Page 24 of Everything In Between

NINETEEN

jersey

My eyes flutter open, blinking a few times before I stretch out my limbs. I love the way Hayes’s soft sheets feel against my skin. Pushing myself up out of the fluffy pillows, I glance around the dark room, all alone in the big bed. A sliver of light peeks through the heavy curtains.

My lips tingle a little, and I brush my fingers down my body, remembering the ferocity with which he kissed me last night.

I can still feel the light burn from his stubble scraping against my sensitive skin.

My breasts ache with the memory of having his hands on me as he played into my desire for him.

We’ve both had many opportunities to explore the intimate side of our relationship while still not going all the way with each other.

He’s taking his time, leisurely becoming a master at commanding my pleasure, skillfully learning every inch of my body and the tender areas which bring me closer to the edge.

With every passing moment, the need for him to take me and consume me grows hotter and hotter.

I need to know what it feels like to have Hayes make me his.

My experience in that department is limited.

I can’t help but be a little worried that the longer we put it off, I may not live up to the anticipation.

Throwing back the covers, I get out of bed and tiptoe into the hallway. Periwinkle lifts her head up out of her bed, and then goes right back to sleep.

I shake my head and chuckle to myself. Lazy dog.

Downstairs, I hear Hayes’s deep voice, and it sounds like he’s on the phone with someone. Hurrying into bathroom, I brush my teeth and grab my terry robe, wrapping it around myself to keep warm.

On my way down to Hayes, I pass by a window and take in the fluffy snow covering the trees and bushes around his home.

Taking a moment to study it, I appreciate the way the outdoors seem so peaceful and quiet.

Thick, heavy snowflakes still fall from the sky, swirling around in the wind before landing on the ground.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Hayes says behind me. His deep voice makes me jump a bit, pulling me out the falling-snow-induced trance.

“I wish we got snow like this in LA Makes me never want to leave.”

Hayes wraps his arm around my shoulder and tugs me into him, pressing a kiss against the side of my head.

I close my eyes and breathe him in. He smells clean, likely the soap from his shower this morning.

The warmth from his bare chest seeps into me and I love being this close to him, letting his strength and his presence consume me.

“You can stay as long as you want,” he murmurs against my hair. “Trust me, I won’t be complaining.”

His statement makes my belly flutter and my cheeks heat.

I don’t think I’d be complaining either.

I’m comfortable here. Part of that, I’m sure, has to do with the fact that I’m here with him.

Hayes makes me feel safe, cherished, and protected.

These shouldn’t be foreign feelings, though now that I’m here with Hayes, I’m suspecting this is what should have been all along.

I am beginning to recognize the ache in my heart from their absence.

I turn away from the window. His amber eyes track my movements, pupils dilating when I rise on my toes and lean toward him. He makes a small sound of appreciation when I press my lips against his and it sends a current of need down my spine.

His big hands wrap around my waist, and he draws me closer to him. I circle my arms around his neck and kiss him deeply. I certainly didn’t dream up the way my body responds to him.

My skin flushes and I moan against him. Hayes wastes no time and bends down, scooping his arms under my knees and hoisting me up against him. He maneuvers us until my back is pressed against the wall. My breath catches with his display of power, of possessiveness.

Jesus, how am I so attracted to him?

I rock my pelvis against him, searching for friction to ease my pulsing desire. He makes a satisfied noise deep in his throat when he realizes what I’m doing. His hips buck against mine, sending a shock of pleasure rattling through me.

Breaking the kiss, I lean my head back against the wall, gasping for breath. Hayes takes the opportunity to trail his lips along my jaw and down the length of my neck. I gasp when he reaches a sensitive spot, and he zeros in, tongue tracing that area as he kisses me until my head spins.

His hips continue to move against me at the exact tempo that drives me wild.

But it’s not enough.

“Hayes,” I gasp, goosebumps breaking out against my arms when his tongue dips into the curve of my collarbone.

“Hmm,” he murmurs against my skin in response, not letting up on his delicious torture.

“I need you,” I tell him, and he groans, the deep sound sending my arousal straight to my core, soaking my boy shorts.

“Don’t need to tell me twice,” he mutters. His arms tighten around my back and he pulls me off the wall, carrying me down the hall to his bedroom like it’s nothing.

