“That’s a good idea.” Jake joins in on our conversation, smiling at Hannah. “You should come over. Maybe for dinner?”

  “Let’s all go out to dinner now,” Mom suggests. “Beck’s at his friend’s house, and we’ll pick him up on the way home, so I don’t have to worry about him only wanting to eat chicken nuggets and getting bored.”

  Dad laughs, slipping his arm around Mom’s shoulders. “Sounds good to me. Would you like to go with us, Hannah?”

  She readily agrees and both her and Jake look pleased. I’m happy for them too, but I wish Eli was here. I wish Dad would easily accept our relationship and everything could be cool.

  That won’t happen. At least, not at first. No matter how badly I want it to.

  Finally, I have a few moments to myself, and I grab my phone from my mom, who I asked to hold onto it for me. I check my notifications to see I have a text from Eli responding to my earlier photos.

  Damn woman you are 🔥🔥

  Smiling, I snap the quickest selfie before I send it to him with an accompanying text.

  Look who got the crown?

  He responds quickly.

  You won!

  Me: I won.

  Eli: God, I wish I was there with you.

  Me: Me too.

  Eli: What are you doing?

  Me: We’re going to dinner real quick. Me and the family. Jake is bringing his new girlfriend.

  Eli: The redhead?

  Me: Hannah. Yes. She’s really nice. They moved onto the finals for homecoming king and queen.

  Eli: Of course they did. Who else?

  I give him the details. He takes a while to respond. I’m walking out of the theater with my family when I receive another text.

  Eli: Come over to my house when you’re done with dinner.

  Me: Are you sure it’s okay?

  Eli: I want to see you, princess.

  Eli: Wearing your crown.

  Eli: And nothing else.

  I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. I want to see him too.

  Desperately.

  Thirty-Eight

  Eli

  For what feels like the first time in ages, Mom is gone. She went out of town for a long weekend, taking off to the beach earlier this afternoon, when I was still in school. By the time I got home from a late night of football practice, it was quiet and peaceful. No Mom nagging on me. No blaring TV with some vengeful Lifetime movie playing. And no shitty little dog named Muffin barking at me like he wants to tear my face off with his sharp little teeth.

  Talk about putting me in a great mood.

  I park my car in the garage and stride into the house like I own this shit. Like it’s all mine. I grab a beer out of the fridge—thanks Mom—and twist the cap off, taking a long pull. Smacking my lips extra loud after I swallow.

  Practice was tough, my body is sore, but it’s a good kind of ache. One that tells me I’ve worked hard, and I’m ready for Friday night’s game.

  So ready.

  My only disappointment? That I couldn’t go to Ava’s ceremony earlier. Couldn’t watch her get crowned. Though I would’ve been on edge the entire time, seeing her on stage with that stupid smug-faced asshole, Wyatt. Ava insists they’re just friends, and I believe her. With the way she always responds to my touch, and you know, how she actually loves my crazy ass, I don’t doubt her feelings for me one bit.

  It’s Wyatt I don’t trust. I mean, look at my girl. She’s gorgeous. Why wouldn’t that guy try to make a move on her?

  I pull up the photos she sent me earlier on my phone, drinking her in yet again. That dress clings to her perfect body, making me sweat. Her legs look extra-long and she’s wearing high-heeled strappy black sandals that are sexy as fuck. Oh, and she sent me a photo of the back of her dress too. As in, there’s no back to her dress. All I saw was smooth skin.

  Skin my fingers itch to touch.

  She texted me a while ago letting me know she just finished dinner with her family, and she’s heading over to my house in a few. She’s at least twenty, twenty-five minutes away so that gives me time to prepare. I need to take a quick shower and change. Get ready for my girl and a romantic evening, just the two of us.

  Already made sure my condom stash is full and up-to-date, so that’s covered.

  I take a shower, the hot water feeling good on my tired muscles. Consider jerking off. Decide to pass. I want to save it all for Ava.

