Page 138 of Hot for the Hockey Player
“He threatened to go to the media with the history of our relationship.That you used to live with the kids and me when you were a teenager and get them to speculate enough about the nature of oursituationto hurt you.That our relationship was … more than it was.”Her mouth turned down in a deep frown and she reached for the water glass to take a sip.“I’m so sorry I let him get to me.That I didn’t tell you what happened.But I just … I didn’t want to add to your problems with your father.I didn’t want to add to your stress.”
I could hardly hear her because of the pounding in my ears.An edgy, twitchy sensation prickled along my arms, and my fists bunched at my sides.I’d never really been a fighter, not with my brothers, not on the ice, but at that moment, the insatiable need to put my fist through my father’s face became all-consuming.
Now, her shutting me down and letting me go as flippantly as she did made more sense.It still stung, but it stung less.My anger course-corrected and I looked at the woman in front of me, with her walls down, vulnerable and sad, not with defeat in my heart, but with a small shred of hope.
“I came here,” she breathed out slowly through her mouth and gripped the edge of the counter, “I came here to tell you that … I was wrong.I should never have told you not to come back.It wasn’t my place to tell you what to do.And I regret shutting you down.I regret abandoning you when you needed me.Because you’re right, you’ve been nothing but patient and understanding with me.There for me.And when the tables turned, I wasn’t there for you.I’m sorry, Maverick.With my whole heart, I’m sorry.”
Pushing away from the counter, I stepped toward her and peeled her fingers off the edge of the granite, bringing color back into her knuckles.We stood less than a foot apart now, and she had to look up at me.Those big, beautiful, amber eyes with so much strength, wisdom, and kindness blinked back at me, hesitant and unsure.“So, can we circle back to when you said you’ve never been in love before?”
A fresh wave of color bloomed in her cheeks, and she broke eye contact just as a small smile coasted across her lips.I reached for her chin and tipped it up so she was forced to look at me again.
“Does that mean …”
She nodded.“I’m in love with you.And it’s terrifying and wonderful, and I haven’t felt this not in control of my life in eleven years.”
“That would be pretty scary.”
She hiccupped a laugh that came out more like a sob.“I’m a bit of a control freak if you haven’t noticed.”
“No?Who?You?”
Her smile turned wry.“I’m really sorry I messed everything up.If your father ever says anything about oursituationwhen you lived with me, I’ll hit him so hard with a lawsuit for slander and defamation of character he’ll think he got body checked into the boards without any padding.”
I snorted a laugh.
She remained serious though.“I won’t let him sully your name.I don’t care what happens to me.”
Tightening my grip on her chin, I stared down into her eyes.“But I do.I care a lot.I care what happens to you, to the kids, to your family, and everyone else on that kooky little island.”
“I’ve missed you.”
My heart thumped heavy and true against my ribs, and I stepped in a little closer.“I’ve missed you.”
More tears trickled down her cheeks, and I swept them away with my thumbs.“I need to hear it though.From your lips.”
Her brows and nose wrinkled in a cute way.“Hear?”
“I need to hear the invitation fromyou.That you want me back.That you want me to follow your ass home to San Camanez and live happily ever after with you on your vineyard with your meddling cousins and their awesome kids.”
She nodded, and unlike before, didn’t hesitate at all.“Come home with me, Maverick.Please.You belong …” Love filled her gaze.“You belong with me.With us.”
Still cupping her face, I bent down and claimed her mouth, tasting her salty tears as I pried her lips apart and swept my tongue inside.She wrapped her arms around me and melted against my body, trembling as the rush of emotions came forward.We broke the kiss for a moment, and I stared down at her.“Okay,” I whispered.“I’ll come home with you.”
She smiled sweetly and tightened the grip her fingers had on the back of my shirt.“And live happily ever after with me, my kids, and my meddling cousins?”
I nodded.“Yes, please.”Then I took her mouth again, scooped her up into my arms and carried her to my bedroom.
Filled with adrenaline, she continued to shake a little as I laid her down on my bed, the city lights outside my wall of windows casting her body into layers of shadows.It took nothing away from her beauty, and I savored this moment, imprinted it into my mind for the rest of my life.
I took my time undressing her.Pulling off her socks, then her slacks, and pressing kisses to the faint scars on the tops of her thighs from when she burned herself with the hot tea so many weeks ago.That day felt like a lifetime away now, but the scars were still there.A gentle reminder that this was all very new.Very real, but very new.
She removed her sweater, leaving her on the bed in just her practical, sexy, nude bra and panties.I lunged forward and pressed my nose to the “V” of her legs, inhaling deep.
She tried to squirm away, but I pinned her down, my hands on her hipbones.“No,” I said, leaving no room for argument.
Sitting back on my heels, I tore my sweater over my head and chucked it to the floor before crawling over her and taking her mouth again.She looped her arms around my neck, pulling me down, encouraging me to rest my full weight on her.Wrapping her legs around my waist, she rocked against me, moaning and raking her nails across my back.
“Can you hand over control?”I asked, nipping at an extra tender spot on her neck that made her hips leap up to meet mine.
