Chapter 50 Freya
FREYA
Iblink at Cole, his words floating around me but not really registering. At least, not for a few seconds. But then suddenly, everything hits me.
I gasp. “You did not just say that.”
He smirks, but then his own brain catches up with him and his face falls, panic etching into his features.
“Shit, no. I just meant that you tasted incredible. I wasn’t saying that your food…” His words trail off when I start laughing.
“Oh, you think you’re funny, do you?” he asks, his fingers digging into my ribs, making me giggle. “Think you’re funny while you’re dripping all over the countertop?”
Oh my god. Embarrassment floods through me, making my face burn red hot.
I can’t believe I just let him do that.
God. It was so freaking good, too.
I should have known it would be. And not just because he’s had a lot of practice, if the things that are written about him in the media are to be believed, but because he’s proving every day just how well he knows me. He listens, reads my reactions, and takes it all in.
“Stop, stop,” I cry, my stomach hurting from laughing so hard as I wiggle about inelegantly on the kitchen island without any panties on. “You need to go and get ready. We’re going to be late.”
“It’s okay. The guys will understand.”
I groan. They’re already going to be suspicious. I don’t need Cole doing or saying anything to confirm what they’re probably already thinking.
It’s only the truth, a little voice states.
“I’ll never live it down,” I argue.
“Trust me, Casey and Parker are no different,” Cole says as he takes a step back, finally allowing me to close my legs.
“Don’t I know it.”
Cole laughs. “Ah, you totally know more than I do. Linc and Kodie are pretty tight-lipped about what they get up to with their girls.”
“I wish I could say the same. I know way more about your teammates than I ever need to.”
“I dread to think,” he says, dragging his hair back, his eyes taking me in still sitting on the counter with my dress hitched up and my panties on the floor.
When he gets to my shoe-covered feet, his eyes linger. “You can wear those again,” he muses.
“Fan of heels, huh?”
“Previously, I wouldn’t have said so. But with you…it’s pretty safe to say I’m obsessed with everything you do.”
His eyes drop to my discarded panties, and he takes a step forward and snatches them up.
“I’ll be keeping these,” he states before pushing them into his pants pocket.
My chin drops.
“You can’t do that.”
“Why not? Don’t you think I deserve a prize?”
My face burns again, but no words find their way out.
“Do you need help down?” he asks, stepping up to me.
“That would be great.” He holds my gaze as his giant hands wrap around my waist. He lifts me from the counter effortlessly, as if I weigh no more than a feather.
My dress falls back around my thighs, but I can’t ignore the fact that I’m now wearing nothing underneath.
“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be ready to go.”
I shake my head, amazed that it takes him so little time and yet he always looks incredible.
“I’m going to need longer than that to put myself back together.”
“You look beautiful.”
I raise a brow, not believing a word of it. Something tells me that Cole has firmly undone all the good work Carly and Francesca did not so long ago.
Not wanting to argue, I take a step forward. But I don’t immediately move toward my bedroom to fix myself up. Instead, I pause in front of Cole.
In a brazen move, I reach forward and cup the impressive bulge in his pants.
His nostrils flare, his jaw tics, and a groan rumbles in his throat.
“Freya,” he warns. “You just said that we’re going to be late.”
“I-I know, but—” My fingers clench around him, and his eyes shutter with desire. “I owe you.”
“What?” he blurts, his eyes wide.
“You just…so I—”
“No,” he says so firmly, I rear back a little.
“W-what do you mean, no? You don’t want me to …”
“Freya,” he breathes, leaning down and resting his forehead against mine.
“I would love nothing more than for you to drop to your knees right now and return the favor. But that is not why I got you off. I did it because I wanted to, not because I felt like I had to, or because I owed you. I will never, ever, expect something because I’ve done it for you. I want you to want to do it.”
“I do, I—”
“Later,” he rasps. “If you want to do it later, then I won’t stop you.”
I smirk up at him. “Is that right?”
“Yep. I’m all yours. You can do anything you’d like.”
“Hmm. The possibilities are endless,” I tease.
“I can’t wait. Now, I really need to get changed, and you probably want to grab a clean pair of panties.”
“Well, someone has stolen mine,” I mock.
“Or you could just go without.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Not a chance.”
He laughs before giving me a chaste kiss and disappearing to his room, leaving me with the sight of his solid ass in those perfectly fitted pants.
Man, I am one lucky, lucky girl.
“Oh, here they are,” Casey teases, ensuring everyone turns to look as Cole and I finally join them in the restaurant she and Parker chose for tonight.
We might be running behind, but one glance at the table tells me they’ve been waiting to order.
“Sorry we’re late,” Cole says confidently as we approach the two empty chairs.
Every single person at the table grins at us as Cole pulls my chair out and allows me to sit down.
“You look incredible, Freya,” Parker comments.
“Thank you,” I say quietly, uncomfortable with everyone’s eyes on me. I guess it’s something I’m going to have to get used to.
