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fourteen

I ’m standing in my dorm wondering what I’m doing. After that shit of a shift at the center, I don’t want to be alone. I knew Peyton was working tonight, but now that I’m alone, all I want is comfort.

Sliding my phone out of my pocket, I dial Kellan. He answers on the second ring.

“What’s going on, beautiful? You make it home?”

Hearing his voice has my feet moving. I want to be with him.

“I’m walking to your dorm. Can I hang out for a bit? I don’t want to be alone.”

“Of course. My roommate is here, but he’s always on his game anyway. He won’t even notice if you are here, and even if he does, I’ll deal with him. Do you want me to come get you?”

I step outside the dorm, breathing in the fresh air. Then I turn, taking off at a brisk pace to get to his dorm. “No. Maybe come downstairs, though?”

I hear him moving. “I’m coming down. Do you want to tell me what’s wrong now or when you get here?”

I hiccup on a sob, and tears start to spill down my face.

“It was so bad. I got a new case today. It was a simple visitation, but the mom threw a fit when I told her she couldn’t walk the kid down to the vending machine by herself. I had to shadow them. She went off on me. I don’t even know what happened. She struck me in the face. I’m okay. It’s not even bruised, but it was scary. Security came and took her out of there.” I suck in a breath, letting out a sob. “The worst part is the child witnessed it all. She was so upset, Kellan.”

“Shhh. I know, beautiful. It’s difficult when people don’t care how their actions affect others.”

I turn the corner toward his dorm and see him standing there waiting for me. He jogs toward me, hanging up the phone.

Then I’m in his arms. I sob against him as he runs his hand down the back of my head. I have no clue how long I stand there like that, but he doesn’t complain about it.

When I finally pull back, he frowns at me.

“Where is your jacket? You’re shivering. Let’s get you inside.”

I look at him, frowning. “You’re in a T-shirt.”

“Yes, but I was only waiting for you. You walked all the way over here without a jacket. You’re going to get sick.”

I let him pull me under his arm as he leads me inside. I burrow into his heat as I shiver. I didn’t even realize I was cold until he mentioned it.

We navigate the halls and elevator until we are standing at his room door. He opens it, bringing me inside. There are no lights on, but there is light from a computer monitor. I can see a character moving while the person with their back to me mutters to themselves.

“Get him, Ramblebot. Jesus.”

“My roommate. He talks to his online friends. I learned to ignore him.”

He turns toward a closet, pulling something out. Then he puts a hoodie over my head. I squeak, but try to stay in place to let him do it.

Once it’s on, he grabs my shoulders, turning me. Then he steps into me, whispering in my ear. “I knew you would look hella good with my name and number on your body.”

I look over my shoulder at him. He shrugs before climbing back on his bed, kicking his shoes off at the end of it.

I take my shoes off, climbing next to him.

“What do you need me to do, beautiful? I’m still new at this. I can talk shit about the woman. Usually I’m against violence toward women, but I think she could be the exception. I’m willing to go punch her if it would make you feel better.”

“No. I don’t want you in jail. Then how would you hug me?”

“That’s what my hoodie is for. To be your hug when I can’t be with you.”

My heart is hammering in my chest at his words. They are some of the sweetest I’ve ever heard.

Moving closer, I whisper to him, “Hold me?”

His arms come around me, pulling me so I have my head resting on his chest. “I thought you would never ask. It killed me not cuddling you,” he admits.

I smile against his chest. Today has been a shitty day, but somehow he helps ease the pain.

“Are you a closet cuddler, Kellan Cooper?”

“More like a cuddler with the right person, if you will.”

“You can cuddle me anytime you’d like,” I tell him.

Then I look up at him. He is looking down at me like I am his reason for breathing. It’s so startling that it has me suck in a gasp of air.

His hand comes to my face, wiping the tear stains I’m sure are there.

“I don’t like you crying, beautiful. You should only have tears of joy.”

“That’s not the way life works. Sometimes you have to cry the sad ones, but it only makes the joyful ones all the sweeter.”

“You are so smart.” His eyes flit to my lips then back to my eyes. “How did I get so lucky?”

Leaning up, I kiss him softly. He lets me lead the kiss, not attempting to take more than I’m giving. I peck his lips several times before biting his lip.

He opens his mouth, leaving me room to slip my tongue in. He hesitantly strokes my tongue with his own, fully participating in this kiss but making it known that I control it.

“What the fuck?”

I jump back from him, looking over at his roommate. I expect to find him watching us kiss, but he’s still looking at his screen.

Looking back to Kellan, my cheeks heat.

Neither of us says another word as I reclaim my spot on his chest. I feel safe and loved in this moment. The way his arms hold me to him makes me feel like he would never let me go.

It might be stupid of me, but I don’t want him to.

I needed someone today, and Kellan was there for me. He is showing me with each of his actions that he wants to be the man I need in my life.

As I feel myself drift off to sleep, all I can wonder is what I need to do to be the woman he needs.

* * *

Last night was the best sleep I have ever had in my life.

I know it’s not a coincidence that there is a dark-haired beauty still in my arms. Feeling her breathe against me had me calmer than I have ever been. Even my normal dreams filled with the pressures in my life weren’t there.

All I dreamed about was her. The way she smells of honeysuckle and sage, which I only know because I asked her once. It’s intoxicating how she takes over every single one of my senses when she is around.

I didn’t even need my earplugs last night. If my roommate made noise, I was unaware.

My phone beeps once, letting me know it’s about to go off. Reaching over Cora, I turn it off.

I don’t want to get up. This is the only place I want to be right now. With her in my arms.

Nothing could be more perfect.

I don’t have a choice, though. I need to pull myself from this bed and pray like hell her scent lingers when I come back later.

