The Secret Play (Pucking Daddies #3)

38. Gemma

Chapter 38

Gemma

T he morning sunlight hadn’t begun to peek in yet as I stretched lazily under the sheets. My man had good taste in linens, from his flannel sheets to his super soft towels, and I luxuriated in them, while just thinking in the early morning hours. I never slept well after a crazy night or even a night out. It was a curse that had led to many long mornings replaying the events of the night before.

It had been the best night of my life after one of the worst days. Replaying every detail, I should have seen each surprise coming a mile away. But hindsight was twenty-twenty. How could I have known Nico’s sudden appearance was part of Casey’s proposal plan? Or that when Megan had been texting before she vanished with Winnie, it was with Casey, not Nico? Or, for that matter, that a proposal could save his career?

Strange how much could change on a dime and how unrelated things could add up to something wonderful.

I had thought my article would be the best approach possible, but I was wrong. Casey’s incredibly public proposal had flipped the entire arena’s energy. I went from a pariah, targeted for her actions, to the arena’s sweetheart in a matter of minutes. Even the woman who had come down to attack me had flashed me a smile after his proposal. Others sent us food and beer, and a particularly nice old woman bought Winnie a jersey.

People loved to have a villain to hate, but, as it turned out, they loved love even more.

I stretched again, trying to wake up. I knew Nico and Megan would take care of Winnie, but I also knew she could be a handful. She wasn’t a morning person, but I could picture her powering through, thanks to their presence. Still, I didn’t want to move. I was so cozy, and Casey’s arm was draped between us, his hand splayed possessively on my hip.

He was so handsome that it made my chest ache. That chiseled jaw, those perfect lips. Staring at him in the faint darkness of his room, listening to his shallow breaths…I would get to wake up to this face every day now. I could hardly believe my luck.

“Morning,” he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.

My heart did that fluttery thing it always did when he smiled at me like I was the only thing that mattered. I’d never take that privilege for granted. “Morning.”

He leaned in, brushing his lips over mine in a kiss that started sweet but quickly deepened, his hand sliding up my hip to my back to pull me closer. He was already hard, his cock pinned between our bodies as we kissed.

I sighed against his mouth, threading my fingers through his hair. Whatever plans I’d had for the morning were forgotten the moment he rolled us over, his weight pressing me into the mattress in the most delicious way.

He reached between my thighs, rubbing, coaxing, playing. Nothing too fast, nothing hurried. I loved that about him. He played my body like he’d known me for years, but he had been able to do that since our first night together. The man knew all my spots, all the ways to light me up. His thumb circled my clit, fingertips toying at my entrance and setting me alight. They didn’t enter me—he was still taking his time. When I opened my eyes, pale purple light had snuck in through the curtains. I bit my lip as everything in me went tight.

He whispered in my ear, “I love when you make that face.”

I could hardly speak. Instead, I cocked my hips so his fingers slipped inside of me.

“Greedy girl.”

I nodded coquettishly, and he fingered me until I trembled.

“That’s it, isn’t it? Right there? You’re so wet for me now. Do you want more?”

“Yes,” I whimpered.

Another finger joined the party, stretching me further as I dug my nails into his shoulder. I was so close I could hardly breathe, and when it took me over, I came in a sighing gasp, clinging to him. Only then did he slide inside of me, rocking back and forth until I was full of him.

He laced his fingers with mine, and we moved slowly, savoring every moment. His movements were languid, erotic thrusts. Time had no meaning. He pulled out, turning us until we were on our sides, him behind me as he entered me once more. He plucked at my nipples, played with my clit, did anything to bring me closer to another climax.

And I orgasmed, one after another after another, until he couldn’t take it any longer. He gripped my hip and drove deep as he came, too. At the last moment, he bit my shoulder.

In the shower, he went to his knees for me. We couldn’t stop. It was like being a teenager again. Any little thing set us off, and before I knew it, he had me bent over in the shower with his fingers hard at work.

When the magic had worn down a couple of hours later, he handed me a thin silver chain. “This is for the ring, until I get it sized down for you. Unless you want to pick a new set?—”

“No. I’d be honored to wear your family ring.”

He smiled and threaded the ring onto the necklace before clasping it around my neck. He kissed me on the nape. “Thank you for knowing what that means to me.”

