Chapter Fifteen Harrison #2
Do you think there’s a man out there who wanted to sleep with a woman who had a screaming baby at home? Or an overactive toddler?
Yeah babe.
That man would’ve been me.
I would’ve held that screaming baby.
I would’ve played with that overactive toddler.
I would’ve stayed by your side and you wouldn’t have had to navigate life all alone.
But I can’t tell you that.
For as guilty as I feel about not being there for her and now knowing she didn’t have much in the way of relationships over the years, seeing her response makes me feel instantly lighter knowing she didn’t have any other serious relationships.
Me
Well, aren’t we a couple of sad saps.
Harper
LOL. I guess so. But I prefer to think of it more like the universe knew what it was doing.
Me
Yeah, I suppose it’s entirely possible.
DAY SIX
We got our asses handed to us again tonight and now we’re all in pissy moods.
None of us are talking much when we load the bus to return to the hotel, which is fine with me.
I don’t want to think about the game anymore anyway.
I don’t want to think about Detroit hip checking me so fucking fast I never saw it coming.
I don’t want to think about how pissed Bear was after the second period when they were leading three to one.
And I definitely don’t want to think about Roche twisting an ankle and possibly being out for the next couple games.
The kid is fast.
We need him.
I’m stretched out on my hotel bed, towel slung low on my hips, hair still damp from the second shower of the night, the only way I could think of de-stressing that didn’t include drinking, when my phone lights up. I know it’s Harper before I even look at the screen.
Harper
Connor’s asleep so I finally have a minute. Sorry about the loss tonight.
Me
Meh. It happens. I don’t want to talk about it. I like that you text me when the house goes quiet. How’s Connor? I miss him.
Harper
He’s good. Had a great practice today. You would’ve been proud.
Me
I’m always proud. How was today?
Harper
Busy and long. Met with Shepherd Haynes today. The football player. I think Portland’s going to take a chance on him. It was great to tell him the news. He was pretty excited to hear it.
Me
That’s great! Congrats! Did you celebrate?
Harper
I’m celebrating now. Talking to you.
Me
Wow. Sorry. I don’t think I’m much of a celebration halfway across the country from you.
Harper
It does suck that you’re in that hotel room all alone.
Me
I’m not alone, babe. I’ve got you.
Harper
Mm. Is it a nice room at least? Do they put you guys up in luxury? Paint it for me.
Me
Dark at the moment with the lights off. There’s one lamp by the window. You’d complain about the pillows.
Harper
LOL! You’d steal them anyway.
I chuckle quietly.
She’s not wrong.
Me
Only the good one. You’d end up curled against me whether you meant to or not. I always liked being your pillow.
There’s a longer pause before she texts back and I wonder what she’s doing.
Me
You okay?
Harper
Mhmm…
Me
What’s going on over there?
Harper
Truth?
Me
Always.
Harper
I’m thinking about the way you kiss me. How amazing it felt that first time after your game. You literally took my breath away.
Harper
And then in my living room the other night…
Harper
And every time you kiss me in my dreams…
I sit up slowly, pondering her words.
Me
Kissing you was always my favorite thing to do. I hope I didn’t come on too strong. I just saw an opportunity and didn’t want to waste it.
Harper
Never. When you kiss me it makes me feel safe. Claimed. Like I finally belong somewhere. I feel it for hours afterward. Every time.
My grip tightens on my phone at her little truth bomb.
Thank God, she fucking likes it.
Me
You do belong somewhere. You belong with me.
Harper
I’ve always wanted to be with you, you know that.
Not always.
That’s the problem.
Me
Tell me what you did with all that feeling?
Harper
What do you mean?
Me
You know what I mean…after I kissed you and left the other night. What did you do?
Harper
God, I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t. So I…I stopped trying and gave in.
Fucking hell.
My breath goes shallow and my cock thickens under my towel. I know I shouldn’t push her, but fuck do I want to push her and see how far she might go.
Me
Tell me about it
Harper
I shouldn’t.
Me
Why not?
Harper
Because…you know why, H.
Me
Precisely why you should tell me. You want to tell me. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have brought it up.
When she doesn’t respond I text her again, hoping a little more encouragement will get the truth out of her.
Me
There’s no judgement here, Harp. You know that. It’s just us. Tell me what you felt.
Harper
I touched myself thinking about your hands on me, H. Your mouth on me.
My eyes fall shut and I inhale a deep breath. “Jesus Christ she’s killing me.”
Me
You don’t know what that does to me, babe.
