Neon & Nets (Venom Next Gen #1)

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Knight

I get the message after morning skate. It’s a good thing Coach insists that we leave our watches in our lockers during practice, because there’s no way I’d be able to focus if I’d gotten this news on the ice.

“You okay, dude?” Tristan asks.

“I’m fan-fucking-tastic!” I slam my locker shut, lock it with the press of a fingertip, and grab my crap. “Gotta go! I need to talk to Sofia!”

“The hell is his deal?” Viktor asks.

I don’t hear Tristan’s response because I’m already gone.

* * *

“What’s so important that it couldn’t wait?” Sofia asks. Usually, her outfits are girly and curated, but today she’s wearing a soft, oversized sweatshirt and yoga pants. I want to pull her hair down from its messy bun and kiss her silly, but that can wait. Right now, I’m a man on a mission.

“I want to get your opinion on something. It’s… time sensitive.” I reach for her hand without thinking and lead her through the streets of Serenity Shores. “So, you know how I was looking at places around here?”

Sofia nods. She blinks down at our clasped hands but doesn’t pull away. A blush creeps up her cheeks. “Yeah, totally.”

“Well, an opportunity opened up.”

“Really? That’s great, Knight!” Sofia lengthens her stride. “ No wonder you’re in a rush. Although I’m not sure why you wanted me to come along… it’s not like I’ve ever bought a house before. Why didn’t you ask your parents?”

Because I’m more worried about what you think of the place, I almost tell her. But no, that would give away too much. Like the fact that all I thought about when I heard about this place is having her in every single room of it. I don’t want to come across as clingy. I also don’t want to have to bare my heart to her, only for her to laugh it off as part of the “organic icks” effort. Better to let the scenario speak for itself.

“Because you have a good eye,” I tell her. “For design. You know, like with your jewelry. You see how things fit together.”

“Sure, with a necklace, not when it comes to interior design,” she protests. “And I don’t know anything about plumbing or… whatever people look at when they think about buying a house.”

I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “Oh, no, are you thinking about my plumbing? Because you can take a look anytime.”

“Oh my God.” Sofia groans and knocks me with her shoulder. “Shut up. You know what I mean.”

“I’m not worried about this condo’s structural integrity,” I reassure her. “It’s new construction. It’s not like I’m trying to flip an old house. I just want your input.”

I don’t tell her the place is already bought and paid for. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but I want to know how she feels about it without any strings attached. Will she like it as much as I do, or will she feel like it’s a bad fit for her? Like would she ever want to live there?

With me.

Never mind the parallels between that line of reasoning and wanting Sofia to like me. I would never project all my insecurities onto a condo .

Never. Nope. Not me.

I lead her up to the door of the complex. The condos aren’t detached; they’re arranged more like an apartment complex, except that instead of renting, I now own my unit. All along this street, most of the lower floors are shopfronts and retail spaces, while the second and third floors are dedicated to living spaces. The developers at Serenity Shores have been adamant about encouraging small, local businesses to crop up in the residential areas, rather than letting big brands take over. It’s one of the big local draws, and once more people move in, I look forward to seeing what else opens up. There are already numerous boutiques, a family-run daycare, a pet store, and an amazing coffee and pastry shop on this block, and that’s only the beginning.

Sofia studies the windows of the lower floor with interest. Massive sheets of plain brown paper have been taped up inside the glass. “What will be down here?”

“Not sure yet,” I say, in what I hope is a light and casual tone.

“For your sake, I hope it’s not a bar or a music store.” Sofia’s eyes twinkle. “Good luck trying to sleep while some twelve-year-old learns the recorder downstairs.”

“Who are these theoretical students studying recorder at three a.m.?” I tease.

“Look, recorder people are dedicated to their craft. You thought violinists were cutthroat?” She shakes her head and grimaces. “You haven’t seen the half of it.”

“I’ll just have to trust in the insulation, I guess. Come on.” I wave Sofia through the entrance to the small elevator at the back.

The people who designed this place thought of everything. They’ve made these new buildings easily accessible for people with wheelchairs, strollers, or even folks who just need to move large pieces of furniture. Sofia examines the layout with interest. When we finally step through the front door of the condo, though, she gasps.

