Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
QUINN
“Pizza’s ordered,” Jasper calls out. “I hope you like pineapple.”
Setting down two food bowls for the cats, I grab beers for the humans and head back into the living room of Jasper’s condo.
“For once, we agree on something.”
I hand him his drink, take my seat, and clink my bottle against his. Thankfully, he’s making great progress on his shoulder and has been without the sling for two weeks now. He should be back on the ice in the next week or two.
Thank God.
“For once?” He quirks a brow at me. “Pretty sure we agree on a lot of things.”
“Food wise? Hardly ever,” I state.
“Fair.”
“I’m glad you’re up for watching the game tonight and having me over.”
He smiles at me. “We’ll call it hockey and chill.”
I burst out laughing as I kick my legs onto his lap. “I’m surprised you know what that means. I thought I’d have to get you a dictionary, old man.”
Jasper wraps his hand around the back of my neck and pulls me in for a kiss.
“It’s a good thing I love you.”
“It’s a good thing.” I vibrate against him as he pulls back, licking my lips. “Are you sad you’re not there?”
“At the game? Nah. I wouldn’t have been selected anyway. Even as a backup.”
Lights are flickering beyond the windows as the beginning of the game starts. Dolly walks over and curls up on the back of the couch. Zucchini takes her perch on the cat tree in front of the windows.
We’ve settled into a happy routine these last few weeks. With his time at the arena limited to practice times for physical therapy, we’ve been spending more and more of our time at his place.
While he’s been gone, songs have been flowing out of me. Some angry because of the upcoming trial, but most of them are sappy love songs.
They’ll need some work, but whenever I can start on this next album, it’s going to be an emotional record.
Closing one chapter and opening another.
“That means you’re happy watching it here?” I ask as I pull my thoughts back to our conversation.
“You mean in the comfort of my own home with my cat and my girlfriend?”
“Oh, is that what I am to you now?”
“You can be whatever you want to be, as long as you’re mine.”
My smile takes over my entire face. It’s so big, I can’t hide it. “Well, if it makes you feel better, boyfriend, you’d be on my all-star team.”
He aims that cockeyed grin at me. The one that sends my insides swirling and my heart pitter-pattering. It doesn’t even take him smiling at me to make me feel like that. Anytime I’m with him, I feel like this.
“Again, I think you’re biased, Quinn.”
“Damn right I am. You’re the best player in the league as far as I’m concerned.”
“Think I can get you to say that on TV? Might shut some of the fans up around me.”
I roll my eyes. “I’d like to see them play hockey. I mean, you’re on their team. Why do they feel the need to give you so much grief?”
“It’s what they do.”
“Think I could get away with punching them? See if they like it. I’ll take them on out on the ice. Just try me.”
“You don’t need to get into fights on my behalf, Quinn.”
“Some of them deserve it. They’re lucky I know how to keep my shit in check.”
He waves a finger at me. “Is this you keeping your shit in check?”
“Don’t mess with my man.” I raise a brow at him. “I will fight anyone.”
“You know.” He pulls me onto his lap the best he can with one arm. “You getting all possessive like this is sexy.”
The horn sounds from the TV, but I ignore it as I capture Jasper’s mouth in an easy kiss. His hands rest above my ass as we start making out.
The scruff along his jaw is thicker than usual. I want to feel it between my legs. I run my fingers through the soft strands of his hair as I deepen the kiss.
This is what I love about kissing Jasper. He doesn’t care if I’m in control. Each brush of his tongue against mine has my toes curling and my fingers sinking farther into his hair. His own hands leave bruising marks on my sides.
Why is kissing the best thing in the world?
“Think we’ve got time for a quickie before dinner gets here?”
The doorbell buzzes, ending that thought entirely. Just when things were getting good. I hop off his lap and head over to buzz in the pizza delivery person.
“That is bad timing.” Jasper adjusts himself as he heads into the kitchen.
“Grab the plates. If you’re good and eat your dinner, we can pick up where we left off.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
A knock comes from the front door and I open it.
But instead of the pizza guy, it’s Jasper’s teammates.
Noah, Graham, and Dax.
So much for keeping this under wraps.