Chapter 24
“Are your friends waiting for you?” Carson asks as we make our way out into the empty hallway. The players have mostly dispersed and gone on their way.
“Yeah, I think we’re going to head back to the hotel,” I say.
“Oh.” I look over to him while we’re walking. He looks like he wants to ask me something, but he just swallows.
“Did you want to…” I start, taking a page from Carson’s book, trying to be the mind reader for once.
“I was thinking we could hang out in my room and watch a movie?” He nudges my shoulder a bit.
“I can tell them not to wait up. I’m sure they’re going to be even happier to get that message instead.” I chuckle.
“Oh, really? Were they expecting us to be doing something after?” Carson smirks.
“Who said that?” I yelp.
Carson tugs me out of the way into his body when I almost bump into a staff member sharing the hall with us, “Sorry.” I mumble.
“You’re too cute.” He says, looking down at me, and I push him away.
I send Liam the text he’s probably dying to receive, but I make sure to stress that I’m only going back to Carson’s room as a friend.
Liam: Riiighhhtt friend ;)
Me: Could you be anymore ridiculous?
Liam: I mean i thought about saying don’t slip and fall on his…
Liam: I’ll let you finish that…lol
Me: I would prefer not to >:\
* * *
Carson leads me down the hall to his door. I guess he really does get a room to himself. Captain privileges, I suppose?
“Do you want anything?” He says, opening the door and letting me step in.
“Oh no, I’m ok, water maybe.” I smile.
“Alright, gotcha.”
I look around the room, it’s warm. I realize how tired I am. Carson’s probably even more exhausted. He hands me a bottle of water, and we sit down on the couch. He brings the rim of the bottle to his lips, taking a long sip. It’s quiet between us before I break the silence.
“We’re not going to watch a movie, are we?” I ask suddenly, my cheeks feeling a bit flushed. I hope he can’t tell how nervous I am. How did I end up in his room? When I told Liam I didn’t think that far ahead, I definitely didn’t think this far ahead.
“What else would we be doing?” He says.
“I don’t know.” I look down.
“Is there anything you want to do?” He smirks, grabbing my hand, he brings it to his cheek. Carson turns his head slightly to press a warm kiss to my palm, trailing more down my wrist. My breath hitches, his gaze flickers up at me.
“Can we kiss?” I say softly, almost shocking myself.
He says nothing.
But his reaction gives me the answer I need; not even a second goes by from the moment the question leaves my lips, does Carson waste.
He threads his fingers in the hair at my nape before pulling me in for a hungry kiss.
I immediately give in and let him guide me, still not very confident in my kissing.
I hope he’s liking it because I am. So much.
I whimper into his mouth when his tongue slips into mine for a taste. I could die just like this, from free-falling into everything that is Carson Young, and be perfectly happy.
When we finally break away, I feel like I’m floating, my head a hazy mess, as if I’ve been underwater. Carson is nuzzling my cheek, spreading little kisses across my face. I want to climb into his lap, but I’m a bit afraid of it being too much. Maybe he can kiss me until I don’t care anymore.
“You’re driving me crazy…” Carson says, his voice deep, sending shivers through my body.
“I want…” I say, my breath coming out unevenly.
“What do you want, baby?” He whispers into my ear.
“I don’t think I’m…” I stammer, feeling flustered that I know what I want, but I’m just not ready to go there. I need more time, though I really want it, and I think Carson wants it too. I’m just frustrating both of us.
“It’s ok, we can stop or keep doing just this.” He says, “Ok…can we keep kissing?” I ask.
He nods and kisses me softly on the corner of my lips. Carson pulls me into his lap. I sigh against him as we start to kiss again. His tongue is so hot and wet in my mouth.
I can feel his erection against my ass.
He slides his hand into my shirt, kneading my waist before trailing his touch up my back. His palm is hot against my skin.
This should never have to end, please.
I let out a low whine when he grips my ass after I finally gather enough courage to grind down. He’s so hard, I can feel the heat of him beneath me even through his sweats.
“If you don’t stop, I won’t be able to control myself.” He whispers, breaking our kiss.
“Then don’t,” I mumble, sheepishly.
“Julian…” He’s pleading.
“Ok, you’re right.” I groan, hiding my face in his neck.
* * *
Me and Carson eventually end up in his bed, cuddling, and we do, in fact, turn on a movie. But I just lay there in his arms, too wrapped up in how good our make-out session felt to even pay attention to anything happening on the screen.
We don’t really talk much so far into the rest of the night. I know he’s probably mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted.
“Why don’t you like Kane?” I chuckle, wanting to know suddenly, since we’re on good terms again.
“Who said I didn’t like Kane?” He says, looking down at me.
“Well, he said you guys don’t talk.”
“Nah, we’re a bit of rivals, I guess. When our old captain retired, it was between me and him for the position. But, as you can see. I’m the better man.” He smirks.
“You’re so ridiculous.” I roll my eyes, “Am I not? You like him? He’s hot and broody, I get it. But whatever.” Carson squints at me.
“Not in that way, silly,” I say.
“In what way then?”
“Carson, please,” I laugh, and maybe I shouldn’t have brought Kane up.
“Is it hard being the leader?” I ask, diverting him away from the topic, playing with his fingers. I think I wouldn’t be cut out for such a role, but Carson, he’s so good at it. His team respects him, and when I see them on the ice together, they look so harmonious under his direction.
They trust him.
I trust him.
“Sometimes. But I love it, still. It’s worth the headache.” He chuckles, “You know what else is worth the headache?” He adds.
“What?”
“You.” He laughs when I elbow him in the rib.
“You’re annoying!” I sigh, snuggling into him a bit more. Carson nuzzles his face into my hair.
I loved when he did that the first time we cuddled.
“Does my hair smell good?” I ask shyly.
“Yeah. Like peaches.” He says, taking a dramatic sniff, “My favorite fruit, you know.” He adds.
“You’re just saying that.” I chuckle.
“I’m not. I swear!” He laughs, tickling me, causing me to thrash out of his hold. I kick him away, and we both fall into a fit of giggles.
I hate being tickled.
“Stop it, you monster!” I yelp when he gets a hold of me again, his fingers gently digging into my ribs and waist. I can’t stop laughing, my stomach is going to cramp if he doesn’t stop, so I try to fight back.
I wrestle to get on top of him, but he flips me back over gently, making sure to avoid my wrist, before continuing.
We finally nestle back into our cuddling position again after attacking each other with pillows and tickles, “Thanks for coming all the way here, Julie.”
“You’re welcome,” I say, teasing him.
“See, that’s what I missed.”
“What?”
“Your smart mouth!” He says, tickling me again, but this time pinning me beneath him so I can’t get away. There’s tears forming in my eyes from laughing so hard.
“I’ll be good, I swear!” I breathe out. The heat and size of his body so overwhelming. I don’t want to get turned on from being tickled. That would be so embarrassing.
“Oh, will you now?” He says, his eyes darkening.
“You’re such a perv.” His face is so close, close enough for me to press my lips against his, so I do. I kiss him softly, still cautious of how to lead, but Carson purrs into my mouth, urging me on. We end up making out again, but this time until we actually fall asleep.