8. Harrison
Chapter 8
Harrison
“So, what gives with you and Jessica?” Noah asks with a knowing smirk.
“None of your fucking business,” I grunt.
We’re in his office in Manhattan with the New York skyline spread out before us through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Well, aren’t you a ray of fucking sunshine?”
“I’m actually the happiest I’ve ever been,” I admit gruffly.
“So what’s the problem?”
“The problem is, Jessica knows nothing about what that woman put me through.”
“Don’t you think you should tell her? She has a right to know if you’re planning to pursue a relationship with her,” Noah says, ever the voice of reason. “I know it hurt you, made you wary, but it was all lies.”
I sigh. “Yeah, but how that woman still has a job is beyond me.”
“Karma’s a bitch, and she’ll get hers,” Noah states grimly. “But you need to let it go, Harrison. You can’t move on with Jessica until you do. You’re holding onto the bitterness, and the only one it’s harming is you.”
He’s right. I know he’s right. And meeting Jessica has me wanting things I thought I’d turned my back on after Shelley’s vicious games. Jess everything Shelley isn’t—honest, caring, and full of sunshine. Being with her, watching her come apart for me on my sofa two days ago, was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. She has me tied up in knots, and she’s the only one who can untangle them.
We’ve spent practically every moment of the last two days together, getting to know each other better. I took her to the public ice-skating arena, and we had a picnic in Central Park. I want to make her mine in every way, but apart from some passionate kissing, I haven’t taken things any further. I want to. Fuck, I need to, need to claim her, but I want her to be sure I’m what she wants. Because once I’ve been inside her, there’ll be no going back.
“Have you thought any more about my offer?” Noah asks, breaking across my thoughts.
“Yeah, but I’m not sure I’m ready to sit behind a desk. No offense,” I add quickly.
“None taken. Have you thought about coaching? Bill Hamble over at The Rangers is looking for an assistant coach. Pretty sure he’d jump at the chance to have you.”
My eyebrows rise in surprise. “Rangers?”
Noah taps his pen on the desk. “Yeah. Fresh start and all that. Want me to call him?”
I must admit, the thought is appealing. I’d still get to do what I love and pass on my experience to up-and-coming players.
Noah sees the indecision on my face. “How about I put in the call to see if it’s an option, and we go from there?”
I blow out a breath and give an abrupt nod. “Do it.”
“What’s troubling you?”
I look at Jessica as she snuggles against me on the sofa at my apartment. I know I’ve been distracted this evening, and her blue eyes are soft with concern. Shit, she can already read me so well.
“I saw Noah today. We talked about my future career. My time as a professional player is over, so I need to figure out what comes next.”
She nods in understanding. News of my impending “retirement” was leaked to the media yesterday, making national news. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that their “source” was Coach Larch. Asshole.
Jess looks thoughtful. “What about coaching or starting a program for kids who want to play?”
I shake my head with a chuckle. This woman has the ability to read my mind.
“What’s so funny?” she asks with a frown.
“You, reading my mind. Funnily enough, coaching was one of the options I discussed with Noah. The Rangers are looking for an assistant coach. I know Bill Hamble well. He was a great player, and he’s done good things with the team. Plus, I get to stay in New York.”
Jessica grins. “What’s not to like? Sounds ideal.”
“Yeah. It’s gonna take some adjustment. I’ve been playing hockey for half my life. But things seem to be sliding into place.” I look down at her. “Like meeting you. How the hell has no one snapped you up before now?”
Jessica’s expression clouds over, and she shrugs. “There was a guy I was seeing a few years ago. We went on a few dates, and he thought that entitled him to sex. He tried to force me, but I got away.” She grimaces. “I decided to forget about dating and focus on work after that.”
I’m stunned by her revelation. Anger surges to the surface. I need more, like a name and address so I can beat the living shit out of him.“What the hell, Jess? Tell me Mack wiped the floor with him.”
Jessica presses her lips together. “Mack doesn’t know. I never told him because I knew he’d kill him. You’re the first person I’ve told.”
My heart clenches. “Jesus, Jess, you should’ve?—”
“I know, Harrison,” she says, placing her hand over mine. “Believe me, I know I should’ve told someone, but I willingly went back to his apartment with him. It would’ve been my word against his. I was lucky. He kissed me, and he got a bit rough. I told him to stop, but he wouldn’t, so I kneed him in the balls and punched him in the face. Then I left, and I didn’t look back. My hand was sore for a week, though,” she says wryly, glancing down at our entwined hands.
Knowing she trusted me with her body, her pleasure after that kind of experience humbles me. I pull her close, wanting to comfort her. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that alone.”
