by Ali Parker
“That’s right.” Coach lifted his eyebrows a little. “You’re going to go places that most people could never even dream of going. Just get in the gym and on the track and get your body ready for what’s coming. It’s going to be ugly.”
“I get it.” I wanted to feel excited about being the best, but I had more of a sense of relief. My father would be incredibly pleased and it would get him off my back for a little while if nothing else. “I’ll start working harder. We have Spring Break coming up and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll just use that time to get stronger.”
“Good idea.” Coach smiled. “Do you have any questions or concerns for us? Anything you need to know about graduation?”
“Nope. I’m ready to move forward. I’ve been training Jayce Moore and trying hard to get William Tanner to behave. The kid’s got a lot of talent, but he’s a lot like my brother was. Wild as hell.” I brushed my hands over the front of my shirt, hoping that Coach would get my hidden message about the drug issue without me having to say too much.
“All right. Let me know what I can do to help. You guys take far too much on yourselves with these rookies.” Coach popped the desk. “Let’s go over your grades and then you can get out of here.”
I walked out of the meeting and headed straight to the gym to work myself into a sweaty mess. The news from Coach and Dr. Dement was all good, which I somewhat expected, but it felt like another step toward leaving Providence, which left me torn up inside. I couldn’t stop thinking about Aubrey and how letting her any closer was a huge mistake that would bite both of us in the ass if we weren’t careful. Anger drove through the center of my stomach as indecision pulled me from one extreme to the other.
I needed to leave her be and let her find someone that would get to enjoy her senior year with her, which wasn’t me. I would be all over the fucking country and my focus would be on my new team and trying to prove myself once again to a whole new group of coaches.
My phone buzzed and I picked it up to see Jayce calling.
“‘Sup man?” I bent down and grabbed my towel from the floor to mop up my forehead while I had the chance.
“Dude, get over here when you can. We’re at Merskys having a beer, and fucking Will is toked again. I swear, man. I can’t deal with this shit anymore. I signed up to play hockey and lead these unruly fuckers on the ice, not in life. I’m not a father figure like you are and this bitch won’t listen to me. He’s put his hands on my sister more than once in the last two hours, and I’m about to break the front door with his face.”
“On Aubrey?” Every muscle in my body went rigid.
“Yes. I only have one sister, you meathead. Get over here and help me. Everyone’s drunk as shit.” He let out a long sigh, and I felt for the guy, but he had some growing up to do too. A team wasn’t just a team on the ice. It was a brotherhood, and that meant busting balls when necessary and having conversations that were hard and sucked like hell. It was all part of the deal.
“I’m headed that way. Get him in a corner and have Lizzy or one of the other Ice Queens sit on his lap to keep him still.” I growled at the thought of him touching my girl. “It might be best if you guys take him home. I’m likely to kill him if he’s upset your sister.”
“I get that. It’s the reason I called, though I’m likely to kill you if you don’t stop playing around and tell me what the fuck is up. You’re like a brother to me, and someone better come clean soon.”
“All right. I’ll be there soon and we’ll talk.” I dropped the call and jogged toward the showers, washing up quickly and getting over to the bar.
I walked in to the sound of cheers and laughter. The place was packed from the front to the back with students enjoying the half-price Wednesday drafts and replays of our season on the ten TVs in the place.
“Hey, where is he?” I stopped by Jayce and scanned the room for Aubrey, not finding her.
“Fuck.” Jayce glanced around. “He was just here. He was sitting with Lizzy.”
I moved through the crowd and found Lizzy laughing with some other girls. I touched her elbow and smiled down at her as she turned and let out a soft holler.
“There you are!” she announced and slid her arms up my chest. “The Captain of the Friars, ladies and gents! We’ve been waiting on you. It’s not a party without our leader.”
I wrapped my hands around her wrists and pulled her arms off me carefully. “Where is Will? I need to see him.”
