by Shae Ross
“What if you’re wrong? What if I came here to tell you the house is haunted?”
I breathe out a half laugh and reach for the hem of her tank. I pause, rubbing the backs of my knuckles against the bare skin of her waist, teasing. “Then I’d have to teach you a lesson for lying.”
I pull the tank high, cupping her breast. She gasps my name as I drop my mouth on her warm skin and draw wet circles around her nipple.
“I’m only trying to protect you from spirits,” she says, a tease in her voice.
“God, Priscilla.” My words come out in a husky exhale. I’m so hard it hurts. I twist and splay a hand against her inner thigh, intending to move my fingers over her boxer shorts, but I catch the edge, and before I can talk myself out of it, I’m moving the fabric aside and touching her.
She moans, arching her back. I slow my movement and kiss the corner of her mouth. “Okay?”
“Mm hmm,” she murmurs, and a smile creeps over her features. I shift onto my side, propping my hand under my head and leaving one leg braced over her open thighs. I study the small, sensual expressions she’s making as my fingers stroke.
“You are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” I say. I want to watch her face like this while I’m inside of her. I clench my jaw. I shouldn’t think about it. We can’t go that far. She rolls onto her side, facing me. Her hands roam lower over my stomach, skimming down my sweats, stroking my cock over the fabric.
“Preston…”
“God, baby…”
I slide a finger slowly inside of her. She moans, clenching my bicep with one hand as her other hand grips tight to my cock, running her thumb over the tip of me—a timid stroke.
“I want you,” she whispers.
I move my hand to the back of her neck and pull her close. God, I want to rip my pants off and drive into her. She’s wet and ready…
“I want this,” she says, gripping me harder and moving her hand to the waistband.
I look down at her. I don’t think she realizes she’s said it, but I do, and it reminds me of my vow. She’s staring at me with the most sensual, loving look on her face. My hands are withdrawing slowly. Her mouth opens, and the passionate expression melts into confusion. I grip her wrist and draw a ragged breath. Her fingers open, and I rise to my knees. I sit back, exhale hard, and rake a hand through my hair.
“I didn’t mean for you to stop,” she says, rising slowly with a panicked look on her face.
I should not have done this to her. But I know if I don’t stop now, I won’t be able to.
“I didn’t want to stop,” she says, and I can hear the uncertainty in her voice.
“I know. I did.” I’m panting, trying to gather my thoughts so I can explain this with enough sensitivity. “I didn’t mean for things to go that far. I thought you understood. I was going to call your bluff—and you called mine.”
Her mouth opens wide, and a small flinch shadows her lids. She slumps back with a stricken look on her face.
Fuck.
“Oh.” She swallows hard. “So you were bluffing?” she asks, her voice fades and her eyes wilt at the corners.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“That’s what you said.”
I’m struggling with the thought of what this will do to us. At the very least, I shouldn’t do this with her until she knows everything, until we’re past the hearing. But how long can I realistically expect her to understand. I’m throwing her mixed signals, but I can’t help myself.
Tan legs flip in front of me and land on the floor with a soft one-two thud.
“Priscilla!” I reach for her and miss. Shit. She yanks the door open, and I bolt behind her, catching her around the waist in the hallway. “Wait, please just listen for a minute,” I whisper as she squirms in my arms.
A deep sound echoes close, as if someone is clearing his throat. We freeze and look up. Ben is standing in the center of the hallway, staring at us with his arms crossed over his huge chest. Great.
I don’t have a sister, but if I did, I sure as hell would not be happy to see her boyfriend tackling her in the hallway at one a.m. I release her and she straightens, flipping her tousled hair over her shoulder.
Ben’s gaze focuses on me like a hot laser, shifts to Priscilla, and then to back me.
“And what are you doing out of bed at one in the morning?” Priscilla asks him. “Your bedroom’s this way, as I recall.”
