Chapter 16
Gavin
The flight from Arizona to California feels like forever. I’m leaning forward, looking out the window of the small, chartered plane the team uses when the pilot tells us to prepare for landing.
Texting with Haddy has brought us closer, and it’s also put this unexpected ache in my chest. I can’t wait to see her. It’s been so long.
It’s dark when we touch down at the airport, but the nice thing about having our own plane is when we land, we can leave. We don’t have to deal with waiting for our luggage to show up in baggage claim, and Mav’s gray Rover is parked in the private lot right outside the small terminal.
He hangs back, of course, chatting with Saxon about our next game in a few days, but I’m in the passenger’s seat with my phone in my hand, wondering if I should text her.
Finally, my friend gets in the car, but I can tell he’s not in a hurry to get anywhere. I’m about to crawl out of my seat. I wish I’d offered to drive.
“Want to stop off and grab something to eat?” If Mav were driving any slower, we could walk.
“I’m good. Let’s get on back.”
“What are you so eager to get home for?” He glances over at me, my hands clenched on my thighs. “The girls don’t cook when I’m gone. They’ll probably just have pizza and tater tots on the stove.”
The mention of tater tots makes me smile, and I picture Haddy with that messy bun on her head, sitting at the bar munching on a little golden potato nugget with salt and ketchup.
“I could go for some tater tots right now.” Mixed in with the sweet taste of Haddy’s lips.
“Napoleon, give me some of your tots,” Mav imitates the bully from the movie Napoleon Dynamite. “Now you’ve got that in my head!”
“You said it. Think you could light a fire under your ass? I’m tired of being in this car.”
“Dang, keep your shirt on,” he complains, but he does hit the accelerator a little harder.
The Halloween decorations are all gone when we arrive at the house, and now the porch has turkeys and scarecrows on it.
“I can’t believe we’re closing in on Thanksgiving already.” Mav slams his door, and I do my best not to jog up the steps. “Damn, the time starts flying when our season begins. Next thing, we’ll look up and it’ll be Christmas.”
“It’s true.” I’m tapping the code on the lock, the breath tightening in my lungs in anticipation of seeing her.
A little hiss, and I open the door. Stepping inside, the downstairs is empty. A light is on in the kitchen, but the girls are nowhere to be seen.
Maverick bustles past me, carrying his suitcase to the laundry room just off the kitchen.
“What did I tell you?” His blazer is already gone when he returns. “Pizza and tater tots.”
I follow him to the small area where he takes a plate from the microwave oven. Several slices of pepperoni pizza are on it, and he puts a bowl of tater tots on the counter.
My shoulders fall, and I can’t believe she didn’t wait up. Not even after our text conversation. Glancing towards the stairs, I wonder if I might tap on her door.
“I think I’ll head on up.” I turn, suitcase in hand.
“Hey, hang on. You can’t go to bed on an empty stomach.” Mav stops me before I can make it out of the room. “What if I order up some burgers and wings for us? Pop open a beer, and I’ll see if I can get express delivery.”
I look toward the dark landing above. How could she go to bed so early? She knew we were coming home tonight. Is it possible I’m the only one who started to get invested in our daily conversations?
“Big Kahuna burger?” Mav is on his phone tapping in an order.
“Is that really a thing?” I frown at him, and he nods.
“One for you and one for me with a side of fries? Actually, they have tater tots if you want more.”
I’m about to tell him to skip it when the back door leading to the patio opens, and Gigi bursts through it laughing and holding Spanky’s leash. She’s talking to someone behind her, but when she sees us, her eyes light.
“You’re home!” She cries, running forward to give her cousin a hug.
My breath disappears when Haddy steps inside after her, smiling and looking like the best thing I’ve seen all day. Hell, she’s the best thing I’ve seen all year.
“Lookin good Mr. Knight. I love a sharp-dressed man.” Gigi turns, crossing her arms and nodding at me. Then she elbows her cousin. “Where’s your suit, Mav?”
“Laundry room.” He starts for the living room, calling to me. “Throw yours on the pile, and the cleaners’ll pick em up tomorrow.”
I don’t answer him. I’m still facing Haddy, who’s standing quietly inside the back door with her little dog in her hand. Her blue eyes blink up to mine, and her full lips press.
My stomach is tight, and I want to pull her into my arms. Instead, I put my suitcase down and take a step closer. I’m about to speak when Mav returns, passing me and going to his cousin.
