CHAPTER NINE
HAWK
“ W e can’t be.”
Sunny never finished that thought, leaving me hanging. I didn’t push her though I kept our fingers laced together. Something akin to fear glimmered in Sunny’s eyes, and that heart wrenching sentiment was the last thing she said, though I kept talking.
I doubted she had heard anything after that at all.
The drive to Sunny’s house was a silent one. I’d tried to answer her question, but she cut me off to stare forward, her hands clenched in mine where I had pried them from her legs.
I mulled over her words when I realized she wasn’t listening anymore, turning them over until I was as frazzled as her, though for a seemingly different reason. But unlike Sunny, I refused to let my fear show. That didn’t mean she was lesser—far from it. I admired her for not hiding who she was, loved how her mind and body reacted to what she experienced, while I hid behind the walls I built for self-protection.
A prison I so often cowered behind in the early days until I forgot the walls were there and desensitized myself from the world. Sunny was different. Raw. She experienced everything as it happened. No filter saved her or diluted the world she met head on.
Sunny Cooper would break those walls down I erected so long ago if she stayed around long enough to give us a chance. And that was where my confidence fell away. She reacted to my touch, craved the contact as much as I did. The thought of peeling her clothes away to spend the night worshiping the beautiful woman beneath almost crippled me.
She felt the same way. I could have sworn it on the engine of a Ferrari SF90 that she did. Maybe I was pushing too hard, too fast but…that was me. And whatever stopped her…well. That’s where that glimmer of fear came in, both intriguing and terrifying.
I’d started the prelude to the season wanting Sunny on my team, and soon after in my bed.
Now, I wanted to wake up with her every morning. I wanted to find out what she ate for breakfast and how she took her coffee. I wanted to see what she looked like wearing one of my shirts and nothing else.
It struck me that it was supposed to be the girl pushing for the relationship, not the guy. That was the stereotype, right? And for me, until now, that run had held true. She hadn’t flinched from me, and she hadn't pushed me away—not yet. Yet. One tiny, little word that scared the absolute fuck out of me.
Because something about this girl made me want to haul her into my arms, go all caveman on her and never let her go. To know she was mine, even if I never said it.
And if she was, I’d shout it to the world because I loved her.
The fuck ?
I choked the steering wheel with one hand, jerking the car a little to the left before I corrected the mistake. The oversight was enough to make me realize I wasn’t frightened of the concept of falling in love with Sunny Cooper.
It was, however, enough to draw her out of her stupor.
“I thought you were supposed to be good at, you know, this driving thing. Turn here.”
I flicked the indicator on, not saying a word. She was right; I was supposed to be good at one thing. The only thing I had ever been good at, and here I was lapsing because of a girl.
Which was one of my reasons for playing with the track bunnies. Hard, fast, good time girls who wanted to send a boob pic and see if I was in town. The same girls who threw me up on social media like a night spent together earned them a fishing trophy. I’d always been surprised they didn’t have a “it was thisssss big” post to boast.
“Which one, Coops?” I squeezed her fingers. “Princess?”
“That one.” She pointed to a small townhouse that looked like any other in its row. “If there’s no parking out front there will be in the lane behind. And I have a small garage that’s not being used.” Her laugh came out bitter and short.
“You want me to go around the back.” I didn’t bother to hide my flat tone as my stomach plummeted.
“Sure.”
“So breezy all of a sudden, for a girl who kept pushing back earlier.”
“I thought this was what you wanted?”
I pulled into the dark, gravel lane between the townhouses that she directed me into, and the garage that opened with a remote she extracted from her purse. The door closed behind us as I turned off the car, leaving us in the sort of darkness that cloaked everything.
I stared forward, as unseeing as she had been earlier and spoke through gritted teeth. “I wanted you, Sunny. Not force you to think there was no other way. You don’t have to ask me in to prove a point or as thanks.”
“For what?”
