Page 25 of West (The Moral Compass 1)
West: Speak to you soon, North.
North: Yep, soon.
Yeah, my brother is going to pull me to pieces over the surprise visitor I have in my apartment, but I don’t really care. I just need the information I know only he can get me. He knows people who know how to manipulate the internet and the dark web, and if there is anything down there, he will find it, and it shouldn’t be too long before I have a clear picture of what is in the past and how it is going to fit into the future.
Chapter 21
Sutton
Hekissedmeon the fucking head!What is it with this guy? Is he doing this on purpose? He’s sending me all these strange fucking signals. One minute he has his head between my thighs and the next, he’s treating me like his fucking sister. Sutton Smith V2 is not going so great. I’ve already had one hell of a panic attack, which I don’t usually suffer, and I nearly cried twice. Maybe the bang to the head has unblocked my tear ducts or something because the fuckers won’t stop.
I grab my crutches and decide I need to get some exercise, but since I can’t go outside, I walk the length of the corridors. Up and down, up and down, up and down. I’m getting shaky by the time his office door opens and my arms are starting to ache. My stupid body takes him standing there as its cue to falter. My arms give way, and the crutches have a mind of their own. One goes to the left and the other one goes to the right, and I’m still standing in the middle.
Two strong hands grab my waist and steady me as I wince at the pain shooting up my leg. Yep, the ankles are not strong enough to be stood on independently. I drop my head. Yet again, Sutton Smith V2 is a great big failure. I am not some winey girl. I have balls. Big balls. I am not usually this fucking weak. Over the last two years, I have attended so many self-help classes and read so many bloodyyou are greatbooks, I could write my own.
Re-inventing myself after Jaxon took everything away from me was a huge step, but I did it. I am not going back to that person. I have come too far and worked too hard to be the best version of Sutton Smith I can be.
“Hey, I’m okay. No need for Superman antics.”
I am trying to sound confident and self-assured. If only my bloody legs would get the message.
“Sorry, Sutton, I thought you were going to fall. Should I not help you if I think you are heading for the ground?”
The sarcastic tone is very evident.
“Well, yes, that would be good, but I feel a bit stupid. I keep falling, and you keep catching me. I just wanted to get some exercise and was taking a stroll up and down this bloody long corridor,” I confess.
Maybe I need to be a little more grateful and not such a bitch. The guy is putting a safe roof over my head after all, and maybe after last night’s performance, he doesn’t want a repeat. I can’t blame him; I fell fast asleep straight afterward and didn’t give anything in return.
“I’m sorry. I’m just cranky. I’m not used to being locked in, and I guess I feel a little claustrophobic. I’m still unsure of the dynamics of this thing here.” I point between the two of us. “I know you’re going to be my boss in a few weeks, and I know you’re a kind and caring guy, but what is this, West? What am I really doing here, and why are you helping me? I know for sure if the shoe was on the other foot, I wouldn’t be putting up a stranger in my ever-so-massive apartment.” I can’t help but ask. I need to know.
“Let’s take a seat over on the couch, and I will answer all your questions.”
West helps me over to the living room and sits me on the large couch. He doesn’t take a seat. Rather, he stands in front of me as I look up at him.
“Let’s take your last question first, shall we? I’m not putting up a stranger, Sutton. I sat with you for a week in the hospital and got to know you well enough to trust you in my home. Now, let’s look at the other questions. Number one: I don’t know what this is Sutton. That is my honest answer. I like you, and, yes, I am starting to care about you, and not just as a future employee.”
“Number two: What you’re doing here is recovering from one of the most horrendous attacks I’ve ever seen, Sutton. Sorry to be brutal, but I want you here and to keep you safe. Number three? Well, I think I’ve answered that. I care about you.”
I can feel myself gravitating towards him. My head knows this is wrong, but my body isn’t listening. Before I know it, he’s kneeling between my knees, looking me straight in the eye. I drop my head, and his two fingers reach out and take my chin and lift it so that his lips are just two inches from mine.
Shit, my head is joining in with my body now and screaming to kiss him. Just reach over a little more and take those rough lips with yours.Just one kiss, Sutton. You know you really want to.
Before I know it my mouth joins with his, my tongue sliding inside his rugged, perfect lips. A tiny gasp comes from my mouth, and he smirks like he knows he’s right where he’s supposed to be. I don’t know how long he spends kneeling in front of me kissing me, but he grimaces like he’s starting to get cramp in his calf.
Time to make a move.
So, I release myself from his arms and give him a little smile. I want to take this slow but before I know it, he has me up off the sofa in his arms, and we’re heading for the bedrooms.
I don’t know what the hell is happening. One minute I’m the damsel in distress and the next, he’s laying those lips on me like he’s on fire. I’m currently being carried down the hallway towards the bedrooms and, despite being confused, I like it. His answers to my questions didn’t really make me feel any better, but he did give me some clarity as to why.
As we get nearer to the bedrooms, I can feel my pulse racing and not only in my chest. My lady parts are throbbing, and I can feel the heat pooling between my legs. This guy is on a mission. Each step is precise and measured. When we reach the bedroom doors there is no question which way he is going: straight intohisbedroom.
As It's only been one day, I’ve not had time to explore all the rooms and didn’t want to sneak in here earlier when he was in his home office. Butwow, this room is something else. Completely manly, all dark greys and navies and not a scatter cushion in sight. A dark-grey blackout blind covering the window is half-closed, and there is another door which I can only assume is another bathroom. Large wardrobes cover the whole of one wall. It’s identical in layout to the guest room I’m using with the exception of colour.
My head has wandered for a second, but I’m brought back to the moment when he lays me gently on the bed.
“Sutton? You okay?”
