When I chose to wait for Lilly to get back from dinner so we could talk, I had expected her to say this. Regardless, it doesn’t change the fact that those words cause a tightness in my chest. Even though I barely know her, after this weekend I wanted nothing more than to keep seeing her. There was still alot that we didn’t know about each other, but while she was with her dad all I could think about was how to find a way to keep seeing her.
Sarah would be busting my balls for feeling so much for someone I hardly know. Hell, she’d tease me for how much of a romantic sap I was being. But she would also be begging to meet Lilly ASAP.
Lilly stands across the kitchen with her back to me as I think over how to say what I’m thinking. I need to know if she’s on the same page as me or if I’m looking too much into a weekend fling. The idea of ending this before having the chance to explore whateverthisis between us is what has me approaching her slowly.
Stepping up behind her, I pin her between my body and the counter, gently moving the hair off her shoulder to expose her neck. Bending forward, I inhale her light coconut and vanilla scent. Her breath hitches slightly as she begins breathing heavier. Leaning back against me, molding her body to mine, while I hold her by the hips and kiss just below her ear. She’s still holding onto the counter as my name leaves her lips on a breathless moan.
Lilly was right in saying that we can’t see each other. As of this morning, I work for her father. While some of the team was there for the press conference today, there was no official introduction. Plus, the only thing that Coach and the management team know about me is what they’ve learned from watching videos of me on the ice or the information gained from my stats. So, the potential that the first personal thing they learn about me is that I hooked up with the coach’s daughter is not ideal.
Considering I already missed the first few weeks of practices and the first preseason game, I’m already going to have my workcut out for me to show the team my talent. Adding anything that will complicate that isn’t something I should do.
However, now that she is in my arms again, the only thing I can focus on is how her body feels against mine, making it difficult to accept that.
Two days with her isn’t enough.
Unable to resist, I place a gentle kiss on her neck while trying to figure out how to word what I want to say. Seeing as how we’re neighbors, there is no way to fully avoid each other. The idea of an awkward “Hey, how are you?” in passing when I’ve seen her naked is not something I want.
There’s still a lot to learn about Lilly. If we hadn’t slept together right away this would be a whole different story, one where I wasn’t craving more than just to touch her. Realizing that I want more than to just have sex is what makes this truly difficult.
Even in the short time I’ve been around her it’s clear as day that she’s the type of person who is worth everything just to have in your life.
“Is the only reason that you’re saying we can’t see each other again because of who your dad is?” Lilly nods her head slowly against my chest as she sighs. Needing to see her, I gently turn her around but keep her between my body and the counter with my hands still on her hips. Leaning down until our foreheads are touching, I close my eyes and focus on her hand settling on my chest.
“Then we don’t tell him.” A sad quiet chuckle is all I get in response, but it urges me to continue. “I’m serious. While I don’t know your dad yet and I also don’t know your relationship with him, he doesn’t need to know about this. He doesn’t need to know that we hooked up. Or if we keep seeing each other.” I can’t stop, leaning back to watch her face as I ramble on.
“His focus and concerns about me only need to do with hockey and the team. Both of which have nothing to do with you. So, we could just keep them separate and keep getting to know each other.”
Lilly still doesn’t speak as I pause for a breath and watch her closely. Her hand is on my chest, tracing absent-minded patterns as she sucks her bottom lip into her mouth, watching me with pleading eyes. I just can’t tell if she’s pleading with me to keep talking or to shut up already.
Loosening my hold on her, I voice the thought that I pray is wrong.
“Unlessyoudon’t want to see me again, simply for the reason that you don’t want to.” She’s shaking her head before I can finish my sentence. My heart skips a beat then pounds heavily in my chest. Which she can probably feel as she stops tracing patterns, but she keeps her hands pressed on me without pushing me away.
“Isn’t it a rule to not get involved with the coach’s daughter?”
“I mean not like a written rule. It’s more of a ‘things to avoid doing so shit doesn’t get awkward at practice’ kinda thing.” She laughs as a smile finally spreads across her face before it falls slightly, and she sighs. Letting her head fall forward heavily against my chest, I move one arm to wrap around her lower back, holding her to me while moving my other to rest on the back of her head. Her arms move so she’s finally hugging me back and mumbling into my chest.
“I don’t know what to do here.” I pull back just enough so that I can tip her chin up and look into her hazel eyes.
“Did you have fun this weekend with me?”
“Yes, but—” I silence her with a shake of my head, cutting her off with another question.
“Take my career and your dad out of the mix. If I had asked you on a date, would you have said yes?”
“Yeah.” Cupping her cheek in my hand, I lean forward until our lips are only a couple inches apart. I watch her closely as I ask one last question.
“Do you want me to kiss you?” Her eyes are locked on my lips as she answers in a whisper.
“Yes.”
Without wasting another second, I do just that. Eliminating the very little distance that was between us, I try to express everything I’m feeling in this one moment without words. Running my tongue along her bottom lip, swallowing the moan that escapes her, making sure to give her a teasing reminder of how good we were together. It takes all my strength to pull away, but I know that we need to actually talk before this can go any further. As much as I would love to show her exactly why she shouldn’t fight this, I need to make sure that she is on the same page.
The whimper that escapes her as I break the kiss is almost enough to try and save this conversation for later.
Almost.
“Do you want to be just neighbors?” I don’t dare move while I wait for her response. Lilly closes her eyes, shaking her head no, but refusing to look at me as she speaks quietly.
