Chapter 27

"Khloe?"

Startled by my mother's voice I dragged the back of my hands across my cheeks, wiping the stray tear trails away. As she approached where I sat I sniffed hoping I didn't look too much of a mess. Those warm honey like eyes settled on my crouched position, the sadness clear in her gaze as she took the seat beside me. Her small body settled comfortable without squishing either of us.

"How did you find me?"

She laughed, the sound soft and sweet that I couldn't help but face her to catch a glimpse of the past happiness that once glowed out of her "After so many years you still run to this old room. Remember when you were eleven and you dropped your sister's sweet sixteen cake."

It was my turn to laugh as I recalled the crimson shade of her face "I thought she was going to kill me." I chuckled

My mother's smile widened, the crinkles by her eyes a tiny reminder of the mother I lost over the years. Swallowing past the lump lodged in my throat I pushed the thought away as tears stung my vision. "She was going to but you ran off before she had a chance, I remember everyone searching for you for hours worried when you didn't show up an hour later. I nearly called the police when I heard a sniffling from this very room." she said, flicking my nose

Glancing down at my hands I felt those pesky tears burning my eyes, my mother back than was still silently bearable but that was before the bitter divorce and before her heart was broken by the jerk downstairs. At the reminder of my father I stiffened realizing why she came, damage control.

"I'm not going to apologize." I stated sternly, not leaving any room for arguments

Her hand dropped to her side, sighing softly she turned forward bot seeming here with me; at least not completely.

"For years I've noticed the way you act towards your father and I thought it was because of what happened with him and I. I never once thought that it had anything to do with how he treated you when you were younger but tonight when you-" she paused to clear her throat "I had no idea that you still held on to those days and hearing you speak about it brought back the guilt I felt for letting him push you into something you hated. It was clear you wanted nothing to do with that world but John looked so happy when he came home with you at his side that I ignored your frown."

Craning my head in her direction I was shocked to meet her gentle brown eyes filled to the brim with tears, a fat tear ran along her cheek and she allowed it to travel down her papery cheek before reaching a frail hand on top of mine.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, for allowing him to do that to you." she hiccuped and gave my hand a gentle squeeze

Pain coiled in my chest like a burning ball of fire, searing my insides at the pure regret painted on my mother's face. I never in my life would have expected her to apologize for the past, let alone that certain issue but to hear and see her regret set a small ray of hope in my heart. Hope that perhaps the nagging, loving mother I once had would return. That maybe my father hadn't destroyed her ability to love completely.

Inhaling deeply I wanted to say I forgive her but I couldn't speak the lie out loud, instead sat silently. How could I forgive her? Yes, she admits she's wrong for allowing him to do what he has but that doesn't give me back my childhood. It doesn't erase what I was subjected to witnessing, it doesn't make the times my father runs to me for cash behind her back vanish, nor does it make the heartache I was subjected to better. I wanted to forgive my mother and end the worry straining her features but want and do are two different things.

Sighing defeatedly she retreated her hand, understanding the silence meant I wasn't ready to forgive her so soon "How about we move out from this dusty corner?" she offered standing up right

Leaving would mean facing the monster downstairs and I wasn't quite ready to face neither him or anyone else. Not while I feel this fragile. Sensing my hesitation my mother gave an understanding nod "Come down when your ready, sweetheart."

Smiling once more she turned to leave, her absence bringing a comforting silence I yearned for. Leaning my head back I released an exasperated sigh, emotionally drained from the short encounter with my father. My eyes fluttered closed as I replayed the scene downstairs, cringing when I realized I revealed too many secrets my parents kept hidden under the rug, yet still leaving so many in the dark from the four people downstairs.

Growing up a quiet bookworm allowed me to witness first hand all the dirty secrets the members of this family kept. I was always quiet as a mouse -as my mother put it- they didn't notice me bent behind the couch, or wedged behind a door with a book cradled against my chest as my innocent mind attempted to comprehend what was happening. Why my mother wept as she ripped her wedding photos? Why Stacy puked nearly every night? Why the maid was bent before my father nude as a newborn baby?

All those events pushed me to grow, at the tender age of thirteen I understood the dark, bitter truth that was reality. The secrets of my family weighing down on my shoulders and stealing a childhood I yearned for. The sound of footsteps approaching startled me, the heaviness of each step was definitely not my mother's.

"Get lost." I growled fiercely as I wiped my nose for any moisture

The steps halted before the small gap that led into the tight spot, the familiar inky hair startling me. Wes slid through the narrow opening, struggling when when his shoulders bumped the edge of one of the shelves. "Now that's tight." he mumbled under his breath

Crouching down he started toward me, his brows pulling together as he squeezed down beside me. His large figure settling against mine, his broad shoulders pushing me against the wall "You're crushing me!"

