by Toni Aleo
I inhale deeply as he comes toward me, his cock jutting out in front of him, his eyes dark and hungry. He looks as if he is about to devour me, and damn it, I want him to.
Over and over again.
He places a knee between my legs before he looks down at me, his fingers circling my nipple. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Hundred percent?”
“A trillion percent,” I say, all but panting.
Jesus, I love every single curve of his body.
And I know he loves mine.
He moves his eyes along my body as he flashes me a quick grin. He positions himself between my legs, covering my body with his, and man, he feels good. His cock is resting against my pulsing center, and when he looks at me, this becomes really real, really fast.
Oh fuck.
His eyes turn soft. Gone is the hunger as his hand cups my face. He runs his thumb along my lip, his eyes searching mine. “I will go so slow. I won’t hurt you.”
I nod jerkily. “I know.”
“Or we can not—”
“No, I want to.”
He inhales hard, and his eyes continue to search mine. Leaning down, he presses his nose into mine, and I can’t stop the grin from forming. He knows I love when he does this. With his gaze locked on mine, he angles my leg up, opening me to him. He moves his cock along my wet slit, but all I can do is stare into his eyes—his captivating, spell-binding, dark-blue eyes. I feel the pressure of him entering me, and inch by solid inch, he fills me. It’s slow; he’s thick and beautifully gentle. His eyes never leave mine, and when I grimace, he stops, kissing my lips so sweetly.
“I got you.”
He does. I know he does.
When he is fully inside me, his eyes fall shut and I hold on to him. “Fuck, you’re so tight.”
I can feel him throbbing inside me, and the expression on his face is the same as when I sucked him in the hall the other day. Biting his lip, he opens his eyes, meeting mine with concern. “Are you okay?”
I press my lips together, breathing in through my nose. “It’s uncomfortable.”
“I know. I’m going to start moving, okay?”
“Okay.”
Positioning his hands on either side of my neck, he lifts himself up before pulling out just as slowly as he had gone in. While I stare at him, he watches as he goes back inside me. It doesn’t hurt, but it isn’t great yet. He moves out once more before pushing into me, his eyes so dark. That time wasn’t so bad. His face is taut, the veins in his arms are bulging, but he looks stunningly blissful. He pushes into me once more, this time not so slow, and it feels so much better. I tilt my hips so he can go deeper, and his eyes dart to me.
“Google,” I say, and he just blinks.
“You’re killing me,” he says, falling back on his haunches. He brings my ass up on his thighs before thrusting into me, and that was really good. Arching off the bed, I meet each thrust. I really don’t know why I waited to do this with him. Soon, we find a rhythm, and it’s beyond amazing. He’s hitting a spot that is so wonderful, and it’s not long before I feel my body getting hotter and tighter. His name falls from my lips with each thrust, and I’m on fire. And then I’m coming. Hard. Everything goes dark when I squeeze my eyes shut, his name exploding from the back of my throat. Sounding strangled and deep.
Dry-humping and foreplay come nowhere near the feel of him deep inside me while I come.
Holding on to his wrist as he moves in and out of me, I can’t seem to catch my breath. Yet, I’m mesmerized by his beautiful face. The tic in his jaw, the half-lidded gaze of his eyes, and his wet lips, swollen from our kisses. I don’t ever want to leave this bed. I don’t want to be with anyone but him.
He is everything.
“Ah, fuck,” he groans, and then he stills inside me, his cock throbbing deep within. “Sofia… Fuck, Sofia.”
I thought the sound of the crowd when I got a ten was breathtaking, but that doesn’t come close to the sound of my name from Ryan’s lips as he comes. Lowering himself to the bed, he pulls out before wrapping his arms around me and holding me close. He presses his lips to mine and eats at my mouth, nibbling and kissing until I’m wild for him all over again.
“Are you okay?” he whispers, his fingers dancing along my jaw.