“He’s out back, smoking I think.” She reached for me again. “Come back to the Ice House with me. I miss you.”
“Not right now.” I moved through the crowd, still looking for Aubrey as I moved through the long corridor to the back exit. I hit the door hard and glanced to my left in time to see Aubrey slap William hard.
“I said no, asshole.” She turned and walked toward me, her face a mask of indifference, but I could see hurt in her eyes.
“Hey, what the fuck is going on?” I grabbed her arm and pulled her back to me.
“Nothing. He’s stoned and I was trying to help before Jayce tore his head off, but he’s an asshole.” She jerked her hand from me. “I’m going home.”
“You’re waiting on me.” I pulled her closer and gripped her chin softly, forcing her to look up at me. “Understand? I don’t want you alone.”
“Fine. Whatever.” She turned and walked toward the door and I moved toward William. The kid was bent over, laughing his ass off as if he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world.
I gripped him by the neck and jerked him up, lifting him off his feet as I pressed him to the wall behind him. “Tell me one good reason why I shouldn’t have you thrown off this team? I’ve warned you too many times. You’re a fucking idiot to waste your talent.”
“You don’t know shit, golden boy,” he choked out and kicked at me.
I reached up and punched him twice in the face. He cried out and dropped to the floor.
“Yep. I don’t, but I know this. You’re not a Friar anymore, Will. Good luck explaining your shit to Coach tomorrow.” I turned and walked back to the bar, devastated that he was giving up. Where I enjoyed hockey and would take the lifestyle that came with it, Will coveted it. He loved it and had been busting his ass his whole life for a chance like I was getting with Washington. Now he was throwing it away—just like my brother did.
“Wait. Please. Please, Lucas. I’m sorry, man. Really. Please.” He rolled over and started to laugh uncontrollably again.
“Fuck you, dude.” I walked back into the bar and found Jayce. “He’s out back. Leave his ass there. I’ll talk to Coach tomorrow about everything. I’m done.”
“You sure? That would be it for him, Lucas.”
“What else can we do? You couldn’t even handle him yourself today.” I glanced around again. “Where is Aubrey?”
“Walking home. She’s pissed.” He tapped my chest. “Watch yourself around my sister.”
“Not now, Jayce.” I pulled my keys from my pocket and looked around. “You good dealing with these other guys? I’m going to make sure your sister is all right.”
“All right, but I’m telling you, she’s in a mood. Better to just leave her alone.”
“I can’t.” I nodded to him and turned, moving through the crowd as quickly as I could. I would catch up to her on my bike and take her for a ride. As long as we didn’t end up at anyone’s house, we’d be good.
Chapter 20
Aubrey
“Unbelievable,” I grumbled under my breath as I glanced down at the torn strap on my top. William was an asshole that needed to be beaten to a pulp by someone, namely my brother. Why Jayce hadn’t taken him out back and put a hurting on him was beyond me. “Because he was drunk too.”
The sound of a motorcycle behind me caused my heartbeat to quicken. Seeing Lucas hadn’t helped the situation much, seeing as I was on the edge of tears. William hadn’t hurt me, but his pawing at me had gone from manageable to rough far too fast.
“Aubrey,”
Lucas called out above the roar of the motorcycle as he moved into the parking lot to my left.
I turned and let out a sigh. “What? I really don’t think it’s a good time right now. I just want to take a shower and crawl into my bed.”
He turned off the bike and got off of it, heading my way. “Come with me. Let me take you for a ride. It will calm you down. We can find someplace to grab a coke and talk about what happened.”
The need to belong to him hit me, much harder than ever before. I turned and looked out across the campus as I worked on slowing my pulse and stifling the need to cry. I hated being emotional, and doing so in front of him was even worse.
“Did he hurt you?” Lucas’s voice was soft but deep. Deadly.
“No,” I whispered and turned back to him. “Tonight’s not a good night. I need to be by myself, all right?”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” He slid his strong hands over my shoulders. “He did something that has you almost in tears, or did someone else upset you?”
