Page 27

“I don’t need a man to have a secure future.

” I stand a little taller on my skates, pushing off the boards and facing Carson.

I’ve never had issues with her before, but I can’t let this slide.

Those dark and possessive thoughts about Hawke float to the surface after being awakened last night.

He etched me into his skin and wants everyone to know about it.

I’m the one holding back, nervous about these types of conversations with my teammates and other girls.

Only it isn’t embarrassment or pain I am feeling.

I want to claim Hawke back, prove we aren’t a passing phase, until we become inseparable.

It’s just like when we were teens, young and in love, only this time there is a deeper, darker edge to these feelings.

Something that was born out of heartache that makes us both unable to be without the other.

I know now that I want Hawke just as badly as he wants me.

“And I’m with Hawke, not because of how well he throws a football.”

Isla inches toward me slowly, her eyes shifting between me and the girls I am calling out. Carson moves closer, getting in my face.

“What the hell is your problem–”

“Hey!” Riley’s voice breaks through the tension and everyone stops. My bestie has a way of being scary and intimidating when she needs to be, which is why she was always a captain of our teams growing up.

“Goalie, take a break on the blue line. Everyone else, can we focus on our game with Ohio? We’re here to win, not discuss the dick size of Sheppard or Kellan.

That's both disrespectful and gross.” Her face twists up, but her words have the desired effect.

Everyone disperses and our coach is forced to call a break before a new set of drills starts.

“Reign it not going to like that she mentioned another man’s private parts,” Isla jokes next to me and Sam hears, almost doubling over with laughter.

“I want to tell him!” She raises her hand and I roll my eyes before skating over to the bench.

The rest of practice goes smoothly, but I’m still feeling on edge.

I staked my claim and now the girls on my team know Hawke is off-limits.

I should feel shame or some sense of disappointment in myself yet all I feel is a territorial need to let the female population on campus know.

Hawke has corrupted me in his weeks of being here, claiming I’m his, and forcing me to recognize what I’ve always known.

We claimed each other a long time ago. Time and distance don’t seem to have mattered.

I can keep my walls up, take things as slow as I want to, learn to trust him again, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting this with him.

I’m the first off the ice and my shower is quick.

Before long, I’m throwing on my track pants and a hooded sweatshirt.

Taking my bag, I rush through the arena doors and outside, my eyes instantly snagging on Hawke, who’s waiting for me.

He’s always waiting. I watch as concern flares over his features, probably because I look like a mess and like I’ve been searching for him.

That concern starts to turn to confusion as I stalk toward him, which makes my lips twitch up in a smile.

With zero regard for his teammates, my own teammates or anyone else in the area around the arena and field house, I launch myself at Hawke.

He catches me easily, like he’s been doing it all his life, his arms wrapping around me, holding me in place while my legs wrap around his waist. My hands frame his face before crushing my lips against his.

I feel the way his hands grip me tighter, the way he inhales into the kiss, and the way his body turns heated against mine. I can feel Hawke everywhere.

“You’re never getting away from me again,” he breathes against my lips, and my eyes open, meeting his heated gaze.

“Promise?”

“It’s a fucking guarantee, sweetness,” he growls and I feel it in my core where I’m pressed against him.

Hawke marches toward his truck, keeping my body anchored to his, refusing to let me down.

I can feel the staring eyes, hear the catcalls and whistles, but all I care about is what happens next.

He wastes no time getting me in the truck before racing around to his side and driving us out of the parking lot.

“Where are we going?” I turn to him, and he takes my right hand in his, pulling it toward him, the other firmly on the wheel.

“My place,” he answers before placing a kiss on the inside of my wrist. Something I’m starting to learn that he does often.

Hawke glances at me, gauging my reaction. “Okay,” I finally manage to say, and he squeezes my hand in return. My eyes fall to my lap where our hands rest and see the tattoos again. My insides turn warm seeing them again and my fingers run over the black ink.

“Sugar, you’re making it hard for me to concentrate,” he groans and I laugh in return. My single touch of him, on something with so much meaning, has him almost sounding feral.

