by Celia Aaron
“Was that okay? Did you like the food? What about my dad? I’m sorry he asked about your dad. That must have been hard. I’m sorry the house is so small. But it’s sort of—”
“Cordy, take a breath.” He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it. “It was perfect. I was with you. I wouldn’t have cared where we spent the day, as long as we were together. And the house was perfectly fine. Your dad and Mrs. Trapper were great company.”
“Thank you. I l—” I took a deep breath but I couldn’t stop myself. My emotions were like a volcano inside me, the top blown off and everything rising to the surface. “Trent, I love you.”
I screamed as the car swerved off the road and onto the gravel shoulder almost a hundred yards back from the ramp to the highway.
“What? Was there a deer?” I turned and looked out the back window.
“Cordy.” Trent put his hands on my cheeks and pulled my face to his. His eyebrows were drawn together as if he were concentrating. “Can you repeat that?”
“Oh.” I wrapped my fingers around his forearms as a smile took over my lips. “I said I love you.”
He closed his eyes and smiled as if the sound was sweet. “Say it one more time. I just want to make sure.”
I laughed, joy rushing through my veins. “I love you.”
He kissed me with an exuberance that made my heart beat double time. I was so afraid to give him those words that when I finally did, his response was all-consuming. In that one kiss, he gave me all of him, but still managed to take my breath away.
He pulled away. “Get in the back seat.”
I blinked. “Wait, what?”
“I want to seal the deal.”
I laughed. “We aren’t married. You don’t have to consummate.”
He kissed me again, more urgently this time. “With you, I do. I’ve waited for so long, wanting you this whole time. I need to feel you. Backseat. Now.”
That tone—it was like his desire for me made him regress to the mean, as if he were a more primal version of himself. It turned me on to an alarming degree.
He jumped out of the car, and I tentatively opened my door. He ran around and pulled it all the way open, helped me out, and then eased me into the backseat. Walking back around to his side, he slid in next to me and tangled a hand in my hair.
“I’ll never want anything the way I’ve wanted you.” His kiss seared down to my soul, and his hands were rough in my hair and along my body.
He leaned me back, pressing his chest against my breasts, and sending tingles of pleasure shooting through me. Pulling my hair, he angled my head so he could deepen our kiss, and his tongue alone was erotic enough for me to press my thighs together to keep the ache at bay.
I slid my hand down to his pants and caressed his thick shaft through his pants. He groaned into my mouth. The more I stroked him, the more I wanted him inside me.
He seemed to read my mind and hitched my sweater up, yanking it over my head and tossing it to the floorboard. Pulling my bra cups down, he fastened his mouth around one of my nipples.
He licked until I was panting, and the windows fogged up. He leaned back and picked at the waistband of my leggings. “Are these pants or what? Doesn’t matter. I want them off.” He grabbed one of my boots and pulled it free while I did the other. In a few moments, I was bare from the waist down.
His hands went to his pants, but I pushed them away.
“Let me.” I unbuckled his belt, undid the button, and unzipped the fly. He ran his fingers up my thigh and slid them through my slick folds. I bit my lip as he began to rub my clit in small circles. I shoved his pants and shorts down his hips, and his cock sprang free. I bent over and licked the underside of his shaft.
“I need you.” He pulled me up and lifted me so I straddled him. Face to face. “I want you to get off on my cock.” Reaching between us, he rubbed his cock head against me and positioned himself at my entrance.
I sat down on him slowly, impaling myself until I shook from the sheer pleasure. He cupped my breasts and pressed them together, sucking my nipples as I began to ride him. Headlights passed, but I didn’t care. He was all I could think about, and how good he made me feel.
“That’s it.” He groaned as I leaned forward, pressing my breasts into his face. His hands went to my ass and squeezed as he rocked his hips up to meet me.
I bore down harder on him.
“Grind that pussy on me.” He gripped my hips tighter and pressed me down.
