Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Jeremy
“ J eremy!”
Maddy’s voice echoes in the lobby of the arena as I push the door open. She runs at me full speed, crashing into my legs.
“Hey, Little Red.” I reach down and swing her up. “You ready to learn to skate?”
“Yes!” she squeals. “I wish you could teach me, but Emma said there’s someone here whose job it is to teach kids to skate. I told her I thought it should be your job, but she said you have other important jobs. What are they?”
I chuckle, even as my stomach clenches. All it takes is a glance behind Maddy to where Emma is standing to have the knots in my stomach replaced by curls of lust.
She must have had meetings today because she’s dressed for work. Her hair falls in waves down her back, and whatever makeup magic she conjured has her green eyes glowing. The black skirt suit hugs every single one of her curves, and the heels she’s wearing make her legs look miles long. I have a flash of them wrapped around my head, shoes still on and heels digging into my back while I make her come on my tongue.
My pants are suddenly uncomfortably tight, and my thoughts must be splashed across my face because as soon as our eyes meet, Emma’s face flushes red under her freckles.
I grin at her reaction, walking over to her, still carrying Maddy. As soon as I’m in front of her, I hesitate, not sure of my next move. I feel like I might die if I don’t get my lips on her, but the only place we’ve done any kissing is in her living room after Maddy is asleep.
Taking the decision out of my hands, Emma wraps her hand around my arm, leaning up to kiss my cheek, lingering there for just a few seconds longer than necessary. Tingles spiral out from the place her lips touch my skin, and never have I ever had this strong of a reaction to a woman. I’m surprised, even though I shouldn’t be. The depth of my feelings for Emma has been surprising me for almost a decade.
Just as Emma pulls away, I snake an arm around her waist, pulling her back in and kissing her temple, leaving my arm in place even as I lean back.
“Hi,” I say, a grin still on my face.
“Hi back.” She leans into me just slightly with a grin of her own.
“You kissed,” Maddy whispers, her gaze ping-ponging between us.
Emma swallows down a laugh at Maddy’s serious expression.
“We sure did,” I say.
“But why?”
She looks between us with the expression of a kid unused to seeing affection between adults, and my heart aches a little at the reminder that her childhood has been anything but normal.
“Because Jeremy is my friend and I like him a lot,” Emma says, running a hand down Maddy’s flaming ponytail, resting it on her back.
With Emma’s hand on Maddy and my arm still looped around Emma’s waist, Maddy in my other arm, the three of us stand there, connected, and I like it.
Maybe a little too much.
Maddy looks thoughtful for a second before she nods.
“Jeremy is my best friend, but I can share him with you.”
“I’d really like that. Jeremy can be special to both of us,” Emma says, squeezing my arm where her hand rests.
I tighten my arms around both of them, kissing Maddy’s forehead.
“You’re my best friend too, Little Red.”
“And Emma?”
I look down at Emma’s shining green eyes and press my lips to her forehead too, need for her humming in my veins.
“Definitely Emma.”
“Jeremy Wright? In my hockey arena?”
I look up and see John O’Reilly, the foundation’s hockey coach and my former Juniors teammate, striding towards me.
“Hey, John, how’s it going?”
“Better now that you’ve graced us with your presence. And who do we have here?” he asks, looking up at Maddy.
“This is my friend Maddy. She wants to learn how to skate, and I told her this is the best place to do it.”
“You bet it is. Hey, Maddy, I’m Coach John.”
He holds up a hand and Maddy hesitates for a second but then slaps him five.
“We’re going to start soon. Do you want to come with me, and I’ll help you find some skates?”
Maddy looks at Emma but then her gaze lands on me, her face a question. I hesitate, not sure if I’m supposed to answer it or not. I look to Emma for guidance, and she nods at me.
Okay then.
I lean in, speaking quietly to Maddy.
“John is another friend of mine,” I tell her. “We used to play hockey together. He’s really nice, and he is very good at teaching kids to skate. You’ll be safe with him, Little Red. He’s going to help you put on skates and take you out to the rink, and Emma and I will sit next to the ice and watch you.”
