Page 45 of Boarded Hearts

Yet despite her past and damaged heart, she’s still found the strength to let me in and try on some level. She’s incredible.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

FELICITY

Jon Morgan is in my bed.

And boy is he glorious.

After the shittiest evening on record, involving a bitchy Amie and an unwelcome visit from my ex-husband, I lost all self-control and invited the beautiful hockey superstar into my bed. And I don’t regret a thing.

“Thank you for sharing with me.” Jon’s arm is wrapped around my waist where his fingers have been tracing slow, languid patterns up and down my left arm for what feels like hours. All while he’s listened to me pour my heart out over my failed marriage.

I guess I decided to unload in response to his openness about his past sexual encounters. He laid down a lot of truths about his playboy ways and the rules he abides by. Could it be that he’s breaking one of his rules for me tonight by staying in my bed?

“Likewise. I mean, I knew you hooked up with women, but no judgment on my part. You do what makes you happy.” I yawn and shimmy out of his hold but lie down, settling on my side, my hands clasped beneath my cheek as I face him.

He mirrors my actions until our faces are only centimeters apart. I can feel and smell his still slightly minty breath as it envelops me. “It doesn’t make me happy. I mean, at one time it did, but not anymore.”

I wonder why hooking up with a multitude of gorgeous women wouldn’t make any hot-blooded man happy. “Women must throw themselves at you, so it’s no wonder you have rules.”

Jon’s brows crease together. “Had rules.” His hand darts out, his rough thumb gently brushing over my cheek.“I had rules, Felicity. I don’t anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re breaking them, Angel. One by one.”

My breath catches in my throat, and I fight to keep the butterflies from fluttering out of control.

On instinct, I reach out to retrieve a loose eyelash, save it from falling into his eye. “I’ve never seen an eight-pack before. Only on posters and billboards,” I muse, thinking back to the way Jon undressed right in front of me, giving me the best show of my life.

“Hm, are you sure it wasn’t my photo you were gawking at?”

“You’ve been a model before?” I sound surprised but really, I’m not. I mean, come on, Jon’s body doesn’t need an ounce of airbrushing.

“Not so much now, but in my rookie years, yes.”

“What did you model?”

“Underwear.”

“Now there’s a surprise. Why don’t you anymore?”

Jon shifts, and I notice it’s closer to me. My core tightens at our reality, in my bed, talking about his chiseled body, lying so close it heats my own.

“Putting myself out in public kind of lost its appeal years ago.”

“I get that. I mean, I can’t begin to know how it feels to be in the public eye, but I understand why you want your privacy. You’re so much more than just an athlete. You’re a person too, Jon, and a very good one.”

He swallows thickly, and I see the way the columns of his throat works. We stare at each other for a few beats. His eyes are slightly glassy, and I wonder if it’s in response to my words. I hope so; I hope they resonate with him in some way because I get the feeling he needs to hear it more often.

“Your apartment is cold.” Okay that’s not where I thought this conversation was going but he’s right, it's freezing. My nipples tell the story—well that and the super-hot man currently lying beside me.

“Yeah, my landlord is kind of a dick and hasn’t had the heating system serviced in forever. Plus, it’s an old building.” I wince. “I’m sorry; if you want to head back to your place to get warm, I understand.”

A mischievous look crosses his face, one I’ve grown familiar with over the last couple of months. “Bring it in here, I run hot and can keep you warm.” He flips his hands toward him, inviting me to snuggle.

Chest to chest, our body heat mingles, his chin resting on top of my head and his big strong arms wrapping around my body, offering me the comfort and safety only Jon has ever been able to bring. A simple tip of my chin would mean our lips meet, and the pooling heat gathering at my center reminds me of how turned on I am right now. He wraps his leg over mine, so we’re completely tangled in each other.

---