I wake up confused at first, momentarily forgetting where I’m at. I’m all alone in the bed, completely naked. Throwing my arms above my head, I stretch, a soft groan leaving me when I feel the ache in my muscles. As if I’ve been pleasantly abused.
That’s when it hits me.
Last night with Eli at the party. Making up with him. His mom’s car wreck. Going to the hospital. Coming home with him.
Getting thoroughly fucked by him in the middle of the night.
A smile crosses my lips and I close my eyes, pressing my face into the pillow.
It smells like him and I breathe deep, feeling like an addict with a serious issue.
I hear a voice. Deep and male. He’s talking. Eli. But I only hear one side of the conversation, so I assume he’s on the phone.
“…I don’t know if I can come get you. Don’t you have some friends you could call? I have a game—” He goes silent.
Rolling over, I crack my eyes open and push up into a sitting position, shoving my hair out of my face. I don’t know where he’s at, but his bedroom door is partially open, so I can only assume he’s out in the hall.
“Fine,” he says, sounding desolate. “Yeah no, it’s cool. I’ll come pick you up. Give me some time. I need to call my coaches first—”
He goes silent again and my heart pangs for him. He doesn’t want to miss his game, and he shouldn’t have to. Despite how terrible her accident was, his mother brought this all on herself.
It isn’t fair, what she’s asking him to do.
“Okay, see you in a bit. Bye.” A ragged breath leaves him and I can only assume how he’s feeling, what he’s thinking.
And then he’s there, standing in the doorway, wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and nothing else.
Hmm. Women go nuts over men in gray sweatpants on the internet and I can suddenly see why. There are entire hashtags devoted to the cause. I think there might even be #graypantsTikTok and I always blew it off because, come on.
It seems kind of silly, right?
My mouth goes dry the longer I stare at him. The sweatpants hang extremely low on his hips and I swear I see a hint of pubic hair, which is…
Yes, it’s hot. So hot.
Plus, it’s obvious he’s not wearing boxers under those sweatpants, so his junk is free.
My cheeks heat at the mere thought.
“You’re awake.” He hesitates and I can feel his gaze roving over me.
I drop my head, hoping he doesn’t notice my blushing.
“Why is your face so red?”
I lift my gaze to his once more, playing it off. “Nothing. Good morning.”
He smiles and it’s sweet and soft. I haven’t had him look at me like that in so long, my stomach actually flutters. “Good morning.”
“Your mom wants you to come pick her up?” When he frowns, I continue, “I might’ve overheard your conversation.”
“Yeah, total pain in my ass. My coaches are going to be so pissed at me.” He makes a face, running his fingers through his hair, his biceps bulging with the movement.
Be still my throbbing heart, goodness.
“I’ll go get her,” I tell him, sitting up straighter and letting the comforter fall to my waist. “I told you I would last night.”
His gaze drops to my bared chest. “You don’t have to do that,” he tells my breasts.
“I already offered. I want to help you. I know how important the game is to you and how much you don’t want to miss it,” I say. “She doesn’t need you to come get her. I can do it for you.”
His smile is still soft as he fully enters the room, approaching the bed. Approaching me. He stops right in front of me, bending down to kiss my lips. The kiss is soft yet purposeful, and my entire body tingles when he pulls away.
“You’re cute when you’re mad,” he whispers. “Especially on my behalf.”
“I’m not mad,” I say, sitting up straighter.
“Right,” he drawls. “You’re distracting as fuck, I’ll tell you that. Sitting there with your tits out.” He waves a hand at my naked chest.
I flip my hair out of the way so he can get a good look at them. “You’re enjoying the view. And you’re distracting too, with those sweats on.”
He reaches for the waistband, tugging them down some. Not enough to expose himself, but now there’s even more pubic hair on display. “You’re enjoying the view,” he mimics me with a grin.
I shove the covers out of the way and rise up on my knees, my hands going to the waistband of his sweats and pushing his hands away. “Let me,” I whisper.
Just before I shove them down.
His cock is already mostly erect. It doesn’t take much, I think, as I wrap my hand around him and start to stroke. He hisses out a breath, thrusting into my hand all while shaking his head. “We shouldn’t.”
“We are.” My voice is determined.
“I need to text my mom.”
“Uh uh. Don’t tell her you’re not coming to get her. And let’s stop talking about her.” I lean in, delivering an exaggerated open-mouthed kiss to the tip of his dick. His mouth drops open when I do, his gaze zeroed in on that very spot. “We have other matters to take care of first.”
“Baby.” He sounds in pain. “I gotta take a shower and get the hell out of here. It’s already late.”
“You have a few more minutes,” I say before I wrap my lips around the entire head and begin to suck.
His hands sink into my hair as I work my mouth up and down his cock, his mouth hanging open slightly, like he’s in shock and can’t believe this is happening. I keep my gaze locked on his, my fingers wrapped tightly around the base as I suck him deep into my mouth.
