Chapter 35: Naughty & Nice: Chapter 35

Our journey home has been a very different experience from the one going to Canada.

Noelle and I are still full of excitement; that hasn’t changed. However, the reason for the butterflies is very different.

Before we were impatient for our long-awaited trip. Now, I can’t wait to get home and fully embark on life as her boyfriend.

My lips twitch with my need to smile just thinking about her being my girlfriend.

I’m a boyfriend.

Her boyfriend.

I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that.

One day I could be her fiancé…

My heart begins to beat a little faster as I think about her with my ring on her finger. That image is quickly followed up by another of her in a white dress walking toward me, and then another of her with a swollen belly.

My dick hardens at the thought of her carrying my baby. Something incredible that we created together.

It’s all I’ve ever wanted.

Noelle and a life together.

I’m so close to having it right now.

There’s a part of me that worries it’s all too good to be true and that something is going to come along and derail it. But I refuse to let that thought settle, because I know that it’ll result in me being the one to cause issues.

I want to enjoy this and everything that comes with it. Even the anxiety, if that’s possible.

With my fingers entwined with Noelle’s, we drive past the ‘welcome to South Carolina’ sign.

We’re nearly home…

I glance in the rearview mirror at the grumpy jerk in the back and find him fast asleep, just like I have most of the journey.

The only time he’s been awake was to video call some jersey chaser and arrange a hook-up for tonight.

I fucking hated listening to him talking to her, knowing that Noelle was hearing it all.

She didn’t react, or at least, not that I could tell.

I know we agreed that what we had at the cabin was just a few days of no-strings fun, but even still, it can’t feel good hearing someone plan your replacement.

“I love you,” I whisper softly before lifting her hand and pressing a kiss to the back of her knuckles.

“I love you too,” she says, a genuine smile lighting up her face. “I can’t wait to get home.”

“Hmm, me too. Something tells me you’re going to have a boy in your room tonight.”

Her chin drops as she puts on a fake shocked face as her free hand covers her heart.

“How dare you,” she mocks. “Good girls like me don’t have boys in our rooms at night.”

Wilder scoffs from the backseat, proving that while his eyes might be closed, he’s very much awake.

Of course he is. Asshole probably just wanted to get out of driving.

Noelle rolls her eyes but doesn’t comment on his reaction.

“You might be a good girl on the streets, but in the sheets…” I taunt, but I don’t finish my sentence. Just thinking the words makes me cringe.

“I’ll be whatever you want me to be, baby,” Noelle says sweetly.

This time, Wilder gags.

“Shut up or get out,” I bark, fed up with his attitude.

He’s been the same since Noelle and I emerged from the bedroom this morning.

He immediately started grabbing all his shit and loading it in the car.

We had a long drive ahead of us. I wanted to get on the road as well, but I wasn’t rude about it.

I guess his time in the middle of nowhere with minimal partying opportunities was finally done.

I get it. Our vacation—sex aside—was about as far away from Wilder’s ideal trip as we could get.

Only a few hours ago, he was telling us how glad he was that he joined us.

I’ve no idea what changed, but it did, and it was about the time I allowed him to give Noelle what she asked for last night.

Did I want him to push inside her ass and take her at the same time as me?

Honestly… I’m not sure.

There’s a huge part of me that knew it would be hot as hell. But there was another part that wanted to be the one to have that first from her as well.

If he took her there, she’d never forget it.

I mean, she’s not likely to forget him or our vacation. But it would be a bigger reason to remember it all vividly.

I let out a sigh.

“You okay?” Noelle asks, ignoring our passenger.

“Yeah, just want to be home with you all to myself.”

“Same,” she agrees while Wilder groans again.

Reaching forward, she turns the music up to drown him out.

The last hour of the drive seems to take longer than the previous twelve combined, and when we finally pull up in front of the football team’s house, I’m about ready to physically drag Wilder out of the car.

Thankfully, he’s more than ready to put an end to our time together, and he throws the door open the second the car slows to a stop.

“Well, this has been fun and all, but I’ve got a blonde with no panties waiting on me,” he announces like the jerk he is.

“Lovely. Make sure you wrap it. You’ve no idea what you’ll catch,” Noelle quips back.

“You sure are mouthy now you’ve had a dick inside you.”

Red-hot fury shoots through me, and I’m out of the car in a flash.

“Don’t fucking talk to her like that,” I seethe, getting right in his face. My heart pounds against my ribs, and my fists curl, ready to physically fight for my girl.

It’s been a while since we really got into it. But I’m more than willing to end our dry spell if he’s going to disrespect her like that.

“Hendrix, leave it,” Noelle begs from inside the car.

My nostrils flare as I fight to drag in the air I need as I continue glaring at Wilder.

“Go on, listen to your woman. You’ve given her your balls now, after all.”

Lifting my hands, I shove him back and out of my space.

“Fucking pussy,” he taunts.

