20. Beginners Luck
Chapter 20
Beginner's Luck
Dev
I’m not sure what I was going to say, but she’s looking up at me with those big blue eyes shining, and I’m starting to realize I would do anything for her. Even get used to the tiny creature that almost gave me a heart attack the first time I came over here.
“Really. It’s okay. He can deal.”
“He shouldn’t have to.”
That’s the smile I love. The one that takes over her face, spreading right to the corners of her eyes. She hops up onto her toes, flinging her arms around my neck, lips crashing with mine. It starts out sweet. Lips closed, hands pulling me down, but like a rising tide, heat washes through me, and I can’t help searching for more.
My hands go to her hips, kneading and yanking her in closer. My dick comes to life, jumping to attention. I need more. Closer. So, I slide down those lush hips over the round ass. She squeaks when I close my hands around it, pulling her up into my arms. Her legs fly around my hips, keeping me close. Our lips never part. Never come up for air. What started as a spark of thank you is turning into a raging fire. Everything she does sparks that flame, though. I can’t be around her without wanting to feel every inch of her naked skin against mine.
“You feel fucking amazing. Remind me why I ever leave the house?” I ask her, backing up until that incredible ass is hanging over her bed.
“Hurry up, guys. We need help in here.” I groan, reluctant to break the kiss.
“Ignore them,” she mumbles against my lips.
“Seriously, put your clothes back on and come out here. It’s Roomie Fun Night!” Blake is getting involved now. We’re screwed. Or maybe not so much.
“We should go out there.” I’m saying the words, but not releasing my grip on her ass.
“Do we have to?” She’s pouting now and I really want to take a bite out of that lower lip.
“I think so. They’re your roommates.”
“Right. Fine. Georgia won’t let it go. If we’re not out there in five, I’m sure she’ll be unscrewing the hinges on the door. She’s surprisingly handy like that.”
“Really?” Surprising, but then ghost girl seems full of surprises.
Her eyes are still locked on mine, hands wrapped around my neck. “Are you going to let me down? ”
“I guess.”
“I mean, you could carry me out there like this, but then they’d definitely have something to mess with us about, and I don’t think we need to give them any more reasons to tease.”
“Fine. But this is not over.” It’s a promise I intend to keep. Like all my promises. Except the one. The most important one. The one where I told Beau I would never touch his sister. “Tonight, I’m going to lay you out on that bed and I’m going to drag my tongue over that sweet clit of yours. I’m going to enjoy my dessert until you’re so wet you barely feel it when I slide my hard cock into your pussy. And then, I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll still feel me when you wake up in the morning. Or maybe you’ll still feel me in you, because I’ll be fucking you again.”
Then I release her, letting her slide down my body so she can feel every inch of me ready to keep my word.
She gasps. “The fuck, Dev. Don’t say shit like that to me, and then put me down. Now I have to go out there all red and flustered and help my roommates make dinner. Not fair.”
“All’s fair. I’m just giving you something to look forward to.”
She shivers as her feet hit the floor, then she shoves me. Her touch barely rocks me on my feet, and I smirk at her.
As she’s walking out the door, I look back, catching sight of the weird little creatures she shares a room with.
“Forgetting something.”
She turns back to me, lips reddened and swollen from my kiss, eyes extra starry. “What? ”
I nod toward the cages, and she comes rushing back. “Loki. So sorry baby. The bad man made me forget about you. How rude.”
The latch on the cage snaps open with a loud clang and she reaches in to scoop up the slithery little thing. He snakes his way up her arm to perch on her shoulder. I could swear his little pointy whiskered face is glaring at me, but that’s impossible.
I’m jealous of the ferret as she strokes her hand down his furry length. “Want to pet him,” she says, advancing on me.
“Nope.” I back up a step, throwing my hands in the air. I’m not ready for that. I can handle being in the same room as him. Progress. But I don’t think I could handle touching him, no matter how soft and small he is.
“Suit yourself.”
She puts Loki down on the floor by her bed and walks toward me.
“Hurry up.” Her hands are shooing me out the door. “He’s gotta stay in here until we finish making dinner. He’s way too much of a pain in the ass while we’re cooking. I’ve been tripped more times than I can count. He’ll have to stay in my room until after. Then he can roam free.”
There’s an indignant squeak as she shuts the door before he can escape.
“Now. How are you in a kitchen?” she asks.
“Decent.” I’ve had to learn to look after myself, and since I got to college, I’ve spent some time watching cooking shows and reading recipe books. I’ve learned some things about making food. Something about the process is soothing. It makes me think about my childhood and reminds me it doesn’t have to be like that. Always a little hungry. Sometimes a lot. Never knowing if it’s going to be a good eating week or a bad one. Leaving a decent family who kept me well fed to move in with one who doesn’t always remember to give me lunch money.
“Good. Because I’m terrible. I’ve always wanted to learn how to cook, but I’m a hot mess. That’s why we got salad duty. I’m not to be trusted with the oven. So, you’ll balance it out. Maybe they’ll even let us boil the water.”
