Twin Babies for my Pucking Defenders (Chicago Icebreakers #2)

14. Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Carter

I glance at the clock again. It’s five a.m., and I should be asleep, but here I am, staring at house listings on my laptop.

Last night was a fucking whirlwind. I was at the gym, just trying to get a decent workout in, when I walked into half of the Blackhawks team. Of course, they all turned to stare like I’d just walked in wearing a clown suit. It was so awkward I had to bail and come home.

I work out for a while but it’s clear I need to move soon. The sight of that apartment suite in Gold Coast looks promising, so I snap a screenshot and fire it off to Jade.

Last night’s ice cream and kissing her—shit, that was like a dream. It helped with my insomnia, even though it’s been getting bad again. I swear I’m gonna go see the doctor soon, but I just have had so much going on.

I’m surprised when her reply comes through just a couple of minutes later.

Jade: I know that apartment. Millie, Chase, Declan, and Finn used to live there.

I raise an eyebrow.

Me: Why the hell are you up so early?

Jade: Missing my dog. Shadow’s with Millie.

Me: I’m sure he misses you too.

I know Jade was on a date last night; I’m not an idiot. But her agreeing to meet up with me and even kissing me first has to mean something, right?

Me: Want to take me to check out the apartment later?

Jade: Yeah, I’d love to. Why are you up though?

Me: Dealing with a bit of insomnia.

Jade: Exercise usually helps.

I let out a snort.

Me: I don’t really want to work out right now.

Jade: What about running?

I’m about to tell her I’ll run later when she sends: “C’mon, we can do a twenty-minute run in the park right now and then you can nap before practice.”

I can’t resist the urge to see her. I’m already climbing out of bed, throwing on some workout gear.

Me: I’m up for it.

Jade: See you in a bit.

And just like that, I’m pulling on my sneakers.

It’s fucking freezing outside, but the crisp air feels good. I make it to the park and spot Jade waiting by the entrance. She’s wearing tight workout leggings and a hoodie that does nothing to hide how amazing her figure is. Damn, she’s looking hot even at this hour.

“Morning,” I say, trying to sound casual.

“Morning,” she replies, a grin tugging at her lips. “Ready to run?”

“Hell yeah,” I reply, falling into step beside her.

We start running, the silence between us oddly comfortable. I can’t help but glance at her, her breath coming out in little puffs of mist. She’s got this focused look, determination in every stride.

“So, the apartment,” she says after a while, breaking the silence. “Do you like it?”

“Yeah,” I tell her. “Looks promising. But I need to check it out in person.”

“Yeah, definitely,” she agrees. “It’s a nice spot. I’ll show you around.”

We keep running. The rhythm of our feet hitting the pavement is oddly soothing. The cold air bites at my cheeks, but it’s a good kind of cold, the kind that wakes you up. I glance over at Jade.

“You always run this early?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation going.

“Not usually,” she says, giving me a sideways glance. “But missing Shadow got me up. Plus, you texted me and I was already awake.”

I chuckle. “Well, I appreciate you being up for this.”

“Anything for you,” she says, her voice teasing. “Besides, it’s good to have a workout buddy.”

We turn a corner and I can’t help but notice the way her ponytail bounces with every step. It’s oddly mesmerizing. I try to push my pace a little, wanting to keep up with her energy.

“So,” I say, “how was your date last night?”

She glances at me, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “It was...good. Really good, actually.”

I try to keep my face neutral. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she says, her smile widening. “Why? Jealous?”

“Maybe,” I admit, grinning. “I’ve got competition now.”

She laughs, a light, musical sound that makes me smile. “I guess you do. But you’re in luck. I don’t usually go for the quiet, brooding type, yet here we are.”

“I’m not brooding,” I protest.

“Sure you’re not,” she teases. “You know, if you’re not careful, I might just have to put you in your place.”

I laugh. “You think you can handle me?”

She smirks. “I know I can.”

We keep running, our breath coming faster now, warming up with the exertion. I’m starting to sweat, but it feels good. There’s something about running with Jade that makes the time pass faster. Before I know it, we’re slowing down, finishing our run.

“Not bad,” she says, catching her breath. “You kept up pretty well.”

“Thanks,” I reply, grinning. “I’ve been known to push myself.”

