Page 23

I don’t know yet, I say honestly. Of course I hope so, but I don’t want to jump ahead.

Rosie smiles. I had a class with her. Last year, or maybe sophomore year? She’s nice. Really smart.

I’m relieved to hear her words. Back in junior, Cori used to complain about the girlfriend cliques and how hard it was to break into them. So, it’s nice that Rosie already likes Andy.

Eventually I leave to search for Andy, who’s been gone for ages. I find her upstairs.

Can you believe it? There are line-ups at both bathrooms. I suspect someone’s having sex in the downstairs one. Not alone, of course. She hops from one foot to the other.

I have an idea. Come with me. I grab her hand and we head out of the house. It’s cold out, but not too bad.

Where are we going? I’m not exactly the type to pee outdoors, she says.

No, you can go at our house, I explain. Our place is next door, but nobody’s there, of course.

I pull out my key. I can’t get used to locking the door. Nobody locked anything back home.

Same here. Small town life, says Andy.

I guide her to our upstairs bathroom, which is the nicer one.

Wow, this bathroom is gigantic, Andy comments before closing the door.

It’s too pervy to wait outside, so I go down the hall to my room.

I flop onto the bed, turn on my bedside lamp, and scroll through the NHL scores on my phone.

But my mind keeps going back to Andy—how sexy she looks tonight, how good she felt in my arms, how hot our conversation was.

So, this is your room? Andy walks in, and I sit up. Her lips are shiny now, and all I can think about is kissing her. She drops her purse on my desk and wanders around the room, trailing her hand over the furniture. She shuffles through my bookshelf but only finds textbooks.

Where are all the real books? she asks.

Here. I motion to the Kobo on my bedside table. It’s easier for road trips. And I never run out of things to read.

She sits down on the bed beside me. Jack, you like to read? What kinds of books?

Nature stuff. History. Bios. Thanks for sounding so surprised.

This makes her smile. Please. If I don’t keep your ego in check, who will?

I lift an eyebrow. Besides my mother, my sisters, and my teammates?

Andy laughs throatily and points to my posters. What’s with the sharks?

Oh. I…greatly admire sharks, I confess quietly.

She giggles. I’ve never heard anyone say that before. Have you ever seen a shark?

I perk up. Yes, when I was twelve. I saw a blacktop reef shark at the Vancouver Aquarium. But— I cut myself off. People never want to hear me obsessing about sharks. Andy tilts her head at me.

Why did you stop? she asks.

I don’t want to bore you.

Andy slides closer. You never bore me. I honestly don’t know what you’ll say next, and it’s… She pauses for a long moment. It’s refreshing. And if you want to discuss sharks, go for it.

I roll my shoulders and exhale. It feels like Andy genuinely likes me. Also, we’re alone in my room. How much more privacy can we get?

Can I interest you in some information about the mating habits of sharks? Wait, does that sound too nerdy?

She laughs in response and flops onto the bed. I crawl up to lie beside her, propping my head on one hand and watching her giggle.

Andy finally stops laughing. I’m sorry, but that was ridiculous. Even you can’t make sharks sexy.

Wait. Is that a challenge? I ask.

Seriously? Sure. Go for it. She gives a skeptical shake of her head.

I trail a fingertip down her jawline. What do I win if I succeed?

Andy meets my eyes. Licking rights?

For this body? I run my hand over the slopes of her perfect breasts. Her exposed skin is pale and shimmering against the black of her top.

Her breath quickens and I can feel her chest rise and fall against my palm.

Yessss. Her voice is almost a moan. And what do I win if you fail?

You can lick me. This is what we call a win/win situation.

I jump up and shut the door—just in case someone else decides to use my bathroom idea. When I come back to the bed, Andy has kicked off her shoes and is staring up at the ceiling.

I gently roll her onto her side, so her back is facing me. Okay. First of all, the sharks are underwater, right? So, everything’s going to be wet.

She giggles and repeats, Wet.

So wet. And slippery, I murmur right into her ear. And when a female is wet and slippery, do you know what a male shark has to do?

What? she breathes. I have the advantage of knowing what Andy fantasizes about in bed—a bit of domination.

Hold her down. Keep her body still for as long as it takes to breed her.

Ohhh . Her voice is hoarse now, all laughter gone. Again, I feel her body soften next to me.

Here’s how they do it. I tug down her top so the back of her shoulder is exposed, then slide off the black strap of her bra.

