Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
ELLIE
“Hey.” I yawn as I toss my bag onto the floor and slip off my shoes, closing the front door behind me.
“Hi, angel.” Hudson steps away from the kitchen counter, where he appears to be preparing dinner—the entire house thick with the smell of garlic herb butter that has me salivating—and kisses me quickly before returning to what he was doing. “Do you want chicken or salmon?”
“If the salmon is what I’m smelling, I want that.” I laugh.
We’ve been eating incredibly healthy lately now that Hudson is cooking in accordance with the meal plan Nat’s coaches have her on so close to her performance. Her schedule is intense leading up to the competition.
Admittedly, I’ve been feeling a little lost since our Women’s Hockey season ended without an opportunity to compete in the playoffs, especially with Hudson and Natalia in the midst of their own competition season.
Still, their dedication is motivating for me, and Hudson has been assisting me with a plan for the National Team tryouts this summer.
I missed the March opportunity, but there will be another round in August; until then, I can get prepared.
After Hudson’s season ends and the arena has more open ice availability, he’s also offered to work with me one-on-one.
In the meantime, we’re focusing on conditioning, and he’s even set me up with a personal trainer he worked with in the professional league.
It’s difficult to do things like that outside of the house because we’re forced to operate under the guise that he’s still my step-dad, which couldn’t be farther from the reality of our connection. But at the very least, I can still be seen with him in public in some capacity.
Nat and Hudson can’t be together at all, really. Other than brief conversation passing when they’re at the arena, their relationship is kept completely behind closed doors, and I wish more than anything the three of us could be open and honest together.
“I’m going to go change real quick, and then I’ll be back down for dinner,” I say as I start up the stairs. “Nat is here, right?”
Hudson lifts his head from where he’s chopping cucumbers at the counter, and his smile is wider than it’s been in weeks. “Yeah. She’s home. She’s doing homework in your room, so bring her back down with you when you come.”
“Okay.” I smile back before turning and heading toward my room.
“And Ellie?” he calls, though it’s a pitch lower now.
“Yeah?”
“I think Nat needs a little extra attention right now, so let’s make sure we give that to her, okay?”
I turn back around, a smirk playing at my lips. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’ve got some ideas.” He winks. “Dinner first, though.”
“Yes, Daddy,” I chime, leaving Hudson groaning and muttering something about me being the death of him as I begin climbing the stairs again.
Nat has been a little distant lately, though less so with me than with Hudson. I thought she may have been a little afraid of his reaction after the Garrett thing; plus, I know she’s under a lot of stress with Nationals coming up.
Garrett has come over a few times with Hudson after practice, and if I hadn’t known he’d seen me with my head between my girlfriend’s thighs already, I’d have never been able to tell.
He acted completely normal—casual, as if Hudson secretly dating his step-daughter and another student at the university he works for is a totally run-of-the-mill situation.
He’s definitely fucking flirty, but I have a feeling that has nothing to do with what he saw and everything to do with who he is as a person.
Plus, it’s enjoyable to see him rile Hudson up about it, to watch Hudson get possessive over Natalia and me—though there is always a playful spark in his eyes that tells me he enjoys it too.
When I get into my bedroom, Natalia is sitting cross-legged on my bed with a textbook spread out in front of her as she types away on her laptop.
Her hair is thrown into a knot atop her head, and she’s wearing one of Hudson’s T-shirts and nothing else.
“Hi, love,” she says without lifting her eyes from her computer screen.
“Hi.” I kiss the top of her head as I pass her before continuing into my closet. I pull a favorite crewneck off a hanger before stripping out of my jeans, peeling off the bomber I was wearing. I take off my tank top, followed by my bra, until I’m bare, save for my underwear.
Just as I’m lifting my arms to slip the crewneck over my head, I hear a murmured, “That’s incredibly distracting, Ells.”
I pause, smiling as I slowly turn and face her. She’s no longer locked in on her schoolwork, her gaze anchored to my body instead. I drag my hand over my collarbone, splaying my fingers wide as it skates down my chest and over my peaked nipple. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Her pupils are blown, lips parted as she licks them before rapidly shoving her things to the foot of my bed. “Come here.” She crooks her finger at me. “My little fucking tease.”
I take my time, swinging my hips with every step until I reach her side. She flashes an arm out, snatching around my waist and pulling me into her. Nat’s legs fall apart as I crawl between them, settling above her.
She takes my breasts in each hand, eyes blazing through me as she flicks her thumb over my nipples, smiling when the sensation elicits a whimper from my throat.
She stretches her neck, and I drop my head so our lips clash.
Her mouth is soft and wet and warm, and I’m moaning into it as her tongue dances with mine, tasting me thoroughly.
She drags her lips over my jaw and down my neck, and embers blaze to life inside me, causing my skin to catch flame in every place she touches.
My back arches on instinct, desperate to force her closer.
She slips one of her legs between mine so I’m straddling her thigh before shifting slightly.
The new angle causes her core to become flushed with mine, and when I roll my hips forward, a friction erupts between us that has us both gasping.
“Faster,” she murmurs, lifting her hips to collide with mine as she takes my nipple between her teeth, biting gently before soothing the sting with her tongue.
“Nat,” I moan, rolling against her again, grinding down farther and faster, chasing the heat sparking in my center with each movement. I grip the top of my bedframe, and a frantic, chaotic frenzy begins.
“There you go, Ells. Ride it out, love.”