Harper
I wonder what you’d feel like now…after all this time. You always made me feel so good. You always knew right where to touch me.
I sink back against the headboard, my palm sliding slowly over my stomach.
Me
Were you quiet while you touched yourself? Or did you say my name like you used to? With that sweet little hitch to your breath and the sigh I used to go crazy for.
Her response takes longer, like she’s deciding how honest to be.
Harper
I had to be quiet because of Connor in the other room. So, I moaned into my pillow.
Harper
Over and over until I came on my fingers.
Shiiiiiit.
My jaw tightens and my cock hardens like a rock, the ache sharp and undeniable.
Jesus fuck.
Me
Fuck, Harper. That’s…fucking hot. If I were there right now, I’d make sure you didn’t feel alone for even a second.
Harper
What would you do first?
Holy shit.
Is she really doing this?
Her question feels like permission.
Me
You really want me to go there?
Harper
Just curious…
Me
I’d kiss you slowly, gently and tenderly like I have nowhere else to be because I have ten years of tasting you to make up for.
Harper
I think I’d like that very much. What else?
My hand slides lower, deliberate. I’m aching to touch myself but I know once I do, there’s no going back.
Me
I’d make you feel wanted, Harper. Cherished. Pleasured. I’d grip your body and take my time teasing you with my tongue, just enough to make you squirm. To try your patience…
Harper
Don’t tease me, H.
Me
Teasing you is the best part, babe. Playing with your body, watching how much your body reacts to my touch. To my tongue. To my words.
Harper
H…
Me
Fuck, I can’t tell you how many times over the years I’ve gotten myself off to memories of you underneath me.
Harper
Tell me more.
I’m staring at the screen, my heart racing as Harper’s last message sinks in.
My pulse thrums through my cock like a live wire, and I can’t shake the images she’s ignited in my mind.
It’s been so long since we’ve explored this side of our relationship, and the thought of her—of all that I want to do to her—makes me feel alive in a way that’s fucking intoxicating.
Me
You want me to tease you? That’s what you’re looking for?
Her reply shows up almost instantly.
Harper
Maybe. Depends. How good are you at it?
I lean back against the headboard, grinning, my palm sliding over my thickened cock. This is the kind of banter I’ve missed, the playful intimacy that makes everything feel lighter despite the weight of the past. I know I should probably take it easy, but hell, where’s the fun in that?
Me
I’m damn good at it, babe. But I’d much rather talk you through it than text you through it.
I know I’m opening Pandora’s box, but the temptation is far too strong. Now that I’ve gone this far though, I sure as hell do not want to back out now.
Me
You don’t have to show me if you don’t want to. Just tell me what you’re doing. I want to hear you.
For a moment, the three dots dance on my screen, teasing, leaving me hanging. And then she replies.
Harper
Okay. But you have to promise that you’ll keep talking to me.
I don’t even hesitate.
Me
Absolutely. I’ll be right here with you.
To my surprise, my phone rings. I wasn’t sure she would really do it, and though it’s not a FaceTime call, just hearing her voice makes me the happiest son of a bitch on the face of the Earth right now. “Fuck yes,” I murmur to myself before I slide my finger across the screen to answer her call.
“Harper,” I greet her.
“Harrison…” My name escapes her lips like a confession, barely audible yet unmistakably wanting.
I’m already strung tight, my body humming with anticipation as I hear the soft sound of Harper’s breath on the other end of the line. My pulse races even faster, knowing she’s about to let me in on something so intimate, so raw.
She whispers again, and it sends heat pooling low in my gut. “What should I do?”
Fuck, I can barely contain the rush of energy coursing through me. “Start by touching yourself,” I instruct, my voice dropping lower, thick with desire. “I want you to feel every inch of your skin, every curve, every sensitive spot. Just like I used to do. Let your hands explore.”
I can hear her shifting on her bed. There’s a slight hesitation before she asks, “Where?”
“Just go with what feels good, babe. Start at your shoulders, glide your fingers down your arms. Just like I used to do, remember?” The image in my mind of her soft skin beneath my fingertips is vivid. I can’t help but bite my lip as I picture her gently trailing her hands down her body.
Jesus I’m so hard.
The sound of her breath catches as she follows my instructions. My heart races. I need to keep her talking, keep her focused on the sensations I know she’s experiencing. “Now let your hands travel down your arms, slowly. Feel every inch, every curve.”
“Feels nice,” she whispers.
“I want to hear more of those sounds,” I say, my voice dropping low. “Tell me what you’re wearing.”
“Just a tank top and underwear. Nothing special.”