Worlds Collide (Fan Service #6)

9. CJ

NINE

CJ

“Good, right?” I ask with a nod after Wolf swallows the first bite.

“S’good,” he agrees and goes for the second—and last bite—of his taco. He reaches for another one right away and I know I could be just letting my overactive imagination get away from me here, but it feels like he’s avoiding looking at me—and it looks so too, so he more than likely is.

There was a second, maybe less than a second, when his eyes were softer than I’d ever seen them. The weight of his body lifted off me and he saw me. I felt like he really saw me.

For that fraction of a second I let myself believe that we’d turned a new leaf, that the way we act with each other would be different.

But then, like steel doors falling to the ground between us, he shut down. He looked between us, at my spent dick and at his own that was still inside me. Without looking at me, he slipped out carefully and that was it .

I actually thought he might kick me out right then and there—though I know he would’ve given me time to at least shower if I’d asked—but he didn’t. He went into the bathroom for a few minutes, which I spent overthinking and coming up with a strategy to get him to open up to me. To at least not think of me as the enemy.

“All yours,” is all he’d said in a new, subdued voice, before walking out of the bedroom. I didn’t hear the room door open so at least I knew he hadn’t actually left.

Then I found him in the little kitchen of what I now realized was a pretty sizable suite, and he was heating up the tacos.

I’m enjoying the company, I swear I am, but I can’t help but want to talk to him. To hear him speak. Maybe I want him to tell me that the sex was as good for him as it was for me, I don’t know but...

“Why are you attracted to me?” he blurts out of the blue.

“The usual reasons apply,” I answer slowly and look down at my food.

“Bullshit,” he snaps. He’s finally looking at me in the eyes again, in that unrelenting, direct way he has, so at least that’s something. “I’m a surly bastard, a grumpy asshole, and a million other things Birdie’s always complaining about. You didn’t just give up your virgin ass because I’m hot.”

I take my time swallowing my bite and wiping my mouth. Mostly it’s to hide the smile that always wants to come out when I hear him say the word “Birdie.” It’s so out of character for someone so, yes, surly to say such an adorable word. And don’t even get me started on the way his shoulders always drop in defeat when Hawk calls him Wolfie.

That picture could be in the dictionary to describe the word adorable .

The Storm brothers are something special. I think I knew it from the moment Adam told me he’d heard a song from them when we were like twelve, but getting to know them has made it very clear to me.

They have magic in them, and an endless well of love to give.

Wolf is just . . . closed off.

And maybe that’s what he wants to hear, so I settle back in my chair and get ready to either piss him off even more or get him to relax and open up to me.

“I’ve been around shitty people my entire life so I know for a fact that you’re not a bad person. I can tell that you’re surly, or a grumpy asshole as you said, on purpose. To keep people out and away. I can tell you don’t like yourself very much, and I could make a million guesses as to why that is, but I’ve just never seen it. You’re probably the best brother I’ve ever met, your talent is otherworldly, and you’re clearly not full of yourself when you very well could be. Also, I think you look pretty when you’re scowling at everyone.”

The two lines between his eyebrows get deeper the longer I talk and his scowl turns confused after the second sentence.

He stays silent for so long that I fear he won’t talk again at all, but then he says probably the most socially unacceptable thing in this situation.

“Your ass was awesome.”

I throw my head back and laugh until my belly aches. He’s such a fucking character.

“I never know what you’re going to say, that’s another thing I like. Well, except with your brother.”

“What about my brother?” he growls, his face once more going stony when it had relaxed at my burst of laughter .

“Relax,” I say, and reach for more tacos. “You better learn right now that I think Hawk is an all-around awesome human, okay?” He nods once, and does relax a little, but I can still tell he’s on edge waiting to hear what I have to say about his Birdie. “What I meant is that when it comes to Hawk your actions and your words are predictable. It’s the only thing predictable about you.”

“What?” His shoulders have dropped and he still hasn’t smiled—something I’m still aiming for—but he reaches calmly for another taco.

“You’re protective of Hawk, and lenient with him. I’m pretty sure you would do anything for him. And the only other person you allow to tease him is Derek. So yeah, it’s always easy to know how you’ll act when it comes to Hawk. That’s why I made sure he called you after the wedding.”

He looks up sharply but doesn’t seem to be angry now. I knew I would get a strong reaction by saying that last thing but I didn’t know if it would be anger or something else.

“What do you mean you made sure he called?”

“I, uh, mentioned how Carter had come to brunch but you hadn’t.” I think about leaving it there and letting Wolf reach his own conclusions, but I can’t be that cruel. “Hawk got worried immediately when Carter said he hadn’t seen you when he woke up.”

“Why did you do that?” he asks, softer than I thought he would.

