Hard Fall Read online

  “Yeah, that sounds good.”

  “Or we could continue our last kiss,” he said, holding me close. “I think about doing that about a dozen times a day.”

  I was exhausted, had pepperoni breath and hadn’t showered today, but I still considered it. We both wanted more than a kiss, and somehow I knew if Wes and I slept together, all my other emotions and worries would be swept away for however blissfully long it lasted. Kind of like when we kissed, but magnified many times over.

  The baby monitor crackled, and it wasn’t Benny making the noise as usual, but Annalise.

  “Aunt Hadley?” she said in a sleepy tone.

  She was used to lying down with me at night. If she fell asleep in the family room, Wes would carry her to bed, but we never made her go to bed alone. It was probably a bad habit, but we wanted to give her every comfort we could.

  Instinctively, I jumped up from the couch. Wes sighed deeply and picked up the remote.

  “Let me know if you need any help,” he said.

  “Thanks.”

  I actually welcomed the distraction, because I’d been close to telling Wes yes. I wanted to forget all the feelings that had hit when we saw that picture of us and the kids. And as much as I would’ve liked it, it wouldn’t have fixed anything. The feelings weren’t going away, and if I slept with Wes, I was pretty sure I’d have even more feelings to contend with.

  I just didn’t have emotional bandwidth left for anything else. Parenting, working and mourning already took everything I had and more each day. The last thing Wes and I needed was to complicate things even further.

  “I’m regretting the glitter guns,” I said to Lauren, turning my face from side to side to see my reflection in the mirror of the nightclub’s bathroom.

  I was covered in gold sparkles; it would take forever to scrub each speck off.

  “We’re still drunk, which means you’re not allowed to kill my buzz yet.” She grinned at me from the sink next to the one I stood in front of.

  “It takes nothing to get you wasted these days,” I said, laughing. “You’re a lot drunker than I am.”

  “I hardly ever go out! It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m in New York City! The big fucking apple.”

  “No one calls it that,” I said, snorting loudly.

  “Can you guys hurry up?” an annoyed female voice said from behind us.

  I turned and glared. “You look fine. Use some sanitizer on your hands and get back to the party.”

  “Come on,” Lauren said, grabbing my arm and taking off. “I want to find my sexy husband so I can kiss him when the ball drops.” She laughed loudly. “I said ball.”

  Ben and Lauren had come to the city to celebrate New Year’s Eve at a trendy new club I’d gotten us into. Annalise was at a hotel with a babysitter Ben and Lauren had flown in with them. They were paying her a fortune so they could go out but not be far from their daughter. And of course, they’d asked Wes to come out with us, too. He was getting Ben shit-faced on whiskey, the two of them laughing obliviously as two women approached them.

  “Oh, hell no,” Lauren muttered as we walked closer.

  The women had just gotten Ben and Wes to turn and look at them when we reached them.

  “He’s taken,” Lauren said sharply, sliding onto her husband’s lap.

  “Oh, sorry,” the blond said, turning to Wes. “What about you?”

  Her friend looked at me, likely waiting to see if I was about to show my claws like Lauren just had.

  “He’s all yours,” I said, putting my palms up.

  “Can we share you?” the dark-haired woman asked, giving Wes a coy look.

  “Uh, I wish.” He grinned. “I’m really flattered, ladies, but I’m here with my friends and I just want to spend time with them.”

  “Aw, but who are you gonna kiss when the ball drops?” the blond asked with a fake pout.

  “Uh…” Wes looked at me.

  “No,” I said firmly.

  “Relax, I wasn’t even thinking it.”

  “It’s happening in ten minutes!” the blond said, putting a hand on Wes’s thigh. “Let’s get drinks so we’re ready to toast!”

  “You two need to fuck off,” Lauren said, waving a hand. “I’ll kiss him if I have to, but you’re not staying.”

  “You’re not kissing him,” Ben said, lowering his brows as the two women rolled their eyes and left.

  “I didn’t mean like with tongue,” Lauren said.

