by Toni Aleo
She gives me a look, her face scrunching up as she snorts. “Hell, all ya gotta do is look at me and I’ll want sex with you.” Something moves in my chest as I gaze down at her. I search her blue depths, taking in her beauty. Her brows come together. “What are you doing?”
“You said all I gotta do is look at you, and you’d want sex!”
Her face goes from confusion to hilarity in seconds. She curls up in my lap, laughing so hard that she’s shaking, and just like that, everything stops.
Because I know I’m in over my head with this girl.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
SHELLI
“I’M glad you’re not playing tomorrow, because you’re gonna be useless. You know this, right?”
Aiden shrugs as he nuzzles his face between my breasts, caressing my back with his palms. “Eh, I’ll sleep on the way there. Toronto is a long trip.”
“True, but I’m worried it will throw off your groove.”
He shakes his head as he kisses my breastbone. “I’ll be fine. Promise.”
I thread my fingers through his hair, moving it out of his face as I gaze down at him. While it’s almost four in the morning, I, for one, am not the least bit tired. I can’t believe how this night has gone. I thought when I got here that we’d get into it, and then that would be that. While I wanted to assume he had fought Nico because of me, I kinda thought it was because of his pride. After the way he looked at me, though, and touched me, I feel it was more. I feel he really wants to be with me, and Nico was in his way. That alone has a grin on my face.
But then tonight happened. We’ve talked. We’ve laughed. We’ve kissed, broken plates, and made love. I mean, we go at it and it’s hot, but the way he looks at me, the way he cups my face, it just feels like more. It feels special. I don’t want to be “romanticizing” anything, but it feels different to me. He feels different. I know it’s all freaking him out, but he looks pretty satisfied right now.
Aiden tips his face up, his mouth against my boob as he says, “You’ve gone mute. What’s wrong?”
I smile, braiding his hair. “Nothing. Just thinking.”
“That can be dangerous with you.”
I snort. “What does that mean?”
“That mind of yours is lethal. I may need to put a stop to this thinking to spare the world from your domination.”
I giggle as he turns his face, nibbling at my nipple. I cup his head and tilt it back to press my lips to his. “I’m just thinking how great this has been.”
He’s heavy-eyed, bless him, as he gives me a sleepy grin. “It’s been really great.”
I move my fingers along the stitches under his eye. “I’m sorry about this.”
He opens his eyes more before he narrows his gaze at me. “You didn’t fight me, so why are you apologizing?”
“Because you fought over me.”
“So? That’s my choice.”
“You don’t regret it? That’s a nasty cut.”
He shakes his head. “I’d do it again.”
I kiss his nose, but his hand comes up, clutching the back of my head before he presses his lips to mine. I get lost in the kiss, savoring it since I won’t see him for over a week. When he pulls back, his eyes meet mine as he kisses me once more. Little kisses. Sweet ones that curl my toes. He nuzzles back into my chest, and I hold him close.
“Can I text you when you’re gone?”
I feel his lips turn up. “You better.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he says, kissing the side of my boob. “Why wouldn’t you? I’m going to text you.”
“I don’t know. Don’t want to freak you out.”
He chuckles. “I’m a walking ball of anxiety right now, but if I don’t hear from you, I’m pretty sure it will get worse. I’ll stay up thinking, ‘Did she use me?’ ‘Was I not good enough?’ ‘Is she really pissed about the plates?’”
I laugh out as we tangle our legs. “Fine. I’ll text.”
“And call.”
“And call.”
“FaceTime me too, especially if you’re naked.” I sputter with laughter as he bites my breast lightly. “You’re supposed to say, ‘Yes, Aiden. I’ll do just that.’”
Still giggling, I say, “Yes, Aiden. Only when I’m naked.”
“That’s right, angel.”
A shiver runs through my body as I wrap my arms around his neck, closing my eyes.
“Hey, did you text your mom?”
I smile without opening my eyes. “Yeah, she knows I’m staying the night with someone I’m seeing.”
“So she doesn’t know about us?”
“No.” A silence falls between us, and I wait for him to say something. When he doesn’t, I ask, “Do you want me to tell her?”
“See, the issue is, I think that’s something we need to do together. I respect and love her, and I think it’s something I should tell her. But I am not ready for that because I can’t even really accept that something has happened here.”
“That shouldn’t piss me off, right?”
He turns his head, putting his chin on my breastbone. “If you were to say it to me, I’d be annoyed. So I know it’s bullshit, if that helps.”
I nod. “It does help a bit.”
“I’m sorry. But I can promise you I don’t want anyone else.”
My lips quirk at the side. “I know. I’m pretty great in bed.”
His eyes darken. “And you’re smart, beautiful, and know all my stats. So, I need you around.”
I fight back my grin. I love his sense of humor. “Such a smooth talker you are.”
He winks, and my stomach goes nuts before he lies back down. I can’t sleep. I’m too amped up. This is exactly what I wanted, and it all seems like it could go real wrong at any second. “I don’t want to tell my parents yet. Or yours. I really don’t want to tell anyone.”
He opens his eyes but doesn’t look at me. “Okay?”
“I think we need to navigate this ourselves before we involve everyone else.”
