SWNOVELS Broken Rivalry : Chapter 18
My heart is racing, beating wildly as I drive us to my place. Poppy agreed to come home with me, and every second that passes, I half expect her to change her mind. I linger a bit too long at the traffic light before turning left toward my house, stealing a glance at her. Her face is a mixture of resolve and desire that mirrors my own internal commotion.
Silently, I send up a thank-you to any deity that might be listening when I pull into my driveway and spot the absence of Cole’s and Liam’s cars. I’m not in the mood to deal with their antics or Cole’s crude innuendos that might make my girl uncomfortable.
My girl…
I turn off the car and turn toward her, meeting her eyes. She smiles, and something warm and solid settles inside me.
Yes, Poppy Lockwood might not have been for me, but Poppy Donovan… definitely is.
“It’s quite a big house,” she murmurs, her eyes scanning the structure in front of us.
I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. The house, with its red brick and modern touches like bold windows and a sleek balcony, is a blend of classic and contemporary. Inside, cozy hardwood floors mesh with high-tech amenities, creating a vibe that respects the old while flirting with the new. It’s one of the reasons I had my father buy it for me and why the boys wanted to move in.
“Trust me, when you share it with Cole Westbrook and his larger-than-life personality, it doesn’t feel that big at all,” I say, trying to lighten the mood, wanting to erase any unease from her face.
I want her to be comfortable here, in my space, in my home… in my life. Because I’m already suspecting that letting her go won’t be an option for me.
We step inside, and I watch her take in the surroundings, her eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion. I’m suddenly acutely aware of every detail of the place, wondering what she thinks, hoping she finds it… acceptable?
But as she turns to me, her smile tender and genuine, I realize that all the worry, all the insecurity, is unfounded. Because Poppy isn’t here for the house, or the lifestyle, or any of the superficial things.
She’s here for me. And I’m here for her. And that’s all that really matters.
I take her coat and hang it on the rack as she steps out of her shoes, padding lightly on the freshly cleaned hardwood floor. A glimpse of her cute toes, painted pink through her sheer tights, sends an unexpected jolt through me, making my cock twitch.
Get a grip, idiot, or you’ll come in your fucking pants before you even get her to the bedroom. Cole’s voice echoes mockingly in my head, oddly grounding me.
I clear my throat, moving behind the kitchen counter. “Do you want something to drink?”
She shakes her head, her eyes still exploring the living space. “Where’s your bedroom?” Her voice is soft, not flirtatious, but genuine, even though I’m hoping that once we step into the bedroom, we won’t be leaving until morning.
My cock twitches again, I am already losing control of my body.
“My bedroom is upstairs, Cole’s too,” I manage to say, pointing upward. “Liam is there,” I add, gesturing down the hall beside the wall, which has the gigantic TV mounted on it and the electric fireplace below.
She nods, moving toward the stairs with an ease that pleases me.
“First door on the right,” I call after her. “Trust me, you don’t want to go into Cole’s room.”
Her giggle, though somehow breathless, tightens something in my chest. Despite her bravado, she’s as nervous as I am.
“I’ll be right there!” I call after her, quickly texting the guys, threatening them with various bodily injuries if they dare disrupt my night with Poppy. Then, grabbing two bottles of water—anticipating that we will need lots of hydration if the night goes as I’ve fantasized—I follow her upstairs.
I find her in the middle of my room, with her back to me as she is looking at some of the trophies I have received.
“It looks a lot like your bedroom at home,” she says as she takes a step to the side, keeping her back to me.
I frown. “How do you know how my bedroom looks at home?”
She turns her head to the side. “How do you think your science project mysteriously failed?”
I laugh and go stand behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing the back of her neck, making her shiver.
Her skin is warm under my lips, an irresistible sensation that sends a shiver down my spine. “You were always a troublemaker, weren’t you?” I whisper, my breath caressing her neck, eliciting a wanting sigh from her.
