Page 55 of Nash

The door to our Lyft barely closes before his hands are on me, his mouth at my neck, showering me with teasing kisses that have my heart racing.

“You really didn't want to hang out with everyone tonight?” I ask. “Because I don't mind?—”

“We hang out with them all the time,” he says. “There's only one person I want to celebrate tonight with and that's you. But if you want to stay?—”

“No,” I cut him off, running my hands over his chest as the Lyft takes us back to the hotel. “I'm exactly on the same page as you.”

And it’s such a refreshing place to be.

I love his passion, not only for his commitment on the ice, but forme. It’s still hard to believe that he’d rather watch Netflix with me on the couch in our PJ's than going out to the hottest clubs like he used to. Hard to believe that he’d leave a celebration with his teammates and friends, just to spend an evening with me alone in a hotel.

I hate that there are still doubts clinging to me, clouding up my mind and my judgment in a way that has me more confused than ever. I chide myself, calling myself a coward for not justaskinghim.

He's always been so gracious about everything, so why wouldn't he be about this?

Andthatterror that clung to me every time I thought about it.

It's because I’m in love with him, just like I told my sister.

I’d actually fallen in love with Nash Stokehill, and I’m terrified to lose this feeling. Losing him seems like a greater risk than any I've ever taken before.

We make it through the hotel lobby, anticipation fluttering beneath my skin, my emotions swirling in a storm that threatens to erupt at any moment.

We head toward the elevator, and step into the empty space, the doors barely sliding closed before his mouth is on mine, his fingers tunneling in my hair.

I gasp, melting into the embrace and parting my lips for him. He slides in, his tongue moving against mine in a hungry frenzy that has my hands gripping his shirt to hold him closer.

All my thoughts disappear, my entire being narrowing to the need racing through my body.

He deserves my full attention, my full commitment.

This man, who is incredible beyond words, not only on the ice or in front of the cameras or performing for my edits, but to hiscore. He's funny and smart and has sacrificed everything in order to take care of his family when no one in the world would ever expect him to. No one would ever put that kind of pressure on him, but he’s just too good of a person not to.

He's everything and then some and he deserves just as much.

The elevator dings, the door sliding open on my floor.

I'm the one to break our kiss, interlacing our fingers as I tug him toward my room.

I've never been this nervous, and we've had our fair share of sexual escapades.

But this feels different, more important somehow, and I have no idea if he feels the same way but I'm more than willing to do whatever it takes toshowhim just how much he means to me.

Even if I don’t have the courage to speak the words out loud.

CHAPTER 15

NASH

“I’ve been thinkingabout you all day,” I say against her mouth as we stumble into her hotel room. I lock the door behind us, so damn grateful she booked the room all for herself.

I didn’t want to share her tonight.

I didn’t want to have to take her in a hurry, constantly worried about a teammate coming back to the room and interrupting us.

Did we have free access to each other all the time at home? Yes.

Did it change how badly I wanted that here? No.

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