Page 56 of Reckless Storm (San Francisco End Game #3)

Reed

I flinch as Hayley runs my hand under the cold water, a forced laugh escaping her. And while it’s devoid of her usual lightness, I offer her a tight-lipped smile, at least grateful to finally be back at the hotel.

“I can’t believe you did that,” Hayley curses me for the tenth time, her voice reflective. “I have every reason to end this charade right now,” she jokes but there’s a little bite to her tone. “I only just turned my reputation around, and—”

Ouch . “Let’s not play pretend, Hayley,” I cut her off. “You’re not annoyed because I hurt your reputation. You’re annoyed I damaged mine .”

She stares at me for a beat before stamping her foot like a child, and fuck, it’s adorable. “Damn straight. That’s exactly what I’m pissed about. You’re the league’s golden boy. Squeaky clean. The sweetest guy in football. And I’ll be damned before I ruin that image of you.”

She’s trying to be cute, but I’m still in a mood, my mind whirring from our useless police interview.

Of course, the fucker denied it all. Now we have to wait for them to speak with the San Francisco police in the morning.

But that’s not the issue right now. Right now, I need to settle this argument with Hayley.

“I don’t give a shit about my image, Hayls,” I tell her honestly.

“This is who I am. I’m not trying to be someone the media paints me to be.

They’ve created that narrative because I am that guy.

But another thing about me is that I won’t stand for people hurting my friends.

You more than anyone else. If you hadn't screamed, I would have done more. I—”

“Why do you think I screamed?”

My shoulders drop and I suck in a breath. What a fucking night. I need to calm the fuck down. “Do you want me to thank you?” I deadpan and her brows furrow until I lighten the mood with a smile.

“Ha. You’re so funny.”

“I know. Believe it or not, I’m more than just the sweet guy you think I am.”

“Reed.” She frowns, stepping forward to brush her finger under the cut next to my eye. “I’m currently debating whether or not I need to take you to the hospital for stitches. Trust me, I believe you.”

“Told you, I can be—”

“But,” she cuts me off, wagging her finger in my face, “your intentions were sweet. You were protecting me.”

“Damn. Can’t catch a break, can I?”

“Nope.” She shakes her head, releasing a soft laugh. “You’ll always be golden to me.”

“Is that another challenge? I bet I can prove that I’m not.”

“What? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing at all, Hayley Baby. Nothing at all.”

“Two truths and a lie.” She folds her arms over her chest, her brow raised in challenge.

“Me or you?”

“You.”

“Okay. Easy. One, I think my face is broken. Two, I’ve been to that bar before. And three…” I pause knowing this has the power to change everything . “I want to fuck your brains out.”

Hayley’s wide eyes make me smile until her breath hitches and she shakes off her thoughts, grinning when she seemingly realizes I was paraphrasing her first ever response to me. “Very funny.”

“Who’s joking?”

“You’re drunk.”

“I only had three beers and that was hours ago.”

“Delirious from being punched in the face?”

“This isn’t a conclusion I just came to, Hayls. I’ve wanted to fuck you since you first wrapped your pretty little mouth around my throbbing cock, sucking me dry. It’s throbbing now, just thinking about it.”

“Jesus Christ, Reed. I want that too. But we can’t.”

“Why?” I’m quick to respond. I realized how much I loved her tonight and I’m done holding back. “We kiss, we hold hands, we whisper sweet nothings into each other’s ear. We do everything else. So why not take it all the way?”

“Because it’s fake.”

“Is it?” I ask as my heart pounds in my chest.

“Reed.” She huffs out a laugh. “What’s gotten into you?”

Fucked if I know but I’m going for it. “Say for argument’s sake that it is fake. Have you never fucked someone after a first date just for the fun of it?”

“You know I have.”

“And so have I. Hell, we weren’t even dating. So, think of it that way. Only you’ve been a tease and made me wait months while I fawn over you whenever I get the chance.”

“Reed, you’re being ridiculous.” Hayley bursts out laughing, likely thinking I’m joking, but it’s either this or I tell her I love her, and she’s not ready for that.

I need to show her first.

“Okay, Wildcat.” I shrug, getting up to shower. “Your loss.”