“I prefer knowing where she is before I sit anywhere.” He takes the little brown dog from her hands. “Did you miss us, Peepee? Food should be here in ten minutes, Gav.”
He carries the dog into the living room where Gina and Spanky are waiting, and Haddy’s arms fall to her sides.
“We made tater tots.” Haddy’s voice is quiet, and she motions to the stove.
Her voice sounds so good after texting for so long.
“Yeah, Mav showed me.” My voice is equally quiet, and I take a step closer.
“You do look nice in a suit.”
“You look beautiful.”
“In this?” She huffs a little laugh, shaking her head.
She’s wearing black leggings and a white, long-sleeved tee. Her face is freshly washed, her dark hair is piled on her head, and her lips are glossy.
She looks like sunshine after weeks of rain. She smiles and warmth fills my entire body.
“It’s really good to see you again, Hads.”
Her eyes blink quickly, and she goes to where the leftovers are still sitting on the counter, lifting the bowl. “Want one?”
Exhaling a breath, I take the bowl from her hand. “I’ve been thinking about these since you mentioned them.”
“I was just putting them in the oven when you texted.”
She looks up at me, and her full lips part. We’re all alone in the kitchen. The sound of Gigi and Mav’s animated conversation echoes from the living room.
I swallow quickly, placing the bowl on the counter, my eyes fixed on her mouth. “I’d really like to kiss you right now.”
Her eyes darken. She glances down then steps closer to me. Reaching up, she puts her slim hand on the front of my blazer, and rises onto her toes.
Fresh jasmine surrounds me, and she closes her eyes before pressing her lips to my cheek. She’s on her way back down when I catch her, cupping her face in my hands and leaning forward to seal my lips over hers.
A soft whimper slips from her throat, registering straight to my cock, and I open her mouth with mine. Our tongues slide together, and heat twists my stomach. Her fingers curl on the lapel of my jacket, pulling me closer. Fuck, it feels so good.
Wrapping my arms around her, I hug her body up, closer to my chest, and her arms slide around my neck. I’m lost in our tongues chasing, our lips pulling, the softness of her body pressed against mine, the soft sounds of reunion.
All at once, her hands grip my shoulders, and our lips part with a little smack. She’s out of my embrace, turning quickly to the counter so her back is to me.
“Food’s almost here!” Mav bursts into the kitchen, going to the refrigerator and taking out a beer.
I’m breathing fast, feeling shaken. It’s like I was just swept up into a tornado and then unceremoniously dropped to the ground again.
My buddy is oblivious to what’s going on. He shoves a beer in my hand and starts for the living room. Haddy has the bowl of tots in her hand when she turns to face me again.
She slides a finger under her bottom lip, and shakes her head. “I’m sure you’re hungry. Mav never stops eating during the season.”
I’m hungry all right, but not for food.
Haddy seems to read my mind, and she catches my forearm, giving me a little pull. “Come on. We can’t stay in here all night. They’ll start to wonder.”
I couldn’t care less, but I let her lead me into the living room. When our food arrives, Mav spreads everything out on the coffee table. My stomach growls at the scent, and I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.
Or seeing Haddy has eased one hunger, making room for the other.
It doesn’t take long to polish off the burgers, fries, and tots. Mav fills the girls in on our winnings on the road. We’re only one game down at this point, thanks to my disorientation after Halloween night with Haddy.
I don’t regret it one bit.
I’m sorry I let the team and the fans down, but damn, it was worth it.
“I’m fading.” Mav stands, collecting all the papers and crumpling them up, stuffing them in the brown bag. “We’ve got games all week, but I’ll get something together for dinner.”
“I’ve been dreaming about your sweet potato soufflé,” Gina says, standing and following him to the stairs.
“You’ll have to wait for that one. Mav continues to his bedroom, calling a goodnight before shutting the door.
Gigi pauses before trotting up the stairs. “Be sure to start the dishwasher before you come up, Hads. Night, Gav!”
Haddy nods, giving her cousin a wave. We both stand as if frozen until we hear Gina’s door close upstairs. In one fluid movement, I catch Haddy’s hand in mine. She’s right behind me as I lead her through the kitchen to the small room where a large washer and dryer are situated.
She’s just through the door when I shut it, turning her and pushing her back against it as I cup her face in my hands again, sealing my lips to hers.