  Finally, I’m ready. I’ve got on my favorite long-sleeved black shirt that’s made by some designer with a name I can’t pronounce and has a bunch of carefully placed holes in it, yet costs a fortune. I’m wearing dark gray joggers. My newest pair of crazy Ethika boxer briefs. Hell, I even blow-dried my hair into a carefully tousled mess on top of my head in the hopes Ava will want to run her fingers through it.

  That always feels extra good when she does that.

  I use the light dimmers and turn down the lamps in the living room. Hell, I even light candles. I feel all amped up and jittery so I crack open another beer and chug it, hoping the alcohol will soothe my nerves.

  This feels special. Like the first night I’m ever going to have sex. Though I don’t even know if Ava’s going to want to do anything beyond some kissing and touching. If I’m being real with myself, I’m beyond ready to feel her mouth on my dick. And I’m dying to taste her pussy.

  If we don’t do anything beyond oral, I’ll be satisfied.

  I receive a text five minutes later from Ava.

  I’m here.

  I reply.

  Go ahead and ring the doorbell.

  Ava: ?????

  Me: No one’s home but me.

  I see her hurriedly walk along the sidewalk past the giant front window and I’m already jogging toward the door when I hear the bell ring. I throw open the door and just stand there, taking her in. Wearing that dress, those shoes, the homecoming royalty sash draped across her and the crown still perched on top of her head. Her cheeks are flushed and some of the mascara is streaked beneath her eyes.

  She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.

  “Hi,” she says breathlessly, her gaze sweeping over me, as if she likes what she sees.

  I say nothing. Just grab her hand and pull her into the house. Slam the door and press her against it with my body. Her hands go to my shoulders, her lips curve into an inviting smile, and I kiss her.

  Drown in her.

  “You taste like beer,” she says minutes later, when we both need to take a breath. She somehow takes off the homecoming sash, dropping it on the floor. My hand is on her right tit, and I give it a light squeeze, feeling her nipple pebble beneath my fingers.

  “Might’ve had a couple.” I drop a soft kiss behind her ear, inhaling her sweet vanilla scent.

  “Where’s your mom?”

  “Out of town for the weekend,” I murmur against her lips before I kiss her again. My hands rest on her hips, and slowly but surely, I start gathering the fabric of her dress, pulling it up, up, up.

  Until I’ve got it bunched up and so damn close to exposing her panties.

  “What are you doing?” she whispers into my mouth.

  “Want to see you,” I tell her, already talking like a caveman. Like I can’t form full sentences.

  I feel the satiny soft skin of her thighs. The sheer material covering her pussy. It’s already damp.

  “I missed you,” she whispers as my fingers trace the crease where her thigh meets her hip. God, that is the sexiest spot on a girl, I swear. No one else sees it. No other asshole has seen Ava like this.

  Just me.

  “I can tell.” I slowly rub the front of her panties with my index and middle fingers, swallowing her gasp. “You’re wet.”

  She says nothing. Just devours me with her lips and tongue. It’s funny how once you take something to the next level, it’s so damn easy to get to that level right away.

  Like now. With my fingers toying with her panties and Ava a quivering mess in my arms. Kissing each other desperately, like we can’t breathe without the other.

  It’s how I feel. Like my life’s on hold until I see her again. Touch her again. Kiss her again.

  “Turn around,” I tell her after I break away from her already swollen lips.

  She opens her eyes on a frown. “What?”

  “Turn. Around.” My voice is soft, but there’s an edge to it. My need for her is all-consuming, and I don’t want to waste any time.

  Ava slowly turns, revealing her bared back in that lacy black dress. Fuck me standing, I had no idea her back could be so damn sexy. I push her wavy blonde hair over one shoulder and examine her thoroughly. There’s a hook keeping the dress together at the back of her neck and a zipper at the base of her spine. No way does this dress allow her to wear a bra, so that’s why I can feel her nipples so easily.

  “Put your hands on the door,” I tell her, and she automatically rests them above her head, her fingers splayed. “And spread your legs a little, like I’m about to arrest you.”

