28. Van

28

Van

I wake up slowly. It's warm, which makes me want to stay in bed, but the sun is shining right in my eyes, so I tug on the blankets before burrowing back into my pillow.

Wait. How is the sun in my eyes? My room has no windows.

Blinking, I sit up and take in my surroundings. For a second, I'm sure I'm back at Santos's house on the lumpy little futon in the basement. But when I open my eyes, I'm not looking at a mounted moose head or a velvet painting of horses.

I'm looking at Josie.

Memories of last night come crashing through my head and my brain tries to process them all at once. Josie's head must be doing the same thing, but in hyper-mode. Last night, she was flirty and tipsy and a little feisty. This morning, she's panicked. She's got that deer-in-the-headlights look and her fingers are fidgeting with the fringe on her blanket.

"Good morning," I say, stretching in the too-small space before grabbing her glasses off the nightstand. I hand them to her, because I know she needs them. Plus, she seems to be in a downward spiral, so maybe her glasses will help her feel more grounded, more in control.

Josie slips her glasses on like armor, but she's not meeting my eyes. "So…um, last night…" she begins, sitting upright.

I roll onto my side and yawn. Her bed might be sample-sized, but it's warm and cozy, and I'm really hoping she doesn't kick me out of it.

"Last night," she repeats, "I said some things. So many things…"

Josie's a talkative drunk, that's for sure. Even in my sleepy state, I haven't forgotten a single word she said, but there's something I need to know. "Did you mean them?"

She looks up and meets my gaze. It's a hard moment. She's being vulnerable with me right now, and I know it's costing her a lot. I rest my hand on the mattress in the space between us, and she covers it with her own.

Her smile is sweet, but sure. "Yes."

Part of me wants to leap out of this bed, find a stairwell, climb to the top, step out on the roof, beat my damn chest, and shout to the whole university that Josie wants me just as much as I want her. The other part of me never wants to leave this bed because Josie wants me just as much as I want her.

Mentally, I call the second play and get back in the game. Threading my fingers through hers, I pull her close. I don't know who moves first, but in seconds, we're connected. Our kiss is everything. It's like last week, but better. We're not rushing or needing to be quiet. I run my hand along the curve of her body, making her shiver.

It's perfect…well, almost. I might hate myself for this, but I pull back. Josie catches her breath then parts her lips as her eyes flutter closed.

"Hold up, Jos. I?—"

She blinks, uncertainty taking hold and I hate that.

"Why are you stopping? Don't you want this?"

"Yes, I want this. Hell, yes. I don't want to leave this bed until I've made you come three times and the only name you know is mine." I kiss her soundly, so there's no doubt. "But I don't just want you, Josie. I want us . I moved too fast last week. I couldn't help myself. You taste so damn good. But I should have told you all of this back then. Having you back in my arms was amazing. But is that all I want? No, I want everything. I want to be your boyfriend. I?—"

She stops me with a kiss and covers my body with hers.Her hands are in my hair, her lips pressed to mine.

"I want to be your girlfriend, Van. I want everything that comes with it. I want you to know all my secrets and I want to know yours. I want late night texts and early morning kisses. I want to hold your hand and wear your jersey and cheer you on. I want to take you home and introduce you to my family. I want it all, Van."

I hang on every word. "Me, too, Jos."

"But you know what I want right now?" she asks, shoving the blankets to the floor.

"Besides my shirt? I hear you're collecting them, by the way."

Her cheeks go pink at my teasing. "I am. That hoodie that shrunk in the wash? That's mine, too."

I kiss her full lips. "Without question."

She sits up just a little and takes her brand-new shirt off before tossing it aside and pulling her panties off. "But that's not what I want right this minute."

My lips find her breasts and I suck each perfect nipple into my mouth for a wet, hungry kiss. "What do you want?

"This," she says, skimming her hand along my shaft. Jesus, she's playing with fire. My dick twitches in response.

"It's yours, Josie. There's nothing I have that doesn't belong to you."

She tugs my sweats down, and I kick them off, eager to be naked. Her mouth envelopes me and holy fucking hell, it's a wonder I don't come right here and now. She grips me at the base and teases me with her tongue as she sucks me. Her hair is a tangle of messy waves and the ends skim my thighs. I smooth it back, my hands on either side of her head as I guide her up and down. It's so good—too good, and fair's fair.

Gently, I lift her off me and the pop of her lips as they leave my dick is going to be the soundtrack of my fantasies on every future road trip.

"Not a fan?" she asks, her lips shiny as she stares down at my rock-hard length. God, I love it when my sweet librarian gets sassy.

