Hard Hit: IceCats series

by Toni Aleo

  Her lips curve, her bottom lip touching mine. “So, we’re going to do this.”

  It isn’t a question; it’s a promise. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. “We are, and there is no backing out.”

  “Backing out? Please, I’m not going anywhere without you two.”

  We share a smile before our lips meet in a beautiful, wanton kiss. A kiss I have been craving since yesterday. A kiss that eases every single concern I had. A kiss that seals my forever.

  I pull back only a breath away as our eyes lock. “I love you.”

  She strokes her fingers along my jaw before she whispers against my lips, “Same, Kirb. Same.”

  Epilogue

  Jaylin

  * * *

  God knew we needed good weather today. The sun is bright, warming our faces. Though, the ocean air makes it a little too chilly for me. Still, the view is incredible.

  “I, Aviva, take you, Nicolas, as my husband. My one true love. My forever.”

  Aviva is stunning today. She wears a classic, long-sleeved white dress with an open back. Her hair is down, flowing with her veil in the breeze as she gazes up at Nico. Of course, her groom is perfectly handsome in a nice tux but without shoes. While I am cold, I doubt they even feel it. They’re too in love and too caught up in the moment to feel the chill. I glance out to where Callie sits with Vance in her lap. He wears a little tux, while Callie is in a beautiful lilac dress, her hair up in a bun and her makeup unstoppable. Beside her sits Nico’s mom and some more of his family. I don’t know anyone, but it doesn’t matter because I only care about Aviva and Nico.

  Oh, and Kirby.

  Across from me, he stands in all his glory. Tall as all get-out, his hair brushed to the side, and a sexy beard growing in. While I love him clean-shaven, I do like it when he grows it out some. He never lets it get long, but I enjoy it either way. In a striking tux that hugs his thighs and shoulders, he looks every bit the perfect best man.

  Well, the best man for me.

  When his eyes meet mine, we share a smile, and my heart flutters in my chest at all we’ve experienced together.

  These last few months have been a fairy tale.

  Full of magic and love, but also some wicked setbacks.

  No matter what, though, I don’t think I could love him any more than I do.

  It took over a month for me to finally sleep with him in his house. I found myself waking up in the middle of the night and leaving but coming back before Celeste would wake up. Kirby was patient; he was kind and supportive. When I finally made it through the night, I felt like I had run a marathon and come in first place.

  I felt like I’d actually scored a goal instead of falling flat on my face like I almost did when Kirby took me skating. Like I am on the ice, I’m still a bit shaky when it comes to sleeping with him. But just like how Kirby was with me on the ice, he catches me when I fall.

  He’s incredible.

  I moved in with him a few weeks ago, and I’m so happy. We’re selling my condo so we can buy a bigger house once the season is over. The IceCats are last in the league, but that doesn’t bother Kirby. He’s too happy, he tells me, and I believe him. He still struggles with his anxiety, and he may question us occasionally. But for the most part, he is confident in us. In our relationship. In our little family.

  I move my gaze to where Jean is sitting with Celeste in her lap. Jean is dressed all out in a stunning pink dress that hugs her curves in ways I wish I had. She is such a beautiful soul, and I’m so thankful for her. She loves Celeste, and she loves us. Her hours have been reduced since I’m now able to be with Celeste at night when Kirby is traveling, but Kirby still pays her the same. He doesn’t want to lose her, and I agree fully. Especially for when we decide to get married and have babies of our own.

  Which, if my parents had their way, would be today.

  My mom is sitting beside Jean, her eyes glistening for Aviva and Nico. Dad is currently playing with Celeste, making her giggle, and I’m overwhelmed with love. I never thought my parents would be okay with me being with a white man. But not only do they care deeply for Kirby, they absolutely adore Celeste. They spoiled her worse than we did on Christmas. I never knew Christmas could be so magical until I experienced it with a child. It was beyond my expectations, and I am in super planning mode for her first birthday.

  It will be over the top, but I don’t care one bit.

  She’s my everything.

  Honestly, and I haven’t told Kirby this, I want to adopt Celeste. I want to make it official on paper that she is mine. I know she is in my heart, and I know I’ll be the best damn mom ever, but I want it to be official for when she goes to school and sports and stuff. When we signed her up for Mommy and Me gymnastics at the gym Chandler’s wife, Amelia, works at, she had to tell them I was her mom. I don’t want to have to have someone go to bat for me. I want her to be legally mine and me hers. I haven’t brought it up to Kirby since we aren’t married, but I can’t help yearning for that title.

  I love her.

  I love him.

  “I, Nicolas, take you, Aviva, as my wife. My forever. My everything.”

  “Mama!” Celeste yells, interrupting the pastor as she reaches for me even though she is nowhere near me. Everyone laughs as Celeste wiggles herself out of Jean’s lap and hauls ass to me. I bend down, picking her up as soon as she is within reach. She cuddles close into me, grabbing my bouquet from me and holding it to her chest.

  I kiss her temple as Aviva looks back at me. “Sorry.”

  She grins as Nico chuckles sweetly before she turns back to marrying her soul mate. I redirect attention to them, and I’m in awe. They’re so beautiful, so perfect for each other. I couldn’t handpick a better man for her. Nor could I have handpicked a man like Kirby Litman. As my gaze always does, it shifts to Kirby, who is watching me hold Celeste so close to me. She has her head under my chin, content as she bounces her fingers along the flowers in my bouquet. His lips quirk, and I smile back at him, so completely in love with him. So fully his, it’s mind-blowing.

  I love you, he mouths.

  And I mouth right back to him, Love you more.

