21. Bella
Chapter 21
Bella
W hen I wake up, it’s still dark in Braden’s bedroom.
I lean up to look at the clock on his nightstand, but I can’t move. I’m pinned under the weight of his massive arm.
I stop moving so I don’t wake him up. I listen until I hear the sound of his heavy, rhythmic breathing.
He starts to stir, then pulls me closer against him. He nuzzles the back of my neck before he begins snoring.
I smile to myself, a giddy feeling sparking in my stomach. He’s cuddling me in his sleep.
God, that’s so sweet and cute.
When I first met Braden and found out he was a hockey player, I never would have guessed he was like this. So sweet and affectionate in bed. And filthy in the hottest way.
My brain pulls up a highlight reel of all the dirty things he said…and all the naughty things we got up to in his bed hours earlier.
Just thinking about the way he drove me wild with his mouth and his hands sends a flash of heat all over my body.
Tingles spark in my tummy and my chest.
But then I halt the feeling in its tracks.
I shouldn’t be feeling this way about Braden. I shouldn’t be so smitten with him. He’s a professional hockey player. I know what they’re like—I dated one for almost four years.
Matt was like this in the beginning too. So sweet and doting and wild in bed. But then he got bored and cheated on me, like so many pro athletes do. Yeah, they’re not all the same. I’m sure there are some lovely and wholesome pro athletes out there who are loyal to their partners. But a lot of them aren’t. And I’m not willing to put my heart on the line again to see if Braden ends up being one of the good ones.
I sigh quietly to myself, disappointed. I’ve already broken my “no hockey players ever again” rule and my “just once to get it out of our systems” rule for Braden. I should just leave before I’m tempted to jump his bones again.
As slowly and as quietly as I can, I slide out from under Braden’s massive muscled arm. I step out of bed and check the time. It’s not even 8 a.m.
I crouch down on the floor and feel around in the dark for my clothes.
“Hey,” Braden says. His voice is rough and sleepy. He yawns and starts to sit up. “You okay?”
“Uh, yeah. Just looking for my clothes.”
He flips on the lamp on his nightstand. I close my eyes at the sudden brightness. When I open my eyes and look at Braden, my knees are weak. His hair is messy, his eyes are puffy with sleep, and he looks so fucking sexy.
I swallow and battle the urge to crawl back into bed with him.
His eyebrows furrow like he’s confused. “Are you leaving? ”
There’s a ping in my chest at how surprised and disappointed he sounds.
“Um, I was going to.”
“Why?”
I bite my lip, suddenly feeling exposed. I’m standing naked in front of this sexy and sweet man who I’m wildly attracted to…who I shouldn’t be with.
I hug my arms around myself. He frowns. “Are you cold?”
I nod. “A little.”
He slides out of bed and steps over to his dresser, then pulls out a Bashers hoodie from the top drawer. He walks over to me, slides it over my head, and pulls it down. It’s so big on me that the hem lands at the middle of my thighs.
Gently, he swipes my hair out of the hoodie and over my shoulder. He offers a sleepy, lopsided smile and cups my face in his hand as he gazes down at me. “How’s that?”
My insides go gooey. “Better. Thank you.”
He takes a step back and sits on the edge of the bed, sets his hands on my waist, and pulls me to stand between his legs.
“Wanna tell me why you were trying to sneak out of here while I was asleep?” A teasing smile plays on his lips. It matches his tone. He’s not accusatory or mad or even annoyed. Just curious.
I let out a breath. “Last night was amazing.” I hesitate for a second.
That sexy smile remains as he quirks an eyebrow. “But…”
I bite my lip. “But I have this rule.”
He grins. “I know. ‘Just once to get it out of our systems.’ Terrible rule.”
I start to smile. “Not just that. After my ex, I don’t want to be in a relationship with another hockey player again. Honestly, I’m not ready to be in a relationship with anyone.”
He blinks like he’s unbothered. “That’s okay. I understand.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I’m not looking for anything serious either,” he says. “Your ex put you through the wringer. I get why you wouldn’t want to get serious with anyone again anytime soon.”
