Page 22

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

Jett

“We got this.”

I sound entirely too confident for how I feel. She knows it too. Fable looks over her shoulder at me, stray pieces of her hair blowing with the breeze we make. She looks majestic, like she belongs in a Disney movie rather than this backcountry town. She raises her brow, and I raise one right back as I tell her, “Just don’t ever say toe pick again. Your mom ruined that phrase for me.”

Her laughter hits me square in the chest. When I found her, she looked so broken, so confused, that all I wanted was for her to smile again. I succeeded and even made her blush so damn beautifully.

Between her giggles, she vows, “I promise.”

I send her a grateful grin before we go through different sequences together. We fall into our old routine of warming up. We did it daily, sometimes hourly, so it’s second nature to revert to the rhythm of what we knew. What our bodies still know. With our skates and feet in sync. Unlike before, we aren’t so serious. Instead, we’re having fun. We had so much pressure on us as kids, but now, we’re just two adults enjoying each other. It’s exhilarating. Her smiles are quick, reassuring, and being with her on this ice reminds me why I’m so obsessed with her.

She makes me happy.

“After twenty years, I’d say we look pretty damn good.”

I smile at her as we pause for a break. I take her water from her when she’s done and down most of it. I don’t miss the way her eyes follow the bobbing of my Adam’s apple. I flex a bit to give her some more to look at, and the heat in her eyes almost has me choking on the water I so desperately need. I am going to be so sore tonight, but that smile on her face…worth it.

Her grin does falter a bit as she agrees with my earlier statement. “Yeah, but are we going to try for jumps and lifts? Or should we just skate together to our old music?”

I side-eye her. “We are picking new music, and if we’re doing this, we’re doing this right.” A determined little glint fills her gaze, but then it’s gone, replaced by something more as she slowly closes the distance between us. I don’t think she realizes how fucking sexy she is just existing. My voice is unsteady as I ask, “You coming over here for something, princess?”

I notice a flush start up her neck before she takes her bottle and puts it on the boards. She looks up at me through her lashes and demands, “Let’s see if you can lift me.”

I don’t even hesitate. I grab her fleshy hips and pick her up with ease, lifting her onto the boards. With a toothy grin, I say, “Done.”

“You’re using the boards.”

My lip quirks before I grab her waist once more, lifting her up midway, and to my delight, she wraps those thick legs around my waist. Fuck, she feels good. Her eyes flare with heat, and breathing isn’t an option for me because I feel nothing but warmth from her glorious pussy. Her leggings are thin, and by the look in her eyes, I know she feels me rock hard against her. I almost give us both what we need, a bit of friction, but I’m trying to show off here. Her voice trembles as she mutters, “Now you’re using your cock.”

Well…fuck.

My eyes fall shut on a rough moan as I lean my head to hers, holding her close. I have never in my life heard her utter those words, and now I want her to do it again while begging for me to put my cock in every single one of her holes. Hardly able to form words, I somehow get out, “First, warn a guy before that gorgeous mouth says things like ‘cock.’” Her lips turn up, all minx-like, and my cock grows even harder. “And second, my cock is always the MVP.”

She snorts at that, and once more, I flash her my teeth. As badly as I want her on my cock, I need to move her before I start humping her. I lock my core, send a prayer to the Big Man upstairs, and with all my strength, I lift her over my head.

Just call me Swayze, ’cause she’s my Baby.

Her giggles light me up as I do a small turn. I want to show off, but I also don’t want to drop her, so until I’m a bit more confident, my little twirl will have to do it. When my arms start to shake, I realize I need to up my arm days and slowly bring her down. I decide right then that I’ll be lifting Fable up over my head a lot, and maybe next time, she’ll be naked. I planned on putting her on her feet, but once more, she wraps her legs around my waist, and I don’t dare stop her. Instead, I skate around with her like she’s my own personal koala. She grins, gracefully moving her arms like we’re performing for a crowd.

I feel really good about myself, which is why I suggest, “We could do a sit spin.”

“We could.”

And we do, but instead of landing it, we fall in a heap of limbs and laughter. Our bodies hit the ice, and of course it’s unforgiving, but I welcome the pain. Especially with how hard she’s laughing. I look over at her as she holds her gut, her laughter unstoppable, and damn it, she’s so pretty. Her eyes are so bright, her lashes catching her happy tears. I have never seen someone as beautiful as her.

I don’t think I ever will.

She must feel me looking at her because she opens her eyes, and I ask, “You okay?”

“Fine,” she breathes, stretching out on the ice. “That was awesome.”

