Chapter 29

Reign

You win some. You lose some. Except for me, I never lose. On the ice I am playing my heart out; the Eagles are a tough team to play, their defense is strong, but our offense is stronger. It also probably doesn't help that they haven't fully recovered from their beginning of the school year investigation. They lost some good players in all sports to other school districts. Tonight is going my way. Our team is crushing the opponent both figuratively and not. The boards rattle around me as I slam another Eagle player with my body in our fight for the puck.

I'm able to dodge and get enough stick on the puck to shoot it down to the other team's ice before skating off for a line change. When we're winning five to one, our coach starts to become more relaxed. I'm okay with the break. I get to see my girl when I'm on the bench. She's sitting with the girls' team, wearing my jersey over a pair of leggings. I had called her down before the game to give it to her. I was prepared and even looking forward to having to force her into it. Riley surprised me though when she took it and easily slipped it on over her body. I thought having her in my jersey would calm me down, help my concentration knowing every male in the vicinity knew she was mine. She is wearing my last name, my number. No. Nope. All I can picture is what she looks like wearing only my jersey, her thighs draped over my sides, her hands gripping my arms, fingers digging into my chest while riding my dick. It's been a long time since I've had her, and I've been patient. I wanted her to forgive me, and not feel like I was using her body against her. I wanted her heart first. And now that I have it, and all the other chaos has ebbed, I've been fantasizing all game about her in only my number and sitting on my face, suffocating me with her delicious pussy. It would be a fucking amazing way to die. So yes, it's good we're winning and I don't have to think too hard about anything else.

There are only four games left of the season before the conference finals and state championships. My father sends me weekly countdowns, reminding me of the deal we made. I'm fully invested in following through with his plan. It also helps that he talked to Pete and found out that they received Riley's and my applications to Michigan. Mine is more of a formality; I had already pretty much signed, but they were waiting for the ink to dry. Riley is also being accepted and will receive her letter in the next few months with everyone else. The topping on the cake is that she also qualified for one of the bigger scholarships. I know this will be huge for her. I can't wait until it's official and we can celebrate.

It has been two weeks since our trip to Michigan. Two weeks since I pretty much told Riley my plan for our future and that I was prepared to do whatever I had to in order to have her in Michigan with me. I was not above doing whatever it took, no matter how dirty I had to play. I have zero fucks to give when it means having my girl with me. I'll never forget the look in her eyes somewhere between acceptance and fear.

"Thorn, you're in," my coach yells, and I spring over the boards and skate after the puck that our defenseman cleared in the other team's attack zone. Rushing the net, I manage to skate the puck around, my other linemen joining me. I pass the puck to Carter who shoots to our defenseman who shoots it back to me. Their goalie can't keep up with the quick exchange and I easily sink the puck deep in the net on his glove side.

Scoring is a high and I'm addicted. I love the celebration with my team. The minute my arms go up and I raise a knee, I'm slammed in the back with a cheap shot. I manage to regain balance and turn to shove the guy who hit me. I recognize him, and he's smug when he smirks at me, his mouth guard half hanging out.

"You're still gonna lose," I bait him. His sleazy grin fades and anger floods his features. He swings and I manage to duck. He drops gloves and I follow. My team surrounds us, holding off the other Eagles from trying to interfere. I get a hit in, harder than his, but he still manages to scrape my cheek as we go down. Eventually we're pulled apart. Even though I have to serve a penalty, it is worth it. I skate by the girls' team on my way to the box. Riley is standing with her hands on her hips. I expect anger or even worry, but the grin on her face is surprising; it forces one of my own. She waves and mouths, "Nice hit, baby !" Baby. My heart thunders in my chest, soaking in the nickname. I'm always Thorn to her.

Even after a two minute penalty, our team still wins. Our season record so far is putting us in the perfect line to be conference champions. We'll take it, and then we'll win states too. I rush off the ice and hustle into the locker room. When I make it to the lobby of the building, my eyes search her out, intent on having her by my side again. The place is packed with our fans who are waiting to congratulate us. A few of my team members drift by and we fist bump or slap hands. I start to get worried that I don't see her when finally I hear her laugh. A smile tips up my lips and I walk in the direction her sound came from. The smile and warm feelings instantly vanish when I notice the guy she's talking to.

Sliding up behind her, my arm bands around her waist, pulling her body into mine. "Standing a little close there aren't you, Mavis?"

The kid flushes and jumps back. "Sorry," he mumbles before shooting his gaze to mine. "I was just sticking around to say great game, Reign. Hope you're okay after that cheap shot that asshole gave you."

I study him, and luckily for him, he never flicks his gaze back over to Riley. "I'm feeling good. Thank you for showing up."