  “You want me to kiss Hadley, then?” Ben asked.

  Lauren’s expression morphed from annoyed to disbelieving.

  “Guys, no one’s kissing but you two, okay? We’re gonna toast with shots.”

  A waitress arrived then with a tray of shots and Wes passed them out. We gathered around our table and watched the large screen at the bar where the Times Square ball drop was being broadcasted. It was a fifteen-minute walk from where we were, but it was freezing and none of us had wanted to spend the evening outside.

  “To great friends,” Ben said as people in the bar counted down to the big moment.

  “To friends!” Wes echoed, and we all clinked glasses.

  Music played and confetti flew as we threw back the shots, my throat burning as the alcohol hit. When I set my glass down, Lauren had her palms on Ben’s cheeks and they were kissing. Wes moved closer to me, his steps uneven and his eyes bloodshot. He was wasted.

  “Don’t even think about kissing me,” I cautioned, light-headed from the shot but still very aware of not letting my guard down.

  I’d experienced a painful breakup a few weeks ago, and I was feeling vulnerable. I couldn’t let too much alcohol and a broken heart allow me to make an awful decision about Wes.

  Wes leaned in and I turned my face away to make sure he couldn’t kiss me.

  “Trust me, I’m not thinking about it,” he said in my ear. “I was just gonna say I hope this is your year, Hadley. I hope the massive icicle wedged in your ass gets a chance to defrost this year and maybe you can finally get laid.”

  I scoffed, but my pulse pounded anxiously as his words hit home.

  “I get laid plenty, thanks,” I said crisply.

  “Sure you do. I’m sure there are lots of guys looking for a woman to criticize their every move.” Wes laughed, and I hated him just a little more than before.

  Maybe this would be the year he stopped being such a dick. I seriously doubted it, though. Wes Kirby would never change.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Wes

  Losing three out of six games on the road was brutal. I’d tried every trick in the book to motivate and encourage my teammates, but we were in a death spiral of losses and I was frustrated as fuck. We’d dropped to fourth place overall and third in our division, so even though we were still on target for the playoffs, there would be no way to save this season if we didn’t start winning. Ten days felt like ten years and when I walked into the house at ten thirty at night, I was in a piss-poor mood.

  Hadley was in the kitchen scrubbing the food processor and ridding it of what appeared to be another baby food disaster, and I wished I had it in me to smile. She wore calf-length yoga pants that fit her ass like a glove, an oversized T-shirt, and sweet baby Jesus, no bra. Her hair was up in a messy half-ponytail thing, with tendrils that had escaped and now framed her face, and she was covered in something purplish-blue.

  “Blueberry baby food?” I asked, setting down my bag.

  “Yes.” She turned with a smile. “How are you?”

  “How do you think? It was the road trip from hell.” I rummaged in the fridge for something to eat but all I saw was string cheese, fruit, and baby food. “Jesus fucking Christ, is there ever anything to eat in this house that isn’t for kids?”

  Hadley paused what she was doing and narrowed her eyes. “Yes, but only if you ask nicely.”

  “Sorry.” It wasn’t her fault we were sucking ass on the ice, but I didn’t have anyone else to take it out on.

  “There are cold cuts
if you’d like me to make you a sandwich or—”

  “Never mind. I’m not hungry.” I slammed the refrigerator door shut and reached for my bag.

  “Wes.” She put a gentle hand on my arm. “What’s wrong?”

  “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Try me.” Her eyes were soft and understanding, as if she actually did understand even though I hadn’t told her anything.

  “It’s hard to explain. It’s hockey stuff, and while I appreciate you trying to help, you wouldn’t get how off the dynamic is in the locker room right now. We’re just not gelling the way we used to, the way we should be and I don’t know how to fix it.”

  “What can I do to make you feel better?”

  I grunted. “I can think of at least one thing.”

  It wasn’t the way I’d been planning to seduce her if and when the opportunity presented itself, but instead of telling me I was pig, she surprised me by merely cocking her head.

