30. Lark

Chapter thirty

Lark

“You’re gonna give your mail carrier a complex if you keep looking so depressed every time you see them.” Willow hands me a glass of wine, and despite her teasing, there’s a sympathetic smile on her face.

I groan. “I know, I just can’t believe it’s taking this long.”

My acceptance letter for the internship at the university still has not arrived. It’s hard to stay optimistic when I had expected to hear just after Christmas, and it’s now the end of January. Spring training is right around the corner, and then the season will begin. If I’m going to be asking for time off next fall, I need to be letting the team know soon so they can find a temporary replacement for me. Just because it’ll be the offseason doesn’t mean there won’t be players needing treatment, to say nothing of us making the playoffs. Then I’ll be trying to juggle the internship and my job. Which isn’t ideal, but Mattias said he would help make it work.

“They’d be fools not to take you on. Remind me what it’s for?”

“It’s a three-month internship working in the sports rehab lab at the University of Vancouver. They have a research project going on right now looking to map muscle health in professional athletes, to try and determine how to best prevent and treat muscle decline. The hope is to be better able to prevent joint injuries by understanding why our muscles age and decline the way they do, even in professional athletes.” I rattle off the explanation with ease, having studied the research project’s material a thousand times.

But when I look at Willow, she’s got a blank expression on her face.

I sigh and try again. “It’s a research project to help find a way to prevent injuries by studying the muscles of athletes.”

“Oh. Well, why didn’t you say that the first time?” She nudges me with a smile.

“You work in the pro sports field. Shouldn’t you be able to understand the rehab side of it a bit better?” I tease.

“Nah, all I need to know for my job is what they injured and how long they’re out.”

I shake my head and take a sip of wine. “Fair enough.”

“So.” Willow looks at me expectantly. I know exactly what she wants to talk about but I pretend not to.

“What?”

Her eyes couldn’t possibly roll back any farther. “Oh my God, don’t be a tease. You know what! You and Monty. How’s it going? I need details, woman.”

I take another sip, and try to look cool, calm, and collected. “A lady never kisses and tells.”

Willow knows me too well and just snorts. “You’re not a lady, you’re Lark. So spill. ”

“Fine, fine. He’s amazing, and I had no idea I could be this happy.”

I watch closely as Willow sets down her wine glass far too calmly. I hurry to set mine down, too, fully aware she’s not going to accept that. Sure enough, out of nowhere she grabs a throw pillow and whips it at my head.

I shriek, blocking the pillow. “Okay, geez!” When I look at her again, she’s got a far too pleased expression on her face. “You’re relentless.”

“I know. Now, go on.”

Here’s the thing. I’d love to tell Willow everything. She’s my closest female friend, and we don’t keep secrets. I knew about her and Ronan before anyone else. But telling her about Dan being a virgin up until being with me feels like I’d be betraying his secrets, not my own. Which means, I’ve got to tread carefully.

“He really is amazing, Wills. It’s like all the goodness in him is amplified by a thousand now. His hugs are magic, and when I’m with him, I feel so cherished. Did you know he has a tattoo on his hip? Of a skylark?”

Willow swoons against the couch. “No way. That’s the most adorably cheesy romantic thing ever.” She bolts back upright. “And so perfectly Monty. I love it.” She grabs my hands. “You deserve that kind of love, Lark. He truly adores you.”

I nod. “He does, and I love him.”

“Gah, I’m so happy for you.” Willow drains her glass and gestures to mine. “Want a refill?”

My nose wrinkles. “Nah, I’m not even sure I’ll finish this. My stomach hasn’t been feeling great lately. ”

“Okay.” She stands up and goes to the kitchen, coming back with a fresh glass of wine for herself. “How’s the sex?”

“Really, really good.” I smile, because it’s the truth. What he lacks in experience, Dan makes up for with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. He listens to me and pays such close attention to my body, I swear, he already knows it better than Baron ever did, even after several years together.

