Saved (Tempted #2) (14 page)

“Can’t complain,” he said with a smile, “Now, let’s look at you. The police have already sent me the police report.”

He checked my arm and eye. And I held my breath like a toddler.

“You’re pretty banged up but at least you look a lot better than the last time I saw you,” he said, trying to erase the awkwardness.

He was failing. Miserably.

“When was that?” West asked, looking confused.

“The night of the wreck,” I said, hating to bring it up around West.

He always felt so guilty for my accident. So, it was a subject I tried to steer clear of.

“It was a rough night for you and I can imagine it was rough for you as well,” he said, looking from me to West.

“What do you mean?” West asked, looking at me as if he was missing something.

As soon as he turned his gaze to Grant, I shook my head no frantically at him. Trying without words to let him know that West didn’t know.

And he picked up on it.

Thank God!

“I mean it must have been rough for you hearing that Maddie had a car accident,” he said, smoothly covering it over.

Before West could say anything else, his phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket he answered the call.

“What?” he answered it, obviously pissed.

“She shouldn’t have done what she done,” he said, hanging up the phone and pushing it back in his pocket.

“Who was that?” I asked, getting off the bed and walking over to him.

“My sperm donor.”

“What did he want?”

“The police just let left the house and they arrested my mom.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, really without thinking.

“Why are you sorry, Angel? She hit you not the other way around. Don’t every say that again,” he said, pulling me into a hug.

It was moments like that that made me feel worse about keeping my secret from him. He loved me so completely but I couldn’t chance it. I wouldn’t be able to deal if he left me. I wouldn’t be me anymore.

But I was going to have to do it sooner or later.

And right then later sounded better.

Much better.

Emma decided last minute that she wanted a bachelorette party. I mean the girl was pregnant what fun could she have at a bachelorette party?

But she was just so damn emotional and I didn’t want to deal with the mood swings, so I told her I was in.

And that’s how Grace and I found ourselves sitting in a rom com at the local movie theater. Did I mention we were bored out of our minds?

No? Well, we were.

When the movie let out we walked to the restaurant next door. There was no wait so the hostess led us to a round booth by the window and sat us down.

“It’s fun being a few crazy girls up to no good, huh?” Emma asked, looking over the menu in her hands.

Grace snorted and then realizing what she had done, she slowly looked up to see Emma’s reaction.

It wasn’t pretty.

Emma had a warped sense of being wild and crazy.

“Like I was saying, this is fun, right?” Emma said, nodding her head as if telling us how we better answer.

“Yeah, Ems. Super fun,” I said, giving her a thumbs up and an exaggerated smile.

“I’m having the time of my life,” Grace said, playing with her phone.

The waitress came and we ordered. Emma ordered enough for a small country and she had already told us she needed to stop at Krispy Kreme on the way back.

As soon as she walked away Grace opened her big mouth and made crazy Emma come out.

“I wonder who’s getting a lap dance first.”

“What do you mean?” Emma asked, giving her a questioning look.

“Strippers, Ems. When guys have bachelor parties they drink and go to strip clubs. They don’t go to the movies and to dinner,” she stopped when I kicked her under the table, “Ouch, I mean not that there’s anything wrong with dinner and a movie if you’re ninety.”

She kept digging a bigger hole. Girlfriend was working that shovel.

“Do you think they’re really at a strip club?” Emma asked with a crazy, serial killer look in her eyes.

“No, Ems. They’re probably doing something real chill and low key,” I told her, trying to calm her down.

“Please, Mads. Some trashy stripper is probably sucking on your fiancé’s lip ring right now,” Grace said, still looking down at her phone.

“That’s it! Cancel the food,” I said, sliding out of the booth.

The waitress looked pissed but I really didn’t care. Nobody’s tongue touched that lip ring but mine. And of course his. Oh, you know what I mean.

“Where are we going?” Emma asked, following me.

“To find those losers and see if they’re at a strip club.”

I heard Grace snicker behind me.

Whore.

“And if they are what are we going to do?”

“Kill them,” I told them before laughing, “Okay, that was a little dramatic but we are going to be very angry and they won’t like us when we’re angry.”

