Chapter 9 #2
Nash is so tall and handsome that I almost wish he’d kiss me right now.
Almost. Because no matter how drawn to him I feel, I can’t forget the fact that he’d rather walk away from me than risk getting in trouble with his coach.
I know that the no fraternization rule isn’t the only reason why he decided to ignore the magnetic attraction between us.
Tucker and Colsen being in the picture is another nail in the coffin of what could have been a hot relationship.
I can’t exactly blame him, but I wish he wanted me enough to at least try. Colsen and Tucker don’t expect me to stay away from Nash, and I’m the one who’s taking the biggest risk by breaking the no fraternization rules.
Why don’t you want me?
The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I already know the answer. Hockey is more important than I could ever be, and even if it weren’t the case, he’d be too jealous to coexist with Colsen and Tucker.
But are those the only reasons?
I see you.
I can’t help but remember the words of those text messages. It isn’t the first time those texts come right before or after Nash is in my vicinity. It could be a coincidence. But if I have to believe every true crime documentary and podcast I’ve ever followed, there’s no such thing as a coincidence.
He’s staring at me as if he wanted to look deep into my soul.
Is it because he wants me, or is it because he’s been stalking me and he’s thinking about hurting me?
The thought is so alarming that I fully press my back against the cold, rough bricks of the wall behind me.
A shudder works its way down my spine, and my nipples harden, pushing against the thin fabric of my tank top.
Nash advances, and I tell myself that if he tries to hurt me, my only defense is lifting my knee and trying to hit him between his legs as hard as I can.
Nash’s green eyes track my every movement, every breath.
“Trouble, are you cold?”
“I am.” It’s true, but it isn’t the only reason why I’m trembling. I realize that it’s a dizzying mixture of cold, fear, and arousal that’s making me shake like a leaf.
Nash unzips his hoodie and shrugs it off. “Turn around. This will make it better.”
I don’t even think about how dangerous it could be to turn my back to him, if he’s the one who’s been sending me those threatening messages. I just do as I’m told.
His hoodie lands on my shoulders, and warmth spreads through me. I’m immediately engulfed by his clean scent of soap with a hint of cinnamon.
“Here.” He tugs the zipper up, stopping right under my breasts. “Now let’s go check on your laundry. If it’s done, I can help you carry everything upstairs.”
I doubt that the clothes will already be dry. It must have been fifteen minutes tops since I switched everything to the dryers.
My first instinct would be to follow him as he heads to the laundry room. But if Nash were the sender of those messages, being trapped in a room with him would be really stupid.
“Hey Nash, did you text me at all tonight?”
He turns around. “No. But you’ve been in my thoughts all night.”
I’m not sure if I believe him. If he were the one who’s messing with me, he wouldn’t just admit it, right?
I decide to follow him but to stay behind him and to keep myself close to the door in case I’m making a mistake.
As predicted, the dryers are still working. There’s also one washer machine that’s running. Someone else must have come down here, because I’m positive that I put everything in the dryers.
“They have about twenty minutes left.” He bites out after checking the timers. “Do you want to wait?”
If I were alone, I wouldn’t even consider staying down here by myself for twenty minutes. But I don’t want to come back here later. “I guess. But we’ll get bored. What are we gonna do down here for twenty minutes?”
A devilish smile appears on Nash’s face. “Oh, I could think of a way or two we could kill time.”
He retraces his steps and closes the laundry room’s door.
Shit. I didn’t think this through when I thought I’d be able to run if things took a turn for the worse.
Goosebumps scatter all over my body as Nash’s smile fades away. He advances toward me, and I know that I’m at his mercy.
There’s nowhere to run if Nash is my mysterious stalker and there’s no way I could ever overpower him if he’s here to hurt me.
She was a gullible, foolish bitch. That’s probably going to be carved on my tombstone one day if these are the last few moments of my life.
Nash closes the distance between us with the same quick moves I saw him make on the ice earlier tonight.