I pause for just one moment as I take in the delicate curve of exposed skin, and how beautiful and vulnerable she looks.

Then I brush my lips against the softness of her shoulder, pressing wet kisses along her heated skin.

Suddenly, I bite down—not hard, but firmly enough so she can feel the contrast: hard teeth against soft flesh.

She groans quietly as I suck her skin hard.

I want to mark her, to claim every part of her incredible body.

I run my lips up and down the bare slope of her shoulder, alternating soft kisses with biting and sucking. Andy plays along, keeping her whole body still except for her ass grinding against my hard cock. She moans, inflaming my already overloaded desire.

Finally, she turns her head and gasps, You win.

I chuckle. Okay, my sexy little shark. Let’s start again.

She turns so that we’re face to face. The glow of my lamp illuminates the slope of her cheeks and the curl of her lips.

I reach behind her and touch her hair clip. May I?

Sure.

I pinch the clip open and her hair cascades out.

This is Andy as I first saw her, her thick tresses framing her delicate features.

I stroke her hair, relishing the feel of the glossy strands against the roughness of my hands.

Andy’s hair is always tied back, and loosening it feels like the first step to loosening her self-control.

I kiss her forehead. When I fantasize about you, your hair is spread out across my pillows. Just like this.

You seem to spend a lot of time fantasizing about me. Her tone is all mock-surprise.

Only every fucking night, I confess. The more time I spend with Andy, the more I imagine her in my bed—exactly like this.

I slowly turn her head until I can kiss her ear. Then I lick the lobe, teasing around the edge.

At first she squirms, but then exhales. Ahhh. That does feel good.

I pull away to face her again. I run a finger over her lips, tracing the contours of her mouth.

Then I wet my finger and do it again. When her lips part, I dip my finger inside.

She sucks on my fingertip, and the suction is so good I exhale in pleasure.

Finally, I slip my finger out of her mouth, lower my head, and kiss her.

My mouth is gentle at first, then firmer, teasing apart her lips and thrusting my tongue inside.

Then it’s all sloppy, messy kisses as I lick and suck all around her sweet lips.

Her arms coil around my neck, pulling me tightly to her. So good, she groans. Your kisses are so good.

I duck down and place a line of wet kisses down her neck, then slowly run my tongue over the hollow of her throat. Her breathing is erratic, like she’s holding her breath each time I explore a new part of her.

Jack. She whimpers my name like a plea.

Tell me what you want, I whisper.

More. More of your mouth on me.

She pulls my head down to the circle of glowing skin revealed by her top. I kiss my way down the valley between her breasts. Her skin is warmer here, and I inhale the faint scent of vanilla mingling with Andy’s own heady fragrance.

I reach down to cup one of her breasts. I gently squeeze its soft weight and Andy gasps. Even through her clothes, her nipple stiffens against my palm. I prop myself up with one elbow to figure out her complicated top, which wraps around and doesn’t seem to have any zippers or buttons.

Andy lets out an impatient grunt. Let me help. She sits up, pulls the top over her head, then reaches back and unclasps her bra, discarding everything beside the bed.

But despite her boldness, when she lies back down, she covers her breasts with one arm. She’s watching me with an oddly nervous expression. I raise myself up to take her in.

You’re so beautiful. I stroke her dark hair. My words aren’t enough to express how lovely she is. I’m so attracted to Andy—and now it’s the contrast of her confidence and her vulnerability that’s irresistible.

Let me see you. I grasp her wrist, but wait until she nods before I pin her arm down by her side.

Fuck. Your breasts are perfect, I breathe.

And they are—full and round, with puffy brown nipples that are pebbled in the cool air.

So sensitive. I lower myself over her and take a breast in each hand.

I suck on one nipple, bathing it with my tongue and caressing the hard point.

Then I move to the other nipple, sucking even harder and taking as much luscious tit in my mouth as possible.

Andy moans and arches her back, like she’s begging me to take more into my mouth.

I’m happy to oblige. I alternate between sucking and squeezing each delicious mound.

Andy grips my head to her as she wriggles underneath me and moans throatily.

She’s so responsive. Finally, she raises herself up on her elbows.

Take off your shirt, she demands. I want to feel us. Skin to skin.

I practically rip off my shirt and toss it behind me. I straddle her waist and pluck at her stiff, wet nipples.

Andy reaches up to run her hands over the slope of my pecs, pinching my nipples too. I have to stop myself from grinding against her.