Backcheck Heart: An L.A. Crush Hockey Novella (Nashvellas & Novels)

Chapter 10

Standingin the employee locker room, I rush to change out of my club outfit and into something comfier for the drive home. Thank God I dressed cute to come in tonight. I would be mortified to have Ralphie see me go from my sexy satin romper to baggy sweats, especially now that I know where this night is headed.

I don’t know what happened to cause him to show up tonight, but I’m not disappointed in the outcome. My lips still tingle from his kisses hours later as my mind reels from his declaration. Don’t get me started on the sensations pulsing through the rest of my body.

I am low key mortified by how wrecked I look from making out and humping his leg. I’m shocked he didn’t change his mind. Instead, he seemed as if he wanted to devour me whole—something I hope happens later. Since I was parked in the employee lot, I told him to head to my place after last call. I’m only a few minutes behind him, but I plan to use the drive to psych myself up. It was easy to get lost in the moment, but now the nerves are setting in.

I would typically talk to Carina or maybe Madison, but it’s too late to call either. Mads is out of town on a flight, and we aren’t close enough for me to wake her up. Moments like this make me envious of people with close friend groups. Sure, I have tons of people I can call to party or attend a brand event, but not many who would be there for me in a pinch.

I used to lean on my brother for that, but now he’s off playing ball in Texas. It’s embarrassing that someone with fifteen thousand social media followers doesn’t have someone she would consider a best friend, but here we are. Ugh, this is a depressing train of thought. It”s not doing much to get me in the mood for the night that awaits me.

Grabbing my phone, I text Ralphie that I’m on my way and turn on my Badass Bitch playlist. It’s the perfect combination of feminine rage and empowerment. A few songs in, I am interrupted by a response.

2:27 AM

Ralphie

See you soon. I hope you sent this before you left and didn’t text while driving.

Me

I would never

Don’t worry. I can text through my speakers.

Ralphie

That”s good. You are too precious to risk. I need you intact for my plans for tonight.

Okay, swoon. How does he always say the sweetest and sexiest things? I don’t think a single man I’ve dated has ever cared if I put myself at risk. They’ve also never kissed me with such possession that I could sense it in my bones.

Lost jamming to my playlist and replaying our bathroom encounter, I get home in record time. Pulling into the spot directly in front of my place, I smile when I see the large familiar frame walking toward me. Ralphie could have easily pulled into this spot. Instead, he left it free for me.

I open the car door before he reaches me. He takes me by surprise when he immediately crowds me and kisses the hell out of me.

“Hi,” I greet when he pulls away.

“Hi.”

“What was that?”

“A kiss?” he answers teasingly. “I assumed you were familiar with the concept after doing it earlier, but I am happy to demonstrate again. Inside.”

Taken back by his playful side, I step in front of him to lead him into my apartment. Once there, I expect him to ravage me. After all, I felt how hard he was against my leg during our bathroom romp, and he didn’t get any relief. But instead of dragging me straight to bed, he double-checks the locks and lumbers into the kitchen.

“Are you hungry?” he asks.

“What?”

“Are you hungry?” he says slower. “I don’t know if you usually eat after work.” He frowns as if not knowing that information upsets him.

“I usually drink cherry juice and wind down for bed by doing my skincare routine and listening to a few chapters of an audiobook.”

He reaches out to pull a glass from the cabinet, but I place my hand over his to stop him. “That isn’t my plan for tonight.”

“No?” he questions, dropping his hand and turning toward me.

“Nuh uh. I’m not ready to sleep yet.”

“What are you ready for?”

Instead of answering him, I palm his growing erection and lightly press my lips against his. He quickly deepens the kiss, hands sliding to my ass to pull me into him further. I can’t play with him the way I want with our bodies this close. Instead, I settle for squeezing him over his jeans.

We”re both panting when we break our kiss, and I want this man more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. The desire to please and keep him is overwhelming. “I didn’t get to take care of you earlier,” I whisper against his lips.

“Seeing you come apart for me was enough,” he groans as I unbutton his jeans and slip my hand inside his boxers.

“Maybe for you.” Stepping back from him, I drag his jeans and boxers down enough to free his dick as I kneel in front of him. I knew he was big from touching him, but Ralphie is packing. He isn’t the longest man I’ve seen, but he’s thick. So thick that I’m slightly worried about fitting him in my mouth.

“Morgan,” he rasps as my hand circles his length. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know.” I say before licking the head. His salty flavor bursts onto my tongue. His hand drifts to cup my cheek when I swirl my tongue around his tip. He doesn’t push me further but doesn’t stop me either. He caresses me, peering down through hooded eyes.