We’re meeting each other’s thrusts, her lips and teeth and tongue finding every inch of my chest. We’re so wet, I’m drenched right through my panties, but I can’t tell what’s from her and what’s from me.
When Nat’s hand slides down my bare back and beneath the band of my underwear to grasp my ass, pulling me farther into her and setting a rhythm under her own control, I feel as if I’m losing my mind.
My vision blurs, flashes of light exploding in my periphery.
Nat’s beautiful brown eyes flick up to mine as she runs her tongue over my hardened nipple, swirling around it.
Her pupils are blown, and her legs tremble wildly beneath me before her mouth drops open entirely, her moans vibrating over my flesh and heightening every sensation I’m already experiencing.
When those big brown eyes roll back and she goes taut beneath me, I lose myself right alongside her. I slack, hand slipping off the bedframe as my head falls to her neck and rapid murmurs of her name fall from my mouth onto her skin.
She’s peppering kisses along my shoulder, running her hand up and down my spine as we both come down, grounding ourselves back in reality.
Once I’ve gained the strength, I lift my head and gaze down at her. She cups my cheek, brushing her thumb over my lips, studying my mouth before pulling it to hers and kissing me again.
“I thought I said after dinner, angel.” Hudson’s deep, gruff voice startles me.
I pull back from Nat, peeking over my shoulder to find him standing in the doorway, leaning against it with his arms crossed.
“Guess you’ll have to punish us, Coach,” Nat says in her signature soft and sultry tone.
“Guess so.” He raises a brow, and I know he’s fighting a smile. His lips twitch at the corners as he nods toward the stairs outside my room. “Dinner. Looks like you two are hungry.”
Still holding the back of my neck, Nat forces my head to face her again, smiling as she rasps, “Oh, I’m fucking starved.”
***
“How would you two feel about me pursuing Garrett?” Natalia asks nonchalantly from across the table, and the food I’m chewing suddenly turns to cement.
I forcibly swallow my bite of broccoli, but it feels locked in my esophagus. My eyes flash to Hudson, who is slowly lowering his fork to his plate, throat bobbing with a similarly hard gulp.
“Not like…romantically, but casually? Maybe. I thought he may be interested in…” She trails off. I’m too afraid to look at her, but the way her voice dies has me wondering if she’s reading the expression I know I can’t hide, the one I imagine to mirror Hudson’s face right now too.
“Joining us?” Hudson finishes for her.
My stomach hurts. I finally turn my gaze to Natalia, and she’s solely watching me. She takes a deep breath, shrugging, her lip between her teeth. “Like I said…casually.”
“You want to fuck him?” I ask softly.
“I want to fuck all of you at the same time,” she says confidently.
“But…why add someone new?”
I glance at Hudson, but he’s watching me too. I don’t understand why he’s so calm about this when my palms are sweating, my appetite is gone, and I can feel my pulse in my fucking feet.
I’m…jealous? Insecure, maybe.
It’s one thing to share Nat with Hudson, because I love Hudson too—though I haven’t told him that yet. Garrett Anders is fine. He’s attractive, and if I was single and bolder, I’d absolutely be open to his advances, but I feel fulfilled.
I’m terrified Natalia doesn’t.
She reaches across the table and grabs my hands, squeezing.
“I don’t want to add anyone to this. You”—she nods toward Hudson—“two make me so happy, Ells.” Nat looks to Hudson, and he nods.
“Sometimes—not all the time—in the bedroom, I want…I want to try different things, and I’m just asking if you may be open to it.
Only when it feels natural, and I do feel that pull toward Garrett, but we can take our time with it, until you’re comfortable.
We also don’t have to do anything at all. Things can stay exactly how they are.”
She smiles at me, and I know it’s meant to be reassuring.
“You seem to be on board with this,” I say to Hudson.
He nods. “I’m open to it, and I’ve had…experiences with Garrett before, when we were younger. If it was going to be anyone, I’m most comfortable with it being him.”
“Does Garrett know about this?”
“No,” Nat says. “I want it to be natural. If it was something you’re open to, I may…plant some seeds.”
“You don’t plant seeds, kitten—you bulldoze. You’re terrible at being subtle.” Hudson laughs quietly.
Nat rolls her eyes, tsking before bringing her gaze back to me. “Can you tell me how you feel, Ells?”
“A little overwhelmed,” I admit. “A little like I’m not good enough.”
Natalia stands, rounding the table before pulling my chair back and straddling me over it, cradling my face in her hands.
“You are everything, Ellie.” She drops her head, running her nose along mine.
“It has nothing to do with you, I promise. It’s me and my body and my…
desires. It’s just… It’s just me, but it’s not because you are not enough or because you are doing something wrong. Understand?”
Honestly, I don’t, but for her, I’ll try.
“I’m willing to…be open,” I whisper.
She smiles, dropping her lips to mine and kissing me softly. “Thank you.”
“I think…” I glance at Hudson. “I think I need to go slow, though.”
“Of course, love,” Nat says softly, kissing my cheek.
“Garrett will be around a lot over the next week while we’re preparing for the National Championship, and he may stick around town for a little while after, so why don’t we agree to just…
let things flow? If something happens, we allow ourselves the freedom to explore it.
If it doesn’t, we accept it wasn’t meant to be. ”
Nat tilts her head, waiting for my agreement before providing her own. I nod, and she follows it, kissing me again.