  After an evening full of a lot of food, drinks, and wishing the new couple a happy honeymoon, I find myself applying my face lotion as I lie in bed. Kirby sits on the end of the bed, taking off his shoes as he watches SportsCenter. He’s off for a few days for a small break for the Winter Classic. I have no clue what that is. Apparently, they play outside on ice? Instead of inside? Doesn’t make sense to me. Either way, I guess they would be cold. Kirby says it fulfills childhood dreams, which is cool if your dream is to play outside in the freezing cold on a slab of ice.

  I’d rather be in my bed in my PJs, but that’s why I don’t play hockey. I do enjoy watching him play, though. He’s super good and super sexy.

  “Will you guys get to do the Winter Classic?”

  He glances back at me, tucking his socks in his shoes. “I don’t know, hopefully. It’ll be a cool experience. Though, I doubt I’d be able to get you there.”

  I grin. “I’d go if you’re playing.”

  He sends me a grin as he stands, unbuttoning his shirt. “Wanna go to the mountains this weekend? A little getaway?”

  “Sure, I can bring work with me and do it on the way. Oh! But Celeste and I have Mommy and Me class this weekend.”

  He shrugs. “She can miss.”

  “Okay. We should take Jean. She’d enjoy some time away.”

  “Absolutely. Plus, I can take you to a romantic dinner.”

  As he crawls onto the bed, covering my body with his, I let out a breathless laugh. “I would love that a lot,” I announce, tucking my hands in the back pockets of his slacks. He presses his thick cock against my center, and instantly, I’m hot everywhere. He kisses my lips, and I welcome the intrusion of his tongue. As we kiss, my heart picks up speed. I want him desperately, but he pulls back, gazing down at me.

  “I want to thank you in advance for being
there for Celeste when I’m on this long road trip.”

  Ugh, I hate thinking of it. Nineteen days apart. That’s basically a month. Such shit. Jean and I are going to tag-team taking care of Celeste, and while I’m happy to be with them, I’m going to miss Kirby like crazy. “You don’t need to thank me. I want to do it.”

  “I know, but it’s a lot, taking care of a kid when you have a full-time job and you go to her Mommy and Me classes. It means a lot to me.”

  “Kirby, I love you, and I love her.”

  He kisses me, his whole heart in the kiss. He pulls back, gazing into my eyes, and my heart swells.

  “I have a question,” I find myself asking. “I don’t know if it was the wedding or what, but something is weighing heavy on my heart.”

  His brows come together as he moves his fingers along my jaw. “You have some goop left. I blended it in, but please proceed, Counselor.”

  I snicker at him as I focus in on his nose, my laughter subsiding. If he were to say no, I’d be heartbroken. But maybe I’m overstepping.

  “What is it?”

  I inhale very harshly as my gaze meets his once more. “You know I love Celeste—and you, of course.”

  “I’m aware, and I’m glad since you might press charges against me for lying on you like this if that weren’t the case.”

  He flashes me a dorky grin, and I laugh, so happy. “Yeah, yeah. Focus,” I demand, and he cups my face in his hands, staring deep into my eyes. I want to laugh, but I also need to get this out. Ignoring his goofy ways, I say quickly, “And you know, I love spending time with her and being there for her. And so, I guess lately…I’ve been wondering if you’d ever consider allowing me to adopt her?”

  “Adopt her?”

  Well, that’s not promising. “Yes, as my daughter. I want her to be mine, Kirby. I love her deeply—”

  “You want to adopt Celeste?”

  His eyes are wild, and my heart is basically rocking my chest. Though, with confidence, I nod and say, “I do.”

  His eyes search mine, and then a grin comes over his face. “Only if you marry me.”

  I smirk. “Are you asking me? Or telling me?”

  He uses his arm to hold himself up before he reaches into his nightstand drawer. When he comes back with a very recognizable teal box, my jaw drops. “I’m asking.”

  I cover my mouth in shock, fully not expecting this as he sits back on his haunches. He takes my hand, pulling me up to him as tears well up in my eyes. “I was going to wait until Celeste’s first birthday. I had this whole thing planned, but this feels right.”

  I’m speechless, gazing at him in awe as he slowly opens the box. I can’t even focus on the ring because my eyes are flooding with tears, and I’m locked in his gaze. After letting out a long breath, with so much beautiful emotion in his voice, he says, “My whole life, I have felt like I was losing. I could never gain traction to achieve the life I wanted. When Celeste was born, I started to feel like I was getting there, but then I lost the Cup for the second time. Again, failure was coming for me, but then you came back into my life like a 240-pound defensemen slamming me into the boards, stealing my heart like he would a puck. Jaylin, I can’t describe how perfectly you complete me. You give me a level of confidence I didn’t know was possible. You help make me the man I want to be. I have never, nor will I ever love anyone the way I love you. I want you to be Celeste’s mother and the mother of all our future children. So, will you fully complete me by being my wife?”

  The tears start to flow down my face, and I can’t answer him. I only nod before I press my lips to his. He wraps his arm around my neck, kissing me deeply as I smile against his lips. He pulls back a little, laughing happily as he takes the giant diamond out of the box and slides it on my finger. It’s a perfect fit. “Oh, Kirby.”

  “A diamond fit for a queen,” he whispers against my temple as I gaze at the ring. It’s beautiful, just a huge, square diamond solitaire. “My queen.”

  I tip my head back to gaze up at him. “I love you.”

  He captures my chin in his fingers and grins. “Same, Jay. Same.”

  We both grin before our lips meet once more, and I can’t believe I waited so long for this moment. For this feeling. But maybe I wasn’t waiting for this feeling. Or this moment.

  I was waiting for Kirby.

  ALLY IS HERE!!!!

  * * *