Chapter 12
Twelve
Nova
“Can I come in?” Ashton knocks on my open bedroom door, distracting me while reading a book.
I left my door open because Zeke keeps tearing down the hallway, knocking, running into my room for cuddles, and then running away.
It’s his own version of peek-a-boo or some other toddler game that I haven’t quite figured out yet.
He’s a cute kid but makes me realize how deep Luca’s gotten himself in with Harper.
They seem happy, at least from the outside, but everyone in the house knows the truth. They don’t have to hide it from any of us.
“Nova?” Ashton says when I don’t answer him.
Like I have much of a choice? I know him, he’s not going to leave until he annoys me with whatever he has to say.
“Yeah, come in.” I wave him in and sit up and put a bookmark in my novel, closing the pages.
He shuts the door behind himself, and I raise a curious eyebrow.
I’m still annoyed about his lack of help with unpacking my room and the house this afternoon, but he eventually pitched in and now the boxes have all been unpacked and everything has been put away.
“Your room looks good,” he says, glancing around, taking it all in.
“Don’t expect a thank you,” I say, glaring at him.
I hung up white string lights along the wall and a corkboard adorned with a handful of pictures of my friends.
There’s still more for me to do to decorate my room, but I’m too tired tonight to finish it.
I stare at him, wondering why he’s in here. It’s certainly not to applaud my efforts for unpacking and putting away my stuff.
He wanders over to the photographs on my wall, studying them. “You’re missing a picture.”
“Am I?” I ask, watching him.
He doesn’t know who my friends are or what pictures I brought with me from home. He never even stepped foot into my childhood bedroom back at home.
“You need one of your boyfriend,” Ashton says.
My lips part, and I raise an eyebrow. We haven’t quite put labels on whatever this thing is between us.
Hard to put a label like boyfriend on him when we haven’t done anything outside of the house together.
“That’d be hard to do since my brother doesn’t know about you. And we haven’t even gone on a date yet. Boyfriend status doesn’t come from bedroom activities alone.”
“Then let’s go out on a date,” Ashton says. “Wednesday night, you, me, and dinner out.”
“And what about Luca?”
Ashton frowns. “You want to invite your brother on our date? That’s kinky.”
I snort.
He’s got quite the sense of humor. “No. How are you going to handle him finding out about us?” I ask.
It’s why I hadn’t let my thoughts linger into dating territory because, this fun thing between us, how can it last in secret?
Luca isn’t going to be thrilled when he discovers we’ve been sleeping together. He made it clear to all of his teammates that I’m off-limits.
Just because I’m enrolled at Evergreen isn’t going to change his stance on being my overprotective and overbearing older brother.
Ashton closes the distance between us, coming toward my bed where I’m seated. “We’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
“The entire team knows, Ashton.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “They haven’t said anything to him, and he’s plenty distracted with the wedding next month. Let’s just give it some more time.”
I don’t argue with him because I know Luca isn’t going to take the news well. I really don’t want to be on the receiving side of his wrath when he finds out.
Besides, the last thing I want is to ruin something that hasn’t even fully gotten started yet. I want to see where this thing between me and Ashton leads. Especially if he’s planning on taking me out.
Besides, there’s a chance it could still fizzle out.
Why risk letting Luca in on what could be absolutely nothing?
I’ve been fantasizing about what a date with Ashton Rinaldi would be like, but that’s as far as it had gone—a fantasy.
Until now.
“Wednesday, it’s a date,” I say and pat the mattress beside me. There isn’t much room, but he can come hang out with me, keep me company for a bit.
It’s not like I’m getting to sleep anytime soon.
I’m overstimulated and not the least bit capable of shutting my eyes and falling asleep.
And with Ashton near me, I find it even harder to relax.
His lips quirk up in a wayward smile. “Good. I can’t wait.” He flops down on the twin-sized bed with me and stretches out. “Your bed is super comfy.”
“I know,” I say cheekily. “I picked out the best mattress, so you’d be tempted to sleep in here with me.”
“Really?” Ashton asks, his eyes widening.
I laugh, shaking my head, trying to hide the smile growing on my face. “No,” I say.
He is far too gullible.
It’s cute.
He rests a hand on my thigh and gives it a prominent squeeze.
My breath catches in my throat, and I try to pretend his touch doesn’t turn me into a puddle of goo.