  “Eli,” she starts, and I cover her with my body, resting my chin on her shoulder.

  “Just do it for me,” I whisper. “Please?”

  She tilts her head to the side, and I kiss her neck, knowing that’s what she wants. My lips linger. I scrape her skin with my teeth, and her entire body shudders. She likes it when it stings a little sometimes, which is a kink I can readily embrace.

  “So fucking sexy,” I whisper as I step away from her, drifting my fingers down her bare spine. My cock strains against my joggers just looking at her posed like this.

  Like my every fantasy come true.

  Slowly, I undo the tiny hook, my shaky fingers fumbling with it for a second, before the fabric falls away. Then I stroke my fingers against the skin just above her ass, before I undo the zipper, exposing the sheer black panties she’s got on. They barely cover her ass and they’re totally see-through.

  She’s trying to kill me. Death by overwhelming lust.

  Once the zipper is completely undone, I step away and study her, stroking my chin with my fingers. Wishing I was stroking something else. She remains in place, posed just the way I asked her to, her legs slightly apart, her hands still braced on the door. Looking like a sexy little snack that’s about to get thoroughly searched.

  Hot.

  I whistle low. “Baby. You are too sexy for words.”

  “Are you just standing there looking at me?” she asks incredulously.

  “Oh yeah.”

  She glances over her shoulder, her lips curved in a sexy smile. “You like what you see?”

  “Fuck yes,” I say without hesitation.

  Does she even realize the power she has over me? Because she’s got it. Total and complete control. She could tell me to go drown myself in the pool after I get her off with my tongue, and I’d do it. No questions asked.

  These feelings might be partially brought on by the beer I’ve consumed tonight, but I’m going with it.

  Ava faces the door once more, and hangs her head. “You should take off my dress,” she says softly.

  Without hesitation, I go to her and help her out of it, and she keeps her back to me. She shrugs out of the lacy sleeves and the top falls forward, hanging limply around her waist, exposing her chest completely. Not that I can see her. With my assistance, she shimmies out of the skirt, and the entire dress crumples to the floor, covering her sandals. She steps out of the lacy puddle, kicking the dress aside. But still she stands there, facing the door.

  I have never done anything like this with a girl before. My sexual experiences are always hurried. Sometimes accompanied with a lot of fumbling. Mostly in the backseat of cars or dark places you can sneak off to at a party. Or outside. Always with the underlying fear we’re going to get caught.

  There’s no worry about that tonight. I checked my mom’s Instagram story right before I took a shower. She’s in Cayucas at a beach house with a couple of friends, drinking wine and hanging out on the back deck by the ocean. She looks like she’s having a good time.

  Approximately four hours away.

  I rest my hands lightly on Ava’s slender hips. Press myself against her heart-shaped ass, my dick nestled between her cheeks. She slowly rubs against me, leaning back as her arm follows, her hand settling on my nape and her fingers toying with my hair.

  Holy shit, this is hot. I release my hold on her hip and immediately cup her tit, using my fingers to play with her hard nipple, circling the hard bit of flesh. She seems to melt into me, practically naked while I’m still fully clothed. Unable to help myself, I grab hold of her cheek and angle her face toward mine, kissing her. Thrusting my tongue against hers. She turns to fully face me and then I’m picking her up, her legs wrapped around my waist as I carry her through the house.

  Forget the mood lighting in the living room. I take her straight to my room and lay her out on my bed, making sure her pretty head rests on the pile of pillows. She opens her eyes to find me watching her, and a slow smile spreads across her pretty face.

  “I still have my crown on.” She reaches for it, her fingers tracing the outline of the rhinestone tiara.

  “Yeah. Keep it on. I’ve always wanted to fuck a real live princess,” I tell her as I shed my shirt quickly.

  Those beautiful green eyes go wide. “Are you saying you want to have—sex tonight?”

  “I will do whatever you want tonight,” I say, as I lightly scratch at the center of my chest. Realization hits that her eyes follow the path my fingers take, and I skim them down my chest. Across my abs, settling them on the waistband of my joggers.