Emboldened by his touch, I slowly suck him into my mouth. I can only get a few inches due to the girth, but you’d think I was deep-throating him based on the noises he makes. I’ve never gotten wet giving head before, but seeing him enjoy himself has me clenching my thighs together as I hollow my cheeks and suck harder.

I expect him to take over and thrust into my mouth, but he doesn’t. He lets me lead. With one hand wrapped around his base and my tongue swirling around him, I suck in earnest. After a minute, he curses and pulls me off.

“No more. You’re too good, and I am not blowing my load down your throat in your kitchen when your roommate could stumble in at any moment.”

“She’s out of town,” I reply.

Eyes darkening, he pulls me up. “Which room is yours?”

“Second door on the right.”

Next thing I know, Ralphie has me over his shoulder as he walks to my bedroom. Kicking the door shut behind him, he throws me down on the bed. Standing above me, he rips his shirt off over his head before leaning down to kiss me senseless.

“Back up on the bed. It’s time for you to get naked, Zlatí?ko,” he commands.

His hands go to my leggings while mine drag off my shirt, leaving me in a lace bralette and thong.

“You are so sexy,” he mutters.

“Back at ya. I want to see all of you.”

“You first.”

“Same time,” I barter.

He must agree because he pushes his pants and boxers down in one swift movement as I unclasp the bra. He watches me, transfixed, as my thumbs hook into the waistband of my thong. Reveling in the attention, I pull it down slower than necessary. Staring at my center, Ralphie brings his eyes back to mine. The gleam in them is borderline feral as he puts one knee on the mattress and leans down to kiss my hip bones.

Hands trail down my thighs until he pushes them wider, opening me up to his scrutiny. I bite my lip as I watch him take me in. When he places a soft kiss directly on my clit, I shudder. His tongue gently traces my seam reverently until I’m squirming beneath him.

“Please,” I beg when it becomes too much. I expect him to ignore me, but he heeds my cries instead. Bringing his thumbs to my center, he spreads me open and laps me with an urgency that makes me wonder which one of us has been teased most by his ministrations.

When he sucks my clit into his mouth, my hips buck up into his face. The moan he releases sends a shock through my system. His hands land back on my thighs, holding me in place.

“Please don’t stop. I’m so close.”

His grip pulses on my thighs, letting me know he hears me. He continues to suck and flick my bundle of nerves as he plunges one finger inside me. I’m so wet that he’s met with no resistance when he adds a second, then a third. The stretch is exquisite. My cries grow louder as I clench around his fingers.

“Oh my God, yes.” Warmth spreads through my lower belly as I crest higher and higher. As I’m about to reach my peak, he crooks his fingers, and I detonate. My chest lifts off the bed as he uses his free hand to hold down my pelvis and continue licking. I thrash against him.

“Fuck, fuck, sensitive,” I pant.

With one more tender kiss to my clit, he pulls back, wiping evidence of my arousal on my thigh.

“One day, I’ll keep licking you until you cover my face in your cum,” he states, kissing up my body. He steals my breath in a filthy kiss before I can respond.

“I need you inside me, please.”

“Condom?” I see panic in his expression. He must not have expected the night to end this way and didn’t bring one.

“I have some, but I don’t know if they’re made for someone your size. I don’t know if I was made for someone your size.”

He laughs. “It’ll fit. Both in the condom and in you. I’m not sure what some asshole told you, but regular condoms are plenty stretchy.”

Moments later, he proves he does fit into the condom, which somewhat alleviates the nerves about him fitting inside me. Laying his body over mine, he kisses me softly as he positions himself between my legs. I squirm when he uses the head of his cock to tease my still-sensitive clit.

“Inside, please,” I moan.

“You beg so sweetly; how can I say no?” In one thrust, he is seated completely. We both groan. Tension bleeds from his body as he allows me to adjust to him. When I wiggle against him, he nuzzles into my neck and slowly moves.

“So tight.” Grabbing one leg, he slings it over my hip, allowing him to press deeper into me. “Damn it, babe. You can’t clench on me if you want me to last.”

“Who says I want you to last,” I taunt. “You’ve already made me come twice tonight.”

“It’s not a competition. But I’m not letting go until you come on my cock. I’m going to find that spot that makes you see stars and draw every ounce of pleasure from this perfect body.”

Swiveling his hips, he makes good on his word. The change in angle has him sliding against my walls, hitting every spot until my legs, both now wrapped around him, are shaking.

