Page 109 of Outlaw Heartstrings
Tears shine in her eyes before her gaze drops away from mine. “Don’t do this, Easton…”
Hooking a knuckle under her jaw, I lift her face and force her to meet my gaze. “I’m not letting you give up on yourself, Alba. I will help you in anyway I can. I’ll take Jagger off your hands whenever you need time for yourself. I’ll help you with money so you don’t have to be distracted by work and worrying about making ends meet. Hell—where are your textbooks?” I hold a palm out. “Hand them over. I’ll help you study.”
She holds her attention on me, her green eyes guarded and distrusting. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’mdeadserious,” I say, my tone stone-cold. “I’m here. I’m in your corner. I’ll do anything to help you succeed.”
Tears well up and begin to spill down her face. “Thank you, Easton.”
“Why are you crying?” I tug her back against my chest. Right where she fucking belongs.
“It just hit me how much I’ve needed to have somebody believe in me.” Her arms tighten around me, squeezing me in a death grip of a hug.
I feel tall and strong and important. I thought that being a hockey star is what made me valuable in this world. But taking care of Alba and Jagger is the only thing that has evermade me feel this fulfilled . I’m growing addicted to this feeling.
“I’m here…” I repeat softly, kissing the top of her head. “I’m here…I’m here…I’m here…I’ve got you, sweet girl. I’ve got you.”
Alba looks up at me, her eyes dazed and awestruck.
“I promised I’d never take your power away from you, and that’s a promise I intend to keep.” I stroke her cheek. “But I will encourage you to follow your dreams, all while doing each and every thing I can to spoil you rotten. Is that okay?”
She holds my gaze for a long moment, as her brain weighs whether she can trust me. Eventually, she sighs in my hold, her head bobbing slowly. “After all the shitty things I’ve been through, the only reason I keep believing in humanity is because guys like you exist.”
Guys like me.
That’s the thing—I don’t want her thinking about any other guys. I only want her thinking about me.
I want her to be mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.
It’s time I make that happen.
“I have feelings for you, Alba.” My throat is closing up and I’m struggling not to choke on my own words. “I know you’re going to tell me I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself.”
Utter terror floods her eyes. “Stop it,” she murmurs.
I lower my face to hers. “Stop what? I’m not doing anything. We’re just talking. But then again, that’s the problem, isn’t it?” I run my knuckles down her cheek. “We’re talking, when I’d rather be touching you. I’d rather be kissing you,” I whisper by her ear.
Alba is already breathing hard and her knees are weakening beneath her. I can tell by the way her body sags against me. “Oh, god.”
“I’d rather be down on my knees with my head between your legs tasting you and teasing you and worshipping you.”
Her breath hitches in her chest. Victory. Sweet, sweet victory.
Without wasting another second, I pick her up and toss her over my shoulder, quietly running down the hallway on my tiptoes. All I can think about is making her come on my fingers and my tongue.
Alba struggles against her giggles as I barge inside my bedroom, locking the door behind me. I’m going to have to be quick, but I’m up to the challenge.
I toss her on the bed and I’m already pulling my shirt over my head. “Do us both a favor, Alba, and take off your panties.”
40
ALBA
The words grow blurry on the page in front of me. My eyes struggle to stay open. But I’m determined to get through the rest of this practice-exam before I go to sleep.
The house is quiet now. Easton came over with dinner earlier. After the three of us ate together, Easton and Jag cleaned up the kitchen and played a board game together so that I could focus on studying.
I heard their voices in the hallway a few minutes ago as Jagger ran by to brush his teeth and get ready for bed. If I had to guess, I’d say the two of them are probably reading a bedtime book at the moment.
