Chapter 24
ISLA
My focus on the wine glass is broken when Violet touches my shoulder in passing and leans down. “Going to the ladies’ room if you want to freshen up?”
“Sounds like a plan.” I can use a little break and to check in.
I’m still wondering if I could be so lucky.
The past week since Vaughn’s and my date, a shift has happened between us.
The kind of change that I welcome. We don’t tiptoe around the obvious and easily enjoy our time with Nora, but we also enjoy one another through the chances of late-night dinners while she sleeps and a hell of a lot of roaming hands.
But the nights that we sit outside on the patio and admire the night are my favorite.
We talk about our days and things that we can plan.
It was an easy yes when he asked if I would accompany him for his team dinner.
Violet and I make it to the ladies’ room and are alone. We head straight to the mirror to freshen our makeup and adjust our dresses.
“This isn’t too boring for you, I hope.” Violet swipes on a new coat of mahogany lipstick to her lips.
I grab my blush from my bag and begin to apply. “Actually, not at all. It’s kind of hot to see Vaughn in his element, plus I’m used to all of this hockey talk.”
Violet lifts her brows and turns to lean against the counter next to the sink. “Let’s rewind a second, the whole hot-Vaughn mention. How is that going, beyond the parenting thing?”
My cheeks raise because I am happy. “We’re seeing where things go, but it feels promising. It was kind of odd doing the whole date thing, considering our past encounters, but it was just right.”
She throws a knowing smirk in my direction. “Thought so. I caught wind of those occasional glances with one another and his constant need to keep his hand glued to you. Were you two whispering? Because I’m sure I saw that before you giggled like a woman possessed by a man.”
I laugh and stay focused on my blush. “You and Declan are the same.”
She feigns doubt with a sound. “He is my husband, but we also started as a purely physical fling. However, normally when something like that carries on, it’s because there are deep underlying feelings.”
I blow out a breath and turn to accompany her in leaning against the counter.
“You’re right. We’re just both kind of scared that we might be blinded by the cloud of bliss that a new child brings.
It would be the wrong reason to be together just because we felt an obligation, but then he said something… ”
She pretends to clap her hands together and seems invested in my explanation. “Do tell.”
I bite my inner cheek because Vaughn said something poignant, and he wasn’t even trying. “He mentioned that maybe Nora is what brought us together to realize what we should be.”
Violet gushes for me before she gently touches my arm. “That is more than promising, that’s commitment. Sounds like he’s there, you just need to accept it and decide if you’re ready to jump in.”
I chortle a laugh and turn my body back to the mirror to assess myself, and I feel and appear more radiant than I have in a long time. “Vaughn is a guy who won’t relent, yet he has been patient. I’m beginning to see that it’s me holding us back.”
Violet side-glances to me. “If that’s clear to you, then you just have to be the one to take action.”
My head tilts as I stew in her words for a few seconds. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Do it in your time and be sure, but it’s your turn.”
I nod once in understanding, and she offers me her lipstick, and I hand her my blush. “This is a nice evening. It kind of feels as though the team is not just a team but a sort of community and family.”
“For sure. Declan wanted it that way. I do my best not to get too close to the wives of the players, except Hadley, of course. Players come and go, but the management team is slightly more stable.”
“That makes sense.”
We both put our makeup back in our purses. “Enough relationship talk. We need to praise our kids with the latest photos.”
A proud smile hits me as we both open the screens of our phones and begin our few minutes of child talk.
By the time I’m back at the table, Vaughn seems to be nearly done with his wine. I place my hand on his shoulder right before he leans in.
“You were gone for a while, I was nearly scared you ran away.” He winks at me, and those damn dimples are going to cause a flood between my thighs.
“Never,” I rasp, and I wonder if he heard me, as someone attempts to grab his attention.
I don’t mind being his plus-one and not getting much alone time with Vaugh. It allows me the opportunity to explore my deep thoughts that have been floating in me lately. Except it’s not a thought; it’s truly a feeling that we can be more.
Vaughn brings his gaze back to me as the person went onto a new topic with someone else. “You okay? You seem a little out of it.” His subtle smirk informs me that he must be aware that I’m contemplating.