“Are you ready for classes Monday?” I ask, attempting to distract him, and maybe I’m distracting myself too.
He chuckles. “Never. I live for hockey and our off days. What are you taking this semester?”
“All gen eds. Boring stuff.” I climb off the bed and already miss his touch on my thigh. I grab my backpack, dig out my schedule and hand it to him to purview.
He glances it over, studying it intently. “We’re both in Psychology 101.”
“Great, they’ll get to tell us what a basket case you are,” I joke.
Ashton quips a smile. “Takes one to know one.”
He hands me back my schedule, and I fold it and tuck it back into a side pocket of my backpack before climbing back onto the bed.
“Scoot over.” I shove at him playfully. “You’re hogging my bed.”
The sly smile spreads farther across his face as he rolls onto his back, laying his head on my pillow, stretching out as he takes up the entire mattress. “Come and join me.”
I playfully snarl at him as I pounce on him. I straddle his hips, my hands firmly planted against his chest. “I should punish you for what you did this afternoon.”
He smirks up at me. “I’d like to see that; show me what you’d do to me.”
I lean down, my breath teasing his lips as I grind my hips against his. He grips my hips and his head dips back, eyes closing. “If this is your idea of punishment, I’m a glutton for pain,” Ashton rasps.
His voice is filled with lust, and it makes my insides tingle.
Rocking my hips against his drives my own body hotter, and I lean down, letting my breasts brush against him as I cover his lips with mine, needing a taste, craving him.
Ashton’s hands remain steady on my hips while he grinds back up into me as I rock my hips against him. He raises his body up, his lips moving to that sweet spot on my neck as he begins sucking and kissing, making my insides melt.
“Fuck, Ashton,” I mutter, realizing how quickly I’m losing control.
“Is that permission?” He smiles up at me and rolls us around, taking command.
“Yes,” I rasp, finding my body responding to his touch as he quickly disrobes me of my jeans, sliding them down my hips and tossing them to the floor.
His mouth is on my thighs, and the room is sweltering. I move my hands to my hips, lifting my shirt and throwing it across the room.
“You didn’t even wait for me,” Ashton quips, and he’s all smiles. “I like it when you take charge, but it’s my turn to be in control.”
My insides quiver at his words, and his mouth trails a warm path of kisses down my neck as he unclasps my bra, removing it before latching onto my breast.
His mouth and his tongue swirl over my nipple, his fingers deftly exploring my body.
I arch into him, his touch turning my body to molten lava. My fingers find the waistband of his sweats, my touch featherlight as I guide my hand to his shaft, touching him, needing him.
“Nova,” he growls and rests a hand on my arm. “I didn’t come in here to fuck you.”
“But you’re in here now, and I’m naked,” I say.
“Not fully naked. Let me help with that.” He hooks his fingers into my panties, sliding them down my hips in one smooth motion. “Much better.”
His breath is against my skin, burning a path of kisses back up my thighs as he caresses my legs and moves higher toward his destination.
“You have too many clothes on,” I say and try to sit up to reach his sweats, wanting him naked with me. “I want to feel all of you.”
Ashton moves off me, and I whimper, but it’s only for a quick moment while he throws his clothes off and climbs back above me.
“Where do you want to feel all of me? Here?” he asks, and his fingers tease my pussy lips before gliding his palm over my bottom. “Or here?”
My eyes widen, and I inhale sharply. “Definitely not my ass. That’s not yours to touch.” I swat his hand away.
Ashton grins and chuckles. “Are you sure? I promise it can feel fucking amazing,” he whispers into my ear, and I shudder.
There’s no way he doesn’t recognize what he does to me. My body is entirely his for the taking.
“If you touch my ass, I’ll fucking cut off your air supply, Ashton.”
“Got it. I’ll respect your boundaries,” he says. His mouth descends back onto mine.
I relax into his touch, the kiss, my body melting against him and relaxing.
I trust him.
His hands graze over my hip and down between my thighs, spreading my legs for him.
His lips move down between my thighs, and I cover my mouth with my hand, being careful not to scream, trying to keep my moans tempered.
The bedroom door swings open without warning. “Nova, do you have a—”
Harper’s eyes widen as she witnesses Ashton tongue-fucking me, and I hear the door slam abruptly shut behind her.
“Shit,” I gasp.