Page 37

THIRTY-TWO

Ellie

O wen kept glancing across the room at me, his eyes filled with heat. A bunch of the guys were in the kitchen with him, including the Hendrix brothers, Lauren’s husband Stefan, and Reid. Was it weird to be in the same room and still miss him? We’d been here for an hour, maybe, but had spent most of the time in our little groups.

My cheeks flushed when he grinned at me. He looked so ridiculous in his Ken getup, and I couldn’t believe he’d agreed to wear it. But it was perfect for us, and damn, he could pull off a black cowboy get-up. And you know what they say about cowboys… I bit my lip, thinking about all the horses I could save. Given his possessive grip when he’d squeezed my hip earlier, I was pretty sure he was thinking the same.

Damn, I couldn’t get enough of him. Maybe it was because this was so new, because we’d never had a chance before, but I was ready to pounce on him already. I took a long drink of my lemonade.

“So it’s serious?” Sophia asked after the third time he glanced over.

“Huh?” I looked back at my friend and then realized what she’d asked me .

I hoped it was. It felt serious. How could rekindling things with your ex be anything but? “He asked me to come to the rest of his games this season, so…” My cheeks were pink. I wasn’t exactly going to tell her about his you’re mine proclamation, even though it still made me hot just thinking about it. “And he gave me his jersey to wear.”

“Oh, honey.” Sophia patted my arm.

I frowned. “What, is that a bad thing?”

Lauren laughed from the couch. “No, Ellie. The opposite. If he wants you to come wearing his jersey, I’d say it’s definitely serious. And the way he looks at you…” She fanned her face. Her skeleton face makeup still looked almost close to perfect, even with her husband’s inability to keep his hands off of her. The Captain was pretty damn obsessed with his wife, that was clear.

“But most of you don’t wear your guys jerseys to the games, right?”

Bailey just shook her head. All of them looked like I was missing something. “That’s because we go to a lot of games every year, not because they don’t like seeing us in them. In fact, they really enjoy seeing us in them.” She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

“I wore Owen’s sweater all the time when we were younger,” I said. “Whenever I went to his junior’s games.” I still had it somewhere, though it was probably back home in Portland. I hadn’t brought all of my stuff with me when I’d moved—I was glad I hadn’t, since I’d barely lived in that apartment before moving out. It would have been so much worse if I’d had all of my belongings since childhood there.

Part of me knew I should check on my apartment. Owen said he wanted me to stay with him, that he wanted me there, and I also knew I didn’t want to go back to that place, but I also felt terrible about living with him rent-free. Though now that we had Zamboni, I couldn’t imagine moving out, either .

“But did you ever just wear his jersey?” Harlow asked, leaning over conspiratorially. “That really drives Jonah crazy.”

I blushed. “Um. No.” We’d been too young back then. Not that I wanted to blurt out in front of all these women that we hadn’t been having sex as teenagers. Or that I could still count the amount of times I’d had sex on one hand.

“Try it sometime,” Lauren suggested, giving me a little wink, rubbing her belly. “Pretty sure that’s how we made this one.”

“Oh.” My face was on fire. “I mean, I don’t think we’re quite ready for that yet—” I was only twenty-two. We’d barely gotten back together. It had been the blink of an eye, really.

Sophia burst out laughing. “ Lauren ,” she scolded, but there was a playfulness to her tone. It was almost amusing, because normally she was the one saying the most off-the-wall, out-of-pocket things. She seriously had no filter. “You’re going to scare off our poor, innocent Ellie.”

Maybe I wasn’t as innocent as she thought, though, because I liked the idea of it. Of Owen getting home, finding me wearing nothing else. Knowing how much he’d liked finding me wearing his shirt and asleep in his bed, I could only imagine how much he’d like that.

I’d just make sure I stayed up to date on my birth control, because we definitely didn’t need any accidents. Maybe we should start using condoms. It was probably irresponsible to let him keep coming inside of me, even though it felt so good for both of us. Damn.

Owen raised his eyebrow at me, and I was sure he could read the confusion spelled out over my face. I looked towards the back door. They had a large backyard, and their covered patio had a porch swing and a space heater. Harlow and Bailey’s guys came over to join us, settling onto the couches next to them, and I took that as a sign.

