Page 23 of Any Second Now (Fort Collins Blizzard Hockey #2)

“Atticus,” Raleigh interrupts with a strangled sigh. “Stop overthinking things. That’s my job, remember? And even I don’t want it anymore.”

I blink. That’s what she said to me on New Year’s Eve. She’s right, but there’s more I want to say. I’m realizing things in this very moment—how much I want to see where this goes with Raleigh. Even though she’s already halfway through her eight-week sabbatical.

I want to try to be with her.

Without my sister watching over us or my teammates paying close attention.

“Okay. Then what do we do now?” I ask.

She leans forward and I can feel her hot breath on my mouth.

“Let’s start with kissing.” And then she brings her lips to mine.

Her mouth is soft and she opens it up to me, letting me wrap my tongue around hers in a move that is sensual and sweet. All overthinking—all thoughts, actually—leave my head and it’s only the press of our lips together, the taste of her mouth, her skin beneath my fingers.

And then she’s up on her knees and swings one leg over so she’s straddling me, her hands resting on my shoulders. My hands fall instinctively to her waist.

She pulls back and looks at me, her expression heated but also unsure.

“Too much?”

“Fuck no, Raleigh.” I shake my head. “Not enough.”

She watches my face as I move my thumbs on her waist, loving the feel of the soft skin of her curves. I want to pull her hips down flush against me, but I force myself to behave as she works out whatever’s in her head.

“You know, you’re the first guy I’ve kissed since before I married Jacob.”

“First of all, I absolutely hate the fact that you just named your ex while you’re sitting on my lap.

” I drop my hands and squeeze her ass playfully.

She yelps and scoots forward away from my hands, almost exactly where I want her.

Some of the tension fades from her face when I half groan, half sigh. “Never do that again.”

“Fine. What’s the second point?” she asks, leaning back in for a brief, soft kiss, swiping her tongue slowly and sensually in my mouth.

“Second of all, this is technically the third time we’ve kissed since your divorce.” I am so fucking hard right now and I reach down to adjust my cock against the unforgiving denim.

A little satisfied sound comes from her throat, half moan, half sigh. Fuck me. I slide my hands back onto her ass, and this time, I press her forward all the way. This time, she definitely moans.

“Believe it or not, I haven’t kissed anyone else since your divorce either,” I whisper.

“Really?” Raleigh leans back, her forehead crinkled.

“Yeah,” I say, shifting my groin against her pelvis. Her eyes shut briefly.

She opens her eyes and rocks gently against my groin, her arms resting on my shoulders.

This woman.

She’s mine.

I need her to be mine.

I’m gonna let this happen. I’m gonna let myself go with her—not completely, of course, just a little bit—and try to forget all my issues with dating someone or falling in love.

Not that this is love. Of course it’s not .

“I have something else to tell you,” Raleigh says. “Before this goes any further.”

“Tell me.” My voice cracks as she continues to gently, slowly rock. Doing this fully clothed is almost more of a turn-on then being naked. Who knew dry humping was so good?

She squeezes her eyes shut for a beat. “I’ve only slept with two people in my entire life.”

Holy shit. I’ve slept with… I definitely stopped counting a long, long, time ago.

“Raleigh—” I start, but what am I going to say to her? I don’t want to talk her out of this, but I want to be sure she really wants it. I don’t want to fuck this woman over. She’s so good.

Too good for me.

Raleigh crashes her lips on mine and her breath quickens as she grinds against me.

I kiss her again and again, and soon our tongues are intertwined and her chest is pressed up against me.

The little noises she’s making have me on the edge.

I want more, but kissing her, her rubbing against me fully clothed, almost has me coming through two layers of clothing.

I can’t help but reach between us and press my hand between her legs. Her jeans are too thick but she writhes against me.

Fuuuuck. I flick the top button of her jeans open and unzip, giving me access to her soft underwear, such a thin layer between my fingers and her pussy. Fuck me—she’s soaked already.

“Raleigh, tell me how bad you want this. I need to hear it.” I breathe into her neck while I stroke her over the thin layer of fabric.

But this summer—for the remaining time Raleigh is here—I’ll pretend to be the man Raleigh deserves. If she allows me to. I’ll let myself imagine being the kind of guy who could commit to a woman like Raleigh. A woman who men should commit to, not fuck and flee.

“Yes, I’m sure. I need you—this—to help me move on. To help me change.”

“What the fuck would you want to change?” I growl and reach behind her with my free hand so I can run my hand up her back, unhooking her bra and setting her breasts free.