“A hundred percent no, sweetie.” Georgia is looking at me with suspicion. “Last time I let you do that, we had to spend a week scrubbing the stove top.”
“But Dev...”
“Is a wild card,” Blake finishes my sentence. “No offense man, but we can’t trust Cece, and we don’t know you yet.”
“None taken.” I shake my head. “Whatever you need.”
“Okay, grab the romaine, cucumbers, and green peppers out of the fridge. Start chopping.” It’s Blake again. He’s clearly in charge of the activities in the kitchen at their place.
He tosses me a bright yellow apron with sunflowers and a little ruffle around the edges. I know he’s fucking with me. Thinks the big tough hockey player won’t stoop to wearing an apron like this, but I’m happy to prove him wrong.
Cece bursts out laughing as she reaches back to tie the plain black one around her waist. I can’t resist stepping in to help, taking a moment to smooth her hair off her neck and bending down to place a gentle kiss on the back of her neck. Goosebumps form under my touch .
“Get to work lovebirds,” Annie says. Apparently, she finished her set up job and now she’s sliding the cutlery drawer open.
She rattles it around, gathering up supplies and heads over to the expensive looking dark wood table beside the big window. The last gasp of the sun for the day is casting a rosy glow through the windows, and it’s a perfect picture of domesticity.
Georgia joins Blake by the oven and the easy familiarity with which they move around the kitchen is surprising. Anna and Blake were the only ones who lived together before, and yet they’ve already formed this little easy family.
For me, the only time I’ve ever experienced that kind of dynamic is on a hockey team. The way sport binds you together and the shared goal of winning unites you in a special sort of way. But even though I’ve been on several hockey teams before, it’s never been quite as intense as with the Lightning. I miss Seb, and Woodsy, even Jacks, who delighted in driving me crazy. I hope there’s something similar in my team when I go pro, because I’m not a pro at making friends in general.
“Can you grab the Parmesan out of the fridge, Dev?” Cece asks.
I’m rooting around in the fridge looking for a container and coming up empty.
I can feel her presence behind me before she speaks. “What’s taking so long?” Her head appears under my arm, and she joins in the search.
“Are you sure you have Parmesan? I don’t see the container.”
She reaches past me to pull open one of the drawers. “It’s right here. ”
Heat crawls up the back of my neck when I see the yellow triangle of cheese. I’ve never seen it in that form before, and it’s kind of embarrassing to admit I don’t recognize the fresh ingredients.
“Sorry,” I mumble.
“It’s all good. Now put those muscles to work and grate it. Sorry we don’t have the already grated stuff, but fresh is so much better.”
“Hey, Dev, tell me about your teammates. I’m doing research into hockey players.”
Research. That’s weird. “For a project?”
“You could say that,” Georgia replies, spinning away from the sauce she’s stirring on the stove to give me a long-lashed wink.
“Really, Georgia. Trying to dig up dirt on his team. He’s more loyal than that.”
“Not dirt.” She waves a hand. “Information. Hasn’t anyone ever told you that information is the world’s most valuable commodity?”
“Well, they’re people, not commodities, and I highly doubt Dev has the information to help you lure one of them into your bed.”
“Ah well.
“Why don’t you tell us about that ghost tour you did on campus last week? I think the only way I can handle it is if I’ve got Dev here.”
Georgia launches into a story about a couple of ghosts that lurk in a closed-off tunnel in one of the residence halls. She’s a fantastic storyteller. Changing her voice and inflection as needed. Setting the scene with great detail. I don’t even believe in ghosts and my eyes are watering. Cece might think she needs me to comfort her tonight, but I think it’s the other way around. I’m not going to sleep ever again if I’m alone.
Dinner is incredible. I think it’s the best pasta I’ve ever put in my mouth. The rich flavor bursts in my mouth. We made a homemade Caesar dressing with an outrageous amount of garlic, and Blake even whipped up some crispy, buttery garlic bread.
I’m groaning, hand resting on my over-inflated stomach, but still eyeing the big bowl of pasta in the center of the table.
“Go ahead, take another helping,” Cece says.
“I shouldn’t.” But I reach out anyway to fill up my bowl. I can’t resist.
Making the dinner was fun, cleaning up less so. We pile whatever we can in the dishwasher and leave the rest for morning.
“Beau couldn’t handle that.” Cece waves at the pots and bigger dishes we left on the counter.
“Nah, definitely not. Even just living with him has sparked an itch in me that’s hard to resist. I really want to clean it up so it doesn’t upset him, even though he’s not here.
We plop down on the dark grey couch. I helped move in here and roll to see who starts first.
“Me. Yes.” Cece bounces, clapping.
“I think I need a refresh.” I tell them, picking up the rule book .
I won the first game. It’s always that way. Beginner’s luck or something. But no one gets upset. The team has tried playing board games at our house, but it always gets way too competitive, so the only ones we can handle are party games like Cards Against Humanity.