Okay, maybe I just wanted an excuse, but who could blame me when he was looking at me like that? Like he couldn’t wait to get me home, strip me down, and ravish me. Ravish? I mentally scolded myself, because what was this, a bodice ripper?

I headed outside, letting the cool air cool my face off as I breathed in the fresh air. That was something I loved about the Pacific Northwest, and one reason I’d never been able to imagine leaving. I loved the smell of the pine trees. Of the rain in the air.

The smell reminded me of Owen.

A pair of arms slid around my shoulders, and the man in question’s head rested on top of mine. I liked our height difference. How I was just short enough to fit tucked inside his body. How he was tall enough that I had to stand on tiptoes to reach his lips.

“Hi, Daisy,” he said against my ear, swaying us back and forth.

“Hi.” I let out a breath of relief. Just being in his arms had my body relaxing.

“What got you so flustered in there?”

I shook my head. Now was so not the time. “Nothing,” I lied.

“Mmm.” His rumble in my ear shouldn’t have been so sexy. It certainly shouldn’t have made my panties damp. But there was just something about him, about the sexual appeal that practically dripped off of him these days.

Maybe it was all the time we’d spent apart. That in that time, he’d gone from a boy to a man. A man with a perfectly sculpted body, like he was chiseled to perfection. Either way, it was hopeless to resist him. It always had been. That was probably why me insisting we not sleep together was a stupid proclamation. We were uniquely made for each other, and everything else was just inevitable.

“I like this,” I murmured. “Being here with you.” Being his girl .

Owen pressed a kiss to my neck. “Good. Because I like you being here, too.”

Humming, I snuggled my back against his chest, savoring the moment.

We stayed like that for a while, enjoying the damp fall weather outside, though I wasn’t cold thanks to the heater on the patio. It was just… nice. Peaceful.

After everything we’d gone through, peace was something we needed.

I wasn’t taking a single moment for granted. Not with us.

We got home after midnight, and even though I had school in the morning—and Owen had a game—I was wide awake. I’d had a few drinks over the course of the evening, but I wasn’t drunk. I had a magical, happy buzz. That perfect level of tipsy when everything felt right in the world. I set my hat on the counter, running my fingers through my blonde strands of hair.

Twirling through the house on my tiptoes, I headed to the crate, freeing Zamboni from her tiny prison.

“Hi, baby,” I said, showering her little golden face with kisses. “Did you miss us? Because I missed you so much.” I held her head between my hands and she licked my nose. “Such a good girl, Zambi. Should we take you out for a walk?” I grabbed her leash, and when I turned around, I found Owen looking at me with an amused expression.

“What?” I furrowed my eyebrows.

His eyes dragged down my body with a heated expression. “You’re going out like that?”

I was still in my hot pink Barbie cowgirl outfit. Owen had taken his hat and shirt off after we’d gotten home—which was a shame, because I loved the cowboy look on him—and was just wearing his undershirt and black jeans.

“Uh-huh.” I nodded. “What’s wrong with my outfit? I wore it to the party. Besides, we gotta take her out before bed, right?” I scrunched up my nose.

He chuckled, padding towards me, grabbing a sweatshirt off the chair and pulling it on over his head. “I’ll take her out. It’s cold outside. You can go change.”

“Oh.” He was right. It was chilly outside. And my costume didn’t exactly have sleeves. “Alright.”

Owen took our puppy from my arms, kissing me softly before clipping on her harness before heading out the door. I watched his ass as he walked, giggling to myself. God, it was a nice ass. I wanted to dig my fingers into it and squeeze .

Heading back to Owen’s room, I pulled my boots off and collapsed on the bed, smiling at the ceiling. Running my fingers over my lips, I thought about how natural it was to kiss him again. How right it felt to be in his arms.

Maybe it was the alcohol in my system, the pleasant hum in my veins, but I definitely wasn’t ready for bed yet. No. I had plans . We’d been making up for lost time this week, and I wanted to be on top this time. To show him just how much he meant to me. To make him feel good, like he always made me.

The front door opened and closed, and I heard Owen talking to Zambi out in the living room, telling her what a good girl she was.