He cups my face with strong, slightly rough hands. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Taryn.”
His mouth is hard, almost punishing, pressing against mine to claim.
I don’t even realize I’m opening for him when I feel his tongue brushing against mine. Every stroke is skilled, hot, and possessive.
He kisses me until I’m putty in his hands and my mind stops racing.
Would he kiss me like this if he wanted to hurt me? I guess I’ll find out. It’s not like I could ever overpower him if his intentions weren’t good, but being kissed to death isn’t the worst way to go I can think of.
I kiss him back, consumed by him, wanting to take as much as I give.
When my back hits the washer machine, that’s running, I gasp, surprised.
Nash grabs my wrists with one hand, lifting them over my head while he lowers my tank top with the other.
I’m still wearing his hoodie, but he hadn’t pulled the zipper all the way up past my chest.
The cold air of the laundry room hits my overheated skin and I gasp.
“So fucking perfect.” Nash murmurs, leaving my mouth to trail hot kisses down my neck.
A whimper escapes me when he reaches my nipples, closing his mouth over the hard, needy peaks.
“Oh, fuck.” I gasp as Nash’s tongue swirls around my nipple right before his teeth come to play.
Sensation travels down my body, all the way to my clit. Liquid heat pools between my legs, and I squirm until he lifts his head from my chest to look at me.
“What do you want, Trouble?” His eyes are dark, his voice rough, and almost all my fear is gone.
“You,” I whisper, and it’s the truth.
I don’t know if I can trust Nash. I’m almost sure he’s going to walk away again after he takes what he wants. But right now I don’t care as long as I get what I want too. Even if it’s just for a few minutes.
He lifts his head and takes my lips again. This time, though, the aggression of a few minutes ago is no longer there.
His mouth is still demanding, but the kiss is deeper, slower.
“Nash,” I beg. I don’t even know what I’m begging for. I just need more.
“What do you want, Trouble?” He growls against my mouth. “Do you want me to fuck you?”
I nod, not trusting my voice. I’m turned on, desperate, and still a little scared.
Is Nash my stalker? If he is, I’m playing with fire. If he isn’t, someone might still be out there watching us.
But every thought of my stalker vanishes when Nash lets go of my wrists and hoists me up, placing me on top of the washer machine.
The vibration of the appliance reverberates through me, and a wave of burning pleasure makes the space between my legs throb almost painfully.
My mouth pops open, but no sound comes out as I realize I’m already close to the edge.
“I don’t need the spin cycle to make you come.” His dark green eyes are intense, but there’s a hint of amusement in the curve of his top lip. “But why not try something new? Lift your butt, Trouble. Help me get you out of those sexy shorts.”
I do as I’m told, captive to his green gaze as he slides my sleep shorts down my legs.
“Fuck.” Nash’s eyes are fixed between my legs. “Last time I was so worked up, I didn’t even take a good look at that gorgeous, perfect pussy.”
He drops down on his knees, bringing his face level with my thighs.
Nash grabs me by my outer thighs, forcing me to slide down until my ass is hanging right on the edge of the washer machine.
“Nash, I—”
He rests my thighs on his shoulders, his eyes traveling up the length of my body to meet mine. “I know, Trouble. You want me to fuck you and I swear I will. But last time I didn’t get to taste you and now I’m dying for you to come on my tongue.”
Fire licks the base of my spine at his words, but it’s nothing compared to the feeling of his tongue delivering a firm lick up the entire length of my slit.
“Oh.” A strangled sound escapes me when he finds my clit and kisses it.
It’s a firm kiss. The contrast between the pressure he’s applying on my flesh and the softness of his lips makes me pulse as pleasure spreads to all my nerve endings.
I can feel myself getting more wet and I’d feel embarrassed if Nash didn’t literally drink me in.
“Hmm.” He sucks on my clit, causing another wave of pleasure, and flicks his tongue over it just when it was starting to get too intense.
