28. Wren
WREN
His bruise is still angry-looking, even days later, but Stone deserved it. That doesn’t mean I’m not totally and irrevocably consumed by him, though. Because I am. I say I hate him every other day, but I also find myself thinking about him in every empty space within my thoughts.
It’s a sickness, and it’s not one that I want a cure for.
“Don’t be inappropriate, guys.” I place my hands on my hips. The house smells of popcorn, and one bag is already down, with three more lined up on the coffee table.
The living room, typically only a place for my housemates to play video games, is filled with blankets, pillows, and five beefy hockey players in sweatpants and hoodies.
Evan huffs. “Don’t be inappropriate? Are you fucking kidding?”
“Watch it.” Stone’s tone is lazy, but we all know better.
“You fucked her so hard I heard her screaming your name, and then I find out the door is open. That’s inappropriate.”
Archer snorts, and Grant chokes on a piece of popcorn.
I sigh.
I feel bad.
I do.
But I don’t regret it—something Stone recognizes as he smirks at me from the loveseat.
The knock on the door pulls my attention away. “There’s Ally. Seriously…” I eye them. “She’s not coming over for a gang bang, okay? She’s my friend. Leave her alone.” Before I make it to the door, I say over my shoulder, “She already thinks you guys are crazy with all the cameras around the house.”
“That was Stone’s idea.”
“Oh, please ,” I whisper.
My fingers wrap around the doorknob, but I stumble backward when Stone’s hands fall to my hips.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
Stone pulls open the door at the same time he shoves me behind him. Once Ally speaks, I pop out while shooting him a dirty look. What the hell?
“Come in.” I smile and brush Stone away.
“I brought dessert.” Ally whooshes forward like she owns the place, and by the looks on my housemates’ faces—besides Stone’s—she is about to own all of them.
“We love you.” Taylor stands and pulls her into the kitchen.
They come back a few seconds later with bowls, spoons, and the containers of ice cream.
The guys pile their bowls to the top. Ally and I are a little more respectful and scoop a proper amount before settling into the couches. Stone’s lips brush my ear. He smells like chocolate and cherries, and my mouth waters.
“I always knew you were a vanilla girl.”
I snort after licking my spoon clean. “Vanilla girl? I’m with you, aren’t I?” I raise an eyebrow, and his eyes drift to my lips. “Absolutely not , ” I whisper. “And what was that earlier? You practically levitated to open the door.”
Stone pulls back, and I notice the shadows along his jaw flicking back and forth. There’s a loud commotion on the TV from the movie, so he leans in closer. “Wanted to make sure it was Ally.”
“Oh,” I tease, snuggling back into his chest. “Acting chivalrous now, are we?”
His arms wrap around my torso, and the soft kiss he places on my hair turns my stomach into mush.
“Shut up and watch the movie.”
Before I know it, the movie is almost over, and half the guys are asleep, along with Ally.
Her head is resting against Taylor’s shoulder, and her legs are draped over Archer’s lap.
Stone’s breathing is even—something I’m not used to.
He’s always so angry or tense. Worried too.
But right now, he’s relaxed. His fingers continue to roam against my lower belly, like they’ve been doing the entire movie, but he’s been on his best behavior.
Chills covered me at one point when his finger swooped down low, but he pulled it away—like he had lost control for a second.
“You want to go to bed?” I peer through my sleepy eyes.
Stone nods. We both look over at Ally. She’ll be fine. I don’t have to worry about her, and even though the guys have been talking about how hot she is, they would never cross a line. They’re annoying, but they’re still good guys.
I stand first and then grab Stone’s hand. He towers over me for a second, dropping his gaze to my mouth, but then he follows me up the stairs after checking the lock on the front door.
It’s cute.
His need to be protective is alluring.
“What?” he asks, closing the bedroom door.
His quick glance is worrisome, and it leaves me confused. What is with him?
I panic, and words fumble out of my mouth. “Why are you being so nice and protective? You’re on your best behavior, and I—”
“You what?” Stone tilts his head. “You don’t like it?”
