Chapter Seven
Phoenix
Cara is a mess beside me, stuttering and blushing like she isn't sure what to say or do now that I've been inside her. It's fucking cute. It's also guaranteed to end with me inside her again if she isn't careful.
"I should probably go," she finally blurts, staring at me with wide eyes.
"Yeah?" I cock a brow at her, prowling across the chaise to her. "You think you get to fuck and run?"
"What? No. I just…" She covers her face with her hands, groaning. "Maybe I'm just freaking out a little bit, okay?"
I chuckle, pressing a kiss to her right breast. "I hadn't noticed."
She drops her hands long enough to glare at me. "You don't have to sound so happy about it."
"I'm fucking thrilled about it," I murmur, dragging her into my arms. "You're in my living room, covered in my cum, wearing nothing but the panties I ruined and the marks I left on you. Why wouldn't I be happy about that?"
"You're kind of a caveman, you know that?"
"No." I tilt her head back until her eyes meet mine. "I'm just fucking relieved you're here. After today, I wasn't sure…"
Her gaze softens as she lifts her hand, her fingers brushing the bruise on my cheek. "Does it hurt?"
"Nah, it's fine."
"You know he's not really into me, don't you?" she asks, sounding worried about it. "He said he flirts with me because he likes giving you something to fight for other than hockey."
I grunt, throwing an arm over my eyes.
She immediately crawls up my body to drag it away. "I'm serious, Phoenix."
"I hear you."
"What does that mean?"
"It means I'm sure he did tell you that," I mutter. "And maybe he even meant it. But if you think that makes me want to hit him any less, you're sadly mistaken."
"You can't just hit everyone who flirts with me."
"Try me," I say, smirking at her.
"Phoenix, I'm serious."
"So am I, baby." I roll her beneath me, staring down at her. She looks up at me like I've lost it, but she's just not getting it. "You ever found something that meant everything, gorgeous? Something you feel in your soul?"
"I…" Her eyes shift across my face, like she isn't sure what I'm saying here.
"I always thought hockey was my one thing. It's all I've known my entire life. Hell, it's all I've wanted my entire life," I say, staring down at her. "And then there was you."
"I…"
"You're making me feel shit I didn't know I could feel.
So yeah, I might hit everyone who flirts with you.
I might lose my shit and beat the hell out of Corey every time he tries to touch you.
I may be this goddamn desperate for every scrap of your attention for the rest of my life.
" I cup her cheek, holding her gaze. "I don't know the rules here.
I just know that hell will freeze over before I let some other motherfucker try to make you look at them the way you look at me. "
She stares at me for a long moment. "How do I look at you?"
"Like you're dying to kiss me."
"Do not," she mumbles, but a tiny smile flickers at her lips.
"Yeah, you do. You're doing it right now."
"No, I'm not."
"Liar." I lean down, brushing my lips across hers. And just like always, she melts for me, her body going pliant.
My dick immediately roars back to life, but I groan, rolling onto my side to pull her back into my arms. "What else did Corey say?" I ask, trying to think about anything other than how much I want to be inside her again right now.
"Nothing."
I turn my head, narrowing my eyes at her. "You know I can tell when you're lying, right?"
"No, you can't."
"Yeah, I can."
She scowls at me. "You want to talk about all the stuff you've been lying about?"
"I haven't lied to you."
"Oh, really? So…let's talk about these rumors then."
"Told you already," I say, chuckling, "you shouldn't listen to rumors and gossip."
"You started a rumor about being a drug dealer, Phoenix!" she cries, smacking me across the chest. "I was afraid you were going to prison."
"Fuck," I growl, hauling her up until she's sprawled across my chest. "Say that again."
"You started a rumor about being a drug dealer?" she repeats, her brows furrowed.
"The other part, baby."
"Oh." Her gaze shifts across my face, softening. "I was afraid you were going to go to prison."
"You were worried about me."
"Yes," she whispers.
I squeeze my eyes closed, taking deep breaths.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to calm down before I fuck you again. You can't say shit like that and expect me to behave, Cara. It's unsportsmanlike conduct."
Her body vibrates on top of mine, a delighted peal of laughter spilling from her lips. "Unsportsmanlike conduct? I wasn't aware we could rack up penalties here."
"Yeah, well, we definitely can. Like if I fuck you too much and you decide that's all I want from you. Or if I fuck you too much and break your vagina. Or if I fuck you too much and—"
She cuts me off with her hand over my mouth.
"Phoenix? Shut up," she says, her smile so bright, it takes my breath away.
"There are no penalties for wanting me. And I'm not going to disappear if you fuck me too much, okay?
Sleeping with you wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.
It was more a…gradual realization that I've been fighting my feelings for the stupidest reason. "
"What reason?" I mumble against her palm.
"Cowardice," she admits with a rueful shake of her head.
"I've been so damn scared of letting myself believe that you aren't going to break my heart that I just…
wouldn't let myself take the risk." Her gaze drifts across my face like she's searching for something.
"I've been trying to convince myself that you're another Corey.
And then I saw the way you looked at him today, and I had to face the fact that I was lying to myself about a lot of shit.
" She huffs a little. "And then I found out that not even Corey is really a Corey. "
"Corey isn't even really a Corey?" I repeat. "The fuck does that mean?"
"Nothing," she says, trying to wave me off. "It's not important."
"Tell me."
"It's not my business to share."
"You're a reporter. That's what you do, gorgeous. You share shit."
"Yes, the news," she says firmly. "His trauma isn't news, Phoenix. And he told me in confidence."
I scowl, not sure I love knowing the prick told her anything.
I'm still mad as hell about what he said today.
I'm pissed that he touched her. I'm irritated as fuck that I'm going to be riding the bench for the next two games because I hit him.
Frankly, I do not have many kind, charitable feelings for him at the moment.
But…none of that shit really matters. What matters is whether or not I trust Cara. And that's what she's really asking for right now. Trust, not in Corey, but in her. That, I can give her.
"Fine," I grumble. "Keep your secrets. But just so you know, I once saw him sneak three different women out of his room in a single night. And I'm pretty sure they knew about each other."
Another peal of laughter spills from her lips. "You are shameless, you know that?"
"When it comes to you? Yeah," I agree. I'll fight dirty, start rumors, or do whatever the fuck I have to do if it means she never looks at him the way she looks at me. I want her all to myself, all the damn time. I'm man enough to admit that.
She just laughs again, snuggling up against my chest with her head over my heart. For a long moment, she's quiet, and then she sighs. "Hey, Phoenix?"
"Yeah, baby?"
"I'm really glad that you're not actually going to prison for being a drug dealer," she whispers. "I'd miss you."
Fuck.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, gorgeous," I murmur, squeezing my eyes closed. My heart rolls over in my chest as her sweet confession and amused laughter steal every last damn piece of it.