“And what are we navigating?”
I roll my eyes. “A relationship, Brooks.”
He acts as if he’s choking. “I was afraid you were going to say that.” I yank on his hair, and he laughs as he looks at me, his eyes still so heavy. He’s exhausted, and I’m such an asshole for keeping him awake. “Yeah, the R-word. I like the idea of navigating that with just you for a while. Especially since it freaks me the fuck out.”
I ignore the last comment and go with my first thought. “Because you know if we get everyone involved and it goes to shit, my parents will hate you and yours will hate me.”
He nods. “You’re right.”
“So I think it’s best we just enjoy this. Us.”
“If you’re okay with it, I am.”
I bite my lip. Am I making the right decision? “Let me ask Amelia.”
“Who’s Amelia?”
“My cousin. Ryan Justice’s sister.”
“Oh, that’s right,” he says, and then he sets me with a look. “What happened to not telling people?”
“Amelia isn’t people.”
“Then Asher isn’t people.”
“That’s fine,” I agree, and then I smile. “So, you’re gonna tell your brother about me?”
“He already knows about you.”
I flutter my lashes at him, and he rolls his eyes. “Aw, that’s sweet.”
“Are you done?”
“You like me,” I sing, and he laughs, covering my mouth with his. I wrap my arms around his neck as he holds my jaw in his hands. His hands are so big, so comforting, and I’ve never felt so good in my life. When we part, he kisses my jaw and then my neck.
“I do.”
“Do what?”
“I do like you.”
I smile against his temple. “You’re damn right, you do.”
He squeezes my hip, and I close my eyes with the biggest damn grin on my face.
I’M AWAKENED by Aiden’s phone.
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It’s ringing. Loudly. I feel the weight of him on my chest, and with one eye, I see him there. I smack his side. “Aiden, your phone.”
“Ugh,” he groans as he cuddles deeper against me. “Let it go to voice mail.”
“Isn’t it your alarm?” I ask, still smacking his side.
When he whips up onto his knees, my eyes fly open. “Fuck. What time is it?”
I sit up. “I don’t know!”
He hurries off me as I rush the other way to grab my phone. We look at each other, both wide-eyed.
“Oh my God!” I yell.
“They’re gonna kill me.” He answers his phone. “I overslept. I don’t know what happened. I had four alarms! Fuck! I’m coming.”
He hangs up and throws his phone on the bed as he rushes through the room, pulling off his boxers before going to the bathroom to brush his teeth. I want to follow him, I want to apologize since I kept him up all night, but I stay where I am. I don’t want to get in the way. When he rushes out of the bathroom, I bite my lip. “Can I do something?”
“No, I’m packed. Just gotta get dressed.” His words are clipped, and I know not to take it personally. I’m freaking out for him. You can’t be late for the plane. There is a fine, and Coach will rip you apart. Then there’ll be a call from my mom about the importance of not wasting anyone’s time. The guys get bitched at, and usually, there are extra laps on the ice. Which, in return, makes you public enemy number one, and the guys put Bengay in your cup.
I really like Aiden’s balls.
Ah, I feel awful.
I throw up my hands. “Hide your jockstrap!”
He doesn’t laugh, not that I expect him to, but I was kind of hoping he would. “Oh, I’m never taking it off.”
“Good man.” I nod as I get up, making his bed as he comes out of the closet in a nice three-piece suit.
“Babe, can you grab my toiletries bag?”
I basically fall over myself to get to the bathroom to grab it. I see it on the counter, and then I see a pen and Post-its that I left in here when I was organizing. I pick up the pen and write a quick note before stuffing it into his toiletry bag. I come back as he snags his bag from beside the closet and then his charger. I hand it to him as he stuffs both in his bag.
He looks around frantically, patting his jacket. “Where is my wallet?”
“By the piano.”
He pauses, and then a sinful grin pulls at his lips. He drops his bag and closes the distance between us. I hold my breath as he comes for me. His eyes are so dark and only on me. His body slams into mine, pulling me close to him before tipping my jaw up so he can look into my eyes. His lips curve, causing mine to do the same. “I had a great time last night.”
I bite my lip. “I did too. I’m really sorry for keeping you up.”
“Don’t be,” he urges before pressing his lips to my nose. “I wanted to stay up with you.”
I go onto my tiptoes, and our lips meet in a heated, wanton kiss. His fingers tangle in the back of my hair as he squeezes me to him. When he pulls back, it’s because his phone is ringing again. He shakes his head before pressing his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry. I gotta go.”
I move my hands into his jacket, hugging him tightly. “Be safe and keep that point streak going.”
The biggest, brightest grin covers his lips. “Will do.” He kisses me once more and then says against my lips, “You better text me.”
“You text me so I know you’re not sleeping.”
“Okay,” he whispers, and then he kisses me once more. “There is a key on the counter for you to lock the door on your way out.”
“Okay. I’m gonna take a shower.”
He groans. “Rude.”
I grin. “We can take one together when you get back.”
“Promise?”
“Promise,” I say, kissing his chin. “Now, go on.”
“Okay, yeah, I guess I better go.”
