“Long enough.”
Naturally,we end up being late, and I have to message the people expecting us to let them know we’re still coming.
It’s not my fault. Freya invited me to shower with her. How is any red-blooded man meant to turn that down? Her incredible body with water running down over her. Goddamn. Even now, as we ride the elevator down toward the parking garage, my dick jerks at the memory.
I’ve had good sex before. As a professional hockey player who spends a huge chunk of his time away from home, I’ve probably had a little too much. But nothing—and I mean literally nothing—compares to Freya. Every sensation and feeling is heightened with her. The thought of it just being a one-time thing and moving on physically hurts. That would be my normal MO, but thankfully, that isn’t the case, because I’ll never be able to walk away from Freya. Never.
She’s…fuck. She’s everything.
“It’s going to be okay,” I say softly as the numbers count down on the little panel in front of us.
“I know. I trust you,” she says, gazing up at me with wide eyes.
She’s terrified about going out. Her hand trembles in mine, and as I tug her closer and gather her into my body, I discover that it’s not just her hands that are trembling. All of her is.
Maybe this is a bad idea.
But then I think of where we’re going and what we’re about to do.
I can’t lie, my own nerves hit.
I’m taking a risk. One that I really hope pays off.
I’m fairly confident that she’s going to be happy. But there is always a chance it could backfire. After all, I have no idea what I’m doing here.
I’ve never been in a relationship before. I’ve never had anyone else’s needs to put before my own, anyone else’s happiness. But suddenly, there she is. All I can think about is making her happy and what I can do to put that smile on her face.
She won’t admit it, but she’s been struggling the last few days cooped up in the apartment. Sure, she’s ventured to the balcony, but that’s hardly enough to sate my whirlwind’s need for freedom.
I hate the thought of her feeling trapped like she used to. I want her to be free to do whatever she wants. I want her to spend her days out in Runyon Canyon Park, getting fresh air in her lungs and feeling like the best version of herself, not forced to feel like she needs to hide from the world.
It’s going to get better. I know it will. She does too.
I just need to get these two games behind me, and then it’s happening.
At our final home game of the regular season, I’m going to turn up as a taken man with my girl in the crowd, wearing my jersey and screaming my name.
My heart flutters just thinking about it.
I know it won’t be the first time. But still. It’ll be real.
Last time, we were hiding how we were feeling.
This time, the entire world is going to know.
Hailee has sorted front-row seats to ensure the cameras capture us.
It’s the only thing Freya and I agreed to.
No staged press releases or social media announcements of our relationship. We don’t need any of that. Rowan might want a reaction, but he isn’t going to get one other than photos ofthe two of us being a happy couple. A couple unfazed by his meddling in our lives.
I’m not naive. I highly doubt this’ll be the end of him. But as far as we’re concerned, he doesn’t exist. And I am more than happy about that.
Well, aside from the fact that I still really want to punch him in the face.
I lead Freya to my car, open her door, and wait for her to settle in the passenger seat. Then I lean over and pull her seat belt on, brushing my lips against hers as I do so.
“Where are we going?” she asks quietly.