She leans back into me, her body melding into mine, and there’s a playful lilt to her voice when she responds, “Only where you were concerned, Ethan.”
My hands glide up from her hips, tracing the curve of her waist, and she shudders at my touch. “Is that so?” My voice is a low murmur, heavy with the unspoken desire between us.
She turns in my arms, her eyes meeting mine with a vulnerability that takes me aback. “Yes,” she whispers, her fingers lightly tracing the line of my jaw.
I lean down, capturing her lips with mine, and the world falls away. It’s only us, Poppy and Ethan, finding each other again after all these years. The kiss deepens, becoming more urgent, more desperate, as if we’re trying to make up for lost time.
Finally pulling apart, breathless and dazed, she rests her forehead against mine. “Ethan,” she whispers, “This is… I’ve never done that before.”
My heart swells at her words, and I cup her face in my hands. “We don’t have to do anything you’re not sure you want to do.”
We stand there for what feels like an eternity, locked in each other’s gaze, until she finally breaks the silence. “Ethan, I want this. I want us.”
My heart races, the thumping loud in my ears as I take in her words, her vulnerability, her trust. “Poppy,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion, “I want this too, more than you can imagine. But I want you to be sure, completely sure.”
Her eyes, a deep, enchanting brown, search mine as if seeking assurance in my sincerity. “I am sure.” She reaches into the pocket of her dress and retrieves a condom. “I came prepared.”
A low chuckle rumbles in my throat as my fingers trace the curve of her cheek, the softness of her skin sending shivers down my spine. “I promise to make this as special for you as it is for me.”
My hands, steady yet trembling with anticipation, cradle hers, holding the small packet between us like a sacred pact. Her eyes, pools of vulnerability and trust, never leave mine as I lean in, our foreheads touching in a silent moment of understanding.
“Poppy,” I breathe, my voice barely a whisper, “I’ve dreamed of this.”
My heart beats wildly in my chest as I take the condom from her, our fingers brushing in a spark of electricity. I pull her close, our bodies aligning in a perfect combination of desire and emotion. Our lips meet, gently at first, then with a growing urgency that speaks of pent-up longing and passion.
Hooking my finger under her chin, my breath catches in my throat as her eyes meet mine. Those liquid brown eyes, the color of good, dark rum, and just as dangerous. As our lips reconnect, something sizzles through my body, and I can’t hold back any longer. I push her against the wall. Intoxicated by the taste of her, the way she moans in my mouth.
I reach for the hem of her dress and pull it off in one movement, my cock completely hard now at seeing her flushed and breathing hard in nothing more than her simple black cotton and lace bra and panties set.
I let my eyes trail down her legs, still covered by the stupid tights, and there’s a need in me, something animalistic that is telling me to rip them to shreds and access the taste of her faster.
I lick my lips in anticipation; I crave her taste again. I grab her by the waist, spin her around, and walk backward until we reach my bed, and I lean down until she’s lying there.
My heart swells a little despite the overwhelming need for the woman lying on my bed. Poppy is here, in my space, on my bed, wanting me almost as much as I want her.
I kiss down her neck, savoring the softness of her skin, tasting the soap and something distinctly her, a scent that has always driven me wild beyond the luxury oils and designer perfumes she once wore.
A breathless moan escapes her pouty mouth, her fingers slipping through my hair. Completely unaware, she is guiding my kisses where she needs me most, and I am all too happy to taste where she’s leading me.
I pull down her tights a little and lick her belly button, earning a little moan. God, she is so sensitive… The thought of how she might react when I’m deep inside her, to the point where we’re indistinguishable from one another, is intoxicating.
Precum begins to form, and I redirect my thoughts to her pleasure because I know that if I keep on thinking of how it will feel once I’m buried inside her, I will come in my pants.
I keep on pulling down her tights until I’m kneeling on the floor and throw them beside her dress. Our eyes meet as I shed my shirt, and it’s gratifying to see her gaze roam over my chest, her lips parting. My gaze stays on her as I bring her foot up to my lips and kiss the arch. I rest her foot on my shoulder and repeat the process with the other foot.
