by Brynn Paulin
I jumped into his arms, pressing my mouth over his and stopping his fervent words. “You’re everything,” I said between kisses. “I’m sorry you didn’t know I thought that. That I made you feel…less. You’re everything, Brayden. Everything. I couldn’t ask for anything else. I don’t want anything or anyone else.”
Chapter Eight
~ Jane ~
Brayden carried me to his bedroom. I had a fleeting glimpse of dark wood and charcoal linens before he came over me and we were once again kissing. His mouth. I could stay there forever, breathing in his woodsy scent, tasting the cinnamon on his tongue, absorbing his warmth and the tenderness of his caresses.
“God, Jane, I feel like I’ve waited forever.” His hand cupped my face, as he looked down at me. His blue eyes seemed to gleam in the city light shining through the windows.
“So do I. That night at the bar… I might have left that day, but I didn’t forget about you. I thought of you all the time. I wondered what it would have been like. Even dreamed about it.”
“Maybe we were together in our dreams. God knows you were on my mind,” he confessed.
“I need you,” I breathed.
“Yeah. I need you out of this dress. You’re so fucking beautiful in it, by the way.”
“You told me that when you met me on the concourse after the game,” I giggled. “Thank you. And you…you are mouthwatering in a suit. It may be one of my favorite parts of hockey.” I caught my breath. “Oh, except for when you slammed that guy for what he did to your teammate. That was so hot.”
“I think you’re going to make a hell of a hockey girlfriend,” he chuckled. “You’re good for my ego.”
“Like you need it,” I said, tracing his sharp cheekbones with my fingertips.
“Hey now!”
“How many magazines have asked you to do photospreads for them?”
“Enough of them. But the only one I care about seeing me is you.”
My hands ran down the lapels of his suitcoat before splaying open. Brayden shrugged out of it quickly tossing it to the side. He yanked off his tie while I pulled his shirt from his pants. Moments later, he was bare-chested above me. I gasped as I traced my fingers along his cut belly and the eight pack awaiting my touch. His abs sucked in when I feathered along them.
“Feels so good to have you touch me, but I need you naked,” he said, catching my wrist and bringing it to his mouth. I shuddered, my core getting wetter when he nipped the inside.
“Brayden,” I gasped.
I stopped his hands when he reached for the hem of my dress. It was already hiked to the top of my thighs, but…
Seeing his perfect male form, that really could have been chiseled from marble, my extra pounds intimidated me.
“I’m…”
“Oh, God, don’t say we have to stop,” he begged.
“I’m not as ripped as you.”
“Thank God for that. I like you soft little body against mine.”
“Not as fit,” I added.
He looked down at me, his eyes hooded with his desire, a soft smile on his full lips. “You’re the perfect fit for me. Perfect. I know it already. I was memorizing you last night and wishing like hell I could be skin to skin. Nothing beneath this cute little dress will surprise me. Nothing will make me want you less. I want to see and lick every delectable inch of you.”
“Brayden,” I murmured, overwhelmed by his response. Before I could protest, he pushed the dress off me.
“Jesus Christ, Jane,” he breathed staring down at me in black pace panties and bra. “How do you not know what a goddess you are? I’m gonna have to carry around my hockey stick to beat guys asses away from you. How am I ever going to leave on road trips with you waiting at home for me, looking like this?”
“Because. I’ll be waiting at home for you.” I didn’t point out that no men had been drooling at my heels, and I was perfectly safe for him.
His fingers traced the straps of my bra then around the cups before circling up to where my erect nipples poked against the fabric. I arched into him as he traced the peaks until I was shuddering. Pulling down a cup, he closed his mouth over the revealed tip. I cried out, my hands threading into his lush, dark hair. His tongue lashed over the pliant areola before he sucked harder, popped off and moved to the other breast.
My head tipped back into the pillow as I sank into the pleasure of my lover’s mouth on me. His hard erection pressed into the inside of my leg while my other lifted around his hip. We should have done this months ago, and kept on for all the time after. I never wanted to leave this bed, this intimacy with Brayden.
“Baby, you taste so good,” he said before giving my nipple another lick. Smiling devilishly, he started kissing and nipping a path down my torso. “But I want more. I need to have all your sweetness on my tongue.”
“Oh God,” I moaned. I lifted my hips as he eased my panties down my thighs, then he was between my legs, pushing them up and wide. He parted me and his mouth was there an instant later. I cried out when he growled against me, going from tender to animal. It was as if my arousal triggered him and he couldn’t get enough. He lapped and sucked in a frenzy, taking everything, demanding more.
Soon he had two fingers buried in me, finger-fucking with equal determination to bring more of my cream. “Fuck, Jane,” he muttered. “Fuck.”
“Oh my God, yes. Fuck me,” I cried. “Brayden!”
My yell twined with his growl as I tumbled over the edge while he sucked hard at my clit. Relief filled me when he climbed over me, his trousers down, his impressive cock bobbing free and for me.
“Condom?” he said as it neared me. I wanted him in me bare.