“Yeah,” I say, but he doesn’t move. His fingers stroke along my bare ass as his eyes burn into mine. “I’m so dead.”
“Why?”
“’Cause I want to stay right here with you.”
I giggle and then press my lips to his before pushing him away. “Bye.”
He shakes his head. “Bye, Shelli.”
He grabs his bag and then quickly leaves while he answers the phone, telling whomever that he’s in the car. I want to say I’m smiling so big because of the lie, but it has nothing to do with the lie and everything to do with the fact that I am completely smitten with him.
When my phone sounds, I look down to see a text from Aiden. I fall onto the bed, stomach first, and grab my phone from the nightstand. I open his text, and my face hurts from smiling so hard.
Aiden: Keep the shirt. It looks better on you.
I close my eyes as I hold my phone to my chest. I’ve wanted this for so long, and while I want to believe we’re good, I know he’s not where I am. I have to remember that. I have to take this slowly, help him through this, or I might lose him. On an exhale, I dial Amelia’s number.
“Hey.”
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Growing a baby. You know, nothing important.”
I smile. “How are you feeling?”
“Sick. All the time. But my man is being good to me.”
“Good.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Huh?”
“You sound like something’s wrong. I have a feeling it has to do with Aiden since I watched him fight Nico.”
I shake my head. “I gotta call that asshole.”
“Why? What happened?”
“He told Aiden he was fucking me, and Aiden lost his shit.”
“Oh, how very jealous of him.”
“Right?” I say with a grin.
“So, things are happening.”
“Yeah,” I say as I cuddle with Aiden’s pillow. “I told him I didn’t want to tell anyone.”
“Well, that’s for the best since from everything you tell me, it seems he’s terrified of commitment.”
“He is,” I agree, and I bite my lip. “Am I stupid?”
“What do you mean?”
“Am I wasting my time?”
“Do you feel like you are?”
“No, not at all.”
“Then you’re not. You’re not a dumb girl, Shelli. You know what you want. He’s obviously important to you, and you believe in this. So, do you.”
“You don’t feel the same, do you?”
She clears her throat. “I want you to be happy, but no, I don’t think it will work.”
I thought she’d say that. “Why not?”
“Because someone like him doesn’t settle down. He’s set in his ways. But then, you never know. He may change for you, and if so, that’s awesome. I’m just being honest in saying it doesn’t happen often.”
“I hear you.” And I do. I just wish she were saying something else. I wish she believed in him the way I do, but then, she wasn’t here with him last night or this morning. She wasn’t under his gaze. I was. I feel good about this, but I’m not being naïve. I know there is a good chance of failure, which is why I need to proceed cautiously. “I’m gonna take it slow. I don’t expect him to profess his love for me and marry me tomorrow.”
“Well, that’s good to hear, because after you unpacked his place, I thought you did.”
“I may have jumped the gun on that.”
“Just a bit,” she teases. “But hey, that’s you. You do what you want, and everyone either gets on board or they get left behind.”
I smile. “Yeah.”
“You sound happy, though.”
“I am.”
“Good. That’s all I want.”
“When will I see you?”
“Next month. We’re coming in for the weekend since the IceCats have three days off. I gotta tell everyone I’m growing a child.”
“I can’t wait. It’s gonna be awesome.”
“O
r a shitshow. So, we’ll see.”
I snort as I shake my head. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there.”
“Thank God.” We both laugh together, until my laughter falls off. I bite my lip as I inhale thoughtfully, getting drunk off Aiden’s scent.
“Hey, Amelia.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think he will love me?”
“Oh, Shelli,” she says softly. “If he’s smart, he’ll fall head over heels for you. You’re perfection in my eyes.”
I smile. “Same here. I love you.”
“I love you.”
After we hang up, I cuddle deeper into his pillow, and I remind myself to be patient.
I’ve waited ten years for him to notice me.
I just hope I don’t have to wait that long for him to love me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
AIDEN
I LEAN on the bathroom counter, looking down at the note Shelli put in my bag for me.
Go kick some ass. I’ll be thinking of you.
Love,
Shelli
I read it again and then again. This isn’t the first time I’ve done this. Every time I open my bag, I read it. Every time, the warning bells go nuts in my head, but the weird thing is, the note makes me feel good. It makes me smile. She didn’t have to leave me a note or even let me know she’d be thinking of me, but she did. I didn’t want to leave her, which again, should set off some warning bells, but it doesn’t. I wanted to stay. I wanted to hold her and sleep a little longer. If I’m honest, these last few days have been pretty damn lonely. It makes no sense at all since I’m surrounded by my teammates, but then, I want to be with Shelli.
I think I miss her.
Weird.
And there are more warning bells.
I pull my phone out of my pocket just as Boon comes into the bathroom. “Hey, bro. I gotta shit.”
“My bad,” I say, tucking the note into my back pocket and walking out into the hotel room. I hold my phone up to my ear as I wait for Asher to answer. When he does, I say, “I have an issue.”
“An issue, you say?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, before you hit me with your issue, I want to let you know I’m coming into town next week, and I’m staying with you. No way in hell I’m staying with Mom, Dad, and the girls. So make sure you leave my side of the bed open.”