The ice is cold, but she has me so hot, the chill is greatly needed. I look down at where I hold her hand, and I hadn’t even realized I had grabbed hold of her. She threads her fingers with mine, and when I look up again, her eyes are intent on me. All I see is the girl I wanted so badly for so long. She’s just more beautiful—and thicker, in all the right ways.

Unable to handle the distance, I take her hand to drag her closer. She turns on her side as I do the same, and we’re facing each other, ignoring the bite of the ice. My need for her is great, so I reach over, cupping her face before trailing my thumb along her bottom lip. “Feel better?”

She nods eagerly, leaning into my touch. “So much.”

“You know you can unload on me,” I tell her, my eyes holding hers. “I’ve got you.”

Her voice is low as she whispers, “I haven’t had someone to unload on in a long time.”

“Well, things have changed, haven’t they?”

Her eyes sparkle as she nods. “They have.”

Her lips are beckoning for mine, and I need to kiss her. I slide my hand to the back of her neck, bringing her in close. Unlike before, though, she stills, her eyes widening as she takes a shaky breath.

I try to calm myself as I pull my brows in. “Do you not want to kiss me?”

“No, I do,” she says softly, her eyes falling to my lips for a full minute before she looks back into my eyes. “I’m just scared I’ve built it up more than it could ever be.”

Her words thrill me, and I feel my lips curve up. “Oh, princess, it’ll be more than you could ever imagine.”

I want to move, but something is holding me back. Unlike before, I don’t see heat in her eyes, more like fear, and I don’t know why. Before I can figure it out, she asks, “How do you know?”

How do I know?

Jesus Christ.

She looks so afraid, and instantly, fury fills me from within. Did someone make her think that she wasn’t kissable? That wanting her isn’t possible? Well, fuck that. I move my eyes from hers to her lips and back before I whisper, “Because this mouth…” I stroke my thumb along her bottom lip, the warm flesh making me wild. Her eyes darken before she arches into me beautifully, pressing those sweet tits into my chest. My cock presses to her stomach as my knee angles between her legs. Her legs entrap mine, and I almost come right there at having her so close. Her heat is maddening, and I want so much more, but I have to pace myself. I have to reassure her. “…was made for mine.”

Vulnerability shines in her sweet eyes as she gazes up at me. It’s also mixed with desire and confusion. She’s a mess of feelings, and I want to fix that for her. I want to guarantee her I want her. I want to show her, but if she’s skittish about a kiss, sucking her pussy until she comes would probably not be the reassurance she needs.

“What if it isn’t?”

The question just about guts me as I stare into her eyes. My heart is slamming against my ribs, begging me not to fuck this up, but I feel like I am. “It is, my sweet princess. I know it is.” Her eyes are glossy with tears, and I ask, “Fable, what’s wrong? Tell me.”

Her lips tremble as she ignores my question. “Will you stop looking at me like you do if you’re wrong?”

Her question catches me off guard, and I hope nothing changes in my expression. I don’t understand why she is asking that, or even what has her worried, but I want to ease the concerns. “I’ll never stop.” Like I did so many years ago, I press my lips to her nose and watch as her lashes fall to her cheeks. She inhales a shaky breath as I breathe her in. Against the tip of her nose, I whisper, “But Fable, if you’re not ready, we can wait.”

“You’ll wait?” she whispers, her voice so broken, it hurts me physically.

I tip her face up. “I’ve waited this long. I can wait as long as you need. I just want you.” She swallows hard as her eyes bounce back and forth between mine. Unable to stop myself, I whisper, “Fable, I’ve always only wanted you.”

Her eyes flare with more fear as she closes them. I fill my lungs with air and let it out in a rush. The motion must surprise her because her eyes flash open again and settle back on me. Her gaze trails along my face before she presses her lips to my jaw. It’s a soft kiss, barely there, but I feel it everywhere. I gather her close, burying my face in her hair as she exhales. She feels so good in my arms, and I don’t ever want to let go.

I’ll never let go.

I move my lips to her ear, brushing them along her lobe before I feel her arms tighten around my neck. Against her sweet flesh, I whisper, “Princess.”

She draws in a trembling breath. “Yes, pretty boy?”

I smile against her ear, and my voice is rough with lust as I ask her, “Will you tell me who hurt you?”

“Would you believe me when I say it’s all me?”

I take a deep breath before sighing. “I would.”

She nods. “Then maybe we can talk about it later. I’m feeling entirely too much right now.”

“Okay,” I whisper, kissing her right below her ear. “But, princess?”

“Yeah?”

Her voice is small and so unlike her, making me feel the need to wrap her up in my arms and never let anything or anyone near her. My voice is gruff. “I may be wrong about a lot of things, but I won’t be wrong about your mouth being made for mine.”

I slowly close my eyes, relishing the feel of her, and I swear I hear her plea, “I hope you’re right.”