“Agreed.”
Without another word, he helps me up, unplugging the drain and turning the shower head on, letting the steam from the hot water build before he drags me underneath the steady stream. Gently, he turns me so my back is to him, and after a second his hands are gently massaging my scalp, the scent of vanilla filling the air. I close my eyes and sink into the feeling of his fingers as he works his way to the ends before he rinses my hair, following up with conditioner. We’re quiet as he takes care of me, the intimacy and gentleness of this moment not lost on me.
I haven’t felt this safe, this at home in someone’s arms in so long, and I hope that I never have to go another day without knowing this feeling again.
He gently guides my head back under the water and myeyes start to fill with tears at how much his actions mean to me.
Before I met him, I didn’t think that any man would love me or take care of me the way that I had seen my dad with my mom. Even with his busy schedule as an NHL player, he always found the time for her, for his kids, and I loved watching their love story.
When he walked through the doors after an away series, he lit up when he saw her, a huge smile blooming on his face as he picked her up and kissed her, holding her to his chest. I remember there was one night when I couldn’t sleep, and I walked downstairs to the sound of music playing. They were dancing together in the living room, both of their faces lit up with so much adoration and love, but also tears in both of their eyes. Sitting on the steps, I watched them hold each other as they swayed to the soft sounds of the music, wishing that I could find a love like that one day. It took a while for them to catch me, and when they did, they invited me into their embrace, smothering me in kisses and hugs as they told me that I would be getting a new sibling in just a few months.
To this day, my parents’ love story is still one of my favorites.
When I met Jake, I knew that I had found the love that I always dreamed of. Our journey might have a bumpy road in the middle and some twists and turns, but as I stand here under the water, I know for certain that this man is my forever, and I’m grateful that he’s given me a second chance at the love we both crave and deserve.
Once he’s done washing the conditioner out of my hair, I slowly turn around and soap my hands up, running them down his arms and chest. We haven’t said anything to each other in a while, but we don’t need to. We finish cleaningeach other before he turns the water off, the steam filling the bathroom as he steps from the tub and makes his way over to grab a towel. He dries himself off, wrapping a towel around his waist before he comes over to me with another one, drying my body from my feet up, then wrapping it around my shoulders.
He stretches his hand out to me and helps me out of the tub, guiding me to the sink as he walks from the room. I can hear some rustling before the hall light is turned on and he returns with some clothes, placing them on the counter. Removing his own towel, he shimmies into a pair of boxers and then reaches for mine, pulling it off and then helping me into one of his larger shirts and a clean pair of my own panties.
Searching the counter, I locate my bag and nervously turn to him. “I need to put a pad on. Can you turn around?” My eyes close in embarrassment at my statement.
This man just had his fingers inside of me, and I’m embarrassed for him to see me put a pad on. I feel him step closer to me and then his finger is underneath my chin, grasping my face gently as he pulls me to look up at him.
“You have nothing to ever be embarrassed about, baby.” He places a gentle kiss on my lips. “But if it makes you feel more comfortable, I’ll turn around.”
As if he can read my mind.
Sighing out a soft breath, I work to put my pad on, then wash up and take some ibuprofen before I tell him he can look again. He comes up behind me, grabbing my brush and working it gently through my hair, making sure to untangle every knot. When he’s done, he turns off the candles and guides me out of the room and toward the bed.
The covers are already pulled down. I walk up to the side of the bed, getting in under the covers and snugglinginto the pillow. Jake walks back toward the door, and without thinking I reach out and grab onto his wrist.
“I’m not going anywhere, beautiful. Just turning the lights off.” Winking, he walks into the hall, shutting the light off before making his way to the other side of the bed and climbing under the covers. Seizing the opportunity, I snuggle into his chest as he wraps his arms around me, placing a kiss to my head. We lay like that for a while, just breathing each other in as our breaths start to match each other.
“How did the game go tonight?”
“It was a shit-show. We lost, and everything felt off.” He sighs into my hair, pulling me tighter into him.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve been there.”
“There’s nothing you could’ve done for us. We were all out of sync.”
“Still, it sucks that you all had a shitty night. But I know you’ll bounce back in the next one. I believe in you guys.”
He presses his lips to mine, the love and adoration we have for each other pouring out in waves. There's no heated tongues or rushed intensity, it’s just us, slowly breathing into each other, letting this feeling of love and warmth and home wash over us. It’s slow and tender, and so perfect for us.
We pull away from the kiss slowly, but keep our bodies snuggled into each other and our foreheads pressed together. His fingers drift from my cheek to my hair, gently massaging my scalp as we lie there and breathe each other in. We both fall into a relaxed state, and I let the feeling of his warmth envelop me, lulling me into a deep and peaceful sleep.
Waking up, I feel a warmth wrapping around me that I haven’t felt in a long time. Slowly, I peel my eyes open and look over to see Jake still laying in bed next to me.
I remember everything from last night: getting sent back to the hotel by Coach, my cramps and the nausea and pain that had me laying on the floor of the hotel bathroom, Jake coming in and taking care of me and knowing exactly what I needed just like he used to.
Rich,whiskey colored eyes slowly blink open right next to me, Jake’s beautiful smile taking over his whole face.
“Good morning, baby girl.” He brushes a strand of hair away from my face.
“Good morning, handsome,” I say in a hushed tone.
Slowly, his fingers glide from my face and down my arms, leaving goosebumps as he goes. He snakes his arms behind my back and under the hem of my, or rather his, T-shirt and starts to rub soothing circles on my lower spine. “How are your cramps?”