  “Would that truly help?”

  “How long has it been since you’ve had sex, Hadley?”

  She grimaced. “Er, a long time. Almost, um, I guess almost a year.”

  Jesus, that was a long time.

  “And you’re okay with that?”

  “I’m…well, no, I guess not, but I can take care of my needs myself.” Her cheeks burned pink.

  “You’d rather masturbate than let me fuck you?” I had her up against the island, looming over her even though she didn’t seem the least bit intimidated.

  “Of course not, but I’d rather not do something that’s going to get emotional or messy because of the kids. We’ve talked about this.”

  “Honey, no one said anything about emotions. This is just sex. We’re consenting adults who’ve both been without for far too long. I can do you so dirty you won’t be thinking about anything except how many times I can make you come.” I cupped the back of her neck and felt the gooseflesh break out on her skin.

  Her breath hitched a little as she looked up at me. “Wes…”

  “Say yes, Hadley.” I was so fucking hard.

  “But what if—”

  “Jesus, woman, yes or no.” I was already pushing her back onto the island and instead of answering, she reached up, grabbed my head, and brought it down to hers. She kissed me this time and holy fucking hotness. She held nothing back, moaning softly as our tongues tangled, her breath hot and her chest pressed against mine. The woman scrubbing dishes a few seconds ago was nowhere to be seen. This wasn’t just about her taking my mind off my professional death spiral. She needed it, too.

  I lifted her onto the counter, and she wrapped her legs around my waist, our mouths still fused together. Her tongue was dueling with mine, swirling and twirling, our lips a tangled mass of desire. I slid my hands beneath her ass, kneading and squeezing the firm globes, pulling her against my groin. She whimpered when I moved my hands to pull the hair band the rest of the way out of her ponytail, but I needed raw, horny Hadley, not buttoned-up executive Hadley. And fuck, she was gorgeous with her lips swollen from kissing, her hair falling wildly around her face, and her eyes glassy with need.

  There was a touch of indecision there, though, so before she could change her mind, I lifted her shirt over her head and damn, what awaited me there was beyond every fantasy I’d had about her. Her tits were about as perfect as they could be. Firm and round, sitting high on her chest, with the palest pink nipples that were already hard for me.

  “34D, right?” I murmured, dipping my head to get my first taste.

  “Are you an expert on more than just size?” Her quip quickly turned into a moan, her fingers digging into my hair, pulling me closer.

  I just laughed, licking and teasing her nipple until her nails were pinpricks of pain against my scalp.

  “Lean back,” I said, dropping to my knees.

  “What?” She looked startled as I tugged at her yoga pants.

  “Off.”

  “Wes, the kids—”

  “Annalise will call out to us first, so we’re safe.” I made short work of her pants and underwear and seeing Hadley naked on the kitchen island, legs open, her pussy wet with arousal, made my cock strain painfully. But the first orgasm would go to her. Then I was going to fuck her into the middle of next week.

  I used my fingers to spread her delicate lips and my tongue to get my first taste. Damn, she was musky woman and delicious dessert all rolled into one. Her clit was already a hard little nub against my lips and I sucked on it playfully, getting a feel for what she liked. Gentle didn’t do it for her and I increased the pressure until she cried out. I fit my shoulders beneath her thighs so I had easy access to her pussy, and she gasped a little, arms flailing as she tried to get her balance. I heard something skid across the counter but didn’t give a shit because I was tongue fucking her now, and she was riding my face like a bronco.

  “Wes! Oh my god, Wes!”

  She was so damn wet, my face was soaked, but I loved it. Having the prim and proper woman I’d fought with so many times coming undone for me was beyond my wildest dreams. I pushed a finger inside of her and she started to pant, whispering my name over and over. When I added a second finger, simultaneously sucking on her clit, her whispers turned to groans.

  “Ready to come for me?” I asked, lightly scissoring my fingers inside of her.

  “Yes, god, yes!”