The doors to the auditorium opened and people started to spill out of them and head our way.
“Shit. Was there an event tonight?” I glanced over at his bike.
“A play, I think. Come on. Let me get you out of here.” He grabbed my hand and turned, not waiting to hear if I was in agreement or not. The fact that he was so damn direct left me wanting him more. He didn’t have to ask for anything. He was confident enough to just take it.
Take me? Take me back to your place and make love to me.
I got on the back of his bike and refused the helmet. “I don’t want it. Just be careful. I want to feel the wind in my hair.”
“Crazy girl.” He reattached it and pulled out onto a small side street as I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my cheek to his strong back. The thick muscles that ran on either side of his spine flexed as I ran my lips over them, wanting him so fucking badly that I was willing to give up and give in regardless of what I got in return.
The soft thumping of his heartbeat increased with mine as I slid my hands over his thighs, dragging my nails up until I cupped his package loosely.
He growled and turned the bike to the left, but I was lost to needing to feel him against me. I didn’t care where he took me.
I should have never gotten on the bike.
His hand cupped mine and worked to stroke his thick arousal through his jeans as we moved through the dark side streets of the campus.
The slow tick deep between my thighs was violent now, demanding me to throw caution to the wind and give him anything he wanted. It was the fucked-up emotions of dealing with Will and trying to help my brother all at the same time. It was compounded with the devastation over my last conversation with him. He was struggling with whether to take a step toward a relationship with me, but tonight, I didn’t need a relationship. I needed pleasure. Release.
He stopped the bike and turned toward me, taking in a shaky breath. “Be careful getting off.”
I nodded and got off as he parked the bike and turned it off. He took my hand and walked us toward his apartment without another word.
Fear and lust danced in the center of my stomach, swirling beautifully in a way I’d never experienced before. Soft pants left me as I tried to keep up with his pace.
He stopped by the door to his apartment and looked over at me with hunger in his eyes. “Fuck, you’re so damn beautiful.”
His keys dropped, and he reached for me, pulling me in front of him and pressing me to the door as he consumed my mouth. His hands raced over my sides and cupped my butt, squeezing hard as he kissed his way down my neck. The strong press of his body against mine was almost too much, and I was drunk on the way it felt to be manhandled by an alpha like Lucas White.
“Inside. Get us inside.” I ran my hands over his strong back and lifted one leg to wrap it around his hip. I needed to feel him pressed to my center, grinding against me as if he were frantic to bury himself inside of me.
“Yeah. Inside.” He moved back up to my mouth and slid his hands up to my hips before stepping back. “Inside.”
I nodded and leaned down to get the keys, only to have him run his fingers through my hair and grip it tightly.
“I need you,” he whispered roughly as I moved into his arms for another long kiss.
“Just a minute.” I pushed at his chest and turned to fumble with the keys myself. Every part of me was alive with desire for the sexy bastard behind me. I pressed the key in the lock as a groan ripped from my chest. He had moved up behind me and cupped my breasts as he bit and sucked at the side of my neck.
“Get us the fuck inside, Aubrey, or I’m taking you right here.”
“We’re in.” I pushed the door open and stumbled into the place.
He slammed the door behind him and pulled off his T-shirt before crashing into me and picking me up off my feet.
“Tell me to stop now. This is your only chance.” He lifted me up and walked us to the bedroom, burying his face in the top of my blouse and kissing the tops of my breasts as I wrapped my legs around him.
“No. Don’t stop. Please.”
“Good girl.” He licked up to my neck and moved to the bed, laying me down and reaching down to work on my jeans. “No one hurt you tonight, right?”
“No. Shut the fuck up about it.” I wiggled out of my jeans and worked on my top as he sank down on his knees at the base of the bed and pressed his mouth over the wetness soaking my pink panties.