They’re at mouth level and I push up her shirt and bra to take one rosy nipple in my mouth.

It pebbles under the swipes of my tongue.

With my other hand, I push aside her underwear and gently stroke her wet entrance.

I echo her moan as she presses down on my hand.

“I don’t know.” She’s breathing heavy now, and I need her wearing less clothing. “Just trying out a new me.”

I let go of her breast and look up, my fingers still swiping her pussy, spreading the wetness, rubbing and creating friction. “I like the old you. And the new one. I like all versions of you.”

Emotions cross her face so fast, I can’t identify them.

“Thanks,” she whispers, then pulls off her shirt and shakes out of her bra before gently removing my hand and standing.

I wiggle my jeans off and collapse back on the couch in my boxer briefs, leaning my head back to watch her push her jeans all the way off. When she tries to climb back on my lap with her underwear on, I shake my head.

“No. Take those off.” My voice is husky and I reach in to rub my hand on my cock as she slides out of her underwear. “Hey. I’m clear, by the way. I got tested earlier this year and haven’t been with anyone since.”

“Me too,” Raleigh says with a breathy voice. “And on the pill.”

She pauses before stepping forward, and I drink her in, smooth bare shoulders, the generous curve of her breasts leading to peaked nipples from my tongue, her chest flushed, her pussy glistening between thighs the perfect size to wrap around my waist. She’s made for me.

I don’t think I realized what my type was until this very second.

Then again, maybe I don’t have a type.

Maybe I just have a thing for Raleigh .

I sit up and reach for her bare hips, pulling her forward while kissing her belly, a hand moving back between her legs, my access now unencumbered. When I look up, she’s staring down at me with her mouth partially open, her chest heaving.

I stand without stopping my hand and pull her face to mine to kiss her again. She slides her hands up and down my chest, over the bumps of my ab muscles.

“Jesus, Atticus,” she pulls away and huffs a laugh. “You spend way too much time in the gym.”

“Are you complaining?” My thumb rubs her clit and she gasps and holds onto my arms.

“No. No complaining.”

I love the way her breath catches when I walk her backwards to my bed, only taking my hand from between her legs so I can cup her ass with two hands and wrap her legs around my waist.

She buries her hands in my curls and wiggles against me.

“Atticus,” she says under her breath and kisses me again. “I need more of you.”

I kiss her again. And again. And again until the world starts to spin gently and I lower her down, peeling her legs off me so I can step out of my boxer briefs.

I pause and admire her laid out and waiting for me, my heart bursting in my chest. This feeling—the anticipation of making love to her—is unlike any I’ve ever had before sex.

It’s different with her.

It’s different because it’s Raleigh.

“You know, I think I’m okay with being your rebound,” I murmur.

Raleigh throws her head back and laughs, and when she looks back at me, I lean in and nuzzle into her neck.

“I’m glad you think I’m funny,” I say before sucking gently. My cock presses against her abdomen.

“You are not my rebound,” Raleigh breathes.

“Mmm.” I lay a line of kisses down the valley of her neck to her right nipple. “I’m your rebound, and you’re my dating coach. It’s okay.”

She huffs another laugh, but then I arrange my cock between her legs and press my throbbing length against her center, pushing gently against her entrance. Raleigh gasps, the intake of air turning into a soft moan as she shifts down to increase the pressure.

I watch her expression morph as I reach down to drag my cock along her.

“God, Atticus, I love the feel of you against me.” Raleigh closes her eyes and throws her head back, exposing her gorgeous neck. “Just you.”

“Me too.” I push my cock until I’m halfway in, unable to contain my own moan. “I can still get a condom.” I’ve never prayed harder for anything than for her to say no.

I’d do it, of course.

“No. I want to feel you.”

Thank fuck.

“So you like this?” I press further and my cock slides all the way into her, the perfect fit, her pussy tight and wet and more than I’d dreamed of. I pause and take in the moment. Her lips parted slightly, eyes closed, bliss etched into her face.

My cock naked inside of Raleigh is more than I can handle. I haven’t slept with someone without a condom in years. Not since I was young and dumb and took too many risks.

“Atticus,” she moans. “Stop torturing me.”

I roll my hips and press forward to get even deeper inside her. But I don’t thrust. I wait. I stare at this beautiful woman, a perfect fit.

“I’m gonna need you to look at me and tell me exactly what you want me to do.”

“Oh come on,” she groans and her eyes flutter open. “You know what I want.” She attempts to buck against me but I hold her hips still.