Page 52 of UnWholly Angels (Crestview Cardinals #1)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Riley

S oft snores poured from Maya as I swiped away the sweaty strands of hair from her cool skin.

I’d waited so long to be buried inside her, and getting to nestle balls deep into the woman I’d always loved was my own piece of heaven.

The way she sucked my cock had me wanting to drive all the way into her hot mouth, but I exercised control as she made it to the inked ‘K.’ Shoes scuffed across the floor, and I instinctively cradled her into my chest, almost forgetting Nick was there in the first place.

“Do you need help with anything? I can stay if you need me,” Nick offered, pulling his shirt over his broad shoulders and grabbing his phone. Once she had reached her own climax, the videochat ended. Chloe was probably fast asleep herself at this point.

The intensity of what we’d all accomplished downstairs exerted the energy of all parties involved, and by the way Lux slightly limped toward the door, I knew he needed to get home.

“Nah, she will be okay. We need rest before we hit the road tomorrow,” I replied, carrying Maya up the stairs.

The truth was I just needed an excuse to lie with her, after I cleaned her up properly.

Since we’d reconnected, it had been challenging.

The push and pull between love and survival was exhausting, but I’d never give up on Maya, not again.

She deserved everything, and I could give her that now.

We walked through the house, talking as if she wasn’t sleeping soundly in my arms. An unsettled feeling washed over me, and I wished Maya would tell me to stay, because I don’t want to leave her for Seattle; it’s too far away, but winning against the nighthawks would solidify our spot in the playoffs.

The team needed me just as much as Maya did, and I couldn’t let them down.

Nick rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Should Maya stay at my place when we leave? Or should I have her parents watch the kids so Chloe can come here?”

“I have an old friend coming in to stay with his wife, but I do think Chloe and the kids should come too. We need to make sure everyone stays safe.”

The grumbling on the other end of the line had made me burst out in laughter when I’d asked Rowan if he could help out.

The miserable bastard said absolutely not, until I heard a small voice in the background.

His girl played the guilt card, and because of that, I wouldn’t have to worry while I was gone.

Rowan wasn’t always so cold, not from what I’d remembered, but it’d been years, and I was released before him.

We’d only become slightly closer in the last year or so.

We ran into each other at the taco truck, and we got to catching up, before I knew it, he was in my guest room.

Morality was a funny thing, always itching and scratching at the back of your mind while committing the worst sins.

That was why I loved my former cellmate.

He understood that there was a fine line between integrity and dishonor.

He killed for the right reasons, then washed his hands clean in time for dinner.

If anyone could help me through the situation with Rocco, it was him. It would be him.

The slight fluff of the carpet careened me toward the bed so Maya could lie comfortably. While I wanted to rest, I needed to make a phone call before I could do that. Swiping my phone from the nightstand, I dialed the familiar numbers and waited for the raspy voice on the other end.

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” Rowan grumbled through the speaker. I really didn’t know what time it was. Glancing at the clock on my phone, it read one in the morning.

“Shit, sorry. My schedule is all fucked up. Are you still coming tomorrow?”

“Yeah, we are. Lottie insisted on coming too, so Maya didn’t feel uncomfortable.”

After that, Rowan hung up without so much as a goodbye, which was normal. I was surprised I didn’t get chewed out for calling instead of texting.

With a hushed laugh, I went to my side of the bed and shimmied myself under the blanket.

Wasting no time wrapping my arm around Maya’s abdomen, I brought her flush against my body, breathing in her scent as her hair splayed out around the pillow and in my face.

Placing a kiss on her shoulder, I whispered, “I’ll always keep you safe, Freckles.

Whether I’m home or away. You’ll never be alone again. ”

Before I knew it, the damn birds were chirping, and I groaned, jolting awake from the best sleep I’d had in years. It was nice to wake up feeling refreshed, instead of feeling the need to inject an energy drink into my veins just to get through the day.

But the real reason I jumped out of bed and headed quickly to the first floor was the smell of breakfast. Disappointment was an understatement when I rolled over to an empty space.

Breakfast was an amazing apology, though.

Barreling down the stairs, I rounded the corner and immediately froze in my tracks, my mouth already salivating.

The kitchen island was chock full of different ingredients, and I scoffed to myself.

She does realize she’s only feeding two people, right?

A disgruntled laugh sounded from Maya’s speaker as she spoke, and I found myself being nosy. I knew who she was talking to, and I was more than interested in the conversation. Crossing my arms over my bare chest, I took a seat at the barstool and listened in with a slack jaw.

“You’re the only one I could call about this, you know.

It’s embarrassing enough,” Maya whispered over the sizzling butter in the pan, and my stomach grumbled, but I’d be patient and wait before digging in.

Even with the slight bedhead, she looked beautiful, wrapped in nothing but my jersey, which had been on her a lot.

Who was I to tell her to take it off; she looked amazing.

It left me to imagine if anything else was under there, or if she was panty-less.

