Page 42 of The Penalty

As my legs are failing me, he grabs my hips, pulling my legs off the floor as his rhythm picks up. He pounds into me as I’m clenching around him. The orgasm rolls into another one,

“Fuck.” His soft whisper is more powerful than if he screamed my name as he follows me over the cliff. He buries himself deep shuddering as he’s pulsing inside the condom deep inside me,

I don’t know how he’s possibly steady on his feet while I’m ready to melt right into the floor.

He holds me tight to him, head thrown back as he pulses, buried deep inside.

Maybe he’s not as unaffected as he appears. He lets me slip from his grip until my feet hit the floor again but doesn’t pull out or otherwise move from the position.

It could have been two minutes or two hours before he’s gripping his length and sliding out. My walls clench around him as if they’re not so eager to let him leave. Can’t say as I blame them. People talk about getting their world rocked, but I didn’t think this was actually a thing until I met him.

It’s like the earth has shifted under my feet. Nothing else matters but us. It’s him and me, and the rest of the world fades away when we’re together like this. How am I ever going to stay away from him?

Chapter 14

Every Missed Shot

Dev

Things look a littledifferent in the daylight. I came home with her. I couldn’t say no. That seems to be the case with her. I can’t say no, and I can’t stay away. No matter how bad of an idea being with her is. I’m drawn to her.

When she tilted her head up to look at me this morning, her eyes were shining, blonde hair tangled in a heap around her head. And her tank top was all twisted up around her chest. She looked like my version of perfection.

And now I have to leave it behind. Go home. Every step I take toward the front door has that guilt swelling up in my chest.

“See you later, handsome.” Her redheaded roommate has been teasing us all morning, but it’s good natured. I hate that I can’t take her home with me. Show her off to the guys.

“Wait.” Cece’s small hand lands on my shoulder as I’m about to push the front door open.

I turn back to her, the longing ache in my chest deepening. Her hair is now piled on top of her head in a purple scrunchy. It’s a perfect match for my jersey, and that need to see her wearing it kicks back up. She’s darted off and is rifling through a pile of papers on the hall table.

She gathers a bunch up and skips back to stuff them into my hand.

“What’s this?”

She pulls her lip between her teeth, and it looks like she’s second guessing her decision, about to snatch the papers back from me.

I pull them away before she can act on the thought, glancing at the first page.

It’s her art for sure. There’s a sketch of a woman on the first page standing with her legs spread in full superhero garb. It’s a black and white sketch, but the details are exquisite. Clearly, she drew this. Next to the woman is a series of barely legible scribbles as if ideas were flowing through her brain faster than her fingers could write them down.

“It’s my character, and some of the ideas I have for my series. I shouldn’t have.” She shakes her head, reaching toward the papers. “I don’t know what I was thinking. You don’t have to look at them.”

I clear my throat. There’s a burning sensation in my chest. She’s entrusting me with her precious work. I don’t deserve that kind of trust, but I need to see this. See the ideas that are lurkingin her brain? I’ve got no artistic skills myself, but comic books have always been my escape. Even before I had hockey, I could escape to the comic book store to get away from whatever awful situation I found myself in.

“No.”

“What?”

“Don’t. I’d like to look at them.” I’m hoping she doesn’t notice how thick my voice has gotten.

“Oh, okay. Cool. So, maybe we can get together soon, and you can tell me what you think?”

I nod. “Sounds like a plan.” She doesn’t need the excuse to tempt me into a return visit, but I like the idea that I’ve got something important to her. She’s definitely going to want it back, so that means she wants me back.

I lean in, cupping her cheek in my hand. My hand is so big it spans the length of her head. Her lips are soft under mine, and this kiss is different. Not like when we parted in the hotel. That was a goodbye. This is a promise that we’ll see each other again.

Everything is a little colder when I pull away, heading out the front door.

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