The tires on Hawke’s truck squeal as he turns into the parking lot, and my seat belt tightens slightly when he shifts into park before turning the engine off.

A second later his seat belt is off and he’s out of the truck, heading to my side.

My door flings open and he reaches for me.

I go willingly into his arms again, wrapping mine around his shoulders, holding on while he carries me across the parking lot to the front doors.

I’ve spent most of my time in the dorms and on-campus living, so I’m not familiar with the luxury apartments that he’s taken me to. Hawke’s eyes meet mine and he must sense the questions in them because he grins, shrugging, while carrying me into the elevator.

“With my inheritance I can afford the rent and I need a place away so I can concentrate on football.”

“Oh,” I manage to get out, shifting in his hold. “Aren’t I too heavy to keep lugging around?”

Hawke leans forward, his lips brushing against mine. “Sugar, nothing has ever felt more right than holding you.”

This time I’m the one who leans in, initiating a kiss.

Hawke grunts in response, pressing my back into the elevator wall while he grabs what looks like keys from his back pocket.

When the elevator opens, we’ve barely come up for air.

I trail my lips down Hawke’s neck and over his jaw, repeating the process on the other side while he marches us down the hallway to his door.

I hear the key rattle in the lock, the door opens, then closes so fast, keys clatter to the floor and, once again, my back is pressed into the hard surface.

“Oh fuck, Emma,” he breathes out, hands running up my sides and taking my sweatshirt with them. My tank top lands on the ground next and then my sports bra. Hawke drags his mouth down my throat and over my collarbone before his lips pull my nipple into his mouth sucking hard.

“Hawke!” His name flies from my mouth and my fingers dive into his hair, holding him to my breast.

“I need to taste you everywhere,” he mutters before lavishing the same treatment on my other pebbled peak.

My legs slowly slide down his sides, my feet gently coming to the ground.

Hawke kisses down my stomach, dragging his tongue along the waistband of my joggers.

My fingers hook under the elastic and I start to push them down with Hawke helping me out of them the rest of the way.

After, he tosses them over his shoulder into the space behind him.

He traces the edge of my panties with his fingers, before slipping them past the material, gliding the tips through my slit before shoving two fingers deep inside my core. I gasp, my head falling back against the door. “Yes!”

Hawke groans, placing open mouth kisses on the top of my pussy. “You’re so fucking wet for me, Em. You’re such a good girl coming to me today. Showing everyone you’re mine.”

I whimper, loving his praise while also soaking up the possessiveness in his voice. The same feeling that had overwhelmed me when I saw him standing outside waiting for me. “You’re mine too.”

His tongue flicks against my clit and I gasp in response. “Damn right, I’m yours. Always have been, sugar.”

Hawke gets to his feet, one hand gripping my jaw and the other still pumping his fingers in and out of me. “You’re going to come on my fingers, sweetness. Then I’m going to take you to my bed and show you exactly how much I’ve missed you over the last two years.”

“Please,” I whisper, while his mouth slides against mine, his tongue slipping inside, teasing, before he pulls back. Hawke’s gaze burns into me, his forehead pressing against mine while my pussy squeezes around his fingers.

“Your pussy is so greedy, squeezing me tight,” he murmurs before sliding a third finger inside. My legs tremble and my hands grip his shoulders tighter.

“Please, Hawke,” I moan against his lips, and he rubs my clit with his thumb. Once. Twice. And then I’m falling into my orgasm, waves of pleasure rocking my body so hard I cry out. He swallows my cries while his fingers keep fucking me through it.

Only once my hips stop moving does Hawke remove his fingers, and I watch frozen as he brings them, glistening with my cum, to his lips, and sucks them clean. His pupils dilate and his head tilts back.

“As fucking sweet as ever,” he practically purrs before leaning in and capturing my lips with his, forcing me to taste myself and him.

His hands cradle my head while Hawk pulls my body off the door. My legs sway and I reach out, my hands winding around his back holding on to him. His lips drag over mine with slow, seductive kisses until my own lips feel puffy.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

My heart thuds in my chest and a blush covers my cheeks. “You have too many clothes on, Sheppard.”