nine

DAVIES

“Take a deep breath for me, sweetheart,” a raw, broken groan tore out of my throat as her tight walls clamped around my shaft.

Sinking into her felt like diving into pure fire. Her tight pussy stretched to accommodate my thick size, and a massive wave of pleasure slammed into my brain. Sweat beaded on my forehead. My jaw clenched hard enough to crack a tooth. A wild, primal urge demanded a fast thrust, but my brain fought for control. She needed a minute to adjust.

“Davies, fuck,” Maya whimpered, arching her back against the messy sheets.

Her nails dug sharp crescent moons into my bare shoulders. That small pain sent a jolt of pure adrenaline straight down my spine. My gaze dropped to her chest. Her bare tits heaved with every ragged breath, the peaks tight and flushed from the cold air of the cabin.

A hard swallow cleared the lump in my throat. My hips snapped forward, delivering the first deep stroke.

“Is this okay?” My voice sounded rough, strange even to my own ears.

“Don't stop. Please.” Her plea shattered my restraint.

My hands dropped to her soft ass, gripping the round curves to anchor her against the mattress. Hips rolling, a steady rhythm took over. Each deep thrust pulled a sweet, desperate moan from her lips. Skin slapped against skin, the sound echoing through the dark, quiet room. Nathan had fumbled the greatest prize on this campus. That thought alone added fuel to the fire burning in my gut. He treated her like an option. My mission tonight was to make her forget that loser ever existed.

Time lost all meaning inside that cabin.

My thumbs mapped the dip of her waist. A fiery trail of kisses marked her neck, jaw, and collarbone. Her legs wrapped tight around my waist, pulling me even deeper into her heat. The friction grew intense. A hot pressure built at the base of my cock.

“Maya,” a breathless warning slipped out.

“I know,” she gasped, her eyes squeezed shut. “I am close. Don't pull out.”

Her pussy spasmed hard, gripping my dick like a vice. A high-pitched cry left her mouth. She shattered underneath me. That tight squeeze was the final push my body needed. A loud roar ripped from my chest. Hot release flooded through me, washing away every ounce of tension in my muscles.

My heavy frame collapsed next to her. The mattress groaned under the sudden weight shift.

Silence filled the space, broken only by our frantic, matching breaths. Staring up at the wooden beams on the ceiling, a strange sense of peace settled over me. This was supposed to be a fake dating gig. A simple PR stunt to save my hockey draft stock. Yet, holding Maya felt more real than anything else in my chaotic life.

Rolling onto my side, my arm hooked around her waist. A gentle tug pulled her back against my chest. Her warm skin radiated heat against my sweat-dampened torso.

“You good?” A soft whisper brushed the shell of her ear.

“Never better,” she hummed, turning her head to press a soft kiss against my jaw.

Five minutes passed before the freezing draft from the window forced us to move.

Getting dressed in the dark proved to be a challenge. Tossing her my oversized flannel shirt, a smirk crossed my face as the hem swallowed her small frame down to her thighs. She found her jeans on the floor and pulled them up. My hands made quick work of my belt and boots.

Stepping out of the cabin, the crisp night air hit our faces like a slap.

The bonfire still raged in the distance, casting a bright orange glow over the towering pine trees. Bass-heavy music thumped through the dirt beneath our boots. The party showed no signs of stopping.

My right arm wrapped secure around her shoulders, tucking her close to my side. She leaned into my warmth. Anyone with eyes could see the shift in our dynamic. Her lips were swollen. My hair was a mess. The evidence of our cabin visit was written all over us.

Pushing through the outer edge of the crowd, a bright ring light suddenly flashed in our faces.

“Davies! Maya! Hold up!” a shrill voice cut through the loud trap music.

A girl with a pink microphone shoved her way past two frat guys. Chloe. She ran the biggest gossip stream on campus, always hunting for drama. A cameraman trailed right behind her, phone aimed dead at us.