Sitting up, I gently shake her. “Beautiful, I’m going to get ready for practice. I’ll be back.”

She mumbles but grabs my pillow, burrowing in.

She’s so adorable.

I spy my roommate fast asleep in his bed. He must not have cared that she was here since he didn’t throw a fit. He’s a peculiar dude, but he has been chill so far.

Grabbing my shower caddy, I make my way down to the shared showers. It’s so early that there isn’t anyone else inside. Maybe that’s why I let my thoughts drift to the woman in my bed.

She kissed me last night. It was even better than our first kiss. Instead of unbridled passion like I felt before, there was a connection there. Something real beyond the physical sparks I felt.

This is what I’ve been missing.

Then I think about the way her nipples pebbled when she shivered. I hated that she was cold, but I couldn’t ignore the thoughts it sparked in my brain.

My dick comes to life at the thought, slowly filling.

I shouldn’t touch myself. Not with her sleeping in my bed, but that smell of hers is still in my senses. I can still remember the way her tits felt pushed up against me as her breath hit me with each pull she took. Or the way my hand laid on her lower back right about the curve of that juicy peach of an ass she has.

She is temptation personified.

If she were any other girl, I would have made a move. Not with Cora, though. I want to do this right, which means waiting for the right time for both of us. Truth is, I’ve never waited more than a few dates to sleep with someone. Maybe that’s why I feel a connection with her where I didn’t with others.

I’m actually getting to know her and not the facade she’s putting up in order to bag a future PHL player. I’m not distracted with all the sex.

Who knew being celibate could offer such clarity?

Still, my hand finds my cock, stroking it softly. I don’t need sex, but it feels good to touch myself thinking about the woman who occupies all my free thoughts nowadays.

The way she sucks in her bottom lip, making it red and angry once she frees it. How her eyes track my body when I’m doing something she finds sexy. I know she thinks I don’t notice, but I do every time. Or how she wears these tight jeans that showcase her curves, but then she wears these tight black pants that fit like a second skin.

I squeeze a little harder, picking up my pace.

God, the things I want to do to that woman. I’ve never enjoyed eating girls out much, but for her, I think I would feast on her. The way she would pull on my hair begging me for more would be everything to me.

Then I would take my time, finding the right pace while fucking her until she screams out my name. I wouldn’t let her rest until she was so blissed out she couldn’t see straight.

My hand slaps on the tile when my cock starts letting stream after stream of cum spill out of it. I curse when I see it hit the wall. Shit is hard to clean up. The consistency makes it stick better, so you have to cup your hands and hit it with some force to get it to come off the wall. That or you have to wipe it off with your hand.

Gross, but still, it took the edge off.

Finishing up my shower, I wrap the towel around my hips and head back to my room. When I step inside, I’m surprised to find Cora sitting up. Her eyes widen when she takes me in.

“Sorry, I thought you would still be asleep,” I whisper.

“Nope. Closing my eyes now. Get dressed.”

I laugh as she covers her eyes. I give her my back, dropping the towel. I pretend not to notice her slight gasp from behind me as I pull on my clothes. When I turn back to her, she’s staring at me, shock on her face.

“You staying here? You can. For as long as you want. I’ll be back from practice in a few hours.”

She shakes her head. “I have class. I need to get back to my room and get my stuff.”

“Let me drop you off on my way.”

She nods, getting out of bed. Fuck if I don’t love the way she looks in my hoodie. It has this possessive feeling come over me that I’ve never felt before.

She straightens up my bed before coming to my side. I grab my duffel bag I prepacked after practice yesterday and grab her hand.

I wait to speak again until we get into the truck. “We have to make a quick stop, if that’s okay,” I tell her.

“Sure.”

Pulling up the popular coffee app, I order her favorite coffee along with a pastry for her. I don’t bother getting anything for me.

When we pull up to the shop, she looks over at me.

“Be right back.”

I rush inside, grabbing my order before getting back in the truck. I’m cutting it close, but it’s worth being late.

When I climb back inside, I hand the coffee and bag to her.

“Where’s yours?” she asks.

“I don’t drink coffee before practice. Makes me want to puke. Same with eating.”

“You stopped just for me?” she asks.

“Of course, beautiful.” I lean over, kissing her softly before backing up the truck.

I don’t miss the way she stares at my arm as I look over my shoulder, using her seat to rest my arm on.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“Anything for you.”

The drive to her dorm is quiet. I jump out, going to her side to help her out. Then I pull her in for a hug. “Have the best day, beautiful. I’ll see you in our shared class. Want to have lunch after?”

“Yes.” She smiles up at me. “Thank you for last night. I needed it.”

“Anytime.”

I lean in, kissing her once more. When I pull back, I brush her cheek.

“How adorable. Kellan has a new bunny on the hook. Going for freshman now?”

I turn, finding Monica standing off to the side, her arms folded.

“Did you just call yourself a puck bunny?” Cora asks.

I try not to snort at that.

“No, but that’s obviously what you are. You’re out of your league, little one. Besides, in a month, you’ll be old news.” She gives Cora a once-over.

I step in front of Cora, needing to protect her.

“I know I hurt you, Monica. For that, I am sorry, but I won’t let you talk to Cora that way. You need to kindly fuck off,” I tell her, my anger building.

Monica rolls her eyes and huffs. “Whatever, she will find out for herself soon.”

I watch as she walks into the building. I sigh, rubbing my face.

Spinning around, I look down at Cora. “I’m so sorry about that.”

She smiles, leaning up to kiss me. “Don’t apologize for things that aren’t your fault. Catch you later, hotshot.”

As she takes off into her dorm, I wonder again how I got so lucky to find a woman like her.

Then I wonder if my past will always come back to bite me in the ass.