12. Harrison
Chapter 12
Harrison
The blades cut across the ice, and I try to lose myself in muscle memory. I might not have a job with The Ice Giants anymore, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use the arena. I came straight here after leaving the bar, needing the physical release.
I’m thankful I have the ice to myself, but no amount of punishing my body can rid me of the ache in my chest. I felt like a chunk of me was ripped away when I saw Jessica sitting with Shelley.
I smash my stick against the puck with all my strength, sending it whirling into the goal. I do it again and again, harder and harder, venting my anger and frustration until sweat blinds me and I’m gasping for breath.
As the anger leaches from me, the red haze lifts, and I see things clearly. I see what a fucking dick I’ve been. Noah told me to let it go, but I didn’t, and now I may have ruined my chance with the only woman I’ve ever truly loved.
I close my eyes, seeing her bright blue eyes, her smile, and the way her face scrunches as she comes on my cock.
“ Fuck! ” I roar into the empty stadium.
I need to make things right. I need to tell Jessica why I was so upset at seeing her with Shelley. I should’ve told her before, but my stupid fucking pride held me back. Pride before a fall , isn’t that what they say? Well, I’ve crashed face-first over my pride, and look where I landed—in a big, stinking pile of shame and regret.
After a quick shower, I change back into my clothes and head for the hotel where Jessica is staying. When the desk clerk informs me she checked out, there’s only one place I can think she would be. Her place in the Catskills. I know I won’t be welcome there if she’s told Mack and Harmony what a fucking asshole I was, but that’s the least of my worries right now. I want Jessica with everything in me, and I’ll grovel on my knees if I have to.
I head to the underground parking lot of my apartment building. Climbing behind the wheel of my Porsche, I leave the city behind.
“You’ve got a fucking nerve!” Mack growls when he sees me on his doorstep. “How the fuck did you know where we live?”
“That would be me,” Harmony says calmly, appearing behind him.
He turns to look at her in disbelief. “Harmony?—”
“Trust me on this, Mack,” she says softly, her eyes holding his.
Mack’s shoulders slump. “How do you do that?” he grumbles, pulling her close and kissing her forehead.
She smiles, and a look passes between them. “You know how.”
I clear my throat, feeling as if I’m intruding on a private moment. “I’m an asshole. Jess deserves better, but I’m a selfish asshole because I want her anyway. I love her. I’ve loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her.”
“You love me?”
I spin at the sound of Jessica’s voice. She’s standing behind me, her arms folded over her generous breasts, her eyes unflinching on mine. I know she’s angry. I know she’s hurt. But she’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. It’s been six hours since I had her in my arms, but it feels more like six months.
Her eyes and nose are red like she’s been crying. My gut clenches with regret. I did that. I hurt her
I take a step toward her. “Can we go somewhere private and talk?”
She takes a step back. “Here is just fine for whatever you have to say.”
I glance at Mack, who has a smug smile on his face. Yeah, he’s gonna enjoy this. Harmony looks like she’s hanging on every word. Okay. Public groveling it is. It’s a small price to pay for allowing my pride to get in the way and hurting Jess.
“I owe you an apology,” I start, taking another step forward and reaching for her hand.
She doesn’t pull away, but she doesn’t respond either, her hand unmoving in mine.She won’t meet my eyes. They’re fixed on my throat.
I take a breath. “Shelley and I were together for a year. I had feelings for her, but I didn’t love her. She wanted more than I could give her, so I broke things off.”
Jessica’s mouth tightens at my words, but she doesn’t say anything.
“Shelley wasn’t happy, so she fabricated a story about me. She’s a journalist, so it was difficult for her to get her little fairytale published.”
Jessica’s eyes flick to mine. “What did she do?”
“She told everyone she was pregnant, and the baby was mine. She accused me of being abusive and said I liked to use my strength against women off the ice. All lies.”
Jessica sucks in a shocked breath, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Of course, it was lies. You would never…” She trails off, shaking her head, her mouth a tight, angry line.
Her faith in me is humbling after the way I reacted to seeing her with Shelley. “I sent my lawyer after her, and she finally retracted her accusations, but the damage was already done. Innocent until proven guilty doesn’t seem to apply in situations like that. Throw enough shit, and it sticks. My reputation was trashed. I had hate mail, and almost lost my job because it reflected badly on the team. Shelley issued a public apology, blaming it on mental health issues, and checked herself into a treatment center for a month. Then she returned to her life and picked up where she left off like nothing had happened. Like she didn’t try to destroy my life.”
Jessica looks furious. “God, I wish I’d slapped that bitch when I had the chance!”
Her expression and her words pull a reluctant chuckle from me. “I’d like to see that.” I sober, bringing her hand to my mouth and kissing her palm. “I’m so sorry, angel. I saw red when I saw you with her, laughing like you were old friends. I’m not proud of how I reacted. I was an asshole.”
“Yeah, you were.” Jessica nods. “I understand why you reacted when you saw Shelley, and I’m sorry for what she put you through, but I didn’t deserve your anger, Harrison. I met her for the first time this afternoon, purely for business reasons. I don’t follow hockey or any sport, and I didn’t know you had history.”
