Chapter 11

"Fuck," I moan as I pump myself. The heated water from the shower cascades down my body as I vigorously fuck my hand. My head is filled with thoughts of Aspen. Her blue eyes and how fucking sexy she looked riding me the other night while she wore my jersey. Fuck, she felt good.

Betterthan good.

I've craved her and dreamt of her ever since.

I fuck myself faster, harder as that night replays in my head. The sweet sounds she whispered in my ear as she found her release. She wanted me as badly as I wanted her, and even though she's mad at me right now, I know she still does. My balls tighten with impending release, and I tighten my grip, mimicking the way she clenched down on me. It's enough to bring me over the edge. I slam my palm against the tile wall to balance myself.

"Fuck yes, baby. That's it. Just like that."

Jets of white cum shoot out from my cock's tip as once again I find release to thoughts of the one girl I'm not supposed to want. The one girl I'm supposed to stay clear of but can't because from the moment I saw her I've been completely consumed. My body shudders with the last of my release, and I quickly wash off before turning off the tap. Opening the large glass paneled door, I grab the towel from the hook and wrap it around my waist.

Yesterday didn't end well with Aspen, and because of that I barely slept. Watching her drive off last night hurt. It hurt more than I expected it to. I fucking miss her. Today, she has no choice but to talk to me. I don't care what it takes but Aspen will be mine. She has to be.

Grabbing my phone from the vanity, I swipe it unlocked and open Facebook. Finding the search bar, I type in her name. I've never been big on social media. I'm perfectly fine going days without seeing what that weird kid from high school is eating for dinner, or the bathroom selfies from that one girl I banged in the club bathroom in junior year.

What I'm not fine with is not knowing how to get in contact with Aspen.

Her name is the first to pop up.

The small bubble next to her name is a picture of her as she holds a fuzzy cat up to her smiling face. Clicking her name, her profile pops up and I scroll down looking for a way to contact her. Where most people have a message option, hers is off.

Great.

Further down, I find something I can work with.

Apparently, she works at Beatties Animal Clinic. A quick Google search tells me they're open today, and it's not too far from the university. Closing my phone, I pull out some clothes and start getting dressed. I'm going to that damn clinic, even if I have to adopt a fucking animal to get in there.

I pullup to the small clinic. It's in a quiet part of town, and by the looks of it, it does well for itself. Not that I'm surprised. I don't have any pets of my own, but I've heard they can rack up vet bills pretty quickly.

Inside, I find a line of chairs along a wall on the right. Some have people sitting in them, holding their cats or dogs, while most are empty.

It's not busy. Good.

To the left is a small room with shelves of food and toys people can buy for their pets after their appointments. For a building dedicated to animals, it doesn't smell bad. It smells clean, like a hospital. With a hint of lavender.

"Can I help you?" a woman asks, pulling my attention. Following the voice I find a large curved desk in the center of the room. She stands behind it with her auburn hair in a messy bun and her hand on her hip.

Slowly, I approach her. "Yeah, sorry. Um, I'm looking for Aspen?"

"Aspen? That's odd. She doesn't usually handle solo patients. Okay, what's your pet's name so I can bring up the file?" She takes a seat in her rolling desk chair and begins clicking away on her keyboard to log in to her desktop.

"No, I don't have a pet. I-I don't want to bother her while she's working, I just need to know if she's here today?" I reply, resting my arms on the counter of the desk.

She pauses, her eyes rising to meet mine.

"Right… Yes, Aspen is in the back, should I get her for-"

"No. No, that's fine, thank you. What time do you guys close?" I ask.

"We close at 4:30 p.m. today, sir," she replies. Her eyes fill with judgment. She's unsure of me and untrusting. Which is good. It means Aspen's co-workers care about her. It's just after four now, meaning they'll be closing soon.

"Perfect, thank you for your help," I say before heading back out of the small clinic and into the parking lot. Reaching my car, I grab my coat from the backseat and slide into it before taking a seat on the hood of my car. No way I'm allowing her to leave after her shift without at least talking to me.