He laughed "Well you should have found a roomy place to hide."

"I didn't expect company." I shot back as I shifted

Twisting my upper body I felt the toned body behind me turning, a pair of arms slid beneath my bottom and lifted me. I grasped on to his forearms with a deadly grip as he sat me down on his lap like a child, our legs entwining by the ankles unintentionally "Better?" he asked, setting my back against his chest

"Worse." I retorted

My body's actions contradicted my words, as my shoulders relaxed and I laid my head back against his chest. His large hands came up to rest on my knees, the bronze color the complete opposite of the alabaster skin of my calves. I had an intense need to touch his darker skin, to have a closer look at the difference between our skin. Greedily I reveled in the warmth radiating from behind me as the spicy scent of his cologne tickled my nose, the familiar scent clearing any tension from my body.

"You okay?"

Sighing I gave a nod "Nothing like a random outburst to relax you." I half heartily joked

His fingers closed over my knees, the gentle strokes of his long fingers taking the last of the tension away. Like butter over heat, I melted against the hard length of his body by the innocent touch.

"That seemed more like an explosion than an outburst, it was years of pent up anger leaking through."

Shifting on his lap I felt a sudden discomfort as the haze of being this close to Wes started to wear off. His fingers slid down to the back of my knees, skimming the pads of his fingers across the smooth skin sensing my discomfort. I felt his hot breath hitting my neck, -and like the desperate, sex craved woman I am I tilted my head to the side and allowed him an open invitation but to my shock he rested his chin against my shoulder. No kisses, no biting, not so much as a nibble. Freeing one hand he slid the hem of dress up so it was clumped at my thighs, his hand -much to my disappointment- paused on top of my thigh.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" he asked, in a hoarse voice that tingled down to my most womanly areas

I rolled my eyes, ignoring the butterflies fluttering in my belly at the compliment. He did tell me when he picked me up earlier and I did blush but what else is he suppose to say? You look terrible, go change? "Cut the mushy crap out Wes, you've already sampled the goods." I said teasingly

"I've what?" he chuckled against the shell of my ear.

"You've gotten into my panties already, so the mushy lines aren't necessary." I clarified in a strong tone that didn't reflect the sadness plaguing my insides.

His fingers traced small circles across the top of my thigh "I didn't tell you your beautiful in hopes that we'd have sex, kitty. I told you you're beautiful because you are, I feel like you don't know that."

Watching his masculine fingers dancing over my skin I attempted to calm the sudden hammering in my chest, his comment sent my heart on a wild rampage in my chest. The effects of the sweet words was precisely what my broken confidence needed at the moment as my past pushed to the front of my front lobe brain.

"Besides I haven't sampled you completely, I've yet to taste your fruit."

Bursting into a fit of giggles I craned my neck, sending him a quizzical expression "Fruit? Really?" I asked

His features grew somber and he nodded "Yes, just like a ripe fruit you dangle before me, tempting me to taste and trust me my fiery, kitty kat I will taste you." he said in silent promising

Shivering at the clear threatening pleasure I felt a sudden warmness in the small confined area, the air sparkled with the sexual tension cracking between us. Guaranteeing satisfaction after the stolen touches, hungry kisses, desperate pleas and the body quaking end. I whimpered softly as the vivid images of Wes laying me down and fùcking in my childhood home senseless ran rogue in my mind.

Reeling in the erotic thoughts I replied in a neutral tone "You're the equivalent to Shakespeare, but perverted."

The corners of his mouth curved into a devilish grin "Thy tongue is sharp m'lady and thy fingers quick, alas thy true weapon lay below thy trousers."

Laughter spurted from my lips and I doubled over clutching my middle section as I openly -and loudly- laughed at the horrible middle age accent he practically slaughtered with the short sentence. Being the good sport he is, Wes chuckled along side me, his features less strained than earlier when he first picked me up.

"Only you could turn romantic literature in to smut." I hiccuped as the laughter died off

Shrugging his shoulders he curled his upper lip "There is nothing wrong with smut, actually I seem to recall a certain someone reading a smut novel." he said, rubbing his index and thumb over his chin in mock thinking

Slapping his chest I was rewarded with a groan from him but it did nothing to lighten the heat flooding my cheeks at being reminded of that embarrassing night. "You had no right barging into my home like that." I mumbled and turned my face away from view

"The look on your face when I lifted the book was priceless." he teased "Catching you in a towel was an added bonus although you sent me away."

His hands slid down my legs, leaving a trail of heat behind "You deserved it." I pouted and pushed myself off his lap, his laughter echoing behind me as I squeezed through the bookcase and away from him.

"Oh come on, kitty."

