Page 28 of Her Power Play

Because all that matters is Ruby. Me and Ruby. This moment. Everything else feels like it’s going to be okay, that it’s all going to fall into place because I have Ruby.

EPILOGUE

THE NEXT DAY

DAY TWO GAME… WIN

RUBY

Last night was amazing. Perfect even. After we told each other how we felt, it was like all my worries melted away. Because I was with him. When Liam looks at me, when he holds me, touches me, everything else melts away.

Except now I’m sitting at this game, my gaze flicking around to the women in the audience. They’re still wearing the same outfits as yesterday, and I still feel a twinge of jealousy when I see them. Or maybe it’s not jealousy, maybe it’s envy. I’m not sure.

The team skates out, and then Liam stops in the middle of the rink. I watch as he lifts his arm, touching his hand to his lips, then he points his arm in my direction and jerks his chin toward me.

The camera pans over to me, and I see myself on the big screen. Flicking my gaze from Liam to the display, I gasp, lifting my hands to my lips when I see myself and the caption beneath my name:

MEET RUBY. FICHTNER’S GIRLFRIEND.

I can’t hear anything over the blood roaring in my ears and rushing through my entire body. My breathing comes out in heavy pants until I finally begin to calm. Slowly, the noise of the audience filters back in and reaches my ears. They’re cheering.

They’re… happy for us.

Once the camera pans away and I’m no longer the focus of the Jumbotron, the cheers die down and my heart slows to a normal pace. Then the game starts. This time, I take it in and enjoy it. I can’t believe he did that. Liam just announced to the entire world that we’re together.

As the game continues, I watch the Lonestars win. Not just win, but dominate. I think that Liam does everything he said he needed to do for his part in the win. I’m actually not sure because I know absolutely nothing about the game itself.

But when the final buzzer sounds, everyone throws up their hands and screams. They won 4–1, making up for the night before. Liam skates over to the bench, and I watch as he takes his glove off, then places his palm against the glass there.

I move one row down so that I can be closer to him. Lifting my hand to the glass, I press it against his on the other side. “Wait for me?” he asks.

He doesn’t have to ask. First, because we came in the same car, and second, because I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else… ever. Last night when he came over, it sealed the deal for me.

This is real.

Him and me. We’re together, and I don’t think I’d want to be anywhere else than with him. I’m not sure there’s anywhere else to be, really. “I’ll see you out back,” I say.

His lips twitch into a smile, a big one. It takes over his entire face. He’s so damn handsome, I cannot believe that he wants anything to do with me. But here he is, and I feel like I should pinch myself to make sure it’s real.

When I clench my thighs together, I can feel the soreness there, the ache between my legs, and I know that it’s real. He’s real. We are real. I can’t wait. Liam winks before he spins around and heads toward the locker room.

I stay where I am for a moment, watching the direction from which he disappeared. My smile stays in place. I don’t think I could stop smiling. I’m just that happy. I drop my hand from the glass, then turn around before I head out to wait for him.

Leaving the arena, I walk in the same direction I did last night, except this time I feel much better about my future. Making my way toward the screaming women, I only stand there for a few moments when the men start to exit the arena, and then I see him.

Liam’s eyes scan the crowd, and I know when he sees me because his entire face lights up. He walks past all the women, making a beeline directly to me. Then I’m in his arms, and his mouth is on mine.

Right here in front of them all, he kisses me, and I melt—for him and into him. I’m falling in love with this man. I cannot wait for tomorrow and the next day, for every minute of every single day to come.

ONE YEAR LATER

AND THEN THEY WERE MARRIED

LIAM

Reaching around the front of her, I curl my fingers around her throat as I slam inside her with one thrust. I bury myself, unmoving, unbreathing, as I just feel her. Fuck. We’re married.

I don’t move.