"Anytime. Even though I'm out for the season, I still like to watch." Mavis shrugs. I don't respond to him and we spend a few awkward seconds where he's staring at me before I raise my brow.

"Okay. Well see you later then." He starts walking away and shoots a smile at me and then Riley, but I'm already moving her behind me so he can't focus on her.

"Why were you mean to him?" Riley questions, turning in my arms. "He's on your team."

"Was on my team. He broke his leg in three places in the first week—"

"Reign, your cheek." Riley's eyes widen, and her hand shoots up to grip my chin, turning my face toward hers. "Didn't you see the doc after your game?"

How do I tell her it didn't even phase me and all I wanted to do was get out here to her. "It's just a superficial wound. I can take care of it later."

"You should go take care of it now." She grips my arms and tries to tug me along with her.

"Babe, I'm fine. I'm hungry though and I know you have to be too. I just want to go eat."

Riley huffs and tilts her head looking me over. "Fine. But only because you won and you deserve your favorite."

"Hell, yes I do." I pretend to fist pump the air, which earns me one of her smiles. My chest feels warm when I take her hand in mine and we exit the arena.

We hop in my car and I drive us through town to the diner. Carter and Leif are also there with a few more of our teammates and kids from school. Quinn nods at Riley who gives her a friendly wave. I grab us a booth on the edge of the action, mostly because I just want to be close to her. I'm dying to tell her about her impending acceptance, but I know I can't. Not yet. Plus, part of me wants her to share it with me first when she does get her letter later. After our trip I'm starting to realize that I have to push her slowly. Riley knows what's best for her, sometimes she just needs a little nudge, and in small increments.

I hide my smirk when she orders her usual chicken tenders. I order my strawberry shake and a burger and fries. Extra fries, for when Riley starts eyeing the ones on my plate because she didn't order her own.

I watch her while we eat, and notice the faraway look in her eyes. "What's wrong? Did that shit Mavis say something before I got there?"

Riley's eyes widen and she bursts out laughing. "Chill there, caveman. All the poor kid did was say hi and asked if I enjoyed the game. He made it perfectly clear he was waiting to see you."

"He made you laugh," I argue the main point.

"I sometimes do that Reign, even when you aren't around." She rolls her eyes before popping one of my fries in her mouth.

I study her. I wonder if there is a way to get into her film class too. If I am with her all day then every time she laughs, smiles, or fucking hiccups, I'll be there for it. "I don't like it."

"Tough. You have to live with it." She nudges me with her foot under the table and I can read the humor in her eyes. She thinks I'm joking. I'm not joking. I take her hand in mine, my fingers running over her knuckles. I don't let go for the rest of the meal and she lets me.

When we get back to her dorm, I follow her in and to the elevator up to her floor. She glances at me out of the corner of her eye. I can feel her anxiousness ramping up. We still haven't fucked since all the shit went down. We've kissed, and I've made her come in other ways, but I've been holding out, not wanting to push her for more until I knew we were okay again. After things in Michigan and with her finally telling me she loves me, I can't wait anymore.

"Are you coming in?" she asks, shyly meeting my eyes, while we stand outside her door.

I bend and press my lips to hers, moving over them slowly, tasting her, teasing her. "I miss you, Riles. I need to be inside you again. I want to know if you trust me first."

She inhales and our gazes meet. Her hands find my waist. "I do trust you. Just never shut me out again."

"I won't," I promise her before sliding my hands down her waist and grabbing under her ass, lifting her against me. Riley's legs circle my waist and her arms go around my neck. Her lips descend on mine, our kisses turn consuming. Somehow we manage to unlock her door and I carry her through the small space and back where her bedroom is. My hands never leave her body, running over her curves and under the jersey she's wearing, along the soft skin on her back. She moans into my mouth at my caresses, her body grinding against mine. I need more of her.

Setting her on her feet, my hands reach for my sweater and she helps pull it up and over my head. I reluctantly help her out of her jersey and take her leggings down in one swoop. My t-shirt goes next, and she starts kissing along my neck and abdomen, anywhere she can reach the bare skin. Having her lips back on my body gets me instantly hard. My hand grips her hair, and I fist it like a ponytail, holding her to me. My worst fear after months of being practically celibate is coming too soon. I need her to have at least three orgasms first. My eyes fly around her room, looking for anything else to concentrate on for a few seconds while I get my body under control. Tonight should be about her. I glance down at her desk, looking for boring things, books, pencils, her laptop and then I see them. The writing at the top, black and white, maroon and gold.

"Riley." I grip her hair and pull lightly. She leans back and for a split second I let her flushed cheeks and puffy lips distract me. "Why the fuck are there applications to Boston and Minnesota on your desk."