The air in the room sizzles with electricity. Her body jerks as I grab her thighs and spread her legs. I lick my lips as I see her dampened panties. My girl is ripe for me.
I slide down her underwear, and she reaches behind her back, wordlessly removing her bra and seeing her perfect breasts begging for my tongue almost derails me from my mission.
I refocus my attention on the pink, glistening flesh in front of me. A part of my goddess I never thought I would be lucky enough to kiss and taste. My tongue flicks over her skin like a predator tasting his prey.
I go up her toned legs slowly, alternating between kissing and licking.
She lets out a gentle whimper, raising her hips, and I look up at her.
Her eyes are half-closed, and she is biting her lip as her grip tightens on my gray comforter. I can hear her suck in air, trying to breathe.
“Breathe, beautiful.” I nibble at the sensitive skin of her knee. “I still have a long way to go.”
The quietest “Oh God” escapes her. So soft and breathy, I almost miss it.
She reaches down and grips my hair. “Ethan, Ethan, please,” she begs breathlessly.
Her flesh is swollen, wetter than before; the anticipation and memory of my tongue on her is probably as vivid for her as it is for me.
She quivers as my fingers brush her wetness, and a cry escapes when I press my thumb on her hard clit.
I adjust my position, placing my head between her legs, my nose nearly touching her wetness, her intoxicating scent almost sending me over the edge. I slide my tongue out and taste her for the first time tonight. Her body shivers. My body trembles as it registers the taste of her. The taste I will never get enough of.
I look up toward her face, and I see her eyes closed tightly. Her mouth is moving, but no words are coming out.
I take another controlled lap, and then, as she is tightening her legs around my head, my control breaks. My tongue probes deeper, trying to drink the arousal her body is giving me. I flick my tongue over her clit lightly, and I can sense her body jump.
She moans, calling my name, and it is almost as much of an aphrodisiac as her sweet taste and light heat. I give long laps down over that dripping slit. I capture a tender lip in my mouth and run my tongue over the soft edge.
She moans again, and I realize as my cock leaks more precum that if I don’t make her come now, I won’t last until I get inside of her.
Slipping my tongue inside her and curling it up a bit, she starts to moan louder. Her hands are aimless, one on my head, the other grabbing a handful of the comforter.
Her breathing quickens. “Ethan!” she screams, and I press my face against her harder, trying to get my tongue a little deeper, alternating between nibbling on those lips and taking her clit in my mouth.
The muscles of her legs tense, pressing in around my head as her climax rises. Short gasps of air she inhales ring around me as I continue to devour her harder. Watching from above her smooth mound, her chest rising higher and higher as she has yet to exhale. Her fingers are clenched around the comforter, desperate to fall over the precipice, her body shaking. I take my cue and dive harder.
“Oh, Ethan! Oh, Ethan! Oh fuck. Oh sh—” She lets out a cry as her back arches, and she comes in an amazing explosion of pleasure.
I am sure the whole house heard her, and I feel like a superhero right now. Nothing matters more to me than my girl’s pleasure.
Her legs fall from my shoulders as if she’s boneless, and I can’t help but smile, knowing I’m the one who’s satisfied her to the point of total relaxation.
I stand up and look at her spread legs and her pussy waiting for my cock. I let my eyes trail up to meet her half-hooded eyes.
“I want you, Ethan Hawthorne,” she lets out breathlessly.
My heart squeezes with a deep tenderness in the middle of the lust-fueled moment.
“Not more than I want you, Poppy Donovan,” I reply, and she gives me a half smile.
She lets her eyes trail down as I unbuckle my belt and unbutton my pants, taking them down with my underwear, revealing my raging hard-on to her.
“We don’t have to do it if you’re not sure,” I tell her again despite my aching cock screaming for me to shut up and sink into the heaven in front of my eyes.
