Chapter 12
TWELVE
Five Months Ago
Ash
Everyone is at the farewell party for Jordan that Robbie is hosting. The whole team showed up, and it’s a bittersweet feeling to say goodbye to a player while also celebrating the end of a great season. Robbie’s whole family is here—his parents, his older brother Michael and his wife Tangela, who is also Jordan’s sister. But there is one person missing—Alice.
I walk up to Olivia who is currently alone at the dining table, scrolling through her phone.
“Hey, girl. Where’s Alice?”
She looks up at me, a smile forming. Olivia is gorgeous, with long brown hair and green eyes, but the best part about her is how smart and witty she is. I remember when she used to only frown at me whenever I tried to ask her out.
Oh, how far we’ve come.
“I don’t know. I’m trying to get a hold of her but she’s not answering. She’s not even on her social media, which is a bit concerning,” she says, frowning down at her phone.
I take a seat next to her and poke her cheeks so she smiles again. “How are you feeling?”
She winces a little before flipping her phone over on the table and giving me her full attention. “Better, but I’m still not one hundred percent healed. The doctor said it will take another couple of weeks before I can start doing some more physical activity.”
“I bet you miss skating,” I say, not being able to imagine being on bed rest for six weeks. Olivia’s injury came from a nasty collision a month ago when Dustin Mitchell ran into her, on purpose, after blackmailing her and threatening to get her fired over dating Robbie.
“You have no idea. I miss any kind of exercise at this point,” she says with a pout. I reach my arm out to circle her shoulders in a sideways hug as she rests her head against mine.
“I’m sorry he did that to you. I’m glad he was fired, but at the same time, I almost wish he’d be back next season so I could kick his ass.”
“I think Robbie did a good enough job of that,” she says, shaking her head.
“You’re right. He’d do anything for you, but so would we, just so you know.”
She gives me another grateful smile and a tight hug and that’s when Robbie saunters over to us. “I thought I told you to stop hitting on my girlfriend, Ashton.”
I give him a cocky smile in return and kiss Olivia on the cheek. She laughs and pushes me lightly away as Robbie drags my chair away from her and leans in to kiss her. He’s so fun to mess with. I’m jealous of how effortless their dynamic is. I want that more than anything. Someone to be silly with, someone to kiss in a room full of people, someone to love and love me in return.
I stand up to give them some privacy as I glimpse around the room. More people are trickling in, teammates and their significant others. Robbie’s house is packed. Jordan is talking with his sister, but he doesn’t seem to be very social despite this being his party.
On the other side of the kitchen, I see Eli leaning against a wall, looking at me with an unreadable expression. I tilt my head for him to join me but he shakes his head no. He then nods towards the hallway and takes off. I take that as my cue to follow, so I make my way through the crowded kitchen and down the hallway. I don’t see him anywhere so I just stand around for a moment, spinning in circles.
All of a sudden, a hand is grabbing the back of my shirt and pulling me inside a room. When the door closes and I turn around, I notice where we are. Eli pulled me into the laundry room. Last time we were here was at the New Year’s party when I first kissed him. Eli’s gaze is intense as he slowly backs me into the door. It reminds me of that night and how amazing that kiss was. Even with how drunk I was, I still remember every movement, every touch.
Eli’s lips meet mine and this kiss is gentle, but bruising. It’s like he doesn’t believe I’m actually here, so he needs to ground me. My lips happily part for him and my hands fly to his hair, which is long enough for me to run my fingers through, but not long enough for me to grip.
“You need to grow out your hair so I have something to pull on,” I groan out when he finally gives my mouth a break.
“Hm, I’ll think on it,” he replies before diving in again, his hips finding mine and grinding. Eli’s hands are eager and enthusiastic as he reaches down and undoes my belt, reaching next for the zipper of my slacks.
“Aren’t you afraid of getting caught?” I say, wondering if this really is such a great idea.
“I locked the door this time. Just try and be quiet.”
I don’t get a chance to reply, because Eli drops down to his knees, pulling my layers down until my hard cock springs free and he immediately takes me in his mouth.
