Page 33

32

Lennon

I ’m wrapping up a meeting with one of the professors whose course I tutor for when I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. Glancing toward the clock, it’s almost 11:00 am. I have to be at the rink in less than an hour for our game this afternoon. I wouldn’t usually meet with Dr. Tolton on a Saturday morning, but more than half the class failed their exam this week.

It’s not uncommon since it’s the first one of the semester and only a month into the course, but it’s worse than last semester’s average.

“Here’s the answer guide, and I already emailed you a copy of the exam,” he says, pushing his glasses up on his nose. “On Tuesday, I’m going to make another announcement reminding people of your weekly sessions, so forewarning to you that there may be more students coming your way.”

I accept the packet of answers with a curt nod. “Thank you for the heads up. I’ll request a larger study room in the library just in case.”

“Good. I’ll let you go, I know you have a game to get to. Best of luck today.” He stands and extends his hand. “I hear you may be making another tournament run this year. Very exciting.”

I doubt Dr. Tolton has ever watched hockey a day in his life, but I appreciate the sentiment either way. “Thank you, sir. I’ll let you know if I get an influx of students next week.”

“Please do.”

With that, I tuck the answer guide into my backpack and take off. As I walk down the empty hallway, I grab my phone out, and my heart skips a beat like it always does at the sight of a text from Luke.

64: I’m parked behind Merrill. Come meet me once you’re done

Me: We have to be at the arena in 45 minutes for warm-ups and Grace is driving me

64: Figure out an excuse

64: I’ll make sure you’re not late

64: Obviously

Me: Fine. Give me a few to walk over there

He’s bold coming here to pick me up near campus, but the desire to see him overrides the danger of possibly being seen getting into his car. And it is a Saturday, so campus is fairly empty as I walk through the cold gray morning. My fingers are like ice as I text Grace.

Me: I gotta run to the library to go over test prep material with one of my students quick. Don’t wait for me I’ll meet you at the arena

Grace: You sure?

Me: Yeah see you in a bit!

I tuck my phone away and shove my hands deep into the pockets of my coat to try to warm them up. My calves are sore as I walk briskly across the campus. Luke has been adamant about keeping up on the conditioning as the season continues on, and I keep waiting for the day I’ll wake up with not a single muscle aching.

Not looking likely in the immediate future.

I spot the beautiful brick building that stands at the east side of the campus and begin looking around for Luke’s car. A particularly nasty gust of wind whips up, knocking a few strands loose from my braid that fly in front of my face. I try to tuck them away as I scan the street and finally see Luke’s car idling by the curb.

I jog over to it, my bag knocking against my back, and glance around to see if anyone is on the sidewalk. It’s thankfully empty and with Luke’s tinted windows, once I’m inside we’ll be in the clear.

The door opens as I approach, and I quickly duck inside. It’s gloriously warm, and I sigh in heavy relief as I sink into the seat and shut the door to the miserable weather outside.

“You good?” Luke chuckles as he pulls back out on the road.

“It’s a nasty day out,” I complain. “And with the game, I’m just going to be cold inside out all day.”

“You’ll be sweating soon enough,” he says.

I glance over, and he smirks at his own joke. “Are you making a promise you can’t keep?”

He puts a hand on my thigh as he drives. “Never.”

I shiver as he makes the short drive over to the park near campus and down the snow-covered dirt road that leads back to one of the walking trails. It barely looks like it’s been driven on since we got a snowstorm last week.

“What are we doing?” I ask as the bare trees begin to shelter us from view, and the streets disappear out the back window.

“Stealing a little bit of time together.” He pulls into the very small, secluded, and thankfully barren lot, and puts the car in park. He keeps it running though, and I’m grateful for the heat still blasting out of the vents.

Luke turns, takes my hands in his, and brings them to his mouth. Blowing warm air into them, he squeezes my fingers gently, slowly bringing them back to life.

“I missed you this week,” I whisper, our eyes locked.

