“You promised our friendship wouldn’t be affected.”
“You asked me to go slow. I was trying to give you space.”
“I don’twantspace from you,“ I interrupt angrily. “Unlessyoudo, in which case, at least be honest.”
His thunderous frown should scare me, but I find myself jutting my chin up and glaring at him instead. A flicker of frustration crosses his handsome face at my show of defiance. His eyes gleam with something wicked when he snags my hand in his and drags me down the hall toward a door I hadn’t noticed.
He throws it open and ushers me in, slamming the door behind us and latching it shut. We’re in some sort of utility room. The walls are mirrored on one end and there are jerseys, tumblers, and Ironhearts paraphernalia everywhere. The streetlight streaming in is from the rectangular windows sitting so high on the wall that only birds flying by would be able to peek inside.
I don’t have time to notice anything else because Cal spins me around and backs me up against the closed door.
Crowding into me, he presses my hand against the bulge growing in his pants, and growls in my ear, “Does this feel like I want space?”
My palm flattens and my fingers flex automatically over him, causing him to let out a harsh groan. The sound makes electricity zip through me, shooting straight to my core.
“Fuck baby, you’re killing me.”
“Sorry.” I’m not. His cock stiffens under my touch and I love it.
“You should be,” he scolds, trapping the lobe of my ear between his teeth, biting it gently. I shudder. “I don’t understand why you keep questioning how much I want you.”
“Hard to believe,” I sigh, arching my neck so he has better access.
“I’m nothim.“ He says it like a curse; I know he’s referring to Namik. “That bastard didn’t know how good he had it with you.”
“I’m not thinking about him. I don’t think about him anymore.”
His thumb settles into the center of my chin, his index curling under to hold me captive. His eyes gleam even in the dark, changing shades as he processes my words.
“Who do you think about then?” he questions, the tip of his nail tracing the lower line of my lip in a caress that holds me in trance.
“You.”
I doubt it is assurance Cal is asking for, but I provide it anyway. I don’t want him to ever wonder if I have any attachment left to Namik.
“Good.” Cal’s gruff approval, his hands roving my body, his mouth flirting with mine has me wanting to fuse myself with him. “Because from the moment I saw you, I’ve had a hard time thinking about anyone else.”
“I’m sorry,” I repeat, contrite. This time I mean it. I can’t imagine how frustrating my insecurity is for him to deal with.
“Tots, I need something from you.” He licks his lips nervously, yet all I can think about is when he’ll kiss me. “Will you touch me? I. . . I need you.”
My heart stutters.
“Right now?”
“Right fucking now. I’ve had only my hands for company for far too long.”
My desire to feel Cal’s desperation for me overtakes any sense of time or place.
“Teach me how.”
The clink of his belt being unbuckled has the temperature rising between us.
When I stand frozen with indecision, he reaches for me and guides my hand down his now open fly, trapping my palm over his cock. I explore him gently through the barrier of his boxers before tugging at the waistband, wordlessly asking for permission to go further.
“Touch me however you want, Tots,” he says, a slight strain in his voice. “Just. . . don’t stop.”
His throat works when I run my fingers down the slight dusting of hair below his navel before slipping inside his boxers. The heat of him sitting thick and heavy sears my palm. He whimpers into my neck when I stroke him tentatively, his dick hardening further under my touch.