Chapter 18
MATT
Waking up to a crick in my neck sucked, but I’d sacrifice my body if I got to keep waking up with her in my arms.
The sex last night was intense, and I had been afraid of hurting her, but she loved being under my control. When she asked about my fantasies, I wasn’t lying, but now, I’d warmed up to the idea of trying different things in the bedroom. With her. I couldn’t wait to find out what other positions she loved or when I could tie her to the bed.
It wasn’t just the sex I loved. Spending the rest of the night watching her favorite cheesy action movie while we cuddled in bed had been perfect. I didn’t need to go to nightclubs or frat parties. I just needed to be with her.
I nuzzled into her neck, breathing in the floral scent of her shampoo while I procrastinated getting up. I could skip morning skate since it was optional, but I needed to give Dinah her car back. I wondered if it had been smart to take her up on the offer of borrowing it.
Maddie made a little noise in her sleep, and I couldn’t help breaking out into a smile. She was so adorable. I kissed her neck. “Sweet pea,” I whispered.
“Hmm.”
“I gotta go.”
Her eyes fluttered open, and she got that crease in her brow when she was thinking. “Oh. You have morning skate.”
“I’ll see you later?”
She chewed on her lip. “After the game? I feel like D and my brother are gonna corner me.”
“Tell them you have to study, and I’ll come over.”
She laughed. “I do have to study.”
“Then I won’t come over.”
She turned in my arms. “No. I want to spend time with you. You dropped all your feelings on me, and then you went on the road for an entire week. I missed you.”
“That’s why we texted non-stop while I was gone. I had to tell you before I went on the road and changed my mind.”
Her mouth turned down into a sad frown. “You were gonna change your mind?”
I ran a hand across the scuff forming on my face. “I don’t like lying to Noah.”
“I’m not ready to tell him. Let me work on it.”
She said that last night, too. I still didn’t like that. Sure, it was fun being naughty together, but I wasn’t good at hiding my feelings. How was I supposed to act around her when her brother was there? Was I supposed to pretend she didn’t exist?
She pushed me onto my back and climbed on top of me. “Let me worry about it.”
I slid my hands up her sides. “Okay.”
She grinned. “I love what we did last night.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “Maybe next time we can try a different position? Or you can tie me to the bed.”
I looked her in the eye, searching her face to make sure she was ready for that. “You sure? We can work up to it. We don’t have to always do bondage either.”
“I want to.”
“Okay…next time, we’ll test something else out.”
She grinned and bent down, pressing her lips to mine. I wanted to give into the kiss, to let her rock against me until I was buried deep inside her again, but I really had to leave.
She pouted when I pulled away.
“Sorry. I gotta go.”
She rolled off of me, the sadness on her face killing me.
Reluctantly, I slid off her bed and got dressed, even though I’d rather be cuddled up with her. I gave her a quick kiss and then left.
I walked over to the parking garage and got into Dinah’s car. I didn’t have a car right now because it seemed foolish to have one when I lived in the city and could rely on public transportation or getting a rideshare. Dinah had been thinking of getting rid of hers, but Noah didn’t like her being without one when we took his to the airport. I’d feel differently about a car once I felt better about my career in Philly. Or had my own place.
I drove to the townhouse and parked in the garage just as Noah was coming out to his SUV.
“Just in time,” he said. “Hop in, and I’ll drive you over.”
“Gimme a sec,” I told him. I went inside and hung up Dinah’s keys on the hook, then I dropped my bag in my room. I walked back out to the garage and hopped into the passenger seat.
“So…date went well?” Noah asked as he backed out of the garage and drove off to the arena.
Sweat dripped down my forehead. Yes, it went well, but how was I supposed to talk to him like normal when I was dating his sister behind his back?
“Yeah,” I managed to squeak out.
“I’d love to meet her. You should bring her over for dinner one night.”
I rubbed the back of my neck.
Oh my God, this was why I wanted to tell him. Lying to Noah had not been part of it. I was never supposed to even look at his sister. Now she was my secret girlfriend who was into bondage, loved action movies, and told me my shot wasn’t powerful enough. She would be the perfect girl if she wasn’t my freaking mentor’s baby sister.
“Cally, you okay?”
“Huh?” I asked, realizing I hadn’t said anything for a couple of minutes. “Yeah. Running through plays in my head.”
“So, girlfriend? Or is it still too new?”
It was still new, but she was definitely my girlfriend. One hundred percent.
“It’s fairly new…I don’t want to jinx it yet.”