She stretches, her arms reaching high above her head, her body moving fluidly. I can’t help but watch, a slight flush of admiration on my face.

“Ready for that nap?” she asks, eyeing me.

“Hell yes,” I say. “You gonna join me?”

“Carter!” She snorts before running a hand through her hair.

I glance at Jade as we cool down from our run. Her cheeks are flushed from the exercise, her breath coming in short bursts. I can’t help but admire how the cold air makes her skin glow.

It’s early, just barely getting light out, and the park is almost empty. It’s just the two of us, and the quiet has a way of making everything feel more intense.

“Nice run,” I say, trying to sound casual, though my eyes keep drifting to her.

“Yeah, it was,” she replies, her voice breathless. She leans against a nearby tree, stretching her legs. “You kept up pretty well.”

“Thanks,” I say, taking a deep breath. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

She laughs, the sound light and playful. “So, what’s the plan now? You gonna crash at home?”

I shake my head. “Actually, I was thinking...”

I don’t finish the thought. Instead, I walk closer to her, the cold grass crunching under my sneakers. She watches me with a curious smile, her eyes flicking to my lips and then back up to my eyes.

“Thinking about what?” she asks, her voice teasing.

I lean in, closing the distance between us. “Thinking about how fucking good you look this morning.”

Her eyes widen slightly, but then her grin returns. “Oh? Is that right?”

“Yeah,” I say, my voice low. “You’re fucking irresistible.”

Without waiting for a response, I pull her toward me, my hands on her waist. She gasps, but then her lips are on mine, soft and eager. I kiss her fiercely, the taste of her sweat mingling with the cold air. Her hands grip my shoulders, pulling me closer, and I’m lost in the heat of her body against mine.

“Fuck, Jade,” I mutter against her lips. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

“Tell me,” she breathes, her hands sliding up to my neck. “Show me.”

I’m not one to argue with that. I press her against the tree, my hands sliding down to her hips. I can feel the heat radiating from her body, even through our workout clothes. She wraps her legs around my waist, her core pressing against me.

“Are we really doing this?” she asks, her voice trembling just a bit with excitement.

“Yeah,” I say, my breath coming in ragged bursts. “We’re doing this.”

I lift her, her legs wrapping tightly around me as I carry her a few steps to a secluded part of the park, behind a cluster of trees where we won’t be seen. I lay her down on the grass, the ground cold against our skin. I’m quick to remove her leggings and panties, tossing them aside.

She looks up at me, her eyes dark with desire. “Carter, we really shouldn’t...”

“Shut up,” I growl, my voice rough. “I’ve been wanting you for so fucking long.”

I pull down my joggers, my heart racing with anticipation. I can’t get enough of the way she looks right now, lying there, her skin pale against the dark grass. I reach for her, my hands roaming over her body as I kiss her neck, her lips, anywhere I can reach.

She moans, her hands gripping my hair, pulling me closer. “Carter, please.”

I kiss my way down her body, stopping at her core. I spread her legs wide, my fingers exploring. I’m met with a gasp and a shiver as I begin to lick and kiss her, tasting every inch of her. She’s hot and wet, her body writhing under my touch.

“Fuck,” she gasps, her hands gripping the grass. “Don’t stop.”

I keep going, my tongue moving in slow, deliberate circles. I can feel her building toward something, her moans becoming more frantic. I love the way she reacts, how her body tenses and then melts against me.

She’s close, I can tell. I slip a finger inside her, feeling her clench around me. She cries out, her back arching off the grass as she comes. I keep my mouth on her, riding out her orgasm, feeling her shudder against me.

When she finally relaxes, I pull away, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. I look at her, her eyes still closed, a satisfied smile on her face.

“Jesus, Carter,” she breathes, her voice barely a whisper. “That was...incredible.”

“Yeah,” I say, my voice low. “It was.”

I help her sit up, her legs still trembling slightly. I reach into my pocket and grab a couple of condoms. “We’re not done yet.”

Her eyes widen as she takes in the sight of them. “You always come prepared?”

I chuckle. “You never know when the mood might strike.”

I slide one of the condoms onto my cock, my gaze never leaving hers. I lift her again, her legs wrapping around my waist as I guide myself into her. She moans as I enter her, her body stretching to accommodate me.

