Luka

I feel better after hearing her voice, but that bad feeling still sits heavy on my chest. I know something is up, and she isn’t telling me. However, I can’t exactly blame her for that. She doesn’t trust me. That’s my fault and something I have to earn back.

It’s quiet a moment before Lily speaks. “Did you know that the house wren bird has one of the highest and most complex ranges compared to other songbirds? They also migrate at night and sometimes collide with communication towers in flight.”

I laugh because it’s so damn random. I can almost hear her smile through the phone. “Wrens, huh? That’s not random at all.”

“Well, to you, yes, but to me, not so much. I’m lying on this little roof ledge outside my bedroom window and saw a flock fly by.”

I roll onto my back, tucking my arm under my head. I can picture Lily lying under the stars, her long hair fanned out around her. She’s probably wearing long pajama pants and an oversized t-shirt because she’s a comfort girl, first and foremost.

I’m lying in bed with the sheets kicked off and in nothing other than my boxers. I wish I were next to her on that roof. The ache to touch her is so strong that I have a hard time lying still.

I want to solidify the picture I have of her in my brain, sear it there for now and the rest of eternity. “What’s your favorite place on Earth? ”

She doesn’t hesitate to answer. “Right here on this roof on a warm summer night with all the stars in the sky shining. It’s so peaceful, so quiet.” She whispers it like she doesn’t want to break the silence surrounding her.

I close my eyes to picture what she’s seeing right now. “It sounds nice.”

“It is. I wish you could see it.” Her admission surprises me, and by the slight intake of breath, I suspect it surprised her, too.

“I would like that. A lot, ” I say, emphasizing the last part.

It’s the truth. I would love to see where she’s from. I want to know everything about her, anything she’s willing to show me.

“Where is your favorite place on Earth?” she asks, giving me a turn to answer.

“That’s easy. On the ice.”

She giggles. “Yeah, I should have guessed that one. What’s your favorite movie?”

“ The Mighty Ducks, ” I answer automatically as more of a joke than anything.

“Really?” she laughs.

“No. I like the movie and all, but I was joking mostly because I honestly don’t know if I have a favorite. So much of my time is consumed by hockey that it makes sense that my favorite movie would be about hockey, too.”

“It’s a good movie, and it’s a nineties classic. You know what?” Her voice changes, pitching to a higher octave as she speaks in a posh English accent. “I hereby declare The Mighty Ducks your favourite cinema , Luka Russo .”

“I do humbly accept your decree, milady .”

She laughs even harder, and my chest warms.

“Did you know that milady is the French term for a noblewoman, whereas my lady is the English term for the equivalent?”

“Oh, shit. I screwed that one up, then. My lady, please forgive me, for I am but a lonely peasant vying for the lovely noblewoman’s attention.”

She snorts, then I hear a squeak like a tiny mouse, followed by a thud, then an oh crap . I raise an eyebrow. “You okay over there? What was that noise?”

“Yes. Ouch .”

I hear noises that suggest she’s moving around, and I sit up on the bed, worried that she might have hurt herself. “Seriously, Lily, you okay ?

“Yep, as good as I can be with my poor dignity torn to pieces at your feet. I can’t believe I just snorted where you could hear it.”

“Oh, you totally did. It was cute, don’t worry. Are you beating yourself up over there?”

“Shut up! It was not. And maybe, but that’s for me to know and you never to find out.”

I smile because I can feel the challenge brewing. She really doesn’t know what she’s got herself into. I will make it my daily mission to make this girl laugh so hard that she snorts, starting tomorrow.

“It most definitely was cute. What do I have to do to get you to tell me?”

“Nope. Not gonna happen, Romeo. My snorts are locked away. Never to be heard again.”

“Romeo, huh? I like the sound of that. We’ll see, Juliette. You’ll find that I love a challenge, so don’t tempt me.”

“Tempt you how?”

My mind runs dirty with that question. There are so many different ways that Lily tempts me.

“With those sexy lips of yours,” I answer, hoping I don’t scare her off.

She gulps. “Yeah?”

“And that sweet mouth of yours that makes the cutest sounds.” I add a bit of playfulness at the end.

“Hmmm. I see. What else?” I think she’s enjoying this as much as I am. I could go on all night, telling her all the ways she tempts me.

“That little pout of yours that you make when you’re concentrating. Or the way you hum when you’re thinking.”

“I do?” she asks, but I go right on with my list.

“The way you listen with your whole heart.” She’s quiet as she listens to me continue. “How your eyes are so expressive, so open. I feel like when you look at me, you see me. And my most favorite temptation is how my heart pounds when you touch me.”

“Luka.” My name sounds like a prayer on her lips .

I close my eyes, and when I open them again, I clear my throat. That was too heavy, too fast, and I know it. I can sense her mind spinning. For some reason, I couldn’t stop myself from saying all the things about her that consume my mind.