“The goalies protecting the net,” I breathed, going for a hockey metaphor. Poorly, apparently. He wrinkled his brow at me. “I’m on the pill and clean,” I explained.
“I am, too. Clean…” he said, pushing his wide glans against my opening and I knew there’d be a pinch. He was so big. I knew there was no way, I’d take him easily this first time. I just wanted him in me. I didn’t care.
“Oh!” I cried as he pushed forward, stretching my walls wide. I pulsed around him, tremors already starting. I’d be there fast.
“So good, so good,” he panted as he kissed my neck. “You’re so tight. There’s no way I’ll last.”
“Then we’ll go again.”
“I’ve got all night. You?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised, starting to rock. “Ever.”
His mouth covered mine, and he took me to oblivion all night long. Not until we were greeted by morning’s light did we drift off. Only to reach for each other again as soon as we woke. In the bright light of morning, Brayden showed me all the advantages of loving a twenty-two-year-old athlete.
It was definitely better than I ever dreamed it could be.
Chapter Nine
~ Jane ~
Biting my pinky nail, I watched the Lynx on my screen, scanning for any glimpse of my man. I’d stayed with him from game one and through game two, but he’d had to travel for games three and four. I hated it. It would suck next year when the team was on their road trips. He’d only been away a four days. Tonight was game five, and due to weather delays with their travel, I had seen him before he’d had to be at the arena.
I’d occupied myself with the end of year wrap-up and exams for the seniors in my classes. The underclassmen had a couple weeks left, but it was all downhill from here.
“Oh, that was a hard hit!” the announcer said.
“Who got hit?” I demanded, leaping to my feet and taking a few steps toward my TV as if I could see better.
“Sterling’s still on the ice. The captain and Coach Perlman are heading over.”
With one hand fisted over my heart and the other over my mouth, I watched Brayden sprawled on the ice, his broken stick a few feet away. My heart in my throat I stared at the TV while they got him off the ice and helped him off, taking him to the locker room. Then replay af
ter replay of the hit. That bastard Golden Knight who’d charged him. His distraught family pressed against the glass while they watched down below on the ice. Addison had the same pose as me. Blake pressed her face into Gavin’s chest.
Minutes later, the game ended with the Lynx victorious. Brayden was named one of the top players of the night for his performance, but he didn’t come out to do his stick salute.
I was hyperventilating. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t go down there. They wouldn’t let me in or tell me anything. I didn’t have any of his family’s numbers. Why didn’t I at least have Blake’s number?
Pacing the living room, I kept on Sports Center on ESPN, hoping they’d say something. Nobody said anything about his condition in the post game interviews, other than a Coach Perlman’s mention of the team doctor looking Brayden over.
When the knock came on my door, I was almost out of my mind, no matter how I tried to calm myself down.
My man stood there, grinning at me, arms open.
“Brayden,” I screamed plowing into him. “I was so scared. You were on the ice and no one said anything about how you were—”
“Baby, baby, I’m fine,” he calmed me, moving us inside my apartment. He cupped my face, making me look up at him.
“They took you out then…then…”
“I’m fine,” he repeated. “Got the air knocked out of me, and I was barely conscious there for a few minutes. But I’m okay. No concussion. I’ll play the next game. The docs checked me out and gave me the all clear. I even would have played more, but there wasn’t time before the buzzer.”
“I just…I don’t know if I could handle it if something happened to you. I don’t know if I can take it.”
“Are you breaking up with me?” he gasped in disbelief. “Jane!”
“No, breaking up wouldn’t stop my feelings for you. It wouldn’t lessen my worry. God, I’d probably be worse.” I sank into him as his arms banded around my shoulders, clasping me securely to him. “You wouldn’t be coming home to me. I mean…”
“Don’t run away from it now,” he said when I trailed off. “I want to come home to you. I know it’s fast. And I’ll wait as long as you need, but I want you in our home, in our bed. Soon.”
Taking some deep breaths to regain my equilibrium and absorb that he was okay, that he was here holding me tight, I stood quietly in his arms. I hugged him just as tight as he did me. “How about for now…” I whispered into his chest, my nose buried in his jacket, breathing his scent. “How about you’re in my bed? At my place? You can show me all your battle wounds and bruises. I’ll kiss them all better. If you’re up for it, that is.”
He scooped me up and carried me quickly toward my bedroom. “Baby, I’m always up for it.”
Epilogue
~ Brayden ~
The Following October
Fall was late, the trees barely starting to change as I walked hand in hand with Jane through the park near our house. We each held a leash as our pups, Gretzky and Howe, romped.
“So…” I began. “The season’s about to start and with it the traveling.”
“Mm-hmm,” she sighed. “We’ll be okay. The dogs and I will watch you on TV, and I’ve gotten a lot better about not freaking out over your bumps and bruises. But I want you to kick that Knight’s ass the first chance you get.”
“Can’t bad. He got traded to my team this summer.”
“Damn. Now, you have to play nice.”
