Page 25 of For Puck's Sake

FIFTEEN

RIDLEY

“We know who she is,” Hazel tells me before I can even get a greeting in. I turn to the empty passenger seat waiting for Brea, who is still staying in the guest house despite my pleas for her to stay in the main house with me. I’m both excited and nervous to hear this news from Hazel. I’ve been waiting long enough. The timing though.

It’s been two days since our lunch and subsequent re-establishment of our relationship. Two days since my lips touched Brea’s, and God, I’ve been dreaming about her legs thrown over my shoulders while I devour her sweetness. My mouth, licking and sucking every inch of her silky soft brown skin. When I hear her voice, I’m so hard its painful. The sway of her hips makes me salivate. I’m a sexually frustrated mess, and I’ve been this way for a while now. My entire body is awake, humming, buzzing with need after months of locking my dick down with only my hand for company. But since our kiss, there’s been nothing. Not even a second kiss, to my tortured dicks dismay.

I check the time on my phone and watch the door, eager for my girl to come out, but wanting her to stay away long enough for me to have this conversation. “I’m not interested in who she is Hazel,” I snap in rushed irritation. Not wanting to sound callous, I couldn’t remember the mystery woman anyway. None of them were memorable, they filled a need, nothing more. “This is clearly a trap. I haven’t been with anyone since before Lia’s birthday party last year. That was over six months ago, so, unless she’s about to pop, I say her story is far-fetched.” I hate to have this type of discussion at all. I’ve been so careful with the females I allowed in my bed. There’s no way.

Hazel clears her throat, and I know she’s about to drop a bomb I’m not ready for. “Well, Ridley, she’s eight months pregnant. I know you well enough to know you’re responsible, but unfortunately there’s a realm of possibility we have to rule out. I have already arranged a DNA test. I will get this cleared up for you. I have the entire team on this. We’ve been combing social media, taking down as many posts we can. We’ve kept the gossip in the press to a minimum. You’ve hid yourself well, continue to do so. But I want you to be prepared to deal with this for a little while longer. I’ve threatened her with a lawsuit a mile long if she posts any more with regards to the baby being yours.”

“How long?” I ask. I don’t want this to bleed into preseason training. I don’t want the press questioning me about it. I want it to disappear. Furthermore, I don’t want this hanging over my relationship with Brea. Everything between us is still shaky. I think we both know our days are numbered and we are going to have to part ways. I hate it, but I won’t lose her again. I promised to support her, we will make it work. She is worth my every effort. I need her to believe it. The baby drama may be too much for her. I don’t want it to be her determining factor on whether or not we separate as a couple and go our separate ways. It’s not an option I’m willing to accept, not this time, never again.

“Give me a month, Ridley,” Hazel replies but it only pisses me off at how slowly this is unfolding. I know Hazel is doing her job. She never fails me, but my anxiety is heightened. I desperately want this to work.

I slam my hand against the steering wheel in frustration just as the door opens and Brea steps out with her guitar case in hand. “I don’t have a month, Hazel. Brea and I?—"

“Brea? Ridley? Wait. Brea. What does she have to do with this? What are you not telling me, Ridley Masters?” Hazel asks and I can tell she’s getting upset as I hear the flicker of her lighter over the phone. The woman thinks a cigarette can solve every problem. I’ve never seen her without one unless we are somewhere she can’t smoke. She needs to give that shit up, but she refuses to listen.

“We are both here in Lark Bay. Back together. Starting over,” I stutter to explain as I watch the object of my obsession walk toward me. She smiles so wide, I’m hypnotized, so transfixed I drown out Hazels confused mutterings of ‘how did this happen?’, ‘are you sure this is the best time for this, Ridley?’ in the background.

“Ridley, are you listening?” Hazel says, making her annoyance with me clear by her clipped tone.

“Not anymore. I have to go, Hazel. I trust you will keep me posted,” I say, wanting to cut the call before Brea makes it to the car.

Hazel scoffs. “We are not done with this conversation, Ridley Masters. I told you to lay low, not go to Lark Bay to rekindle an old flame. Need I remind you of how broken you were when she left you without an explanation. You almost ruined your hockey career that season. I care about you, Ridley. You’re not just my client, you’re like a son to me, and Lia’s like a daughter. I don’t want to see you hurt again.” She sighs, suddenly sounding tired. I know she’s not happy about Brea and me. She picked me up offthe floor, along with Tor, Devan, and Bast. I was a mess, but they all helped me through it the best way they could.

“I know you don’t,” I say softening my tone. I genuinely love my little scrappy agent. “But I’ve been lost without her, Hazel. I love her, I never stopped. I have to try.”

“Fine. I’ll call you as soon as I hear back from the labs. But Ridley, I don’t see any way this ends well,” she says, hanging up before I can reply, and I’m left staring at my phone bewildered. Yep, she’s definitely being my stand-in momma bear about this. I get it. I understand her concerns. There are no straight roads in this scenario that lead Brea and I back to the way we were. Maybe that’s a good thing though. It makes the fight to drive through the rough and tough terrain worthwhile. I’m ready to fight for us.

