“I did.”
“You stayed in the guest room?” she asks, looking even more confused.
I shrug my shoulders and start to close the door when she tugs it wide open. I try really fucking hard, but no amount of self-control will suffice as I look down at her perky breasts being cupped by modest pink fabric.
“Why didn’t you stay in Alexi’s bed?”
“It didn’t seem right with you staying here too.” She blinks at me, her hand on her hip. It’s too fucking early for this. My head is pounding, and apparently, now I have to still piss with a half-chub, fucking awesome.
“Do you have any Tylenol?” I ask her, not wanting to talk about why it didn’t feel right to sleep in Alexi’s bed when she’s not in it or how I’ve missed her. I definitely don’t want to talk about how my chest ached when she went back to her room when she answered the door last night. These are lines we decided not to cross, and as I stare at her half-naked form, all I can think about is whether it's worth it? Should I just lay it all out there for Piper? Alexi is more than fine keeping my secret, and he made me feel good last night. I can’t even imagine if I had both of them. But it’s also not just up to me. Piper clearly has her own hang-ups holding her back.
“Are you okay?” she asks, opening the mirror and pulling out the medicine. I expect her to just hand me the bottle, but instead, she takes out two pills, fills a glass of water, and hands it to me.
“Just a headache, I think I’m a little dehydrated.”
She puts her hand on my forehead, and the simple touch shouldn’t feel as magnanimous as it does. Her soft skin pressed against mine feels calming and far more intimate than the action truly is.
“You don’t have a fever. Is anything else bothering you?” she asks.
I want to say that my body hurts, that I ache everywhere, that some days I’m so fucking tired I don’t know how I get out of bed. That I know I’m pushing every single boundary my body has and I know there will be consequences. Instead, I shake my head, and she hums.
I look down at her tits again like the complete pervert I am. “I’ve got to finish getting ready for work,” she says softly, and I nod. I’ll just go use Alexi’s bathroom upstairs.
“Have a good day,” I tell her softly, taking the Tylenol and placing the glass back on the counter. She sighs, and her arms wrap around me in a hug. This time, there are no coats between us. Her soft skin is under my fingertips, and her scent surrounds me.
I’m not sure if it's the Tylenol or her touch, but it feels like everything goes away for those few seconds.
“Bye, Owen,” she says softly as we part. I back out of the bathroom, and she shuts the door. How in the fuck am I supposed to stay away from her? My head throbs again, and like the needy little Omega I am, I climb up the stairs and open Alexi’s door. He doesn’t stir, and I use his restroom and climb into his bed.
He doesn’t speak, but he tosses his massive arm around my waist. It’s more settling than I’d ever like to admit.
CHAPTER19
Max Connery can take a skate to the face for all I fucking care. If he would betray his brother in this way, he’s a piece of shit. At least it’s a home game. The idea of having to stay in California if shit went down would be brutal. If anything happens, I can just scoop my Omega up and take him home.
I smile to myself when I remember how pliant he was the other night. He wasn’t stoic and broody, he was needy and vulnerable. The best part was that he came to me when he needed to be settled. He chose to be with me; he trusted me as his teammate and as his Alpha. Owen may not realize that’s what I am. But one hundred percent that blond bastard is mine, and if anyone tries anything, I’ll fuck them up, including his brother.
My hope is that Owen can help bridge this gap between Piper and I. But she’s the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met in my life. It’s part of her draw, how determined and focused she is. But she’s also so critical and hard on herself, I just want to shut her mind down. I’m worried that if Owen can’t get through to her soon, she’ll move out and on. I can’t let that happen.
I’m putting my jersey overtop of my gear as Owen paces in his full goalie gear. He’s wearing socks with strawberries on them today, and it’s fucking adorable. I make a note to get him more cute socks to wear for games.
“Chill the fuck out, Connery.” Owen nods but doesn’t stop pacing. “It’s just the Sharks. They’ve been in the league for thirty fucking years and haven’t won the Cup. We’re good.”
Owen gives Mikael a shitty look, and the Alpha throws his hands up in mock surrender.
Nilsen taps his chin a few times. “Connery…”
“What?” Owen snaps back.
“The Sharks’ goalie is named Connery.” Owen’s face goes bright red in embarrassment, and I watch as his Adam's apple bobs. In any other situation, I would step in. But here, I’m his captain, his teammate. Off the ice is where I can be his Alpha, as much as it pains me. I know that Owen has the need to stand on his own two feet and be masculine.
“He is,” Owen confesses.
“He is a cunt, yes?” Nilsen says, and that makes Owen and the others standing around us bark out a laugh.
“He is,” Owen agrees.
“I’ll send a message, don’t worry. We have the better Connery,” Nilsen says.