I move to undo the buttons on my shirt, but a sharp pain shoots through my knuckles and I almost double over. Here I was trying to make Hayley want me, and now I’m in crippling pain. Which, of course, she notices, rushing to my aid.

“Let me do that so you don’t open your wound.”

“I’m fine.” They patched me up at the police station, only there wasn’t much care given. Not that I’m complaining; they could have held me overnight.

“You’re not fine,” Hayley snaps. “Let me help.” She doesn’t wait for me to respond before working her way down my buttons, her movements fast until she gets to the last one and my shirt falls open.

“Jesus, Reed,” she hisses, her eyes on the bruise I felt forming below my abs, where that asshole got me multiple times.

“You should see the other guy,” I joke, and she tries to fight it but after a few seconds she bursts out laughing, making me laugh along with her, and… “Fuck, that hurts.”

“Stop joking then.”

“What else do you want me to do? Cry?”

“Do you want to cry?”

“Fuck, no. I’m fine. I’ve had worse bruises playing football.”

“But you wear protection.”

“Not when my fake girlfriend decides I should give Aussie Rules a try, all in the name of charity. That sport is brutal. Why the fuck don’t they wear anything under their jerseys?”

“Under their guernsey, you mean?”

“Whatever.”

“Well, they’re not pussies,” she jokes. At least, I hope she’s joking or— She giggles again and I fake a smile. “Oh, your face. It’s a completely different sport. You threw yourself into it a lot harder than they do considering it was some fun on the beach.”

“So you’re saying I was better?”

“God, no. I would use the word ‘different.’”

“Okay, Jesus. Can you finish undressing me already? Let’s get the rest of my humiliation over with before I shower.” I deliver my request with a gruff voice and straight face, until Hayley’s eyes widen and she bites back a smile.

“Okay, tough guy, let’s get you cleaned up.”

A visual of Hayley on her knees springs to mind, and I imagine her sucking my cock as water cascades down her back.

I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to fuck her, but we’ve moved way beyond want and straight through to need .

Either that, or I’m going to have to suffer through the pain while jerking myself off.

Dammit, now I’m getting hard.

Working to replace the naked visuals with something else like kittens or broken fingers, I feel a warmth against my chest and flinch, my eyes flashing to Hayley as she gently kisses my bruise.

“Sorry.” She lightly shakes her head, staring at me bewildered. “I have no idea why I did that.”

Thinking quickly, I reach for her hand and pull her in close. “It helped,” I say, my voice raspy as my chest swirls with some fucked-up anticipation.

Hayley’s eyes briefly widen before she tugs at her bottom lip and nods. “Yeah?” she whispers breathlessly, my heart racing as I nod back.

Without a word, she leans forward and lowers her head again, pressing another kiss to my abs, only this time she lingers, brushing her lips across my skin, pausing on each individual tattoo. When she makes her way up to my pecs and stops on the paw print, I shiver.

“We should get you in the shower.” She smiles up at me, misunderstanding my reaction.

“Hayls, I—”

“Let me help. No more joking. I promise.”

I nod as her hands drop to the waistband of my jeans, her fingers working the button before she undoes the zipper.

After rolling the denim down my legs, she ignores the obvious bulge in my briefs as she waits for me to step out.

“Do you need help with your jocks too?” she asks, her voice soft, a complete contrast to the girl she was before.

I let out a half laugh, half groan. On one hand her Aussie term is funny, but on the other hand, I hate needing so much help. But since I’ve already balanced on the tightrope of our boundaries tonight, what’s a little bit more. “Please.”

Hayley gets to work confidently, but when my cock springs free, her throat bobs as she innocently glances up at me. I move to speak, but she shakes her head and stands. “I’ll leave you to it.”

I only allow her to take one step before I react without thought, moving on pure instinct as my arm shoots out to stop her, curling her into me as I walk us the two short steps toward the bedroom.

When we’re both inside, I lower her onto the mattress and slowly remove her boots one at a time, my heart racing as she silently stares up at me, her eyes hooded as her lashes flutter.

When I’m done, I hover above her, leaning in until there’s barely a breath between us. “Tell me you don’t want this.” My voice cracks until I clear it and try again. “Tell me you don’t want this and I’ll walk away.”