Didn’t he know I was his good girl? I pulled my bandana off from around my neck, dropping it onto the bed. Standing up, I pulled my hair over one shoulder, unbuttoning the front of the vest and letting it drop down my shoulders.

I could practically feel Owen’s presence at the doorframe as I continued to strip, dragging the zipper down the pants and shimmying them off, exposing my panties and bra to him. Hot pink, just like my outfit.

“Ellie,” he groaned. “You’re going to kill me. ”

Running my tongue over my lips to moisten them, I undid the clasp of my bra, letting it fall to the floor before dragging my panties down my legs.

“You’re so goddamn beautiful, Eleanor.”

No one really called me my full name. And they certainly didn’t say it the way he did, filled with so much longing and desire that I wanted to melt .

Heat pooled in my core and I ran my hands down my naked body, flicking over my nipples and letting out a soft moan. I was already so turned on, and Owen standing there, fully clothed while I was bared to him, made it even hotter. I ran my hands down my side, letting my fingertips trail over his number on my side. It hurt like a bitch, but it was worth it. So worth it, just to see the man I’d always loved barely holding back.

I smiled at his restraint, but the outline of his erection pressed against his pants made it obvious that he wanted this as badly as I did.

“Do you like what you see?” I cupped my tits, fluttering my eyelashes at him as he watched me.

“Yes,” he groaned. “Fuck.” Owen reached down, squeezing his cock. “Come here, baby. Let me touch you.”

I shook my head as I rolled my nipples between my fingers. “Not yet.”

He whimpered. “Ellie.” The sound was pained. “I need you. Please.”

Sauntering towards him, I dropped to my knees in front of him, sliding my hands over his waist before unbuttoning his pants. Owen grunted as I dragged his zipper down, pulling his cock out and running my tongue over his crown.

“You’re always taking care of me,” I said, dragging my tongue flat over his tip. “Now, let me take care of you.” The other night in the shower had been the first time I’d done this, and I liked how powerful it made me feel—like even though I was the one on my knees, he was at my mercy. God, it was hot.

Owen’s fingers tangled in my hair as I took him into my mouth and sucked. I wound my arms around his body, hands finding his ass and squeezing his delicious hockey butt.

“Baby,” he groaned, holding me still. “Your mouth feels too good, but I don’t want to come down your pretty throat.”

I popped off of him, standing up to wrap my arms around his neck, his cock pressed between us against my stomach.

He dipped his head, pressing a kiss to each side of my lips before finally kissing me. “You’re fucking incredible. I am constantly in awe of you.”

“I’m not the amazing one,” I muttered. “You are.” I was just a girl who had run away from my problems for the last five years.

I’d run away from Owen because… Because what? I bit my lip. Because I was scared. I was scared that he wouldn’t have time for me, and our relationship would crumble under the pressure. Instead, I’d broken it. Broken us. And a few months later, when I’d gotten hurt skating, I could have gotten back out there after my knee surgery, but I hadn’t. I’d hidden away, convincing myself that it was safer that way.

But it wasn’t. Everything I’d done to protect myself, and all it had gotten me was years of time wasted. Things I’d missed out on. This. We’d missed out on this.

“Take me to bed,” I whispered.

He picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, kissing him as he walked us to the bed. My tongue found his, and I moaned into his mouth as he stroked inside. I rocked my hips, rubbing against his hard length, and every brush against my clit sent ripples of pleasure through my system.

Owen set me down on the bed, laying me down with my hair sprawled out behind me, but I sat up. “I want to be on top this time,” I said, putting one hand on his chest and pushing him down .

His responding grin was as bright as the sun. “Okay.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. You want to ride me, Ellie girl? I’m not a cowboy, but I’m happy to save a horse.” He smirked as he shed his pants and underwear. Owen laid back on the bed, and I straddled his hips, pinning his cock between us as I moved back and forth over it, giving my clit the friction it needed.

“Put me inside of you,” he commanded, running his hands up my thighs till they settled on my hips. “Oh, God . That had no business being so hot.