Shaking my head I whipped around just in time to see him struggling to squeeze out, his muscular figure too broad for the small space meant for children. A ghost of a smile reached my lips when he managed to slip out a look of irritation on his normally playful face. He mumbled incoherent words under his voice as he wiped the light coating of dust from his arms, resembling a pouty child. His pink lips seemed so tempting, pursed out practically begging to be caressed with my own. Shaking the random thought, I turned my back to him wondering why I had the sudden urge to kiss him.

"We should leave before my mother comes back up here." I said hoping the lame excuse worked to limit my private time with Wes

"It would be a shame if she came up here and found you screaming my name as-"

"Horny dog." I mumbled and walked away not bothering to listen the the rest of his sentence, especially when it fuels my own filthy mind.

His heavy steps echoed close behind me as he started down the corridor passing two smirking maids, openly eying Wes as they scurried along to whatever chore my mother assigned to them. I narrowed my eyes at their retreating figures, mentally cursing them for glancing his way. He's mine, I wanted to growl like a poetics alpha male. My eyes widened realizing what I thought -where had that come from? Wes most definitely doesn't belong to me therefore I don't have any right to call claims on him, I scolded the part of me that was disappointed that I couldn't truly call him my own.

This is just temporary, a logic voice reminded me.

My brows dipped into a miniature frown as we descended down the spiral staircase, a sudden sadness settling in my chest at the reminder. A few weeks ago I would have been eager to be away from the player but after spending time with him -despite the circumstances- I have gotten attached to his sarcastic presence. I just have to suck it up like a big girl, this deal won't last forever and when it ends, and it will end eventually. Wes will return to his life as will I.

Maybe we could still be friends, a small voice chirped hopefully.

Making a bee line for the front closet I didn't notice my mother standing beside the door "Leaving so soon?" she asked seeming disappointed about our early departure

"Yes, it's been a long day." Wes piped in before I could answer with 'I would rather shove my head in a blender than tolerate my father for the night'. Then again that would be rude seeing that he is my father, instead I settled for a nod.

"Again I apologize for John's rude behavior." my mother said in that soft voice again

"It's alright Ms. Sparks, goodnight." Wes said and kissed her papery cheek

As he moved away my father decided to lean causally against the door frame in the hall, his eyes narrowed but the clear loathing was burning bright like a fire in his vivid green eyes. The hatred aimed to the man who wrapped an arm around my waist as if the floor was going to split open and swallow me under. Glancing up I was shocked to see Wes meeting my father's heated stare with a icy glare of his own, his stormy eyes never leaving the older man even as my mom hugged me.

"Goodnight Khloe." she said as she pulled back her eyes glazed over with unshed tears

Mumbling a small farewell I felt Wes's hand tighten on my waist as he steered us out the front door not allowing me a chance to bid my father a goodnight -although I'm not complaining. I would have most likely told him to burn in hell anyway. Waiting till we were a fair distance away from the house I placed my hand over Wes's forearm, he halted and glanced down confusingly down at me.

"Did something happen between you and my father?" I asked

He shook his head, averting his stormy eyes from mine "No."

Studying his features I was convinced he was lying to me but didn't push further. Hopefully my father didn't tell Wes anything too personal about me or embarrassing. It's enough that he now knows a part of my childhood but to know about my young adult years would be horrible or my teenage years. Mentally shuddering I took a step forward when a large hand clasped over mine halting me from moving away.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my eyes roaming over his features hoping to identify what had him looking down at me with a glint of sorrow

His fingers curled over mine, dragging me back to him so our chests touched. With no warning me crushed his lips to mine, the fierceness behind the knee buckling kiss enough to cause me to stumble backwards a few steps. His lips parted over mine enough for his tongue to slip out and trace the rim of my lips, moaning in appreciation I leaned forward hungry for more when he pulled away. Resting his forehead against mine he stared intently in to my eyes, the somber look on his features frightening me slightly.

"You are so beautiful." he whispered

I blinked up confusingly, where did this come from? Opening my mouth to ask just that I was silenced by a quick peck on my lips, successfully silencing me.

"You are a special, one of a kind woman, you know that?"

"Wes-"

"I mean it kitty, you're one in a million." he clarified, his brows rising as if to get his point across

His hands cupped my cheeks, rubbing the pads of his thumbs across my cheekbones "Please don't forget that."

Puzzled by the sudden ambush I nodded, wondering if my father played a role in Wes's sudden strange behavior. The corners of his lips quirked up into a smile, pleased by my response. Once more he pecked my lips, dropping his arms to his side he took my hand in his larger one and lead us towards the car. Either ignoring or not noticing my confused expression as I followed close behind.

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Firstly, thank you all for your wonderful comments -I've read them all but wasn't able to respond like I hoped, please don't stop commenting and I will try to respond but don't get mad if I don't...emkay!

What did you think about Khloe's mom in this chapter?

And how about Wes?