“Fuck!” I pant, looking down at him. His fingers dig into my ass and start kneading and I’m so fucking gone for this man and his touch. I start thrusting, slow at first, until Eli guides me faster with his hands. My hands are on his head, threaded in his hair, and I need to lean back on the door as he takes me even deeper. When his finger moves lower and finds my entrance, I tense up.
“Is this okay?” he asks, letting me go with a loud pop.
“Fuck yeah. Just took me by surprise.”
Eli smiles up at me before licking me again. His finger stays at my entrance, gently massaging me, while his mouth moves lower to suck on my balls. His other hand starts pumping me and I can’t think straight anymore. It doesn’t take long for me to come all over his hand, while his finger continues to move in teasing circles. When he stands up, I kiss him hard, not wanting to let go of this bliss.
Eli
Ash kisses me long and hard and I lose myself in it. There’s something about his sexy confidence and demeanor that is incredibly alluring. Not only is he funny and charming, but he’s smart too. Smarter than he gives himself credit for. I feel like I could talk to him and spend every day doing nothing and everything together. And that scares the shit out of me.
I pull back, breaking the kiss. Ash’s pants are still down and while I’m painfully hard, I need to put some distance between us. “Let’s get back to the party,” I say.
“What? Why?” He laughs with a confused look on his face. “What about you?”
“I’m okay, rakas. ”
“You’re…okay?” Ash frowns at me like he can’t comprehend. It makes me chuckle.
“Obviously, I’m not okay . I just mean, I can wait until we get back to the apartment. Maybe you can come over?” I hear myself asking. What am I doing? I just said I need to put some distance between us and now I’m inviting him to spend the night?
“Okay, I’ll come over. On one condition.” Ash zips up his pants and brushes another kiss, this time on my cheek. “You have a couple drinks and let loose tonight, and let me drive us home.”
“I don’t need to let loose,” I say with a scoff.
He laughs, hands looping effortlessly around my waist. “No, but I really liked how you bossed me around last time you had a few drinks and put aside your inhibitions.”
I take a deep breath and bring a hand up to cup his head, my thumb pushing on the side of his jaw. I lean in and nip at his bottom lip before moving to his earlobe and biting down. “You like it when I tell you what to do and how to do it?” I whisper in his ear.
“Fuck. Yes.” Ash’s hands tighten at the small of my back.
“ Hani, I don’t need to drink to boss you around. I can do that any time.” Ash’s skin is flushed, his freckles standing out when I lean in to suck on his neck and gently bite him.
“ Fuck. Me .”
“I can certainly do that too once we get to my apartment.”
“Okay, can we go now?” he asks excitedly. I laugh and give him another kiss because I can’t seem to stay away. This time when I pull back, I press my forehead to his.
“We need to be here for our friend. Later though.”
“Fine, but will you at least tell me what all the names you call me mean?” he pouts.
“One day,” I say, smiling.
Standing next to Ash and not being able to openly touch him is pure torture. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want him. I don’t know if this friends with benefits arrangement is good for either of us, but at this point, I’ll take what I can get.
I can’t afford for this to turn into something more though, because I’m not ready to come out to my family and my teammates. I know it’s shitty of me, and that Ash deserves better, but for once I’m being selfish.
It’s past midnight when we get back to the apartment complex and Ash is buzzed. He’s had a few drinks, but not nearly what he usually consumes at parties. He’s in a good mood and keeps smirking over at me from the elevator all the way up to the third floor.
We come to a stop in the hallway and I take a few steps into his personal space, forcing him to back up a bit—except he doesn’t. He stands his ground and loops his arms around my waist.
I press a short kiss right below his ear before saying, “Do you have condoms?”
“Obviously,” he laughs.
“Your place then,” I say, turning him around so he can unlock his door. He taps his phone to it and we both step inside. The place is a mess, like usual, and normally that would bother the hell out of me and I’d start picking things up and putting them away, but I’m too wired up for that. The door swings shut and I push Ash against it, immediately finding his lips with mine. He opens up eagerly and loops his hands around my neck, fingers combing through my hair.
“Why don’t you have any condoms?” he asks when we come up for air, and I’m surprised by the question. My jealousy flares and I want to say because I don’t sleep around like you do , but that’s not something I need to judge him for, especially when he told me he hasn’t been with anyone else since we hooked up in California.