I raised my hips, guiding his tip to my entrance, and then I sank down on his cock, sliding down inch by inch. My hands were flat against his chest and I dug my nails in as I worked my way onto his thick length, moaning as he filled me. Would I ever get used to the feeling of him inside of me, stretching me wide? I don’t think so.

“Feels so good,” I moaned, shutting my eyes as I took every last inch. When he was buried to the hilt, I started rocking back and forth, grinding my clit down over his shaft. Owen’s hands trailed over my skin before he cupped my breasts, rubbing my nipples in the same way I’d been teasing him before.

“Look at you. So goddamn beautiful, the way you’re riding my cock.” He let out a guttural sound as I clenched down around him. “Fuck, baby.”

“I can feel you everywhere,” I said, sprawling my hand over my abdomen, like I could feel where he was buried inside me from the outside. The fullness and the angle like this were incredible. It was everything I needed. Everything we’d been depriving ourselves of for years. “Why haven’t we been doing this since I moved in?”

He thrust into me from below, matching the movements of my hips with his own, like he couldn’t hold back. “You’re the one—” Thrust. “—who said—” Another thrust. “—that we should just be friends, Ellie baby.”

Suddenly, I couldn’t remember why. Not when us, together , was everything.

I huffed in agreement, rising on my knees before slamming back down on his cock. “That was dumb.”

“Fuck being friends, Ellie. There’s no way I could ever be just friends with you.” One of his hands moved down between my legs, rubbing a circle over my clit, while his gaze focused on where he disappeared inside of me.

“Feel us,” he said, guiding my fingers so they were spread around his cock—the same way my pussy was. “Feel the way you’re spread open around me.”

A whimper escaped my lips. “It’s too good. I’m going to come.”

“That’s my girl,” he praised. “Come on my cock. Make a mess of me.”

Oh my god. It only took a bit of pressure on my clit before I was toppling over the edge. “ Owen ,” I cried out as I came, before collapsing against his chest. My orgasm wracked its way through me, every nerve in my body coming to life with pleasure.

I could feel my pussy fluttering and contracting around Owen’s length as he continued to rock into me from below at a steady rhythm, and I knew he was close as I felt him grow even harder. His hands cupped my ass, squeezing roughly, and then he let out a grunt before spilling inside of me, filling me with his cum.

“Holy shit, El.” His arms wrapped around my back, keeping him pressed firmly inside of me as I stayed seated on his cock. “That was?—”

“I know.” I let out a contended sigh. “It just keeps getting better.”

He hummed, nuzzling his face into my neck. “I don’t want to leave you in a few days.” The words were murmured against my hair, and I knew what he meant.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I promised, my words a sacred vow. I meant it, too. There was no way I could give this up. Give him up.

A few moments later, I sat up, our combined releases trickling out of me, some of them ending up on Owen’s abs.

His eyes sparked with amusement as I blushed. “We should probably start using condoms,” I blurted out. “I know I’m on birth control, but we don’t want any accidents.”

Owen gave me a heated look, his hand sliding over my flat stomach. “It wouldn’t be an accident. Not for us, baby. Fuck, the idea of you swollen with our child…” He reached down, wrapping a hand around my neck and pulling me up to his lips. He devoured me in a passionate, all-consuming kiss, and when we broke apart, he nipped at my lower lip. “Just the idea makes me want to keep you here, full of my cum, till I know it takes.” He shook his head. “But I know that’s just the caveman talking. So if you want to use condoms, I’ll go out and buy some tomorrow.”

I bit my lip. Did I want to? I didn’t know how to answer that. Especially when Owen’s dirty talk had my pussy clenching, just imagining the thought of him fucking me until I was pregnant with his baby. Okay, yeah, that was hot. And him coming inside of me was hot. Maybe the risk made it even hotter. Apparently, I had a breeding kink, but I was pretty sure Owen did too.

“Stay here.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, heading to the bathroom. When he came back out a few minutes later, he had a washcloth in his hand. He cleaned me up with the warm, wet cloth, and then pulled me back into his arms, spooning me from behind. “Sleep,” he whispered in my ear. “We have another long day tomorrow.”

“Mmm.” I closed my eyes, sated and warm, with his body wrapped around mine, and I’d never fallen asleep so quickly. It was a feeling of peace, and I wanted to hold on to it forever.