Only Priscilla would think going on the offense was a good idea right now. Then again, maybe she wants to see her hulk of a brother take me down. I’ve been paired against plenty of big guys, and I’m sure I could hold my own for a while, but I doubt I could keep up with Ben—nor would I ever want to try.
He closes the distance between us until he’s a foot away, and speaks low. “Because I know my sister, I’m going to assume the two of you are just working something out.” I nod and Priscilla raises her chin, neither confirming nor denying the “get out of an ass-whipping free” card he just flipped me. “Besides,” he says, clapping my chest, “bearing the brunt of Priscilla’s temper is worse than anything I could throw your way. Good luck, man.” He chuckles and walks past us.
His door clicks shut, and I raise a brow toward Priscilla’s crossed-arm pout. “Will you let me walk you back to your room?” She hesitates and I add, “Please, for fuck’s sake.”
The side of her mouth twitches—a begrudging concession. She crosses the wide hallway and opens a door. I follow her in, watching her move to the end of the bed. She loops an arm around the tall post and drops her cheek against it.
Clearly, my abrupt bedroom shift has left her feeling rejected, which is ridiculous. I could laugh at the irony—I’ve never wanted any girl the way I want her. The sadness weighing on her features shoots ice into my veins.
I close the distance between us. “Priscilla…” My hands move to the sides of her face, and her fingertips curl around my forearms as I raise the angle of her gaze directly to mine. “Nothing about you or our relationship is a bluff to me.” Her head sags into my hand, and I move my thumb over her cheek.
“I need to know that you understand that. You’re beautiful and funny and smart, and I want you so bad, Babe.” A shudder ripples through my chest. I kiss her mouth and feel the soft pull of her lips. “It’s physically painful for me to pull away from you like that.”
“Then why do you keep doing it, Preston? If it hurts you and it hurts me, why do you keep doing it?”
I’m silent. Her words assail my senses, pelting me with guilt. I can’t stay away from her, and when I’m with her, I can’t resist touching her. I rub the knot at the base of my neck and move to sit on the edge of the bed, letting out a long breath. I have to move us out of this gray area or she’s going to kick me to the curb, and I can’t bear the thought of that.
I exhale a frustrated breath and speak slowly. “There are some things that have gone on with our football program—things that I’ve been involved in and things that I’ve fought against. I can’t tell you everything I know, but I think that bar fight may have had something to do with those problems.”
I let my words sink in, watching her trying to pull out the meaning. “Are you saying you think the bar fight was a set up? Like those guys jumped you on purpose?”
“Possibly.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know exactly, but if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. Do you understand?” I’m firm in this. That’s as far as I can go, and I know she sees it on my face.
“No. I don’t understand. I don’t understand why you can’t tell me…”
I cut her off. “Because it’s bad shit, Priscilla, and I don’t want to tell you anything that could get you in more trouble.”
“Is it bad shit that you’re involved in?”
“Priscilla…” Her chin rises. I let out a breath, trying to shake the harsh tone and start over. “It’s bad shit that swirls around our football team. When you’re on a team, you’re all involved.”
> A moment passes, both of us trying to read one another.
“I could help you—like you’re helping me.”
“No.”
She starts to speak but swallows her words, blanching at my definitive tone. A veil of disappointment descends over her features. I know exactly how she feels—I’ve been disappointed in myself for three years. But that’s all I can give her.
She leans back against the dresser and studies me.
“I don’t want to lose what we’ve started. I want things to keep growing. I want you…”
“But…?” she whispers.
“But, if I have to lose you to keep you safe, I will.”
“Will you ever be able to tell me?”
“Yes, but I don’t know when. It may be a while, but I promise I’ll tell you when I can.” I let out a long breath and pause. “My life is so complicated right now. I have to get that NFL contract—not just for me, for my family. They’ve given up so much, and it tears me apart having to watch my mom struggle. There have been times when we can’t even afford her prescriptions.” I blow out a breath and stare straight ahead. “I’ll likely be leaving Michigan in the spring…” My hands grip my thighs as I look up at her. “This is my life. I really don’t have anything to offer you…certainly not what you deserve.”
