Page 56 of The Penalty

She shuts the door behind us.

“Do you want to turn around while I change?” she asks.

No. I sure as fuck don’t. But I nod and face the opposite corner.

She grabs her clothes out of her bag, and a minute later, I hear her pull the sheets back and climb into bed. “Ok.”

I turn around to see her cuddled in bed.

Yeah, this is fine. I can just hold her for a little while, and once she’s asleep, I’ll go to my room. It’ll be fine.

I decide it’s safer to stay above the covers, but I still get behind her, big spoon style. I’m going to pretend that I didn’t see that she’s only in a T-shirt and underwear. I wrap my arm around her middle and pull her against me.

“Is this alright?” I ask.

“Perfect.”

I lay my head down next to her, taking in the smell of her hair. The way she feels in my arms. She’s perfect, and I will my dick to calm the fuck down. She needs to be held right now, not feel my hard-on pressing into her.

I hold her until we both eventually fall asleep. I don’t mean to, but I’m kind of glad I did. It’s the best night of sleep I think I’ve ever had.

When I wake, McKenzie has turned herself around so that her head is on my chest and our legs are entwined. I somehow managed to make it under the covers. I quickly look at my watch and see it’s a little after five in the morning. Plenty of time for me to sneak out without Kylie noticing.

I gently roll out of her hold, cover her back up, and kiss her forehead.

I know I should’ve never gone into her room with her. But that doesn’t stop me from climbing back into bed with her the next night and the night after that.

TWENTY-THREE

MCKENZIE

Tyler has held me while I fell asleep every night for the past week.

He always sneaks out in the morning, leaving me to wake up alone. I wish he didn’t, but I understand why he has to.

I’m grateful he’s willing to help me. I’ve been sleeping so well since he started wrapping me in his arms at night. I don’t even have to ask him to do it anymore. Every night when we’re ready for bed, he follows me into my room and locks the door behind him. It’s become our new thing.

It’s one of the only things I have to look forward to when everything else around me feels like it’s crumbling.

When I feel him stir on Saturday morning, I pull him closer to me instead of letting him sneak out. Today is the first day I’ll be back on the football field for game day, and I’m excited to get out there. I’m hoping it’ll make me feel a little closer to my dad.

Tyler’s eyelashes flutter open.

“Good morning,” I say groggily.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he whispers. His hands find their way to my ass to pull me even closer to him. I gasp. There’s no missing his erection. I’ve felt it a few other mornings, but he usually tries to hide it. Not today, though. I wonder what’s gotten into him.

His forehead presses against mine. I know he wants me as much as I want him, but he’s trying to stay away while I’m patiently waiting for him to break. That feels like a terrible thing to think, but I want him so badly.

“McKenzie.” He says my name like it pains him.

“Yes?”

His eyes search mine. Just when I think he’s going to say something about how we shouldn’t be doing this, how he’s not going to stay with me anymore, he surprises me and presses his lips to mine. He’s hesitant at first, maybe to judge my reaction. But when I wrap my arms around his neck, he lets himself go.

He rolls over and situates himself between my legs, his erection pressing against my center. He kisses me deeper, morning breath be damned. His hands are in my messy hair, and his tongue twirls with mine. His hips move against me, applying pressure and friction right where I need it.

For a moment, I think this is it. This is when he gives himself to me fully and we stop trying to pretend there isn’t anything between us.