Dom’s hand paused, then resumed its slow movement.
“I got in. When I opened that letter, I cried. And for five whole minutes, I thought maybe things were finally working out for me. In my head, I was already wearing that jersey. I ran into the kitchen like a fuckingidiot, thinking they’d be just as excited as I was.”
My throat burned.
“My parents didn’t even remember that it was the school I’d obsessed over for years. And then they told me… they’d spent my college fund. Used it to fix the roof. Take out some business loan. They didn’t think I’d get in, so why bother saving? They didn’tbelievein me.”
Silence settled between us like a weighted blanket.
“They never once came to a game. Didn’t know what position I played, let alone what it meant to me. I remember thinking, there goes everything I bled for. All those early mornings, the torn-up knees, the damn tournaments in the middle of nowhere. Gone. That was the day something in me cracked,” I whispered. “Like a switch flipped. No more depending on anyone. No more hoping people would show up for me. I’d figure out how to do it all myself — or not do it at all.”
Dom let out a slow breath. Not pitying. Just… understanding.
I pulled back slightly, meeting his eyes. “So yeah. That’s why I don’t trust easily. Why I don’t let people get close. You either end up used or disappointed. Or both.”
He studied me with that unreadable expression of his — the one he got when he was cataloguing things he knew better than to say out loud.
“You don’t have to be alone in it anymore,” he said, his voice rough with certainty. “I’m not them, Sierra.”
A breath caught in my throat. “I know,” I said softly. “That’s what scares the shit out of me.”
Dom leaned in, resting his forehead against mine. “Then let it scare you. I’m still not going anywhere.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. So I stayed quiet, sinking into the safety of him — of this moment — and let the fear settle beside the comfort. I must’ve fallen asleep like that, held together by something that felt dangerously close to peace.
When I rolled over in the middle of the night, half-asleep, my leg found his, and I let it stay.
His hand drifted over mine while he slept, and, for once, I didn’t pull away. That quiet warmth was louder than anything else.
***
“Knew you needed this.”
My eyes were trying to open, but my mind insisted on dragging me back into sleep, knowing it was way too early to wake up. I didn’t want to slip out of this state of warm complacency, my body floating in a state of pleasurable satisfaction.
Lips ghosted over my skin. There was a sucking sensation on my nipple, wet and hot, shooting tingles up my spine, and I arched up into it, involuntarily. Consciousness slowly crept in, but I didn’t open my eyes, my lids still heavy with sleep.
The haze of sleep was seamlessly replaced by the haze of pleasure. I wasn’t even sure I was fully awake. All I was sure of, right now, were the needy, whimpering sounds reaching my ears.Was that me?
“Shhh, I got you.”
My lids fluttered open for a fraction of a second, spotting his form towering over me, nearly eclipsing any light. The throbbing between my legs became more pronounced. Everything felt so sensitive, like he’d already been playing with me for a while.
“How—” I moaned helplessly, unable to string the words together.
“Hey, Darlin’. Nice of you to join me.” His voice was a little breathless as he dragged his cock back.
My whole body rocked with the force of his thrusts, my shirt was pushed up, and my tits were bouncing freely. They were covered in his saliva, and some spots where he’d sucked too hard or maybe bitten me felt tender.
I gave it another try. “How l-long—”
He chuckled darkly, his hot breath ghosting over my heated, flushed skin. “You’ve missed most of it. Came all over my face once, and then another time on my cock. The sounds you made were divine. Such a greedy girl, I knew you needed my cock today.”
A breathless gasp escaped my lips as he bit into my breast and then sucked hard, intent to leave a mark.
Usually, I slept on my side, so he must’ve rolled me onto my back, and he was fucking me with deep, rolling strokes. His pelvis was rubbing against my swollen clit in the most delicious way.
I was so sensitive, it was almosttoomuch.