“Trent.” I pulled his head back and took his mouth as I rode up and down on his cock, my clit getting perfect friction against him with each of his thrusts.
He rubbed his tongue against mine at the same tempo, our bodies completely entwined with each other as he pushed me toward my orgasm.
My legs began to shake, but he only gripped me harder, forcing me to enjoy every little point of contact. He kissed to my neck, then ran his teeth along my shoulder. I pressed down on him, working the thick length in every pleasurable way imaginable. My breath caught in my throat as tension built in the pit of my stomach. I was a slave to my hips. They ground on his cock until I came, repeating his name on a low moan. I couldn’t stop the rolling waves of pleasure, and he bit my shoulder as he thrust up hard. His cock kicked and filled me as I took his grunts and groans with a steady kiss.
When we were spent, I let my forehead rest against the seat back and took in gulps of air.
He ran his hands up and down my back, then pulled me close to him in a gentle embrace. “I’m yours. Always.”
I pulled away and ran my palm down his face before grazing my lips against his. “I guess you sealed the deal.”
He thrust inside me again, his cock still hard enough to send a wave of heat through me. “Maybe we should double seal it. Just to be sure.” He turned and lay me on my back, still inside me.
“I think it’s probably better safe than sorry.” I giggled as he pressed down on top of me and stole my laughter with another kiss.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CORDY
“THAT’S WAY TOO MANY jalapenos.” I frowned as Landon scooted a handful of diced peppers into the pot of cheese dip.
“Don’t be a pussy.” He stirred them in until the gelatinous orange cheese hid the danger within.
“When does the good stuff start?” Ellie had folded herself into a side chair in the living room and was texting furiously.
“They like to go through all the highlights from the year before they announce the four playoff teams. Be patient.” Trent tossed a piece of popcorn in the air and caught it in his mouth.
Of the four of us, only Landon and I were proficient enough to be in charge of food for the playoff selection get-together I’d planned. He’d healed up nicely, no signs of Ethan’s handiwork lingering on his handsome face.
Things were different, though. Our relationship had shifted. The change was almost imperceptible, but I could feel it. He didn’t share as much with me as he had before. I couldn’t tell if that was a result of his relationship with Ellie or mine with Trent. But he was here, and we talked every day just like we used to, so I was thankful.
A clatter sounded from the living room. I looked over as Trent tried to fish the remote off the floor, but only sent it skittering under Ellie’s chair.
The announcers were laughing. I turned to the screen. There I was, in all my blue and white glory. My muffed kick from our early season game against the Eagles was playing in an untold number of households across the U.S. I’d memorized the play—the way the ball hit my own player and flew straight up, how the lineman ran past me and then dragged me all the way to the end zone.
“It’s been called the Kick Six of the Century. And after that replay, I don’t think I can add anything else.” One of the announcers guffawed, and I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt.
Trent sent me a sheepish glance. “I tried to change it. Sorry.”
“It’s cool. I mean, it did happen.” I attempted to ignore the peals of laughte
r from the two announcers and made a mental note to send Kirk Herbstreit a rude tweet. He was cute, but he could stand to be taken down a peg or ten.
I grabbed a bowl of salsa and a bag of chips and set them on the coffee table.
“Thanks.” Trent patted the leather next to him. “Take a break for a minute.”
“I have to finish the taco bar.”
He pulled me down into his lap and nuzzled my neck. “There’s a particular taco bar I’d like to finish.”
“Gross.” Ellie switched to texting with one hand while scooping salsa with the other.
“You need to work on your inside voice.” I giggled as he ran his fingers over my stomach through my team t-shirt.
“Maybe I should just take you to the bedroom for a private chat.”
I laughed louder when he tickled my ribs. “Stop!”
“No.” He nipped at my ear.
“Hey, I’m trying to work over here,” Landon grumbled from the kitchen.