“Well, good for you, man. You seemed a little off when you and Kylie broke up again.”
I grimaced. Kylie was my high school girlfriend. We briefly got back together last year, but then she remembered the distance was too much. We ended on okay terms. It sucked when it didn’t work out, but I wasn’t hung up on her or anything.
I got Noah to focus on preparing for the game ahead, which put my mind at ease. I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be talking to him and pretending like I hadn’t been kissing his sister an hour ago.
Fuck, all of this was turning out to be way more complicated than I imagined.
Once we arrived at the arena, we got our gear on and onto the ice. My worries about my relationship melted away as I hit the ice, my focus centered on the game. Morning skate was good to shake off the nerves. We were a little jet lagged from traveling yesterday, so Coach didn’t have us doing any intense drills. He wanted us well rested for tonight.
After a quick lunch in the player’s lounge, I went with Noah back to his house for our pregame naps. Some guys were cutting out the naps, but it was standard for me now, and if I didn’t do it, it messed up my game. Hockey players were very superstitious. Riley taped his stick at least fifteen times before a game, Noah had to put his gear on in a certain order, TJ insisted on yelling everyone’s nicknames, but I only needed my pregame nap.
Down in my room, I stripped to my boxers and set my alarm. I saw a text from Maddie.
SWEET PEA: Miss you already! Good luck. I’ll be the one screaming my head off when you have the puck.
ME: About to take my nap. Can’t wait to see you later.
She sent me a heart emoji, and I felt the warmth of her smile on me, even though she wasn’t in the room. Then I shut my eyes and fell asleep.
* * *
When I woke from my nap, I grinned at a few more texts from Maddie, offering me encouragement. Not having had a girlfriend in a while, I forgot how nice it could be to have someone in your corner.
I got out of bed and took a quick shower. That was one reason I moved down here. With the full bath, I could have my own space downstairs, while Dinah and Noah had theirs upstairs.
I rubbed a towel over my head and tried to figure out which suit to wear. I tossed two of them on my bed and sent a text to Maddie for an opinion. I grinned when she texted me back right away.
SWEET PEA: The blue one! You look so hot in it.
That was my favorite one, too. It was the one I had worn to the wedding the night I met her and on the night I told her I didn’t want to be in the friendzone anymore. I was glad she loved it, too.
I dressed in it and snapped a selfie. My face hurt from smiling too much at the heart eyes and fire emojis she texted back.
SWEET PEA: Good luck, baby! Score a goal for me. Remember, more power in your shot.
ME: Okay, coach!
SWEET PEA: [grimace emoji] Sorry, can’t help it.
ME: Your place after the game?
SWEET PEA: Yes, please. You can tie me to the bed this time.
ME: Can’t wait.
I put my phone in the pocket of my suit and walked upstairs. Noah and Dinah were sitting at the kitchen table while Noah had his pregame meal. Dinah had her laptop, and her hair was in a bun, which meant she needed to get shit done. Those were her words, not mine.
“Hey,” I greeted them.
I walked toward the fridge and pulled out my pregame meal. I got pretty serious about nutrition during the season and was hardcore about meal prepping. I had to do extra laps on the ice today to work off dinner last night. I sat across from the couple and ate while my thoughts turned to tonight’s game.
“You ready for the game?” Dinah asked me.
“Think so.”
Noah nodded. “Good.”
“How was your date?” Dinah asked, her lips curving up into a mischievous grin.
I felt a lump in my throat. Was she fishing for information? “Good. Thanks for letting me use your car.”
“Anytime. When do we get to meet her?”
I sighed.
Noah nudged her. “He said it’s too early.”
“Oh. Well…hopefully, it works out. We’d love to meet this girl that makes you almost miss the jet,” Dinah teased.
Noah gave his wife a warning look, but I shook my head with a smile. That was D. She always busted my balls, and I wouldn’t have her any other way.
We cleaned up after eating and got ready to head out. Noah lifted Dinah up onto the kitchen counter so he could give her a kiss goodbye. I couldn’t help but smile at that. Dinah was so tiny beside him, but the love radiated off of them. I felt weird watching them while I pulled on my coat, but I couldn’t help but admire their love.
“Alright, rookie, let’s get to the arena,” Noah said and met me at the door.
“You ready for tonight?” I asked.
“Yup. We got this.”
I hoped he was right. I had been working hard both in the weight room and during practice, trying to prove myself. I had to make that all count when I got on the ice tonight. I wanted to fight hard for a win, and part of that was because my girl would be watching. I had to play my best game for her.