Page 40 of Your Biggest Downfall (Ravens Hockey #3)

I pulled off his cock, keeping my hand on him, languidly pumping him a few times.

“Supernovaaa,” he cried.

“Come,” I demanded.

He tried to shift, aiming to finish on my chest, but I kept a firm grip on his cock, like holding a leash. I shook my head and positioned myself so he’d have to cream all over my face.

Make it unforgettable.

“I can’t control it, Nova.”

“Don’t then. Be a good boy and come on my face.”

That was all he needed. Warm liquid landed on my face as he moaned deeply, the sound vibrating through me. His cum dripped down my body, congealing in the sand beneath me.

When he finished, he collapsed to his knees, bringing us face-to-face. My eyes were closed, still lost in the aftermath, so I didn’t see what he was doing until his fingers wiped my eyelids clean. Then, without hesitation, he licked the cum from my face, his breath hot against my skin.

“Open,” he murmured, his voice low and full of command.

I obeyed, slackening my jaw. He leaned in, his tongue still coated with his cream, and pressed his lips to mine.

His taste flooded my senses, an intoxicating mix of salt and warmth, filling my mouth as our tongues danced together.

The intimacy of it, the raw connection, made my body hum with pleasure.

“You taste so good,” I murmured as I opened my eyes, staring right into his baby blues.

He dropped his forehead to mine. “I love you so much, Supernova.”

It felt like someone had taken a machete to my cold heart and was cleaving it open, exposing it, raw and vulnerable.

“I—” I attempted to say, but I didn’t know how to finish that sentence or what to say next.

Austin stopped me by pressing his lips to mine again and then lifting me with him off the sand. He carried me toward the house.

“Where are we going?” I looked back to where my clothes were still all over the sand.

“Let me take care of you, Nova.”

I nodded, letting him carry me bridal style as we headed inside. He pushed open the back door and walked through the house.

“The bathroom,” he explained, but I was too caught up in his intoxicating scent—outdoorsy and salty, like the lake.

Austin Hart loved me, and he’d reminded me of that more than once. Even more surprising, he’d loved me last year too, but he thought letting me go was better for us. We’d lost so much time together.

When he gently set me down, I looked around. It was a small, cozy space with a massive bathtub that overlooked the lake. The view was breathtaking, the water shimmering in the sunset, and for a moment, I was stunned into silence.

This was what I wanted. The realization hit me suddenly, almost overwhelming in its clarity.

It felt so sudden, yet so right. I didn’t want my first time to be in some dingy bar bathroom, hurried and forgettable.

I deserved something more—something meaningful, beautiful.

And as I stood there, I realized this was what I deserved.

Austin had carried me here, not just into this room, but into this moment, into this realization. I was glad he was replacing that old, painful memory with something new, something that felt like a promise of what we could be together. The weight of the past began to lift.

I looked at him, his eyes searching mine, and for the first time, I felt like I was where I was meant to be.

This was the moment I had been waiting for, the moment that felt like it was crafted for us.

The rush of emotions was almost too much to handle, but I welcomed it, knowing that this time, it was right.

He’d turned on the water, and I hadn’t even noticed in my dizzying haze. Gently, he lifted me into the warm bath, shifting me so that he could cradle me against his chest. We both barely fit, but the walls of the tub were high enough that water wasn’t sloshing everywhere.

He pulled away some of my curls and whispered in my ear, “You deserve all of this and so much more.”

“Mmm.” It was all I was able to respond with as the warm water felt like a blanket on my skin.

“When I was in rehab, I thought of you all the time.”

I shifted so I could look up at him. “You did?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t wait to get back here, back to you.” He pressed a kiss to my earlobe.

“What did your mom say when you got back? Have you been able to talk to her?” I assumed he had since he’d talked to her best friend about using this cabin.

He shook his head, sighed, and then pressed his nose into my hair. “No.”

“No?” My brows furrowed in confusion as he splashed some water onto my shoulders.

“Nope. Before I left, Ledger said he didn’t want me around his family unless I was sober.”

I hesitated. “But, you’re part of the family.”

My heart ached for Austin. This was why he always said everyone put him second. He’d been through so much—being stuck, seeking help, and then being pushed away when he did exactly what everyone wanted. Now, he was clean and sober, but still, they kept their distance.

“My mom texted me and said she’d like to have dinner with me next week, so I guess I’ll see them then.”

I’d met Auburn and Ledger countless times. It was hard to believe they’d keep him at arm’s length. Auburn would do anything for her son. “That doesn’t make sense.”

He shrugged, a sad resignation in his eyes. “I know. Anyway, Emma came by, which is how I got the keys, so that was nice.”

He was clearly trying to change the subject.

“Yeah,” I responded softly, reaching up to cup his cheek. “That was nice.”

“You’re here,” he mumbled, as if the words were a lifeline he needed to cling to.

“I am here.”

The unspoken words hung between us—I would always be here. Nothing in this world could tear me away from Austin. I felt an overwhelming need to protect him because it seemed no one else would. Everything had changed.

Slowly, I turned to face him fully, bringing my arms around his neck. I pulled him closer, wrapping my legs around his waist, and pressed my lips to his.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I pulled away. “You don’t deserve to feel like you’re second string to anyone.”

“I don’t when I’m with you.”