“Oh, Knight.” She spins on the spot, arms held out like a Disney princess about to launch into her big number. “It’s beautiful. I love all the windows. You’ll get so much natural light!”

The windows facing the street, with their built-in blinds, let in plenty of light, but I know she’s more taken in by the windows at the back, which face toward Lake Serenity. Across the water, we can see the rest of the development—which encircles the lake—and then the distant outline of mountains against the desert sky.

There are other things to appreciate, like the built-in shelving along one wall, and the clever layout of the kitchen. There’s one private room downstairs, next to the steps leading upstairs. Some of the units come with solar-powered lifts to make the second floor more accessible, but I chose this one for… a number of reasons, really.

Sofia charges up the stairs. “Three bedrooms?” she calls. “Is that really necessary?”

“You’re thinking too small. One could be a home office. Or a gym.” While she explores the upstairs, I open the fridge and pull out the supplies I brought over earlier. I’ll start moving in on my next day off, but in the meantime, I have two plates, two wine glasses, a blanket, and some picnic snacks.

“I take back what I said earlier,” she hollers. Her voice is muffled by the floor, and possibly a few walls. I can’t tell where she is up there. “I’ll help you decorate. I can see exactly how it should be. I hope you’re able to close on it.”

“My real estate agent’s already on it,” I say, which is true enough. There are a few things to be ironed out, especially regarding the first floor, but it’s nothing but red tape. This is my home.

My home.

I’m surprised by how proud I feel to own a place that’s just mine. That isn’t tied back to my dad or his friends. Back in New York, I lived in a luxury apartment because it always felt temporary there. I think I leveled up one stage of adulthood today.

Sofia rushes back downstairs, beaming from ear to ear. “I’m so happy for you, Knight. You’re going to love living here. I’m so jealous.” She pauses when she sees the picnic I’ve laid out. “What’s all this?”

“Lunch,” I say. “Dinner. Whatever works. I wanted to celebrate. With you.”

“On the floor?” She points to the kitchen, which has a bar that faces toward the lake view. “Not at the counter?”

“No chairs yet,” I remind her.

“Ah.” Sofia plops down into the blanket. “We’ll fix that, don’t you worry. Now…” She rubs her hands together. “What are we celebrating with?”

“Pear wine, from Aunt Sage.” I point to the bottle. “Lemon bars from the Puck Drop. Charcuterie and a fruit plate from… the store.” I grin at her. “I guess that’s a little anticlimactic.”

“It’s perfect.” Sofia pours herself a glass of wine. “I can’t think of a better way to christen the new condo.”

I lift one eyebrow. “You can’t?”

“Okay, well.” Sofia takes a gulp of her wine. I enjoy the sexy slope of her throat as it goes down and imagine my hand around it. I wonder what she would do if I tried gently restraining her like that? It excites the hell out of me. “I guess I can think of one. But first, tell me what you’re thinking in terms of decorations.”

We pick through the snacks, sometimes talking, sometimes looking up ideas on Pinterest. Over the course of the meal, we end up shoulder to shoulder. I swear I’m listening, but I’m also thinking about the last time we were this close. The way Sofia’s back arched when she came. The warm heat of her around my fingers, the taste of her on my tongue…

Suddenly, she’s gone, gathering up the packages and snacks to take back to the fridge.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. Shit. Could she tell that I wasn’t fully attentive? That my mind was wandering? That was kind of a dick move on my part.

“Just cleaning up.” She pads back out to where I’m sitting on the mat. “This flooring is new. I didn’t want to make a mess.”

“Why would you—” I begin.

Sofia sinks back down, only this time, she hooks her leg over me. Her thighs bracket my hips as she grabs the front of my shirt and kisses me, hard.

Speaking of hard, I’ve gone from calm to unbearably horny in two seconds flat. My dick is like one of those rodeo bulls when the gate opens. Her loose clothes obscure her figure, but they make her curves feel even softer and more delicious as she presses against me, grinding her hips against mine, sending my already-hard cock into overdrive.