“You smell so damn good. Like you knew I was coming for you tonight.” He jerked my panties to the side and lapped at my center before moving back and tugging my panties off. “Bend your knees and lay them open. Give me what I want.”
I cried out again as he leaned back over and pressed his mouth over my mound. His hands held my legs up and open wide for him. I sank my fingers into his hair and rolled my hips to work against him in a slow rhythmic movement.
“I wanna taste you,” I mumbled softly, trying to clear the dizziness that spun all around me. “Let me taste you too.”
He glanced up. “Now or in a minute, baby?”
“Now.” I moved up the bed and got on my knees as he stood up and worked on his jeans.
Reaching behind me, I unclasped my bra and watched in awe as he stripped down, leaving his beautiful body on full display for me. Never in a million years had I seen anything so delicious. His dark skin was smooth and tight over thick muscles that ran down his chest and bunched at his stomach. His cock was thick and stood proud, the tip glistening as if to taunt me further.
“Lay down.” I pointed to the bed beside me and moved over as he crawled up slowly, watching me like a predator might his prey.
“I’ve been waiting for three years to see how you looked under your clothes. It was well worth the wait. Get up here and fuck me.” He lay down and reached for me, gripping my legs and pulling me on top of him. I faced his feet with my breasts pressed against his stomach as he slid his hands up the back of my legs and cupped my ass. “So fucking hot, Aubrey.”
I cried out as he pulled me down and pressed his mouth back to the center of my need, licking and sucking like he was dying of thirst and I was the only thing capable of quenching him.
His cock bounced subtly, and I ran my hand down the full length of it, thrilled by how thick it was. I leaned over and brushed my tongue down his shaft before gripping him tightly and taking as much as I could into my mouth.
His groan left me undulating my hips and rocking against him harder. Everything about him left me drowning with the need for carnality.
I worked him until he gripped my ass tightly and came up for air.
“Slow down. Slow down, baby.” He moved back up and pressed his tongue to my center, flicking his tongue across my clit and sending me into orgasm.
I cried out as I pressed my mouth to him again and worked him hard. It only took a few minutes and he joined me in ecstasy. We continued to lick and suck at each other until I collapsed on top of him in a sh
aky mess.
“Damn, Aubrey. You’re too much, baby.” He ran his hands over my ass to pet my sex. “Your pussy’s so beautiful, baby. I want more.”
“No.” I moved into a sitting position on his chest with my ass still facing him and glanced down at him. “No more of that.”
He chuckled and pulled me down beside him, snuggling up to my back and cupping my breasts. “You promise that Will didn’t hurt you? I’ll kill that motherfucker.”
I reached back and ran my hand over this thick thigh as the high started to subside. “I promise. He’s just a lost soul.”
“I think I might be too.” He leaned down and kissed up the long line of my neck. “Stay with me for a few more minutes and then I can take you home.”
“Yeah, okay.” I tugged the covers up and settled down beside him as my body purred with pleasure. I wanted more, but maybe it was better that we’d stopped where we did. Feeling him inside of me was something I wasn’t sure I could get over when he left. The fact that he didn’t want me to sleep next to him nagged at me, but it was an insecurity that I could deal with later. I wasn’t willing to ruin the moment over it.
Chapter 21
Aubrey
“No, you did not.” Layla turned in her bed and let out a squeal as I laughed.
“We didn’t fuck. Well, not really. It was just oral sex.” I licked my lips and rolled over on my back, letting the memory of the night before swell inside of me. “I wanted to make love.”
“Wait. Make love or fuck? We’re talking two totally different things.” Layla got up and pushed at my shoulder before crawling under my covers with me.
I turned to face her and laughed again. “It was fucking, I think, but we would make love well together too.”
“Like crazy tear-down-the-wallpaper fucking?” Her eyes widened and she giggled.
“Exactly. We made out for a good five minutes on the walkway in front of his door.” I groaned and closed my eyes. “I’m so in love with him. He’s going to destroy me, isn’t he?”