I blow out a breath, pushing my fingers through my hair, clutching my strands for a brief moment trying to get a grip on my emotions. Hazel’s parting words leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I am all too aware of the obstacles standing in the way of my happiness, but I refuse to think about it. I want to spend as much time as I can in the now with my girl, instead of fretting about the future. A future that’s getting closer and closer with each passing day.

The passenger door opens and Brea slides in beside me. Her vanilla and honey scent hits my nose as her long dark brown locs swing in my direction. I want to wrap my fingers around them, pull her close and plunder her soft pillowy dark red lips. Her beauty is always breathtaking, and I’m one lucky man to have her here with me right now. My eyes wander, taking in her dainty summer dress, ankle-length brown suede boots, and the long gold chains that dangle down between her breasts. God, she looks too delectable to be on stage in this. My possessive side rears its ugly head, but I stamp it down. Inner Alpha at zero, Ridley.

“Hey,” she says, sighing contentedly as she settles into the plush leather seats. “Thank you for taking me tonight. I could get used to my own personal chauffeur.” She smirks.

“Angel, you don’t have to ask. I will drive you for as long as you’re here. You’re mine. I don’t want to spend a minute away from you if I don’t have to for the rest of our time here,” I declare as my eyes continue to peruse her body. The fringed hem of her cream-colored dress rides up her cocoa butter slick thighs, and all thoughts of my previous conversation disappears as blood leaves my brain and travels south. I smell her lotion, and memories tease and taunt me of all the nights I lay between her legs. An unbidden groan escapes me as I take her in, brown skin, long legs tempting my tongue, breasts spilling out of the top of her bodice, neck and shoulders on display, begging for my lips. There is so much of her on show I have to shift and adjust my growing length. Is she intentionally trying to kill me? I won’t survive the night.

Brea adjusts her guitar case between her legs, and for the first time in my life I find myself jealous of an inanimate object. “Everything okay?” She glances over at me with concern, and for a moment I worry she witnessed my distress from my phone call with Hazel. Then those luscious lips turn up in a knowing smirk. Oh, she knows exactly what the sight of her is doing to me. She can feel my eyes on her and now she wants to play.

“Do I need to spell out how sexy you look, Luna? My dick is singing your praises and I’m not afraid to admit it. Hell, I want to be Bessie right now if it means I can rest comfortably between your thighs.” I wink as I start the car and shift into reverse.

“Is that so?” she asks, a slow, seductive smile graces her gorgeous face. “I think I need you to spell it out for me, Masters.” Her voice is melodic, low and sultry. Fuck.Then she bites her lower lip between her teeth and all my will shatters. If I could turn back time, driving a sports car to Lark Bay wouldn’t havebeen my first choice. For car gymnastics, my SUV would have been more appropriate, but I’m willing to get my ass stuck between the dash and the seats to get to her. Jaws of life be damned; the embarrassment would be worth it. I can see the social media headlines now: Masters gets caught in a jam.

The image of me with my face plastered to the passenger side window in a precarious position doesn’t stop me from reacting. I stop the car and slowly turn to glance at my woman. Yes, she is fucking mine. All joking aside, there’s sexual tension between us, it’s been brimming under the surface from the moment I saw her playing under the moon light on the dock. Things left unsaid, incomplete, unfinished between us. Now we’re here, skirting around what we want, the burn is too fucking slow for my taste. It’s excruciating. I won’t go another night without Brea in my bed. But this, our bodies, they haven’t forgotten our connection. Our hearts and minds may pretend, but the souls know.

Brea’s eyes widen, but she should have seen this coming. I have zero will power when it comes to her. Leaning my big ass hockey body over the center console, I trap her between me and the passenger door. I move so fast Brea doesn’t get a chance to react. My mouth descends on hers, and I take her bottom lip between my teeth, sucking, nipping, and soothing at the same time.

Brea whimpers into my mouth and the sound feeds my erection, my dick is so desperate it strains painfully against my zipper. As much as I need and want her, playing tiny car sex Tetris is not the way I want to reclaim my Angel. I command my dick to stand down and pull my face away just enough to speak, chest heaving, our breaths mingling. She wants me to spell it out for her, then her wish is my command.

“You”—Kiss—“Are”—Kiss—“H”—Kiss—“O”—Kiss—“T”—Kiss—I leave one last lingering kiss, wanting to imprint myself. I want her to feel my lips on hers all night. “I missed the taste ofyour lips on mine. I missed having my way with you, Angel,” I say drawing away, and situate myself in my seat, leaving behind a breathless, kiss-drunk Brea. I start the car and pull out of the drive. I play it cool, like I didn’t just have my tongue down her throat.

Brea clears her throat, clearly trying to compose herself. She smooths her dress down over her knees. I catch her little wiggle out the corner of my eye as she shifts in her seat. The sight makes my lips quirk up in a smirk.

“Everything okay?” I ask in smug satisfaction, throwing her question from earlier right back at her. Oh yes, my sweet Angel, my body hasn’t forgotten how to play with yours, I think to myself as she crosses her arms over her chest in a huff.

“Okay, you win. My panties are ruined,” she says petulantly, making me laugh as she finishes her grumble with a pout of her delicious kiss swollen bottom lip. Oh, how I’ve missed this.

---