“Ohhh, Mads you’re so scary,” Grace said, hiding behind Emma.

“I hate it when people use me for a human barricade. It really does a lot to your self-esteem,” Emma said, folding her arms over her chest.

Laughing, I pushed the door open to walk outside. Unlocking my jeep, I waited for them to pile inside.

As soon as everyone was in, I headed toward their favorite bar, Ruby’s.

Seeing the neon sign, I scanned the parking lot for one of their cars but to no avail.

“Shit,” I cursed under my breath.

If they weren’t at the bar they had to be at the strip club. I thought about calling West and just asking where they were but that would make me seem desperate.

And I was not desperate. Just for your informations.

So, naturally I decided to do things the hard way. And that consisted of driving all over town stalking my boyfriend and nearly having a panic attack at the thought of some ho rubbing her hands all over his inked up body.

In other words, what was supposed to be a fun night turned out to be torture?

Per usual.

“I hate strip clubs,” Emma said, looking out the window.

“You’ve never been in one,” Grace said, through fits of laughter.

“I know but I just hate the idea of them. They seem so sleazy.”

“That’s because they are sleazy, Ems. It’s a strip club not a country club,” Grace said, laying down on the back seat.

Pulling into the parking lot of the strip club, I looked around but once again saw none of their cars.

“Well, that only leaves one place they could possibly be and that my friends, is that they’re with hookers,” Grace said as if that was the only logical option.

Looking at Emma, I saw her reach down and pull off her ballet flat.

I didn’t know she could still reach her feet and judging by the look on Emma’s face neither did she.

“What are you doing, Ems?”

She answered me by hitting Grace’s leg as hard as she could with her shoe.

“You bitch!” Grace exclaimed, sitting up.

“Excuse me but you’re clearly the bitch,” Emma said, flicking her off before slipping her shoe back on.

“Girls, we have more important things to think about,” I told them, racking my brain for any idea where they might have been.

They weren’t at the bar or the strip club, so what else could they possibly be? I mean that’s all guys did at bachelor parties, right?

Giving in, I pulled my phone from my purse and dialed West’s phone.

I trusted West. He was going to answer the phone and tell me right where was. Then, I would head home, he would meet me there and we would fall asleep in each other’s arms.

Straight to voicemail. That voicemail lady could suck it.

That son of a bitch. I was going to hunt him down like dog he was. Grace was right they had to be with other women. Hookers, it had to be hookers and not the ones with the hearts of gold like in Pretty Woman. Those didn’t really exist. No, I’m talking read deal hookers. Never seen them? Well, let me tell you they ain’t cute. Ain’t cute at all.

Ending the call, I tossed the phone in the cup holder.

“What’s wrong?” Grace asked, poking her head out from the backseat.

“West didn’t answer,” I said, pulling over on the side of the road, “What do we do now?”

I looked at them for an answer. By looking at Grace I could tell she didn’t have any more ideas. I was thankful for that one. Turning to Emma, I saw her slum her shoulders in defeat.

“We go back to my house and have a sleep over. I mean I doubt them coming home early tonight and we certainly can’t sleep with them until we get an HIV test,” she said, rubbing her belly.

I wanted to laugh because that was probably the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard Emma say but I couldn’t. My mind was my own worst enemy in that moment. It was playing tricks on me, making me play out farfetched scenarios of what he could be doing in my head.

And it was all Grace’s fault.

Pulling into Emma’s driveway, I was shocked at what I saw.

West’s, Roman’s and Ethan’s cars were all there.

Emma swung the door of the jeep open and jumped out.

Following her, I ran to catch up with her.

Looking at her face, I saw rage brewing in her eyes. She was on the warpath and Roman was in her sights. He needed prayers.

“Why are you so mad? They’re here,” I said, motioning to the three muscle cars.

“Do you think he brought strippers into our home? Do you think Roman would do that?” She asked as Grace rubbed her back, trying to calm her down.

She power walked to the door and pulled it open with all of her force. She walked in with us following her.

“What in the hell are you thinking? Do you not respect me?” Emma yelled, walking into the living room.

“What are you talking about, Pumpkin?” Roman said as we entered the room.