The disappointing reality hangs in the air between us. Her expression softens and she walks to me, standing between my legs. I slide my fingers behind her thighs as she raises her hands to the sides of my face.
“I’m sorry, Peep,” I say, kissing a palm.
She turns my face back to hers and speaks. “Whatever it is that’s looming in your background, short of you having killed or raped someone—which I know you haven’t—I accept it.”
“You can’t say that—”
“I just did.” She cuts me off. “You can’t decide for me. And you’re wrong about what you have to offer me. I’m not interested in your circumstances or what might be bad about your past or good about your future. I’m interested in you and what we have right now. I don’t need a commitment. I like who you are, and I like who I am when we’re together. I like the way you make me feel.” She smiles and a faint blush stains her cheeks. She’s so fucking sweet and sexy, and I must be crazy for trying to fight this.
“I like the way you look at me,” she whispers. “What we have right now is enough.” Her voice becomes thick as if it’s hard for her to say. “I want you so bad, and I feel like half the time you want me and half the time you wish I’d go away.”
“No. I never wish you’d go away, Priscilla. I never wish for that.” I tighten my grip on her waist, pulling her closer. “I just need to be sure, baby. I hurt you once. I’m not going to do it again. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you.” I pause, blinking slowly. I give up. “If you tell me you’re okay with everything, if you’re sure…” I nod, feeling the dryness in my throat. “I won’t hold anything back.”
There it is. I may not have shared the whole truth of my circumstances, but I’ve shared the truth that I know in my heart—in my heart she’s mine and I’m hers.
Her frustrated expression begins to melt. We smile and then she laughs—the sweet, rich sound pours over me, releasing tension from my shoulders. There’s only one thing better than that sound.
I stare a long moment at her beautiful face. My cock is getting thick, demanding my attention, reminding me of the new terms of our relationship. Free-fucking-rein.
She’s standing in front of me, half-naked and stunning.
I move the hair off her collarbone and raise a finger to trace one dark nipple. “You have no idea how badly I want you, baby, but I don’t have a condom, so you can’t touch me tonight.”
“That hardly seems fair,” she whines, and I smile.
“It’s not fair.” I wrap my arms around her and fall back on the bed. She gasps as I flip her onto her back and lie beside her. “But I won’t be able to hold off if you touch me. Tonight has to be about something else.” I lower my mouth onto hers, and kiss her tenderly. She meets my tongue, nibbling on my bottom lip, and a hot shudder moves through me. I raise the hem of her tank, pushing it high, and feast on the sight of her perky tits and tight nipples. My mouth waters for the taste of her skin. I start a slow descent, kissing her jaw and throat and sucking her nipple in my mouth. She jerks at the wet contact, and I tighten my arms around her, nipping and teasing.
My fingers skim the waistband of her boxers, and I slide them down her smooth legs, my cock pulsing with need.
“God, Priscilla,” I rasp, staring at her naked body. Her athletic shape is such a turn-on—I know everything that goes into a body like this. I move back to lie beside her and kiss her mouth as I slide my middle finger deep inside of her, curving the base of my hand to rest on her clit. Her hips tilt, and I start a slow rhythm, envisioning myself sliding into her until I’m buried deep.
It’s been so long. There is just nothing better than the taste and feel of a girl’s body—not football, not golf, nothing, and I’ve never had sex with anyone that I cared for like I care for Priscilla.
I slide another finger inside of her gently, and she lets out a soft whimper, gripping my bicep. I kiss the side of her mouth and whisper. “Too much?”
“It makes me want more. I want to touch you,” she whispers, staring at me through a haze of pleasure.
“Next time, I promise. If you touch me tonight, you’ll break me. I’m afraid I’ll lose it, and my cock will be inside of you so fast… Next time.” I feel the sweat on my brow. Saying the words is even physically hard.