I have butterflies. Like, full-on rapidly flying butterflies. “No. I do.” In fact, it has me thinking dangerous things—like how I don’t want to live without him . “ I just…don’t understand.”
Stone laughs. His head falls, and I can’t read him like usual.
“Sticks, what don’t you understand?”
“Wh—”
“Baby, I’m fucking obsessed with you.” His deep voice is hot.
“I can’t sleep if you’re not beside me. I can’t eat if you’re at work and I’m not sitting there in a booth, watching your hips sway with your tray.
Even during my practices and games, if I don’t know where you are at all times, I fuck up and nearly fall on the ice. ”
My throat constricts. Stone’s honesty sucks up all the oxygen in our shared bedroom.
“Tell me you feel the same.”
This isn’t a time for jokes. I would usually have some snarky rebuttal and say something like, “ Or what? ” but I can’t find it in me to shut him down, because if this is Stone’s version of pouring his heart out to me, I’ll take it and run.
“I do,” I whisper.
“Then get over here so you can prove it.”
His words move me toward him, even though the independence I have possessed since a young age is begging me to stay put.
I can’t say no to him.
Once his hands find my cheeks, he tugs me in close. Our chests rub together, and his heart is beating just as hard as mine is. I sigh when his tongue dips into my mouth, but for the first time, his kiss isn’t urgent. It’s slow and sensual, and I fall into it like a honey trap.
There isn’t a word spoken between us. Stone shoves my shirt up over my head and drops it to the floor beside my feet. My leggings are pulled down past my hips, and the brush of his fingers over my skin sends a chill down my spine.
“Stone,” I rasp. I dig my nails into his shoulders.
He stays kneeled below and places a soft kiss against my panties before standing back up and undressing himself.
He doesn’t have a single flaw.
Strong, toned muscles line his stomach, and they flicker with his grip around himself. My mouth parts, and a soft sigh falls in between us as I watch him stroke back and forth. He wiggles his finger at me and tells me to come closer…so I do.
Our eyes are locked, and he pushes a finger into me achingly slow. I’m already ready—something he clearly appreciates. I fall to the bed, and he’s in between my legs, taking his time with me.
I arch when he pulls out and then goes in again. This time is different.
His touches are gentle, like he’s trying to memorize every last curve, and his intense gaze stays glued to me with every last thrust. It’s hotter than when he’s touching me like he wants to hate me. He’s touching me like he loves me, and I feel it digging into my bones.
I’ll forever be branded by him.
“I’m close,” I pant, gripping the blankets for dear life.
The orgasm builds faster than I expect, and my stomach hollows. Stone tilts his hips and hits the spot that no one has touched before. I fall into a bliss, mesmerized by his deep kiss. I’d give him my entire soul in this moment if he asked me for it, and knowing Stone, he will eventually.
“Fuck,” he moans. He steals his mouth away from mine and buries his face into my sweaty neck.
His body stills, and I spread my tingling legs wider, letting him fill me to the brim. Stone has been careless, and I’ve been letting him come inside me as if there is no other way. Thank God I’m on birth control—something he has never inquired about.
Once Stone climbs off me, he hurries back with a towel. The moonlight shines a glow on him, and my breath is stolen the moment he cleans me between my legs. Typically, he says something crass and wants his cum to stay there, but right now, he’s taking care of me.
My lip wobbles, and it’s something he notices.
“Wren?” His brow furrows. “Out of all the times we’ve fucked, I didn’t think this one would hurt.”
I swallow roughly. “I’m not hurt.”
“Okay…” The bed dips, and he brings me close. Our naked bodies are wrapped around one another. “Then why are you crying?”
A shaky breath clamors from my lips. “I’m not used to someone taking care of me.”
His chest expands beneath my head, and the steady release of air tickles my neck. I sigh at the soft kiss on my temple.
“Sleep, baby.”
I shut my eyes to hold back the tears, knowing I’ll sleep better than I ever have before.