Roman and Ethan were sitting on the couch with shocked looks on their faces. And West being the silly man that he was, was hiding behind the chair.

“If we be really quiet maybe it will leave,” he whispered, only peaking his eyes out over the chair.

“West, quit calling me it. I’m not a deranged clown. I’m a very pissed pregnant woman.”

Roman got up from his spot on the couch and walked over to her.

“Pumpkin, why are you mad?” he asked her, wrapping his arms around her.

“Save it. Where is she?” she asked him, pulling away from his embrace.

“Who?”

“The stripper.”

“We didn’t get any strippers. We’ve watched The Walking Dead and drank some beer,” Roman told her, trying his hardest to hide his smile.

Hearing what they had actually been up to, I ran across the room and jumped into West’s arms.

“I missed you too, Angel,” he said, kissing my cheek.

I didn’t say anything, I just held on to him and thanked my lucky stars that he was mine.

What kind of guy would go to a bachelor party that included a Walking Dead marathon and no strippers? And be happy about it?

My guy, that’s who.

Ethan had the great idea to combine the bachelor and bachelorette party, so that’s how I found myself on West’s lap, wrapped up in a blanket, and watching a movie.

This was my idea of a perfect night and judging by the looks on my friend’s faces I think it was safe to say they thought the same.

“You really thought we were gone to a strip club?” West asked, brushing his lips against my hair.

As soon as he said it I felt my face go blood red with embarrassment. I should have known better but every girl has those moments when the crazy jumps out and just can’t reign it back in.

“Shut up. I’m sorry. Can we let it go?” I asked, shaking my head and praying he dropped the subject.

“I didn’t know you were so jealous, Angel.”

I didn’t have to turn around to know he was smiling. I could feel it.

Clamping my mouth shut, I tried to focus on the movie but feeling West’s hot breath on the back of my neck made that damn near impossible.

“It’s okay. It kinda turns me on,” he said, nibbling on my ear.

“Everything turns you on.”

“Everything about you turns me on.”

He wasn’t playing fair but then again he never did. He knew I would get soaking wet and he was going to leave me hanging. Leave me wanting him all night. We were going to be at Emma’s for at least another hour or two.

And when it came to West I couldn’t hold out that long. And he knew that. Screw him.

That’s exactly what I wanted to do.

“West,” I whispered, begging him to stop running his hands up and down my thighs.

“Don’t worry about a thing, Angel. Just stay quiet and let me take care of you.”

Feeling his hand slide up my dress, I was thankful for three things. First of all, I was thankful that we were covered by a blanket, so we didn’t put on a show for our friends. Secondly, I was thankful that I chose to wear a dress because that gave him easy access. And lastly, I was thankful that I wouldn’t have to wait until we got home.

I needed him now. I needed him any way I could get him.

Pulling my thong down with his thumbs, he teased me by stroking his finger against my clit. Biting my lip, I suppressed the moan that was trying to escape my lips.

“You like feeling like we could be caught any minute. Don’t you?” he whispered only loud enough for me to hear.

I nodded, not trusting my own voice. If I had tried to talk it would definitely raised a few red flags. They would have known something was up.

And something was definitely up. I was sitting on it.

Sliding the tip of his finger inside of me, he slowly pumped in and out of me. I needed to grip on to something but I had to look as natural as possible. And it was pretty hard to considering West was fingering me.

He switched things up and slid two fingers inside of me. I couldn’t help myself but the feeling his fingers swirling around inside of me made a noise escape my mouth.

Everyone looked at me and I had to cover it over with a cough.

“I think I’m coming down with something,” I said through the fake cough attack.

They seemed to believe and turned to focus on whatever movie was playing now.

His body started to jerk with laughter. It wasn’t hard to tell he was enjoying what was happening a little too much.

His fingers hit all the right places and I had to dig my heels into his legs to keep from screaming.

Feeling a burst of pleasure, my body started to squirm and I knew I had just came.

West pulled his fingers out of me and brought them to his lips. Opening his mouth, he licked his fingers and smiled.