She shakes her head, reaching her hand toward me. “I’m sure.”
I reach for the condom she brought and open it, sliding it on my length as I keep my eyes locked with hers.
I kneel on the bed and crawl over her, placing the head of my cock against her hot flesh. I’m nervous, even more nervous than I had been the first time I had sex. I want… No, I need Poppy to enjoy it. I need her to want to be with me. I don’t want to cause any further pain for her. Never again.
I kiss her deeply, slipping the tip in. I feel my muscles tense with the Herculean control it takes not to sink into her heat.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I admit, my voice strained with effort as I slip another inch inside of her.
She cups my jaw. “It’s okay. I will be okay,” she murmurs.
I know I don’t have Cole’s massive dick—something I’m particularly happy with today, but I’m still above average, and I want Poppy to enjoy my seven inches.
I lean back down to her and softly bite her bottom lip as I slip in slowly, inch by inch. Suddenly, she tenses. I reach the breaking point, and as my tongue grazes the captured flesh of her soft lip, I move my hips in one sharp movement, fully seated inside her.
She takes a sharp intake of breath, her body tenses under mine, and I stop moving, stop breathing, and let go of her lip, rearing my head back a bit to look at her face.
Her eyes are closed tightly.
“I’m sorry, I—” I what?
She opens her eyes and stares at me silently. I want to beg her to talk, and I’m about to. But when she runs her fingers along my cheek, her eyes full of awe and tenderness, I relax a little.
“It’s perfect,” she whispers, tracing my face again.
“It is perfect,” I confirm, giving a shallow thrust.
I keep my eyes on hers as I move slowly in and out of her, almost reverently. Her walls are tight around me, and I truly feel I could die a happy man.
I start moving a little faster, lengthening my strokes, and she raises her hips, meeting my hip movement.
My breath catches in my throat as she runs her hands down my back, grabbing my ass before hooking her right leg over my hip.
“Ethan, oh, that feels so good.” Her voice is a breathy murmur against my ear.
I grit my teeth, burying my face in her neck as my balls tighten. My thrusts turn erratic, and I know that I am only mere seconds from coming.
I curse myself. It’s too fast, I want to enjoy her body more, but all the pent-up desire, the tightness of her pussy, and her little whimpers of pleasure are too much, and I just hope that I will get another chance tonight to show her my endurance.
I hiss as she flexes her walls around my cock.
I lick her neck. “I’m about to come,” I grunt against her skin. “Touch yourself, beautiful. I want us—” I groan, and she reaches between our bodies while the only thought in my mind is trying not to succumb to the intense pleasure she’s giving me.
Suddenly, her hold around my hips tightens as her walls grip my length almost painfully, and I let go, calling her name as we come together, and the world around me fades away, leaving only the two of us, bound by feelings that had endured despite all the issues piling up on us.
In the quiet aftermath, as we lie entwined, our breaths mingling in the dim light of the room, I press a light kiss to her forehead. “Poppy,” I murmur, “thank you for trusting me.”
She nestles closer, her response a happy murmur. “Thank you for being you.”
The night fades into a peaceful sleep, our bodies wrapped around each other, and for the first time in a long time, I sense complete peace. Because this was not just sex; this was love. I made love to this woman and I intend to continue doing it until my last breath.
The peaceful cocoon of the morning is violently punctured by the insistent vibration of a phone. We’re a tangle of limbs and sheets, and every fiber of my being rebels against the idea of letting her go. But I do, reluctantly.
“Hello?” Poppy’s voice is a sleepy murmur.
Her body tenses, immediately alert. “Mom, is everything okay?” Her voice is a mix of concern and grogginess.
She slips out of bed, the phone cradled awkwardly between her shoulder and ear, frantically searching for her clothes. I do the same because whatever is happening, it’s my problem too. It’s her and I now. It always was, but now it’s even more real.
“Yes, no problem. I’ll call Eva.” Her voice is steady, but her eyes betray her worry.
