Was that statement coded to mean something more? I didn’t know. I wanted to tell her how sunk I was for her. How I knew what a fool I was for wanting it all, but when I was with her, pretending was the only option I had. Playing make-believe.
So I kept kissing her with everything I had. If I couldn’t tell her with words, I could show her. My lips and my tongue had to convey how much her walking in a room changed everything, how watching her laugh was the best thing ever, how nothing ever felt so settled as when she was in my arms.
But then her two hands trailed down my back and kneaded my ass, and well, heart-fluttery feelings traveled more south. Her skirt fell just below her knees, some tight getup that made her ass look incredible. I bent to lift the bottom of it, skating my hand up her inner thigh. I breathed her name as my fingers found her dripping onto her legs.
“So goddamn sexy, Annabelle. You want this?”
Annie’s pupils were blown so wide I could hardly see the green iris that surrounded them. “We’ll have to be quick. They’re going to be looking for us.”
I pumped my fingers into her as she reached into my pants, her hand meeting my cock. She had my cock and balls exposed to the cool night air before I had time to think. And fast we were. The thrill of maybe getting caught was quite a high to chase. Wewere quiet, just heavy breath and fierce kisses and moving hands. She kept squirming, so I gripped the globe of her ass to hold her steady as my thumb worked her clit.
“Feeling the breeze on that pussy turn you on, baby?” I asked.
Annie whimpered softly.
“Such a good girl being bad for me.”
“Nick,” she begged, and I gave. She bit my earlobe, then held her mouth at my neck as I brought her over the edge, coming into her hand right after. I braced myself against the house.
“I think we need the underwear handkerchief again,” she giggled. We got ourselves put back together, and she decided to go inside first since I was still visibly hard. “I’ll say Greg had to poop.”
I couldn’t go back in there with the underwear reeking of sex in my pocket, so I shoved them in a planter. I’d retrieve them some other day.
Pie and coffee were served, and at the other end of the table, Kitty was wheedling Annie about staying the night.
“I can give you jammies! It’ll be a pajama party! Let’s ask Jessie to stay too!”
Annie’s worried eyes went back and forth as she tried to talk Kitty down with some good reasons.
“Come on, it’s a holiday! We’re all off tomorrow!” Kitty tried, all full of wine and relieved that the meal was over.
“I don’t have any underwear,” Annie hissed as the room went quiet. Romelski snorted back a laugh until everyone cracked up.
Annie sank in her chair until she’d practically slithered under the table. “I’ll just go die now.” She covered her face. “I just didn’t want lines on my skirt.”
“There are really great thongs that don’t leave lines, Annie,” Jessie teased.
“Can vouch,” Mikey added, raising a finger. “They are really great.”
“Mikey,” Kitty whined. With a sympathetic glance, Kitty handed Annie her wine and patted her shoulder.
And though Greg and I went home alone that night, I dreamed of a day when Annie could really be mine.
Chapter 31
Annie
DECEMBER | Balance: $48,268
Another late night at the office. Ever since the Monday after Thanksgiving, work had been hectic. There was the rush to secure high school and college recruits before their winter breaks. Travel seemed never-ending. When I wasn't on the road, I was glued to my desk until my eyes ached, often needing eye drops before I could even drive home.
Nick and I had exchanged encouraging texts. The Princes were on a particularly rotten road stand with a long string of losses. Koretzov, the team’s backup goalie, being in the net was almost a guaranteed loss. Nick had gotten knocked into by one of Montreal’s players, causing him to strain his arm and Mikey to start a raucous fight. Nick was back in the net that night, but the team had only picked up one point on this road trip.
I checked the score whenever I switched tasks, and it seemed like they were playing as quickly as possible. I didn’t get another chance to check it before my phone rang at 10 p.m., Nick’s name on the screen.
I answered. “Hey, bub. How’d it go?”
He blew out a breath. “Bad. You still at work?”