“Because I was worried,” I admit quietly and take another bite. “I didn’t know if you were okay or where you had gone or at what time. And I knew you clearly wouldn’t want to hear from me, so...” I trail off and shrug, keeping my eyes firmly on my hands. There’s what seems like an eternal moment of silence while he processes everything I’ve shared. I just keep eating, hoping against all hope that he’s not gonna kick me out the second he’s done with his dinner. After five minutes of silence, though, I can’t take it anymore. “Your turn,” I say, trying to sound cheerful and not at all desperate to hear something other than my own thoughts. “Why are you attracted to me?”

He scoffs but doesn’t look up. “You’re hot,” he mumbles.

“I’ll raise your bullshit with a come on . You’re probably surrounded by hot models—male and female—all the time.” I stare at him, willing him to look up, and after he tosses his makeshift plate onto the coffee table with a heavy sigh he finally does look at me.

“You seem like someone who’s just happy. You’re always... I don’t know, relaxed. Content to go along with whatever’s going on. You can just live and be. ”

“And you like that?” I ask, just to make sure.

“I mean.” He rubs his eyes with jerky movements then rests his cheek on his fist and shrugs. “You’re clearly smart. Not stupid, so the ignorance-is-bliss thing doesn’t apply to you. You obviously have something going on, otherwise you would’ve come out of the closet a long time ago. And still you’re always smiling, always happy to hear about your friends’ lives. I think that’s the closest thing to a superpower I’ve ever seen in real life. I can barely handle my own shit, and most days I can’t even listen to my brother’s troubles, so yeah, I like that about you.”

“Wow,” I whisper in wonder.

“Whatever,” he mutters, and grabs his plate again only to shove a whole taco into his mouth.

I can’t help but chuckle at his obvious discomfort. “So what were your plans for tonight before I crashed them?”

“Nothing really. I was probably going to stream something until I fell asleep. ”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I bite my lip to stop myself from saying anything stupid. Again the silence goes on for a long time, and I’m grappling with a way to invite myself to stay with him without it being super weird when he saves me.

“You wanna stay?”

I look up in surprise, and see Wolf shift in his seat and look away the second our gazes clash.

“Sure,” I answer in a breathy voice. “What are you watching?”

“I’m re-watching The Good Place .”

“What’s that?”

“You haven’t seen it?” he asks, clearly shocked.

“I’ve spent the past four years studying my ass off, and all my free time I spent making sure I kept my friendships alive and going to charity galas with my parents.” As far as defenses go, I think it’s a pretty good one.

“That makes sense I guess. Then we’ll start from the beginning because otherwise the whole thing will be ruined for you.”

A smile stretches my cheeks to an uncomfortable degree, but I can’t help it.

“That’s sweet, thank you.”

“Seriously, don’t mention it. Are you done?” he asks gruffly and stands. I know he probably hated me calling him sweet, so I nod and get to work on cleaning up the place with him.

I follow Wolf back to the bedroom, and can only stare at him as he piles pillows on the right side of the bed and then takes off the shirt and basketball shorts he’d put on. In only his briefs he gets under the comforter then stares back at me with what can only be described as a murderous glance.

“Don’t make it weird.”

I jump a little but look down to get undressed too, then mimic his actions leaving about a foot of space between us. I want to cuddle up next to him but I fear that might be too close to putting my life in danger, so instead I just sit there quietly and wait for him to cue up the first chapter.

“Are we going to fuck again tonight?” I blurt for some insane reason. What is wrong with me?

Wolf turns his head slowly and stares for the longest time. Then he shakes his head once. “No.”

“Why not?”

“You’ve had your ass filled one time. You need to have a real break or you’ll be sore.”

I guess that’s a good enough reason, but maybe... “Can I suck your dick, then?”

“No.”

“Why?” That time it does come out in a whine.

“Because I just want to relax and watch TV, okay?”

“Are you sure it’s not because you don’t want me?” I really should put a muzzle on myself. Since when do I let all my insecurities out like this? I’m a born and bred socialite for Pete’s sake. I’m trained to show no emotion.

“CJ,” he growls. “The thought alone of seeing your lips stretched around my cock could probably get me more than halfway there, but I’m not in the mood to control myself tonight, and believe me you can’t take a face-fucking yet, so don’t fucking push me.”

“Okay, but some other time?” I can’t help but ask.

“Of course,” he agrees, way too easily. That’s suspicious.

I think about the pros and cons of asking a few more clarifying questions, but Wolf starts the show, and that’s the sign from the universe I needed to keep my mouth shut and just enjoy his company.

“You’re absolutely one of those people who hates it when someone else talks during a movie or a show, aren’t you?” I ask as I watch Kristen Bell open her eyes.

“I am,” he confirms and sighs heavily.

“Even though you’ve watched this already?” I check.

“Even though,” he confirms.

“Well then, you’re about to be real annoyed.”

A heads-up is the least I can do.