“What’s going on?” I ask, but she’s already dialing another number, ignoring my question.
She speaks into the phone. “Hey. Mom’s car broke down on the way to Billy’s camp, and she has an important interview. Can I borrow Cherry Bomb? Just for a few hours.”
Her shoulders slump at Eva’s response. Without hesitation, I snatch the phone from her, “It’s okay, I’ll take her,” I assure Eva and hang up.
I scoop up my keys from the discarded pants on the floor. “Let’s go.”
She shakes her head, rooted to the spot in the middle of my room, a storm of emotions whirling in her eyes. “I can’t go with you. Mom won’t understand. I… I don’t even understand.” Her voice is a fragile whisper, teetering on the edge of tears.
My heart breaks; the sting of rejection is sharp and unexpected, especially after the intimacy we shared.
I toss her my car keys. “Go. Deal with this. I’ll get a ride to the stadium with Liam or Cole.”
She hesitates, her hand closing around the keys, but her feet remain planted. “I can’t do that,” she whispers.
“Poppy”—my voice is gentle but firm—“take the damn car.”
She nods, a silent tear escaping as she turns away. “I’ll bring it back soon.”
Before she can leave, I pull her back, sealing a promise with a passionate kiss. “I’ll see you tonight, right?”
“Yes,” she breathes, and then she’s gone, leaving a void in her wake.
In the kitchen, the boys are already there, smirks plastered across their faces.
“Damn, Ethan, are you that bad in bed that she’s making a run for it?” Liam quips, his face deadpan.
I roll my eyes. “You’re hilarious, Ashford.”
Cole sips his coffee, leaning against the counter, his eyes gleaming with trouble. “Nah, that’s not it. The walls are thin, and let’s just say, the lady seemed quite… satisfied,” he teases.
I want to glare at him, but I can’t help but grin. I’m proud to have given Poppy pleasure.
“I know the walls are thin, Cole. I used to hear your ho ass all last year,” I retort, heading to the coffee machine and making myself a double espresso.
“Well, not at all this year yet. Are you broken down there?” I mock, keeping my eyes on his crotch.
Cole hisses, and I suspect what broke his player streak is Eva.
Liam snickers. “You want to have the ‘what are we?’ conversation, don’t you? Is that why she ran?”
“Shut the fuck up,” I snap, but I feel my face redden. Because what happened this morning, the complete rejection of my presence in her life, doesn’t predict anything good. I know I need to give her time. It’s all new for her, and no matter what she says, she’s not sure if she can trust me yet or not.
“Oh God, you do!” Liam gasps as Cole steps closer, tilting his head to the side, feigning deep listening.
I nudge him out of the way. “What the fuck are you doing, man?”
“I’m sure if I listen close enough, I can hear your vagina grow.”
We all burst into laughter, the camaraderie between us a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
Cole, still chuckling, claps me on the back. “But seriously, man, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Everything okay?”
Liam nods, his expression turning serious. “Yeah, you were all smiles coming down the stairs, and now you look like you’re about to head into battle.”
I run a hand through my hair, sighing. “I don’t know, guys. Everything was perfect, and then it wasn’t. She got a call and just… panicked. I offered to help, but she pushed me away.”
Cole gives me a questioning look. “Pushed you away, how?”
“Like she didn’t want me involved in her life,” I admit. The words taste bitter in my mouth.
Liam leans against the counter, crossing his arms. “Maybe she needs some space, man. It was a big night for both of you, right?”
“Yeah,” I mumble, my mind replaying every moment, every touch from the night before.
Cole pats my shoulder. “Give her time, Ethan. If she feels for you even a fraction of what you feel for her, she’ll come around, and I’m sure your magic cock can lure her back.”
I snort, but I really appreciate their support, even though the worry doesn’t leave me. Poppy is under my skin, in my veins, and I can’t just switch it off. I can only hope that whatever is happening, she knows I’m here for her, no matter what.