I crack a smile. "Way too much of a fan, and you know it. I meant what I said. Three orgasms for you. You ready to start counting?" I ask as I drag her body over mine. I lean back on a couple pillows with Josie draped on top of me, her back to my front. I've got the best view in the damn world right now. I can watch her tits bounce as my fingers stroke her pussy, playing with the folds and driving her crazy with need. And if she wants to join in the fun? Well, I can watch that, too.

And yes, I've mapped out sexual positions we could try the same way I would map out plays to run against a team. What else was I supposed to do as I tried to get to sleep last night?

"Three, huh?" she asks, angling her head up to look at me. "Any special reason?"

I dip my chin and press a kiss to her temple. "Three's a hat trick. They don't happen all that often, but what the hell kind of hockey player are you if you don't dream of one at the start of each game?"

Slowly, my hands make their way down her body. Her perfect breasts are waiting for my touch and I don't deny them. Cupping one in each hand, I squeeze them gently, my thumb grazing each nipple. Josie shivers in response, her mouth open, but no sound escapes.

"Good?" I ask.

"Uh-huh," she answers, clenching her thighs together.

"Been wanting to do this for so long," I say, telling her what she must already know.

"It was a really long week."

It was a long three years , I think to myself. I searched for this connection in too many places, but I never found anything close to it. I block all that out now. I'm too busy replacing my hands with hers.

She gasps and I love that sound. I trail my hands down her soft, smooth stomach. "So fucking pretty," I say as my fingers graze the soft patch of curls that covers her mound. Her legs spread a little wider as her back arches just a bit. She's hungry for me and I should be patient, tease her until she's losing her mind, but I can't make either of us wait any longer. My fingers part her folds and holy god, she's so wet for me. Two fingers trace and tease and touch and I can feel her thighs trembling.

"You feel so good, Jos. So damn good."

"Don't…stop. There. Right there." Her commands are breathy and rushed, but I listen to every word as I watch her body respond to my touch. She's wound so damn tight and she needs a release as much as I need to give it to her. The first one will take the edge off. The second will make her feel so good she'll think she's dreaming. The third will be a promise that this is just the beginning.

My thumb circles her clit as I slide two fingers inside and that's all it takes. As she cries out my name, it's clear I'm not the only one who's wanted this for way too long. Her body grips my fingers as she rides the high and comes back down.

"Well, that was embarrassing," she says, and I can tell without looking that her cheeks are pink.

I drag my fingers up over her hips, the curve of her waist, the slight swell of her breast before taking them in my mouth and licking them clean. Josie's eyes are on me.

"Did they change the meaning of the word ‘embarrassing' to ‘fucking hot' and nobody told me? I mean, that kinda checks out, and I figure you're into words. You'd know."

I don't wait for an answer, I just lift her off me so she's lying on the bed for a hot second before I scoop her back up on top of me, this time facing and straddling me. Her ass rests on my chest, my hands hang at her waist, and my eyes roam over her body. When my phone buzzes from its spot on Josie's nightstand, I make no move to answer it. I've got better things to do than talk to whoever's messaging.

Josie raises a brow.

"It can wait. I mean, what? Did Mickey actually burn the house down this time? Not like I can help. Besides, I'm not done."

I scoot her forward then lift her so she's hovering right over my mouth.

"This good?" I ask.

She answers by grabbing onto my hair at the crown and leaning forward just enough so that her hot, wet center lines up perfectly with my lips. I breathe in the scent of her and I swear to fuck, it gets me a little high. I press a kiss to her folds, taking my time and memorizing each moan and whimper. Josie's known for being quiet and reserved. She likes to blend in and observe. She's never one to start a conversation in a group and she only ever adds to it if you ask her something directly.

But in bed with me? That's a whole other story. She's noisy and vocal and I fucking love it. I'm re-learning what every sound means and teaching myself all the new ways her body finds pleasure. It's a lesson I'm actually good at. Fuck, I'd attend this class five days a week and sign up for office hours.

She leans forward a little, reaching for the wall and I tilt my head back to see that she's hanging on to some little sticky hooks that hold a string of twinkle lights in place. My hands find that sweet indent above her ass cheeks and right below her waist.

"Do you… oh, god …do you remember the first time we…ungh…did this?"

My only response is to dive deeper, thrusting my tongue into her then pulling back and flicking her clit with the tip over and over. I do remember that time. It was the first time anyone had kissed her there and the last time I did anything this intimate. Like I admitted to her a couple weeks ago, I fucked around for a good long while after Josie and I split, but this is one thing I never repeated with anyone else. It wasn't intentional, exactly. It just felt so personal, and I couldn't bring myself to share that with girls whose names I barely knew, girls who were with me so they could have a good time and get some bragging rights.

