Chapter 18
Axel
“Nervous?”
“Yes.” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I’ve never done this before.”
“You can do it, darlin’. Just take a deep breath. Everything’s going to be okay.”
I sound confident, but I don’t admit that I’m nervous in my own right.
What we’re about to do is a first for me, too.
I’ve never had a girl sleep over that I wanted to come back again.
A girl who makes my heart feel like it’s about to explode out of my chest.
A girl that, every time I touch her, fuck her, laugh with her, I only want more.
So yeah, this is new to me too.
“Time to rip off the Band-Aid.” I take her hand and push open my bedroom door, leading her to the hall. The scent of eggs and bacon waft up the stairs, followed by my roommates’ voices. “I promise you, the guys will be so focused on food they’ll hardly notice you’re there.”
“It’s not the guys I’m worried about,” she mutters, fingers tightening around mine.
Sure enough, when we get downstairs, it’s not just my roommates in the kitchen. Twyler is there too.
“They emerge!” Jefferson says, lifting his cup of coffee. His black hair is a complete mess and there’s a huge hickey on his neck. “You two sure vanished fast last night.”
I pull Nadia into my side and loop my arm over her shoulders. “It’s not as fun as you think to hang around a bunch of drunk assholes when you’re sober.”
“So, still staying clean, huh?” Reid asks.
I look down at Nadia and smile. “I’ve found something better than getting high.”
She blushes and I kiss her forehead. Yeah, I’m going all in. When have I not?
“Thought maybe you’d pull a Twyler, Nadia,” Jefferson cocks a grin at Reese. “You know, abscond before daylight.”
“That was different,” Reese says, pushing scrambled eggs around the pan with a hot pink spatula. “We weren’t official yet.”
Reid flips a pancake onto the plate. “Don’t worry, I figured the smell of bacon would lure you two downstairs. We made enough for everyone.”
“Thanks, Reid,” Nadia says, and I’m briefly reminded that these two went on a date. She doesn’t linger over him though, and eyes the huge platter of eggs and bacon Reese sets on the table, followed by the pancakes. “This is impressive.”
“After a win like that, we celebrate.”
“What do you contribute?” she asks.
“Ha!” Reese shouts. “Busted.”
“I’ve got one job, darlin’ and that’s keeping the goals out of the net.”
“I see your no shirt policy is still in effect despite having a guest,” Twyler says, shaking her head at my bare torso. Nadia and Twyler share a smile, and I feel my girl’s muscles loosen just a bit.
Good. This is good.
“Is my body too much for you, TG?” I ask, grabbing two forks and handing one to Nadia. “A reminder that Cain needs to hit the gym a little more often?”
“This isn’t about muscles,” Reese says, taking a stack of plates out of the pantry. “It’s about common decency and hygiene.”
“No one wants your armpit hairs in the food, dumbass,” Jefferson says, although he’s in a shirt with the sleeves cut out, which seems like just as much of a hazard. “Yo, Reid, where’s Darla?”
“I know this will come as a shock but…” he starts making the three of us guys groan, “we broke up.”
“Big surprise,” Jefferson says.
“Again?” Twyler asks. “What did you do this time?”
“Nothing.” He shrugs, then admits. “She’s really critical of my post game fits.”
“You mean those outfits that look like you’re color blind and only shop at rummage sales.”
“They’re unique,” he argues. “Classic. And I’m building a brand, something she–and obviously you–can’t appreciate.”
“Well, I like her,” Nadia says. “She seemed really organized at Friendsgiving.”
“Oh yeah,” Reid says, “she’s kind of…”
“She’s uptight, man. Call it what it is,” Jeff says, gesturing to the girls. “Go ahead and get some food first. Otherwise there will be nothing left.”
I release Nadia so she can go fill her plate and watch as she and Twyler fall into conversation. They each grab a glass of juice and head to the living room.
“Breakfast with the roommates,” Reese says, piling eggs on his plate and then handing me the spoon. “You guys are making it official.”
“If that’s the standard, then yeah, I guess so.”
“I can’t believe you’re not going to hit up sorority row with me anymore,” Jefferson complains. “Bridget and Heather were pushing for that foursome.”
“Sorry, dude.” I grin, not the least bit sorry at all. “I see your hairy balls enough in the locker room.”
He scowls. “You know I do better with a wingman.”
“I can be your wingman,” Reid offers. “Now that I’m single.”
“Please. I’m not falling for that again. You and Darla will be back together before the weekend.”
“Not this time.” Reid grabs a stack of pancakes with his fingers. “We’re done. I can feel it.”
With full plates, Reese and I walk away from the guys who have started to make plans for the following weekend. The girls sit opposite of one another, saving us seats. “I wasn’t sure how this would go over,” he says, nodding at Twyler, “but I can tell she’s happy to have her friend around. Twy can handle being around guys more than most women, but occasionally it’s a little too much of a sausage fest around here.”