“Wartburg Gossip Live wants to know the truth,” Chloe aimed the mic at my chin. “The timeline is going crazy right now. Did the Westbridge captain steal the Dogfang queen? Give us the tea. No cap, are you two official?”

Maya stiffened against my side. A protective instinct flared in my chest.

Pulling her closer, a confident grin spread across my face. “Nothing was stolen, Chloe. A king recognizes a queen. Someone else dropped the crown, so a real man picked it up.”

Chloe let out a dramatic gasp. “Oh my god. Shots fired at Nathan! People are saying this is just a rebound flex. What do you have to say about Maya?”

“Maya is the blueprint,” my gaze dropped to her beautiful face. “She is smart, fierce, and gorgeous. Any guy would be lucky to have her. That other dude? He is tweaking. Fumbling a girl like this is tragic behavior. She lives in his head rent-free, but she belongs with me now. End of story.”

A genuine blush painted Maya’s cheeks. She looked up, her brown eyes shining under the party lights. For a second, the camera faded away. The music blurred. It was just us.

“You guys are serving main character energy right now,” Chloe squealed, turning to the camera. “You heard it here first, Wartburg! The new power couple is—”

A violent roar shattered the interview.

“Davies!”

A hard shove sent Chloe stumbling into the dirt. The ring light smashed onto the ground, plunging our immediate circle into dark shadows.

Nathan burst through the crowd like a wild animal. His face was a twisted mask of pure hatred. Saliva flew from his mouth. His eyes looked glazed, unhinged, and dangerous.

My reflexes kicked in before conscious thought formed. Shoving Maya hard behind my back, a solid stance braced my boots against the dirt.

Nathan lunged forward, throwing a wild, desperate right hook aimed straight for my jaw.

A quick pivot to the left saved my face. His fist hit nothing but empty air. The momentum carried his heavy body forward. Bringing my forearm up, a brutal block struck his bicep. The loud smack of flesh against bone echoed over the gasps of the surrounding crowd.

Grabbing the front of his hockey jacket, a sharp twist of my wrists threw his balance off. My boot kicked his ankle. He went down hard, eating a face full of dirt and gravel.

“Stay down, Nate,” my voice boomed, sharp and cold as ice.

The crowd erupted. Phones shot up in the air, recording the humiliating scene. Students formed a wide circle, cheering for a brawl.

Nathan scrambled to his knees. Dirt smeared across his cheek. Blood dripped from a fresh scrape on his chin. He looked pathetic. A supposed captain, drunk and crying over a girl he betrayed.

“Get out of here,” a dark warning left my lips. “Before I make you swallow your own teeth.”

“You think you won?” Nathan screamed, his voice cracking under the intense strain. He pointed a shaking finger at my chest. “You think you can just take my life? My girl?”

“She is not your girl,” a cold laugh escaped my chest. “She leveled up. Deal with it.”

“I am going to end you!” Nathan spat, struggling to stand as two of his Dogfang teammates rushed out of the woods to grab him. They hooked their arms under his armpits, dragging him backward. “Do you hear me, Davies? I will break your legs on that ice next week! I will make you pay for this! Both of you!”

“Looking forward to it, rookie,” a cocky salute dismissed his threat.

Watching his teammates drag his thrashing body toward the parking lot, the tension in my muscles finally eased. The crowd buzzed with chaotic whispers. The campus blog had just struck gold.

Turning around, my eyes found Maya. She stood a few feet away, her arms wrapped tight around her waist. She looked shaken, but a fierce fire burned in her gaze.

Closing the distance, my hands grabbed her shoulders. “Did he touch you?”

“No.” A shaky breath left her mouth. “You blocked him.”

“Good.” A soft kiss landed on her forehead. “Let him talk. He is weak. Come on, let us get you home.”

Walking her away from the blazing fire, a dark thought formed in my mind. Nathan wanted a war. A war was exactly what he was going to get. Nobody touched my girl and walked away breathing easy. Fake contract or not, Maya was under my protection now.