“Well, it was a shared experience, so I get it. Let me guess, too much for you?” Nick spoke.

“You both could’ve been rougher, just saying…Riley, he’s just so—”

So what? Maya, keep going so I could think of all the ways to punish you.

“Big. Your dicks are completely different in the best way.”

“I told you to prepare yourself. Feels amazing though, right? The edging is all the more worth it when he executes.”

She continued cooking as her booming laughter brought a genuine smile to my face. I couldn’t even be mad that they were talking about my dick.

“I wanted more, so much more.” The begging tone in her voice made my dick twitch the further the conversation carried out. “I almost asked him for more, but he needs his sleep. I’m sure I embarrassed him in front of everyone the other day.”

No, you didn’t, Freckles, and I wish you wouldn’t think that way.

She quickly changed the subject. Maya and her fucking deflecting. “I’m going to make it my personal mission to take it all, to be treated like he treated Chloe. I will make it to the ‘s.’”

You’re not ready for that side of me, Maya.

“Just pace yourself and trust him. I have to head out soon, but I have an extremely important question to ask you.”

“What’s up?” she replied, twirling her tongue around the spoon to taste the melted chocolate. I curled my fists on top of the counter, cursing myself that I had to leave tonight. Believe me, if I was able to stay home, I’d lay her out and have her for breakfast.

“Who was better?”

I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth and rose from my seat quietly and stalked my way up to her. Standing to her left, I waited patiently for an answer without startling her process. Maya faced me with a raised brow.

“I’m sorry, Nick, but Riley had you beat, close second.”

They said their goodbyes, and shortly after, Maya joined me.

I shook my head and took the plate from her hand, grumbling as I reached for the food.

Honestly, her talking about my dick made a twinge of self-consciousness rise within me.

Like big good? Or big in a keep your monster cock away from me?

We should probably talk about boundaries before I leave, and soon, before the others got here.

All I wanted to do right now was swallow down the embarrassment I felt and eat breakfast. However, Maya had other plans.

Maya

“Please don’t give me the silent treatment, did I upset you?” Watching as he ate, Riley set the fork down gently with a breathy sigh.

“No, Maya, I was honestly just trying to enjoy the breakfast that you made before it got cold, but while we’re at it, yes, it bothered me a bit,” he replied.

His tone had a nervous beat to it, and I suddenly felt guilty.

Maybe he should have been part of the conversation, but I needed to talk to someone about it; it’s not like I have many friends.

“I’m sorry, Riley, I just needed someone who could relate. Should I go to someone who doesn’t get fucked by you,” I said defensively. However, that was the wrong choice of words, and now I felt like I made it worse. My mind was about to try and backpedal, try to make it better.

“Hey, relax,” Riley said firmly. “Yes, it upsets me, but it caught me off guard more than anything. We should, however, talk boundaries before I leave tonight.”

I wished he didn’t have to go. It would be selfish to ask him to stay.

He had two loves in his life, and I was more than willing to take second chair during the hockey season.

Chloe told me that normally she didn’t attend the away games, but once in a while she did, leaving Nick to do his thing while she got to show the kids some of the world.

Did people play hockey by the beach? Wait. That was stupid, of course, they did.

Riley narrowed his eyes at me, and I had no idea my eyes currently met the ceiling. I felt his hand brush my knee, my hand flying right to his. “You’re doing it again. Tell me to stay, Maya; ask me to retire after this season.”

My gaze shot from the white ceiling to his eyes.

Waiting a moment, my lips formed a thin line, refusing to answer him, only shaking my head no.

“That would be incredibly selfish, Riley, and you would regret it. Maybe not the next day, or year from now, but you would. Hockey puts a glimmer in your eyes that I can’t.

It always has; it’s one of the reasons I love you.

Watching how at peace you are as soon as those blades hit the ice.

So, no. You are going to Seattle and you’re going to win, and then you’re taking me to the beach when the season is over. Now eat.”

My tone was firm and final with him as he threw me a challenging glance.

I loved the burst of confidence. It was vastly different from the meek, worried Maya who showed up mere moments ago.

Funny what reassurance could do to a person who needed it from time to time.

Oh right, boundaries conversation. Here was the thing, Riley could fuck whoever he wanted within reason.

He hadn’t given me any reason to be jealous; at the end of the day, I woke up next to him, not them.

The words shot out, my stomach immediately dropping from the endless curve of emotions.

“If you want to mess around with Nick, or other men when you are away, I’m okay with that.

You have needs and tastes that I would never want to take from you.

Just no women, including Chloe, going forward unless I am there. Is that a fair line?”

“I think that’s reasonable enough of a boundary to follow. The same goes for you, too. No men unless I’m there. For me, it’s more about your safety than anything.”

I was glad we could come to an understanding that worked for both of us. It felt good to be on the same page before Riley left. I opened my mouth to speak when a sharp knock echoed through the house.

“They are early,” Riley murmured.

Confusion filled me, and I stared him down. “Who is here early exactly?”