“There it is,” he murmurs. Keeping his position, he speeds up his thrusts.

“Fuck, yes. Just like that. Don’t stop.”

“I won’t stop. Not until you break for me. You’re going to come on my cock and tip me over the edge. Aren’t you, baby? You’re going to be my good girl and use this hot little cunt to make me come?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” I cry. I’ve been called a ‘good girl’ before, but the praise has never hit the way it does now. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do to please him at this point. I want this man on a visceral level. He must be able to tell.

“That’s it. You were made to take me. Your pussy is fluttering so good against my cock. Come on, good girl. Shatter for me. Show me how much you love having me inside you.”

That’s all it takes to push me over the edge for the third time tonight. My nails dig into his arms as I clamp around him, riding out my orgasm as he jerks inside me. I melt into the pillows as Ralphie lands on his arms above me, careful not to put too much weight on me.

“I didn’t spend enough time enjoying these tonight,” he says as he kisses my sternum and nuzzles into my chest.

“Next time, big guy.”

Lifting, he offers me a grin. It’s pure and boyish. I know it’s rare to see him this carefree. I want to bring this side of him out more often. Standing from the bed, he ventures into the bathroom, returning with a washcloth.

“I can do that.” I motion to the cloth.

“So can I.” He crawls back into bed behind me once he’s satisfied I’m clean.

“Are we sleeping naked?”

“Mhmm, that way, if I want to play with you in the middle of the night, we don’t have to get rid of your pesky clothes all over again.”

“Makes sense,” I yawn, pushing back into him.

“Goodnight, mine,” is the last thing I hear before drifting off.

When I wake up,I’m still wrapped up in Ralphie. His arms are banded around my waist, keeping me tight against him, which I would usually love, but my bladder insists we have other plans. Carefully as I can, I extract myself. After doing my business, I get a glimpse of myself and gasp in shock.

Exhausted from the events of last night, I skipped out on my skincare routine. Not only is my smeared makeup making its best raccoon impression, but my hair is giving caught-in-wind-tunnel vibes. Peeking into my room, I see Ralphie still fast asleep, now hugging my pillow. I want to snap a picture of the adorable sight, but if I want to appear presentable, time is of the essence.

I quickly wash my face and slap on a glow serum and moisturizer. After brushing out my waves, I sprinkle dry shampoo into my hair to add back volume and counteract the oiliness from having his hands in it all night. With a quick curl of my lashes and coat of mascara, I finish with an application of cream blush and tinted ChapStick. It’s nowhere near the glam I usually rock, but it’s enough to stop him from running for the hills.

Tiptoeing back into the room, I slide back into bed. I must have jostled him because moments later, he stirs. Realizing he’s holding a pillow, he flips on his back and pulls me toward him, slinging my leg over his.

“Morning, baby,” he murmurs in a graveling morning voice that should be illegal. His accent is strongest when he is sleepy.

“Good morning,” I reply. He smiles at my words and finally opens his eyes. I watch as he scans my face, brow furrowing.

“Everything okay?” I ask self-consciously. I thought I did enough to freshen up this morning, but apparently not.

“You look perfect,” he says. But it doesn’t sound like a compliment.

“Thank you?”

“No, I mean you’re always perfect,” he corrects, weighing his words. “You just don’t look as if you had three mind-blowing orgasms last night. I guess I expected you to be more rumpled. I should have known you’d wake up angelic.”

I blush at his response. “I washed my face and fluffed my hair when I used the bathroom.”

Shaking the disappointed expression off his face, he kisses my forehead. “I know we didn’t have plans until later, but do you want to grab brunch instead?”

“I’d love that. Let me get ready, and then we can head out.”

“All you need to do is change clothes,” he notes.

I laugh at the suggestion until I realize he is serious. “I could never go out without a full face, especially with you. I need to shower and redo my hair. I won’t take long, I promise.”

“You can take as long as you need, Zlatí?ko. But know, you never need to do anything to be seen with or by me. I adore you exactly the way you are.”

I blink at him, no idea how to respond. Instead of waiting for me to, he scoops me up in his arms.

“Now that you mention it, I think you definitely need a shower. Let’s do that together. I bet I can dirty you up again before I scrub you clean.” And he does.

We stay in the shower until the water grows cold, then reluctantly head out to brunch at the kolache cafe. Early in the afternoon, Ralphie has to return home to do the things he would have done this morning, but we agree to grab lunch tomorrow before I set off on my next flight.

I don’t want to get my hopes up, but this feels like the start of something incredible. I can only hope my intuition is right.