My cock throbs and I try hard to keep it away from her. I’m not going to take this any further unless I hear those words. But God, I don’t want to stop.

Hayley’s chest heaves as her eyes bounce between mine, and fuck is she beautiful. With her long, blonde hair fanning out beside her flushed cheeks and her doe eyes staring up at me, I’ve never seen her more perfect.

She opens her mouth and closes it again, releasing a soft sigh. “I shouldn’t want this,” she whispers and I’m hooked on her every word. “We shouldn’t want this. But if you don’t fuck me right now, I think I might explode.”

And there she is. My Hayley. My wildcat.

Standing up, I leave her to rummage through my bag, finding the protection I brought on the off chance that something happened between us. And thank God that I did.

Hayley sits up and studies me with a smile, undoing the button of her jeans, lifting her ass to lower them quickly, removing her panties at the same time.

She follows me with her eyes, watching me move around the room, sighing when I’m settled in front of her.

Dropping the condom on the mattress, I lower to my knees and spread her legs, gliding my palms slowly along her thighs until the tips of my thumbs brush against her center.

My right hand stings from the movement, and I reluctantly accept that if I want to please her, I’m going to have to use my left.

Shifting my balance, I press my left thumb against her clit, but she grabs my hand to stop me.

“Wait. I’m already worked up.” She reaches for the condom and waves it in front of me.

“Please.” The desperation in her voice almost convinces me to give in, but while I want nothing more than to sink inside her, we have time.

“I remember our conversation about the importance of foreplay.” I smirk when she giggles. “Lie back, Hayls. Let me worship this beautiful pussy before you take my cock.”

Without waiting, I lick a path from her hole to her clit, flattening my tongue against the bud, finally tasting her again. And God, she tastes amazing. It’s been too long. And if I’m being honest, I wasn’t sure we’d ever get here again.

After teasing her clit, I stare up at her, my fingers dancing against her entrance, loving the way she clenches for me as I glide easily though her heat.

She wriggles impatiently beneath me until I sink two fingers inside her, scissor them to stretch her before adding a third and fourth, getting her ready, knowing she can take it.

She arches her back and rolls her hips, riding my fingers, her pussy squeezing around me.

“Fuck, Baby. You’re so ready for me. Ready for my cock.

Ready for me to take this pussy and make it mine. ”

With a gasp, Hayley’s eyes widen before her head lolls back, her hips continuing to grind as my fingers work her pussy, my tongue lavishing her clit. Her breathing picks up and she grabs the sheets, curling them beneath her fingers, grounding herself as her hips buck.

I massage her walls, working her harder until she convulses around me, crying out as her arousal coats my fingers, forcing me to bite back a groan.

“That’s it, Baby. Give me what you’ve got. I want it all.”

Her back arches as her body jolts, and it’s only when she begs me to stop that I remove my fingers, licking them clean, one by one as she watches in silence, her blue eyes dark with desire.

Her breath shakes, and when I’m done, her gaze lifts to mine as she licks her lips seductively. Raising a finger to her mouth, she bites the tip before sucking it between her freshly wet lips. “I could die happily with your face between my legs.”

“Please don’t.” I chuckle. “I’m not done with you yet.”

She reaches up to grab my hand but I gently brush her away, standing with a smile. “Not yet,” I scold.

“God, I need to touch you. Please.”

“I told you, I’m going to worship you first. Let me have my moment or you get nothing.”

“Jesus. You’ve already given me an orgasm.”

“I’m aiming for five.”

“Five. Holy shit, Reed. You—”

Crawling onto the bed, I cut off her words as I flatten my palm on the mattress near her face.

Moving her hand away from her mouth, I replace it with my own, brushing a finger across her lips. “God, you’re beautiful.”

“Reed—”

“You know what? I’m too impatient for five.

We’ve got forever to do that. For tonight, I want two more.

” I raise an eyebrow as she smiles, waiting for me to continue.

“I want one now and the final while I’m pounding into you.

You’re going to take me until your pussy’s squirting for me, soaking my length as you scream out my name. ”

Hayley cries out as her ass lifts off the bed, her pussy brushing against my length. “God, yes. I want that too. Take me, Reed. I want it all.”