Page 38 of The Cowboy's Cabaret

I realize my time with Wes is ending since he has to help Jasper tomorrow. The wave of sadness rushing over me feels misplaced for a friend, but my feelings are decidedly growing less friendly by the second.

Wes grabs his bag from upstairs and turns down my many offers to walk him to his truck, ever the gentleman. I don’t know how to form the words bouncing around in my head—I want him to stay. I want more. I don’t know if we can have more. The air around us feels electrified as we face each other to say goodbye. He looks at me with such longing, it feels like a physical presence. I know because I feel it too. Is he scared like I am? I’m ready to say fuck it all and kiss the shit out of him when the door smashes open and Daphne shrieks with surprise, breaking the spell.

“You scared the shit out of me. Am I interrupting or…” she trails off.

“Nope. Wes is leaving,” I rush out in a panic.

“I’ll see you soon, Princess.”

He heads downstairs and when I close the door behind him, I slump against it wishing I made a move. At the very least, I can use this pent up sexually frustrated energy to officially submit the grant proposal.

Daphneand I end up watching a corny rom-com, bundled up in her bed. She finally falls asleep around midnight and I untangle myself from her locked arms. On the floor, her stuffed teddy bear lays discarded and I pick him up to replace me as her cuddle buddy since I’m not ready to sleep yet.

In my room, I flop onto the bed, stuffing my face into my pillow. I reach over to my phone and see Wes’ earlier message saying he made it home. I had such a good time with him, and my resistance to his affection is waning. I let fear rule so much of my life, I want to let go for once. At the very least, I’d love to get laid. I snort at my own filthy thoughts, since my romanticdry spell has lasted far beyond meeting Wes. After meeting him though, the only cure for the ache between my thighs is him.

Is it fucked up to get off to thoughts of your best friend who maybe also likes you, but you keep boundaries because you’re a little bitch? I’m beyond help at this point.

I want to text Wes. I want to talk to him all night long. I want to kiss him and fuck him, I want to wake up in his arms. I want to feel his beard bristle on every inch of my body and I want him to hold me down and take exactly what he wants from me.

A hot shower does little to quench my thirst for Wes. I slip under my covers in panties and a T-shirt, aching and wet because I’m stubborn.

My resistance lasts about five minutes before I give in and start tweaking my nipples over my shirt as my other hand trails down my soft stomach.

Would Wes touch me like this? Would his strong hands roam my body, appreciating every stretch mark and dimple? He’s that kind of man—one look at him and you know he appreciates a woman.

I’m so fucking turned on and ready to put myself out of my misery when my phone starts vibrating with an incoming call. I groan out loud and pick up my phone, only to see the object of my nasty little fantasy is video calling me right now.

My brain cells must be too horny to function because as flushed as I am right now, I answer the call.

“Wes, hi.” I’m breathless and I pray he doesn’t pick up on the aroused lilt to my voice.

“Hey, sorry I’m about to go to bed—are you okay? You look all red and shit, are you sick?” I’m probably getting redder by the second because I’m sitting here, hard nipples and wet pussy, still trailing my fingers up and down my body behind the phone.

“What? No, um, no I’m good. What’s up?”

“Oh, okay.” He clears his throat. “I remembered you told me about missing the tickets to the Bear Knuckles Philly show. If I can snag tickets last minute, you wanna go? Divinity and Bride of Death are playing too and I know you’ve mentioned them recently.”

Curse him for being so thoughtful and attentive. I did tell him how badly I wanted to make it to that show, but it was far and I couldn’t find tickets in time. “How did you even get tickets? I tried months ago and lost the battle in the godforsaken queue.” I shake my fist at the sky like a grumpy old man, because I was bummed for weeks over missing this.

“If I tell you, I have to kill you,” he deadpans. “I have my sources, don’t worry about it. Say the word and we’ll go.”

“Yes! Yes!” I’m shouting now and quickly cover my mouth when I remember it’s late as fuck. “Sorry, yes, please. Let’s go, I’m so down.” I remember Daphne and think. “Can I ask Daph too? Maybe you could invite Jasper?”

“Of course, yeah. Let me know tomorrow morning if she wants to go. Jasper told me to eat dicks when I offered, so I think he’s a no.” He smiles.

We chat a little longer before he starts falling asleep. We hang up, but I’m wide awake with plans to finish what I started before our call.

TWENTY-NINE

king simp

Wesley

DidI bribe Jade within an inch of my life for these tickets? Yeah, I fucking did. No shame. All she wanted in return was a favor, no questions asked, to be redeemed at a later date. She was being cagey as hell, but I was desperate, so I am on the hook for one mysterious favor.

Sometime along the lonely drive back home Saturday night, I realized there’s not much I wouldn’t do for Dahlia. As I gushed over her in my head like King Simp, I remembered she mentioned this show and how she couldn’t get tickets. It’s a pretty big line up—Bear Knuckles is reuniting specifically for the show and Death Bride is an all female metal band touring for the first time—so this show meant a lot to Dahlia. Getting a little road trip and hotel stay together is an added bonus. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up in one of those one-bed-at-the-inn romance plot lines.

Oh no, one bed, whatever shall we do.