Shimming my panties up, I excused myself to the bathroom to clean up. Walking into the restroom, I looked in the mirror and noticed how flushed my face was.

The rose color of my cheeks gave it all away. There was no way my friends didn’t knew something had happened.

They couldn’t have been that oblivious.

Once I cleaned myself up, I started toward the living room but before I could get there I felt someone pin against the wall.

All I could see was tattoos and a blur of blonde hair.

“That was just a preview of what’s to come tonight,” West said, before slamming his mouth on mine and pulling me into a wildly passionate kiss.

“Promise?” I teased.

“Pinky promise,” he said, holding his pinky out for me to wrap mine around his.

And I did.

I loved how West could go from super-hot alpha male to cutest boyfriend ever.

“I love you more than anything on this earth,” he said, wrapping his hands around my waist.

“I love you more than I ever thought humanly possible,” I told him, resting against his body.

We could have stayed wrapped up in each other’s arms forever but Emma yelled for us to come back.

“Please don’t have sex in our house,” Emma said as soon as we entered the room and took our place on the chair.

“I can’t help it, Ems. She brings out the man in me,” West told her, pulling me in his lap.

“I thought Roman and Emma were the worst. But you two take the cake,” Ethan said, slyly slipping his arm around Grace’s shoulders.

Rolling my eyes, I relaxed into West’s arms.

Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket, my heart dropped. Usually it was Roman or Ethan but they were both there.

Looking down at the phone, I saw his eyes light up.

“Is that Marilyn?” I joked, giving him my most innocent look.

“Haha, very funny. No, for your information it’s my granddad,” he said as he answered the call.

“What’s up, Old man?” he asked, looking down at me.

He played with my hair as he listened to Frank talk on the other end of the phone.

I felt his head freeze on my head. Looking up, I saw the concerned expression he wore.

“Are you at the hospital now?”

Hospital?

Everyone turned to look at West. If one of us was worried then all of us were worried.

“Okay, I’ll be there in about twenty minutes,” He said, shoving his phone back in his pocket.

Getting off of his lap, I watched him slip on his shoes and get up to leave.

“What’s wrong, Babe?” I asked, standing up next to him.

“My grandma passed out. He told me I should get there as quick as I can.”

“Do you want me to come with you? Or is it a family thing?”

“You are my family, Angel. Of course I want you to come with me,” he said, holding my hand and squeezing it. Turning to look at our friends, he said, “All of you are.”

“We should all go,” Ethan said, standing up.

West smiled and we all walked toward the door.

Getting in West’s car, I watched as everyone else piled into Roman’s car.

I could tell West was extremely worried because he didn’t turn the music on. And he always had music playing when he drove.

Another thing that gave him away was the fact that he didn’t try to lighten the situation with cheesy jokes.

He didn’t seem like he was in the mood to talk so I didn’t make him.

He sped into the hospital parking lot. Getting out, we ran inside with our friends following us.

Reaching the front desk, an older lady asked us if she could help us with anything.

“We just need to know what room Marion Stevens is in.” West asked, tapping his fingers against the table.

“409,” she said as she checked the computer, “But only two people can go back at a time.”

“Thank you,” I told her as we walked toward the elevator.

West pushed the button for floor 4 and everyone watched him. This wasn’t the West we knew. He always made bad situations bearable. He kept us laughing and smiling through all the darkness. But today he couldn’t do that. Not until he found out that Marion was okay.

She was a mother to him when he didn’t have one. She raised him and gave him everything she possibly could. Marion was an older woman when West’s parents left him, she could have easily decided to give him up for adoption. But she chose to love and care for him. She chose to give him the most normal childhood that she possibly could.

And for that she was a hero to me. But to him she was a god send. She was a miracle.

Rounding the corner, I saw Frank standing there with red, puffy eyes. And I knew something bad was coming.

Frank Stevens didn’t cry but guess that old say is right. There’s a first time for everything.

“Grandpa, why are you crying?” West asked, starting to panic.

“Cancer,” he said with a blank, empty expression.

That one word was enough to bring West to his knees.

He started to sob into his hands and Frank joined him.

It took one word to break two hearts. It took one word to make two grown men cry. That’s it.

One life changing word.