Chapter Thirty-Five

Blake

S he realizes it—I can see it in the depth of her eyes, as the overhead light comes on. But she can't say anything because right then the Tahoe stops, and the driver gets out. I glance out, seeing the front of one of my favorite restaurants here in New York. "We're here. That was a lot quicker ride than I'd thought it would be." I take a deep breath and try to calm my pounding heart.

"Yeah, that's what happens when you're kissing the fuck outta me, Mr. Whitfield."

I roll my lips together, a smirk playing against the edges of an almost smile. "I always want to be the person kissing the fuck outta you so hard that you look disheveled."

Willa smiles, reaching up and wiping my lips. "My lipstick has slightly stained your lips. Everyone is going to know what we've been doing in here."

I shrug. "I mean, I'm okay with that." I'm a grown-ass man, and I don't care what other people think about me. But she's much more in the public eye than I am, and there are other things she has to think about. "If you're okay with it. This doesn't put you in a bad situation, does it?"

"No." She shakes her head. "At one point I'd have been worried about it, but I'm in my early thirties, and I'm sick of apologizing for things I want to do and things I'm old enough to do."

"Fuck yeah." I give her a wink.

The driver knocks on the window, letting us know he'll be opening the door. We've got ourselves as together as we can, and I get out first, taking the door from him, and holding it for her. I realize she's got people who do these things and take care of her, but I want to be that person. Her security seems to realize it. They don't stand in the way, but they do take up a spot not too far away, allowing me to do what I want while also keeping her safe.

When she comes out, the crowd that's gathered starts screaming her name, and the flashes are almost blinding, but I've been preparing for this for a long time. I knew months ago I wanted her, and I knew what I would have to deal with.

It's worth it to me.

We hold hands as we walk through the gathered people and head toward the building. Neither one of us says anything—we just keep the smiles on our faces. When we finally cross the threshold, she speaks. "You learned quick. If you don't want them to try and read your lips, or to make up something you might have said, you just don't say anything."

"People are going to say whatever they want, babe. But I refuse to give them ammunition to hurt you through me."

"That right there," she says. "That's what makes you different than the rest."

Through the night, she stays by my side, even sitting in my lap after we eat while we're just having drinks. When she excuses herself to go to the restroom with CeCe, Puck and the rest of the guys turn to me, a knowing look in their eyes.

"What?" I ask.

"You fuckin' know what." Puck raises his eyebrows. "This is the girl you've been looking for your entire life. She's the one you've wanted, and if you don't reach out and grab her? That's on you. I'm not going to feel bad."

"I've got this. I know what she means to me." Over in the corner, I see Kevin standing, looking as inconspicuous as he can. When Willa comes back from the bathroom, I grab her hand and pull her back down into my lap. I lean my mouth toward her ear. "You wanna get out of here?"

She turns, her blue eyes full of interest. "If you want to, I want to."

"Alright, then let's go."

Grabbing her hand, I get up and then we say our goodbyes. As we leave, I hold her close, daring anyone to come between us. We wave at the gathered fans and then slide into the waiting SUV. Once again, we're here in the back of the SUV in our own little world. It's as if we're on an island in the middle of the ocean.

"Thanks for inviting me out with your friends tonight. I enjoy being around them, and I really appreciate you not being embarrassed to be seen with me." She hooks her legs over my thighs.

I grasp hold of her hips and hold them steady as she seats herself where she's comfortable. When she does, I push her hair back from her face. "I would never be embarrassed to be seen with you. What's going on in that head of yours?"

She clears her throat before licking those red lips of hers. When she speaks, it's whispered. " I've never wanted to be the one to take the reins when it comes to expressing myself sexually, but with you, I want to do it all. I want to experience the passion, the unexpected drop of your stomach when the person you're with does something you like. I thought maybe I was too old for that, but with you I feel like a lot of things are happening for the first time."

Cupping her chin, I tilt our foreheads together. "It's the same with me. Here I am in my thirties, thinking I had done everything I'd wanted, and then here you came, Will, showing me all the shit I've been missing, and everything I've been settling for. I didn't expect you, even though I wanted you."

She swallows, a smile spreading across her face. "I didn't expect you either."

Playing with her hair, I roll my lips together. "Well, what are you going to do about it?"

The fire in her eyes hints that a decision has been made. "I'm going to do what feels right. How does that sound to you? Will you let me discover myself with you?"

"It would be my absolute pleasure."

I lean back and give myself over to this gorgeous woman who I'm falling in love with.