Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

Riggs

I can still taste Clara on my lips.

Smell her on my skin.

Hear her cries as she came.

And I want more.

A lot more.

Which wasn't how this was supposed to go. I was supposed to fuck her, be good, and walk away.

That's not happening.

I can't pinpoint what it is, but something about this girl has me in a choke hold. I have this animalistic need to claim her. Make her mine so that no one can have her. It doesn't make sense. It has been fourteen years since my heart has fully pounded in my chest, and fuck, if it's not pounding at the mere thought of her.

Her smiles.

Her doe eyes.

Her lips.

Her fuckable body.

That mouth that doesn't shut up.

Everything. Her. I want all of her.

I don't understand what I'm feeling. I don't get this need for her. I had her. It should be enough, but it's not even close. I want to know everything about her. I want to hold her. Be with her. Laugh with her. Train her fool of a dog.

Fuck me, I sound like a fucking teenager after getting his cock wet for the first time.

What is wrong with me! What has she done to me?

Her pussy has to have put some kind of spell on me because I want to drown in it.

Live in it.

Goddammit, I'm getting hard just sitting here.

I adjust myself as I lean back in my office chair. I twirl the tip of my beard as I sit at my desk where I'm supposed to be working, but instead, I'm thinking of her. She was more than I could ever have imagined, and I don't like the idea of her not being in my bed tonight. We never made it to my bed, where she came without me that time. I fucked her against the wall, ate her against said wall, and smacked her ass as she went to take a shower. She then walked out of my place on noodle-like legs with a PB and J sandwich and a wicked little grin on her face to head to work with the boys.

Leaving me alone.

One thing I used to love being, until she came into my life.

I groan, dropping my head into my hands as my heart battles my brain. In my brain's defense, my heart has been dead for a while. And really, why are we listening to that thing? He failed us when it came to Peppa. He believed she was the one, but really, the one for her was whoever was around to fuck her and pay for her family. I was never her one. I was her cash cow. Clara wouldn't do what Peppa did. She's a good girl.

Jesus above, what am I thinking?

Clara is young. She probably only wants to fuck.

She doesn't want forever.

Especially with a fucking tool like me.

Someone who leaves all the time and has thirty guys to take care of. Someone who failed at one marriage and couldn't keep the person he loved. I bet she wants kids, and I don't want those. Not in this world. Especially when I don't know how long I'll be around for them. I'm not the guy for Clara McDavid, but why do I want to be?

It's her smile.

I want to be on the receiving end of it daily.

Fucking hell.

I groan again as I run my fingers through my hair. As I rub my scalp, I can't help but remember how it felt to have Clara do the same. How her dainty yellow nails dug into my skin in such a pleasurable way. Jesus Christ, I have to see her again.

Reaching for my phone, I open our text thread.

Me: What are your plans for tonight?

She answers right away.

Clara: Not sure. I guess I don't have any.

Me: You do.

Clara: Yeah?

Me: Yeah. I'm making you dinner.

Clara: Well, okay then.

Me: Okay then.

Satisfied with that, I go to put my phone down, until another text sounds.

Clara: So you want to see me?

Me: Baby girl, you know that answer.

Clara: Maybe I want to hear you say it.

I grin and hit the microphone to send a voice message.

"I want to see you tonight."

She hearts the message and then types back quickly.

Clara: On a scale of one to ten, how would you feel if I wore this?

My brows knit together as the dots turn into a photo.

Of Clara.

In only a bra and panties.

The stunning black lace number has her tits looking scrumptious. Her stomach is flat, but you can tell she likes sweets. She's so sexy, and a barely there thong has my mouth going dry. I breathe in deeply through my nose and somehow type back.

Me: Just that?

Clara: I'll have to wear a dress over it, for the drive over.

Me: Of course, but that'll be under the dress?

Clara: It will if you want it to be, Daddy.

My cock turns to steel, heat burning deep in my stomach as I lick my lips.

Me: Keep on messing with me, baby girl.

Clara: You love it. Daddy.

