Page 51 of Pucks and Coffee

Her fingers thread through mine, and when she looks back at me, grinning widely over her shoulder, I’m speechless. My hand dwarfs hers, and she is such a cute little package of perfection. The sun catches her eyes, making them shine like a majestic pond as her hair blows around, getting stuck against her lip gloss. I stop her, pulling her up against me. She looks up at me, and the gift smacks against my hip. I reach out, removing the hair from where it’s stuck. Her eyes are full of such excitement, and crap, that nagging feeling of loneliness is gone.

I know my wife is beside me.

Damn it, I shouldn’t like that feeling as much as I do.

As I pull the hair from her lips, she grins up at me. “Thanks.”

I smile back, and she tugs me along toward the big group of people in the party pavilion by the ice rink. I see Maverick Evangelina and his pregnant wife first, and I guide her toward them. Maverick meets my gaze and grins widely as he holds out his hand to me. I take it with my free hand, while my other still holds my wife’s. “Katz,” Maverick draws out. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

“I told you I would,” I say softly before I offer my hand to Nora. “Congratulations.”

Nora gives me a tight grin, brushing her hair off her shoulders before taking my hand. “Hey, Coleson. Thanks for coming.”

She seems to have a hard time saying that, and I know it’s because she gossips with the other hockey wives and girlfriends. I swallow uncertainly, feeling out of place, until a small ball of energy leans into me.

“Of course we’re here. A new baby is such a blessing!” my little wife chimes in beside me. I can’t help but smile at her as she beams up at us all. Everyone is taller than her, but I don’t think she cares. I love that about her.

Maverick and Nora look at my wife and then back at me in confusion. “Mav, Nora, this is my wife…” I pause. Shit, I have to say her name. “Eliza,” I say as normally as I can, but it sounds all breathy and gravelly. Like I don’t know how to say my own wife’s name.

Beside me, she just giggles. “It’s so great to meet you. Coleson has so many kind words to say about you two. Congratulations.”

She holds out the gift, and Nora takes it hesitantly. She looks at her husband, and Maverick looks at me. “I didn’t know you were married.”

I nod, looking away and noticing a few eyes on us. As quickly as I take in my next breath, anxiety eats me alive. I don’t want anyone to make her feel like she’s trash for being with me. Nora’s eyes are already scrutinizing my little wife, and anger bubbles within me. I bite the inside of my lip, trying to control my anger, when my eyes fall to hers. Warmth travels up my arm as she grabs my wrist, holding it tightly and sending me a small smile. “Yup, I locked him down in a quickie wedding since I couldn’t bear the thought of him going anywhere without me.”

I chuckle at her words. “Oh, so you locked me down?”

“You know it,” she says with a wink. “You’re all mine, Coleson Katz.”

Her words burn through my body and go straight to my cock. I’ve never wanted words to be truer in my life, but I know that smile, that little smirk and glint in her eyes. She’s being playful, and I love it. I bring her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles. Our eyes lock over the motion, and she beams happily at me. God, she’s pretty. I drop our hands and meet Evangelina’s confused gaze.

“I guess congratulations are in order for you two as well. Welcome to the Bears family, Eliza.”

My wife grins at him, and then I notice more people are coming closer. I’m slapped on the back, my teammates welcome my wife, and they congratulate us. It’s entirely too easy, and no one says anything out of turn or even anything sly. At least, not to our faces. Something about that doesn’t sit well inside me, and the apprehension in my chest only grows. I feel like she knows, because my wife doesn’t let go of my hand, nor does she leave my side.

I’m thankful for that, more than I could ever express to her.

Once we’re alone, standing to the side, she murmurs, “It’s going well.”

I draw circles on her lower back with my thumb. We’re still a part of the party but not in the middle of it, as everyone gushes over Maverick and Nora. I didn’t want to steal their thunder. It’s their party, not ours.

I look down at her and shrug. “I wish they’d get on with it, so we can head out.”

She gives me a look. “Aren’t you having fun?”

“I don’t trust anyone here,” I say honestly, my stomach in a knot. “I don’t want anyone to say anything to hurt you.”

She squeezes my hand, and I glance down at her. “Nothing anyone says about you matters, Coleson. I’ve told you that.”

I swallow, my heart aching in my chest. I don’t even know what to say, so I don’t say anything. Instead, I lean down to take her bottom lip between mine. She tastes of punch and frosting and all things…Eliza. God, I adore her name. I suck on her lip, releasing it to run my tongue over the sting I left behind before I kiss her lips. I press my nose to hers and then meet her gaze. Her eyes are full of heat and desire, only for me. I’m lost in her eyes, and against her lips, I whisper, “I want to take you to the nearest private spot and devour you in all the ways I’ve thought of since our first time, Wife.”

Her lips part, and her cheeks flush. “There is more than one way you’ve thought of taking me?” she teases, and my lips curve.

“At least a dozen.”

She squeezes my hand and then presses her other hand into my chest, clutching my shirt. She leans in, her lips right there for the taking as she whispers back, “Is one of them your cock deep in my mouth?”

Her question has me panting against her lips. “That’s number one.”