She snuggles in, wrapping her arms around me. “I’m not alone now. Am I?” She lifts questioning eyes to mine.
I rub my thumb over her bottom lip. “No, angel. You’re not.”
I shift her so she’s straddling my lap, and my mouth finds hers in a blaze of need, kissing her deeply, thoroughly. I force myself to pull away, needing to tell her something before this goes any further.
“You’re the first woman I’ve kissed in three years,” I confess, smoothing her hair away from her flushed cheeks.
Her eyes widen. “You mean . . . you haven’t been with anyone in that time?”
“No. I was in a relationship, and it went . . . bad. I decided after her I was better off alone. Promised myself I’d remain celibate until I found a woman who wanted me for me, not for money or status. Then you came barreling around the corner that evening at the arena, and I knew.”
“Knew what?” she whispers.
“That you were it for me. One look. That’s all it took, Jess.”
She blows out a shaky breath. “It was the same for me. All I could think about was seeing you again, being near you.”
“Are you sure I’m what you want?” I ask gruffly.
She cups my face in her hands, and our eyes connect. “I’m sure, Harrison. Take me to bed. Please.”
I surge to my feet, and Jessica’s legs wrap around my waist. I find her mouth again as I head down the hallway to my bedroom.
“Fuck, Jessica. Need you, angel,” I groan between frantic kisses and gasps of air.
I lay her on the bed and follow her down, kissing her like a man starved. Jessica fists her hands in my hair as I take what I need from her sweet lips, licking inside her mouth with a passion that has her whimpering beneath me.
I pull away, nibbling my way along her jaw, and she gasps when I suckle on the sensitive spot below her ear.
“You have no idea how much I need you, Jess,” I growl, nipping her earlobe.
“I-I think . . . I have some idea,” she whispers with a shy smile.
I drag her shirt over her head and toss it aside, trailing my lips down her neck to the tops of her breasts. I unclip her bra and her glorious tits spring free. In the next instant, my mouth covers one pebbled nipple.
“Ohh,” Jessica mewls, digging her fingers deeper into my scalp and anchoring me to her.
I move to her other breast, drawing it deep into my mouth and suckling hard.
“Harrison,” she cries out between ragged breaths.
I leave her breasts, capturing her mouth once more, and she meets my tongue with hers, causing a rumble to escape my chest. My fingers tug at the button of her jeans, and Jessica lifts her hips so I can strip them down her legs along with her panties.
I lean back on my heels, drinking in her naked body, her big breasts with their dusky peaks, soft stomach, and thick thighs. My gaze sharpens on her pussy with the neatly-trimmed strip of dark-blonde hair covering her sex.
“Fuck, Jess. You’re . . . fuck .”
“Is that good?” she asks, her tits rising and falling rapidly. “I know I’m a bit overweight.”
“You’re fucking perfect. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” I tell her, watching the flush of pleasure climbing her cheeks at my words.
Jessica’s blue eyes are fixed on me as I push to my feet and shed my T-shirt. My jeans and boxers are next, my cock bobbing free and angling up toward my stomach. Her swallow is audible as I fist my rigid length, giving it a few firm pumps.
She looks from my cock to her pussy and back again, biting her lip. “I don’t think it’s going to fit.”
“Oh, it’ll fit, sweetheart. But I need to get you ready first,” I say, pushing her legs wide and crawling between them.
“Get me ready? How . . . Ohh!”
She huffs a shaky breath as I spread her folds and seal my mouth over her clit. Using the tip of my tongue, I flick her aching bud without mercy, alternating quick, firm movements with slow, firm strokes.
Jessica’s back arches off the bed, and I pin her hips, holding her steady while I make a meal of her sweet cunt.
“Are you going to come for me, angel?” I mutter, looking up at her and rubbing my lips over her clit.
“I . . . Yes . . . I’m so close,” she croaks.
“Fuck. So sensitive,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her throbbing nub.
“Yes. Please , Harrison.”
“I need to get you ready for me,” I tell her, circling her opening with my middle finger, lubricating it with her dripping arousal.
She gasps when I push slowly inside her, and her muscles tighten around my thick digit. My mouth returns to her pussy, sucking and licking until her hips roll against me. She jerks as I give her sensitive bud a soft suckle and curl my finger inside her.
A strangled cry is wrenched from her throat, and then she’s coming. I grind my aching cock into the bed, my groan vibrating against her flesh as I slide my finger in and out of her tight sheath. She comes apart completely, writhing on my tongue and fisting the sheets at her sides, crying out my name as I lap up her juices.
Pretty sure I’ve died and gone to Heaven . . . and I never want to leave.