“It’s better to go slow.” I want her to be comfortable with me touching her. I flick my thumb over her clit, and she arches her head back. I move in another slow circle, increasing the pressure, and she moans my name.
“Like that?”
She sucks in a breath. “Yes,” she rasps, barely able to get the word out. Her face is flushed, and her long hair is fanned out around her shoulders. Her hips are moving and her body is rocking against me. Warm hands hold the side of my face and she alternates between kissing my mouth and moaning softly over my lips as my fingers respond to her rhythm. So. Fucking. Sweet.
I watch as the sensations tighten her body. I think I’ve got her—she’s right there, riding my fingers and circling her hips. Tiny muscles clamp and pulse around me, and I have to clench my stomach to keep my cock from exploding right along with her. Her mouth is open, the breath caught in her throat. Fuck yes. Satisfaction blasts through me. I drop my forehead against hers, feeling the light dampness, and listening to her breathing.
The delicate line of her throat eases, and she opens her eyes, smiles, and blinks. I pull her close and she nuzzles against my neck. “I want to do that for you, too,” she whispers. “Let me…” She sits up and kisses my mouth. “Please…”
I push her gently down with my fingertips as I shift on the bed. “I know exactly what I want,” I say, flashing her a wicked look. I move my hands, cupping her ass and easing her down, sliding her legs over the edge of the bed and kneeling between them. “Spread your legs now,” I coax, as my hands move up her inner thighs, pushing them wider.
She grips my shoulders and threads her fingers in my hair as I sink lower, pressing my mouth to the soft skin, kissing and nipping a trail to her hot sex. Her body jerks, then settles and squirms lightly against me as my tongue tastes her in slow movements. The tip of my cock is throbbing with the pressure from the hot blood building in my body. I reach into my sweats, gripping and stroking my aching skin. I’m close, so close, but I want one more thing. My hands reach for her hips, twisting her onto her stomach. I pull her to her knees in front of me and rub the underside of my cock against her, holding her hips tight. I watch her move, sliding against the hard length of me until I can’t think straight. Oh. Holy. Fuck. My breath hitches and my body explodes, spilling over the curve of her ass.
I collapse, breathing hard, hooking an arm around her and rolling us to the mattress. Her arms circle
my neck and the smile on her face fills my senses. I feel spent and high as she kisses my cheek and molds her tight body to mine. We rest in each other’s arms for a long time, breathing low and savoring the new intimacy. Her feather-light touch traces small lines on my back, then she twitches and laughs when my fingers graze the soft skin at her sides, which makes me determined to do it again until she crawls up my body and kisses my mouth, sweet, slow, deep. This is a dream.
“Was Thanksgiving everything you wanted it to be?” I ask.
“Everything I wanted and more than I expected,” she says, blinking a dreamy look my way. “And you? Was it too much chaos for you at the Winslow house?”
“Are you kidding? Best Thanksgiving ever.” I kiss her forehead and something clicks in my mind. It has been the best Thanksgiving, watching her working in the kitchen, the constant laughing and ribbing with her family, and the feel of her fingers trailing over my shoulder anytime she got up from the table. I let out a breath and massage the small muscles in her back with my fingers.
I wish I could stop scanning the line of obstacles shifting and coming my way—our last game Saturday, the End of Season Sports Banquet, and Priscilla’s hearing, just days away. I try to tackle the thoughts and stuff them to the ground by recalling her words. This is enough for right now. The beautiful girl that I’ve been fantasizing about for almost a month is lying next to me, half-naked. I’m stroking her side boob with my knuckles, and she’s cleared me for a “no strings attached” future. It should be more than enough, but for some reason, I can’t get myself to believe it. My every experience with her seems to cut me open, to tear at my insides and break me down until the only thing I am is a man that wants her and nothing else.
Chapter Seventeen
Priscilla
“Do you want me to wait for you?” I ask Jace as I gather my things from my locker. It’s Friday, and our team has just had a morning meeting with Coach Howell to go over our strategy for tonight’s game one last time.
