Page 21 of Something to Prove (Smithton Bears #2)

WALKER

“What are you doing here?”

Ty shoved a takeout bag at me. “You probably didn’t eat, and I have some extra Chinese.”

“Uh…thank you.” I peeked inside and sniffed. “Smells delicious.”

“It is.” He hooked his thumb in his belt loop and scratched his nape. “Chow mein, sweet and sour pork, and chicken fried rice. I didn’t know what you like, but it’s all good. Not too spicy.”

I cocked my head and smiled. “Thanks. Want to come in?”

“Sure. I can’t stay, though. I’m supposed to be at Langley’s party. He’s blowing up my phone.” Ty held his cell up as he stepped in the foyer, immediately crouching to say hello to Mabel. “Hey, little fluff ball. How ya doin’? You’re a pretty baby, aren’t you? So pretty, so—what’s wrong?”

I bit my bottom lip. “Nothing. Did you want something to drink, or do you have to go?”

He straightened, unzipping his jacket. “What are you drinking?”

“Water.”

Ty chuckled and whatever angst he’d brought with his Chinese takeout seemed to slip from his shoulders. “I can handle that. Thanks.”

He scooped Mabel up and followed me into the kitchen. I was sure the cat would make her displeasure known quickly. Mabel didn’t like being carted about. She cuddled on her terms only. Usually.

I poured two glasses of water and grabbed a fork, joining Ty at the table. “How did you turn my regal feline into a simpering kitty?”

He massaged the soft fur between Mabel’s ears, head bent. “I’m an animal magnet, what can I say?”

I snorted as I opened one of the containers. “How was your dinner?”

“Good.” More petting.

“Your parents are nice.”

“They are.”

I frowned, unsure of his mood. But then I bit into a forkful of chicken fried rice and moaned aloud. I hadn’t eaten since my lunch of grapes, yogurt, and a granola bar, and I was hungrier than I’d thought.

“ Mmm .”

Ty looked up. I expected a smile or even a hasty good-bye, but he surprised me again.

“You’re going to New York City next year?”

I swallowed and sipped my water. “That’s a potential plan.”

“What would you do there?”

“I was thinking I’d do a big-city version of What’s New, Smithton? ”

“Oh.”

“I know it sounds like everything that’s been done has started in the Big Apple, but magazines are a dying breed, and people like different formats and…” I shrugged, dipping my fork into the container. “It’s just an idea.”

“Huh. I don’t know why I thought you’d stay here.”

I lifted my brows. “I’ll be graduating with a master’s degree next year. I have to figure out how to use it, and New York City is always a good idea. So they say.”

“Yeah. It’s great.” His voice had a faraway note that contrasted with the tense set of his shoulders.

I nudged Ty’s shin with my toe. “Are you all right?”

I’d changed into blue-striped pajama bottoms, a Hello Kitty sweatshirt, and thick wool socks in deference to the cool autumn night. I looked the opposite of sexy in every way possible. I doubted Ty would have noticed if I’d opened the door in a lacy thong in his preoccupied state, though.

My question snapped him out of his reverie.

“Yeah, I’m good. Eat up. Oh, and check the bag for almond cookies. I love those things.”

I pulled out two plastic-wrapped cookies and handed one over. “By the way, you look like both of your parents. But maybe a smidge more like your dad.”

Ty opened the wrapper and plucked the almond off the top. “Everyone says that. I’ll take it as a compliment. My dad is pretty damn cool. So’s my mom. She’s scary perceptive too. I swear she was trying to read my mind tonight. I think she knows I have a crush on you.”

I widened my eyes, my mouth full of rice. I chewed thoroughly, stirring the contents to give my hands something to do. “Do you?”

“Super mild. I can shake it, so don’t worry…I won’t get weird or clingy.”

I snickered. “And people say I’m an odd duck.”

“No, people think you’re cool.” Ty chomped half his cookie, his eyes alight with mischief.

