43. Calvin
CALVIN
I’ve had a love/hate relationship with watching Vipers games since my injury. But I can say hands down that having Sienna beside me made it the best game I’ve watched since.
Not just because we annihilated Seattle, which Rett was beyond happy with, considering it’s his old team. But I’ve learned so much about the woman who's taken up even more space in my head than she did all those years ago.
Sienna Wentworth isn’t just a hockey fan. She’s borderline obsessed.
Listening to her chirp the refs is one of my new favorite things.
She didn’t hold back, and I was there for it.
Even hours later, every time I think about her screaming expletives when she believed they made a wrong call, or that we deserved a penalty, my cock jerks in excitement.
After celebrating our five-to-zero win, I took Sienna to the media room so she could experience the post-game press before we headed up to the friends and family suite, where she met up with Bea, who had been watching the game behind the goal with Casey and Freya.
We had food, grabbed drinks, and laughed. It was one of the best post-game evenings I’ve had in a while, and that includes when I was playing.
As some of the guys went to get drinks, most of the couples declined the offer of going to a bar in favor of heading home.
The team leaves tomorrow for a series of road games, and suddenly, I understand why they want to be with their girls so badly, knowing they’re not going to see them for almost a week.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go for drinks?” I offer once we’re back in the car.
“I think I’ve had enough of people for today,” Sienna says.
I glance over just in time to catch her yawning.
“Let’s get you to bed,” I say, as if I’m the one who’s driving and in charge.
She makes her way out of the parking garage, music playing softly in the background.
“Thank you for tonight. I loved seeing everything from a different perspective.”
“Anytime,” I say. “You’re on the list now, remember?”
“So I can turn up any time and security will let me in?”
“Yep.”
“So if I’m lonely and want to watch you work out?” she suggests.
“I’m not sure Darcy and Parker will put up with you lingering in the corner of the gym, drooling.”
“I’ll make sure to bring a towel so I don’t make a mess on the floor.”
I laugh as she takes a left, taking us closer to home.
“Just so you know, listening to you chirp at the refs earlier got me really fucking hard.” Just thinking about it now, I have to tug at my pants to give my dick some space.
She turns to look at me, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“You’re not serious?”
“Deadly. Listening to the passion in your voice. Your hockey knowledge. It really got me going.”
“I just get swept up in all the excitement.”
“I loved it. I can’t wait until I’m out there and I’m the one you’re fighting for.”
“I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again.”
A smile creeps onto my lips as I think about her in the crowd, screaming for me.
“How long have you been coming to Vipers games for?” I ask.
“Years. Garrett and I used to come with Dad when we were little, and then once they moved away, the two of us would go whenever we got a chance.”
“So you’ve been watching me for years, is what you’re telling me?”
“Since you signed, yeah.”
Fuck. I wish I knew.
The girl I’ve been dreaming of has been under my nose this whole goddamn time, and I had no idea.
During any of those games, I could have looked up and seen her.
What would I have done if I had?
Probably raced off the ice to go to her.
Would you? You didn’t chase her when you did find her.
I shake my head as I think about that night. I was so sure she was going to take one look at me and see past all the changes and see me, just like I did her.
But she didn’t. I wanted to believe it was the alcohol, but the same thing happened the second time I saw her and invited her up to the VIP area without a second thought.
I should have told her that night.
But if I had, would we be here now?
I want to say no. I want to believe that everything has happened how it’s meant to.
She’s not hanging out with me now because of some fond memory of a boy from that summer; she’s willing to spend time with me because of the person I am now. I’m just praying that when she learns we’re the same person, she’ll see it as a two-for-one deal.
My stomach twists with anxiety, and my head swivels to look at her as she drives us home.
So fucking sexy.
Realizing she’s got an audience, she glances over, a coy smile playing on her lips.
“Everything okay?”
Tell her.
“Y-yeah. Of course. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself tonight.”
“I really did. Everyone is awesome. Did it feel weird?”
“Did what feel weird?” I ask, confused.
“Letting the guys see you with a girl.”
My mouth opens to say something, but I quickly find that I have no words.
“That bad, huh?” she teases.
“No. It was…right,” I say. “Having you beside me has always felt right.”
“You’re cute.”
“I’m not,” I counter. “I’m a big, bad D-man.”
“Sure.” She giggles as she takes the final turn toward our building and yawns.
“Tired?”
“It’s been a long day,” she explains. “Looking forward to not having to get up early tomorrow,” she says, reminding me that she’s working late.
Only a few minutes later, she’s pulling into her spot in our parking garage. Throwing my door open, I climb out, demanding she stay where she is.
The second I open her door, I’m met with her dazzling smile. This is why men have always opened doors for women—to see that smile aimed solely at them like they’re the most incredible human on the planet. Suddenly, everything is starting to make sense to me.
“Thank you,” she whispers as I tug her to her feet, although I’m not entirely a gentleman because I drag her right into my body and wrap an arm around her waist, pinning us together.
