I lie there, Poppy’s warm, soft body, cuddled into mine, feeling happier than I’ve felt before. And something else. Something deep and intense and overwhelming. I don’t know what it is…But I know that I want this feeling to last.
Chapter 46
Poppy
Islip out of bed while Nick is still sleeping. I pad quietly across my bedroom and spot his white dress shirt lying on the floor.
I think about putting it on, but then a better idea pops into my head.
I step over to my dresser and grab his jersey, which I wore to his game last night, and slip it on before heading to the bathroom.
When I slide back into bed, he starts to stir. Eyes still closed, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me into him.
He presses his hard dick against my ass, and I giggle softly.
“Good morning, honey,” he says.
I grin at his sweet pet name for me. “Good morning.”
He nuzzles the back of my neck and kisses my shoulder. “Wait, why aren’t you naked…”
He trails off. He runs his hand over the back of the jersey, where his name is printed across the fabric.
“Oh, damn,” he murmurs. I bite back a giddy smile.
His arms wrap around me tighter. He buries his face in my hair and lets out a soft, satisfied groan.
“You like seeing me in your jersey first thing in the morning?”
He nods against me. “I mean, I like you naked the best, but if you have to wear clothes, my first choice is my jersey.”
I laugh and lightly smack his hand, then turn around to face him. I take in his sleepy smile. So handsome. He cups my face in his hand and kisses me softly.
“I fucking love seeing you wear my jersey,” he murmurs. “I want you to wear it all the time, okay?”
I smile against his mouth. “Okay.” I pull back and run my fingers through his messy hair. “I’ll wear it every time I come to watch you play.”
His gaze brightens as he stares at me. “I play better when you’re at my game and wearing my jersey.”
“You do?”
He nods. “That’s exactly what happened in our last game. The second I saw you in the stands, wearing my jersey, I felt different. I was skating faster, playing harder. Coach told me the scouts observing me were impressed with how I played during that part of the game.” He rubs his thumb softly along the hinge of my jaw. “It was all because of you.”
Tingles gather in my chest, and my tummy dips at the sweetness of his compliment. I kiss him.
“I wish I could take all the credit,” I say when we break apart. “But you’re an insanely good hockey player, Nick. You’re getting that attention because your skill level and work ethic are incredible. You’re going to make it pro, I just know it.”
A hopeful look flashes in his eyes. “Honestly, even if I never make it to the pros, I’d still play the way I do. I’d still put my heart into it and push myself to the max every time I’m on the ice. That’s how much I love it.”
“I get it. It’s your passion. The thing you love most in the world.”
He nods, his gaze soft as he plays with the ends of my hair on the pillow. “What’s your passion, Poppy?”
I’m quiet for a moment. “Tutoring. I love teaching and helping people learn about new topics. I love seeing their expression when a subject or a concept they’ve been struggling with finally clicks.”
“You’re so good at it. You’re so good at helping people.”
I smile. A second later, it fades when I think about how I only have the rest of this year and senior year of undergrad to work as a tutor. Then I’ll have to quit to focus on preparing for law school.