He smiles against my hands. “You saw me everyday.”

“I know, but not how I wanted to.”

“Exactly why I wanted to see you before the game. You haven’t had any extra time for me this week.”

I had an exam of my own this week, on top of Dr. Tolton’s class having theirs, so that ramped up the tutoring session earlier in the week. Between then, my usual shifts at the café, and practice, Luke and I haven’t been able to find any time to see each other. We’ve been better about sneaking in at least one night where he takes me back to his place after our workout for us to hang out for a little bit before returning home to my apartment lately, but I’ve been too exhausted this week.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“Don’t apologize for being busy. I’m fully aware of everything you have on your plate. Just means I need to be more creative about getting some time alone with you.” He kisses the back of my hand and releases them. Even though they’ve fully warmed up, I wish he wouldn’t have stopped.

“How was dinner with your family this week?”

“Good.” He nods. “They’re planning to come to another game soon.”

I shift in my seat and play with the zipper of my coat. “Do I get to meet them?”

He tilts his head thoughtfully. “Well you already met Seb at the family skate.” “

“I know, but like the rest of your family?”

“Would you like to meet them?”

I shrug. “It’s your family. That’s your decision.”

“I mean, yeah, I’d like for you to meet them. Obviously, we can’t…I can’t?—”

“Introduce me as anything more than your player,” I finish for him, and he gives me a pained look.

“Yeah,” he says softly. “But still, I’d like for you to. If you’re up for it.”

I have a lot of questions about what that might look like, when he might meet my parents, what we’re going to do about any of that, but our time is quickly ticking down before we need to be at the rink. And if we both showed up late, that would raise too many red flags.

He glances at the clock, noting the same thing. I click my seatbelt off at the same time he does, and he reaches across the center console for me. “Come here,” he says. With surprising ease, he hauls me over onto his lap, and I slide my coat off. Despite the heat, I shiver in my T-shirt under the intensity of his eyes as he cups my jaw. “I don’t think I said it earlier, but I missed you, too.”

His affirmation sinks deep into my bones, and I scrape my palms against the dark scruff on his cheeks. “Thank you.” My chest presses against his as I lean in, the already small space of the car growing smaller, blocking out the world and all of its rules around us. He smells like his usual woodsy cologne and safety, and as his arms wrap around me, I’m totally cocooned by him. It feels so good I wish we never had to leave.

“Kiss me,” he whispers the demand into the final inch of space between us. I debate teasing him, drawing it out, but there’s no time. Never enough time.

I do exactly as he asks. His lips part for mine, and I snake my tongue inside to tease his. He tastes like peppermint, like something I can’t get enough of.

His hands tease their way beneath the waistband of my leggings to palm my ass. I moan against his mouth as he deepens the kiss while he kneads my flesh.

We become more frenzied as I slip my hand under his shirt and feel his hot skin against my palms. He always runs hot, which makes it impossible to ever want to leave his side when we’re cuddled together in bed or on the couch. I love letting his warmth seep into me and create that sense of peace I only find with him.

He reclines the seat back so I have a little more room on his lap. Breaking our kiss, he pulls down my pants until they sit bunched up around my ankles and shoes.

“Should I take them off?” I ask.

“No, leave ‘em.” His hands make quick work of his belt and zipper. I shift to allow him enough room to lift his hips up enough to free himself from his pants. His cock is already hard and glistening, and I reach down to stroke it.

Luke groans and pushes his head back against the headrest. I keep up the steady motion as he dips his hand between my thighs to swirl his fingers around my clit.

“Yes,” I breathe out, letting my eyes fall closed as I surrender myself to him. “That feels so good.”

He dips his fingers back toward my entrance and thrusts a couple in, getting me ready. “It’s about to feel even better.”

I rock my hips with his motion and smear the drop of precum he leaks around his tip. He suddenly pulls his hand away, and I cry out in protest.

But he grabs cock to line himself up with my entrance. He flicks his eyes to mine as he says, “Hold onto me, okay? This is gonna be fast.”