I disentangled myself and stood. Trent’s thick erection was on full display through his athletic shorts. I snagged a throw pillow and tossed it to him. He didn’t take his eyes off me, the look in them making me forget what I was doing for a second.
“Taco bar.” I forced myself to walk away from him, but the image of me riding him like a rented mule once Ellie and Landon left for the night was a small consolation.
“How many presents under that tree are for me?” Landon glanced to the overdone Christmas tree in front of the big windows that looked out onto the park.
Trent had told me how his father loved Christmas. The stories of his dad dressing up as Santa Claus and visiting children in the hospital, giving outrageous gifts, and spreading holiday cheer during the entire month of December touched me, especially because Trent was so fond of those memories. So, to keep his dad’s spirit alive, I’d gone a little overboard. The tree, the mantle, and any available surface had some sort of Christmas decoration on it.
“I don’t know. Are you on Santa’s nice list or his naughty list?” I slid the taco shells into the oven.
He leaned against the counter, his worn Pantera t-shirt looking decidedly non-festive. “I would have to fall firmly in the naughty camp.”
I set the timer and walked past him to the fridge. “Well, in that case, I don’t know how many presents you can legitimately expect.”
I tried to snag every ingredient for the tacos that my arms could hold, but it didn’t quite work.
“Let me help.” He took the salsa and lettuce from me.
“I didn’t get any soft tortillas. I hope that’s okay.” Snagging the cheese, sour cream, and onions, I backed away and turned to the bar.
“You know my thoughts on crunchy versus soft tacos.” Landon joined me.
“I do. ‘Soft tacos are hard tacos’ ugly cousins.’”
“Perfectly quoted and completely correct.”
Trent stood and walked over. His dick situation seemed to be under control again. Thank God. That would have been awkward.
“They’re building it up some more.” He surveyed the bar. “But the announcement is imminent.”
“Cool.” I tried to tamp down my nerves, but I burned for the chance to face the Eagles again. The Kick Six replay only added fuel to the fire.
Trent’s phone rang. He snagged it off the coffee table and froze.
“What is it?” I started dicing the tomato.
“Mom.”
I stopped mid-chop. She hadn’t contacted him since she’d stormed out of his apartment.
“I’ll take it in here.” He hurried to his bedroom and closed the door.
I forced myself to keep chopping, though I was desperately curious as to what his mom wanted.
It didn’t take long for me to find out.
Trent’s voice started low and then rose, contention in every note. “Mom. Mom. Listen. No. I’m not coming without Cordy.”
His voice grew quiet again, but tension permeated the air.
Landon coughed. “So, who wants nachos?”
“I do!” Ellie finally stopped texting and came over to the bar. “Is this real meat? Where’s my tofu?”
Landon shook his head. “I refuse your attempts to profane my tacos. Meat or GTFO.”
I strained to hear any more of Trent’s conversation with his mother, but the bedroom was quiet.
“I’ll just have veggie tacos.”
Landon gaped. “You’re going to eat a taco without any meat. Seriously? I thought I knew you.”
Ellie walked around the bar and hugged Landon from behind. “I’ll get my meat another way.”
“Okay then.” I turned my back on them and rinsed my hands off as Trent came out of the bedroom.
His eyes were stormy as he walked to me.
“What happened?”
“We have an invitation to the Carrington Estate for Christmas Eve dinner.”
“Both of us?” I dried my hands on a dish towel.
“Yes. If you don’t want to go, I understand. We can celebrate here.”
“You’d pass it up for me?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Are you serious? Where I go, you go. If you aren’t welcome somewhere, then neither am I.”
His answer was perfect, just like him.
I pulled him into a hug. “I think we should go.”
“If you want to, we will. But if she’s rude to you—”
“Then you’ll let me handle it.” I pulled back and peered at him. “I’m a grown woman. I can hold my own, even against her. Maybe we can work out some sort of truce.”
“I like your fight, but she’s a tough opponent.”