“For what ?” I sensed her turn in my direction, but I still couldn't look at her, scared of what I’d do if I touched her. Kissed her. What I’d be like in this mood. A growl built in my throat as I swept my fingers through my hair, leaving it in a mess. “Princess, you’re giving me whiplash.”
She huffed a laugh. “Good to know it’s not just me.”
“Yeah.” I stared into the darkness. “All right. I’ll check your house, then I’ll find a spot around the back and I’ll sleep out here. Or I can drive by every hour or so if you prefer.” I wasn’t leaving her alone. But I couldn't push myself on her, play with her. Not like this.
“And I thought you wanted to stay.”
“You made me think I was invited to stay.” I’d been reduced to a kindergarten level reply.
“I did, didn’t I.” The air inside the car changed, charged somehow. Her breath brushed my arm, her fingers traced the inside of my thigh.
I hardened instantly, regardless that she hadn't actually touched my cock yet. My determination to stay away from the girl strapped into my passenger seat frazzled and died.
Goals, Hawk.
“Coops, this isn’t a good idea.” I caught her hand, lifted it to my lips and finally turned to face her, making out the faintest outline of her face or maybe I imagined her. “I’m not after a one-night stand. Not with you. I couldn’t fuck you out of my system if I tried.”
“But you haven’t tried.” She leaned in close.
My control frayed, overridden by a deep seated need inside me. “Don’t do this,” I whispered, untangling our fingers to catch her face between my palms. My lips brushed over hers in the barest contact that sent jolts of desire raging through my body. I clung to the remnants of my command, drawing back the smallest distance possible as she arced into me. “This isn’t how I wanted you.”
“How did you want me, Hawk?” Her purr set my cock on fire.
I swallowed, reaching down to adjust myself but she beat me to it.
Light fingers traced over the shape of me straining against too-tight denim. Sensation shot along my spine and I ground my teeth, willing myself not to come in her hand.
“Stop, Sunny.”
Please, for the love of all things fast and hard—fuck.
“Isn’t that what you said to me when I asked you to stop? No?” Her silky voice slipped over me in a breathy caress as she tugged at my fly.
I caught her wrist, disengaged her fingers in a gentle effort. “As tempting as a hand job in my car from a stunning girl sounds—” I kissed her slow and long, giving myself enough time to come back down. “—let’s get you inside, check the house. Yeah?”
“Who said anything about hands?”
A groan tore from my lips. My kiss became savage to her grazing touches, iron-clad to her sweet caress.
Just as gently, giving me all the time in the world to stop her, she broke the kiss and leaned forward, her hands braced on my thighs for balance.
And that was the last time she used her hands.
Sunny caught the zip in her teeth, drawing it down in a single, slow movement. Given the freedom of space, my cock jutted forward, strained against my jocks, though Sunny disposed of that barrier with the same skillset.
I’d never been as comfortable with a set of teeth that weren’t mine.
But as she began to lick and explore, it became clear that Sunny’s only purpose was pleasure.
My pleasure.
Her lips slid the length of my cock and back, whetting every inch with her silky tongue. By the time she opened her mouth and took me down whole in one long swallow to the back of her throat, I was fit to burst.
My balls drew up tight. I willed my impending orgasm back, turning my engine upside down in my head and deconstructing it. When that didn’t work and she drew the length of me deep again after a quick breath, I ran through my racing stats. Backward.
Sunny sucked the top of me into her mouth, winding her tongue around my head as though she was French kissing it.
My head dropped back, a low groan ripping from my throat. I wound my hands through her sleek blonde curls, working her against the thrusts my hips couldn’t help, pumping myself between her lips.
Her moan set me on an irredeemable path, the vibrations in her throat sending me spare until the pressure built too hard, too fast. A raw shout tore from my mouth, my orgasm tender to the point of painful.
Sunny swallowed against my length, prolonging the pleasure that emptied my veins until stars floated across my vision. She held me in her mouth, sucking sweetly, gently, her tongue bathing my cock in soothing swipes that left me boneless all over.
After a time, control returned to me in inches. I urged her into my arms and kissed her deeply, pouring everything I felt into the join between us.