We’re on our fifth or sixth game, and I’m yawning hard. A quick glance at my watch tells me it’s past midnight. I don’t want to be the first to suggest bedtime, but I don’t think I can keep my eyes open any longer.
Cece drops her hand over mine. “Let’s call it a wrap. I’m going to pass out in the popcorn bowl if I don’t hit my bed soon. I need my beauty sleep.” I shoot her a thankful look, and we say our good nights, heading for her room.
My stomach tries to leap out of my throat when a tiny blur zooms at us when we open her bedroom door.
Cece bends down to scoop up the fuzzy little troublemaker.
“Loki, calm down. Ready to pet him yet?” She holds him out to me, and I reach out to see if I can do it. But my stomach clenches with dread. Nope, no way. Not happening. Yet. I’ll get over it. I have to.
I shake my head, and she gives him a few more pats before dumping him in his cage. I’m ripping my socks off when she bends down to give me a kiss. “Let me wash my hands. I’m sure you don’t want ferret germs all over you.”
I rip my shirt off, stretching my arms over my head. She left the door open so I can hear her singing along with the sound of running water, but I can’t make out the words. I could get used to this. And that is a serious problem .
The gentle hum that whispers through my body whenever she’s around picks up to a roar when she walks back in wearing a scrap of red satin and lace that hides nothing. Her heavy breasts hang loose, straining the fabric, and the fabric barely brushes the top of her thick thighs. I love that body so much.
Her lips curve up in a mischievous smile, the swaying of her hips is hypnotizing me. Making me forget all the reasons this is a bad idea. For me, yes. But mostly for her.
“Hey, there. Come here often?”
She leans in, dropping her hands to the bed beside me. My eyes are drawn to the creamy flesh displayed for me, and I reach up, needing to feel them in my hands.
I groan, and her eyes close, head tilting up to reveal the long line of her neck as I knead her breasts, brushing my thumbs over her hardened nipples.
My phone rings, shattering the moment.
I pull my hands away from her, glancing at it guiltily. It’s Beau’s ring tone.
“Ignore it. Please.” She grabs at my hands, trying to bring them back to her body.
I want to. There is nothing I want more than to rip that skimpy fabric off and explore her. Spend the rest of the night worshiping her, but I’ve got to get it. I don’t think she’d understand if I explained it to her. How important it is to answer the call. Because the one time you don’t, you might get home to find it was your last chance.
“I can’t. I’m sorry.” I hope she can read the apology in my eyes .
“Hello?”
“Hey, man. Where are you? I thought you were sulking in your room, but I got worried when you never came down. It was a rough game, but I wanted to at least touch base. Make sure you’re okay?”
The guilt that’s been riding me since I started sneaking around with Cece grips me hard, tensing my shoulders, clenching my jaw.
“Sorry. I went home with a girl.”
“A girl?” Beau sounds surprised. “Is this thing getting serious? You’ve been disappearing a lot lately. Anyone I know?”
“No.” The lie causes me physical pain.
“No, it’s not serious, or no, I don’t know her?”
“Neither. Both. It’s nothing. Just a fling.” Now I’m digging myself deeper. Cece is probably hanging every word.
“Okay. As long as you’re okay. Everyone’s pretty pissy tonight anyway, so it’s probably good you’re not here. It’ll blow over tomorrow. We’ll kill it next game.”
“For sure.”
“I’ll let you go. Just wanted to check on you. Make sure you’re good. And one last thank you.”
His voice is getting a little rough around the edges, like he’s holding it together with a fraying rope.
“Thank you for what?”
“For defending my sister. And for looking after her last week. You’ve been there for her when I couldn’t, and I can’t tell you how much it means to me that I have someone I can count on to help look out for her. ”
Fuck. I can’t do this. I can’t be here with her. Each word digs my well of lies deeper. How am I ever going to get out of this?
“Don’t thank me.”
“Of course I will. My sister is the only true family I have. And now you’re like a brother to me. So, thanks. Enough of this. Get back to your lady. I’m sorry for interrupting your night.”
He’s sorry. He has nothing to be sorry for.
My numb fingers can’t hold my phone anymore, and it slips to the carpeted floor with a soft thud.
“Is something wrong?” Cece sounds worried about me now too, and I don’t deserve any of it. I’m an asshole.
“I’m fine. You know I’m pretty tired, and I’ve got early practice tomorrow. I should probably go to bed.”
I drop my head into my hands, avoiding looking at her. Seeing her again when she looks like that won’t help. I can’t resist her ever, but especially not like this.
“Oh. Okay. I thought. Fine. Yeah, we’ll go to bed. I’m tired too.”
I can hear the soft thuds of her feet on the carpet as she walks to the bathroom, but I don’t look up. Instead, I slip under the thick duvet on her bed, dropping an exhausted head on her pillow.
When she returns, she slides in beside me, but I feign sleep. Because if I open my eyes. If I see her all soft and sexy. If she slips in beside me and snuggles up, I know I’ll be lost.