He repeats the same pattern; sucking and licking over and over, and I lose myself in the exquisite feeling of his mouth.
The way he’s looking at me makes me feel as if he could see every part of my soul through my eyes.
I’m standing on the edge of a precipice, wet, warm, and needy, and about to shatter into a million pieces when the washer machine begins vibrating faster.
“Oh God.” The orgasm that washes over me is unavoidable and powerful. My fingers tangle with Nash’s hair as I push his face closer to my center, riding each wave until it’s too much.
I didn’t realize how tight I have been wound lately, and the ferocity of my release takes me by surprise.
“You’re so fucking delicious.” Nash stands up, leaning over me. “Taste it for yourself, trouble.” He grabs my chin and kisses my mouth the same way he was kissing my pussy a few seconds ago. It’s sloppy, messy and… hot.
Even though my body is still shaking with tiny aftershocks of pleasure, I want more. I want to feel his body against mine. I want to feel like there’s still hope that things might work out between us.
My hands find the waistband of his sweatpants and I pull them down. When his cock springs free, his hard, heavy shaft hits my oversensitive skin right where he has been kissing and sucking.
My inner muscles spasm with need, and I beg him again. “Nash.” At this point, I don’t know where we stand, but I’ll worry about it later. After he gives me what I need more than I need air.
“I could lose everything because of you, Trouble. And you know what? Right now I can’t bring myself to care. I want you too much to worry about the million reasons why this is a terrible idea.”
“Fuck me, Nash.” It’s something in between a command and a prayer.
He closes his fingers around the base of his erection, lining himself with my entrance, but stops just shy of entering me.
“Fuck. We can’t. I was just out for a walk; I didn’t bring any protection.”
Maybe this is a sign from the universe that we aren’t meant to be. Maybe my lucky star is trying to keep me safe. But I want him too much. “I’m on birth control and I’m clean.”
“I’m clean too. Are you sure this is ok?”
I nod, offering him my lips to kiss.
If he knew I did this with Colsen and Tucker too, would he still want me? Or would he look at me the same way he did on Tucker’s birthday?
I have no time to dwell on it because Nash presses against me, sinking into me easily.
“Lean back.” He covers my body with his and holds my wrists together above my head, like he did earlier. The contact with the metal of the washer machine makes me shiver, but I don’t care.
“This,” he bites out, surging inside me until there’s no more space between our bodies. “I’ve never felt anything so fucking perfect.”
Nash pumps his hips in sync with the washer machine that’s still vibrating under us and I lose control.
Pleasure bursts through me, taking me by surprise. I’m powerless as bliss washes over me. Everything feels so good it’s almost unbearable. My back arches as I strain against his hold on my wrists. I wish I could wrap my arms around his neck, but Nash doesn’t budge.
He fills me with every thrust, and even the feeling of his ripped chest rubbing against my hardened nipples adds to the pleasure that’s coursing through me.
“Fuck, Trouble.” Nash’s face hides in the crook of my neck as he stills. “I can’t hold back. You feel too good.”
He pulses inside me and his warmth fills me.
I love it and hate it at the same time. Right now Nash and I are as close as two people can get, but it’s just physical.
I’m under no illusion that the explosive chemistry between us is going to change his priorities or the way he feels about me.
It surely doesn’t change the million questions that have been running through my head all night.
Does Nash have anything to do with those messages? If he did, would he be here with me right now? Maybe.
Maybe being with me now is another way to mess with me, to keep me guessing; to toy with me until he eventually destroys me.
All of a sudden his weight on top of me no longer feels comforting but suffocating. Nash is still inside me and I feel trapped. Isn’t that what my stalker wants? To play with me and watch me squirm until they go in for the kill?
“We should go.” I murmur, eager to get away from him. I don’t feel threatened in this moment, but I need some distance. With him so close, I can’t think clearly. “Whoever is using this washer machine could come back.”
The washer machine under me has stopped running while Nash and I were still in the middle of our “thing” for lack of whatever this is we keep doing.