She pulls away and her face pales slightly. "Reign, I can explain."

I let go of her and pick up the applications on her desk. I also notice one to Colorado that I had missed. "Are you applying to these places?"

She massages her fingers against her forehead, her eyes pleading with me to understand. "It was something that the dean said. He mentioned that other schools would want me to, and I just think I have to test that theory or else I feel like Michigan is being handed to me because of you."

"So you're applying to see if you get in, and then when they accept you, what? You turn them down?" My hand trembles with the papers in my grasp.

"I don't know," she answers, and the truth of her words hit me straight in the gut.

"So all the plans we're making will mean nothing?" I drop the papers on her desk before running my hands through my hair. I have to come up with a way to keep her with me. To make sure she chooses me and the future I have planned. I need Riley every day in order to breathe, to live. "Don't turn them in."

"What?" Her lips part and her brow rises.

"Don't do it. You don't need to send these in to prove that you're good enough. You are, Riley. You told me that Pete thought you were worthy. Me, your dad, we've all been telling you that you're worthy. Riley, it's all at the tips of your fingers. Your grades, your tenacity, your hockey talent alone, would draw a crowd for their girls' team. Doing this proves nothing, unless you accept the fact that you are amazing, first. You could receive a dozen acceptance letters and unless you believe it was meant for you, you are going to look at them and wonder." I reach for her, cradling her face in my hands. "Don't turn them in. Wait with me, believe in me."

"I do, I do, Reign. I believe in your dream but I just want to know if it's because of me or you." Her eyes fill with tears, her hands grip my waist.

I shake my head. "It's you. All I did was ask my dad to see if the dean could at least meet you. That is all. I promise. I intervened a lot more with All Saints, I admit it. There was no way I was leaving you alone though, babe."

Her lips form a small smile. "Yes, I know how the end of that story played out."

I grunt in response. My words might not be enough right now; I'll have to show her. "All right, this ends now."

I scoop her up, her face changing from confused to surprise, as her legs hitch on my hips and hold on to my shoulders. I throw her on the bed and my body follows her down, caging her in and pinning her under me. Our eyes lock and the air around us becomes charged, tense, each of us waiting to see how this is going to go. I don't want her to think about anything else but me and us. I claim her lips with mine in a fierce and hungry kiss. I kiss her like my next breath depends on it. Like she is oxygen and if I take my lips away from hers, I'll wither and die right here. The feelings that I have are all-consuming and I force her body to feel it, to feel me and my deep, aching need for her. Her hands grip my shoulders, her breathing becoming jagged, while we share air between us. I grind into her until she's making adorable gasping noises, her hands moving along my jaw, my cheeks, gripping my face and yet I still don't let her come up for air. We're both going to drown in this feeling.

Riley pushes me back with all her might, gasping, her eyes looking frantic. "Reign, your cheek. The cut opened; you're bleeding."

My fingers tentatively touch the sensitive skin and my fingers do come back bloody. Then something else happens. The blood runs off my jaw and splatters on her chest. The sight of her skin with my blood over it makes my dick even harder than it was before. I glance at her but her eyes are also on her skin, where my fingers are now moving through the blood, smearing it into her skin like she's my personal canvas. Riley's heart beats under my fingers, the pulse point in her neck is practically throbbing.

"You like that, don't you?"

She meets my eyes, her cheeks tinge pink, but her eyes are hooded and dark. "Mhm."

I chuckle, but the sound is more dangerous than lively. "My filthy little puck slut. You like being covered in my blood."

"Reign," she says my name, but it sounds more like a moan and all I really hear is please fuck me.

I force myself off the bed and pull my sweatpants and briefs off before running my hands along her bare legs and gently pull her panties down, my eyes eating up every inch of skin and her perfect pink pussy. My fingers immediately begin running through her soaking wet folds. She cries out softly, her gaze desperate and pleading. Giving her what she needs, I glide my fingers across her clit and gently thrust inside her tight heat.

Riley's fingers grip the sheets and her hips tilt up. Her eyes flutter while my fingers continue to pump in and out of her. "You look so good like this, Riles. Making my fingers glisten, your cheeks flushed, the come-fuck-me eyes."

"I need you Reign," she moans.

Needing no more encouragement, I pull my slicked fingers from inside her, gripping her thighs and flipping us so she's over me. I help her shimmy up my sides until her body is hovering over my face. "Sit down and let me eat, babe. I'm starving."

My hands hold her hips and I lower her down. My tongue slides through her folds instantly, tasting her arousal and musky flavor. I groan out loud, watching as her head tilts back and she bites her bottom lip.