I smirk. “Selling yourself short already?”

Luke slams my hips down, impaling me on him in one hard thrust, and it wipes the smile right off my face, pulling a groan from deep within my throat.

It’s his turn to grin. “Have anything to say now?”

I claw at his shoulders as I adjust to the fullness of him and shake my head. “No.”

“That’s what I thought.” He captures my lips with his in a heated kiss. I rock back and forth, finding a rhythm that turns us both into a panting mess. My clit brushes against him with each roll of my hips.

One of his hands stays on my hips, helping guide my motion, while the other snakes up the back of my neck and tangles in the hair at the nape. He uses the grip to angle my head to the side and kisses along my jawline. Each one sends little shivers down my spine, and when he reaches my ear and flicks it with his tongue, I clench around him.

“You like that?”

I nod, and my thighs shake as I try to keep the pace. Feeling my struggle, Luke takes over. He grabs ahold of my hips again to start moving me over him. A muscle in his jaw clicks, and I duck my head to lick it.

He shudders beneath me, which draws a smile to my lips. The windows fog up around us, and I have half a mind to thank Luke later for parking out of sight because from the outside, I’m sure it’s obvious what’s going on in here.

“Fuck, Lennon,” he groans. He holds me above him, and I squeeze my thigh muscles, thankful for all the training he’s put me through that I’m able to keep myself steady like this. He leans back in the seat and thrusts up into me. I plant one hand on the roof of the car as a familiar tightening starts in my core and begins to spread through my body.

“I’m close,” I say and look down at him through half-open eyes. His own lids are hooded and hazy with lust as he thumbs my clit to help my orgasm along.

“Me too. Fuck, I’m almost there. Stay just like that. Squeeze me just like that, baby.”

I throw my head back as much as I can in the confined space as my orgasm crashes through me. His thumb keeps circling my clit through it as I cry out. Each wave makes my body jolt, but Luke keeps me tethered.

“That’s it. I love watching you come.” His hips stutter, and finally he pulls me back down, flush to his lap, as his head slams back against the headrest. A guttural groan rips through the car as he finishes inside of me. I feel each twitch of his cock as he comes, and I grind myself against him to milk every last bit. The grip on my hips becomes painful, but I love it.

Our chests heave against one another as we catch our breath. My shirt clings to my back, damp with sweat, just like a few locks of his hair stick to his forehead. I brush them back gently, and he leans into my touch.

He opens those beautiful brown eyes of his, and there’s a softness in them that I rarely get to see. It’s beautiful, and I take a mental picture of it, wanting to treasure that look forever.

“I don’t hear any complaints now about that being fast.”

I laugh and he smiles lazily. “No complaints from me,” I say and run my hands down the front of his shirt. Even through the material, each ridge of his muscles is defined and prominent.

He places a light kiss on my forehead that makes me want to melt into a puddle on his lap. But instead, he reaches down to grab my underwear from around my ankles. I lift up on my knees, disconnecting us, and he slides them back up my legs and slaps the side of my thigh. “Don’t change these, and don’t clean yourself up. I want to know that while I watch you out there tonight that you’re still dripping with me between your legs. Understood?”

My core pulses and I lick my lips. It’s so filthy, but the thought thrills me. “Yes, Coach.”

“Good girl. Now get back in your seat. We have a game to get to.”

Later, when I walk down the tunnel toward the ice, Luke stands to the side. He makes a few comments to my teammates as they pass, and I hold back for a moment, letting them pass through.

Then, once the coast is clear, I walk forward. My thighs that were trembling earlier as he railed into me are steady beneath the weight of my pads. Focus and clarity for the task lying ahead on the ice tunnel my vision.

But as I pass Luke, I can’t help myself from winking at him through my mask. He looks confused for a moment, but then understanding heats his face. I listened to his order, and as I help the team win 4–1, he’s still dripping between my thighs the entire time.