Cuff Me

I was looking down at the text book but was seeing none of the words printed there. All of my senses were wrapped up around Wyatt and it was killing me to have him so close yet be unable to touch him.

We were sitting out our customary study place at his kitchen table. He was next to me and his cologne created a heavy fog around my brain. I could feel the heat coming off his body

Our relationship now was that of friends. Co parents. Study partners. We hadn’t screwed around at all in the weeks that had gone by. While Wyatt’s flirtatious nature was back in full swing, I didn’t allow myself to place hope in it since I thought that flirting was just part of his personality. It didn’t mean anything. Not to him.

But I meant so much to me.

I was in love with Wyatt.

It had been a long hard road but I was finally able to admit to myself.

It hurt every second of every day to keep the knowledge to myself. Having him close all the time and seeing what a great dad he was to Noah had me tied up in knots.

The silence in the room caught my attention and I looked up from my books to find him watching me.

He had asked me something and I hadn’t heard a word.

I blushed and said, “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

He put the pen he had been holding down.

“You seem distracted tonight. You all right?” he asked.

“Oh no, everything is fine,” I rushed to reassure him and move the focus off me and my troubling emotional state.

“Are you sure nothing’s bothering you?”

“Wyatt, I’m fine, just nervous about the test I guess.”

He pressed on further, “How are things with Joe?”

“Great,” I said, grateful to have focus off me. “He and Dad are trying to work on their relationship. And he’s with that girl, the one he saved from the abusive guy. I’m pretty proud of him after all that.”

We made some more small talk and I slowly began to relax when the mood suddenly changed with Wyatt’s next words.

“I missed you these last few weeks,” he said.

I frowned and I said, “I’ve been right here.”

“I know but I want more.”

Was this really happening? He stood and pulled me to my feet.

“You do? But I thought for sure…”

“I have missed us. Having you close to me and not really having you is eating me alive, Hailey.”

He pulled me close with his hand behind my head and kissed me.

When he pulled back he said, “I want to be more than just Noah’s dad to you. I want to be your lover, your friend, your everything. Say yes.”

He took the words right out of my mouth and I was the one to kiss him this time.

“Oh yes,” I whispered against him lips, hungry for him.

He groaned and I clenched my fingers in the collar of tee shirt to keep him where I needed him. His hand pushed my shirt up my back before going back down to dip into my pants, cupping my behind through the lace-trimmed cotton underwear. I kissed along his jawline. He groaned when I nipped his chin.

“I need to see you.”