Chapter 20
Magnus
Cole has turned into a vault. During games, he’s keeping his emotions locked inside, showing no reaction to things that would have sent him into orbit before.
Our home crowd is confused and disappointed, based on their social media posts and comments. But he’s sharper now. He’s scoring more and watching his shift length.
I’ve been getting a lot of ice time on power plays and penalty kills, which means Turner likes what he’s seeing from me. Bash was recently removed from the PK team to make way for me, and I don’t think he likes it.
It doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but if he reads what the pundits are saying online, they seem to think I’m a better defensive player than he is, which is important on penalty kills.
Tonight’s game was grueling. Cole is in the ice bath next to mine, wearing the blue stocking cap I knitted for him.
“How’s your dad?” I ask.
“He’s sick as shit. But hanging in there.”
“Is he catching the games on TV?”
“Oh yeah. I usually have at least twenty texts from him after a game. He says you’re a hell of a skater and you’ve got quick hands.”
“Aw. Did you tell him I’m your bestie?”
He scoffs. “No.”
“Liar. You sent him a picture of you in the hat, didn’t you?”
A smile tugs on his lips. “He does like the hat.”
“I’ll make him one.”
“He’d like that.”
“You want me to teach you to knit? It helps me relax.”
“I can think of about a thousand ways I’d rather relax, but thanks.”
I’ve been knitting a lot lately. When I get an urge to open apps on my new phone and pore over hockey news and speculation, I knit instead. I hear things from others, but I don’t read it myself, and I’ll never be on social media.
The phone has been nice for communicating with Blair, though.
We text and FaceTime a lot. The only time we get together lately is for a couple hours one or two evenings a week.
I’ve tightened up my diet, so I mostly eat grilled chicken, rice and steamed veggies for dinner.
Eli doesn’t mind eating that, but Coop only likes dishes with cheese as the main ingredient.
When I finish with the ice bath, I down one of the protein shakes the team chef made and then hit the shower.
It’s late and it’s been a long day, but I’m not tired. Blair’s in my hotel room right now, and she’s all mine until five a.m.
Since Jules is there, Blair was able to get away once the boys were asleep. Both of us are stressed—me about my contract situation, her about an upcoming test—but we need this time together.
However tired I am tomorrow, it’ll be worth it. I don’t have a game. I spend a substantial part of every day fantasizing about the one and only night Blair and I had together. Unlike many guys, I don’t want to ask my girlfriend for photos to keep in a spank bank.
The whole point is us being together. If I can’t have that, I don’t want anything.
“Hey, you want to go out?” Isaac asks me. “I’m meeting up with a woman with a friend who’d love to bang a hockey player tonight.”
“I have a girlfriend,” I remind him.
“Still?”
“Still.”
He grins. “Guess that leaves ol’ Isaac to handle both of them.”
“Cole might want to go out.”
“Outhouse?”
“We’re not keeping that nickname. I was being a dick that day.”
“He can’t even get into bars. I’ll manage.”
“Hey, good game.” I put out a fist and he bumps it.
“Thanks, man. You too.”
Isaac has natural talent. He has to put in work, but not like some of us do. He can still drink the night before a game; I quit doing that when I was twenty-five.
I text Blair, letting her know I’m on my way. There’s a cold advisory tonight, but I’m not wasting time warming my car up. Not when she’s in bed waiting for me.
The drive to the hotel feels like it takes forever, and there are people crowded outside the elevator, so I take the stairs. When I reach the room, unlock the door, and walk inside, I find Blair standing at the end of the bed, and my jaw drops.
She’s wearing a black corset, a ribbon tied into a bow on her breasts, and skimpy black underwear.
“Holy fuck, you look incredible.”
She smiles softly. I want to throw her on the bed, but I also want to stay right where I am and just look.
I’ve never seen or imagined anything so hot.
Another woman in this outfit wouldn’t do for me what she does.
It’s beautiful Blair, whom I know as a loving, protective mom to her children.
A devoted sister and friend. She’s truly happy for people who find real love, but she’s been afraid to hope it could happen for her—until now.
The vulnerability in her eyes almost sends me to my knees. She’s placing an enormous amount of trust in me. Risking heartbreak because she sees me and supports me for who I am. She knows what it means to put others first out of love, not obligation.
I shed my suit coat, letting it fall to the floor, and loosen my tie on the walk over to her. My cock leads the way, jutting out in front of me like a tent pole.
Words aren’t enough. I get to my knees and look up at her, awestruck. She gently grazes my scalp with her nails.
“I love you,” I say, putting my hands on her waist. “You’re everything I dreamed of in a woman and so much more.”
“I love you, too.” She brushes the hair back from my forehead. “I’d rather wait a thousand nights for one night with you than have someone else every night.”
“Feels like it’s been a thousand.”
I cup her ass and run my palms down the backs of her legs, her breath catching.
“Are you ready to find out what it means to be my girl?” I ask, looking up at her. “It’s okay if you aren’t there yet.”
“I think I am.” She furrows her brow. “But I’m not into pain.”
“No pain, unless some light spanking counts.” I stand, unfastening my belt and pulling it through the loops. “But no control either. When I tell you to suck, you suck. When I tell you to take it, you take it.”
Her eyes flare open wider and she bites her lip. “Yes. I’m ready for that.”
I tip her chin up with my forefinger, gazing down at her. “You knew what you were doing when you tied this bow, didn’t you? You’re a gift I get to unwrap as slowly as I want. In whatever way I want.”
“Yes.”
“You never need a safe word other than stop with me, okay? You say stop and I stop.”
“Okay.” Her chest moves up and down with her quick breaths. “Are you ... like, you’re so sweet and gentle, but this is a side of you I didn’t know about.”
“I want you to be comfortable. We can keep it like last time if you want.”
“No!”
The way she practically yells it makes me smile.
“No, I want ... what you were planning. I just don’t want any other woman to see this side of you ever again.”
I arch my brows, amused. “I feel the same way about you, and I don’t plan to show anyone else this side of me.”
“Are you going to spank me with your belt?”
“You’re not ready for that yet. And no more questions. Get on your knees.”
She drops to the ground and I pull my tie off and undo the first button on my shirt. Her eyes roam to my erection, which is near eye level for her.
“You’re thirsting for my cock, aren’t you?”
She nods and licks her lips.
I’m slow with the buttons, enjoying her anticipation.
“You can take it deep, can’t you? You wear something slutty like that, you better be ready to take my cock deep in every hole.”
“Yes.” She whimpers the word, doing it again when I thread my fingers into her hair and tug.
I return to my shirt, finishing with the buttons and pulling it off. My undershirt comes off next, and then I unfasten my pants.
Her eyes plead with me as I move my zipper down and slide my pants from my hips until they fall to the floor. When I do the same with my boxer briefs, she looks up at me obediently.
I sit down at the end of the bed and she kneels before me. I bend forward to cup her face and kiss her. When I lean back, she’s breathless.
“Suck,” I tell her.
She licks the tip first, swirling her tongue around it and sucking gently.
“That’s right,” I say in a low tone, my hand in her hair. “Who does this cock belong to?”
She gently wraps her hand around my shaft, her mouth releasing its hold. “Me.”
“You better take good care of it.”
She moans softly and licks her way from the base of my cock to the tip, making me suck air through my teeth. I close my eyes, trying to regain control.
When she takes more of me into her mouth, I groan and tighten my hold on her hair. I let myself have a few long, blissful strokes from her mouth, but then lean back, cupping her chin.
“Stand up.”
She does, and I get up and stand in front of her, bending to kiss her again. I nip at her lower lip and say, “My turn.”