My eyes flutter, as if I’m slipping out of a daze. “Oh yeah, totally.” I reach for my wine to take a sip.
He chuckles under his breath. “Won’t be much longer—”
Declan slaps a hand on Vaughn’s shoulder. “This man here is who we need to keep everyone in line. Hope you’re ready for me to steal him away for the season.”
“I’m sure I’ll behave in his absence,” I retort, and both men laugh in response.
“Enjoy the last few days together before preseason games,” Declan mentions.
“She will.” Vaughn stares at me intensely, and I’m curious what dirty thoughts are running through his head right now.
Declan grins as he walks away, because Vaughn and I are locked into facing one another with understanding eyes.
“Come on, let’s get out of your way.” He stands and offers me his hand.
I gladly take it but want to double-check. “Are you sure it isn’t too early?”
“I’m sure. We should get home.”
Home.
I never get tired of him saying that.
The drive back to our house is quiet, as Vaughn and I sit in the back of the car since we have a driver tonight provided by the team. It’s the kind of silence that heightens the tension in the best possible way. A mix of revelation and passion.
Even when we say goodbye to April, as she watched her adopted niece, and head upstairs to check on Nora sound asleep, Vaughn and I can’t seem to shake the air between us, with a feeling that something is about to snap.
He quickly says he’ll be right back, and I walk to our room. The moment I begin to slip off my dress, the answer feels clear.
I smile to myself before I plant myself in a spot on the middle of the bed in only a bra and black lace panties. I shake my head to loosen my hair and look down to see that my cleavage is out of control, but that doesn’t matter.
Vaughn unknowingly walks into our room and stops in his tracks when he catches the view.
His brows raise from the unexpected, yet approval shades his face.
“We only have a few days left before the schedule goes haywire. Better make the most of it,” I say in a sultry voice that I make an effort to speak.
He begins to unbutton his dress shirt. “Oh really? Are you sure you want to do this, considering I have about a hundred ways that I could ravish you?” He throws his shirt to the side, and it lands somewhere on the floor. Doesn’t matter, as he’s slowly walking toward the bed.
I move to all fours and slowly crawl toward the edge of the bed, doing my best to make it as sexy as can be. “Well, we have a problem then, as I also have a hundred ways—well, eighty, but who’s counting,” I tease.
Vaughn stands next to the edge, reaching out to slide his hand along my back to my ass that he squeezes, and his breath turns to a hiss. “Isla, you’re so fucking beautiful.”
“You’ve mentioned before.” I push up onto my knees and peer up as I begin to work on his belt. “There is only one thing I’m craving right now.”
He combs his fingers through my hair softly before they increase to a more clawing nature to keep a hold on me. “I won’t deny you, that’s for sure.”
I feel a bashfulness take over me because something does freak me out, thanks to our daughter in the other room. "As excited as I am for this, this does kind of feel like losing my virginity again, except this time I know what I'm doing."
Vaughn chortles a sound. "Ah, yeah… I can imagine this is kind of a new realm."
I swallow. "Exactly."
"Well then, I guess I'm lucky to be the guy that you lose it for."
My mouth parts open, and I run the tip of my tongue along my bottom lip to the corner, showing him that I’m eager for a taste.
The sound of his zipper that my fingers undo notifies me that I can have what I want now.
Sliding his boxer briefs down, I flatten my tongue to show him right before I lean down to lick his hard cock.
He moans the moment my tongue traces his length. “Isla, you do a lot of things to me, but taking my cock like a good girl is hands down second best to being inside of you.”
Taking him deeper into my watering mouth, I only want to please him. The last time we were like this was before everything changed. Still, I refuse to cement us with only vanilla transgressions. That’s just not us, never has been.
My tongue continues to glide along his length while he groans a sound, with his eyes hooding closed before glancing down at my actions.
I need to hold his hips as I take him deeper and don’t want to lose my balance.
Bobbing my head, the palm of his hand on the back of my head pushes me forward slightly to ensure he hits the back of my throat.
I make a sound from the force and breathe through my nose, as it’s by no means a gentle lick of his tip. Yet I wouldn’t trade this for anything else.
“Such a good girl you’ve always been.” His hand sneaks behind to slap my ass once before he hooks his fingers under the waistband of my thong to snap once.
