Page 45 of Fault Line

I tuck my chin, already halfway to dreamland. He untangles himself from me and slips out of the bed, rustling around the room as he gets dressed. Before leaving, he comes back over, murmuring, “Sweet dreams,” against my forehead.

I wish him a sleepy good night and snuggle deeper under the covers.

Then he tiptoes out of my room and down the hallway. A few moments later, there’s the soft click of the door closing behind him. I know he’s gone now, but I can’t seem to bring myself to care. Instead, I fall into a deep sleep, my mind finally quiet and peaceful for the first time all week.

The next morning, I wake up alone, feeling thoroughly fucked and well rested. A smile creeps onto my face as I move to get up. And there’s a little note on my nightstand this time—a few words scribbled onto a pad beside my bed.

K

Sorry for slipping away again, but I had to be up early, and I didn’t want to disturb your beauty sleep. Don’t worry, I didn’t steal any of your hair this time.

H

16

HOLDEN

I wakeup to the sound of my phone alarm buzzing beneath me, my heart pounding in my chest and my body aching with a desperate need. After everything, it’s hard to believe that Kaia caved so quickly. I know she must have been desperate last night when she texted, and yet, I can’t bring myself to care about being her last resort.

The feeling of watching her lose control, and then finally finding some much-needed rest, is worth it all. It’s nice knowing I can help her, but I’m not doing this solely out of the selflessness of my heart.

After that first night, I knew I needed to have her again. And again. And again.

I run my tongue over my lips, and I can still taste the sweet, musky flavor of her, feel the way her body quivered under my touch. The thrill of the game we’re playing sends shivers down my spine, and I can’t help but want more.

With a groan, I shift under the covers, trying to ignore the insistent throbbing between my legs. I know I need to change course, but the memory of her soft skin and the way she begged me for more is too much to ignore. I close my eyes and breathe deeply, the image of her writhing beneath me seared into my mind.

I can’t resist the urge any longer, so I fist a hand around my cock and give it a tug, picturing her soft thighs wrapped around my neck. Leaning my head back against the pillow, I stroke myself harder and harder until the pleasure builds and finally crashes over me, leaving me panting and spent.

After a quick rinse in the shower, I move to get dressed for the day, shaking off the memories. As I pull on my shirt, I hear my housemates chatting in the kitchen.

They’re blatantly gossiping about where I went last night—which is fair, considering the fact that I took off in the middle of our monthly poker game—and I can tell they’re having a field day with it.

Rai flashes me a toothy grin, his eyes sparking with mischief. “Mornin’, Becksy. Where’d you disappear to last night?”

It’s clear, thanks to Lizzie, that he knows exactly what I’ve been up to, but he’s just waiting for me to admit it to the rest of them. I tense up, hoping my blank expression will mask the truth.

“Just had some stuff to take care of,” I respond casually. Heat creeps up my neck, the image of Kaia’s bare skin—not to mention the way I just fucked myself to the thought of her—still fresh in my mind.

Will leans forward, eyes glinting with curiosity. “Stuff? Sounds mysterious,” he says, and I can practically see the wheels turning in his head. “Is this the samestuffyou were up to last weekend?”

I roll my eyes. “It’s nothing, guys. Just some personal stuff.”

They exchange knowing looks but thankfully drop the subject. I don’t want to have to explain what’s going on with me and Kaia. Not yet, anyway. I need to talk to her first, figure out what the two of us are really doing here.

I let out a sigh of relief as we all pile into my car and head to campus together, making our way to the rink for our game against Trinity. The chatter between the guys is light and playful, but my mind’s still reeling.

I can’t manage to get the taste of Kaia out of my mouth or the feel of her body writhing beneath me out of my head. It all burns into my skin, branding me with the memory.

As we arrive at the rink, I finally manage to clear my thoughts, focusing instead on the game ahead of us. With each step closer to the ice, I feel the weight of her slowly disappear, replaced by a renewed sense of determination to win.

* * *

After chasingthe puck for a couple of hours, I step off the ice, my heart still pounding with the sweet rush of adrenaline. As expected, we absolutely crushed TU, and I revel in the familiar victory that courses through my veins.

The fact that I didn’t have to endure my father’s incessant commentary on the sidelines is just icing on the cake.

Despite my exhaustion, I agree to tag along with my teammates for a night of bar hopping. We make a quick pit stop at our place and freshen up beforehand.

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