I connect my ankles around his middle and giggle when he smacks my butt. Hayes kicks the door closed behind him once we’re in his bedroom, even though we’re the only two inside the house. I like that, like he still wants to keep these moments private.

He lays me down on the bed and hovers above me.

His amber eyes heat as his gaze traces me head to toe, a wicked grin appearing on his lips.

He leans over to one side, propping himself up on one elbow as his other hand travels to the knot of my robe.

With his one hand, he undoes the tie like a master.

He unwraps me, pushing the robe apart and leans down to press a kiss to my sternum over the material of his T-shirt before nuzzling against the side of my breast. The sleeves feel too confining now, and I push at his shoulders before sitting up so I can shrug out of the fluffy material.

Fingers grasping the hem of his shirt, I pull it over my head until there’s nothing covering my body.

We reach for each other at the same time, and I moan when his bare skin touches mine.

“You feel so good,” he murmurs against my chest. “Fuck, I’ve been waiting for this moment to get my hands on you.

” My nipples harden and I wiggle my hips a little, the thickness of his erection right above my pubic bone, hinting at the pleasure we’re about to experience.

Releasing me, Hayes pulls back a bit and reaches for my boy shorts, drawing them down my legs. Once they’re gone, I lean back on the mattress and spread my legs, feeling bold and secure enough to do so.

His eyes darken with desire as he takes me in, starting at my face and working his way down my body. His gaze lingers on the center of my thighs and his hands caress the skin on the outside of my knees up the length of my leg. Everywhere he touches leaves a trail of burning hot need.

His tongue darts out and wets his lower lip—something I never knew could be so sexy. His voice is deliciously raspy when he asks, “How is this real life?”

My heart races and I reach for him. He comes willingly, falling into my embrace and kissing the side of my neck.

I wiggle my hips, searching for that delicious friction right where I want it. Hayes groans, his pelvis bucking into mine on instinct. It sends me cascading into pleasure and I dip my fingers into the waistband of his briefs, encouraging them over his hips and tight glutes.

Before I get too far, Hayes stops me, hands wrapping around my own.

My eyes fly up to his only to find him watching me. His pupils are dilated but his jaw is set.

“What are you—”

“Let me make you feel good today, Jersey,” he whispers, his voice gruff. “We have plenty of time for all that later, but right now, let me worship you.”

How am I supposed to say no to that?

In the back of my mind, I can’t help but wonder why he stopped me. The twinge of worry returns. Why doesn’t he want to have sex with me?

He takes his time, and those worrisome thoughts dissipate as he slithers down my body with his tongue, tracing every curve and divot, paying special attention to those places that make my breath hitch.

When his tongue finds my center, all thoughts that don’t revolve around him leave my brain. All that matters now is Hayes and the way he’s working my body. He’s a quick study, hitting all the places he knows where best to tease me and draw out the sensations of his masterful ministrations.

Closing my eyes, I let myself be present in this moment, all other coherent thoughts disappearing as Hayes follows through on his promise, worshipping me into oblivion.

After Hayes gives me not one but two orgasms with his tongue and fingers, he disappears downstairs for a while, letting me bask in my post-orgasmic state. Mere moments pass before he returns with a glass of water and an Oreo covered in peanut butter for sustenance.

“Don’t you have to be at practice?” I ask him, accepting the Oreo offering.

He shakes his head and settles on the bed next to me. “Tuesdays are typically our off day during the week. I’ll still get a workout in, probably review some film.” He shoots me a cheeky grin. “Spend some time with my girl.”

I beam at him. “I like the sound of that.”

“Working out?” he winks.

“Noo.” I laugh. “Being your girl.”

His amber eyes soften and he leans down, kissing my cheek tenderly. “Me too. More than you can possibly know.”

I run my fingers over his face, loving the prick of his stubble against the sensitive pads of my fingers. He sighs and closes his eyes, letting me soothe him. I take the opportunity and thread my fingers through his hair a few times.

“I’ll give you ten years to quit that,” he says. When he opens his eyes again, they’re filled with regret. “But I better get this workout done. There are protein pancakes downstairs my chef made earlier this morning. Help yourself. I shouldn’t be too long.”