“I’d like that.”
I lie down, and he climbs between my legs, then kisses me. His tongue tangles with mine, and he butts against my entrance, and then notches inside. He eases in, inch by inch.
“You’re tight.”
I laugh breathlessly. “It’s been three years.”
“Fuck.” He groans. “So good.” He starts to move, and delicious friction melts me. He hits me on the best angles. Long and slow, filling me completely. My eyelids flicker shut, and he grips me by the jaw. “Open. Show me everything.”
I do as he asks, locking my gaze on his. I love his dominant streak, and even if he’s going to be gentle this time, seeing his rough edges stokes a fire in me. Rocking onto him, I bite my lip as pleasure crescendos inside me. Up and up it goes, and he slows, his movements becoming harder and more purposeful. The set of his jaw tells me he’s not far from exploding. He grinds his hips into me once, twice, and then a bright light bursts behind my eyes as I crash into bliss. He fucks me right through the orgasm with a look of dogged determination that drives me crazy. He’s battling his instincts to make sure I’m taken care of, and it’s the sexiest thing ever. A moment later, he buries his face in the crook of my neck and gives a muffled shout, his cock throbbing as he empties himself into me.
It’s then that I realize: we didn’t use a condom. A moment later, the truth barrels into me, and I nearly laugh. I’m trying to get pregnant with this man. What does it matter if we use a condom?
Seth rolls off me and flops onto the bed, then hauls me to his side and holds me close. “You’re incredible.”
“So are you,” I whisper, enjoying the moment even though I know we’ll have to clean up soon. “Stay with me tonight?”
He kisses my cheek. “You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”
16
Seth
In the morning, I rouse a sleepy Ashlin for a round of slow lovemaking. Afterward, we shower together, and she cooks me breakfast before I head to the gym. When I get there, Harley and Devon are the only people present. Devon is holding pads for Harley, who punches with so much force I get the impression she’s trying to work something out of her system. I don’t offer any advice on her punching technique because my baby sister has had more fights than me and her movements are flawless. Jiu jitsu grappling is the only area where I can help her, other than being someone for her to talk tactics with. These days, she seems to do that with Devon more than me. I’m glad she’s happy, but can’t help feeling a little unnecessary.
Devon holds the pads to his side, and she kicks them, her shin thudding against the leather with a satisfying smack. At moments like this, I miss the days when I used to fight. Coaching is great, but you never get to test yourself against an opponent. These days, I could let myself go to seed and it wouldn’t really matter. A beeper blares, ending the round, and Devon and Harley bump fists.
Harley turns to me. “I’ve been talking to Mom.”
“Oh?”
“She wants us to take a trip to Cedar Bend to meet her new boyfriend.”
My stomach drops. Subconsciously, I glance at my watch. “Things are busy right now. It’d be easier to fly them here.”
Harley scowls and stalks toward me. She stops a foot in front of me and jabs a gloved fist into my chest. “It isn’t always about what’s easiest for you. Sometimes, you’ve got to make sacrifices for family.”
I shrug. “Her weekends are usually free, and mine aren’t. Seems like an obvious choice.”
I pretend the thought of going to Cedar Bend doesn’t have sweat breaking out on my upper lip and a lump of lead sitting in my gut. If I could never return to the town where I grew up, it’d be too soon.
Her scowl deepens, and she takes a breath as though she’s gearing up to give me a prepared speech. “Look, you’ve clearly got some hang-ups about Cedar Bend, but you haven’t been there for years, and if you want to have your own kid, perhaps you need to man up and address the problem so you don’t pass some weird resentment toward their grandmother onto them.”
Her words give me pause. Am I holding onto resentment toward Mom?
No, I don’t think so. It’s just that small-minded town I hate. “There’s nothing for me in Cedar Bend. No reason to go. I can see Mom anywhere, and I’ve kept in touch with Don.” Don is the man who taught Harley and me how to fight. I know he’d like me to visit in person the way Harley did a few weeks ago, but he understands why I don’t. He knows how it was for me there.
Her eyes narrow.
“Come on, man, it’s your mom,” Devon says, approaching us. “She’s the sweetest person ever. How can you say no to her?”
I don’t reply. I’ve been telling Mom “no” for years. I might have bought her a house on the right side of town, but my preference would have been to move her to Las Vegas. It was only her strange attachment to a place that treated her like shit on the underside of their shoe that kept her there. If it had been someone else, I might have thought she stayed just to rub their noses in her newfound wealth, but she’s not the vindictive sort. For some bizarre reason, she actually likes the place.
“I’m not going.” I cross my arms over my chest and stare him down. “And I’m still your coach, Dev. You sure you want to push?”
He holds out his hands, palms up, and shrugs. “Not pushing. Just asking a question. Getting you to think it over.”
“Don’t bother,” Harley snaps, fire flashing in her eyes. “It doesn’t matter what we say, he’s too scared to go.”