“You’ll stay?” Maddy asks. I know she’s just asking about now, but it’s also the question I’ve asked in my head of every person I have ever met since I was a kid, and the lump in my throat makes it hard to speak. Emma must know because she answers Maddy instead.
“We’ll definitely stay. As soon as John takes you to the ice, look over at the seats and we’ll be sitting there.”
“Okay.” Maddy nods and wiggles down. I set her on her feet, and she heads off with John, leaving Emma and me alone.
“How much time do you think we have until the kids will be on the ice?”
I look at Emma, and the heat in her eyes has all the blood in my body rushing to my dick. I make a snap decision. The time for slow is over.
“I like the way you think, Ems.” I grab her hand and lead her around the corner of the arena I once knew like it was my home. I pull her down a dark corridor into a tiny office I’m happy to see still sits as empty and unused as it was in my playing days. I slam the door shut and immediately press Emma against it, sealing my mouth over hers.
I can think of a thousand reasons why this is a bad idea, but they’re all overshadowed by this one single thought. I want her. I want her so fucking badly. Every cell in my body reaches for her and screams for me to make her mine. No matter what else is going on in my life and how much the idea of this might terrify me, I can’t stop. I don’t want to fucking stop.
Emma’s hands reach up to tangle in my hair and my hands grip her waist as I devour her mouth. When I sweep my tongue inside her mouth to taste her, she makes the sexiest sound I have ever heard and tugs on my hair, tangling her tongue with mine. My entire body comes alive as our mouths move together. When she lifts her hips from the door to push against me, my dick turns to steel.
Reaching down, I wrap my hand around Emma’s leg, smoothing my palm under her skirt and up her bare thigh, hooking her leg around my waist. I slide my other arm around her back and tug her tightly against me. The move hikes up her skirt, and I grind into her. She meets me halfway, grinding right back, moaning as my cock brushes against her clit. I can feel the heat of her pussy through my pants, and it has me pressing even harder against her, trying to get closer when I know in the deepest parts of me that there is no close that would be close enough.
Not with Emma.
“Please, Jer,” Emma whimpers against my mouth. Her plea has me forgetting we’re in an office in the middle of an ice rink on borrowed time. It has me dropping her leg to the floor and pushing her skirt farther up her hips, slipping my leg in between hers, pressing up just enough to slide my thigh along her center. Just enough to have her gasping and grinding down, looking for more friction.
“Please what, Ems? Is this pretty pussy aching for me? You want me to slide my fingers inside you? Rub that sweet clit? Make you come right here in this office where anyone could walk by and hear you moan my name? Maybe even walk in here and see you with your skirt around your waist and your legs spread for me?”
Emma lets out a low moan, and I feel a flood of heat where she’s spread out against me.
Interesting . A dark satisfaction sweeps through me.
“You like the sound of that, Pretty Girl? You like the idea of being caught? Is that pussy dripping at the thought of the people out there knowing what we’re getting up to in here?”
“Fuck, yes,” Emma gasps, and I press my thigh harder against her, leaning in to graze my teeth over the sensitive skin behind her ear and glide my tongue along the freckles dotting her neck.
“Who knew quiet Emma Langley was such a dirty girl? Looks like a lot can change in eight years. We’re going to have so much fun with that, but we don’t have much time right now, so I’m going to make you come fast and hard all over my fingers right here against this door. But make no mistake, Ems. Next time I get you alone, I’m taking my time with you. I’m going to sink so deep inside you we won’t know where I end and you begin.”
Emma’s eyes darken and she grabs my hair again, pulling my face to hers. She presses her lips to mine in a kiss that is all wet, hot want and then breaks away, locking eyes with me.
“Then fucking do it, Jer.”
Jesus fucking Christ .
“Hold on tight, Pretty Girl. Fast and hard.”
Dropping my leg, I pull Emma’s leg over my hip and slide my other hand up her inner thigh. I shove her underwear to the side and sink two fingers inside her, groaning at the feel of her. My cock is steel, thinking about how all that wet, tight heat will feel wrapped around me. I rub tight, firm circles on her clit with my thumb, and when I thrust my fingers into her harder, faster, Emma gasps and I press my lips to hers, swallowing all her sounds. I add a third finger, curling all three against her front wall, and her entire body coils tight.
