Elena had neglected to mention that the double date she had roped me into was tonight.

When she had dropped me off, she'd told me to be ready by six, blown me a kiss, and driven off before I could argue.

You would have thought that would have been enough time to get ready, but here I was less than ten minutes before they were due to pick me up, still debating whether my hair looked better up or down.

Someone whistled at me from behind. I jumped. No one else was supposed to be home.

I turned to find Wes leaning against the doorframe, a smirk on his lips.

Tall, lean, with the reflexes of a wild cat, Wes had no troubles with the ladies or the occasional gentleman. I’d run my fingers through his thick, wavy brown hair on many occasions, likely not the only one, but for less amorous reasons.

As head-turning as his normal looks were, it was the scaring on his left temple that drew the eye. It did nothing to diminish his beauty in my eyes.

Remembering how he’d gotten the scar still gave me nightmares.

Demons in Sheol branded their slaves. After Damian had rescued Wes, he’d burned the tattoo mark on Wes’ face.

I hadn’t seen it. Damian had kept me away.

But the screams.

I’d never heard Wes in more pain since.

He had recently gotten his own apartment and no longer lived with us. Didn't stop him from being around constantly. At least I didn't have to hear someone moaning his name every night anymore.

"You look better," I said.

"As do you," he said, an amused twinkle in his eyes. His hazel eyes shifted shades based on his mood. Sometimes a clear, green, others a soft golden, brown, and everything in between the two. "What's the occasion?"

I glanced down at what I was wearing. Three hours had passed before I had made my final decision on my outfit. The winner was a black skirt two inches too short and a blue blouse with a dangerously low neckline. Painting my face up like a clown consumed the rest of the time I'd had left. I had even used the previously untouched perfume Wes had given me last Christmas.

Even though I'd rather gouge out my eyes than go tonight, I refused to look like a slump on my first date.

I still felt like a stranger in a strange land.

"Double date with Elena."

He frowned. "Does Damian know?"

"I'm eighteen."

"And live under his roof. His house, his rules."

I rolled my eyes. "Funny how you never needed permission to chase tail."

He gave a short laugh. "That's different."

"How?"

"I'm a guy and can take care of myself."

I gave him a dirty look. Why did no one believe I could handle my business? "Stop being misogynistic."

Wes shrugged. "Don't get pissed at me for my concern."

I walked over to my nightstand, opened the drawer, and took out an unopened condom wrapper. Then I flung it at his head.

"He knows. Gave me this and told me to have fun."

A lie. Damian didn’t know I was going out tonight, and I doubted he'd be too pleased. He hadn't given me the condom, either. A joke from Elena that was too funny to throw away. Damian would have preferred me coming home pregnant to having the birds and the bees talk.

Wes glowered. "Sex isn't a game, Lex."

I laughed. Like huge belly laughs that left me gasping for air. He stared at me unamused as I wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Says the man allergic to monogamy."

He stuck his tongue against his cheek. "You're not me, sweetie. You're too emotional for casual fucking."

"Because I'm a girl?"

"No, because you care too much. You want to make everyone around you happy, even to your detriment." He gave a resigned sigh. "Just be careful, okay? You aren't the only one trying to stay hidden, and you won't be the only one to get hurt if someone finds out the truth."

He wasn't saying anything I didn't already know. I mean, jeez, I'd been friends with Elena longer than I'd known Wes, and there had been no slippage.

"Maybe you don't know me that well. I'm more of a love 'em and leave 'em type." I gave him a cocky smile. "Learned that from you."

"You're a bad liar." His voice was soft.

"Keep telling yourself that."

I stuffed the condom I had no intention of using into my purse and patted him on the arm as I flounced by, faking the perk in my step. "Don't wait up."

He grabbed my arm before I could get far. Sandalwood and the rainforest invaded my nose. He pulled me close and whispered in my ear. "He hurts you, and I'll kill him."

I shrugged out of his hold and smiled sweetly. "I'll be a good girl, I promise."

"There are few people I care about, so take no chances."

I winked. "That's what the condom is for."

I ran down the stairs, grabbed my coat, and was out the front door before things could get even more awkward.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I bit my lip as I waited for Elena and the boys to pick me up. Pushing away my intrusive thoughts proved impossible. Wes was all I could think about.

Was he concerned I'd make stupid choices or was it something else?

Was he protective or possessive?

It wasn't the cold that made me shiver.