  Right before I slip beneath the fabric and rest my hand over my erection.

  Her lips fall open and her pupils dilate, her gaze never leaving me. “You have a six pack.”

  “I know.” I scrub my other hand over my abs, enjoying the hungry way she continues to watch me.

  “I kind of want to lick it.” She covers her face with her hands and starts to laugh.

  Crawling onto the bed, I climb on top of her, straddling her hips. Remembering the first time I did this, at her family’s cabin up at that football camp last summer. Sneaking into her room and scaring the shit out of her.

  I told her then I would make her mine. I would fight any battle to win her.

  And look at me now.

  Carefully, I remove one hand, then the other from her face. Her cheeks are red. Her eyes are sparkling. “I want to lick every inch of your skin,” I tell her.

  Her cheeks flush even harder. “Really?” she squeaks.

  Damn, she’s so cute when she’s nervous.

  “Really,” I say, trying my best to keep my voice dead serious. “Every.” I bend down and drop a kiss on her neck. “Single.” I scoot down to deliver a kiss on her collarbone. “Inch.” And then another on the valley between her breasts.

  A soft sigh leaves her. I love those sighs. I love knowing I’m the one who makes her feel good enough to make those happy sounds. I run my mouth all over her chest. Licking her nipples. Sucking them. She clutches my head, her fingers tightly pulling my hair as I kiss her everywhere I can. Marking her with my mouth. Branding her skin.

  Mine, mine, mine.

  The words repeat in my head, over and over. She’s mine. She belongs to me. No one else can have her. I want to keep her forever.

  I kiss and lick her stomach. Push open her thighs with my hands and rain kisses on them too. I can smell her. I want to taste her, but I’m trying to drive her out of her mind with need.

  Just like she’s doing to me.

  Finally, I press my mouth against the front of her panties. They’re drenched. And hot. Scorching. I glance up to find she’s watching me. I lick the same spot, my gaze never leaving hers, and she tilts her head back, closing her eyes on a moan.

  I am full-blown corrupting the good girl. The high school sweetheart. The homecoming princess.

  And she loves it.

  Thirty-Nine

  Ava

  We’re naked.

  Not quite sure how that happened, but Eli and I are completely naked in his bed, the covers pulled over us. Just a short while ago he made me come with his mouth, and oh my God, that was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Kissing and licking and nibbling on my sensitive flesh. He kept asking me where I liked it, and when he would hit a particular spot, I would practically shout, “There!”

  I loved that he wanted to know. I also loved that he learned so quickly exactly what I liked. Within minutes, I was a writhing, incoherent mess. He looked very pleased with himself when it was all over, and he rose above me, his mouth landing on mine, tasting of me. I just let him kiss me over and over, tired and sated and glowing.

  Until the kissing became more intense, and I helped him shove off his sweatpants and his crazy boxer briefs. The ones he’s wearing this time look like denim material, with colorful patches on the thighs and flames drawn on the hem of one leg. They’re totally wild.

  Totally Eli.

  He got rid of them. Leaving himself gloriously naked. Now we’re all tangled up together, our legs sliding against each other’s, our hands everywhere. I feel restless. Needy. I want more. Oh God, I really think I want to have sex with Eli.

  “What time is it?” I ask him after we come up for air from a long kissing session. My mouth hurts, but I can’t complain. I wonder if you can sprain your lips from kissing too much.

  “Almost eleven,” he says upon checking his phone.

  “Oh.” I fall back against the pillow and stare up at the ceiling, watching the fan turn in lazy circles. The circulating air feels good against my warm skin, and I bat away the comforter, exposing myself from the waist up.

  “What time do you have to be home?” Eli turns, so he’s lying on his side and facing me, his eyes going wide when he spots me. “Damn. Look at you.”

  “I’m hot.”

  “Yeah, you are,” he says with a comical leer.

  I place my hand on his entire face and give him a push, making him chuckle. He grabs my wrist and kisses my palm, his lips wet. Hot.