Page 65

FORTY-TWO

AUGUSTE

Courtney holds my hand as if it's a promise all the way to the airport.

In the back of Coach’s truck, she doesn’t say much. Her anxiety has been through the roof all day, and when she leans into me, I wrap my arm around her.

Her curls brush my jaw while her thumb traces the line of my wrist on repeat. Like she’s trying to memorize the way I pulse under her touch. Like she needs my heartbeat to keep her going.

Samson is sitting next to her. Head in her lap with his droopy jowls slobbering her leggings. His eyes flitting between me and her.

When we pull up to the terminal, I get out while she fusses over our boy and I grab the bags from the back. Then Coach is helping her out of the truck and the damn that’s been crumbling all day breaks.

“You’re coming to visit, right? You promised…” she sobs, burying her face in her dad’s chest.

"Of course I'm coming to see you, Tig," Coach says, his voice gruff with emotion as he wraps his arms around her. "First break in the schedule. Two weeks, tops."

I stand back, giving them space while clutching her carry-on like it's the only thing keeping me tethered to the earth. Samson whines at my feet, pressing against my leg when I throw my duffel over my shoulder.

"I know, buddy," I whisper, bending down to scratch his ears. "I know."

When coach finally releases her, Courtney's eyes are red-rimmed and glassy. She swipes at her cheeks with the back of her hand before turning to Samson.

"You be good for Daddy, okay?" she murmurs, kneeling down to cradle his face between her hands. "Don't let him stay up too late playing video games."

Hesitating, she stands and slowly meets my gaze. It takes a moment for her clue into what’s happening when she spots my duffel.

Confusion furrows her brow. “What… what’s that for?”

“I’m coming with you.”

Her mouth parts. Fresh tears gloss her eyes.

I shrug. “I couldn’t let you walk away from me.”

“You’re crazy,” she chuffs.

“We’ve established that already.” I lean down and kiss her temple, slow. “I need every second I can get…”

“I want him back in one piece and on time next practice,” Coach kisses the top of her head. From the way his eyes are glassed over, he’s struggling to let Court go too. “You two should go, if you miss this flight?—”

“I love you, Daddy,” Court gives him one last hug before she pulls one of Sammy’s treats from her pocket and gives it to him with one last ear scratch and kiss. “No pooping or peeing indoors, you hear?”

He licks her face before she stands and Coach clips his lead on him. His barks follows us as we head through to the VIP check-in.

“You think he’s going to be okay with my dad?” Court looks back even though we’re far enough away from the doors she can’t see out through the constant flow of people.

“He’s going to love running around his grandpa’s yard and jumping in his pool.”

“You’re right.” She presses into me like she’s trying to disappear inside my chest. “I’m just… oh my god, I’m gonna miss him.”

“He’s going to miss his mommy, too.”

She laughs, reminding me how much I’m going to miss that sound.

"Let's get through security before I completely lose it," she says, swiping at her eyes again.

I guide her toward the priority line, my hand firmly at the small of her back.

Every touch feels weighted now, like we're both trying to store the sensation for later.

The airport buzzes around us, but I'm only aware of her—the way she keeps leaning into me, how her fingers reach for mine when we have to separate our bags for screening.

Once through, we make our way to the first-class lounge. I've arranged everything, wanting these last hours to be as comfortable as possible. When we settle into the plush seats, Courtney curls against me, her legs tucked beneath her.

"I didn't expect this," she says quietly, tracing patterns on my forearm. "You coming with me."

"Did you think I could just drop you off and drive away?"

Her new apartment is something out of a dream.

Clean white lines. Exposed beams. And windows—floor-to-ceiling monsters that look out over the Mississippi like a goddamn promise.

She drops her bag at the door, turns in a slow circle.

“Wow,” she breathes. “This doesn’t feel real.”

She turns to me. There’s a glint of something sharp behind her smile. Longing. Sadness. Some ache I recognize in my bones.

“You okay?” I ask.

She nods, then doesn’t. “I hate that you can’t stay.”

I step into her. Wrap my hands around her waist.

“Court,” I murmur. “I’m in this with you. I don’t care how many miles are between us. I don’t care how long. I’ll find my way back to you. Again and again.”

Her eyes shine. “I’m scared.”

“I’m not.”

She laughs, wet and broken. “You’re not scared to miss me?”

“I’m terrified to miss you. But I’d be even more terrified of having to let you go for good.”

I kiss her hard, mouth desperate to taste every bit of her, hand sliding into her hair.

Court gasps when I press her back against the nearest window. The glass is cool on her bare skin as I lift her shirt over her head, exposing her breasts in their lacy bra.

So perfect.

“We’re going to make sure this view remembers the sound you make when I fuck you,” I whisper. “You want that?”

“Yes,” Courtney whimpers, hands pushing and pulling at my unzipped hoodie until it falls to the floor.

"Then take off your clothes, Snow."

Courtney pushes her leggings down her legs and then clumsily treads them off before doing the same to her panties. With her eyes on mine, she unhooks her bra…

“I’m naked, baby,” she rasps, holding up her bra and then making a show of letting it fall to the floor.

I spin her away from me and press her palms to the window.

The city’s right there. The river beyond it. And she’s mine.

Here.

Now.

Forever.

I drop to my knees, placing soft kisses on the back of her thighs, her firm ass, the small of her back.

“Spread for me,” I demand with a swap to her ass.

Court doesn’t hesitate. Her feet shimmy apart, opening her up for me. Goddamn, she’s so wet already, and my control is unraveling fast as I lift one leg and hook it over my shoulder.

Then without any prelude, I bury my face between her legs like the starved bastard I am. My tongue flicks over her clit as I nuzzle into her slit and her arousal coats my face.

Every moan that rumbles from her spurs me on. I eat her cunt like it’s my last meal on earth, and when her body trembles. Her cries grow louder, frantic and her body trembles as she rides my face.

“Don’t come yet,” I warn.

“Then don’t do that with your tongue,” she pants.

I grin against her. “You like how I worship you, Princess?”

“Fuck.” Her hands slap against the glass when I tease her pussy with a finger.

I stand up, pressing my chest to her back, as I pull my cock out and shove inside her in one long, brutal thrust.

“Yes! Yeees… yes… Auguste…” Her voice breaks with every drive as I fuck into her hard and fast.

“Louder,” I growl. “I want the city to know whose pussy this is.”

“Yours… fuck, Auguste… it’s yours…”

Her back arches as I grab her hips and angle them, fucking her deeper. The clench of her pussy says she’s close.

“I need you to… fuck… fuck… I need you to—” Court grabs my hand and lifts it to her throat. “Choke me…”

God, my balls tighten at her request, mirroring the squeeze of her cunt around me when I grip her throat. Her pulse is pounding in my palm as our bodies slap together rhythmically.

“Fuck, Snow… you know how to take me so good. So deep… ”

Her thighs shake and the walls of her pussy tighten around my cock as she gets closer to orgasm.

“You wanna come?” She nods frantically. “Say it.”

I ease my grip, finding her stare in our reflection. “Please, baby… please ?—”

“Then do it. Give it to me. Come for me.”

Her body convulses, shaking uncontrollably as she shatters over me, sucking me deeper.

A strangled cry echoes against the windowpane, and I fuck into her with one final thrust. My arm snaking tighter around her waist with every pulse of my cock as I empty myself inside her.

My teeth latched on to her shoulder. Her head thrown back on mine…

and I don’t know how I do it, but I hold her limp body against mine.

Eventually, she whispers, “You ruined the view.”

I kiss her shoulder tenderly. “No, baby. I made it unforgettable.”