"It's…I…" Josie's words turn into gibberish as I hold her firmly in place and show her exactly how much I remember. I kiss Josie like it's the last thing I'll ever do and I'm hellbent on going out in a blaze of glory. My touches are tender, my attention is hers. Soon I feel her thighs tremble, and I know she's close. We weren't together all that long, but every sexual encounter we had has played on a loop in my mind ever since. I know Josie's body as well as I know my own. For a second, she goes completely still before she shudders and cries out. Her orgasm goes on and on and I have to will myself to calm the hell down before I follow her lead.

She shimmies down my body and curls into it. Her eyes are wide and bright when she looks up at me and smiles. I want to take her lips again, but my phone won't stop buzzing.

"Maybe you should answer?" Josie says, a hint of worry in her words.

She's right, so I grab the phone and tap the button. An automated voice reads this string of incoming texts.

Ollie: Dude, where are you? It's sticky bun day in the dining hall. I swear to fuck they lace these things with crack.

Mickey: You're coming to optional skate, right?

Deano: Text Mickey back. He's freaking out and driving us crazy.

Will: Did you get lost coming home last night? ??

Santos : Guessing you're skipping optional skate? Tell Josie I said hi. ??

"Do you need to go?" she asks, catching her lip in between her teeth. "I mean, they did say it's called ‘optional skate,' right?"

I nod. "Yep. And I've never missed one. Not even when I busted my knee freshman year."

"What? When did you do that?"

Without realizing I'm doing it, I reach down and rub my hand over the scar on my left knee from surgery. The three little dots are faded, so they're not super visible. My leg hair is blond, but it still does a decent job of covering up the marks left behind by my dumbass stunt.

"The day after our season ended, I tore my meniscus," I answer. "We were celebrating, and I thought I was fucking invincible. Turns out I was wrong. There was alcohol involved, and a trampoline. It hurt like hell, and it required surgery. I withdrew from the fucking draft because I was laid up and the odds weren't great that any team would take me. I spent the summer recovering and cursing myself for being such an idiot. But, looking back, I don't know…maybe that's the wakeup call I needed? I worked my ass off sophomore year. I got stronger, faster, and just better at the game. That's probably because I had so much time to watch tape and analyze every little play. But yeah, I never miss optional skate. Until today."

"Are you?—"

"Don't finish that sentence, Josie. You know I'm sure. There is literally no place I'd rather be right now than here with you. The guys can practice without me for a couple hours, and like you said, it's not required. Besides, I promised you three orgasms, and I'm not done yet."

Josie smiles up at me as I roll toward her, before stopping suddenly. "Shit," I mutter. "I don't carry condoms. I haven't needed them and when Ian texted last night, I?—"

Josie's shaking her head at me. "It's fine. Mel makes sure I'm stocked up. She's the condom fairy. Girls in the dorm used to laugh about it, but no one ever complained. They're in the drawer," she says, pointing to the nightstand.

"The drawer of dicks?" I ask. "God, Jos, I nearly fucking came when I opened that drawer." Her face turns bright pink and I realize that memory is just coming back to her now. "It's sexy as fuck," I assure her as I fish around for a foil packet. Five seconds later, I slide the condom down my length. "I'm serious," I tell her. "I know you get embarrassed about this kind of stuff, but it's me, Jos. I love that you can take care of yourself when I'm not here to do it for you."

I brace my hands on either side of her head and lean down for a kiss.

"Yeah?" she asks, her cheeks and chest still flushed.

"Hell yeah. Remember how much it turned you on when Norris told his girl about what I do when tutoring is over? Same rules apply. You getting off will always turn me on, Jos. Always. But since I'm here now…" She relaxes into the pillows as I let my fingers drift over her body. Her legs fall open and I can't take my eyes away. "You're beautiful," I tell her. "Every inch of you is perfect."

Our lovemaking is slower now. Earlier, I needed to take the edge off, but now I'm ready to lose myself in Josie Reynolds. I part her folds and slide my fingers deep, tapping her inner walls in a way that used to make her crazy with need.

That's one thing that hasn't changed.

"Van–" My name on her lips is a question I'm dying to answer.

Lining my cock up with her entrance, I kiss her as I press forward. It's fucking heaven. She takes every inch of me and it feels so good. I rock back into her and soon we're caught up in a familiar rhythm. She's lifting her hips to meet my thrusts, her sweet, perfect tits bouncing with every movement. And when her inner walls squeeze me, I let go. My body releases into hers, every part of it shuddering or crying out.

Making love to Josie is like coming home, and I never want to leave again.