“Gav,” she whispers between kisses, threading her fingers inside my blazer and pushing it off my shoulders. “We shouldn’t be doing this. It’s too risky.”
“They’ll never know.” I shrug the garment to the floor then my hands are on her waist again, moving beneath her shirt, higher to flick the clasp on her bra.
Her breasts spill out into my hands, and I lift them, squeezing and sliding my thumbs back and forth over her tight nipples.
She moans into my mouth. Our tongues slide, and her hands are on my cheeks. I’m ravenous for her. My cock presses against my pants, straining for release. I’m about to undo my fly when she pulls away, looking down.
I groan as she unbuttons my pants, lowering the zipper, and sliding her palm up and down my erection. “Fuck, that feels so good.”
She licks her lips, lowering to her knees, and I think I might pass out when she pulls my dick into her warm mouth, sliding her soft tongue along the length of my shaft before curling it and flickering under the tip.
One hand braces the top of the door, and my other threads in her soft brown hair. She holds her tongue against the tip of my cock, sucking it like a popsicle as she pumps my shaft with her hand.
Orgasm races through my pelvis, and I groan as she takes me to the edge so fast.
“Get up here before I come down your throat.” I reach down, lifting her off her knees. “I’m not going to ask how you got so fucking good at that.”
“Gay porn,” she gasps, her lips swollen. “I figure they have the best technique, since they have the equipment.”
“I love your scientific mind.” I’m quickly shoving my pants down as she removes her leggings. “Let me taste that pussy.”
I lift her in one easy move, sitting her on the washer and wrapping my arms around her thighs. With a gentle lift, I adjust her so I can bury my face in her sweet center. She’s already so wet as I trace my tongue all over her clit.
“Oh shit… Gavin,” she gasps, her fingers threading and pulling my hair. “I’m right there. I’m going to…”
She doesn’t finish the sentence when her thighs break into shudders at my ears. She moans, and I kiss her right on the clit. Then I kiss the inside of her thigh, her belly, before straightening to line up at her entrance.
“Ready for me, Princess?”
“Fuck, yes.” she gasps, reaching for my neck.
I almost come hearing that word from her guarded lips, and I’m literally on the edge when I start to enter her slippery core. I plan to take it slow, give her a chance to adjust, but once my tip is inside, she grabs my hips, pulling me closer.
“Fuck me, Gav.” It’s a desperate groan, and I’ll be damned if I make her ask twice.
Holding her around the waist, I brace one hand on the appliance and thrust in hard and fast. Her moans are loud, and I reach up to cover her mouth.
Only, it doesn’t help for my own noises. She’s hot and wet and eager, and my groans are guttural and feral.
“Fuck, Haddy, you feel so good… I’m gonna come.”
“Come,” she hisses, leaning forward to pull my ear between her teeth.
That sharp little bite of pain sends me over the edge, and I hear the washing machine squeaking on the floor as I thrust faster.
Two more, and I hold, moaning deeply as my cock pulses again and again.
I’m flying through space, swept away in a surge of orgasm.
Her insides spasm and pull, and I moan words of satisfaction.
I don’t know how, but being with her in this cramped room is even better than the night we spent in my big bed.
We’re both breathing fast, holding each other as we drift down again. Turning my head, I find her mouth, pulling her lips with mine, licking my tongue inside to hers. Her palms smooth my hair back, and she kisses my cheek, my eye.
I’m right with her, kissing her temple, the line of her hair, holding my nose to her scalp to inhale the sweet scent of her shampoo. I want to commit every part of her to memory. I never want to forget this.
When we’ve caught our breath, she slips off the appliance. “Oh…”
Her nose wrinkles, and I quickly scoop up a T-shirt from the pile of dirty laundry. A small sink is in the corner, and I dampen it.
“Here.” I use it to clean her legs, wiping her thigh then kissing her hip.
“Gavin.” Her fingers thread in my hair, and she bends down to kiss the side of my cheek again.
Looking up at her, I can’t deny the pressure in my chest. The strong emotions pulsing on every heartbeat. She’s here. This is real. I don’t know what to do with it.
“We should probably get upstairs.” She looks at the door then back to me. “I’ll go first. Give me a minute or two before you come up.”
Standing, I smooth her hair back from her face, gazing deeply into her pretty, pretty eyes. “I’m really glad to be home, Princess.”