I love his hand cascading up my spine until both his hands cradle my head.
“As much as I want every last drop rolling down your throat, I need to come inside of you more. On your back.”
His demanding tone has returned, but it only makes me smirk.
I begin to slide backward up the mattress on my hands, purposely taking my time and letting my foot slither up his thigh as Vaughn follows me by slowly crawling to hover over me.
My head raises to ensure our lips can meet for a kiss, and he takes the opportunity of space behind me to unhook my bra.
Lying back down, I get comfortable with my head on the pillow.
His mouth trails down my neck by skimming his lips then ghosting around my nipple.
“Your tits have been driving me crazy.” His tongue darts out to lick a circle around my hard bud.
I nearly whimper from the overwhelming sensitivity of it all. “I wish I could worship these more.”
I sputter a laugh and bring my hand to cover my face. “Yeah, it might get a little messy if you suck. My breasts are aching, but I think this time it’s all because of you, the good kind of aching.”
Vaughn nuzzles his face between my breasts then gives attention to the other breast, and his journey continues down my body, tracing around my belly button.
My body is a little different than before, but for the most part, I still feel sexy. I gasp a moan when he strips off my panties.
“We might have to go slow,” I whisper. Okay, I might be slightly petrified of what’s about to happen. I kind of refuse to look down there, and I can’t even imagine what this might all feel like.
That mouth of his, with a little evening stubble, brushes along my thighs, and he encourages my legs to open wide. He retreats his head back slightly to get a view.
“Trust me, this is nothing to be scared about. You’re glistening and soaking, and I desperately need a taste,” he assures me, so much that it sounds like he’s being honest. It eases me a little more.
The swiping of his tongue sinks me into a moment of ecstasy. Vaughn has always been a giver, especially when licking my pussy is involved. He knows where to point his tongue and swirls in the right places until my body coils against his mouth, with my moans becoming a string of slurs.
Then my eyes shoot open the second he dips a finger inside of me. It feels different. I feel tight, but everything feels ten times better than before. I’m not sure that I’ve ever been this sensitive inside of me, a new kind of magic.
“Christ, Isla, you feel amazing.”
A sound cracks out of me as I soak in this feeling. “I’ll feel better when your cock is inside of me, please,” I beg.
Vaugh kisses my thigh once more before he adjusts my legs to ensure he has space to be between them, with his cock finding home and slowly pumping in.
The instant connection causes me to gasp and Vaughn to groan in pleasure. “I’m not going to last.”
“Mmhmm. Me neither.”
Our mouths meet for a kiss to ride out his length driving deeper inside of me. Our breaths become one as the intensity is too overwhelming.
“You okay?” he whispers near my ear.
“Totally,” I promise.
The fingers on our one hand interlink, and he draws my arm up and over my head as my pussy wraps around him, and he drags in and out until he feels comfortable enough to move faster.
I can’t get enough, and I raise my thighs higher then wrap around his waist, with my toes digging into the muscles of his ass.
Our lips continue to dance around one another as we both begin to pant.
“You’re heaven, you know that?” he grits out as he continues to keep us connected.
“You’re just meant to live inside of me it seems.”
His response is to kiss my neck with a slight nip of my skin between his teeth.
We simmer like this for a little while, and then it happens. Our eyes connect, and we slow down for a second.
The confirmation between us that we both feel this pull is by far more than we imagined. It only leads us to chase our release.
“You’ll need to…” I remind him.
“Maybe a good thing, because if I come inside of you, I’ll be completely gone.”
A drowsy smile hits my lips. And it doesn’t leave until I’m trembling around him, and he pulls out to come on my thigh.
He collapses onto his back after he cleans my thigh with his boxers and throws them to the floor, and then I tuck into him, when he kisses the top of my head and drags the duvet over us. Kissing his chest, I bring my nails to draw lazy patterns on his bare skin.
“So, was this like our second date? Because if it is, then I think I’m becoming too easy,” I joke.
Vaughn ignores it and wraps me closer, tucking my head under her chin. “Nah, we always seem to be a few steps ahead.”
Maybe I was, and now we can focus on our solidified relationship status.