Chapter 15 Knox
KNOX
“Perfect.” Ava smiles up at me from where I have her pinned to the mattress. “I’ve always been a hands-on learner.”
As if to emphasize her point, she snakes her arms around my neck and pulls me down for a kiss. Her lips are swollen, and she tastes like pumpkin bread, chocolate, and sex.
It just might be my new favorite combination.
The way she took my cock will be forever seared into my memory, and now I’ll never be able to look at my favorite bread without thinking of her.
Not that I’m complaining. Far from it.
I still can’t believe she’s here, in my bed. I never thought she’d go for it, even with McGinnis out. She was crystal clear that what we have can only be physical, but I’m hoping that with time, I can change her mind.
At least this way I get to be with her while I figure out how to deal with all the rest. There has to be a way to get Coach on board and ensure her position with the Gliders isn’t compromised.
Hell, I’ll bring in my own personal MPC if that’s what it takes to get the front office on board.
But that’s a problem for another day.
I’m not going to waste my time with Ava worrying. I’d much rather be kissing her.
The muscles in my back and arms strain as I deepen the kiss, desperate to join our bodies. My tongue slides along hers in an erotic imitation of sex that feels so damn good my cock is leaking precum.
Ava must feel it because she takes my dick in hand and strokes it. “I think we need that condom.”
“You read my mind.”
I climb out of bed and grab a foil packet from the nightstand, then standing at the edge of the bed, I jack myself with slow, steady strokes as Ava watches. Pleasure coils at the base of my spine, and when she licks her lips, an involuntary groan rumbles from my throat.
Ava stares up at me with hooded eyes, a sexy little smile on her face as she rubs her thighs together.
“You look good in my bed. You’d look even better touching yourself.”
Her hands move slowly down her belly as she spreads her legs for me.
“Such a good girl.” I jack myself, squeezing my shaft hard. “Do you always do what you’re told?”
She nods, and I tear the foil packet open, rolling the condom over my length in record time. Then I reposition her at the edge of the bed and tuck a pillow under her ass, angling her hips to give me better access.
She continues to rub her clit with slow, lazy circles as I throw her ankles over my shoulders. “Is this okay?”
Again, she nods, and I position the head of my cock at her entrance.
“Are you ready for me, darlin’?”
“You’d better hurry up or I’m going to finish without you.”
I wouldn’t mind if she did, but I grip her hips and sheath myself to the hilt, burying myself balls deep in her tight little pussy. She feels so fucking good I never want this to end, but she’s already close.
Ava knows her body best, and I’d never deny her an orgasm, self-delivered or otherwise.
Maintaining eye contact, I withdraw and sink into her, over and over. The tension at the base of my spine ratchets higher with each thrust, every nerve in my body screaming for release.
“Can I touch you?” I rasp.
She nods and I press my palm to her lower abdomen, applying gentle pressure as I stroke her clit with my thumb.
I thrust hard and deep, our bodies damn near melding together as I search for the spot that will give her the most intense orgasm. Without warning, her back bows off the bed and she cries out, her pussy gripping me tight as her inner walls contract in ecstasy.
I don’t let up. I won’t stop until I’ve wrung every last drop of pleasure from her perfect body.
Gripping her hip with my free hand, I pin her in place as I chase my own release. Sweat beads along my brow, and my balls are so tight it hurts, but I could live in this moment forever, joined with this incredible woman.
My body, however, has different plans. I give one final thrust, and fireworks explode at the base of my spine, pleasure sizzling along every nerve ending in my body.
We ride out the aftershocks together, and once we’ve both cleaned up, Ava moves to collect her clothes.
“Don’t go yet.” I take her by the hand and lead her back to the bed.
She bites her lower lip, something she does when she’s unsure. “What if McGinnis comes home?”
“He won’t. There’s no way D-Vo will let him out of his sight.” I pinch her ass as she climbs back into bed. “Besides, I’m not done with you yet.”
In truth, I’d be perfectly happy to go to sleep. I don’t need another orgasm, but if keeping her in my bed is the only way to spend time with her, so be it.
I shut off the light and slide in next to her. She curls up against my side, her small frame dwarfed by my larger one.
“You’re placing an awful lot of trust in Luke,” she murmurs, her fingers tracing idle patterns on my skin.
