Page 42 of Setting Limits

“And we’re not soulmates?”

“I don’t know, Wes. I don’t. But what I do know is that once Lochlyn and Shay got together, it was like everything was right with the world. I didn’t know at first, but I saw the differences in both of them. And I was selfish and wrong to make them break up, but I was also scared that I was going to be replaced. Because when they love, they love so completely that they don’t need anybody or anything else, just each other. I was worried they weren’t going to need me anymore. I realize now that it was stupid to think that way, but it’s what drove me at that time.” They may not be around as much, not as completely as before, but they’ve made it clear I still have an important role in their lives.

“But you don’t think we have that all-encompassing love like they do?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What if I said I did? What if I were to tell you that I see the future with you? The way Lochlyn talked about Shay? That’s exactly how I feel about you. Every single thing he could say or would say or how he explained he felt. None of it made sense to me before. I thought he was just saying things to sound good or clever or deep. But now I realize he was speaking from his heart, from his soul. Because it’s how I feel now.” He bangs one fist against his chest, right over his heart, but he stays impossibly close to me.

“Wes, when I started having feelings for you, I had a boyfriend. You sort of had a girlfriend. That just doesn’t feel like the start of soulmates.”

“But you left said boyfriend, and I left said girlfriend because neither felt right. For me, this feels right, Chelsea. Like nothing ever has before and more than I could have imagined anything ever would. Had I known a rightness like this existed, I wouldn’t have wasted my time with anybody else. I would have waited for you.” His words push me backward, and every ounce of air is drawn from my lungs.

“You don’t know what you’re saying, Wes. We’ve barely even kissed.”

He takes a step closer and presses his palm against my lower back, pulling me toward him. With the other hand, he gently brushes some tendrils behind my ear as he locks his gaze on mine. The second he does, I know I’m lost.

“I do know what I’m saying, Chelsea. I don’t need to kiss you or have sex with you to know how I feel. To know the pull between us. It’s so strong that Iknowyou feel it too because there’s no way you couldn’t.”

I push away from him and walk a foot away, hand against my forehead as I try to think this through before turning back to him.

“Telling Lochlyn and Shay won’t go well.” In my mind, it’s the biggest hurdle.

“I think maybe they’d be more understanding because of their situation.” He takes a step toward me.

“Lochlyn’s protective of me.”

“I know.” He takes a step closer.

“He’s never liked anybody I've dated.”

“I know.” Another step closer. “I've been friends with Lochlyn for two years, Chelsea. I know what he’s like. I know how protective he can get. He won’t be mad, Chelsea, not for long at least.”

He’s moved close enough that we’re standing toe to toe, and his hand is cupping my cheek again. I want to lean into it, into him. But I’m scared.

Yet when his cobalt blues lock on mine, I’m completely lost in them. There’s no argument left to make, there’s no more hesitation.

Weston must sense it, because he wraps an arm around my waist and takes another small step forward, his chest brushing mine with every breath. Suddenly, I can’t think, all I can see is Wes, and before I know it, his lips are resting over mine and nothing in the world matters but me and him.

Before I can second guess it, before I can talk myself out of it, I twist my fingers into his hair, pulling him closer.

He falls into me, slamming my butt against my desk. In the background, I hear the clang of something crashing to the floor, but I can’t break away from Weston. His lips moving against mine, his tongue begging for entrance, is sheer perfection, and I can’t stop it for something meaningless. And whatever fell is, in fact, meaningless at this moment.

Wes’s hands slide down my back, wrapping under my thighs and lifting me onto the edge of my desk, effectively ending the kiss. Immediately, he steps between my legs, his finger tracing over my lips as a warm breath caresses my cheek.

“So incredibly beautiful.” He doesn’t give me a chance to utter even a sound as he pulls my bottom lip down and closes his mouth over mine.

Losing a hand in the hair at the back of my head, he closes the last inch of space between us, tipping my head backward and deepening the kiss.

A dominating hand wraps around my waist and holds me tight against his chest. “Give yourself over to me, Chelsea. Let go.” The deep huskiness of his voice makes me squirm. And when I do, I feel nothing but his hard length.

Desire swirls through me in a way it never has before. I have never wanted anybody as badly as I want Wes. Not just right now, but always. I’ve always wanted Wes. This is just the closest I’ve let myself get to having him, the closest I’ve let myself get to saying, “fuck it.”

But can I do that? Right now, can I let that last shred of self go and give myself over?

There’s no real decision to be made, no acceptance or denial given, because my body won’t let me say no. And if I’m perfectly honest with myself, my mind is also screaming, “yes.”

A smile flashes across his face, before hunger and desire take place in his features. He’s quick to shift us over to the bed, kicking his shoes off as he climbs over me.

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