Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

W e Aren’t Permanent

Ruby

I use Cade’s car to drop him, Hayden, and Luc at the airport. As I am driving back to the house, I realize it is time to come clean to Charlie about what Macklin and I have been up to. I know I can trust Finn too. It is Aaron I am more concerned about. When I get to a red light, I text Charlie.

Me: When will you be home?

She answers in seconds.

Charlie: I’m here. Why?

Me : I need to talk to you.

Charlie: Aaron is throwing a party.

Just great. As I pull on to our street, I see the cars lined up. Aaron is throwing a rager.

Cade’s usual spot on the driveway is free so I park in his spot and enter the house. Music is blasting and I don’t recognize most of the faces but as I walk deeper into the house, I find Charlie.

“How did he manage to put it together so quickly?” I ask.

Charlie shrugs. “What did you want to talk about?” she screams over the noise.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow. It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry about it.” I wave her off.

“Come, let’s go do shots. If you can’t stop them then join them.” She giggles, taking me by the hand. She guides me to the main room where a plastic table is set up with alcohol and pours us each a shot of tequila.

“To the end of the semester,” she shouts over the noise, lifting the plastic shot cup.

“Cheers,” I reply, tapping her shot cup.

We both take the shot down.

“When are you leaving for Nashville?” I ask since she is going home with Finn for Christmas.

“Sunday. I think with all this chaos we need another shot.” My best friend has become a small party animal since moving into the hockey house.

We take another shot and find a reason to take another. We are both tipsy as hell when we walk by the couch. Aaron is sitting with Finn and some other guys from the hockey team who don’t live in the house. Charlie takes a seat on Finn’s lap, and I sit between Tyler and Hutch.

I search the room for Macklin, but he is nowhere in sight.

“Where is Mack?” I ask Charlie.

“I think he’s in the backyard.” I am obviously not going to get up and find him in my state. These guys all play hockey with my brother, and I could accidentally slip and kiss Macklin.

I stay seated between the guys. Charlie gets up and begins dancing with Finn on a makeshift dance floor in the room.

“What are you up to for the holidays?” Tyler asks.

“I’m waiting for Hayden to come home on Monday, then we’ll head home to my grandmother with Mack,” I reply. “How about you?”

“Heading home to North Carolina to spend time with the family,” Tyler answers with an awkward tone. It’s because Hayden is my brother and he scared all the guys away from me. It is something I’m used to.

“Cool,” I reply as Macklin walks into the room and does a double take when he sees me sitting between his teammates. He has a beer in his hand, and he looks a little tipsy.

“Rubes, what’s up?” he asks.

Yup, he’s tipsy.

“Just got back from the airport. Were you in on this party too?” I ask with accusation in my tone.

“Aaron asked me to keep quiet. Hayden would’ve flipped if he knew we were having a party and he wasn’t here to keep an eye on you,” Macklin shrugs sheepishly.

“No worries, we got her,” Tyler assures as he places his hand on my thigh.

Macklin growling throws me off. “Best you keep your hands to yourself, Ty.”

Tyler’s hands fly in the air. “Sorry, bro, forgot you were her guard dog too.”

“You aren’t funny,” Macklin answers, mocking his tone.

“Ruby, would you like to dance?” Tyler asks. He is really pushing it, and it is infuriating Macklin.

“I’m good Tyler. Thanks.”

The guys burst into laughter around us. Saying words like “burn” and “shot down.”

I stand to get away from the chaos. “I’m going to the kitchen. I’m hungry.” It isn’t a lie, but I really just need space.

I walk to the kitchen, wondering if I am walking straight or lopsided. I am not expecting Macklin to follow me. The house is full and getting caught would be easy.

I open the fridge, ignoring Macklin. It is an older style where the fridge is on the bottom and the freezer on top. I bend down to see what I can find to snack on.

“Whoa, you look fine.” I know the voice before I see him. “Those leggings are hot, Periwinkle.”

I am wearing a cropped sweatshirt with a pair of black leggings. I dressed comfortably, thinking I was returning home for a quiet evening.

I turn to face Macklin. “Just because Hayden isn’t here doesn’t mean we can be careless.”

“I wasn’t thinking about being careless. We could get out of here,” Macklin suggests.

“And where would we go?” I retort.

“Good point,” he says, scratching the scruff on his chin.

“I was planning on coming home, taking a shower, and getting into bed. Do you think anyone would notice if I was gone?” I ask.

“I could join you,” he offers, getting a little too frisky.

“In the shower?” I ask, astonished, as Aaron walks into the kitchen holding a girl’s hand. He’s heading to the backyard, even though it’s freezing outside.

“She smokes.” He shrugs to me and Macklin.

“Cool,” I reply. Aaron steps outside through the sliding door and closes it behind him. When the weather was warmer, we hung outside during parties, but now that the weather is colder, no one wants to be out there.

“Go upstairs to shower. I’ll meet you there in five,” Macklin whispers.

“Does this mean we finally get to have sex?” I ask.