I’ve given Eli Bennett quite a few blowjobs since we’ve been together, but most of the time, they’re done in the dark. Not that I’m shy or anything when it comes to him and us, but…
I don’t know, I always felt like I was lacking in the BJ department, especially when we were first together. I was young and had zero experience.
“Keep looking at me like that and I’m going to come,” he warns, as if it’s a bad thing.
I cup his balls with my other hand, taking him deeper into my mouth. I want him to come. In our relationship, he’s always been the giver. I give too, but a lot of the time, it would feel imbalanced.
Right now, I want to give. Give and give and give.
“Ava.” He says my name as a warning.
I release my hold on him, sticking my tongue out so I can trace the flared head before slipping down and running my tongue along the thick vein on his cock. His hands loosen in my hair and I wish he’d pull it tighter.
“Babe.” His tone switches in an instant, turning pleading. “You gotta sto—”
I pull him back into my mouth, sucking so hard my cheeks hollow out. He grants my wish, his fingers curling into my hair as he starts to fuck my mouth, thrusting in and out. I let him use me, applying pressure to his cock, my fingers squeezing the base, tasting the precum on my tongue.
And then it’s not precum at all. He’s full-blown coming, groaning long and low as his semen fills my mouth and I swallow it down, every last drop.
I usually pull away at the last second and have him come all over my hand, which he enjoys watching. My Eli is very visual.
“Fuck,” he grits out when I finally pull away, wiping at the corner of my lips with shaky fingers. “What made you do that?”
I sit on the edge of the bed on my knees, staring up at his handsome face. He seems shocked, which tells me our relationship really lacked excitement near the end. “Was hoping to ease some of your tension.”
His smile is naughty. There is no other word for it. “I appreciate it. I’d appreciate it even more if you took a shower with me. That would help ease a lot of tension.”
“I thought you had to get ready to leave,” I point out, warmth spreading through my body when he cups my cheeks, staring at me as if I’m the prettiest thing he’s ever seen.
“I do. But I’ve always got time for you.” He leans in and drops another one of those deadly soft kisses on my lips. I never want them to end. “Come on. Let’s go take a shower.”
He kicks off his sweats and offers his hand to me. I take it, letting him help me stand and we walk to the bathroom together. He lets go of my hand at the last second, his palm finding my ass and giving it a smack, making me dart into the bathroom, laughing.
I haven’t felt this happy in a long time.
* * *
After we took a sex-filled shower, Eli threw an old pair of my leggings at me, along with a hoodie that had shrunk in the wash and was now too small for him. I got dressed and borrowed a pair of Adidas slides from Gracie that I found in the living room that she must’ve left behind.
Or they belong to Caleb and he has really small feet, which I doubt.
I rode with Eli to the stadium and he delivered a heart-stopping kiss to my lips before he took off, leaving me with his car. Since it’s so similar to my old BMW, I have no problem driving it and I cruise to the hospital, dismayed at the lack of parking. It’s as if every spot is already filled.
Once I find parking in the deepest, farthest part of the lot, I make my way to the hospital, grateful the morning is cool and cloudy, so I don’t feel overheated. The Fresno State sweatshirt Eli gave me is thick and warm.
I take the elevator to the second floor, exiting as soon as the double doors open, ready to walk past the nurses’ station and head straight for Eli’s mother’s room when I do a double take.
There’s a guy standing at the nurses’ station, his arms propped on the desk’s ledge, a charming smile curling his lips. He’s tall and golden haired, just like my Eli, and I realize it’s freaking Ryan Bennett standing there.
Flirting with the nurses.
I come to a stop and clear my throat, catching his attention. He does a double take as well, his smile falling a bit when he sees me. The jerk.
“Ava,” he says as he pushes away from the desk and approaches me. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to pick up your mother,” I say, unable to keep the accusing tone out of my voice.
“I’m taking care of it, since Eli wouldn’t,” he says, sounding vaguely bitter.
My mouth pops open. “What? He was totally going to come get her. He fully planned on giving up his game today to come here, but I volunteered to help him out.”
“I didn’t think you two were even together,” he says.
“Well, we are,” I say, lifting my chin, sounding snotty, which I really don’t mean, but there’s something about Ryan Bennett that makes me mad.
Maybe it’s the way he keeps ignoring Eli, when all he wants is his big brother to call him every once in a while. Acknowledge him.
Yet he doesn’t. It hurts Eli, not that he’d ever admit it. He stuffs those feelings way down, where no one can see them.
But I can. I always have.
“Great. Good for Eli. Life seems to be going well for him,” Ryan says, his tone vaguely sarcastic.
I glare at him, a nasty insult on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it down. He’s dealing with his own problems and battling his own demons. We all handle our issues differently, and I shouldn’t judge. I don’t know him that well.
