Page 38 of The Puck Player

“You really have no idea how fucking sexy you are, do you?” he asks, not a hint of amusement in his tone. Hell, there isn’t even a flirty undertone, just him stating what he clearly thinks is a fact, and I swallow thickly, as we stare at one another.

I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. All I can do is stare at him silently, his attention so searing I can feel it in every inch of my body, in a way I never have before. My eyes drop to his mouth, and the thoughts that rush to the forefront of my mind are so intense and filled with need, that they have me heaving myself out of the booth so fast I almost fall.

“We should head back, it’s getting late,” I rush out, dropping my stare to the floor, as I reach into my bag to pull out some money, but Alexander is at my side in an instant, with a gentle but firm hold on my arm.

“Pull money out of that bag and you’re going to piss me off more than your little pastor did,” he snaps, before turning and tossing far too many hundred dollar bills on the table, nodding his head at Adam in goodbye, as he guides me toward the exit.

The sun is low in the sky, and it stings my eyes a little as he helps me over to the car, holding the door open for me, only pulling back once I am safely inside, and he slams the door after me. When he gets in on his side, he doesn’t look at me as he pulls out into the late afternoon traffic, and I force my eyes out the window to track our surroundings, before I ruin everything.

That’s the last thing I remember before Alexander gently shakes my shoulder and murmurs, “Aubree, we’re home.” I startle awake a little and realize he’s right, we are back at my apartment, and he already has my car door open ready for me to get out.

I nod in thanks, grabbing my bag and climbing from the car, and like always, he walks me into the building and up the stairs with a gentle touch on my elbow. I check my messages on the way and find a couple from Evie, saying Alexander had messaged her that I needed privacy, and so she is staying at Jake’s house. Warmth once again spreads through my chest at how ridiculously thoughtful he is, and once we reach my apartment, I pull out my key to unlock the door.

Pushing it open, I move to turn and thank Alexander for today, only to freeze on the threshold of the room, as I take in the scene before me. My hands drop my bag to the floor, as I shakily walk inside, surveying every now-occupied surface, and I hear Alexander reach for my stuff, as he follows me into the apartment and closes the door.

My eyes slowly track every single vase in utter disbelief.

Daisies. Hundreds and hundreds of daisies.

My heart is in my throat, beating wildly, as I turn to Alexander and find him watching me carefully.

“Are you trying to impress me?” I force out on a whisper, wondering what this display of affection even means, and in typical Alexander fashion he rolls his eyes in response.

“Oh please, love, if I wanted to impress you, I’d show you my cock,” he gestures to all the flowers, and a white box on the table I hadn’t noticed. “This was just my attempt to cheer you up on a day like today,” he tells me genuinely, reaching to snatch one of the flowers from the vases, holding it out to me. “Daisies were her favorite, right?”

My breath catches in the back of my throat as his words wash over me.

He remembered my mom’s favorite flower.

I said it to him once my first week on campus and he remembered, just like he remembers everything else.

My heart starts to beat even faster in my chest, as I look at him, the real him, not the flirty playboy persona he offers to everyone else, but the kind and gentle soul who would do anything for the people he cares about, and without another thought in my mind, I erase the distance between us and slam my lips to his.

I kiss him, I kiss Alexander Reign, and the feel of his mouth against mine changes my brain chemistry. It’s soft at first, as my outburst startles him, but as soon as he registers what is happening, his hands are in my hair and he is tugging me against him. I’m no longer in control as he takes over the kiss like he might die without it, and his lips are firm against my own, before his tongue darts out and dares me to open for him. I do it without pause, not thinking of the repercussions, as I massage it with my own, and the groan he lets out is sinful.

The kiss is everything, intense, powerful, erotic, everything a good first kiss should be, so much so that I moan into his mouth, as I press myself deeper into him. I want more, need more, but it’s as if my moan alerts him to what we are doing, because he quickly rips his mouth away, staring at me wide eyed, panting heavily.

“I can’t do this, Aubree,” he grits out, as if the words physically pain him, and embarrassment floods my body.

What the fuck am I doing?

I drop my hands from where they were fisted in his shirt, and Alexander releases me and stumbles away, until his back is against my front door.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I did that,” I start to say, but cut myself off because it’s a lie, I know why I did it, so does he.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize, it’s not that I don’t want to, because I really fucking do,” he huffs, swiping his hands over his face, and I can feel my cheeks burning, the taste of him still lingering on my lips. “But you have a boyfriend, and we can’t, I can’t,” he repeats firmly, and I wish I could focus on his words, on the truth of his statement, but instead my eyes track his hands, as he reaches down and readjusts himself.

His cock is hard and thick, and I can see the outline of it through his pants, and for the first time in my entire life I want to take off my purity ring and throw it into the fiery pits of hell until it burns until all that’s left is ash.

“I should go,” he grunts, pushing up off the door, and my eyes widen in panic.

“No, don’t go, not like this,” I rush out, my heart and my head screaming at one another as I try to scramble for something to say. “I don’t want to leave things like this and ruin what we have. I like you, Alexander, I enjoy spending time with you, and what you did today,” I trail off, because I don’t think he will ever realize what today meant to me, and tears burn at the back of my eyes at the thought of losing him.

“Come on now, Trouble, do you think I’d let something as pesky as a kiss keep me away from you, we’re friends right?” he asks, forcing out a smile, and it’s nothing like the ones he usually gives me, as if saying the word friends hurt him just as much as it did me. “This was just a temporary lapse in judgement,” he adds, and his tone makes my heart ache.

Is that how he sees himself? As a temporary lapse in judgement? As someone who isn’t truly worthy of someone's care and attention?

“You’re more than that to me,” I tell him softly, and my admission hangs in the air between us, until he nods just once.

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