“I’m great,” I whisper back, tucking my hands up under his chin. “That was amazing—after the initial shock of having something inside me. It was so good.”
“And we’re just getting started,” he says with a wink, and my face breaks into a huge grin. “We’ll get up and clean up in a second. I’m spent. You broke me.”
I snort as I gaze into his beautiful face, completely taken aback by how lucky I was that he wanted me. Sighing loudly, I move a few stray hairs behind his ear before I place my lips so close to his. “Hey, Ryan.”
He opens his eyes, meeting my gaze. “Yeah, baby?”
“There are no flowers, chocolates, or music. And guess what?” I ask, looking deep into his eyes.
A bright and beautiful smile comes over his sweet mouth. “What?”
“I will never, for the rest of my life, forget this moment. Ever.”
He presses his nose into mine, his eyes burning, wet with emotion. “Really? You sure it was okay?”
I’m breathless, cupping his strong jaw. “Ryan, it was perfect.”
“I mean, I thought so,” he teases, and I smile. “But it doesn’t matter about me. Only you.”
God, under his gaze, I feel like I’m the most important thing in his world.
I know I’m not. But sometimes, when his lips are quirked just so and his eyes are burning into mine, I feel it.
And I love him for it.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Ryan
Sofia’s leg is lying over my stomach, my arm is around her, holding her close, while my other hand moves up and down her silky-smooth thigh. Her nose is pressed to mine, and I can’t stop looking at her. Her face is flushed, her lips red and puffy from my rough kisses. She has faint marks along her jaw and her neck, all from me. She’s stunningly naked beside me, and she has the best body. So strong, so thick, and so fucking beautiful.
And at the moment, she’s all mine.
We ran naked across the hall for a shower, where I made love to her again. Despite what she found on the Google, she was not one of the 11,000 cases of accidental death in the shower during sex. She lived through it, much to her surprise, but she did scream a lot. I enjoyed every second of it, but then, I don’t think there has been a moment when I didn’t enjoy Sofia. Even when she was blowing me off, I enjoyed it.
Not sure what that says about me, but I can’t get enough of this girl.
I move my nose with hers, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction as we share a breath. She’s glowing, looking so good it leaves me speechless. I press my lips to hers, and she leans into me, tucking her hands under my neck where she loves leaving them. I fall into the kiss, deepening it. She tastes so sweet, like the pieces of Bubble Yum Quinnie gave us both. I hadn’t chewed mine, but she did, making her kisses sticky-sweet.
Pulling back, I gaze into her eyes, loving every single freckle along her nose and cheeks. “You okay?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not fragile.”
“No? You looked terrified when I had you against the shower wall,” I throw back at her, and she smirks at me.
“Ryan, I couldn’t be case 11,001. Could you imagine what my mom would say? What your mom would say? No way.”
Actually, I didn’t think anything about them, only her. I press my nose to hers, kissing her top lip. “You think I’d let anything happen to you?”
Her eyes search mine, a small little grin pulling at her lips. “I know you won’t.”
“Exactly.” I draw in a deep breath, her apple and flowers scent intoxicating me. She leaves me feeling drunk. After the shittastic way this day went, I really didn’t think I could feel the way I do—completely and utterly carefree. I was pissed at
Amelia and so jealous of Moon, but now, none of that matters. It’s all in the past, and all I care about is Sofia’s hot body against mine and her sweet lips moving with mine.
“What are you thinking about?”
My eyes drift shut as I move the tip of my nose along hers. “How beautiful and amazing you are.”
“Suck-up,” she accuses, and I grin as I grab her ass with my hand. “Ooh!”
“I’m thinking about how we should have made time for this a long time ago—”
“I told you.”
I open my eyes to see her beaming at me. “And I’m thinking how in the hell did I get so lucky to be in this bed, with your body pressed against mine, and completely yours?”
“Right time, right place.”
We share a grin. “Elaborate.”
“Rooftop with Oreos.”
“I knew that would get you.”
“It did.”