A rumble of laughter escapes me as I scroll back up to the picture of her fine self. She is fucking perfect, I swear. All legs, a sweet ass, and tits I want in my hands and mouth. Before I start drooling, another message comes through.

Clara: Are you really going to cook, or do you plan on eating me for dinner? 'Cause I didn't eat lunch, and I'm hungry. So, should I get food before I come?

I laugh at that.

Me: First, yes, I'm making you food. And second, I'll be eating you too, after I punish that ass because you forgot to eat again.

Clara: In my defense, my life is hard.

Me: So is mine, and I still make sure both of us eat.

Clara: You ate me!

Me: Best meal of my day. Five stars, highly recommend. I'll be a repeat customer.

Clara: My only customer?

My heart slams into my chest, begging for her. She's flirting like the little minx she is, but I don't think she realizes how important that question is to me.

Me: Only me.

Clara: Yes, Daddy.

I shake my head, grinning like a fool, until there is a knock at my door. I look up to find Dan Davenport coming in with a wave and a grin. He's a big guy, light-brown hair, thick beard, and a potbelly from his beer and pretzel obsession. He's a big personality and one of my favorite people. He hired me on a whim, believed in me before I even believed in myself. I turn my phone over as his voice fills the room. "Great road trip, Coach. Your boys are killing it."

"Thanks, Dan."

"No, thank you," he says, leaning on the back of the chair in front of him. His weight makes the chair groan as he sets me with a look. "Ready to close this out?"

"Yes, sir. That's the plan."

"Good. I have the banners already ordered for the finals."

I nod. "Good. We'll need them."

"I'm depending on you."

"Yes, sir."

We share a grin. "Alex was a good move," he tells me, and I nod in agreement.

"As much as I hated to take him back from the Assassins, I knew we couldn't win without him."

"You were right. Even if the damn little shit knocked up my granddaughter."

I press my lips together, hiding all emotion. "Congratulations?"

A soft chuckle leaves his lips. "Thanks. Though, she's pissed at me. I tried to say she couldn't work for us while being with him, but I didn't mean it. I wouldn't do that to her. I think I say that shit just to test them. Alex came to her defense real fast, and while I already like the guy, I think I'll like him even more as the father of my grandchild."

"Alex is a good dude. He loves Elliot deeply. He tells me all the time. Really annoying about it," I joke, and then I pause.

When do I joke?

Dan nods. "I know, but being with a hockey player isn't easy. All the traveling, the mental game. I don't want that for my girls, but they've all ended up with one. Well, except my sweet Clara. I'm still holding out hope she'll find herself a rich man whom I can get to invest."

His laughter makes me sick. Clara's name on his lips sets my teeth on edge, and I'm not sure why. He is her grandfather, not competition, yet he could keep her away from me. I also don't like the idea of her with anyone else. I swallow past the lump in my throat as he asks, "How's it going with her? She's a good girl, right?"

Oh, you have no idea how good of a girl she is.

I school my features as I meet his gaze. "Gretzky and Gordie love her. She's been great."

He nods proudly, his eyes light. "That's wonderful to hear. I have to say, these wins look good on you, Coach. I haven't ever seen you smile this much."

I look away as I blow out a breath, and I have the urge to tell him it isn't the wins but his granddaughter instead. Maybe if I'm honest and tell him my intentions, it won't blindside him. Not one of his granddaughters ever told him about their love interests, just waited until he found out. Maybe Clara and I will be different?

I don't tell him, though, since maybe I should ask her first. Yeah, she said the bit about being her only customer, but that's sex. Fucking hell, this girl has me all in my head. Before I can say anything, though, Dan's phone rings. He waves to me, answering it and leaving my office.

Leaving me with my thoughts.

Of Clara.

I turn my phone over to see another text from her. It's another photo of her, cuddling with Darcy, Gordie, and Gretzky out in her dog park. While she has clothes on, an athletic outfit of shorts and a tank, it isn't what she's wearing that has my mouth going dry.

It's that fucking smile of hers.

A mix of happiness and something sneaky.

Like she has a secret.

Only for me.

I want to know them all.