She gasps against my lips and leans forward. My back hits the blanket. Now that I no longer have to support myself to keep upright, I can grip Sofia’s hips while I roll against her, bucking in a desperate attempt to keep up the pressure between us.

“Was this what you had in mind?” she asks, low, coy, inviting. “To celebrate your new place?”

I’m not eloquent enough for real words, so all I say is, “Uh? ”

Sofia chuckles. She trails soft kisses along my neck and throat. “After what you did with your mouth last time, I think I owe you one.”

“No.” My voice comes out harsher than I mean it to. “Not after what you told me last time.”

Sofia freezes. She sits back, adjusting her hips so that she’s no longer pressed against my groin. The hurt is raw on her features. “Oh. But what if I want to… try?”

“Maybe some other time,” I pant. “I want… need to…” Stupid brain, refusing to make words. Stupid dick, taking all the blood I need for thinking. I pause and try again. “I want to be inside you. I want you to feel your pussy squeeze my dick. Is that…?”

Sofia bites her bottom lip, and fuck me, her mouth looks so plump and perfect. If she put those lips on my cock, there’s no way I’d last. Not after all the times I’ve thought about just that. Not after all the times I’ve nutted under the weight of my own hand fantasizing about that mouth. Just the sight of her cheeks hollowing as she takes me in her throat… fuck. I want to debauch her. I want to figure out every shameful, dirty fantasy she’s ever entertained and make it all come true.

“I want that, too,” she says. I don’t know if she can read my mind or if she’s just responding to my earlier statement, but either way, I need her. Now.

She takes my wrists and guides my hands up under her sweatshirt. I feel the lace of the camisole top beneath, and the hard jut of her nipples through the thin fabric. I run my thumbs over them, and Sofia moans, rocking her hips against my thigh.

“Your tits, Sof,” I moan. “They’re a perfect fit for my hands.”

She leans into my touch, her little pants of exhale whispering against my skin.

“Tell me how to get you close,” I beg. “Show me what you like. ”

She has to shimmy to get out of her sweatpants, and when she does, the sight of her pale blue panties has me salivating. I can see how wet she is already through the fabric.

Sofia shifts into position on top of me and sits back, running her hands through her hair until it spills over her shoulders.

“I want it like this,” she says. “Urgent. I want you to pretend you can’t resist me. Is that…?”

“Yes,” I groan. “Fuck, Sofia. What makes you think I could ever resist you?” I don’t have to pretend, but I am not in any suitable state of mind to unpack that request. I want to take every lukewarm lover she’s ever had and beat the shit out of him. Then I want to stop thinking about her ever being with anyone else.

Because ever since I was old enough to realize it, I knew she was made for me.

Sofia reaches down and slides her fingers into her panties, rubbing her clit while she rocks against me. I focus on her face, on trying to find the way she wants me to touch her breasts, on the seconds between my inhales and exhales. Otherwise, I’m going to come too soon, again.

Sofia’s face turns pink, and her full lips part. I can see the slick tip of her tongue between them.

Then, without warning, her hands are on the zipper of my jeans, shifting my pants out of the way and freeing my dick. “Your cock is beautiful, Knight,” she says on a whisper. Staring. Then, before I’m ready, she reaches out a tentative hand to stroke me, and I jerk into her small hand until she wraps her fingers around me.

I barely have time to register that we’re not even going to undress fully before she drops down into me, taking half my length in one motion. She lets out a guttural moan; I close my eyes as I try to get my thoughts together .

“C-condom?” I pant. I already have some squirreled away in the bathroom cabinet, just in case, but they seem impossibly far away now. But I hope she doesn’t ask me to get one. The thought of coming inside her feels more than risky. It feels like our future coming to pass. I can imagine her soft belly growing big with our baby. I can imagine…

“I’m on… the shot.” Sofia lifts her hips, then drops again. I am going to die of pleasure. I want her to crush me, to ride me until I’m drained, until I have nothing left to give. I’m not sure it’ll take that long, but I’m going to try, dammit.

A condom would have helped me keep my shit together, but I’m not going to complain. I press my feet into the floor and lift my hips to meet her until I’m as deep as I can get.