“Because I haven’t had sex in two years, and up until tonight, I didn’t think I needed them.”
“Wait, two years?!” He pulls back and I feel my cheeks getting red. It really has been that long. Is he worried I don’t know what I’m doing? Ash’s eyes are wide as they search my face. I break the contact and look away, embarrassed.
His hands frame my face and pull me back to him in a slow, sweet kiss. “I’m honored, pretty boy .” I smile into the kiss and bite his lower lip, dragging it down before soothing it with a lick. Ash moans and presses his erection into me, and I take that as my cue to start moving us to the bedroom.
Compared to the frantic encounters we had before, this time we take our time undressing each other. There’s nothing but the sound of our shuffling and rough breathing between kisses as we make our way to the bed. The only light in the room is the moonlight coming through Ash’s open blinds, and it casts him in a perfect shadow. His blue eyes are darker than usual and his tattoos are stark against his freckled skin. He’s beautiful.
I interlock our fingers and bring our joined hands to the pillow above his head while I press into him. We’re chest to chest and I take my time, slowly kissing his lips, his cheeks, his jaw, before letting go of his hands and moving lower, trailing feather touches over his arms and chest. I lick his cock before taking him in my mouth, working him up, getting him hard and panting for me.
He reaches into his nightstand and pulls out a bottle of lube and a strip of condoms, placing them next to me. I take the lube, rubbing it over my hands, making sure it’s warm enough, before bringing two fingers to his entrance and slowly coaxing moans from him. My lips return to his cock and once again I take my time. Ash’s hands rake through my hair and grip the back of my head every time I hit a spot he likes.
“Fuck, I want you inside me,” he says, dragging my mouth away from him, and opening up a condom. He rolls it on me, adding a good amount of lube. I remember what he told me at the party, how he liked it last time I bossed him around.
“Turn around,” I say, one hand on his hip, guiding him to get down on all fours. The smile he gives me over his shoulder is pure giddiness and anticipation.
“Fuck yes, bossy Eli is coming out.” I laugh and reach around to grip him in my hand, pumping a few times, until he’s leaning back into me, asking for more. I let my free hand come down and slap his firm ass cheek. The sound of it reverberates in the quiet room and the moan Ash lets out makes me impossibly harder.
I kiss a spot between his shoulder blades and straighten back up so I can line myself at his entrance. He’s more than ready for me and I slowly push in, holding my breath, my fingers digging into his hips. My eyes close tight and holy shit , he feels too good. I need a moment to compose myself.
“You okay?” he asks, looking over his shoulder with a glimmer in his eyes. “You can move, you know. I know I said your giant cock would ruin me, but I promise I can take it.”
This startles me into a laugh and I relax a bit, leaning in to give him a kiss, which only pushes me inside more and we both groan.
Ash
I’ve always been a fan of sex, but sex with Eli is on a whole other level. Holy shit. How have we gone this long without giving in to whatever this is between us? Just like he is with anything else, Eli is slow and methodical. He guides me in different positions, touching me everywhere , kissing me. There’s an intensity to him now I’ve never seen before. Like I’m the only thing in the world that matters at this moment.
When he moves us around so he’s on top, angling me so that he’s as deep as he can be, he kisses me fervently and strokes me until I come with a gasp and a throaty “ Fuck fuck fuck .” He presses his forehead to mine and thrusts harder a few times before raggedly saying, “I’m going to come.”
I push on his abs enough for him to pull out, before I take off the condom and put my hand on him. His arms shake above me as he comes, chest heaving and breath ragged. When he’s halfway to collapsing on top of me, I pull him down and hold him tight.
“That was—” he rasps, trying to catch his breath.
I chuckle, “Good, I take it?”
His head lifts and he gives me a gorgeous smile, a dimple popping in his right cheek. “More than good, rakas. ”
“Hmm, that’s good,” I say, kissing along his shoulder and neck as we lay tangled up in my bed. Not long after, we shower and return to bed.
When Eli holds me through the night, it reminds me of New Year’s and how he took care of me. He’s always there for me, a constant ray of fucking sunshine.
I really hope I don’t fuck this up.