I let out a breath at how understanding he is. “That’s exactly how I feel.”
The corner of his mouth quirks up in a sexy, knowing smile. “We’re not in a relationship though. We’re neighbors.”
My lips twitch with the urge to smile. “We are.”
“We’re attracted to each other. And we have pretty incredible chemistry in the bedroom.”
I let myself smile. “That’s true.”
He leans closer and kisses my neck. I shiver and hold back a moan.
“I like you, Bella. A lot.” He trails a line of kisses down the side of my neck.
“I like you too,” I say, my voice breathy.
“Besides, I’ve been playing really well since we started hooking up. If we stop no, I’m screwed.”
I burst out laughing and shove him. He chuckles as he grabs my waist and pulls me against him.
“You’re my good luck charm, pretty girl.”
I know he’s only kidding around, but I can’t help the way my stomach flips when he says that. After the way my ex treated me, it feels so good to be wanted by Braden. He’s so sweet and doting and focused on what I want .
“You’re so romantic,” I tease.
“You bring it out of me.”
I bite back a smile. “You’d be okay for this to stay as a hook-up only thing?”
He flashes that panty-melting grin. “Yeah.”
“We need to set some ground rules.”
“Okay, sure.”
“I’m not interested in full-on sex.”
“I’m good with that.”
“If either of us wants to stop this arrangement at any point, we stop. No questions asked.”
“Absolutely.”
“What about you? What rules do you want?”
That wicked smile appears. “When I’m playing an away game, we hook up over video chat.”
I roll my eyes and chuckle. “Really? You’re into that?”
“Yeah. Fooling around over video is hot. You’ll see.”
He slides his arms around me and hugs me tighter against him.
I smile. “Okay. Deal.”
He kisses me. It doesn’t take long before things heat up. He slides his hands under the hoodie I’m wearing and cups my breasts. Gently, he works my nipples between his fingers, softly tugging. I moan into his mouth. I pull the hoodie over my head and drop it to the floor.
He slides his hand between my legs. He groans into my mouth.
“So wet already?” he teases. I smile against his mouth and nod.
He circles his fingertips gently around my clit. That familiar pressure builds between my legs, seeping up my tummy and chest. It’s not long before my legs start to get wobbly .
Braden leans back. Heat flashes in his eyes. “I want you to ride my face, pretty girl.”
My clit jumps at what he’s said. He scoots back on the bed, settling against the pillows. I crawl onto the bed and straddle him. With his hands on my hips, he guides me up his body. I settle my legs on either side of his head and lower myself onto his mouth.
Just like before, he runs his tongue slowly up and down my slit. I gasp.
He groans and grips my thighs. He runs his tongue all over my pussy and my legs start to tremble at how good it feels. I hold onto the headboard to steady myself.
It’s not long before the pleasure intensifies as his tongue goes wild on my clit. Heat gathers between my legs.
I start to shake. Seconds later, I explode. I come so hard, I collapse against the headboard. My throat aches from screaming through my release, but I can’t help it. Braden is so good at making me come really, really hard every single time.
With his hands braced around my waist, he helps me slide off of him and settles me next to his chest. I grip his hard-as-steel cock in my hand and start to stroke him while we make out.
After a minute, we hear a soft whimpering noise at his bedroom door.
“Uh oh,” Braden says between kisses.
He pulls away, chuckling at the sound of Maizie whining at the door.
“I think someone’s hungry,” he says.
“Or maybe she needs to pee,” I say.
We break our kiss. Braden hops out of bed and pulls on a pair of joggers, covering up his boner. I make a whiny noise .
He grins at me, then kneels on the bed to kiss me once more.
He gently grips my chin, thumbing my bottom lip. “Are you hungry for my cock, pretty girl?”
I nod.
“Don’t worry. I’m gonna fuck that gorgeous mouth of yours soon.” He winks and slides off the bed. “But first, we’ve got a puppy to take care of.”