Page 65 of Power Play

His face grows serious again, and then he takes mine in his hands.

“Do you know how much I love you, Lola Calway?” he whispers. I swallow. “I’ve gone all these years without you, always with you in the back of my mind somewhere. And now, here we are, and after eight weeks, I don’t think I could do it again. I don’t think I could be without you again. Everything else about my life—even hockey—feels empty if I don’t have you. You’re the one I want to share it all with. You’re like air for my soul. There’s a meaning behind everything now, and it’s because of you.”

I grip his wrists tight—so tightly I’m worried I’ll hurt him. I’m overwhelmed again by the emotion I feel toward him. So I don’t use words. I just lean forward and kiss him again.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

levi

The early morninglight creeps through the room window through the curtains, casting a soft light across us. We’re both naked, she’s facing the window, and I’m behind her, spooning her. Her breathing is low and soft, and I trail kisses across her shoulder blades and trace her silhouette with my finger.

I wish she knew how deep my anxiety goes. How my stomach has been a knotted, sunken mess for the last month. But how, when I lie here with her in my arms, everything gets a little bit better. It’s all still there, hanging like a cloud over my head. But with her, I know I can handle it. And once I do, I have her to come back to.

I have another hour or two before I need to get down to the arena. I booked her a pedicure appointment for later this morning, then a lunch reservation with her family at this nice little Italian place a few blocks away. Then, they’ll get the VIP treatment when they get to the arena. And I can’t wait.

Myfamily.

She stirs a bit, and I lie still, careful not to wake her more. Slowly, she rolls over so she’s facing me, her eyes fluttering open slowly.

“Good morning, pretty girl,” I whisper. She’s so beautiful. All the goddamn time. She smiles and snuggles up into the crook of my neck.

“Good morning,” she whispers back. I kiss her forehead, her cheek, her nose, and she scrunches it up, smiling.

“I have something for you,” I tell her. Her eyes open again, eyebrows knitting together.

“No,” she says, shaking her head. I laugh.

“No?”

“Look around us,” she says. “I’m lying in a huge bed in a huge hotel suite after a huge night. And I do meanhuge,”she says, reaching her hand out and grazing my cock. I laugh again.

“Careful, pretty girl,” I say. “You’re about to wake up the beast with that.” She giggles and hides her face.

“Seriously,” she says. “You have done plenty for me in the last twelve hours.” I reach out and take her hand, kissing it.

“And if you let me, I’ll only do more,” I say, scooting off the bed. I pull my boxers on and walk to the dresser, unzipping my bag. I reach in and pull out the bag and carry it over to the bed. She sits up, holding the sheets to her chest, and leans back against the headboard. I hand her the bag and scoot up next to her.

She takes it hesitantly and digs through the tissue paper.

Then she pulls out the jersey that I had our team manager ship out along with the child’s one I got for Harper. It’s professional grade, with the letters and patches hand-stitched, just like the ones we wear on the ice.

With my name stitched into the back.

She runs her fingers over the letters and looks up at me.

“I couldn’t have my girl there wearing a jersey she bought on Amazon,” I say with a smile. She laughs, still staring down at it.

“This is so nice,” she says, looking back at me. “Thank you.”

“Plus,” I say, leaning forward and kissing her again, “I kind of wanted to see you with my last name on your back.”

Her eyes widen, and I notice her body tenses up instantly.

Fuck.

“Hey,” I say, catching her gaze before she spirals, “I’m right here. And I will be for as long as you let me.” She nods, and when I think I’ve put out the fire, I get up to brush my teeth and get dressed. I wash my face at the sink and look at myself in the mirror for a moment.

I guess, objectively, I’m a pretty good-looking guy. But there are lines by my eyes that didn’t used to be there. Maybe it’s because I’ve been staring into the eyes of that baby-faced princess out there, but I’m feeling like I’m finally in my thirties. Like maybe, after tonight, I’m ready to start another chapter.

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