. No matter how incredibly gorgeous Weston is, and no matter how much my stomach flips with the right look from those brilliant blue eyes, I won’t be made into a foolish girl who has no control of her faculties.

Besides, Wes isnotinto me.

As the movie progresses, things calm down and I become more at ease. After about an hour, my back is starting to ache, and my butt is almost completely numb. Wes must see what I thought was discreet fidgeting, because he reaches behind him onto the couch and pulls off a pillow.

“Here, sit forward.” His voice is a whisper as he leans over me.

A quick glance at the couch finds Lochlyn and Shay zonked out in each other’s arms. When I turn my attention back to Wes, I take note of how close he is, and the fact that when his warm breath caresses my cheek, it sends a shiver down my spine.

“Guess they were tired,” I mumble, trying to make light of the situation even though all I can think about is pressing my lips to Weston’s.

“Yeah, they didn’t last long.” My eyes must betray me because their destination is clearly no longer his sparkly blues. He immediately takes note and crashes his mouth to mine.

Nothing about this kiss is gentle, timid, or what you’d expect from a first kiss. It’s passionate, desperate, and screams of want and longing. That feeling only grows when his hand clasps around the back of my neck, pulling me closer, and his tongue slips along the seam of my lips, begging for entrance.

It’s there that I hesitate. My brother is asleep on the couch just behind us, and since I destroyed his life and his love, he likely wouldn’t be too keen on this. Especially waking up to find it.

Which is why I pull away, my hands soft against Wes’s chest. I can’t meet his gaze, instead staring down at the carpet and crumbs in my lap.

But he keeps his hand in place, taking some of my hair between his fingers. His heavy sigh shifts something in me, and now I feel even worse, disappointing yet another person in my life.

“I’m sorry, Chels. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Great. Now he feels guilty for my bullshit.

“No, Wes. Don’t apologize. It’s not something you did. It’s me. I just got out of a relationship. I’m not sure I’m ready foranythingright now.” I want to emphasize theanythingbecause I don’t know what he’s thinking here. I don’t want him to think I’m set on a relationship, but I don’t know that I can handle a random hook up either.

But it does go to show Brendan is right. And that weight hits me like I ran into a brick wall.

“I’m sorry, Wes. I have to go.” Without another word, I remove myself from his grasp, jump to stand, and leave.

Once I’m down at my car, I all but hyperventilate. With one hand on my chest, I try to slow my breathing.

“What the fuck just happened?” I say it out loud, but clearly to myself.

Am I this person? I know I’m selfish, that I give people a hard time. But I just broke up with Brendan two days ago. And even if I knew I was lying to both him and myself a little bit by telling him Wes was not on my radar, kissing him a day later feels like a huge betrayal. Not to mention, that’s doing the exact thing that I got all bent out of shape about with Lochlyn and Shay.

And yet, part of me doesn’t even feel bad. Because that was the most amazing kiss I’ve ever had, despite it being short. The way his lips felt against mine, the way his hand tangled in my hair, as though he had to keep me as close as possible. In those few seconds, there was passion, desire.

Even more shocking, possibly the most startling aspect of all this, is that apparently, Weston has some sort of feelings for me too.

What am I supposed to do with that?

Chapter 20

Weskissedme.Weskissedme.Weskissedme.

For the last hour and a half, that’s been all I can think about. It’s one of the craziest things that has ever happened to me.

A knock at my door has me jumping as it pulls me from my mind.

A quick shake of my head and flip of my hair and I yank it open…

To lose all the air that had been residing in my lungs. I’m met with none other than the cobalt blue eyes and dark shaggy hair that haven’t left my thoughts since last night.

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