“I think Nadia’s glad to have her around too.”
“This just means if you fuck it up,” he picks up a piece of bacon and pops it in his mouth, “you’re going to have to deal with her.”
Winter break startsin ten days.
I’ve got exams, multiple games, and a sermon to finish for my father.
The only thing I really want is to be with Nadia. That girl has a grip on both my heart and my balls. I can’t get enough.
I legit want to follow her around like one of those pussywhipped guys desperate for another minute in her presence. I’ve spent every night with her this week, under the guise of getting some of this work done and all I’ve managed is to give and have multiple orgasms.
I’m a mess, behind on all my obligations, and that’s why I’ve isolated myself in the athletic tutoring room on campus. It’s quiet. No interruptions.
I stare down at the unfinished sermon and the bullshit topic my father picked out. It’s not the first time I’ve spoken in front of the church. Shelby and I were raised to be part of the show, but even with making my visits fewer and farther in between, he’s escalating my involvement. Before I left for college, we’d just read a few passages, light some candles, join in the ceremony of it all. Shelby’s role hasn’t changed much–women in my father’s church are there to serve and support. But a son like me? The Heir to the Kingdom… my role is more complex. More of a leader. Not the leader mind you. That position is filled.
My phone buzzes and I reach for the distraction in relief.
Nadia:How’s it going?
GoalieGod: Finished my paper for Communications and took notes for public speaking.
Nadia: And the rest?
She knows I’m struggling with this assignment from my father.
GoalieGod: Can staring at a blank screen for too long cause blindness?
Nadia: I’m grabbing some food before work. Need anything?
GoalieGod: Just ten minutes with you.
Nadia: I can probably accommodate that.
GoalieGod: And maybe a taco from the food truck?
I followup with a text about being in the student center, room 110 and about fifteen minutes later I hear a tap on the door. It’s locked from the outside, only accessible with a code, and when I open it, she’s standing outside with a bag full of tacos and a smile.
“You found me,” I say, taking the bag in one hand and pulling her in with the other.
“This is the athletic study room?” She looks around at the set up. It’s nice. I won’t deny it. New computers, comfortable desks. A couch and big screen. “I always knew you guys were spoiled, but this kind of takes the cake.”
“Spoiled seems like overkill.”
“Babe, the rest of us have to sign up to use the new technology, have to fight for comfortable seating, and if we’re lucky the guy next to us isn’t coughing and sneezing the whole time. Spoiled is the perfect word to describe this set up.”
“Fine,” I say, dropping the greasy bag on the table next to my notes, “we’re spoiled.”
Leaning on the edge of the table, I grab her hips and pull her into the hollow between my legs. “I missed you.”
“It’s been four hours.”
“Yeah, tell my cock that,” I say, pushing my hips into her playfully. “He’s been thinking about you all day.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Her hand runs up my chest and curls around my neck, where her fingers prod into my skin. “And super tense.”
I tilt my neck, letting her fingers explore. “It’s this stupid sermon. It’s always a nightmare, but this year it seems worse.”
“I thought you already had some written?”
“I did, but then I ditched everything I showed my dad at Thanksgiving. It just didn’t feel right.”
“What do you mean?”
My instinct is to shrug off her question, but Nadia’s looking at me with genuine interest and concern and for once I want to tell someone–tell her. “It’s hard to explain,” I start, taking her hand and threading her fingers in mine. “Even to myself, really. I’ve always played by my father’s rules: living my life up here at Wittmore, while fulfilling any obligations he has for me back home. But something’s different now. Maybe it’s the fact I’m graduating soon and I know I’ll be sucked into that life forever. Or maybe it’s the promise ring Shelby accepted at Thanksgiving, locking her into something when she’s too young to make the decision.” I shake my head, hating that her life is mapped out even more than mine. “Everything used to feel so far away, but now… it seems too close.”
“Have you talked to him about it?”
I laugh. “There’s no talking to the Reverend about anything. This isn’t just a plan, T, in his mind this is destiny. My whole life, even him allowing hockey and tattoos, fuck,” I run my hand through my hair, “probably even the women, is all about me coming ultimately home standing next to him.”
Nadia looks away. “That’s a lot of pressure.”
Sliding my fingers under her chin, I force her gaze back at me. “It’s even worse now because we’re just getting started and I sure as fuck don’t want to let you go.”
I kiss her, wanting to feel the warm heat of her lips on mine, loving the way she opens up for me. Her hands dip under my shirt, fingers cool against my hot skin. “Your hands are so soft,” I tell her, licking my way into her mouth. She responds, by spreading her fingers across my abdomen, toying with the trail of hair, leading under my waistband. I hum at her touch, stomach caving, while my cock tries to drill it’s way through the denim of my jeans. I pull back, sucking in a gasp of air and press my forehead against hers. “I asked you here for tacos, not a makeout-shesh.”
