Page 32 of The Summer for Us (Golden Falls #1)

WESLEY

It didn’t take long—maybe five seconds, at most—for me to pick my feet off the ground and follow after her. She only had a slight head start, but she was fast, even in those heels.

“Juliette!” I called out. Luckily, with my height, I was able to see her in the crowd and the direction she was heading—toward the back hallway that led to the bathrooms, my office, and the side exit.

With a couple more long strides, I caught up to her, wrapping my hand gently around her wrist to stop her.

“Juliette,” I breathed. This woman was going to make me work for it, wasn’t she?

She turned, finally, and I expected to see fire in those green eyes. Instead, there was a sadness that gutted me.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” The term of endearment effortlessly slipped past my lips. It felt so natural.

She shook her head, still not saying anything. I moved us closer to the wall and used my body to block us from anyone passing by. Luckily, we were past the bathrooms, and people rarely came down this far.

“I don’t know what’s wrong. That’s the thing.” She exhaled. “Well, that’s not totally true. I guess what’s wrong is that I really liked dancing with you. And I’ve liked getting along with you.”

“And that’s a problem?” I could see it bothered her, but I wasn’t following.

“Yes!” she exclaimed. The sadness in her eyes instantly turned to frustration.

I didn’t want her feeling either, and I wasn’t sure why I had this pull to make things better.

“It was easier to dislike you when I thought you were some grumpy, selfish asshole. But now I know that while you might be grumpy and have your asshole moments?—”

“That asshole comment feels unnecessary,” I interjected.

“—you’re the farthest thing from selfish.

You’re selfless , and you care so much. But, god, Wes,” she said with an exasperated sigh.

“You have the world’s best poker face. I have no idea what you feel toward me, if anything.

You said all these things when we were watching fireworks together, but did you mean any of it? ”

How could she not realize she consumed my thoughts tonight? That when we danced, I didn’t want to let her go. Or how when she tipped her head back during that dip, all I could think about was kissing her perfect neck.

I knew I didn’t wear my emotions on my sleeve—I never had—but I didn’t realize I was that hard to read. I’d gotten so used to people in my orbit knowing me and being able to read me…and a part of me wanted Juliette to know me well enough to do that.

“Juliette,” I said with a chuckle, which made her scowl, “do you really not see it?” I took a step forward, and she took a step back, until her back was against the wall.

But she stood tall, arms crossed over her chest, pushing up her breasts.

“I don’t say shit I don’t mean. I meant everything I’ve said to you. ”

She raised a brow. “Everything? What about when you said you didn’t want to be friends with me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Yes, you did,” she argued. “You said?—”

“That I didn’t think I’d be able to be friends with you.

That I couldn’t.” I paused, watching her face as she remembered our conversation in my parents’ kitchen.

“Because I didn’t think I could be just friends with you.

I already knew then it’d be tough to keep my distance from you if we got too close. ”

I let the words sink in, realization slowly flashing across her face.

“Ask me what I’m thinking about,” I urged.

She twisted her lips to the side, as if she was considering not asking. But I’m guessing curiosity got the better of her. “What are you thinking about?”

“About things I shouldn’t be.” I braced my palm on the wall next to her head, caging her in on one side. “Things that mean trouble.” I dipped my head down, my forehead resting against hers. We’d been close when we were dancing, but not this close.

This was the closest I’d gotten to Juliette Campbell, and I still wanted more. I was drawn to her like she was the sun—like my life revolved around her—and I didn’t care if I got burned.

Her breath hitched as she looked up at me, any sense of sadness gone and replaced with fire. With desire. The air was hot and heavy between us.

“Like what?” she asked breathlessly.

“You.” My other hand slowly moved up to cup the side of her neck, my thumb running along her jaw. “I’m always thinking about you. It’s impossible to stay away from you, no matter how hard I try.”

Her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip, and she watched the way my eyes flicked down to her mouth.

She reached up, her hand resting on my chest and her fingers twitching ever so slightly, like she wanted to wrap them tightly around the fabric of my shirt.

“Don’t stay away from me, then,” she whispered.

I kept my forehead pressed against hers, my lips mere inches away from hers. It would be so easy to close the gap. To finally find out what her pretty, sassy mouth tasted like.

I acted before my mind could come up with all the ways our growing connection could go wrong.

“Fuck it,” I exhaled and finally gave in to temptation. I gave in to Juliette. I grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her mouth to mine.

Kissing Juliette was utter bliss, and I lived for the soft moans that escaped her. Nothing had ever felt more right. We both surrendered without hesitation.

Sometimes when you kiss someone for the first time, there’s some stumbling as you find your stride. There was none of that between us. We moved effortlessly—just like our dancing earlier.

When I slipped my tongue past her lips, Juliette let out another moan, eagerly inviting me into her mouth.

Her nails raked up my arms to my shoulders. Her fingers wrapped around the fabric of my shirt, eagerly pulling me to her until her chest was pressed up against mine. I could feel her pebbled nipples through her top. Which, fuck , meant she wasn’t wearing a bra.

“Juliette, baby.” A low growl formed at the back of my throat. “Should’ve done this weeks ago.”

“Yes, you should’ve,” she mumbled against my lips. “Would’ve made for a much better welcome.”

“Smart ass,” I said with a chuckle, pulling away only to kiss along her neck.

The same neck that had been driving me wild.

She tipped her head back, giving me more access.

I wanted to find the spot that would drive her crazy.

And I did. Right below her pulse point. I sucked on her skin, eliciting another moan from her.

Louder this time. God, she tasted and sounded sweet.

“Oh, Wesley,” she moaned.

Nothing would ever sound as good as my name leaving her lips.

I wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her up. I knew this hallway like the back of my hand, so without stopping, I led us to my office while pressing kisses to her soft skin. I twisted the handle and pushed open the door, letting it shut behind us. I reached back and locked it with a click.

My cock pressed against my jeans, and I had never been this fucking hard. All from a kiss—the best fucking kiss of my life.

Juliette’s hands were all over my body, and I craved her touch. It didn’t take long for my lips to find hers again in a passionate, urgent kiss. I led her farther into my office, my hands tightly gripping her waist.

I stopped once her lower back met the edge of my desk, and without looking, I pushed the stacks of papers off the desk and onto the floor. My hands quickly found her hips, lifting her up onto the desk.

“You’re not wearing a bra, but are you wearing panties?” I murmured, my hands trailing down from her hips to her thighs, spreading her legs so I could step between them.

She braced herself with her palms on the desk, leaning back. “Why don’t you see for yourself.”