“Now it’s your turn. What’s yours?” I ask to change the subject and hopefully help her forget about the fact that I basically just professed my love for her.

Way to go, hot shot. Couldn’t you ease her into it? No, you had to go and get all full-blown Romeo on her.

“ Uhhh.” I think I’ve left her speechless. “My turn for what?”

“What’s your favorite movie?” I answer.

“Oh, uh, that’s a hard one. Let me think.” I smile as I imagine her eyebrows scrunched together, her lips puckered in concentration. “Probably Patch Adams, but maybe Jurassic Park. I don’t know. It’s a close call.”

“The classics. I like it. A girl after my own heart. Those are two very different movies.” I chuckle.

“Well, I like variety. I really love anything made in the nineties. It’s all good, so it’s hard to choose.”

“I get Patch Adams since you want to be a doctor, but Jurassic Park?”

“Well, I loved the books, and the movies were just as good. I’d go as far as to say they might even be better since I can see all the dinosaurs. It’s rare to find a movie that’s as good or better than the book they’re made from. You have to give mad props for that when it happens.”

“I’ve never read it. There’s no surprise there, though. A reader, I am not.”

She giggles again, and my heart warms at the sound. It’s starting to become my favorite sound.

“Big bad hockey player, you are.”

I laugh. “That’s right, babe. If you need a big, strong hockey player with an even bigger twig, I’m your man.”

She ignores that last part as she says, “That fight the other night was something else.”

“Yeah, it happens. More often than I like. That one was a doozy because Rowan went down on the ice. That’s always a dangerous situation to be in.”

“Oh, I bet. We were on pins and needles waiting to see if he was okay. ”

“Freaked me out pretty good, too. I didn’t know what to expect when I finally got to him, but he was sitting there cool as a cucumber.”

She giggles. “Figures. Rowan just seems like that kind of guy. Calm in the middle of chaos. I would be freaking out.”

“That’s him in a nutshell, along with the best damn luck I’ve ever seen someone have.”

“Hmm, I wonder why? Stella has mentioned it a few times, but I guess I never really understood what she meant.”

“It’s crazy. The man basically has the ability to come out of any bad situation unscathed. He’s like a cat with nine lives. One time, we were walking downtown, and he stepped off the curb without looking right in front of a car, but the car suddenly swerved because of a pothole in the road, barely missing Rowan. He hopped back on the curb like nothing had ever happened. Freakiest shit I’ve ever seen. Stuff like that happens all the time with him.”

“That’s wild!”

“I know, right?”

“What’s the worst fight you’ve ever been in?” she asks.

“Oooh, that’s a hard one.” I have to think about my answer because there have been so many damn fights over the years. Some I’ve probably completely forgotten about. “Probably one from high school. A guy from the other team and I were arguing off the ice, and he decided midgame to get me back.”

“Get you back for what?”

I groan and then laugh because I didn’t really think this one through. “He thought I stole his girlfriend. I didn’t. She just never told me she was dating someone.”

“Ah, the good ol’ fighting over a girl scenario.” She doesn’t sound upset.

“Sort of. I wasn’t dating her or anything. We just hooked up at a party once, but she got caught. She tried to spin this crazy story that the two of us were together to—I don’t know—get back at him maybe. Regardless, it backfired on her.”

“How so?”

“I kicked his ass, and then he dumped her for good.”

“You didn’t date her? ”

I laugh. “Hell no. How could I ever trust her after that?”

“Fair point. Fair point. Sooo…”

I smile. “Ask away. I promise I’ll answer.”

She’s quiet for a moment then she finally asks, “How many girlfriends have you had?”

Ahh, I suspected she wanted to know that, and I’m damn happy she asked because that means she’s thinking about me and dating. Hopefully, that scenario includes her as well.

“I’ve had one serious girlfriend.”

“One?” she asks in astonishment.

Here goes nothing. “One. I’ve messed around, had one-night stands, and the occasional second date, but just the one I was serious about.”

“I… I don’t know what to say to that. I’ve never had a serious boyfriend, let alone had a one-night stand. I’ve dated, but that’s the extent of things.”

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying, Lily?” My voice deepens, my heart pounds, and my cock jumps at the thought of her being untouched by another man. It makes me want to take her and mark her as mine.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she sasses.

I reach down to adjust my growing erection in my boxer briefs. “Yes, actually. I would very much like to know if any man has touched that sweet, pretty pussy of yours.”

I don’t hold back. I can’t . I’m done censoring myself and playing games. I want her, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to get her. If that means begging, I’ll beg. If that means showing up and showing out every day for her, that’s what I’ll do.

She moans, and my cock swells even more. “What are you thinking about right now, Lily?”

“You… you—” she stumbles.

“What about me, baby? Am I doing something to you?”