I chuckle. “If there’s anyone I trust with my secrets—and McGinnis’s questionable decision-making—it’s Luke Dvorak.”
She tilts her head up to look at me. “You’ve known him a long time, then?”
“Since we were kids.” I brush a damp strand of hair off her forehead. Holding her in my arms feels so natural, and I can’t get enough of it. “Luke’s more than a teammate. He’s the brother I never had.”
Ava shifts, propping herself up on one elbow. “How did you two meet?”
The question is innocent, but answering means revisiting a dark time in my life, one I prefer to keep locked down. But if I want Ava to open up to me—to trust me with more than just her body—I need to do the same.
“After my parents died, I was a mess.” The words come easier than I expected.
Ava’s a calming presence, and when she takes my hand in hers and squeezes it, I find I can breathe a little more freely.
“I was sixteen and angry at the world. Left to my own devices, I would have completely self-destructed.”
“Knox…” Her voice is soft and filled with sympathy.
“Coach Carlyle was the only one who saw what was happening and cared enough to step in.” I swallow hard, the familiar guilt creeping back in.
Coach saved my life, and how do I repay him?
By betraying his trust and sleeping with his daughter.
“He helped me find a billet family so I could continue my hockey development without interruption. The family was the Dvoraks.”
Ava’s eyes widen slightly. “You lived with Luke’s family?”
“For two years. It was exactly what I needed—a fresh start away from home, away from all the things that reminded me of what I’d lost.” I still remember walking into the Dvorak house for the first time, my duffel bag slung over my shoulder, feeling completely lost. “It was tough at first. I didn’t want to be there, didn’t want to accept help from anyone.
But Luke’s parents were patient, and Luke, he just got it, you know? ”
“Got what?”
“That I needed space to grieve, but also someone who would challenge me.” A smile tugs at my lips despite the weight of the memories. “We had a shared love of hockey and similar work ethics. We pushed each other, made each other better. Not just on the ice, but off it too.”
Ava’s palm rests on my chest, directly over my heart. Her touch grounds me in the present. “It sounds like you and Luke have been through a lot together.”
“We have.” I pause, flashing back to grueling practices, exhausting schedules, and late-night discussions of our NHL aspirations. “Coach was there every step of the way, ensuring I went to counseling and kept my grades up. Between him and the Dvoraks, I had the support system I needed to survive.”
“I’m glad you had such an incredible support system,” she says quietly, “but don’t sell yourself short. You still had to do the work—mentally, emotionally, and physically—to get where you are today.”
She’s right, but that doesn’t make it any easier to acknowledge.
“Senior year, Coach recruited both Luke and me to play at Waverly,” I continue, steering the conversation back to safer territory.
“We lived and played together for four years, and they were some of the best years of my life. It wasn’t until we were both picked up by the Gliders in the expansion draft that we got to play together again.
” I pause for a beat, considering my next words.
“Having Luke here, on my line, wearing the same jersey again feels right, like it’s all coming together. ”
She hums in acknowledgment before falling silent. There’s clearly something on her mind. She’s biting her lip and her shoulders have gone rigid.
She’ll tell you when she’s ready.
I wait her out, slowly running my fingers through her hair in what I hope are slow, reassuring strokes.
Finally, she asks, “What happened to your parents?”
The question hangs in the air between us. I suspected it was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier to answer.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” she adds quickly, her voice gentle. “I understand if it’s too painful.”
“It’s okay.” And surprisingly, it is. It was a long time ago, and while I still miss my mom every single day, it’s gotten easier to talk about over time.
“My father was a high-powered corporate attorney who cared more about appearances than the messy details of real life. To say he was a hands-off parent would be an understatement, and by the time I was a teenager, he was rarely home. He spent most of his evenings wining and dining clients.”
I pause, gearing up for the hard part. For the ugly truth everyone knew, but no one acknowledged.
“He was a functional alcoholic. He could hold his liquor well enough that most people didn’t notice, but my mom knew.
She begged him to get help, but he refused.
” The bitterness in my voice surprises even me.
“On occasion, my mom would accompany him to events when he needed to reinforce his family man persona. It was after one of those events that he wrapped his Mercedes around a tree, killing himself and my mom instantly.”
Ava’s hand tightens around mine, and she sounds as broken as I feel when she says, “Knox, I’m so sorry.”