After what feelslike hours of sitting in the snow and cold, Aspen finally makes her way out of the clinic. I watch from the hood of my car as she bids her co-workers goodbye. The auburn-haired one from the desk eyes me, causing Aspen to turn her sights on me. She's wearing teal scrubs, similar to the Makos blue color of my jersey she wore when she rode me on my couch the other night. A night I refuse to forget.

Fuck.

Part of me hoped she'd be happy to see me. I mean, I looked up her work just to find her. That's kind of romantic, right? But by the look on her face as she trudges through the snow towards me, I can tell happiness is not what she's feeling. She's pissed.

My cock hardens in my sweats, and I'm forced to readjust myself.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Duke?" she spits as she approaches.

I smirk, finding her annoyance a turn-on. "Isn't it obvious? We have shit to talk about, and you don't make it easy," I smile, sliding off the hood of my car. Tucking my hands in my pockets to keep them warm, I bring myself to stand in front of her.

Her ashy blonde hair blows about in the wind, filling my nose with the citrus scent of her shampoo. Her cheeks and nose are rosy from the cold, making her eyes pop.

"Maybe because I don't want to talk to you. I mean, take a hint," she snaps. "I'm not into guys with girlfriends, even if they're fake."

"Just listen, okay? Aspen," I plead, kicking my boot into the snow. "I can't just end it with Olivia, not yet and not just like that. It's too complicated. But that doesn't change that you are the one I want to be with."

"That's a fuck boy quote if I ever heard one," she says flatly, holding my stare.

"I'm not a fuck boy and you know it. You know the deal with Olivia and I, and you know damn well I haven't wanted anyone, not the way I want you, Aspen."

"That doesn't change anything. You need to leave me alone," she shakes her head as she makes to leave.

"No," I snap, stepping in front of her to stop her from leaving. "This isn't how shit ends for us. I know we barely know each other, but I can't stop thinking about you. You're all I can focus on Aspen, and I want us to see where this can go. To give this, us, a real shot. But I can't. Not yet."

"What do you mean ‘not yet'?" She raises her voice. People leaving the parking lot look at us in wonder.

I sigh, doing my best to calm my tone. "Just give me till the end of the season, that's all I'm asking. One season of keeping our secret."

She crosses her arms across her chest, "And then what?"

"At the end of the season, I will end it with Olivia, and we'll be together, publicly."

"No," she replies as she tries to step around me.

Shocked by her response, I step in front of her, cutting her off again. "No? What do you mean ‘no'?"

"Listen, Duke. I like you, a lot. More than I thought I would, and I believe you'll do all the things you're telling me you will. Honestly, I do. But that doesn't change the fact that you're a Makos. Not only are you a hockey player, but you play for the rival team. My dad and Ace will never accept me being with you." I can tell by the way she breaks our gaze and lowers her eyes to the snowy ground that those words stung as she spoke them.

Sliding my hand from my pocket, I grip her chin, lifting it to force her beautiful eyes back to mine and smile. "They won't have a choice. Don't you see it, Aspen? I'm not taking no for an answer. I want you, and I know you fucking want me too. So they either accept it, or fuck them."

She doesn't respond right away, her eyes flickering back and forth with mine as the cold winter wind whips around us. By now the parking lot has cleared out, and the sky is growing dark.

"Just one season…" she stammers.

"Just one season, baby. One season of secrets and then the world will know who you belong to," I whisper, lowering myself to ghost my lips over hers.

"Okay."

"That's my girl," I smile against her lips, before kissing her. She kisses me back, her lips parting ever so slightly, allowing my tongue to meet hers. Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her into me, deepening the kiss as my mouth catches her soft moans.

"Can we go now?" she laughs. "I'm freezing,"

"Yeah, let's go. My place?" I ask, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Stanley is out for the night. I'll order us some pizza and we can get you all warmed up."

"You had me at pizza," she winks, pulling herself from my hold. She makes her way to the passenger side of my car, smiling at me before she climbs inside.

My head falls back and my eyes find their way to the sky.

Thank fuck.

Things are far from perfect, but I got my girl, and that's all that fucking matters.