“Come for me, Ems,” I say against her lips. “Soak my hand. Give it all to me. Every fucking drop.”
“More. Please,” she croaks, digging her nails into my shoulders. I hope she leaves marks. I want to be branded by her.
I increase the pressure of my thumb on her clit and Emma comes on a shudder and a gasp, her pussy squeezing my fingers as she rides my hand, her release dripping down my fingers in a way that has me growling against her lips, sucking her lower lip into my mouth and grazing it with my teeth, loving the way she whimpers at the sting of pain. I stick with her, rolling her clit between my fingers until she collapses back against the door, my hand on her hip keeping her steady.
Sliding my fingers out of her, I lock eyes with her and bring my fingers to my mouth, licking them clean.
Emma’s mouth drops open, and I grin at her.
“You taste fucking delicious, Ems.”
“Who even are you?” She huffs out a laugh.
Pulling Emma’s skirt down from around her waist and straightening it for her, I can’t wipe the grin off my face. I just finger fucked Emma Langley in an empty office and my cock is so hard it could hammer a fucking nail. I have never felt lighter in my entire life.
Standing upright, I smooth Emma’s hair back with both of my hands, leaning in and kissing her forehead.
“I’m just me, but you…got a little exhibitionist kink Ems?”
She winks at me.
Fucking winks.
“I’ve got all kinds of kinks you can’t even imagine.”
“Holy hell,” I mutter. Did I think it was possible for my dick to get harder than it already was? I did not. It’s crying out for attention, but there’s no time for that. This was about Emma.
“I’ll be looking forward to learning about all of them. In the meantime, you coming all over my fingers was the hottest fucking thing, and I want to do it a million more times, but we’ve got somewhere to be. Come on, let’s go watch our girl learn to skate.”
“You know that’s the second time you’ve called her our girl, right? You texted it to me yesterday too.”
Shit . My mouth moved faster than my brain and I guess that just slipped right out. And I don’t even remember texting it. Without the time to dwell on it, I do what I do best and laugh it off.
“I mean, she lives with you, but she said I’m her best friend, so, our girl.”
Emma gives me a look that tells me she knows I’m full of shit but lets it go.
“Let’s do it.”
With one last press of my lips to hers, we leave the office and walk to the rink entrance. When the ice comes into view, I freeze with my hand on the glass, anxiety pooling in my stomach and my heart starting to race the way it does every time I get close to an ice rink. I’m assaulted by images of the last time I was on the ice. When I stood alone in the tunnel and watched the team move on without me.
It’s why I try never to come here.
All the lightness and calm from my stolen moments with Emma in the office are gone. My breath hitches and my arms are heavy, and I’m ten seconds away from a panic attack. This time, though, I’m not alone.
Emma wraps her arms around me from behind, laying her head on my back and speaking quietly.
“It’s okay, Jeremy. You’re not alone. Just breathe with me.”
I do my best to slow my breathing. To match my breaths to the rise and fall of her chest against my back.
“I know this is hard for you. That you miss hockey and skating and the way things were. You should never have had to go through that. It wasn’t fair. But look over there.”
Emma leaves one arm around my waist and steps to my side, pointing through the glass to where Maddy is stepping carefully onto the ice, lining up against the boards with the other kids. Maddy lifts her head, and when she spots us, she gives us a giant smile and a wave. Seeing her happy loosens something in my chest, making it easier to breathe.
Emma turns to me, cupping my face in her hands.
“It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, Jer. You can have this part of your life back. It won’t look the same way, but there can be joy in something new, too. Let me help you find it.”
I glance back over at Maddy, who is taking careful steps on the ice with an instructor holding both of her hands. I can practically feel what it would be like to be out there teaching these kids to skate myself, blades gliding against the ice and cold air on my face. I take a deep breath, and I nod.
Emma smiles. “Okay. Let’s go watch our girl.”
She takes my hand in hers, walking with me through the door into the cold, familiar hockey rink air.
And it feels just a little like home.