But this time, she’s unabashed when she answers. She’s bold. “I’m thinking about you touching me. You’re sliding your hands up my legs, caressing my sensitive skin. ”

I groan through the phone as I grip my cock. “I’m right there with you. My hands are gliding up your smooth, silky skin. Now what ?”

I want her in full control of this. If she wants to stop, we stop, but she shocks the shit out of me with her next words. I would have never in a million years suspected that my sweet, quiet, nerdy little Lily isn’t as shy as I first suspected. And I’m absolu-fucking-lutely here for every minute of it.

“You slide two fingers into my wet, needy pussy.” She moans so loudly I’m worried she might wake her grandmother.

“Are you still on the roof?”

“Yes,” she answers between sharp inhales.

My eyes narrow as heat sears through me. “Do you have your fingers in your pussy, right now Lily?”

“Yes, but I’m imagining they’re yours.”

She’s killing me.

Literally fucking killing me.

I stroke my dick harder as I imagine the picture she’s painting. I ache to be there with her, to hold her in my arms and watch her beautiful face as she comes all over my fingers.

“Keep going. Circle your clit with your thumb. Imagine it’s me hovering over you on that roof, under the stars, and when you scream, I want you to scream my name.”

“Yes…”

“Push down hard with your thumb and spread your fingers wide. Stretch that pretty pussy for me. Get it ready for me because, mark my words, I’m fucking coming for it.” This has a fire burning through my veins. I did not see this as a potential situation I’d find myself in tonight. I continue to pump my stiff cock. “Are you going to come for me, sweet girl?”

“Yes… Yes… Yes. So close, Luka, so close.”

“That’s it, baby, in and out. Circle. In and out. Take your free hand and palm your breast.” I pause. “ Squeeze . Now, I want you to pinch that perfect nipple for me. I can’t wait to see them in person, along with the rest of you. I want you naked and spread wide open for me to take however I want. Would you do that for me, baby girl?”

I’m panting at this point, ready to blow my load, but not before her. Even though I can’t see her, I can’t touch her, she will come first. Always.

She pants and then moans. It’s the most erotic sound I’ve ever heard in my life. I crave to hear her in person.

“You didn’t answer me. Do you want that, baby?”

“Do I want what?” She’s lost in her heightened ecstasy.

“Do you want it to be my hands touching you? My lips kissing you? My cock pumping in and out of you?”

She lets out a tortured yes before she inhales sharply. Then, the most beautiful sound filters through the phone and into my awaiting ears.

“Luka!” she screams.

Her orgasm seems to last forever—her moans swallowed by the warm fall air. I grunt as I finally come as well, imagining gliding inside her. I know she must be soaked, and I’d slide right in while I stretched her. Long, hot spurts cover my hand, boxers, and even my chest. I see stars behind my eyelids and picture her staring up into the night sky as her release continues.

Holy shit.

Holy fucking shit, that was amazing.

I fight to get my heart rate under control, and I can still hear her faint panting. “Lily McKenna, that was the best damn orgasm of my life.”

I hear a faint giggle, then a hard slap . “Oh, my God. I can’t believe I just did that!”

I grin mischievously. “Oh, you most certainly did. Now, when do I get to make you scream my name again?”

“You’re incorrigible!” She giggles.

I deepen my voice. “You know you want me to.”

“Luka! Stop!” she says, laughing.

I laugh with her, and for the first time in forever, I feel lighter, happier. So many things for so long have felt heavy and difficult. I’ve fought to keep my head above water for so long that I’ve forgotten what it feels like to feel weightless. The only time I get close to feeling like that is with hockey and now with Lily.

“I’m serious. When can I see you?” I sit up from the bed to grab some tissues from my nightstand to clean myself up.

“Do you think that’s a good idea? I mean, acquaintances don’t see each other on school breaks.”

She did not just go there. “I would think making you come harder than you’ve ever come before in your life would grant me access to at least the second tier.”

“Who said you made me come that hard?” she sasses. “For all you know, it was just a mediocre orgasm. Maybe I faked it.”

I grin. She’s just messing with me because we both know the truth. No one has ever made her scream like that before, and I’ll be damned if anyone ever does.

I growl. “That pussy of yours belongs to me, Lily McKenna. It’s mine , whether you want to admit it or not. You want to play coy, but I guarantee you the next time you see me, you won’t be saying anything is mediocre .”

“Wanna bet?”

She won’t back down, and that gets me hard all over again. “I don’t need to. I know so. I’ll take your bet, though, and raise you a date.”

“Deal. If you lose, you have to paint mediocre all over your helmet and jersey for your next game.”

She giggles at the idea, and I know it’s because she thinks there’s no way I’ll make good on my word. What she doesn’t know is that now that I have a taste of her, there’s no going back.

I smile, excitement running through my veins because I have no intention of losing that bet. “It’s a deal, baby.”