I give him a half-hearted smile. “Thanks for coming. And for getting me into Sharks,” I add. Honestly, I should be thanking him for Jordan, because without Sharks, maybe we never would have found each other again. But I can’t do that since no one knows about us yet.
Christian looks at me with a half-smile of his own and extends his hand across the seat. I take it and he shakes it firmly.
“No problem. You’ll be back on the ice before we know it.”
His words make my chest tight. I drop his hand and turn to see Britt with Bentley in his carrier, and I have to remember to breathe when I see Jordan helping her carry out the pack ‘n play and an armful of gifts. I don’t know what she’s saying, but whatever it is has him laughing.
“Right. Of course,” I say to Christian, but I don’t think he hears me. Instead, I smile as I meet Jordan and grab the gifts.
It doesn’t take long to pack them up in the car and head back inside. Kearstin is the last to leave, other than Jordan, who isn’t going anywhere. Once I shut the front door, the exhaustion hits.
I collapse on the couch and it all hits me at once. The tears come without warning and my chest tightens. I feel like I’m going to pass out.
“Alex, where doesthe—”
I suck in a breath. Why am I fucking crying? What the fuck is wrong with me?
“Are you okay?” Jordan asks, and I hear the concern in his voice.
I nod because I’m pretty sure I am okay.
I’m better than okay, I think.
I’m happy.
These aren’t sad tears, I realize. The sports announcers drone on and on on the television. The coffee table is littered with crumbs and half-eaten bowls of chips and dip and coloring pages and toys the girls forgot. The kitchen is a disaster with dishes piled to the ceiling.
But all I can see is him. I never want to lose this feeling.
I want to remember this day forever.
I wantthis—forever.
I grab him, pull him to me, and kiss him as the tears slide down my face.
The couch is a mess, and when I lean back, it’s on a doll that makes me wince because it digs right into my back. I grab it and fling it across the room. Jordan laughs as I settle against the couch and wrap my legs around him. We break away, and I notice it’s snowing outside.
“Merry Christmas, Alex,” he says with a grin.
I look up at him, my fingers playing with the ends of his hair.
“Merry Christmas,” I whisper as a new switch is flipped.
Hope blooms in my chest warmer than it’s ever been before.
Now I know what it’s like to have ahome.One full of laughter and love.
I’ve always wanted to get married and have kids, but every time I let myself imagine it, I never saw a person. I just knew that I wanted to be loved enough to be kept forever. But as I look up at Jordan Mackenzie and his perfect, genuine smile, I finally see the vision clear as day. I finally see the person.
The words lodge in my throat because they’re too much. Instead, I kiss him until I can’t breathe, until we’re tearing each other’s clothes off and he’s buried inside of me. The tears fall of their own volition as I hold onto him tight. His thrusts are slow, torturous. I feel everything, and it’s the most intense overwhelm.
His lips on my neck. His steady thrust and slow drag. My heart racing.
He whispers that he loves me in my ear as he drives me over the edge. My fingers dig into his back as I breathe him in, as I feel him in every part of me. I tighten my legs around him, his hand slowly squeezing and stroking my cock. Sex with Jordan is always a rush and I love it. Things start off slow, but they neverstay slow.Not like this.
I like this, though. I could get used to this.I like catching my breath with him. I cry through my orgasm, but it feels good.
Because I’mhappy.Because he makes me so fucking happy.
