Page 102 of The Power Play

“Oh I am.”

“Technically my fantasy was to fuckyouin here, too. Even though I didn’t know who you were,” she nuzzles her face into my side with the admission.

“Wait, really?” I pull back trying to see her face.

Nodding, “Yeah, I may not have seen your face, but I saw your body. And I don’t know if you know this or not, but you have a damn good one.”

I bark out a laugh and tug her against me tightly. “So I’ve been told.”

After a few more moments of comfortable silence Audrey speaks up once again, “Thank you for loving me.”

I roll her over, so I can look at her face once again. There's a rare vulnerability shining in her eyes, and I want her to know she’s worth all the love that’s possible to get. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that to her. Whatever she needs,whenever she needs it, I will give it to her. She’s it for me. She’sbeenit for me.

“I’ll love you as long as you’ll let me. And even then, I’m not going anywhere. I’m yours, Audrey. Totally and completely yours.”

Smiling, she replies, “I’m yours too, Charlie.”

I lean down, taking her mouth once again and we don’t leave this room until hours later, packing forgotten for the night when we go back to the condo. Our condo.

Audrey told me she’s never felt what a home was like, because the houses she grew up in weren’t homes. She liked her townhome, but it never felt any more than just four walls. But now I think for the first time, we have the opportunity to change that for her. I want our home to be together. Wherever it is, it will just be the two of us.

So, when we walk through the front door, I pull her body against mine, holding her to me just to feel her and I never want to let her go.

Leaning my forehead down to rest against hers, “Welcome home.”

EPILOGUE

AUDREY

1 Year Later

Chandler and I are joined by Brent’s sister, Brynn, and her friend/client, Spencer Sparks, at a game in Denver against the L.A. Spartans. Charlie told me how much the two teams hate each other, and it’s so obvious when they are on the ice. It’s a borderline bloodbath every single time. Okay, sometimes it’s anactualbloodbath.

Spencer is a super famous singer and when I first met her at the beginning of the season, I was extremely starstruck. It turns out she’s been best friends with the Dragon’s goalie, Jared Colver, their whole lives and just recently admitted they had feelings for each other and are together now.

I know all of that because of what I’ve read about it. And from Brynn’s bitching about what a PR nightmare it has created by Spencer going rogue and announcing her relationship while her ex, who happens to play for the Spartans, is kind of an asshole. Brynn is Spencer’s publicist, but it seems like they are able to put work aside to be friends still, despite the drama.

But tonight is about fun and enjoying the game, cheering for our guys to kick some ass. And mine knows the kind of reward he’s in for if they win. It’s become his favorite pregame ritual; me teasing the shit out of him but denying him unless they win. And if they lose, he gets punished.

I don’t think he’s ever played as well as he has since this new system has been implemented in our relationship.

Chandler just told me earlier she’s pregnant and while I’m happy for her, that is something I don’t think I’ll ever want to go through. She’s beensosick, and it seems miserable. Plus, I’m happy with how things are between Charlie and me right now. Just the two of us. We haven’t talked about kids, though I told him I have no real desire to get married and he told me we can do or not do whatever I want.

Charlie snags the puck from the Dragon’s zone and makes a break away, skating faster than any of his opponents and sends the puck flying past their goalie easily. We all jump up, screaming at the first goal of the high intensity game.

The game progresses and when Matt gets into a fight with another player on the Spartans, we all cheer extra loud, especially when he ends up tackling the guy to the ice before the refs pull them away from each other. The reason for the fight was because that player checked Brent into the boards, headfirst and hard. He fell and didn’t get up right away. Matt immediately ambushed the guy while Brent slowly got up and checked himself for any blood.

The player gets a five-minute major for fighting, plus a minor for the cross check, though from what I saw it looked like it should’ve been more. Brynn scoffs when it’s announced. “Serves that asshole right,” she mutters.

“You know him?” I ask because her tone indicates there’s more there than just the altercation with her brother.

“Not really, but he always tries to hit on me when he sees me, and I can’t stand him.”

I raise my eyebrows at her.

“I don’t date hockey players. No offense to all of you, but they don’t do it for me. Especially the cocky ones who are probably compensating for the lack of one in their pants.”

I sputter out a laugh.

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