“That good, huh?” she whispered, swiping the back of her hand across her lips as she tipped her head up at me.
I found her mouth in the darkness again. “This is the Sunny I lo— want.” I said firmly. “Give me sass in the bedroom, Princess. But right here, this raw, bare girl? This is the one I want.” I searched the resistance in her body, massaging the back of her neck, praying I was what she wanted.
Sunny sighed and sank into my arms, nestling her cheek against my heart. “Raw is right. That was—” He voice broke, and I waited, my chest too tight to suck in a full breath. “I think that was the sexiest thing I’ve ever felt.”
“But it wasn’t your pleasure.”
“No. It was yours.”
All my remaining breath evacuated from my lungs.
I cupped her nape and tugged her closer. “You can’t say things like that to a man, Princess.” My other hand found the swell of her breast through her soft shirt. I trailed my fingers across the top as she gasped then pinched her nipple through the material and the lace of her bra. “Not unless you want to earn yourself an orgasm on the spot. Ever come from having your nipples played with?”
“N-no–”
Her soft stutter gave way to the shiver of need that wracked her as I milked that covered bud as it hardened beneath my fingers. Not that I had any intention of letting go.
“Then you’ll enjoy this,” I promised her, finding her mouth with mine and slipping my tongue between her lips to mirror the way I tugged and teased her nipple.
She tried to fight me, sort of, in a half-hearted way. When I glided a hand between her legs to cup her mound through her pants I found a hot, damp spot.
“Hawk,” she whispered my name so sweetly.
I swore I could hear the humiliation at my discovery in her voice.
My cock rose to salute her for the occasion, straining freshly against the zip she’d down back up with her damn teeth. But now wasn’t the time for me. I wanted to make her fall apart on the front seat of my car.
Scent her every time I opened the door.
Trailing my fingertips higher, I found the neckline of her top and tugged it down until her breasts popped free over the top. She shuddered in the seat, and though her hands circled my wrists, she didn’t try to stop me.
Smiling where she couldn't see me I traced circles over the lace of her bra, making them slowly tighter until I wound spirals around her nipples without touching them. I didn’t need to. Sunny sighed and writhed in the seat beside me, her breaths little more than short pants.
“Stop teasing,” she begged. “Please, Hawk.”
I swallowed hard and flicked the flimsy lace down to expose her breasts. Still not talking as the silence seemed to unnerve her and some part of me wanted her on edge, I touched her lightly until she squirmed and moaned for me. Tiny flicks of her nipples left her a shivering mess until?—
“Hawk,” she gasped my name on a half breath I’d savor for the rest of my life.
Still silent and toying with her, I held her through the orgasm that wracked her, willing control over myself. All I wanted was to strip her down and plunge balls deep inside her sopping pussy, but I’d have to wait a little longer.
Finally she turned her head into my chest letting out a soft sob that tore at my heart.
“First time anyone’s touched you like that huh, Princess?” I broke my silence, winding my fingers through her silky curls.
She nodded, and I found damp patches on my shirt. “First time.”
“Yeah? Did I hurt you?”
The head of curls shook.
That seemed to be a good sign. I could work with that. I waited a little longer then spoke again.
“Are you ready to go inside?” I ran my fingers through her hair and gave a light tug.
Sunny snuggled deeper against my chest as her breaths evened out. “I really want to go to sleep right here.”
“You and me both.” I released out a long breath as my chest loosened. “Do you want me to carry you in, Princess?”
“I feel terribly lazy saying yes.” Laughter laced her voice to be replaced by pain as she shifted beside me. “Ow. You’re right. Sleeping in here would be a mistake.”
Alarms flared in my head, a silent klaxon overriding every square of pleasure that remained in my body.
“So, I’ll see you…tomorrow?” My back teeth clenched hard enough to send an ache sluicing from my cheek to my shoulders.
“What are you talking about, goose?”
“Hawk. Bird of prey. You know. Not the fat white dumb thing.”
