Page 64 of Lost in You

“I can’t believe it took me this long to figure my shit out and get here.”

I release her and set the bouquet of roses down on a chair. A gray cat cocks its head at me from its perch on top of a nearby love seat.

“Karma.” I grin and gently pet the cat’s head.

Then I return to Trin and bend slightly before picking her up. She squeals and wraps her legs around my waist. I kiss her and she puts her arms around my neck.

She slides her hand around to my cheek as we kiss, then pulls away and rests her forehead against mine.

“No beard,” she murmurs against my lips.

“You like me better with or without it?”

“I like you both ways. How did you get out of going to Vancouver?”

“It was actually really easy. I just retired.”

Her jaw drops as she pulls back to get a look at my full face. “What?”

My heart pounds hard. I have so much to tell her, but my body’s in no mood for talking. She’s wrapped around me, her perfect ass in my hands and her breasts just inches away.

“I’ll tell you all about it,” I promise. “But first, I want my retirement gift.”

“Your gift?” She hikes up her brows in alarm. “But I didn’t--”

I interrupt her. “Oh, you’ve got something for me, gorgeous. It’s wrapped in black pants and a gray T-shirt.”

The corners of her lips turn up in a sexy smile. “And you’re going to unwrap it?”

I peek around her shoulder in search of a hallway. “Soon as I find your bedroom.”

Her apartment is small, with oak hardwood floors and two big windows in the living room. The kitchen just has the basics and is open to the living room. Framed vintage cosmetics ads adorn the walls and there are pillows and blankets scattered all over the living room furniture.

“It’s the doorway on the right. The other one’s the bathroom.”

I start walking that direction. She puts her hands on my cheeks and looks into my eyes.

“I thought you sounded weird on the phone. Is this why?”

“Yeah.” I grin. “I was afraid you’d be able to tell from the background noise that I was at an airport.”

Her expression turns serious. “I may need to think about this, actually. I’m still young. In my prime, really. Should I be fucking around with a retiree?”

I roar with laughter and smack her ass as I walk into her bedroom. The unmade queen-size bed takes up most of the tiny room. I set her on it and she grins up at me playfully.

I pull a box of condoms from my pocket and hold it up for her to see. “I had more than fucking around in mind, so think fast, gorgeous.”

Her smile is replaced by a serious look, her eyes wide. “Linc...are you sure?”

I tear open the box, looking down at her as she leans up on her elbows. “I’ve done a lot of thinking in the past couple of weeks. And here are the things I’m sure of, I’m done with hockey and I want this with you, more than anything. I love you, Trin. I want a future with you.”

Tears pool in her eyes. “I love you, too. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”

Setting the condoms down, I move on top of her, supporting my weight on my elbows as I kiss her. Immediately, I know this is right.

My teammates back home were in a state of shock when I announced my retirement. I got cleared medically to return to playing, but after a couple weeks of sitting with my team in arenas with flashing lights and pounding music, I didn’t want to go back.

I’m done chasing wins and records. I miss the quiet peace of my time with Trin at the cabin.

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