“Just part of the game. He didn’t have it out for me.” I’d explained it quite a few times, but my girl held a grudge. And she’d sidetracked me. “Anyhow, being away from you sucked so bad during training. I can’t imagine what those long travel stretched will be like.”
“We’ll survive and get used to it. It’s part of the game,” she said, echoing me. “And I’ll be here when you get back each time.”
That was the best part. I love what I did, but I loved even more that she’d moved in with me this summer.
“Besides, I’ll be teaching and I’m sure BOB will keep me company.”
“Don’t even joke,” I huffed, knowing she wasn’t serious. “I’m more worried about me not handling it, to tell the truth.”
“It’ll fly by with the travel and practices. I’ll watch all the games. We can Skype or Facetime while you’re away. But no more Gordie Howe hat tricks. Just do the goal and assist part. Skip the fighting.”
“Aw, you get turned on when the gloves hit the ice, and you know it.”
Her hand did that double-pulse in mine. She might not know what it meant, but I did. It was her silent I love you. I want you. You’re important to me. “More like I get off on your intensity in when your in penalty. You know I love that.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more.”
“Impossible. But it’s a competition I want to have for the rest of our lives.”
“Me, too.” She smiled up at me. This was it. This was my moment.
“Jane,” I whispered.
Her brow furrowed then her lips formed an O, her eyes going wide as I dropped to my knee. I held up the box I’d brought along so I could propose today. “Jane Robinson, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and teasing you and making love to you. Will you marry me? Will you be Jane Sterling?”
“Yes,” she cried, nodding. She dropped down and hugged me. We kissed while the dogs wrapped themselves around us, excited to see their humans down on the ground, too.
“Let’s go home and celebrate,” I said when we’d finally untangled and I finally slipped the four-carat diamond onto her finger.
“What do you have in mind?” she asked as we walked.
“A few things. For what it’s worth. Don’t let my mom anywhere near the planning. She’s the reason Gavin and Blake ran away and eloped.”
Jane giggles as we entered the house and let the dogs off their leashes. They took off while she turned to me. “I’m only running to you and your hockey stick, Brayden,” she said, trailing her fingers over my fly.
“Let’s go do a Sterling hat trick: proposal, orgasm…baby.”
“You can try,” she teased. “But I hear only the best achieve that.”
“Haven’t you heard, baby? I’m the best there is. I’m Sterling.”
“Cocky.”
“But true.”
She pressed into me and I cupped her ass then brushed my lips over her sweet lips.
“I’m so glad you’re mine, Jane.”
“I’m glad you killed my stupid penalty.”
“Anytime. I’m here for you.”
She linked her fingers with mine, drawing me toward the bedroom. “Time to give it your best shot, player. For the record, the goalie’s away from the net. Now’s your chance.”
I scooped her into my arms, sprinting for the bedroom. “We’re having a baby,” I whispered as I placed her on the mattress.
“Not yet, but I’m ready. We’re ready. Let’s do it.”
“This is the best day of my life. You’re going to be my wife. We’re making a family…”
“Better than winning the Cup?” That had been a stunning victory. We weren’t supposed to get that far. We weren’t supposed to win, but we had.
“Way better. That’s for the team, and we don’t get to keep it forever. But you’re mine. You and me? We’re forever and always.”
“Always,” Jane repeated as we sank into our future together, our bodies doing the speaking for us.
About the Author
When it comes to books and movies, I have one rule: there must be a happy ending. After that one requirement, anything else goes. And it just might in any of my books. Expect the unexpected.
I love hearing from readers! Please visit me on my website at www.brynnpaulin.com or contact me at [email protected].
You can also stalk me on Twitter and Facebook.
Books by Brynn Paulin
Cherish Cove (Home For the Holidays)
Jingle Bel
le’s Rock
Ex Scrooge Me
Loving St Nix
Cherish Cove (Beach Please)
Light My Fire
Reclaiming Love
Beach Please
Just Beachy (Coming Soon)
The Bad Boys
Bad Boy Biker Boots
Bad Boy Bossy Pants
Bad Boy Babymaker (Coming Soon)
Bad Boy Biology Professor (coming soon)
Daly Way
Belonging to Them
Plays Well With Others
Fill Her Up
One for the Team
Briar’s Cowboys
Roped by the Team
His Old Kentucky Home
Eye of Her Storm
Santa Secret
Mad About Her Cowboys
Tradition Bound
On Your Knees
In His Chains
Chain Me Up
Cruentus Dragons
Dragons Blood
Blood Bought
Blood Mates
Taboo Wishes
Punished
Kidnap and Kink
Yuletide Greetings
Mr. Smith’s Whip
Dick Does Jane
Sybil Disobedience
Billionaire Club
Blind Date With the Billionaire
Billionaire Auction (co-author Tia Fanning)
Stranded With the Billionaire
The Billionaire and the Beast
The Problem With Billionaires
The Secret Billionaire (Coming Soon)
Malloy Brothers (with Dakota Rebel)
Billionaire’s Christmas Cruise
Billionaire’s Beautiful Runaway (Coming Soon)