“Hell of a resemblance right now.” Keys rattled between us. Sunny sighed. “Come on, Hawk. I really am tired. And I’m ready for bed. With you.”
My mouth dried. When had this negotiation become so critical?
Since the moment you walked into her lunchroom and tried to fuck her against the kitchen counter.
“If you’re sure, Sunny.”
“First name basis. You must be serious.” She fell silent for a moment. “Hawk. How do I get out?”
I laughed, the sound rebounding in the small cavity of my car.
We finally made it up the steps to her townhouse. Sunny’s keys rattled as I looked around though to be fair, I couldn't see much in the dark even outside her garage. It wasn’t until I realized the keys had rattled for far too long that I turned around to find her struggling with the lock.
The key vibrated so hard in her hand that she couldn't aim it at the door properly.
I swore in my head, cursing myself as an absolute idiot. Should have carried her in. Not just because of what we’d done in the car. The stress of the last hours had set in and I missed it, idiot that I was.
“Let me.” I covered her hand, the chill of her skin sinking in wherever we touched, though I didn’t think it was the cold that made her shake. She’d had a hell of a day. With both of us working the key the lock clicked and we both tumbled inside. “Tell me you don’t have a roommate who saw that. Or a boyfriend. Wait, do you have a boyfriend?”
“I feel like we might have covered this. Yes, and no. No boyfriend. My sister is my housemate. She’s at work until midnight.” Sunny flicked on halogen lights that burned my retinas. I located her as she started to climb a set of stairs. “Shower?”
“Sounds great.” A bone deep weariness sank into me, either from the emotional aspect of the day or from the truly magnificent head job Sunny had given me and our playtime after. Not that I’d ever be able to forget the way she fell apart for me, or want to, for that matter.
Sunny managed a half-dozen steps before she stopped. Her head bowed, she gripped the banister with white fingers, but after a moment her hold failed.
I slipped a hand beneath her legs, lifting her into my arms like I should have done outside. She curled into a ball against my chest without an ounce of protest, her eyes already closed.
“It’s been a big day, Princess. And I did promise to carry you.” I pressed my lips to her forehead as her eyes fluttered open. Well, half open.
Sunny offered me the dozy, wonky smile of an overtired child, though I recognized the exhaustion in the soft lines of her face underlined by a shadow of purple beneath her eyes.
“Thanks, Hawk,” she mumbled into my chest.
I smiled down at her, warmth blooming where her lips touched as I carried her the remaining stairs and stopped at the junction of two bedrooms. Picking around in the darkness wasn’t my style, and though I was loath to wake her, I nudged my chin against her cheek.
“Princess. Coops.” I jiggled her a little. She peered at me through the faintest slit between thick eyelashes. “Which room?”
“The one on your left. Your other left,” she added with a tired giggle when I turned first one way then the other.
“You mean your other left,” I corrected her, grinning ear-to-ear like it was the funniest thing I had ever heard, but she was already out and snoring softly in my arms.
I kicked the blankets off her bed to make space and let her curl into what I hoped was her usual spot. She mumbled something into her pillow as I crept away to flick the lights off in the stairwell, checked the doors were locked and made a tour of the house.
Nothing stood out to me as off but that didn’t mean there wasn’t something I missed. I slipped into the bed beside her fully clothed, intent to sit up against the wooden headboard for the night to keep watch, and pulled the covers over her. My plan lasted all of ten minutes before she threw off the covers in her sleep, reaching for me.
A low laugh escaped my throat as I caught her searching hands. “I’m right here, Coops.”
Tucking her in again didn’t work like I hoped—she only kicked the remaining blankets off. As soon as Sunny found my jean-covered leg, she rolled into me, but that didn’t seem to be enough, either. In the end, I spent the night with her curled against my chest, her arms wrapped around my waist. Our legs tangled together in a knot until I couldn’t work out where her body ended and mine began.
Despite my determination to stay awake for the night and play sentinel for the girl who batted for my enemy’s team, the warmth of her body seeped into mine as I held her tight to me and my own eyes drifted shut.