Free Wild Hearts (Forever Wild) by Magan Vernon Page B

reflection in the mirror.
    That was the moment I knew I fell for my stripper husband.

A Few Hours Later...
     
    The rest of the plane ride wasn’t too bad. No one stared at me as I tried to discreetly walk out of the first class bathroom and the ladies still snored next to me. But there was that nagging feeling. I couldn’t stop thinking about Wes. And it wasn’t just about the sex anymore either.
    He waited for me as the rest of the first class cabin got out and then put his hand on my lower back, leading me out of the plane with him. I couldn’t help but think about where his hands were just a few hours before. The way he dug his nails into my thighs. It made my whole body tense up.
    “How was the ride ?”
    “What?” I blinked.
    He grinned from ear to ear. “Not the one you gave me.”
    “Heh ... I knew what you meant. I guess it was okay. It wasn’t first class or anything.”
    “You could have taken my seat instead.”
    I shook my head. “No. It was fine. I just had to sit between some old ladies that smelled like moth balls and arm pits. Nothing better than that.”
    “If it makes you feel better , I saved you my headphones.”
    “Don’t try laying your southern charm on me and act like that’s going to make everything better.”
    He sighed. “Okay, Valerie . Whatever you say.”
    I arched an eyebrow, looking up at him. “Did you seriously just sigh?”
    “What?” He furrowed his brows and made a lemon face. “No.”
    I wiggled out of his arm. “You totally did just sigh. What the hell, Wes? Am I already that big of a bitch?”
    He shook his head. “No, you’re just a woman who knows what she wants and it’s hard to convince you otherwise, so it’s better just to give in, I figure.”
    I looked at my shoes instead of up at Wes. “Am I really that bad?”
    He tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his stare. “You aren’t bad at all, darlin’. There is nothing wrong with a woman that knows what she wants and goes out to get it.”
    He licked his lips and I wanted to kiss them. I couldn’t think about that. I couldn’t keep falling for this guy. He was just a mistake that I made after a drunken night in Vegas. Not a long-time commitment. At least I had to keep telling myself that.
    I pulled out my phone and sent a text to m y roommate, Paige, as we got to the baggage claim. Paige didn’t like to wait for anyone, but thank God she agreed to pick us up and our plane was on time. I briefly told her that someone was coming back with me, but didn’t really get to fill her in on the whole accidental husband thing. Shit was going to hit the fan either way and I couldn’t figure out how to soften the blow.
    “Hey, let me get that,” Wes said as he swiftly grabbed my red suitcase off the carousel and placed it on the ground in front of him.
    “I can take that.” I put my hand on the handle of my suitcase and then he put his on top of mine. The warm sensation of our hands touching caused a fire to light deep inside of me. Not in my panties like it usually did; this was different. This was a spark. A spark of actual affection.
    H is eyes flitted to mine with that lazy grin on his face. He rubbed his thumb along the bridge of my knuckles. People pushed past us. Announcements went on overhead. All the buzz of the airport went on around us, but in that moment all I could think about was him.
    I swallowed hard and pried my eyes away from his. Even though I didn’t want to. E ven though I could have stared into his eyes forever.
    “I can carry my own suitcase,” I muttered, looking at my feet.
    He took the handle and lifted it as if it were lighter than air. “Yeah and so can I.”
    “If you insist ...”
    God , why was I being such a pansy? I was always the take-charge chick, but Wes sparked something in me that had me reverted back to an awkward middle school girl. I had to buck it up soon or else I could be a goner forever.
    “So where is this roommate of yours picking us up at?”
    I kept