“Oreos always win.”
“Or maybe it was all you,” she says, her eyes boring into mine. “Maybe it’s how you listen to me, how you looked at me like I was the only girl in the world, and then how you kissed me so thoroughly and with so much respect.”
My heart aches as I gaze at her. “All that, huh?”
“Or it was the Oreos.”
“I knew it.”
Our laughter mingles before it subsides. Silence stretches between us, but we don’t move. I don’t think either of us can get enough of the other. After weeks of stolen kisses, dry-humping in deserted hallways, and studying for finals, we only need us, no words, just silence. When she moves closer, her lips touching mine for just a second, I almost go for more, but then she asks, “Is this how it is with all relationships?”
I cock my head. “What do you mean?”
“This, us,” she says slowly. “Like, is it always this easy? This great?”
I scoff and then run my hand down her arm. “No, not at all.”
“Really? Was your last relationship bad?”
“There weren’t any other ones. Well, no, wait. I had one when I was in high school. She was my first real girlfriend and I loved her, but we were young and stupid.”
She brings her brows together. “You didn’t lose your virginity to her, right? You lost it to some girl at a party.”
“Yeah, my girlfriend’s name was Leslie, and she came after the party.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, I used to wish I’d waited until I got with her, but that’s not the case now.”
Her eyes study mine, and a knowing grin pulls at her lips. “No?”
“No, I wish I would have waited for you,” I say with a big grin that has her giggling in my arms, her cheeks so high on her face, her eyes close a bit.
“Lies. All lies.”
I nibble on her jaw. “For real.”
“Shut up,” she teases, shaking her head. “But really, was it easy with her?”
I shake my head, looking at her with wide eyes. “We were sixteen. When you’re that age, there is nothing but drama. We argued more than we talked, and everything was ruined by social media.”
Her face wrinkles with disgust. “I didn’t have a Facebook or an Instagram until I met Amelia. I didn’t experience the girl drama, except for someone trying to take my spot. I really had to grow up pretty quick, no time for nonsense.”
I run my hand up her arm, cupping her neck. “Which is why I think it’s different for us. Drama is the least of our issues.”
“We have issues?” she asks, and her eyes fill with concern. “I thought we were good.”
“We are. But when I say issues, I mean things like time is against us and we’re busy.”
“Oh yes,” she agrees, nodding. “Those are big issues.”
“They are.”
“We need to make time.”
“All the time,” I say, kissing her lips, and her face warms with a smile.
“I don’t know. This just feels good. I watch Amelia and how she is about Drew, constantly worrying about what he’s doing and if he’s still interested, but I don’t worry about that with you. I know you’re with me, I know you dig me, and I don’t feel like you hide anything from me. Ya know?”
Fuck. My heart jumps up in my throat as I stare into her gorgeous eyes. Today they’re more green than brown. Still hazel but lighter. But that doesn’t matter when I very well may be holding something back from her.
“Is it not like that for you?”
I shake my head quickly. “No, not at all, baby. I trust you completely.”
Relief floods her features. “Oh! Ha, you made me nervous. I thought I was being a good girlfriend.”
I capture her bottom lip between my teeth, my eyes burning into hers. Biting softly, I lick it before letting her lip go. “The best.”
She flashes me a satisfied grin as she hooks her leg higher on my hip, looking scrumptious draped on me. “While I don’t have anyone to judge you against, I can judge you by the guys my teammates are with and then that come-dumpster—”
“Come-dumpster. That’s a good one.”
“I heard Amelia call the ref that at the last game.”
I chuckle. “Of course you did. She’s insane.”
“But yeah, that come-dumpster Drew. And I think you’re so much better. I basically hit the jackpot with my first boyfriend.”
My stomach drops. Her first boyfriend.
Her first everything.
That’s me.
