Hux was fast, his reaction times so lightning quick that more often than not, he’d already sunk the puck in my slot before I even realized that he’d shot it.
“Holy shit, I’m bad at this,” I gasped, horrified.
“Thank goodness it wasn’t just me,” Cara huffed. “I looked like a stoned sloth compared to Mr Jackrabbit over here.” She gestured to Hux, who had his fingers pressed to the bridge of his nose, his face down.
I was by his side in a second, gripping his biceps. They were rock solid and so very warm. I shivered at the feel of that coiled strength under my palms and resisted the desire to run my hands up them. “Hoser,” he gasped, laughing louder.
“Stoned sloth,” Cara added between giggles.
Laughter bubbled up inside me, and I couldn’t help joining them. Every time I looked at Hux, I’d laugh harder, so I focussed on Cara instead. She was giggling so hard that she had tears streaming down her cheeks. I couldn’t look at her either without starting to laugh again too. I looked away and took a deep breath, forcing myself to stop. Finally, I had myself under control. But then I thought about how bad we both were, and it started again.
We moved onto basketball next, and that levelled the playing field significantly. I’d spent years shooting hoops with my son,Ash, and his best mate, Ryder. By the way Cara took the shots, she clearly had netball training, not once using the backboard for the rebound.
Tickets shot out of the machines, and my gaze met Hux’s. Without even having to say the words, I knew that we were both on a mission to get Cara the biggest soft toy they had in the place.
She ended up with a pair of oversized sunglasses, a foot-long length of raspberry liquorice, and a tiny notepad which she insisted was perfect for jotting down words when she wasn’t supposed to be writing.
“Want to grab a bite to eat?” I asked.
“Let’s do room service,” Cara suggested. “Alec trained today, so he must be tired.”
He opened his mouth, then snapped it closed again and smiled shyly at her. It was the first time I’d seen him completely let down his guard even just for a moment, and my breath caught. “I’d like that,” he murmured, taking her hand in his and kissing her knuckles.
Cara blushed and bit her lip, trying to contain her smile, but it was no use. And I bloody loved it.
We walked back to the hotel with Cara tucked into my side. My arm around her was everything, and I couldn’t even be bothered worrying about the second glances by people probably wondering if she was my daughter or my lover. A few of the players were in the lobby when we arrived, but Hux ignored them, heading straight to Cara’s room.
“Hey,” Cara said as the lift doors opened, and we stepped out on her floor. There was no one around us; the corridors were as quiet as a tomb. She stepped out from my embrace and cupped his face. I knew how soft her hands were, and I watched as Hux’s eyes fluttered closed and he leaned into her touch. “I’m sorry for whatever went down today. I hate that you’re going through a rough time. But I’m here—we’rehere—if you want to talk aboutit or even if you want to sweat it out.” Her face flamed, and she giggled, her eyes drifting closed in mortification. “In the gym. Sweat it out in the gym. With Monroe. Not me. Anyone but me in a gym.”
He wrapped her in his arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing deep. I didn’t know what to do, the urge to make it better despite my powerlessness was like an itch I couldn’t scratch. Touching him was intimate, but he didn’t seem to have anyone here but us. Blanking out the thoughts occupying my mind, I tugged the tie out of his hair and ran my fingers through the soft waves. He groaned and reached out, blindly seeking me. It settled something inside me to know I could give him something. I stepped up behind Cara and pressed myself against her back. Hux found my shirt and gripped it tight. I slid my hand over his and rubbed my thumb over his wrist. Gooseflesh peppered his skin, and I slipped my hand higher, up those strong forearms.
When he let go of my shirt, I wanted to protest, but then he touched my hip and slid his hand higher to my waist. I rested my forehead against the top of his head, and he exhaled, going lax in Cara’s arms.
I massaged his head, running my hand down to his nape and squeezing. His breath hitched, and Cara shifted. She pressed a kiss to his temple, and the urge to take his lips welled up in me. I fought it back, kissing Cara instead.
“Thank you,” Hux murmured, his voice low and rough. “Today has been all kinds of fucked-up. But this—tonight and right now—has made it better.”
“Let’s go inside,” I said, giving his neck another squeeze before letting go.
His smile was small, but there was something deeper shining in his eyes that reached out to me and held me captivated.
Inside, Hux switched on the television and immediately brought up the secondMamma Miamovie. I smiled and looked across at Cara. She was gazing at him with hearts in her eyes, her lips tilted up in a smile that was so filled with adoration, it made my breath catch. She flicked her gaze to me, and her smile slipped. She put down the room service menu and came to me, reaching up to cup my face like she’d done to Hux. I didn’t hesitate, pressing my lips to hers and sweeping my tongue inside her mouth. She tasted sweet like the liquorice we’d shared and something uniquely her. I was addicted, the moan that escaped from deep in my throat entirely involuntary.
We ordered more food for Hux than Cara and me combined, then collapsed back onto the couch with Cara between us once more. Her feet were in my lap, and she leaned back on Hux, who had his arms around her waist. They looked so comfortable together and genuinely perfect for each other.
I ran my thumb over her calf, and her smooth skin met my fingers. She flushed and bit her lip, and I shifted, letting one of her legs fall behind me while keeping the other in my hands. I lifted her foot, then pressed a kiss to the soft skin above her ankle. I nuzzled her, my lips lingering there. Cara inhaled sharply, and her eyes fluttered closed. I kissed higher along her leg, reaching her knee before I leaned in and took her lips with mine. Bracing myself against the armrest behind Hux, I rested my other arm along the back of the sofa and let part of my weight rest on her. She gripped my hair and tugged me closer, slamming her mouth against mine and trapping me between her legs. Her kisses were drugging, her touch sure but tentative too.
I took, losing myself in our kiss. I was hard muscle and rough hands and groans, and she was soft curves and delicate sighs. I wanted to sink into her, to make love to her all night. Her sweet scent and the press of her fingers as they dug into my back were addictive.
Hux touched my shoulder, soft and light. It was cautious, as if by accident, but his fingers were like a brand, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. My hips punched forward without conscious thought from me, and Cara moaned. Her heat was pressed up against my rock-hard dick, and it took everything in me to stop grinding against her.
Jesus Christ, touching them and being with them had unlocked something in my brain. I wanted more of it. I moaned and pressed my thigh harder against Hux’s, grinding my hips against Cara’s pussy again.
The knock on the door startled me. My muscles locked up, and I groaned. Fuck me, I’d been completely lost in her.
In them.
I pulled back and licked my lips, chasing the taste of her. Cara’s pupils were blown, her eyes heavy lidded and her lips kiss swollen. Her dress was pushed up high, and I could see the pale flowers on her cute underwear.
