Page 35 of Worth the Risk

I want Hannah.

Been thinking about her since the moment she pounded on my door. And the few kisses we’ve had have been the best of my life. I’m done putting my job before her. Hell, the coach has it out for me anyway. I’m probably done after this season. But a girl like Hannah only comes along once in a while. I’m not avoiding this anymore.

Hannah looks at me, her eyes wide.

“It’s okay. No one saw me,” I whisper.

The Uber driver looks at me with his eyebrows raised.

“We’re going to the same building, might as well share a ride,” I tell him. I’m tempted to haul Hannah into my lap, but I think that might freak her out. We have a lot to talk about.

Hannah is quiet on the quick ride back to our building, and we don’t speak as we walk side-by-side into the lobby. We enter the elevator in silence.

I’m beginning to second-guess my decision to follow her when I feel her hand softly slide into mine. I let out an exhale of relief as she leans her head against my arm.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” she whispers.

“Nothing I’d rather do, Pixie,” I tell her with a wide grin.

My heart is beating a million beats per minute as we get to our floor and I follow Hannah to her apartment door. I can’t help but stand right behind her as she unlocks her door, my hands sliding around her waist and letting her feel me. I notice her hands trembling as she attempts to unlock the door, and I carefully place one hand over hers to calm her.

“I’m nervous,” she admits, as she manages to unlock the door. I push her inside and close the door. Hannah turns to me in the dark apartment and steps into my embrace, standing on her tiptoes as I bend down until our lips mash together.

I slide my hands down the backs of her thighs and pick her up as she squeals, then walk over to the couch. Sitting down, Hannah straddles me with her hands locked in my hair. As soon as we are seated, my steel length pushes against her heat and I groan.

“Luca,” she murmurs against my lips. Our kiss turns carnal as my hands pull her shirt out of her waistband so I can touch her bare skin.

“Bella.”

“Luca, I need …” she trails off.

“What do you need, baby?” I ask as she grinds against me. Bet I could make her come like this. Not even touching her. “Do you need to come? Do you want my fingers, my mouth, my cock? What do you want?”

She stops and stares at me with wide eyes, her pupils so dilated I can barely see the irises.

“Wait,” she breathes. “What … what does this mean? Nothing’s changed, what are we doing?”

She begins to look hysterical as her eyes dart around. I grab her chin and force her to look back at me.

“I refuse to fight this anymore, Pix. Never felt like this before. I’ll be damned if I’m letting some stupid maybe-rule impact whether or not we’re together. I want you, Hannah. I’ve never wanted anyone like this. I’m not ignoring it anymore,” I tell her fervently.

Hannah’s mouth is open as she stares at me in shock.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m fine with taking things at your speed. That is, if you want to do this with me,” I say.

“I don’t understand …” she says.

“Okay, let me make this a little clearer for you. I can’t stop thinking about you, Hannah. I’ve never felt this way before. Never felt the need to brush a woman’s teeth, or hold them all night. There’s this visceral need deep in my soul to take care of you, Pixie, and that tells me this isn’t just another fuck. I could easily fall for you, and I’m not going to let anyone else tell me that it’s not okay. If you want to be with me, then let’s do it. If you don’t, you need to tell me now. I won’t pressure you into this.”

“Umm, okay. Wow, that’s a lot to unpack after a hockey game,” she mutters, and I chuckle.

“Yeah, I’d say I’m sorry for unloading this on you, but I’m not. I haven’t stopped thinking about you. Never had this happen before, which is why I know I can’t let you go. Not unless you don’t want me,” I say quietly. Her head snaps back to mine.

“I do want you, Luca,” she whispers with a small smile, and my heart leaps in my chest. “I’m worried, though. I don’t know how we should handle this.”

“Here’s my thought. I’d like to talk to my agent about it, if that’s okay. He should be able to give us some advice on if we should tell the team, how we should handle it, and all that crap. As for anyone else, I’d kinda like to keep it just between us,” I tell her, and I see a quick jab of pain in her eyes. “Wait, let me explain. I just want to enjoy dating you. Spending time with you. I don’t want anyone else to interrupt that bubble and get in our space. Do you understand?”

“Can we just …” she trails off.

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