"Baby," she breathes out the nickname and it turns me feral. I dive into her pussy like it's the last meal on earth I'll ever have. My mouth closes over her clit, sucking, while she tries to rock her hips. My grip on the backs of her thighs holds her still.

"Oh, fuck," she breathes out, her pants and little sobs filling the room.

I don't let up, just continuing flicking and circling her clit with my tongue before sliding it down to probe and lick her tight hole. I drink up every last drop of her juices before ghosting my thumb over her clit again, pushing her over the edge into an orgasm. Her back arches off the bed and one of her hands lands on my head, her fingers tangling in my hair. The sensation sends shivers across my heated skin and my own hips buck into the mattress, desperate to be inside her. I lick her through it, enjoying the way my name falls from her lips over and over

Only when she relaxes and her legs fall to the side do I ease up. Sitting back, I'm greeted with another perfect sight. Blood from my cheek is painted along the inside of her thighs, mixing with her juices. I think I come a little. My hand runs down the shaft of my cock, using the pre-cum forming at the tip as lube. There is only one thing better that I can think of than having her covered in my blood.

I move up her body until my cock head is notched at her opening and I can reach her lips with mine. I take her mouth aggressively, forcing her to taste herself on my tongue. Her arms wrap around my neck, pulling my body tighter to hers. Right as I push inside her sweet pussy, I bite her fucking lip.

"Ah!" she cries out, her eyes widening and filled with desire at the same time her hips jump into mine.

"Shh, I got you," I soothe her. Blood pools on her bottom lip, the sight making my heart hammer in my chest. I use my fingers to pinch her lip and let the blood droplets collect on the pads, before painting them over my dried blood already on her chest. The color turns from crimson to almost maroon, deepening and darker. "Fuck that looks good."

Her eyes look down and she blushes. "You like it?"

"I fucking love it. I think this may be my new favorite color," I tell her before kissing her again, tasting the metallic tang on my tongue. "You're so damn perfect," I praise her. Riley's face softens and her legs tighten on my hips, driving my cock deeper inside her.

"You're pretty perfect too," she replies, her voice laced with lust, her fingers running along my jaw.

I can't hold back anymore. My thrusts turn aggressive, my dick trying to get as deep inside her as it can after being separated for so long. I pound into her fiercely, hoping that every stroke will convey how much I love her and that us being apart is not an option. I can't live without her near me. Her pussy flutters around my cock, pulling it deep inside her. I thrust again, holding myself there.

"Fuuuck." Her core tightens and pulses around me, strangling me with her orgasm. "Fuck yes, babe. Choke my cock."

"Reign, oh god." She arches and writhes against me, coming and coming.

She feels like heavens and hell combined and I don't know how I'll ever walk away from her. I have to make sure for both of us that it's never an option. I fuck her until she comes down, until her hips start slowly building up a small rhythm again. It might take all my will power but my girl isn't leaving this bed until she comes again.

"Reign, I need—" She whimpers and I cut her off by pulling out.

"I'll give you what you need, babe, but first I need you to promise me something," I murmur, studying her face intently.

Her eyes roam over my face and down my chest to where I slowly am sliding my dick through her folds, skating over her clit, making her feel good but holding back. She frowns in frustration when her hips thrust into me, but I pull back. "Nah uh. Tell me what I want to hear first."

"I love you," she responds, her voice hoarse.

My heart swells. "I love you, Riley. Now tell me what else," I growl.

"I won't turn them in."

I sink back inside her to the hilt and her head tilts back, the cords in her neck standing out. My fingers grip her neck, finding my favorite spot, loving the feeling of her heart fluttering in my hand. "Good, fucking girl."

I thrust into her again and again, feeling the power of her words consume my insides. I'm not letting her go. She is on this crazy ride with me. "I need you to come again. I want to feel you come all over my cock."

"Yes," she cries, her nails digging into my sides, meeting me thrust for thrust.

Reaching my hand between our bodies, my finger strokes her clit, once, twice, and soon she's gasping again, my name torn from her throat. I finally let go, groaning her name and coming in hot spurts deep inside her.

When I can make my legs move, I move off her and head to her bathroom, throwing her shower on. Riley is breathing hard on her bed and I scoop her up and carry her, pulling her into the shower with me. I wash her hair and her body before she takes some soap and runs her hands over me, returning the favor.

"You're going to smell like me," she teases, placing a soft kiss on my shoulder.

"I love the way you smell, babe," I assure her, my lips tilting up in a smile at the prospect.

When we're both clean, I grab us towels and take the time to dry her off first before myself. We fall into bed in a tangle of limbs, with her body softy wrapped in one of my t-shirts she's already stolen. My arms pull her close, and I fall asleep with the familiar thud of her heartbeat against my rib cage.