Macklin’s gray eyes widen. “Quiet. Anyone could walk in, and no, we aren’t doing that.”

“Gah, you’re so frustrating,” I scold, feeling frustrated.

“No, I’m not. I know what you need, Periwinkle. I’ll take care of you.” He winks.

I leave the kitchen and forget about having a snack. That is what Macklin does to me. He makes my head spin. And now I’m hungry for something else. I go into my room and grab some clothes to change into after my shower. Since we are staying in, I take a pair of jogging pants and a cropped tank top with a bra and panties. I also grab a towel.

I pass the dance floor and notice Charlie and Finn, who are still making out. I head upstairs without a mention to anyone and head straight into the bathroom, turning on the shower because it takes a couple of minutes to heat up. With my brother and some of the guys gone, I was hoping for some quiet time with Macklin, but that clearly isn’t happening.

I begin to undress, starting with my leggings when the door flies open. I screech since I didn’t realize I forgot to lock it. Luckily, it is only Macklin.

“You just scared the crap out of me,” I chide.

“You should learn to lock a door with a house full of guests,” he replies.

We are both clearly drunk and even though, in the back of my mind, I know what we are doing is risky, I’ve thrown caution to the wind.

“I want to be the one to take your clothes off,” he says, locking the door behind him.

I pause and take him in. A gray Henley hugs his wide shoulders and his training pants show off just how big his cock is. I lick my lips and allow him to get to work undressing what is left of my clothes.

He removes the cropped sweatshirt I’m wearing and bites into his lower lip as he takes both my breasts in the palms of his hand. I am wearing a light-pink lace bra.

“Your nipples are hard,” he comments.

“Because I’m horny,” I reply. I don’t know when I became so comfortable with Macklin, but I did and I don’t think it has anything to do with the alcohol in my veins.

He unhooks my bra next, allowing my breasts to fall free. “Fuck, Periwinkle.” He kneads my breasts with his hands. His calloused skin is rough against my soft skin. My nipples are hard as glass, he was right, but I am also dripping wet for him.

“I was jealous downstairs,” he admits. Macklin does not admit things like this because it’s attached to feelings and that is hard for him to share.

“I noticed. But why? We aren’t permanent,” I answer, maybe because I want him to argue differently, or maybe because I have developed real feelings for him past a teenage crush.

He sucks in a breath and dips his head, taking my breast in his mouth. I grip his head as his tongue licks at my nipple and a moan escapes me.

“You taste so good.” His gruff voice makes my insides warm as he moves to the other nipple.

“We definitely couldn’t do this in the library,” I reply, enjoying the feel of his warm tongue against my most sensitive parts.

He slowly removes my panties next, until I am standing in front of him completely naked.

“I want to see you,” he says, taking a step back.

“You’ve seen me quite a lot lately,” I shoot back.

“Not all at once.” He shakes his head. The library hadn’t allowed for that.

“This isn’t fair. I haven’t seen all of you either.”

I may have had his cock in my mouth numerous times, but I wanted to see him shirtless. I realized I hadn’t seen him shirtless since we were younger and swimming at a community pool, and that didn’t count because the body he has now is downright sinful.

I take a step toward him and get rid of the gray Henley. His skin is golden, his arms strong, and his shoulders wide, but it’s the tattoo of a flower over his left pec that grabs my attention. I reach up to touch the light blue flower.

“What is this?” I ask, but it feels like I know the answer and that is confusing because it looks like an iris in periwinkle blue.

“I’ve had it a long time. It doesn’t mean anything, I was drunk when I got it,” he replies with a nonchalance that makes me feel disappointed.

I swallow hard. I don’t know why I feel hurt by his answer. Maybe it’s the alcohol in my system. I push any thoughts away as he moves a stray hair off my face.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, and he dips his head and claims my lips. I wrap my arms around his neck, and we deepen the kiss. Before I know it, he is lifting me on the counter and standing between my thighs, his cock rock-hard between my legs.

I moan. He groans.

“This is dangerous, Periwinkle.” We are both ravenous and a little unhinged for each other.

“Stop overthinking this, Mack,” I reply because I feel his self-control snapping. Until now he’s tried to treat me with kid gloves on. We are hot for each other and our make-out sessions show it, but tonight is different. It feels like nothing is holding us back. I reach for his pants and push them over his butt, along with his boxers. When his cock springs free, I wrap my hand around his cock and begin to stroke him.

He kicks off his pants and he lifts me off the counter. I squeal.

“Hush, it may be a full house, but the guys use the upstairs bathroom,” he reminds.

I remember from the first party they had thrown when Charlie and I first moved in. He lifts me into the shower and the hot water feels glorious against my skin. Macklin pins me to the wall and kisses me with his hand on my neck, holding me in my spot. Our tongues run wild lashing out at each other and devouring. When he presses his wet hot body against mine, the fire inside me erupts. I feel him everywhere and want him inside me. His willpower is hanging on a string and mine is nonexistent.

“I need you, Mack, please,” I beg shamelessly.

