Chapter 24
24
Preston
I spent a record-breaking amount of time with my face buried between Elle’s thighs last night. My hands roamed her sexy body the whole time underneath the jersey that’s hiding her from my sight.
While I love seeing her in nothing but my jersey, she insisted on keeping the damn thing on all night. She didn’t seem to mind my hands or mouth, which makes me think she’s self-conscious. I hate that she feels the need to hide even an inch of her skin from me.
More than that, I hate that Riley has most likely seen all of her; that he’s touched her, kissed her, done all the things I want to do but haven’t yet.
God, I want her.
But we both agreed no sex yet. That’s probably for the best, since, as turned on as I get whenever I’m near Elle, I know I wouldn’t last five seconds inside of her.
Which is why I made last night all about Elle and her pleasure. My dick has waited years. It can wait a few more days or weeks.
After the finals are over, when I know that she’s getting over Riley and we’re not together for any ulterior reasons, I may be ready to cross that final line with Elle. Until then, I don’t mind suffering as long as she isn’t.
I need to prove to her that wanting to be with her doesn’t have anything to do with that prick. I want her because she’s gorgeous and sweet and sexy as hell.
Those thoughts, along with all the others in my head, disappear as soon as I feel Elle’s lips press to my bare pec. Her fingernails glide through my chest hair, then down the length of my happy trail before moving back up. Lying flat on my back and shirtless, my abs tighten in response, while another part of me swells in anticipation.
“Morning,” Elle says with her body curled up on her side in the crook of my arm.
“Morning. How did you sleep?”
“Like the dead. Did I even say goodnight?”
Chuckling while trying to ignore the persistent ache in my lower body, I tell her, “The last thing you said to me was, “ Oh crap! My toes are cramping but don’t you dare stop…don’t…yes! Yes! OH YESSS! ”
Her palm playfully slaps my belly, sending a jolt of need lower and making me groan.
Elle lifts her tousled blonde head to look at my face. “I didn’t hit you that hard.”
“No, I know,” I assure her. “But something is so hard it’s about to burst.”
“Oh. I would be happy to help you with that.” Her fingernails circle my belly button, then slide lower at the same time her damp tongue flicks over my nipple. “Your next game is still thirty-six hours away…”
Game? What game? My brain can’t comprehend anything right now except needing Elle’s mouth and hands on me.
“Preston?” she eases her small hand underneath the waistband of my jeans that I slept in to keep things from going too far. The denim was an extra layer of clothing to use as a barrier. If I had slept next to Elle in just my underwear, knowing she wasn’t wearing any panties underneath my jersey, it would’ve been too much temptation.
But this isn’t sex. It’s close, but not the same. And Elle offered…
Reaching down, I pop the button and lower my zipper. “Make it stop hurting, cupcake.”
“Yes, sir,” Elle replies and then she’s moving. Straddling my lower legs, she tugs my open pants down my thighs, then my boxer briefs that have an embarrassing damp spot on the front. My erection pops up between us, demanding all of her attention.
And Elle obliges. She wraps her small fingers around the base to hold it still, then leans forward to lick it like a lollipop. She teases up and down my length until I’m nice and wet, and so close to coming I’m shaking all over. That’s when she glances up at me, her green eyes holding mine as she opens her mouth nice and wide to welcome me inside.
“Fuck!” I shout to the ceiling, my neck muscles tightening as I savor the slide of her hot tongue, her muffled moans, and sweet, blessed suction. My fists clutch at the bedding, refusing to touch Elle’s head for fear she’ll stop.
Years. I haven’t been inside a woman’s mouth in years.
It’s even better than I remember. Or maybe that’s just Elle.
I’m in a tortured state of agony trying to make it last as her head bobs faster, as she sucks me harder, deeper. So deep, I feel the back of her throat, the walls constricting around my shaft, and I. Am. Dead.
“Wow,” I mutter once I’m able to speak the English language again. “Wow.” I scrub my palms over my face that feels numb. My entire body is still buzzing.
“Do you regret it already?” Elle ask from where she’s moved back beside me.
Removing my hands, I look at her like she’s crazy. “What? Why would I ever regret that?”
“If you don’t win tomorrow…”
“I’m not going to blame you if we don’t win tomorrow,” I assure her. Wrapping an arm around her back, I drag her closer to me. “I needed that. More than I realized.”
“Good.”
We both lay there in silence, Elle’s head resting on my chest, her fingernails lightly drawing circles on my stomach while my palm slides up and down her spine, between the numbers of my jersey.
“What are your plans for the day?” I finally ask her.
“I don’t have plans. What are yours?” she asks.
“I have practice…” I glance over my shoulder at the hotel alarm clock’s glowing red numbers. “Shit. Soon. It shouldn’t be a long one, just mostly yelling at us for all our mistakes last night. After that, would you want to come over to the house with me? I could bring you back to the hotel tonight if you don’t want to stay over.”
“Okay. But I think I would like to stay over, if that’s all right with you and Maya.”
“Of course it is. She helped me clean the whole place just in case you stopped by.”
Lifting her head to see my face, she asks with a smile, “You cleaned for me? That’s so sweet.” And it earns me a kiss. “And definitely wasn’t to make anyone jealous.”
“Have you heard from him since the other night?” I can’t help but ask.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Elle rolls her eyes and lays her head back down on my chest. “Why do you think?”
“I meant why haven’t you blocked him and be done with him?”
“I-I don’t know,” she stammers. “Seeing him miserable, or at least pretending to be miserable, makes me kind of happy.”
“You aren’t thinking about taking him back?”
“God, no! And could we please try not to talk about him anymore?”
“Sorry. I just wish he would stop bothering you.”
What I mean is that if Riley stopped contacting her, then it might be easier for her to move on, to get over him, and fully be with me.
Kissing the top of her head, I tell her, “I should get dressed and get going.”
Slipping my arm free and climbing out of bed with Elle there is harder than it should be, but I make it to my feet. After fixing my pants, I look for my shirt and hoodie while Elle sits up in the pile of sheets, hair messy, lips pink and swollen, looking so sexy it hurts.
“I’ll text you when practice is over and then come pick you up. I left my car at the arena last night while I walked around the city.”
“I’ll be ready,” she agrees.
Once my shirt, hoodie, shoes, and socks are on, I lean over the bed to give her a kiss goodbye. “See you soon.”
When I start to pull away, Elle grabs my hand to stop me from walking away. “Thank you for last night. For tracking me down.”
“Thank you for letting me in.” I lean down to give her another kiss, and while I’m distracted, she strikes. Her quick fingers fish her panties from the front pocket of my jeans.
“Got them!” she announces proudly, waving the Bobcats thong like a flag. “You did promise to give them back.”
“Fine. Just don’t wear them tomorrow night. Or any panties. That’ll be my good luck,” I tell her with a wink, before I make myself walk out the door.