Chapter 26 #2
I can picture it, though. Me. I can see myself sitting on the floor with two little blonde kids, building a block tower.
Sutton would walk in after a long day of work.
She’d give us all kisses before she went upstairs to change before dinner.
Dinner I would make, because she deserves it.
After the kids go to bed, we’d talk about our days and then I’d follow her upstairs, and—
“I’m sure he’s out there,” I rasp, cutting off my daydream. I’ve never pictured myself doing something other than playing rugby before, but… suddenly it’s all I want. When my body no longer allows me to play the game at the level I am, I would happily retire so she can achieve her dreams.
“Maybe,” she whispers.
The tension between us becomes so thick, I swear I could slice through it with a knife. For a moment, I think I’m the only one who feels it, but the flush covering Sutton’s cheeks has me second guessing that assumption.
“Can we talk about last week?” I ask softly, waiting for her rejection.
“I think we need to, yes.”
“Do you regret it?”
Her hazel eyes lock with mine, like she’s searching for the right answer. There is no right answer in this scenario. If she says yes, it complicates things. If she says no, it complicates things. The complications depend on what she says, and how we want to move forward.
But god, I hope she says no.
“Do you?” She asks instead of answering.
“Not at all.”
“Me either I just don’t know where we go from here.
I’ve been overthinking all week. You said you want me, but what exactly does that mean?
What about the fraternization rule? I don’t want either of us to lose our jobs.
It was just a kiss, so if we put a stop to this thing before it goes off the rails—”
“It wasn’t just a kiss, Sutt.” I place my finger over her lips to cut off her spiral. “I’ll make my intentions perfectly clear. If you told me sex was completely off the table, it wouldn’t change how I feel about you.”
“H-how do you feel about me?”
The words tumble out before I can reign in my emotions and make them less… overwhelming.
“You’re the best part of my day. Even if we don’t talk, seeing you makes me smile.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays used to just be days in the week, but now I look forward to them more than game days because it means I’ll get to spend time with you.
Watching the joy on your face when you finish molding the clay makes me as happy as when the team wins. ”
Happier, even, but I don’t want to come on too strong.
This is getting way too close to a love confession, and while I’m aware I’m completely in love with her, it is way too soon to be saying that.
“If you told me right now you regret our kiss and want to remain only friends, I’d respect your wishes, but those things would all still be true. ”
She chews on her bottom lip, and I want more than anything to pull it out from between her teeth.
“I don’t know what to say to that,” she whispers. “This is a lot. There’s a lot on the line.”
“We don’t have to figure anything out right this second. We can keep this to ourselves for however long we need to; take it one step at a time.”
Shit, she looks like she’s about to cry. “Let me ask you this: do you want to go back to being just friends? Forget the kiss ever happened?”
Please say no.
“No. I can’t forget it happened. It was more than just a kiss for me, too.” Relief fills my chest at her shy admission. “And… I don’t want sex to be off the table, if you don’t.”
I wasn’t expecting her to say that but fuck, I want her so badly. I’ve imagined taking her in so many positions, thought of a thousand ways to make her come…
“I don’t,” I rasp, rubbing my thumb along her wrist.
She surprises me again by shifting so she’s straddling my lap.
I can sense her questioning the decision as she hesitates to put her whole weight down on me.
God, I want to feel her pressed against me so I put my hands on her hips, and guide her down slowly until her lap is flush with mine.
My cock is rock hard in my sweats and I can feel the heat from her pussy through her leggings.
She gasps when she feels it, and my soft groan turns louder when she gently rolls her hips. “Fuck. What are you doing to me, pretty girl?”
“I have no idea, but I know I want you, Ez. I’ve been going crazy for weeks.”
“You feeling needy, Sutt?”
“Yes,” she moans. “I need—I don’t know what I need.”
I thread my fingers through her hair, relishing the softness of the silky strands as I pull her face down to mine, letting her lips hover a breath away from my own.
“I do.” I tease her lips with mine, letting myself give in to all the desires I’ve been hiding away because I didn’t know if she felt the same way.
My voice is full of raw need when I say, “You need someone else to touch you just how you like it.” Kiss.
“You need someone to worship you how you deserve.” Kiss.
“You need me to take care of you.” Kiss.
“Yes, please.”
I press our lips together harder, no more teasing. There’s no hesitant pretense this time, just pure need. The stroke of our tongues together feels like I’m being filled with sparklers, my entire body lighting up like the sky on the Fourth of July.
The kiss deepens, and our hips grind together in messy movements that have me close to coming in my pants already. Shit, this is about to be embarrassing—
Loud pounding on the door startles both of us, and we rip away from each other, panting.
“Yo, E. Why is the door locked?”
Fucking Kendall.
For a guy who wants me to end up with Sutton, he sure does like to interrupt our time together.
I rest my forehead against hers, letting out a frustrated huff. “That’s Kendall, fucker forgot his key again. He’ll probably only be here for a few minutes if you want to stay.”
Sutton’s chest heaves with labored breaths as she shakes her head.“I should probably… finish packing. So, I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah, of course.” I hope my disappointment isn’t obvious. I know her, and I know she’s likely been packed for the past few days, unlike me. But I’m not going to rush this. Whenever I get to have my hands on her body again, however long the wait, it’ll be worth it.
As she stands, I note slight redness around her mouth from the scratch of my beard, and I stifle a groan. We didn’t do more than a little dry humping, but she looks wrecked.
I can’t wait to see what she looks like when we finally get a full night to ourselves.
I walk her to the door, contemplating begging her to stay anyway. Or to offer to come to her place when Kendall leaves, but in the end I decide against it.
I’ll see her again in like, sixteen hours, and all weekend.
When I open the door and Kendall sees Sutton, he grins. “Well, what do we have here? Am I interrupting something, kids?”
Sutton rolls her eyes. “I’m pretty sure I’m older than you.”
“Yeah, but I’m taller.”
“And immature, clearly, so if anyone is the kid, it’s you.”
“I can prove to you I’m not a kid, Ms. Brady, if you really want,” he coos with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
“Gross, no. I’ll take your word for it. See you both tomorrow.” She waves as she leaves, ducking under Kendall’s arm because he’s an ass who refuses to move.
“I’ll be seeing you in my dreams later.”
“I hope when you do, I kick you in the balls since I can’t do it in real life.” Her front door shuts as Kendall cackles.
“Man, your girl is funny.” He claps me on the shoulder as he comes in and heads directly for my fridge. He rummages around and pulls out a can of zero sugar Dr. Pepper, raising his eyebrow at me. “What the hell is this? I’ve never seen you drink soda.”
I snatch the can from him and put it back in the fridge. “It’s not for me.”
“Ohhh, I see. You’re stocking your pretty little neighbor’s favorite drinks now? Do you have a toothbrush for her too?”
“No.” Yes. In case she ends up falling asleep during a movie and sleeps over. It’s good to be prepared.
“Liar.”
He has no idea how right he is.