“Then I’ve fooled them all.” I cackled like a demented witch, complete with a “mwahaha.”

“Okay, I take that back. You’re a geek.”

“True. I work, I study, I read, I watch Parks and Rec and Gilmore Girls reruns and occasionally binge old rom-coms that make me teary-eyed. And I really don’t go out much.”

“That’s not true. I saw you at the Tavern the night you…” He made a face.

“Witnessed a blowjob in progress?” I offered.

“Yeah, that.”

I shot a glance across the table, not bothering to hide my amusement.

“That was an assignment. I get a ton of invitations to cover college rock bands. It’s not my strength by any means, but if I can tie in a little personal background info, even the worst music becomes somewhat palatable.

People love getting clandestine glimpses into other people’s lives.

It’s why reality television is so popular. ”

“Okay, but are you saying you wouldn’t go on your own to hang out with friends, have a few beers, and flirt with cute guys at the bar?”

My nose twitched with distaste. “I don’t like beer, I don’t flirt, and I don’t have a lot of friends. The ones I have would rather not frequent establishments like the Tavern. I took the band photos on my cell that night because Robin refused to join me.”

Ty chuckled. “So where do you like to go when you’re not chasing down a story?”

“Nowhere. I like being home.”

“I get that, but do you have a favorite restaurant or store that you go to because you personally love the food or the merch?”

“Well…no.” I furrowed my brow. “I’m not explaining this well.

I enjoy all sorts of restaurants, boutiques, etcetera.

However, I rarely go out on my own just for the heck of it.

I’m usually working, and even if I’m not, I’m treated more like a food critic they want to impress than someone who’s dining out just to grab a bite to eat. I can’t complain, but?—”

“You’re doing it wrong,” Ty chided.

“What do you mean?”

“Hockey players get the red-carpet treatment too, you know. Free meals, free coffees, milkshakes and fries on the house. It’s how the community thanks us for representing the town.

Sweet, right? It’s the same for you. What’s New, Smithton?

represents Smithton, but you still get to be you, Red.

This is your final year of college. You’re allowed to have fun, you know.

Go to the parties, get shitfaced, have all the sex and—” He growled, knitting his forehead fiercely.

“Never mind that last one. I don’t think you should have sex with anyone else. Just me. Unless…you want to.”

“I don’t.”

Ty met my gaze, tipping his chin and smiling almost…shyly. “Good. Me either. But that wasn’t what I was talking about.”

“What are you talking about?”

He froze for a beat, his eyes blown wide as his nostrils flared. “I think we should go out. Together. We could get pizza or something like that. If you want.”

I didn’t respond right away. I had a feeling I knew what he was saying, but it wasn’t what we were supposed to be doing. “Are you…asking me…on a date?”

Ty’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. He rolled his eyes, scoffed, and made a small production of studying the colorful mugs on the open shelf above the sink.

I half expected him to jump up, suddenly anxious to get to Gus’s party and to strike the past five minutes of conversation from the record.

“Yeah, I guess I am,” he said. “Casually, though.”

I pursed my lips. “As opposed to formally?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s the difference? Attire or expectation or?—”

“It’s pizza, Red. Are you in?”

“Don’t call me Red.”

Ty chuckled. “Carrot Top? Ginger? Red Comet? Red Rocket?”

“You’re terrible at nicknames.”

“I used to think I was clever, but maybe I’m losing my touch.” He leaned forward and slid his palm to my upper thigh. “Am I?”

God, no. Not at all.

I set my hand over Ty’s and guided it to my crotch. He squeezed my semi through my pajamas, licking his lips like a hungry wolf.

“Fuck, I want you.”

He tugged my wrist and pulled me onto his lap. I was a perfectly normal height for an average man, but Ty was a ginormous tattooed muscular beast. I felt small in his arms, and yet somehow…powerful. Even in a Hello Kitty sweatshirt.

Ty fondled my cock through the flimsy cotton and pressed light kisses on my neck.