I dug my nails into his sides. “Are you saying I’m not tough?”
He laughed and picked me up, bringing me to eye level. “If you and my mother get into it, I may just hide under the dining room table until the destruction is over.”
I kissed the tip of his nose. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt her too bad.”
“Thank you.”
“Hey, they’re announcing!” Ellie ran to the living room and turned the volume up.
My nemesis, Herbstreit, was announcing the top four teams. We all scurried into the living room.
“We’ve finally reached the moment we’ve all been waiting for. So, without further ado, the fourth ranked team in the nation, according to the playoff committee, is the Billingsley Bobcats.”
We went wild—screaming, jumping, high-fiving, hugging. Trent picked me up and spun me around. I laughed when he almost knocked the TV over, but he didn’t seem to mind. He kissed me until I was breathless and boneless.
Yells erupted from the park outside, and the entire town was no doubt hooting and hollering about their team making the National Championship playoffs.
“I can’t believe it.” I grinned so hard I worried my face might crack.
“Number three, according to the committee, is the Rangers.” Herbstreit revealed their names on a digital bracket board.
We all sat down, tacos forgotten, as the commentators discussed the picks and gave their opinions on who numbers one and two should be.
“Come on. Eagles need to be number one. I want them right out of the gate.” I willed Herbstreit to do the right thing.
He stood in front of the bracket and announced that the Tigers had been selected as the number two team. And, as there was only one other no-loss team left, he filled in the top of the bracket. Number one—the Eagles.
“Yes!” I rocketed to my feet and fist-pumped like I was in a music video from the nineties. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Trent yanked me into his lap and kissed me again. “I love it when you get scrappy.”
“Get used to it.” I bit his jaw, and he squeezed my ass.
Landon stood and clapped. “Taco time!”
Our phones were going crazy with notifications. I called Dad and could barely make out his words, he was so excited. Mrs. Trapper congratulated us, too.
Then I put my phone on silent, enjoyed t
he company of my friends, and had a wonderful taco Tuesday.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
TRENT
“IT’S GOING TO BE fine.” Cordy powdered her nose for the third time since we’d left Billingsley to drive to my mother’s house. “She already loves you. I’ll just have to convince her that I’m not so bad. Doable.”
I took the interstate exit and drove up the curvy road that led to the Carrington summer home, one of many, but my favorite by far. “She’s never been a warm person, Cordy. Not like you.”
“I get that. I do.” She clapped her compact closed. Her forest green dress gave her skin an even more luminous glow, and the way she’d done her hair made her look like a silver screen bombshell. Beautiful.
“She’s just a hard woman.”
“It’s because she thinks I’m after your trust fund.” She turned to me, her face a total deadpan. “And I am, of course. I set up this whole two-year estrangement and all just so I could eventually get my hands on your Scrooge McDuck-sized vat of cash.”
I laughed, the tension easing a little as she put her hand on top of mine. “Are you going to dive into it and swim around?”
“Every day. Twice on Sundays.” She smiled, at ease despite the fact that we were walking into a lion’s den.
“As long as you’re doing it nude, I’m all for it. That’s a particularly nice mental picture.”
She snorted. “As if there is any other way.”
I sped past the smaller houses at the base of the mountain, their Christmas lights warm in the cold night. Far above, the lights of my parents’ house shone through the trees every so often. Mom’s phone call had taken me by surprise, especially given the way we’d parted. But she mentioned how Dad wouldn’t have wanted us to be apart on Christmas. I agreed with everything she said until she made it clear Cordy wasn’t invited. Not a chance.
Mom had eventually given in, but I knew she would do everything she could to convince me I was making a mistake. Maybe Cordy could change my mom’s mind. It seemed impossible, but Cordy had surprised me plenty. Maybe she’d come out on top in the battle with my mom. Either way, Cordy was my future. If Mom couldn’t accept that, we had nothing more to discuss.
