Puck Princess (Houston Scythes Hockey #2)

7. Owen

7

OWEN

When we pull into the complex, we both start talking at the same time.

“If you want to come over?—”

“Can I stay with you?”

We look at each other over the center console, the interior of the car washed in the yellow street light. Electricity charges the air around us.

“Stay with me.”

She gives a small nod, and, with that decided, we head inside.

Callie lets go of my hand in the entryway and moves down the hall to the bathroom. She turns on the shower before I’ve even kicked off my shoes.

She meets me in the hallway, hitching a thumb over her shoulder towards the steam billowing out of the bathroom door. “That’s for you.”

When I look in the mirror, I understand why. Jesus Christ, I need to clean up. Dried blood is flaked down my chin and across my upper lip. There’s a bruise on my jawline that doesn’t smart much yet, but it’ll be hell in the morning.

When I take my shirt off, I feel Callie’s eyes trailing over me. She’s checking me out, but not in the way I wish she was. The look in her eyes is all business as she maps out the scrapes and bruises across my chest and ribs.

She must decide I’m not in imminent danger because she kisses me softly on the cheek before slipping out of the bathroom. “I’ll let you do your thing.”

I step into the water and crank the handle to cold. Partially because I need to cool off and partially because hot water would burn like a motherfucker right now.

I close my eyes and take a minute to decompress.

That… was a lot.

All of this… is a lot.

I know who Nicky’s dad is, and the truth makes me feel like I’ve been drawn and quartered. I could crack the shower tiles right now if my fist wasn’t already a swollen mess.

But it’s not just that. Two women—the two women I care about more than anything in the world—could have been seriously hurt today. The people I’ve sworn to protect were in danger, and I barely made it in time.

I told myself they would both be safer without me around, but tonight, if I hadn’t shown up… I can’t even think about what that would’ve meant.

I finish showering and step out, wrapping a towel around my waist. As I step into the hallway, I hear Callie in the living room. She’s crying.

I follow the sound and find her huddled on the couch.

“Hey.” I sit next to her, close enough to pull her against my still-damp chest. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything.”

I get that.

“I know. And I’m so sorry. For everything, Callie.”

“Sorry?” She sniffles, turning to look at me. “For what?”

I don’t even know where to begin.

“I should’ve known something was going on with Miles after the charity ball. I had a feeling, but I didn’t listen to it.”

“Because I lied to you about what happened.”

“And I should’ve known you were lying.” Part of me did know; I just didn’t want to believe it. “I’m supposed to keep you and Summer safe, but if I’d been two seconds later tonight?—”

“But you weren’t, Owen.” She turns to me, her hands on my shoulders. “You’re the reason we’re okay. You’re the reason we’re safe.”

The air is thick again, the same way it was earlier tonight on the couch just next door. If I’d done what I wanted to in that moment, we’d probably still be on that couch. And Summer would be with Miles.

As shitty as things went tonight, I can’t help but feel like they happened the way they were supposed to. Miles got what was coming to him, Summer is safe at home with Nicky, and Callie and I are… here.

As Callie looks at me, our gazes swimming together, I think maybe this moment was meant to be, too.

Her eyes drop to my lips before biting her own, and I can’t waste another second not touching her.

We kiss.

It’s a soft, gravitational pull where we meet in the middle. She slides onto my lap the way she was earlier tonight, deepening the kiss. My towel falls away, and she can see how much I want this.

Maybe that’s why she murmurs against my mouth, “I want you.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, not because I worry we’ll regret it. I’ll never regret a second I spend touching her. Even if this doesn’t work out, even if fate is a twisted bitch and this isn’t meant to be, I’ll never regret her.

But she’s vulnerable right now. Miles’ hands were on her less than an hour ago, and I don’t want to rush her into anything.

“Yes,” she breathes, her fingers sliding into the hair at the back of my neck. “I need you.”

And that’s all she needs to say.

I kiss Callie again, soft and unhurried. We have all the time in the world tonight, but it’s also the only way I can kiss her right now. My face is a mess. Hell, everything hurts. But I don’t care.

I want this. I want her.

I scoop Callie in my arms and carry her to the bedroom. I lay her on my bed and fall over her, kissing her neck. I lift her shirt over her head and my mouth trails down to her collarbones and her chest.

“God, you’re so perfect,” I rasp.

“So are you.” She runs her fingers down my torso and a chill shudders through my entire body.

“I’m a fucking wreck. You, on the other hand, look beautiful.”

Before she can fight me on that, I kiss her breasts, teasing her enough to make her arch off the bed. I make my way lower and stop, my eyes tracing over the small swell in her abdomen.

“I know, I’m starting to show,” she says softly, watching me. “I can hardly fit in my clothes anymore.”

I hold her waist, running my thumbs over the bump.

“I love it,” I say, kissing her stomach. I don’t know if I’m talking about the baby or the way she feels. Maybe all of it?

I glance up at Callie, and she has tears in her eyes.

“You know what else I love?” I shift gears, tugging her panties off, and bring my mouth to her. “The way you taste.”

Callie gasps at the contact. “Fuck me, that feels good.”

I sweep my tongue across her, slowly and then with more urgency before I find the spot that makes her whimper. The tip of my tongue flicks, and I can feel all of her tensing under me.

“How the fuck are you so good at that?” she breathes.

“Good at what?” I ask, sucking right where I know she wants me most.

Her hips roll against my mouth. “That.”

I smirk into her.

“And I swear to God, if you say ‘practice,’ I’ll smack you.”

“Maybe I just know you. ”

With that, I finish her. But even as she comes and relaxes into my bed, I know she needs more. I need it, too.

I slide next to her, and she cups my face in her hands. I wince.

“Sorry.” She offers an apologetic smile. “Does it hurt everywhere?”

I’m bruised and scraped and fucked up almost everywhere I look, so it’s a valid question. But then I grin.

“Not everywhere… ”

Callie takes the hint, and her eyes darken with mischief. She reaches down and finds me with her hand. I am already wet with pre-cum. She circles over the tip, and her hand glides smoothly down the length of me.

“Fuck…” I let out slowly. It’s been a hot minute, and I’m embarrassed to admit she could end me in all of two seconds right now.

Callie works her hand slowly, her fingertips finding every sensitive spot as she does. It’s an art, and I am about to unravel.

“Callie…”

“Yes,” she answers, and that’s all I need. I pull her underneath me, pausing only to kiss her before sliding inside.

She digs into my back as I fill her, sending a burst of pain along my spine that hurts so fucking good.

We move together slowly, savoring the feeling of being here, together. Of Callie being whole and safe beneath me.

The pace only picks up when we both need the release. We hit that edge together, moaning as I bury myself inside of her.

Coming undone and crashing together.