He found my mouth, gliding his tongue alongside mine as he slipped his fingers under the elastic of my boxer briefs and stroked me.

I thought about removing his shirt, but we’d get there eventually and this was so nice.

I loved the way he kissed—so thorough, so greedy.

I loved the scrape of his beard and the low rumbling groan I could feel in my toes.

He released me with a light push to stand between his open legs.

In the blink of an eye, my PJ bottoms and boxer briefs were at my ankles and my sweatshirt was halfway across the room.

I was naked in front of him, my erection standing at attention.

He gripped my length, jerking my cock with lazy pulls.

My tongue felt too heavy for my mouth. I was mesmerized and oversensitized. And just as I was about to suggest taking this upstairs, Ty bent to lick my slit and suck me to the root.

“Oh! Oh, yes,” I gasped.

He bobbed his head, teasing my balls and ghosting his thumb at my crease. He came at me from all angles, reducing me to a needy puddle of goo with touch and taste. And then…he stopped, charged to his feet and slammed his mouth over mine, turning up the intensity by a thousand degrees.

I helped him fumble with his belt buckle and his shirt, raking my fingernails down his sides as I nibbled his bottom lip. Ty walked us backward to the counter, digging a packet of lube and a condom from his pocket.

“Turn around.”

I obeyed, closing my eyes at the intrusion of slick fingers. One, two…the tip of a third. I could tell he was trying to be gentle, but I didn’t need that. “Do it. Fuck me.”

Ty held my hips with rough hands and thrust inside. He wasn’t so gentle anymore. It was a hard and frenzied ride. I white-knuckled the counter, clinging for purchase as he drove into me, his balls tapping my ass again and again.

His belt buckle clanged against the floor in time with our labored breathing. When his hands drifted to my waist and one dipped to my cock, I knew that was it for me.

So did Ty.

“Come for me, Red. Come on, baby. Give it to me.”

My orgasm ripped through me a moment later. I’d barely caught my breath when Ty lifted my right leg, changing the angle slightly as he dropped his forehead to my shoulder and chased his release. He bucked, trembled, and fell apart.

I twisted, offering my mouth. We might have kissed, but don’t quote me. It was all very wicked and wild. And wonderful.

Ty didn’t seem to be in a hurry afterward.

We cleaned up and drifted to the living room to watch an old Spider-Man movie, sharing a pint of vanilla chocolate chip.

The arachnid film choice was Ty’s, the ice cream was mine.

Ty fed me large spoonfuls whenever my strong anti-spider opinions threatened his enjoyment.

“Could there be a less sexy comic hero? I want to like Spider-Man, I really do. The ‘journalist fighting crime’ story is something I can get behind. Clark Kent, Peter Parker…yes, yes, yes. But spiders are positively repug—” I paused for an ice cream bite and continued as soon as I’d swallowed.

“Repugnant. The lucky bastards know I’m an easy target.

I could never kill them. I’m just not a killer…

of anything. Ants, mosquitos, flies—” More ice cream.

I studied Ty’s profile spotlighted in the glow of the television, fighting a smile at his put-upon charade.

He was funny and endearing, a good son who adored his parents, a loyal friend, an amazing lover, and…

he was still here, watching a movie with me instead of hanging out at a party with his teammates.

And he’d asked me on a date. The butterflies in my stomach had butterflies.

Ahem. Puh-leaze. I was a realist through and through.

I wouldn’t let my heart lead me astray. We were the definition of a casual collegiate fling.

A secret one, no less. I wasn’t about to lose perspective and create a magical romantic fairy tale with an unattainable jock. I was too smart for that nonsense.

But I liked that he’d chosen me tonight. And I liked that he’d stayed.

He’d wanted to say good night to Mabel, who was curled up asleep on my pillow in my room. Next thing I knew we were naked and Ty was on top of me, gazing into my eyes, whispering, “I’m addicted to you.”

Was it terrible that I loved it? That I wanted—no, needed—confirmation that for once in my life, I wasn’t completely alone?

If only for a little while.