“Making out is good for releasing stress,” she says, thumb releasing the button on my jeans. I feel her hand push under the waistband, beneath the cotton of my boxers, and she wraps her hand around my erection. “And don’t tell me you’re not horny.”
“I’m always horny for you.” She jacks me up and down, making a shudder run down my spine. I fall back in my seat and look up at her. “Jesus, girl, trying to kill me?”
She grins. “I just want to make you feel good.”
“You always make me feel good.” I’m brain addled, horny as fuck, and reach for her to drag her into my lap. Instead, she drops to her knees. Yeah, that snaps me back. “Nad, come on, get back up.”
“No.”
My jaw sets and a war strikes out between my brain and body. I haven’t pushed her for anything like this. No blowjobs, no titty-fucks, nothing that could even be slightly perceived as taking advantage. She’s had enough of that for a lifetime.
But hell, I want to see, and feel, her pretty lips take me in.
“Ax, this is what we do for one another. We take care of each other and right now I want to take care of you.”
I swallow and touch her chin, running my thumb over her plump bottom lip. I cock an eyebrow. “Safe space, huh?”
“For both of us.”
That’s when it hits me that there’s a difference here. This is on Nadia’s terms and I need to acknowledge that. Settling back in my chair, I skim my fingers over her cheek, as she reaches for me, running her hands over my abdomen, feeling my muscles before she goes lower, grazing my engorged shaft. She moves closer, inching between my legs. She grips me by the base and bends, tongue darting out and licking the tip, teasing me before pulling back.
“Fuck,” I whisper, trying to control the rise of my hips. “I knew you were trouble.”
She looks up at me with those big brown eyes and says, “I love your cock,” before making a sweet circle with those pretty lips and taking me in.
I groan at the feel of her covering me in wet, slick, warmth. Look, all blow-jobs feel pretty fantastic, but this one is enhanced by the stirring in my gut, the pulsing of my heart. The girl kneeling before me. Everything Nadia does is better.
Best.
It quickly becomes clear that my girl isn’t a novice, that shit’s for sure. A lot of guys would get weird about it, but I like her experience. There’s no hesitation when she takes me in deep, tongue running over the ridge while she hums. She’s got me panting, desperate to thrust. I push my hands into her hair, trying to control myself.
“Darlin’,” I say, fisting her hair, “you take my cock so good.”
“Mmmm,” she hums.
“You gonna let me fuck your face?”
She looks up at me, chest heaving, her nipples hard and pressed into the fabric of her sweater. Her mouth is shiny, red, when she utters, “Please.”
Pushing off the chair, I stand before her, accentuating the ache. Cupping the back of her head, I hold her in place, hips rocking in an erratic rhythm. “You’re the fucking best,” I encourage her, but then she cups my balls and white flashes in front of my eyes. Just when I think she can’t take me deeper, I hit the back of her throat with a punch. “Fucking hell.”
The surge roars, pounding in my ears, my heart, my balls. “I’m close,” I warn, pushing her off with one hand, while scrambling for my hoodie tossed on the back of the other chair with another. “Back up.”
“No.” She grabs for me, sucking me back between her lips. She clamps down and runs her fingers over my balls and that sends me into orbit. I cum hard, and a lot, my balls seizing up and emptying. I keep an eye on her to make sure it’s not too much. She doesn’t just take it, she wants it, looking up at me with those sweet eyes while she sucks me off until there’s nothing left.
Emptied and loose-limbed, I help her off the ground and wrap my arms around her, holding her close.
“That was fucking epic.” I kiss the top of her head. “Way better than an epic-fuck up. And I hate to tell you, but now that I know you can do that, I’m going to badger the hell out of you to suck me off constantly.”
“Good,” she says, cheek against my chest. “I’m relieved. That’s the first time I, you know…”
I frown, confused. “You what?”
“Swallowed. I was afraid I’d panic at the last minute.”
I tilt her face upward. “You’ve never swallowed before?”
She shakes her head. “I was under so much pressure, I always gagged. The…” she inhales, “the other guys didn’t seem to care as long as they got off.”
My heart skitters–partly from wanting to chase down those assholes and pick them off, one by one, for ever making this woman doubt herself. The other part? It feels so fucking good that she trusts me like this. That she wants more from me.
“Thank you for giving me that.” I brush my lips over hers. “I know being vulnerable isn’t easy for you.”
It was more than that, but I have no fucking idea how to articulate it. She curls into me and her hand flattens against my chest, and I know for sure she can feel how hard it’s beating–I just wonder if she knows how hard it beats for her.