And fuck, I want so badly to be the last, but that just isn’t fair to her. I probably shouldn’t even worry about keeping the whole NHL shit from her anyway. It won’t matter in the end. I chuckle lightly, though the lump of my heart in my throat is choking me, and I feel like I should say something. She asked about the future, and again, I shut it down, unable to even fathom not having her in my life. I’m sure we’ll talk and text, if by the grace of God I get in, but it won’t be this. It won’t be us.
When her eyes soften, she reaches up, taking my jaw in her hand. “Why do you look like that? What’s wrong?”
Shit. What’s wrong with my face? Well, no reason to lie. I clear my throat, nodding. “Yeah, um, I’m just a little worried about the NHL and shit.”
Way to be completely clear there, Justice.
Shit. I think I’m lying to her.
Fuck.
The vee between her eyes deepens as she scrutinizes me. “Why? Because Moon was a shoo-in? Ryan, you can’t base your success on his. A winner doesn’t watch his competition. He just wins.”
My face breaks into a grin. “Are you sure your major isn’t inspirational speaking instead of business?”
“No, shut up,” she laughs, smacking me. “Remember how I told you, when I was sucking or having an off day, my coach would put me on the beam, make me run my routines, and throw foam blocks at me? He would scream these quotes at me, and I swear I’ve heard them so many times I can recite them word for word.”
My face twists in disgust. “That sounds so healthy.”
“Yeah, he’s an asshole,” she says with a nervous laugh. “But he made me who I am. I’m strong, I’m driven, and I’m dedicated. Because of him, I know I can win, and Ryan, you can too. I know you can. You’ve got this. I promise you do.”
I swallow thickly, feeling every one of her words hitting my chest with force. “How do you do that?”
She narrows her eyes in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Just be so confident?”
She gives me a soft smile. “Ryan, you’re confident. So confident.”
“Eh—”
“No, really,” she interjects. “When I see you on that ice, you are fucking hot. You skate with this swagger that most of the guys don’t have. You’re powerful, and I love watching your eyes move as you watch the puck.”
She makes my heart soar. “Really?”
“Yes, and then the way you walk toward me. Most of the guys around here walk with their hands in their pockets with their heads hanging low. You walk with your
shoulders back, your eyes on me, and I can’t get enough of it.”
“It’s because of you.”
She smacks my bare chest. “No, it’s you. It’s your confidence, and it radiates out of you. Don’t ever feel like you don’t have it. I wouldn’t be so attracted to you, so into you, if I thought you didn’t.”
Man, I was lucky the moment I decided I was going to make her mine. She’s right, I do have confidence. But even with that confidence, it won’t get me what I want. I’ve been saying I was going into the NHL since before I graduated high school, but here I am, senior year with no contract or prospects. My confidence blinded me, and now… Now everything I could ever want might go to shit. Clearing my throat free of emotion, I say, “You should be a motivational speaker.”
She rolls her eyes. “Nope, the only motivating I’ll do is for you. And for the girls who will be in my gym one day.”
“I can’t wait for that day.”
She snorts. “Please. You’ll be too busy being a hotshot hockey player, with all these women throwing themselves at hot Ryan Justice whose plus-minus is spectacular.”
“Plus-minus, huh?”
“And you make fun of my Google,” she says, her eyes burning into mine.
“I do. But you know what?”
“What?”
“I’ll only want you,” I say quickly, and her lips curve as she gazes into my eyes. “Because I love looking at you and touching you and lying with you and kissing this sweet fucking—” I touch my mouth to hers, and when her hand tightens on my jaw, her tongue meeting mine, I bask in it. I have to, because she’s a winner. It doesn’t matter how much confidence I have, she won’t want some fucking loser who can’t get into the NHL.
So I’d better love everything about her—and love her hard—before I lose her.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Sofia
I’m freezing my ass off.
“If Tennessee could decide what season it wants to be in, that would be friggin’ great.”
My mom’s laughter fills my ear as I hold my phone to it. The brisk wind hits me in the face, freezing my earlobes and nose. “Jesus Christ.”