“Go and find your whore to take your attitude out on. We’re not fucking interested in your little tantrum.”

His lips curl into a snarl, but I refuse to back down.

In the past, I would have. But now, I’ve got something—someone—to really fight for.

He can say anything he wants about anyone in the world. But not her.

Especially not after the week we’ve had.

“I will. She’ll be better than anything else I’ve had recently, that’s for sure.”

My arm is moving before I’ve processed the thought, and my fist lands on Wilder’s cheek a beat later.

The front door to the house slams, and someone comes running over to us at the same time Noelle screams my name.

“That’s enough,” Benny, one of Wilder’s teammates, barks as he steps between us.

“We’re done anyway,” Wilder says, his shoulders relaxing as he swipes his bag from where it fell on the ground.

“Are you okay?” Noelle asks, lifting my hand to inspect the damage.

It hurts. Fuck, does it hurt. But it was worth it. And I’d do it a million times over if he’s going to spew shit like that.

“Yeah, never better,” I lie.

“Come on, let’s go home,” Noelle says, taking my hand and leading me back to the car.

I keep my focus on Noelle and the road ahead as I pull my seatbelt back on. My hands are still trembling with the anger simmering just beneath the surface.

I tell myself not to look back.

He’s an asshole, and he doesn’t deserve it. But right before I pull away, my head twists around of its own accord.

I find him immediately—twin intuition or some shit—and the second our eyes collide, my heart sinks.

He’s standing at the kitchen window watching us, and he no longer looks angry.

He just looks sad.

Noelle reaches over and squeezes my thigh, dragging me from any concerns I might have.

Wilder is big enough to look after himself now. The person who deserves my full attention is sitting beside me.

“Ready to show me your bedroom?” I tease.

“I might have to tidy up first. I’ve probably got panties all over my floor,” she laughs.

“Doesn’t matter. We can add another pair,” I retort before pressing my foot to the gas and speeding away.

“Home sweet home,” I announce as Noelle opens our front door and I haul our luggage inside.

Sucking in a deep breath, I revel in the feeling of contentment that having a safe and secure home brings. I hope it’s something I never take for granted.

The door closes behind me, and the lock is twisted into place.

“Alone at last…” she muses as she walks around in front of me, her finger tracing a line around my shoulder and then down the center of my chest. She doesn’t stop until it hits my waistband.

I’m exhausted. My eyes hurt from focusing on driving for so long, but it doesn’t stop my cock stirring to life. It’s been far too long since I’ve been inside her.

“So… where should we start?”

Grabbing her hand, I lift her finger to my mouth and bite it gently.

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip before she takes a teasing step back.

I release her finger, too intrigued to find out what she’s thinking.

She reaches for the bottom of her hoodie before peeling it up her body, leaving her standing in her thin tank.

My mouth waters, and my eyes follow her hands as they go for the waistband of her sweats.

They drop to her ankles, and after kicking her Crocs off, she tugs the fabric from her feet.

“Wanna play a game?” she asks, her voice all low and raspy. Sexy as hell.

“As long as it involves you losing more clothes.”

She smirks. “What? These?” she asks, tugging at the front of her tank enough to give me a shot of her braless breasts beneath.

“Yeah, those.”

“Right, well… you can take them off me…” She takes a step back. “If you can catch me.”

Her laughter fills the air as she takes off running toward the stairs.

The sound of it makes my heart swell like I’ve never felt before.

That’s happiness.

True fucking happiness.

It’s what I’ve wanted for her for so long.

Kicking my sneakers off, I abandon the luggage and take off behind her.

She might have got a head start, but my legs are longer and I’m faster.

The second I find her tank abandoned on the stairs, I rip my own hoodie from my body, leaving it behind me.

Her bedroom door slams as I hit the top step, and I lose my t-shirt as I continue my chase.

“Coming, ready or not,” I shout just like we did as kids playing hide and seek around the trailer park.

Oh, how far we’ve come.

My entire body is vibrating with anticipation. By the time I get to her door, it takes every ounce of restraint I possess not to just throw it open and dive on her.

Thankfully, the sight of a small scrap of fabric at my feet distracts me.

Reaching down, I pick it up and smirk.

My dirty girl.

Balling them in my hand, I lift them to my nose before stuffing her them in my pocket and throwing the door open.

The sight that greets me makes my breath catch and my lungs cease.

“You are everything I’ve ever fucking wanted rolled up into one incredibly sexy package,” I explain, stalking closer.

She’s laid out in the middle of her bed with her legs spread and her fingers exactly where I want mine to be.

It’s the best kind of porn I’ve ever seen.

But as much as I want to stand here and watch, my need to get involved is stronger.

My final items of clothing hit the floor before I crawl onto the bed and straight between her thighs.

“Hendrix,” she cries as I suck on her clit. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I say against her. “Now lie back and take it. I’m gonna treat you like the queen you are.”

And I do. Over and over again.