Page 67 of The Fall Out

Finally, I forced my eyes open, blinking several times to bring the world into focus. I’d come out to watch TV wearing my glasses since my sister was staying in my room for the night, but apparently, they’d gone missing. Even so, it was clear that the object I’d brushed against was the top of Avery’s head.

The sight sent memories of last night flooding back to me. I’d spent the night on the couch with Avery, who was like a little heater, pouring out warmth. At some point, we had shifted, because instead of being propped up against each other, she was now laid out across my right side and snuggled into my chest. Her lips were millimeters from my bare skin. My muscles tightened at the sight of her so close to my bare torso.

I was hard—of course I was; it was morning—but when I caughtsight of her hand resting on my upper thigh less than an inch from my cock, all the blood in my body surged south. My dick throbbed, pushing against the gray material and practically tenting my pants. It took a concerted effort to lock my hips in place, because I desperately wanted to shift so her fingers would brush against me.

And what kind of a creepy fuck did that make me? The poor woman was asleep.

Yesterday had been the longest day of my life, but last night had almost broken me. From the moment I walked into the room and saw her curled up on the sofa, my body came alive. I’d had to grab the blanket to cover what my gray sweats couldn’t. Then Avery had snuggled into me and dozed off. Instead of being relaxed by the contact, my body had been a live wire. I’d spent two hours listening to David Rose say and do stupid shit just so I could focus on things other than the woman in my arms. Otherwise, I never would have settled enough to sleep. And now, once again, I had a raging hard-on.

Damn, what I’d give to stay like this forever, cuddled up with the woman who took up three-quarters of my thoughts every day. But the last thing I wanted was for Avery to wake up and catch me hard and gawking at her. Or for Gi and Emerson to come out and find us entwined like this. Not after the way they had acted last night. The two of them so badly wanted us together, and fuck, so did I, but based on the frowns Avery kept sending their way when they’d made veiled comments, the pushing made her uncomfortable.

That was unacceptable.

I desperately wanted more with Avery, but if she never felt the same, then I’d take the friendship and hold on to it forever. Because the smallest piece of her was better than none at all. So I refused to let anyone mess up what we had. Including myself and my massive boner.

I slipped off the couch, careful not to wake her. She groaned in protest, but settled again when I carefully covered her with our blanket. She tucked a hand beneath her cheek and shifted at the loss of my body. A wisp of blond hair fell over her face, so I carefully pushed it behind her ear again. Her lashes fluttered, but she didn’t wake.

God, I’d never get used to how naturally beautiful this amazing woman was.

She mumbled incoherently, then let out a little moan, making my cock once again stir to life.

With a sigh, I forced myself to walk away. My bathroom was connected to my room, since I had the master, and my sister was worse than a grouch when woken up, so I settled for Emerson’s hall bath. It was a standard tub with a shower, and at my height, it wasn’t my favorite. But I needed some relief. It didn’t even matter if I got my hair wet.

I pressed my hand against the gray material of my pants, putting a little pressure on my cock. I almost groaned when the image of her smaller, softer hand appeared in my mind.

While I waited for the water to heat, I left my palm in place, even if it only eased the ache slightly. When I slipped out of my pants, my dick jutted out, hard and angry. Holding my breath, I stepped under the spray, then I wrapped my hand around myself, remembering the taste of Avery. How her body quivered every time my tongue teased her clit. The way her legs locked around my head as she bucked against my face.

I squeezed the head tight, swallowed, then thrust my hips forward. Images of her beneath me, her legs wrapped around my waist. God, she was so tight. She’d felt like a vise around my dick, milking me while her breath ghosted over the side of my face. That night had been entirely too short.

I pumped harder and faster as my imagination played out a different ending to our one night. An ending that wasn’t an ending at all. A scenario where we woke up together the next morning. And every morning after that.

My hand on her neck and her exhales on my cheek. The warm, soft press of wet lips against me. I imagined feeling her mouth running across my jaw, down my neck.

My throat got tight when her blue eyes appeared in my mind. Avery peering up at me as her mouth made the painstakingly slow journey down my body, trailing down my chest, teasing me, creeping down my stomach, heading to exactly where I needed her.

My dick pulsed in response. I squeezed hard, then pumped faster.

Her pink lips parting in anObefore they surrounded my cock and sucked me in. Her mouth a hot, wet heaven.

I slammed one hand against the wall in front of me, and my legs threatened to give out. With a groan, I forced my eyes open and watched my release spill out and hit the gray tiled wall. It didn’t even come close to what I craved. It hardly took the edge off, but after almost a year, I was used to it.

Five minutes later, I was out of the shower, and although my pants were comfortable once again, I was antsy. I was leaving for Florida in just a few hours, and considering the snow, it would be smart to check on my flight before I got Avery up and walked her home. But I had no idea where I’d put my phone. With Avery here, I hadn’t even looked at it after Pop had texted that he’d made it safely home.

The living area was bright this morning. The eight inches of snow that had fallen made the world outside sparkle with that clean white energy that reflected onto all the surfaces.

Avery groaned from where she was still tucked under the blanket on the couch, stealing my attention from the winter wonderland on the other side of the glass.

Once again, my cock jumped. I forced myself to think about bird shit, since it was the fastest way to get myself under control.

“You showered already?” Her voice was garbled, the morning still caught in her throat.

I ran my hand through my damp hair. “I gotta finish packing and stuff, so I figured I’d do what I could out here before I had to wake Gianna.” It wasn’t the truth, but it wasn’t exactly a lie either.

“Oh. I should get out of your way.” She stood up and stretched. Her shirt—myshirt—fell halfway down her thighs, and she had rolled the waistband of the sweats, despite the drawstring. She swam in the oversized clothing, yet the sight of her like this was a punch to the gut. Because she was wearingmystuff, like she’d been marked by me, and that made the caveman that I’d been trying to shove deep down inside my soul jump up and screamfinally.

I’d never understood it until Avery. I’d never gotten why teammates went on and on about their girl wearing their jersey. Or friendswho went crazy over their woman in their coat. But in this instant, seeing Avery in my clothes, it all became clear. This season would suck if I didn’t get to see her sporting my number at least a few times.

She dropped her hands to her sides. “Let me get dressed and?—”

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