“That’s not a surprise.” Willow waggles his eyebrows. “All that cinnamon roll, golden retriever energy? He’s gotta be fun in bed.”

The sound of my front door opening has both of us turning. Dan walks in, wearing a Tridents hoodie and dark grey sweatpants. My gaze drops immediately to the front of his pants.

“And that’s my cue to leave.”

I blink and look over at Willow to see her amused grin. “What? Why?”

“Because he’s here and you’re drooling.” She stands up and walks over to Dan, giving him a quick hug. “See ya later, Monty. Take care of her.”

His gaze is trained on me, and I can already see the lust burning in his eyes. “Don’t worry, I will.”

He breaks our stare to walk Willow to the door, closing and locking it behind her.

“What were you two talking about, Birdie? You look a little flushed.”

My tongue darts out to lick my lips as he prowls around the couch and squats down in front of me, his hands coming to my knees. “Oh, just girl stuff,” I say faintly, my focus zeroing in on his thumbs that are drawing lazy circles on my inner thighs .

“Hmm. Girl stuff. Right.”

He surges upward, kissing me and pressing me against the couch, his hands bracing on either side of me.

“You were talking about me, weren’t you Birdie.”

The words are conversational, casual even. But his voice is anything but. Rich, sultry, and promising a hell of a lot of pleasure. I bite my lower lip, trying to look coy, but I don’t know if I pull it off. Given the smirk Dan shoots me, I probably don’t.

“Maybe I was. Is that a problem?”

His head moves slowly from side to side. “Not at all, as long as you’re saying good stuff.” A thread of vulnerability pokes through his sexy bravado, and I bring my hand up to cup his cheek.

“ Very good stuff.” I lean in and kiss him. With a groan, he wraps one arm around me, pulling me almost off the couch.

“Jesus, am I ever gonna stop wanting you?” he rasps before kissing his way down my throat. “I can’t stop thinking about you, about us, about how fucking good you make me feel.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” I say, tipping my head to the side. He chuckles against my skin, then lifts his head, fixing me with his molten chocolate stare.

“Right now, it’s not. But when the season starts, you know I’ll have to be focused on the game, right?”

Again, that tiny bit of vulnerability shows through. I love that he’s comfortable enough with me not to hide it. I nod and kiss his cheek.

“I know what your job needs from you, Dan, and you know I’ll be there supporting you the whole time.”

“You’re fucking perfect,” he whispers. “But you’ll be even more perfect once you’re naked.”

He stands up and strips out of his own clothes so quickly I feel like I barely blink and then, there he is, in all his naked glory. His cock is already leaking precum, and I lean forward and lap at it with my tongue.

That makes him groan as he wraps one hand around the base and threads the other in my hair. “Baby, as much as I want your mouth on my dick literally all the fucking time, right now, I need to be inside of you.”

Despite being insanely turned on, I can’t quite stifle a yawn. Dan catches it and frowns. “Hey, we don’t have to do this. You want to just go to bed and snuggle?”

“Absolutely not,” I say in mock outrage. Then I lift my sweater up and over my head, tossing it to the ground before reaching behind my back and unclasping my bra. I let it dangle from my hand for a second before dropping it to the ground as well.

Dan drops to his knees and grips the waist of my joggers before slowly easing them down. I lift my ass off the couch to help, and he peels them off my legs before running his hands back up, raising goose bumps everywhere he touches.

“You’re so soft,” he murmurs. “Like, everywhere. It sounds dumb, but I didn’t realize you’d be so soft.”

These little reminders of his previous innocence make me melt.

“And you’re hard,” I say, leaning forward to kiss him as I reach down for his cock. “It’s the perfect combination,” I whisper against his lips, feeling them turn up in a smile.

“It really is.” His fingers find my pussy, flicking lightly at my clit before slowly dragging between my wet lips. “Mmm. You’re soaked, Birdie.”