“I’m not taking your virginity when the house is full of people. That’s a private thing, Periwinkle.” Okay, so he has more willpower than I realized.

Even drunk he is responsible.

I groan. He dips his fingers between my pussy lips. “So fucking wet for me.”

I moan, holding his shoulders. He rubs my clit and inserts his fingers inside me. He is driving me crazy. I reach for his cock and jack him off. His hips thrust into my hand.

“Turn around and hold the wall,” he demands, and who am I to deny him?

I place my hands on the blue shower tiles. I feel Macklin behind me, his cock brushing against the crevice of my ass. I have never wanted anyone so bad before and I crave him inside me, but I know better than to think he will take me now.

He inserts his fingers inside me and with his other hand reaches around my waist to the front of my pussy and begins rubbing my clit with his thumb.

My moans grow louder. He is completely unraveling me.

“I love to hear your cries, but you need to keep it down,” he scolds, his lips and hot breath close to my ear. His breath sends a shiver down my spine.

My legs begin to shake as my orgasm builds. “I’m going to fall. It’s too much,” I cry out.

“I got you, baby, I won’t let you fall,” he promises. He has never called me baby before. It is sweet and endearing. He nibbles on my ear and I am lost to all the sensations. My orgasm starts slow and builds as Macklin rubs me everywhere I need. It is too much and too good. I don’t want it to end and he keeps going, drawing every last ounce of ecstasy out of me. I am a breathless mess with spaghetti limbs when he is done with me. But we aren’t finished. His cock is throbbing and my mouth waters at the sight of him. His wet body. The soft trail of hair that leads to his magnificent cock, his eight-pack abs, his legs of steel, and his round ass. Macklin is an Adonis and I love making him groan. I love watching him become unhinged as I suck him off.

“Are you just going to stare at me?” he asks with a crooked smile, bordering on shy.

“You’re just so. . .gorgeous.”

“I feel like that isn’t a description for a guy.” He laughs.

“I’m sorry, but it’s true.” I drop to my knees in front of him. Water is spraying his back and he blocks it enough that I am not getting sprayed. I feel a little cold but when I take his cock in my mouth, all reason leaves me.

His groan of satisfaction spurs me on. I take him as far back as I can, sucking him hard and licking his tip.

“Fuck, Ruby, this feels so good.” His hands are in my hair. His hips move, thrusting inside my mouth. When I stare up at him, I see his head tilt back, his Adam’s apple exposed, as water runs down his body. This is the most erotic experience of my life. I grab his butt cheeks with my hands and push him farther in my mouth. He begins fucking my mouth relentlessly.

“You give the best fucking head,” he groans, lost in the ecstasy. His eyes are closed. “I don’t want this to end, Periwinkle.” I don’t know if he is talking about the blow job or us. On some level I am hoping he is talking about us because I can’t see myself walking away from him now. He is a part of me. I only ever want him. But I can never confess that to him. He would get scared and never agree to sleep with me.

He comes hard and I suck all his cum down my throat. All the other times he had been restraining himself when he was with me. Tonight, Macklin is free and he is acting on his needs, and it’s so fucking hot my pussy clenches. I begin to moan as I suck every last drop of his cum. When he comes down from his high, he helps me to my feet.

“You feel cold, I’m sorry,” he says, pulling me under the stream of water. He holds me in his arms flush with his warm body and I warm up.

“Don’t be sorry, that was the sexiest experience of my life.”

He doesn’t comment but he holds me close. I feel his heart beating in his chest. I wonder if he is this sweet and attentive with all the girls he’s been with.

“What are you thinking, Periwinkle?”

“You don’t want to know,” I answer.

“That’s just not true. I always want to know what you’re thinking,” he refutes, and I pull my head back and look into his eyes.

“Are you this caring and attentive with all the girls you’ve been with?” I ask, feeling exposed because why do I care about other girls? He has a past I know about, but it bothers me now. I want him to be only mine. I know I am living in a dream world, but a girl can dream on occasion.

“No, just you,” he answers so quietly it’s almost a whisper.

He releases me and grabs a bottle of body wash. He squirts some on his hands and begins to wash my body attentively. Things feel like they are shifting between us. He washes me like he cares for me. When he washes me between my legs it feels personal and so damn good. I have never felt this way before and something inside me has shifted. I swallow, watching his body move as he washes me. I watch his arm muscles strain with the movement and when he is done, I take the same care to wash him. He almost seems shy as I run my hands over his shoulders. We don’t say a word to each other, but there is something deep and intense in both our gazes as we watch each other. I stroke his cock to clean him, and he grows hard again. I am wet again but I know we have to get out of the shower. We both rinse off and then we wrap ourselves in towels.

“Should we make a run across the hall?” he asks.

“You go first and tell me if the coast is clear,” I reply, feeling like I need a moment to catch my bearings.

He opens the door and peeks outside. Then he dashes to his room, which is almost across the hall. I think he says, “Clear.” So, I open the door and make a dash, holding my clothes in my hand. But I pause and my jaw drops as I see Charlie and Finn standing there with their jaws dropped.