The elevator takes forever to climb to the fifth floor. Luckily, I’m the only one in the car, because I’m buzzing with energy. Tapping my feet and glaring at the LED display announcing the floors. As soon as it stops on mine and the doors open, I’m out and power walking to my room, keycard already in hand. Then I’m in my room, phone in one hand while the other unbuttons my dress shirt. It’s blissfully cold in the suite, and I groan in pleasure when the cool air wraps around my skin.
Indie answers on the second ring, and the frantic thing inside of me calms when her smiling face fills the screen. “Oh my god, Sebastian, you played so well.”
“Beast mode, for sure,” Lola calls from off-screen. Indie laughs, and I join in, more of my nervous energy dissipating with each chuckle.
“Thanks, Lola.”
Her dark hair and blue eyes pop into view over Indie’s shoulder. She smiles and does a funny little salute. “Hi, Bash. Bye, Bash. I’ll give you two someprivacy.” She emphasizes the last word and waggles her eyebrows, which makes Indie blush.
“Lols!”
“Thanks,” I say, playing along. “If you have a good pair of noise-canceling headphones, now might be the time to dig them out.”
“Bash!” Indie’s cheeks flame a brighter pink, making them a shade darker than her hair.
I try to muster a show of remorse, but can’t, so I shrug. “Sorry, not sorry.”
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Lola says, laughing. She gives me a wink and a wave, and a moment later, I hear the latch of a door in the distance.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I whisper now that we’re alone.
“Hi.” Indie’s eyes soften when she meets my gaze, but then her attention catches on the open buttons of my shirt and my bare chest, and her gaze heats. “You played well.”
“Thanks. Did you ladies watch the whole game?”
She nods, her lower lip catching between her teeth. “Yes. Wouldn’t miss it.”
“I wish you were here.”
“You do?” She blinks a few times, looking at me through the fringe of her lashes.
“Of course. There’s nothing I want more than to pull you into my arms and kiss the hell out of you.” I want to do more than kiss her, but I’m not sure she’s ready to hear that yet. All of this is so new, I’m worried about freaking her out. If I confessed how hard my dick is just from seeing her face and hearing her voice, how I came twice last night from jerking off to the memory of her quiet little gasps as she ground against my lap, Indie would probably run away screaming, and I’d never hear from her again.
I can’t have that.
“I wish I was there, too,” she says with a little sigh. I watch as she moves through her rental, the light of her phone illuminating her pretty face against the dark interior of the bungalow. When she makes it into her room, she turns on the bedside lamp and shuts the door, and I grin as she flops down on the bed, hair fanning out around her. The combined lamplight and the illumination of her phone cast her in an ethereal glow.
“You’re so beautiful.” The words are out of my mouth before I’m even conscious of thinking them.
“I…” Indie blushes. Her eyes dart to the side, and she drags her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Seriously, Indie. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I’m so damn lucky.” I unbuckle my belt so it doesn’t dig into me when I settle into the armchair in the corner of my hotel room. Though she can’t see what I’m doing, Indie tracks the movement of my arm and the bare expanse of my chest as I get comfortable. “Can’t wait to take you on another date.”
“Me neither.”
“I just wish I didn’t need to wait until after game three. I want to take you out now.” A hockey schedule is never the easiest thing to work around, but the postseason adds another level of complication. I understood, intellectually, when my friends would complain about how hard it was to make time with their women, but experiencing it firsthand puts everything into amuch clearer perspective. It also gives me a new level of respect for the WAGS who have to parent babies and kids on their own so much of the year.
“At least I’ll see you after the game.” Indie’s smile is soft and a bit shy. “Assuming you still want us to go.”
“Of course, I do. Did Isla reach out to you about WAG jackets?” I know she was planning on it, but I’ve been busy enough that I haven’t had a chance to check in with Maddox about it.
Indie nods, chewing on her lip. “Yeah. They’re even making one for Lola, so she doesn’t feel left out.”
I’m not surprised by that. My teammates have all ended up with kind women who welcome everyone with open arms. I’d be more surprised if they didn’t find a way to include Indie’s best friend. Especially since they all know how much Indie means to me, and how important it is that she wants to stick around. “That’s great, Rosebud. I can’t wait to see you in it.”
Andout of it,if I’m lucky.
The thought has me hardening, and I clear my throat and shift in the armchair.
