Page 105 of Sven

The words cleared her mouth before her brain had time to filter them. She thought about panicking, but the look on Sven’s face told her he might just feel the same way.

“Right back atcha, baby.”

He leaned over and kissed the top of her head before heading upstairs with Winnie.

How did she get so lucky? She got up and got herself a glass of water before making her way up to bed. Before long, Sven joined her. The feel of his hot, hard body spooning her was better for her backache than any heating pad. She snuggled into him and drifted off to sleep, feeling more content than she had any right to.

Before long, Sven’s alarm went off, and Winnie was ready to get up for her nap.

“So, I’m guessing you’re not coming to the game tonight?”

“Would you mind terribly if we sat this one out? I was looking forward to it, but I just feel awful.”

“Of course, but I did get you a present.” He tossed her a purple gift bag with teal tissue paper.

“I do love presents. Thank you!”

“I’m going to go get Winnie, then you can open it.”

Moments later, he was back in his bedroom, cute little baby in hand. Open it.

She reached in and pulled out a jersey, only...

“Sven... I don’t think this will fit me,” she joked, pulling out a toddler-sized jersey.

“That one’s for Winnie,” he said. “Keep digging.”

She reached in and pulled out another. She pulled it out, and this one would fit and had his name and number on the back.

“Awww, now I really feel bad for not going.”

“No worries. I’m doing an interview on Thursday before our next home game, and that’s when I’ll tell everyone about Winnie, so it’s probably for the best.”

“Are you nervous about it?”

Sven nodded. “Yeah, it isn’t every day you have to answer for your playboy ways quite so publicly. But at the end of the day, I have this amazing little girl, so it’s worth it.”

“I can’t wait to go to your next game wearing this.”

“Hmmm... me either,” he said as he snuggled into bed with Natalie. “Having my two girls there in my jersey.”

She laughed as she pulled her close. “Do players really like that? Having someone wear their jersey?”

“We live for that shit. And I’ve never actually had a special girl there in my jersey before.”

She pulled back, giving him a look of disbelief. “You’re telling my no girl has ever worn your jersey to your game before?”

“No. Tons of women wear my jersey, even ones I’ve been sleeping with. But none as special as you and Winnie.”

He pulled her tight to him, and she moaned as another wave of cramps hit her. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” she sighed.

His arms around her felt like she was home. She may have felt like crap. Her back may have been aching, but in his arms, it all fell away.

Later that night, after putting Winnie to bed, she was lying on the couch, watching Sven’s game. She smiled as Sven got a goal, and that was the last thing she remembered until now.

Sven was here, standing over her, with a look on his face she knew and loved but wasn’t sure what she could do about it.

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