I smiled, even though my heart hurt. “I’m just sorry your folks can’t be there at our wedding. I know what it’d mean to me, if my mom could be.”

“What about your dad?”

I sighed and shook my head. “He doesn’t leave the nursing home. It’s not that he can’t, but because of his condition, he’d need a nurse to come with him, and that’s so expensive. It’s just not feasible.” I shrugged, struggling not to dwell on it.

I had never planned my wedding as a little girl—it didn’t seem like a big deal to me at the time. But I had always assumed my father would be there, and it hurt to know he wouldn’t be. But I was happy to marry Casey and focused on what I could have instead of what I couldn’t have. “All I need is you, Winnie, Nico, and Megan to be there.”

He took my hand, kissing the back of it. “I know how important family is. They’ll all be there. And Megan, too. And anything else you want.”

“Right now, I want to see my baby and make sure Nico and Megan didn’t burn the house down.”

“Let’s go now before I have to see what you look like naked on my couch.”

I giggled and decided he should see that first.

Eventually, we pulled into the driveway of my house. I hadn’t planned to spend the night at Casey’s, but after everything that happened yesterday—his proposal, the game, Matthew’s surprising approval—I couldn’t bring myself to leave his side for a second..

I never wanted to leave him ever again.

I unlocked the front door, pushing it open to the unmistakable sound of clattering in the kitchen. Casey followed close behind, and we staggered to a stop from the sticky sight before us.

Winnie stood on a chair by the counter, pouring a box of cereal into my designated popcorn bowl with all the care of a four-year-old on a mission. There looked to be two other kinds of cereal already in the bowl. The counter was a mess—spilled cereal, milk dripping onto the floor, and a glistening trail of what I assumed was honey leading to the sink.

“Good morning, Winnie,” I said, my voice equal parts amused and horrified. “What are you doing?”

She looked up, her face lighting up when she saw me. She unintentionally stage-whispered, “Making breakfast for Uncle Nico and Megan!”

Our baby hadn’t yet mastered the art of actual whispering, and I assumed she just woke them up.

Casey laughed softly beside me, his hand resting on the small of my back. “She’s ambitious, I’ll give her that.”

My eyes darted to the living room, where Nico and Megan were sprawled out on the couch, still fast asleep. What the…? Oh, screw it, at least they’re clothed.

Nico’s arm was slung over Megan’s shoulders, her head tucked against his chest. They looked so cozy that I almost didn’t want to disturb them. Almost.

I walked over to the couch and kicked Nico’s foot lightly. “Hey, Romeo.”

He startled awake, his eyes blinking rapidly as he tried to figure out where he was. His cheeks flushed a deep red when he realized he was curled up with Megan. “Uh…” he started, shifting away from her as if that would make things less awkward.

The movement woke Megan, who sat up groggily, her hair a wild mess. She blinked at me, Nico, and then back at me, her cheeks turning hot pink.

“Morning,” I said, smirking. “Did you two sleep well?”

“Gemma,” Nico started, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not what it looks like.”

Casey walked into the living room, crossing his arms and grinning. “Oh, it’s exactly what it looks like.”

Nico faux-glared at him. “You don’t get to talk. You snuck around with my sister behind my back for weeks, and now, you’re coming in after a sleepover. I should get at least one Get Out of Jail Free card for that.”

Casey raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “Fair enough. But seriously, what’s going on here?”

“It was nothing,” Megan began.

I crossed my arms, my gaze darting between them. I wasn’t mad, but I had to be clear about the rules when it came to my daughter. “You two better not have done anything on my couch. Winnie’s in the next room and doesn’t need that kind of education. Or mental scarring.”

Megan’s eyes widened, and she shook her head quickly. “No! No, we didn’t do anything. We just…fell asleep watching a movie.”

Nico nodded, his expression earnest. “Yeah. After we put Winnie to bed, we started a movie, and we, uh…I guess we crashed.”

I studied them both for a moment, noting the way Nico avoided Megan’s gaze and how she tucked her hair behind her ear, a nervous habit I’d seen a hundred times. Always around boys she liked.

There was tension between them, and it wasn’t the awkward kind that came from being caught in an innocent situation. It was the kind of tension that came from wanting something you weren’t sure you should want.

I decided to let it go—for now. “All right,” I said, waving them off. “But you’re on kitchen cleaning duty after you two dropped the ball on watching the kiddo this morning.”