“K-keep touching yourself,” I pant. “We’re going to need that greedy little clit to explode on my dick.”

Sofia presses one hand into the floor for leverage and slips the other hand between us to play with herself. I have to close my eyes because I know I won’t last if I get to enjoy the view and the sensation. As hard as I try, my breath comes in short, sharp bursts, and the pressure builds in my pelvis, until my balls ache for release.

“Can’t fucking last, Sofia,” I plead, eyes still shut. “I need you to come.”

“I-I’m… almost…” Her voice is high and thin. Breathless.

I finally open my eyes and yank up her sweatshirt, closing my mouth over the material that just barely restrains her perfect breasts. I suck one of her nipples into my mouth, pressing my tongue to the cotton. I nip gently at her, and Sofia falls apart around me, tightening on my overstimulated cock, shivering and mewling as she shatters.

I fall back against the floor and, finally, let myself look up at her. She’s disheveled and gorgeous and breathtaking .

“Fuck,” I groan because I am inside Sofia Rossi. I pull her down to kiss me, and within seconds of her mouth meeting mine, I’m coming harder than I ever have or probably ever will again. Because the first time with the woman you’ve wanted your entire life is just that special. My cock jerks and spasms, spilling into her hot, wet cunt, and I swear to God, my soul leaves my body for a moment.

I’m unraveling for this woman.

Completely undone.

I don’t return to my senses until Sofia lifts herself off me. I look down as she pulls her panties back into place. I didn’t realize that she still had them on, and the fact that she’s still wearing them… that she’s still dripping with both of our release… fuck, that’s hot.

“Do you, mmm.” I take a deep breath. “Do you want to wash up?”

Sofia smirks as she reaches for her sweatpants. “Do you have towels? Or soap?”

“Shit.” I sit up. “No…”

“I’ll wash up when I get home,” she assures me.

Is it wrong that the thought of my cum inside her, dripping out of her slit as she walks, is making me half-hard again already? But I shake those thoughts away and say, “Sorry, I should have thought of that.”

She arches an eyebrow. “Really? Did you bring me here for the express purpose of a hookup?”

“No,” I say at once. It stings that she said that. It hurts me to consider she would even think that. “I really did want to show you the place. I wanted you to be the first person to be here. With me.”

She averts her gaze, and I wish she was close enough that I could force eye contact. “Nothing to apologize for, then. But you can see why I might be eager to get back to my place, now.”

I tuck myself back into my jeans, feeling a little let down. The orgasm was amazing, but this doesn’t feel as… romantic as I’d imagined. I want to lay Sofia down, see her lovely, naked form again, to, I don’t know, make love to her. Soft and slow. Worship her like she’s mine. Because in my heart, she already is. Why is she acting this way? She told me what she wanted, didn’t she? Short, sweet, and to the point. Maybe we can try again when I have furniture and amenities to work with.

“We can leave this,” I tell her as we get to our feet. “I’ll get it when I come back. There’s one more thing I wanted to ask you, though.”

“Yeah?” Sofia pulls her hair back, scraping the loose curls back up into a high bun.

“Tomorrow is the season opener. And we’re at home.” I swallow hard. “It’s a big deal. And it matters to me. But I understand if you’re uncomfortable or you hate hockey. Oh, God. Do you hate hockey?”

Sofia laughs at my sudden discomfort. “No. I don’t hate hockey. And I really like you… I mean, I want to be there to support you.”

“That’s good, because I really want you to be there. And… here.” I reach into my grocery bag of picnic supplies for the one item left in the bottom. “I have this for you.”

Sofia takes the jersey in both hands. She stares down at my name, then up at my face. “You want me to wear your jersey?”

I nod. “If you’re okay with that.” I hope she gets what this means. I’m determined to play it as cool as possible, all things considered.

“Wow,” she says, and then after a long moment, “okay. Sure. See you there.” She tucks the jersey under one arm. “Well, I’d better get going. ”

“I can drive you back,” I tell her.

“No need.” She waves me away. “I took an Uber over, and you’ve got your hands full. See you.”

And then she’s gone, leaving me in my new condo, filled with thoughts and feelings and raw memories of what we just did and wondering what the hell just happened.