Page 42 of Power Play with My Brother's Irish Friends

23

PATRICK

Pleasing Miranda became the sole reason for my existence. Time ceased to matter. She’d brought up the game, but I had no intention of leaving this bed before I’d gotten her over the peak and she cried out my name in her throes of passion. I craved the sound of her moans more than any goal, even over a winning shot that brought us the Stanley cup.

This moment mattered. Having her here with me was the beginning of the end. My career was a fleeting thing, as was winning. And while I had every intention of helping my team win, I’d walk away right this second if she needed me to. I’d never felt this way about any woman.

Miranda lifted her hips to meet my thrusting finger. “Please.”

That single word shredded me to pieces. I pulled my hand and mouth away from her and settled my cock between her thighs. “Let me love you.” I seated myself in her heat, my body quaking from the rush of feeling her convulse around me.

We moved together, stroke for stroke. I’d been here before, but this time, with the two of us alone in Austin’s empty house, I let go of everything that had ever held me back.

Her nails raked along my spine, leaving delicious scratches that stung with tiny fractures of pain. I deepened my thrusts, retreating to the head of my cock and plunging balls deep with every roll of my hips.

Her eyes rolled back, her body tensing. So beautiful. A vein stood out in her neck when she buried her head in the pillow and locked her ankles around my thighs, widening her hips for a closer connection. I braced my weight on my palms and stiffened my arms to keep from crushing her. I’d never call her delicate or fragile, but a need to protect her–even from the heaviness of my body crushing her to the mattress–kept me locked in place. That and the need to see her face, to watch her orgasm ripple over her features. I’d only seen it once, and I’d give everything to have the right to make this happen night after night. Words I’d never said to any woman lodged in my throat as she tightened around me, her body crying out for release.

“Thank god. Oh, thank god.” She dug her fingers into my shoulders and quickened the pace, dragging me over the edge with her. My arms shook from the effort, my scalp tingling with my release that pumped deep into her and pulled me down to catch her exhale with a kiss.

When she stopped shivering and tightening, I dropped onto one elbow and smoothed her hair back from her face. She stared up at me with heavy-lidded eyes and swollen lips. “What did I do to deserve that?”

“It’s not anything you had to earn.” I kissed her cheek, the corner of her mouth, and her eyelids. “Give me a chance, Miranda. That’s all I’m asking for. One chance. Your brother is my friend, but this, you, mean more to me than even the bro code. You’re worth breaking a few rules.” It would hurt my teammates when they found out I’d betrayed Austin by sleeping with Miranda. Duncan and Charlie might never forgive me. Part of me didn’t care. Staring down at the most incredible woman in the world made one thing perfectly clear. She was worth every single second of potential heartache.

“If you really mean that, say it again when you’re not blissed out on sex.” She poked my shoulder, a grim smile appearing. “We need to go.”

I rolled off her, ignoring the pulse of annoyance that she shoved aside my emotional unloading and made it sound like I’d only said those things because we were in bed together.

She followed me up from the bed and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, pressing her bare tits into my back. Her breath drifted over my ear in a light tickle. “You’re an amazing man. Any girl would be lucky to have you in her bed, and in her life. I’m not trying to belittle your confession.” How had she known? Her delicate hands caressed my pecs and slid over my abdomen. Despite having just finished, my cock twitched. “It’s a lot to process, and I need time to think. I want to say yes to you, and that scares me.”

I could appreciate her honesty, and after finding out about Luther’s betrayal, she had every right to be cautious. “Right.” It came out harsher than I intended, so I turned and cupped her cheek, kissing her long and slow. “I’ll be waiting for you to figure out what you want.”

She grinned, causing a dimple to pop in her cheek. “Get your ass in gear, Patrick.” Without waiting for a response, she jumped off the bed and grabbed her clothes, slipping into the in-suite bathroom. “I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

True to her word, she walked out ten minutes later looking professional and polished and not the least bit like the bed-rumpled nymph she’d been.

I whistled and clapped. “Looking good, darling.” I held out my arm. “Let’s go.” I’d jumped into the shower in the room across the hall and thrown on my old clothes. No one would pay any attention, especially when they spotted Miranda. “If traffic holds, we’ll get there right on time.”

“Let’s do it.” She hooked her arm around mine and we ran from the room. Her laughter bounced around the house with the brightness of a glowing star shooting across the sky. “I’m surprised Austin hasn’t called yet. Oh, is Samantha going to be at the game?” Her excitement carried all the way through the drive to the rink and into the side door where we slipped in without anyone noticing. “I’m going to find a seat.” She shifted her weight from foot to foot and looked up and down the hallway.

Voices crashed from the locker room, and the door opened.

Miranda squeezed my hand once before she took off at a quick walk toward the stadium while slinging her lanyard with her ID around her neck. Her hair swayed over her back in a slow wave, the ripple of it catching the light and making me wish for decades by her side.

“Hey, Patrick.” Duncan yelled from my left. “Get your ass in here, man. We’re about ready to go. Where you been?”

“Had something to do. Last minute.” I shrugged with that nonchalant carelessness that everyone expected from me. “Don’t worry, I’ll still be ready to skate out with you pussies.”

I dressed in record time and tore out of the locker room with the team. A few of them gave me strange looks and side eye, like they were trying to figure out why I couldn’t stop smiling. “Come on.” I slapped Murphy on the back. “Stop frowning. It’s a good day.”

“Yeah.” He nodded, but the calculating look remained. “How come you’re so happy? You’ve been a bastard day in and day out since Miranda left. We all have.” He shoved at my arm on his shoulder. “You slept with someone. That’s why you’re late. That’s why I know that look.”

I scoffed and cuffed his arm. “Guess you forgot who we’re playing today. The Devils.”

“Those fuckers? Hell. They couldn’t hit a shot if we let them shoot from three feet in front of the net without a goalie to block.” He rolled his eyes and his step lightened. “Yeah, okay. I get why you’re happy now.”

Duncan slouched ahead of me, his head tipped in my direction and a frown dragging that old darkness into his expression.

We hit the ice and skated around our competition. The crowd started their first chant of the night, one that brought out smiles on every member of our team and left the opposition scowling and cursing.

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