“My pleasure,” I murmur before dropping my lips to hers. I might have had her right beside me most of the night, but I haven’t kissed her anywhere close enough.
When we part, her breathing is heavy, and her eyes are heated.
“Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
She blinks up at me, and my smile widens when I don’t see any of the fear and hesitation I did only a short time ago.
Watching her learn to trust me is a gift I will never, ever take for granted.
Hand in hand, we make our way up to her floor, making the most of the empty elevator on our way. It would be rude not to.
By the time we get to her door, she looks a little like she wants to drag me inside, strip me naked, and spend hours appreciating my body. Sounds like heaven, if you ask me, but she’s exhausted. I’m also very aware of pushing her too hard.
“I guess this is where our night ends,” I say, trying to douse the fire that’s blazing inside me.
She stares up at me, her gray eyes drawing me in.
“Or you could come in?” she suggests.
“You’re exhausted, darlin’,” I say softly, cupping her face.
“Then stay the night. No funny business, just…sleep.”
When I don’t respond straight away, she assumes I’m not interested.
“Forget it. It’s a silly idea,” she says, ripping her eyes from mine.
“Getting to spend the night with you in my arms is never a silly idea,” I tell her, bringing her eyes back up to mine. “I’d love to spend the night with you. I’ve just…I’ve never done it before. At least, not sober.”
Her lips twitch at the corners. “Can I be your first?”
“You don’t need my firsts, darlin’. You’re already my everything.”
I cut her response off with my lips, and it’s long minutes before she finally manages to get the door unlocked and we stumble inside.
“Do you need to go and get anything?” she asks as I walk behind her, my hands on her hips and my lips on her neck.
“Do you have a spare toothbrush?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’m good. I’ve got an afternoon session with Darcy tomorrow once the guys have left.”
“Lazy morning, then.”
“Can’t think of anything more perfect. Can I take you for breakfast?”
“I’ll think about it,” she teases.
“Whoa. What is there to think about?”
“If you snore too loudly, you might not make it to breakfast.”
My hands slide to her sides, and she squeals as I tickle her.
“Okay, okay,” she wheezes, sucking in a deep breath. I release her and she darts away from me. “I…um…I actually do snore,” she confesses nervously.
“Okay,” I say, utterly unfazed. She watches as I toe off my shoes and then shed my jacket.
“That’s it? Okay?”
“Darlin’, I spend half the year sharing hotel rooms with dudes. I promise you, no matter how loudly you snore, it can’t be louder than Rett.”
She snickers.
“Bea’s told you about it?” I surmise.
“She may have mentioned.”
“Well, I manage to sleep through him most of the time, so I’m sure I’ll be fine.” She watches as I strip my shirt off and then stalk toward her bathroom, topless. “Where can I find this toothbrush?”
“Cupboard under the sink.”
I kick the door closed, but more for her benefit than mine. I’m more than happy for her to watch—I’m pretty sure I’ve already proven that. But I want her to feel comfortable, and if that means I miss her stripping my jersey off in favor of her pajamas, then so be it.
Once I’ve cleaned my teeth, I take a piss and then pull the door open and poke my head out. The bedroom is empty, but I discover why a few seconds later when Sienna walks in wearing nothing but a tank—no bra—and a tiny pair of sleep shorts, with two bottles of water in hand.
I swallow thickly and force my eyes up from staring at the way her nipples pebble against the thin fabric of her tank.
“You sleep like that every night?” I ask, my voice raspy with need.
“Mostly, yeah,” she agrees as she sets a bottle down on each nightstand before moving closer. “You finished in there?”
“Yeah,” I mumble, shifting out of her way.
“I’ve got a whole skincare routine, but I’ll try and speed it up,” she confesses. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Capturing her hand, I bring her knuckles to my lips. “Don’t rush on my account. I’m not going anywhere.”
With a smile that only makes my blood run hotter, I let her slip into the room and close the door behind her.
Dropping my slacks, I crawl into her bed, reveling in the fact that the sheets smell just as sweet as she does.
I get settled before unlocking my cell to scroll through the scores from the rest of tonight’s games, before browsing through a few hockey blogs I follow.
I’m lost in trade conspiracies when the bathroom door finally opens, revealing a fresh-faced Sienna.
She freezes the second she sees me in her bed, the sheets resting around my waist.
I smirk at her. “Everything okay?”
“You look…you look a little bit too good in my bed,” she blurts.
“Not so good you’re considering kicking me out, I hope?”
“Hell no. There’s no risk of that happening.”
Abandoning my cell, I pull the sheets back for her, and only a few seconds later, she slides in beside me.
I sink lower, allowing her to curl up with her head on my chest.
“What were you reading?”
“Hockey stuff,” I mutter.
“You can keep reading,” she offers sleepily.
“I’d rather focus on you.”
“You’re gonna watch me sleep?” she asks, sounding a little concerned.
“Maybe,” I confess with a chuckle.
“Creep.”
“You love it,” I tease.
Her grip on my waist tightens.
“Yeah, I think I do,” she admits before tilting her head up and kissing me, ending any further conversation between us.