Page 97 of Catch and Cradle
“I don’t even know what to say, Hastings! That was brilliant.”
I finish slurping down my water and grin. “Thanks, Coach.”
“I’d expect nothing less from our future captain.”
I feel my smile falter as my stomach flips at the word. I know I’m ready to be captain. It’s exactly what I want, but that fear of not being enough still creeps in sometimes.
“You really think I can do it?” I ask, quiet enough that he has to lean closer to hear.
He pulls back and stares at me for a moment, his face pursed like he’s thinking something over.
“Hope,” he finally says, “I think you can do anything you want, and if you don’t believe me, you can just ask her.”
He nods over my shoulder, and I turn to find Becca standing a few feet away from our pile of teammates. She’s looking right at me. Her goggles are slung around her neck. Her sweaty jersey is clinging to the front of her body. Her hair is a mess, and she’s somehow gotten dirt streaked across one of her cheeks.
And she’s beautiful.
She’s so fucking beautiful.
I don’t even answer Coach. I just run to her. I crash into her arms and almost take us both down, and as soon as we’ve caught our balance, I kiss her.
I kiss her just like I’ve wanted to all along: without fear, without worry, right where everyone can see just how hard I’ve fallen for this gorgeous, determined, stubborn, strong, sweet, and beautiful girl.
* * *
“How are you this beautiful?” Becca pulls my face down to hers and tangles her hands in my hair. “Seriously, how?”
I’m straddling her lap wearing nothing but my bra and underwear. Becca is completely topless but still has her sparkly red celebration shorts on. The rough material feels surprisingly good against my thighs, and I can’t help grinding into her. She swears, giving up waiting for an answer to her question, and starts kissing my neck instead. I moan, thrusting my hips even harder against hers.
Sometimes I think she must be taking notes about my body. She knows exactly how to drive me crazy. Her lips always find just the right spot. She adds a scrape of her teeth that makes me shiver and throw my head back, giving her access to more of my skin.
I always want to give her more of me.
“I want to see your tits,” she murmurs, reaching around for the clasp of my bra.
I hiss. “I love when you say things like that.”
“Oh yeah?” She glances up and catches my eye. “You like it when I tell you that you have the best fucking tits and I need my mouth on them right now?”
“I...yes.”
She chuckles at my stammering and helps me pull my bra off. The cool air of the room makes goose bumps rise on my bare chest. The University of Toronto dorms we’re staying in have some kind of heating problem, but I’m too focused on Becca to care.
We ditched the post-championship party at a nearby bar and did our best to make a subtle exit. Half the team still cat-called us on our way out, but I know they all think we’re cute together. My housemates are all fully on board the Becca train now, and we’ve even had her over for a couple of our Babe Cave dinners.
Of course, they also have plenty of jokes about me eating Becca for dinner.
“Oh my god, Becca, that feels so good.”
I gasp and dig my nails into her shoulders as she flicks her tongue over one of my nipples. She sucks and bites and teases me for so long I can feel how wet I am every time I move.
“I need you,” I say between moans. “Please.”
She flips me onto my back on the tiny dorm bed in one fluid motion. After shimmying out of her shorts, she spreads my legs and climbs on top of me. We only have two thin layers of fabric between us now. She’s surrounding me: the warmth of her skin on mine, her hot breath in my ear, the thump of her heart where our chests press together. Even just the smell of her hair is enough to make me lose it. I pull her mouth to mine, and we kiss like we’re starving. My legs wrap around her waist, and she starts to rock against me.
She breaks the kiss and rests her forehead against mine. Her eyes are squeezed shut, and her mouth has gone slack with desire. Sometimes she just looks so stunning and totally lost in the moment all I can do is stare at her in awe.
I make her feel like that. She wants me this much. Sometimes I still can’t quite believe it.