  Two fingers and the grazing of my teeth on her clit was all it took. She shrieked out my name as she convulsed around my fingers and face, bucking wildly and sending a big bowl of something flying across the room as she fell back on the counter. We were both oblivious to the mess. Watching her come was glorious and hearing my name on her lips was heady.

  She’d barely finished coming before I scooped her up and headed up the stairs.

  “Where are we going?” she whispered, collapsing into my arms.

  “Into that big king-size bed where I can fuck you like you want me to.”

  “But Annalise is there.”

  “I’m putting her little behind in her own room tonight.”

  I put Hadley down gently so as not to wake Annalise, and then hurried to wash my hands before picking her up and carrying her to her own bed. She didn’t stir, thankfully, and I tucked her in, kissing her forehead. I made sure to turn on the baby monitor and quietly shut the door behind me. Then I was stripping off my clothes as I walked back to the master bedroom.

  Hadley was just where I’d left her, a naked goddess bathed in the faint light from the single lamp in the room, and I was so glad I still kept a condom in my wallet. I pulled it out, tossed it on the bed and then crawled over her. “How do you want it, Had?”

  “I don’t know,” she said softly. “I get the feeling you’re way more experienced than I am. So you do what you like.”

  “Oh, baby, that’s not how this works.” I took a moment to stare into her pretty face. “Don’t your lovers take the time to find out what makes you tick in bed?”

  “Mm, not so far.”

  “Well, that ends now.” I paused. “Can you come with straight missionary?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Well, I never have. Usually only when I’m on top. But it takes me a long time.”

  “That’s okay. I have all the staying power you need. What else do you like?”

  “I like what you just did.”

  “And we’ll do that again but I desperately need to be inside of you.”

  “I want that too.”

  “How about reverse cowgirl? Ever tried that?”

  She shook her head.

  “Come here.” I tugged her off the bed and onto the settee by the window. I rolled on the condom and sat down with my feet on the floor, knees bent. Then I pulled her onto my lap facing away from me, moving her legs so her thighs were mostly on the outside of mine, her legs spread wide. “Lean back and let me do all the work,” I whispered.

  She rested the back of her head against my chest and I reached around, using one hand to fondl
e her breast and the other to go back to teasing her clit. She was so damn responsive, her body instantly reacting when I touched her. Her nipple hardened against my fingers and she was wet again. Fuck, was she made for me or what?

  Now it was just a matter of getting her to relax. Though her body was primed and ready to go again, I sensed a touch of insecurity. Hadley definitely wasn’t as experienced as I was. In fact, I was willing to bet she wasn’t experienced at all. Not with a real man who knew how to make it good and take care of her needs before his own.

  “Sit up a little, baby.” I nudged her forward and positioned myself at her entrance. “Now slide down right on my cock…oh, yeah, just like that.”

  Fuck.

  She was tighter and wetter than anyone I’d ever been with, closing around me and taking every inch until I bottomed out. The urge to let go came out of nowhere and I had to hold her in place to keep her from moving until I could get control again. Jesus. That never happened to me, almost losing control so quickly, but Hadley was spectacular and being inside of her was indescribable.

  I closed my eyes and kissed her shoulder gently, taking in the sweet scent of her hair. In this moment, she belonged to me in every possible way, and I never wanted it to end.

  “Wes, please…” She was straining against my hands, anxious to get more of me but I needed to make sure she was ready.

  “I’m going to fuck you hard and dirty, just like you asked me to, so I want you to relax and let me do the work.”

  “Please, just do it already.”

  I rumbled out a laugh. “Feet on the floor, beautiful. And hold on tight.” I slammed up into her hard enough to make her cry out. Then I pulled out to the tip and just sat there, waiting for her to react. She was truly the one who would guide our pace but she wasn’t sure of herself yet, so I’d let her think I was in control. I had no doubt, though, that once she got going this was going to be intense.

  I thrust up, paused, and pulled out again. I did it over and over until she started to move with me, her body finding the rhythm that would get her where she needed to go.

  “Touch yourself, Hadley. Play with your clit while I fuck you.”