“So, we’re fucking starving,” Linc announces, thrusting menus at us. “If you two could pick something, we’d all be grateful. Ow, the fuck?” he asks when Parker backhands him in the chest before giving him a hard warning glare. “What? I’m hungry.”
He shakes his head at her as our server comes over to ask Cole and I for our drink order. With a beer and a cocktail ordered, we quickly read through the menu and make our selections.
“So, what have you two been up to since our big man here got back?” Killer asks, looking at the two of us over the rim of his beer glass.
“You know, just catching up,” Cole says coyly.
Beneath the table, his hand shifts, his palm resting on my bare thigh.
Heat surges through me as I consider what our afternoon consisted of.
“Had a snack.”
“Explains why you weren’t in a rush to eat,” Linc mutters under his breath.
“It’s alright for you,” Kodie pipes up at the other end of the table. “Your girl travels with. You don’t understand how hard it is for us.”
“Yeah,” Linc muses, reaching out to wrap his arm around Parker’s shoulder and tug her closer. “I’m a lucky motherfucker.”
“You know what’s easier?” Rett asks. “Having no one at home to worry about.”
“Here, here,” Killer says, raising his glass to clink against Rett’s. They then turn to Hayden.
He looks reluctant, but he lifts his glass and does it.
“Ugh, you’re such a pig,” Parker complains.
“Judge all you like, little sister. The man sitting next to you was the same for years.”
Parker groans at the memory.
“I’m a changed man now,” Linc says with a wide smile. “And one day, man, it’ll happen to you too.”
Rett scoffs before gulping down half his beer.
“And you,” Linc adds, nodding at Killer.
“And me?” Hayden asks hopefully.
“Meh…not sure,” Linc teases.
“What?” Hayden cries in horror. “Why not? What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing,” Casey assures him. “Linc is just yanking your chain.”
Hayden glares at Linc across the table. “You’re an asshole. I’ll have you know that I’m a catch.”
“Really,” Linc teases. “Because we haven’t seen you catch anything yet.”
“Well, maybe tonight is the night,” Hayden says confidently.
“Oh yeah?” Rett pipes up. “Stick with me, Monroe. We’ll find you a worthy woman.”
At Rett’s words, I swear Hayden pales a little.
“Uh…yeah. Sweet. Let’s do it.”
Cole leans closer, his warm breath tickling down my exposed neck. I shudder, my braless nipples pebbling behind the sequins. “Is it just me, or did we just watch Monroe piss his pants?”
I just about smother the laugh that wants to erupt.
“Be nice,” I warn.
“I’m just saying. Dude looks terrified.”
“He just needs a nice girl, not a bunny,” I explain.
“He may need to stop hanging around with Rett and Killer then.”
“He’ll figure it out. From what I’ve read, your rookie year is hard. The last thing he needs is woman drama as well.”
“From what you’ve read?” he repeats. “Whirlwind, have you been doing hockey research?”
My cheeks heat. “Maybe.”
“Fuck, that is so hot.”
Curling his fingers around the bottom of my chair, he drags me closer before wrapping his arm around me and planting a kiss on my cheek.
Linc cheers, and it’s only when the sound hits my ears that I discover everyone is watching us.
“Do we have an announcement to make?” Linc asks, his brows wiggling.
“Leave them alone,” Parker chastises.
“What? They’re the ones getting hot and heavy at the dinner table,” he argues.
“No announcement,” Cole says, his deep, commanding voice filling the air. “We’re just…enjoying spending time together.”
Heat creeps up my cheeks, and I can’t fight the smile that threatens to spread. I feel lighter than I have in a very long time, even with the eyes of everyone at the table on me.
“I’m so happy for you,” Casey says, reaching out to squeeze my hand.
“Thanks. I’m happy for me too,” I whisper.
“It’s good to have you back, Freya. I know you’ve been home for a while, but you haven’t been yourself. Now, though, I see that glint in your eye that was missing before.”
Her words light me up, but I can’t deny there’s a little bit of pain lingering as well. I knew I wasn’t myself, but I wasn’t aware that others could see it quite so clearly.
“I feel good. He makes me feel good,” I admit.
“Girl, you have lucked out with that one. Enjoy him.”
“That’s my plan.” Casey laughs before Linc drags us both into a conversation about their new advertising campaign, which predictably has spread like wildfire across all social media platforms. I mean, it was always going to. These boys are hot.
It’s not long before our food arrives, and the girls and I have the pleasure—if you can call it that—of watching a table full of hockey players demolish more food than the three of us would eat in a week.
We have the best time hanging out in the back corner of the restaurant where everyone leaves us alone. It’s almost enough to allow me to forget what’s still to come this evening. Almost. But as the clock ticks closer to us having to leave for the club, my nerves begin growing.
I’m going to have Cole at my side and all these other guys around me. But still, being in the spotlight for all the world to see—for Rowan to potentially see—is starting to get a little much.