I nod, biting back a whine. His confidence in taking the lead has grown incredibly quickly, but there are times when I wish he’d stop taking his time and just fuck me. I haven’t come out and said that yet, not wanting him to think I don’t love it when he wants to play first.

Thank God, today isn’t one of those times. Dan steps up and pulls me to stand before spinning me around. “Put your knees on the couch. That’s it, grab the back, baby. Fuck, yes.” I move the way he tells me to until I’m on my knees, pushing my ass out toward him.

Hands grip me firmly, kneading the flesh just before I feel him take a bite.

“Dan!” I yelp, twisting to look at him. “Did you just bite me?”

His grin is unrepentant. “Sure did. Delicious and juicy.”

I shake with laughter that dies instantly when his fingers find my pussy again, and he thrusts two of them in with no further warning. “Ohhh,” I moan, arching back into his touch. “Yes.”

Lips land on my spine, and I feel him press against me. Then his mouth pauses. “Shit. Condom.”

This time, my whimper breaks free. “Bedroom. Hurry.”

There’s a cold draft as he leaves, and my hand drifts down between my legs.

“Oh really?” His amused voice has me lifting my head to see him staring intently at my fingers, his long cock now covered in a condom. “You think you get to play with what’s mine?”

“Well, you weren’t here to do it,” I reply saucily.

He raises one brow and circles around behind me. Then my hand is pushed away and replaced by his mouth. He sucks my clit into his mouth, his tongue snaking out to play with it. But just as I feel my release cresting, he lets go, and I cry out. “What? No! Go back!”

Dan just chuckles. “Don’t worry, Birdie. I’ve got you.”

I feel his blunt tip nudge my entrance, and then he slides it back and forth, collecting moisture before slowly pushing inside.

“Oh yes,” I moan, my eyes closing as I lean my head down on the back of the couch. Dan sets a slow and steady rhythm, rocking me back and forth. His hand gathers my hair, and he gently tugs my head, making me lift it so he can lean down and kiss me. It’s messy, sloppy, and so damn hot.

“Fuck,” he grinds out, dragging his dick out slowly before slamming it back in. “So good, baby. So fucking good.”

It is good. But I need more. My hand moves to reach back down to play with my clit, and he pauses.

“What are you doing?” he growls.

“I need…I need to…my clit,” I gasp.

“Let me.”

Instead of thumbing my clit, I reach my hand behind me to run along his strong thighs. He curls over me, and his hand finds where we’re joined. When he pinches my hood, I wince.

“Too strong.”

“Sorry,” he mumbles, kissing my back. “Better?”

I nod dreamily as he eases off into steady circles. “Oh yeah.”

“Fuck, I need to see you.” Dan pulls out and drops down onto the couch before grabbing me by my waist and lifting me onto his lap. I reach down and take his cock, lining it up and sinking down with a satisfied groan.

“That’s better. Look at you. So fucking gorgeous.”

I smile and take his hand, leading it back down between us. He gets the message and returns to playing with my clit as we kiss, our hips moving in perfect sync.

“Fuck, Dan,” I pant as I feel my climax building. “Faster. Please.”

“I’m there, baby,” he grunts, letting go of my clit to grip my hips and rock us faster. But I need that stimulation. This time when I reach down myself he doesn’t stop me.

Our eyes lock and my mouth falls open just as I feel his hips shudder. “Yes,” I cry out as my orgasm washes over me. Dan follows, groaning out my name as he thrusts up into me shakily.

I collapse onto his chest, feeling incredibly satisfied and incredibly sleepy. Lips press to my forehead.

“I’m gonna go deal with the condom.”

I nod, my eyes still closed, perfectly content to let him lift me off his lap and set me down on the couch.

“Mmmkay.”

“You gonna fall asleep on me, Birdie?” he says with a chuckle, and I smile.

“Nah. We’re gonna snuggle.”

The last thing I remember before waking up in my bed the next morning, Dan wrapped around me from behind, is hearing that chuckle again and feeling lips pressing a soft, loving kiss to my forehead.