I just wish he would be a better brother to Eli.
“He’s doing very well. You’d know that if you called him more often.” Oops, a dig slipped out after all.
His lips thin but, otherwise, he doesn’t acknowledge my comment. “I’ve got my mother handled, but I appreciate you coming by.”
He starts to walk away, heading toward his mom’s room and I call out to him, “Do you really?”
Ryan pauses, glancing over his shoulder. “What did you just say?”
“Do you really appreciate me coming here?” I follow after him, dying to hear his answer. “Because you don’t seem like you’re happy with me showing up at all. You haven’t spoken to Eli today?”
“I came straight here after I got the call from the hospital last night. I’ve been driving ever since.” He turns to face me, resting his hands on his hips. He reminds me of Eli, though I can’t help but think my boyfriend is way cuter. Of course, Ryan also looks super tired with the dark bags under his eyes, but he is undeniably handsome. And right now, I can tell he’s irritated with me.
Well, that’s great. I’m irritated with him too.
“And you didn’t call your brother,” I say as I catch up with him.
He sends me an irritated look. “No, I haven’t. Why would I?”
“Why wouldn’t you?” I ask incredulously. “You knew he came to the hospital last night. Don’t you think you should’ve checked in with him and see what he had to say?”
He comes to a stop right before her room, glaring at me. “He’s not even here this morning.”
“He has a game to get ready for,” I return, crossing my arms.
“Football is more important to him than our mother. Noted.” He nods once, his expression flat as he starts for the door.
I step in front of him, getting in his way. “That’s not true. You have no idea what’s going on in his life, or what he needs to do. He was perfectly willing to not play today and come pick up your mother, but I told him I would take care of it. If he’d known you were coming, he wouldn’t have to worry at all, but you can’t even bother to send him a quick text to let him know what’s going on.”
Ryan says nothing and I shake my head, letting my frustration pour out.
“I don’t understand any of you. Seriously.” I step closer, lowering my voice. “Your mother has a drinking problem, and Eli doesn’t know how to fix it. She keeps playing it off like there’s nothing wrong, and he doesn’t know what to do. He needs your help. Your support. But you’re too busy doing whatever it is you’re doing, while you run away from your family and your problems.”
“You don’t know what my problems are,” he accuses, his brows furrowing.
“No, of course I don’t because you don’t talk to anyone . You don’t tell anyone shit. You just let it build up and it resides right there.” I poke at his chest with my index finger. “Weighing on your heart. You can’t run away from your problems, Ryan. They’re always there, sitting on your heart, reminding you of how much you’ve messed up your life.”
He glares at me, absently rubbing his chest. “Eli has mentioned you’ve got a mouth on you.”
“I don’t hold back,” I say proudly. “Now I’m going to go in there so I can say hi to your mother, but it’s on you to get her home. Step up and actually help out for once. That woman needs you. So does your brother.”
I huff out a breath and turn on my heel, walking straight into the room and hitting their mother with a bright smile when our gazes connect.
“Good morning,” I say as I approach the side of her bed. Her face is more bruised this morning and she looks tired. “How are you feeling?”
“Beat up,” she says with a small smile. “The nurses warned it would hurt more the morning after, and they were right. I ache everywhere.”
Reaching out, I gently pat her arm, grateful she doesn’t wince when I touch her. The last thing I want to do is hurt her. “Are they ready to release you?”
“Yes, soon.” She frowns. “Where’s Eli? I thought I heard him outside?”
“I volunteered to come get you,” I say. “But I just ran into—”
“Mom.” Ryan strides into the room with a giant smile on his face and an equally giant bouquet of pink roses in his arms. “Are you all right?”
Where the hell did those come from?
He practically shoves me out of the way to get to his mother’s bedside, and I step back, letting them have their moment.
Still lingering around though, so I can watch this show unfold.
“Oh, Ryan, you came!” He sets the roses on a nearby table before he bends over her and wraps her in a careful hug, all while she gushes. “I was so hoping you would be here, and that you would be the one who picked me up. I’ve missed you so much.”
Okay maybe I don’t want to watch this. I’ll just get irritated and feel insulted on my boyfriend’s behalf.
Can I think that? That Eli is my boyfriend once again?
I’m going with yes.
“Looks like you’ve got this covered,” I tell Ryan.
They both swivel their heads in my direction, as if they forgot I was even there.
“I’ll take her home,” he says, going into authoritative, oldest child mode. I recognize it well, thanks to my sister pulling that on us all the time, especially when we were younger. “But thanks for coming.”
And then they start speaking in low tones, his mother launching into an explanation of what happened last night. I can already tell she’s trying to downplay the drinking and the severity of the accident. Does he know about the police involvement? How they want to arrest her for DUI?
I flee the room before the irritation becomes unbearable.
Guess I’ll let him figure all that out on his own.