“Ready?” I ask, my voice rough with desire.

She nods, her eyes locked on mine. “Yes, Carter. Please.”

I start to move, my thrusts slow and steady at first. I’m focused on the way she feels around me, the way she moans with each movement. I increase the pace, my breaths coming in short, sharp bursts.

“Fuck, Carter,” she cries out, her nails digging into my back. “Yes, just like that.”

I lean in, kissing her neck, my breath hot against her skin. “You feel so good,” I mutter. “I can’t get enough of you.”

She wraps her arms around my neck, her body clinging to mine as we move together. I can feel her getting close again, her breathing becoming more erratic. I increase my pace, pushing her to the edge.

“Come for me,” I demand, my voice rough. “Let go.”

She cries out, her body tensing as she comes around me. I can feel her clenching and shuddering, and it’s almost too much. I follow her, my own release coming hard and fast.

When we’re both spent, I gently set her down on the grass, pulling her close. We’re both breathing heavily, our bodies slick with sweat.

“Fuck,” she murmurs, her voice soft. “That was...”

“Intense,” I finish for her, my fingers tracing lazy patterns on her skin. “Yeah, it was.”

She looks up at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of satisfaction and confusion. “What does this mean?”

I kiss her forehead, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “It means we have five fucks to go.”

She smiles, her eyes twinkling. “I like the sound of that.”

I help Jade up from the grass, noticing how her skin looks slightly disheveled. Her cheeks are flushed, not just from the run, but from everything we just did.

“Shit,” I say, my eyes roaming over her body as she straightens her clothes. “You’ve got some marks.”

She glances down, her eyes widening slightly. “Oh, damn.”

Her thighs are marked with faint red lines, evidence of how tightly she clung to me. Her arms, too, have a few bruises, and I see a small bite mark on her collarbone that I definitely did not give her.

Some of the bruises are already turning purple. They are probably from whoever she was on a date with last night.

I expect the anger or jealousy to flare up but there’s…. nothing.

Damn! That’s odd.

She bites her lip as she looks away,

I gently trace a finger over one of the bruises on her arm. “These don’t look too bad, but they’re definitely noticeable.”

She shivers a little from the touch, her eyes meeting mine with a mix of embarrassment and something else—maybe satisfaction. “I didn’t realize it’d leave marks.”

“Yeah, well, you’re not exactly gentle.” I grin, trying to lighten the mood. “I’ve got a few marks on you too, if you want to compare.”

She laughs softly, shaking her head. “I’m sure you do. Are you sure you are okay with sharing me?”

I laugh out loud. “I like competition, and right now I think he has me beat by a few marks, but I’ll make up for that next time.”

She shudders for me, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. I like that I have this effect on her.

I gently touch the bite mark on her collarbone, my thumb brushing over it lightly. “Does it hurt?”

She shakes her head. “Not really. Just a bit tender.”

“Good,” I say, pulling her into a soft embrace. “I don’t want you in pain.”

She leans into me, her head resting on my chest. “It’s kind of...nice, actually. Reminds me of you.”

“Yeah?” I ask, my hand continuing to caress her back, tracing the small bruises and marks.

“Yeah,” she replies with a shy smile. “It’s like a little reminder of what we did.”

I can’t help but smile at that. “Well, I’m glad you’ve got a reminder.”

She pulls back slightly, looking at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “And you, too. You’ve got some pretty impressive marks yourself.”

I chuckle, rubbing a hand over a bruise on my own arm. “Guess we both went a little overboard.”

She playfully nudges me. “Just a bit.”

I help her adjust her clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles and making sure she’s comfortable. “Come on, let’s get you home. We don’t want to attract too much attention looking like this.”

She nods, giving me a quick peck on the cheek before we head back to the car.

As we drive back to her place, I can’t stop thinking about how perfect this was. Jade’s amazing, and I’m ready to see where this goes.

When we get to her apartment, I help her out of the car, my hand lingering on her back.

“Thanks for the run,” she says, her voice soft, “It was incredible.”

“Yeah,” I reply, grinning. “It really was.”

She gives me a quick kiss and heads inside, her face flushed and happy. I watch her go, a satisfied smile on my face.

I don’t think I mind sharing my girl one bit.

I don’t think I mind it at all.