“I should’ve told you everything right from the start. I hate reliving that time, but I thought I’d get the chance later . . .” I trail off and shake my head.“I swore I wouldn’t let another woman get close enough to hurt me like that again, and then you came along. You smashed down every single one of my defenses that evening. I love you, Jess. All of you. I love your strength and resilience. I love your little snores when you’re sleeping”—she opens her mouth to object, but I plow on— “and I love how you give a hundred percent of yourself to everything. And now, I’m giving a hundred percent of myself to you because without you, I’m nothing.”
Jess bites her lip and tears fill her eyes.
“I want the wedding, the house, the babies, and I want it all with you. I’ve screwed up, Jessica, but I swear to God, I’ll spend every day for the rest of my life making it up to you.”
She stares at me for a long moment, and my heart batters my ribs. Finally, she asks, “How?”
I frown. “How what?”
“How would you make it up to me?”
I hesitate, aware we still have an audience. I lower my voice. “In all kinds of sinful and delicious ways.”
Mack makes a puking sound behind me, and I turn to look at him.
“Okay, I’m done. You were doing pretty good until that part,” he grumbles in disgust. He looks at Jessica. “We’ll be inside if you need us. I still have that baseball bat by the front door if needs be,” he adds, giving me a meaningful look. With that, he tugs Harmony to his side and closes the door.
I guess that’s as good as I’m gonna get from him for now. I admire his love and care for his sister. We have that in common.
I turn back to Jessica, taking another step so our bodies are almost touching. “I’ll never keep anything from you again, Jess. I’m an open book, but only for you, angel. Only you can flip my pages.”
She places a hand over her mouth to smother her laughter. “ Flip my pages? Seriously? We need to work on your sweet talk.”
“Pretty sure it’s my dirty talk that gets you all hot and bothered,” I growl, sliding my hands around her waist and tugging her against me.
“Ah, shit. You got me there,” she says breathlessly as I press my aching cock into her soft belly.
I lean down, sliding my nose along her neck. “Have I groveled enough?”
She sighs dramatically. “Not sure. You may need to do a little more groveling in bed.”
I bite her earlobe. “How about I eat your pussy until you come all over my face instead?”
She swallows audibly. “That’ll work.”
Jessica takes my hand and tugs me toward what looks like a guesthouse. I assume that’s where she was when I arrived. I barely notice as she leads me through the open-plan living area and dining room and along a short corridor to a bedroom.
My mouth is on hers in the next instant, and her hands fist in my hair as I lick inside her mouth.
“God, I missed you,” I mutter against her lips.
She gasps as I cup her heavy tits and swipe my thumbs over her nipples. “It’s only been six hours.”
“Six of the longest fucking hours of my life.”
“Mine too,” she confesses, tugging my T-shirt over my head and running her hands down my abs.
The rest of our clothes come off in a frenzy, and we tumble naked to the bed. I kiss, lick, and suck my way down her body until I’m poised between her thighs with her legs over my shoulders.
“Harrison, please ,” she whispers, lifting her hips.
I open her folds with my thumbs and blow on her sex. “Tell me,” I demand, needing to hear the words.
Her eyes find mine. “I l-love you, Harrison. So much. Since I first saw you.”
I close my eyes, savoring her words, finally complete. “I love you too, angel. Can’t wait to spend the next sixty years or so showing you how much.”
“I . . . oh! ”
She arches her back as I give her glistening pussy a firm lick and suck her clit into my mouth. She’s so primed, so sensitive that it takes less than a minute before she’s crying out and spilling her juices in my mouth.
I crawl up Jessica’s body, pausing to suckle her puckered nipples before kissing her deeply, sharing her taste with her. She presses her hands against my chest, urging me onto my back and straddling my hips. Before I can take a breath, she grips my cock, lines it up, and slides down my length.
I jerk and shout beneath her. “So good, angel. Your cunt feels so good. Made for me.”
Bracing her hands against my chest, she begins to ride me. “Tell me,” she demands, repeating my earlier words.
I don’t hesitate. “I love you, angel. I’m yours. From now to the grave.”
She seems happy with that, rolling her hips as she takes me deep. “More,” she pants. “I need more.”
She wants more? My pleasure. I grip her hips and slam her down on me.
Her head lolls back. “Yesss!”
Seems my woman likes it a bit rough. Fuck, I’ll die a happy man.
Her tits judder as I bounce her on my cock, my balls tightening with my impending climax. Jess’s body bows forward, and then she’s coming, her eyes squeezed closed, mouth open in a silent scream of pleasure. I roar as her fluttering walls suck the cum from my shaft, and it erupts inside her in thick ropes.
“ Jess , fuck. So good.”
She collapses on top of me, our chests heaving in unison. I smooth my hands down her bare back as we catch our breath, my cock still buried inside her.
“Love you, Harrison,” she mumbles, pressing a sweet kiss on my chest.
My heart expands. “I love you, angel.” It doesn’t seem to encompass all the emotions I feel for this woman, but I say it anyway. I’ll tell her every day, and maybe after sixty years, she’ll have some idea of just how much.
I hold her tighter. I can’t wait.