Chapter 12
HADLEY
Ilet out a deep breath as I brace myself to walk down the stairs and into the kitchen where Connor is busy making a smoothie, I can hear the blender.
Taking the plunge, I walk down a step and recall last night.
After he rolled off me, we didn’t say anything, and sleep took over.
Sure, I may have noticed how his arm clung around me during the night while he slept and I pretended to sleep. Nor did I slip out of his hold.
As I walk into the kitchen, Connor pauses the button on the blender. He offers me a warm half-smile that makes me feel all light inside.
“Morning, I’m making you a shake,” he mentions.
Instantly, I freeze then study the counter where I see my favorite ingredients, banana and peanut butter mostly. “Why?” I ask cautiously.
He flashes me a cunning grin as he grabs a clean glass from the counter and goes a little over the top when he pours the contents into the glass. “Being thoughtful, of course.”
I smile tightly and take the drink he offers. “Let’s not make a big deal about last night, okay?”
Connor chuckles as he grabs a glass for himself.
“Yeah… you kind of mentioned last night.” He crosses one ankle over the other as he leans against the counter.
“Doesn’t mean that I agree. So, here’s the deal, Sprinkles.
” The rim of his shake hits his lips, and he takes a sip, even smacks his lips together for good measure.
“I’m going all in on proving to you that we might as well admit this thing between us and knock down a wall or two.
If you’re going to be a little slower to step up and be a team player, then so be it. ”
Holy shit, he was serious.
“A ring, an orgasm, and flannel pajamas with our names on it doesn’t change the fact that I should probably be a little wary of the sudden change of mood, considering our past.” I drink from my smoothie and hum out a sound. Damn, that’s good.
Connor sets his drink down and strolls my way. He lifts my glass from my hold and sets it down on the counter next to me. “Sprinkles, you’re not a teenager anymore. I was an ass. Want me to get on my knees and admit it a hundred times?”
I tip my nose up. “Why were you?”
“Let it go. At some point you have to decide if holding a grudge or moving on for something better is more worth it.” He raises his brows at me, waiting for an answer, one I don’t give. “What’s it going to be?”
I scoff. “It doesn’t work like that. Not at the snap of your fingers.
We’re married, so I’ll consider it, that’s it.
” I give him a hardened look, but inside I’m melting, my defenses are breaking, and the dam holding everything in is on the verge of collapse, including my pussy that is eager this morning for Connor’s touch.
The back of his palm glides along my cheek, and he smirks from accomplishment. “That’s a start.”
I shake my head gently, kind of exhausted that this is how my day is starting. Not energy-wise tired, more like my mind is muddled and I haven’t even had coffee today yet.
“I’ll take care of all of this.” He indicates his head to the pile of gifts, some we haven’t even opened yet.
I shrug a shoulder. “Maybe first we should see what everything is?” There could be some cute stuff, and I always need sweatshirts, plus it’s not every day you get wedding presents to gawk at. “We won’t keep all of this, and I don’t have time to write thank-you notes.”
“I’ll have someone handle that. By the way, I have a charity game this weekend. You’ll be there, right?”
“Oh.” I’m taken aback. “I guess your wife should be there, uhm, sure. What’s the charity?”
He grins. “A dog rescue shelter. Which is awesome since I know you can’t be mad at me if I’m holding a puppy.”
It causes me to grin and bob my head side to side. “You’re kind of right. I wish my parents got a new dog after Pickles passed, but it just isn’t the same.”
Connor touches my shoulder. “He was the laziest dog ever.”
I laugh. “Oh boy, he was. Then again, Puck is like a retriever on speed.”
He laughs too. “My dad trained him for dog competitions. Biggest mistake, he’s like addicted to chasing balls.”
“Maybe we should have a joint calendar or something? Then we can plan events where we need to make an appearance as the perfect couple. My studio has a summer dance show at the summer festival, so you should probably be there. Oh, and family events.”
He slides his arm around my shoulders. “Look at us, going all official with a shared calendar.”
I chortle. “Uhm, I’m positive we can’t get more official than a marriage certificate and rings.”
“True. We’re in the honeymoon phase, so may I make a suggestion?”
Skepticism takes over, yet I’m still enticed. “What?”
He begins to spin me slowly around. “We should be at it like rabbits. It’s tradition.”
Heat spreads through my body as he places my hands on the counter with my back to his front.
Yikes, I should be a little more resistant, but his breath caressing the back of my neck feels far too good, especially when his teeth scrape my earlobe.
“What the hell, why not,” I sigh in defeat, and my body is already two steps ahead of my brain, and I press against his cock while he reaches for my front.
When I glance over my shoulder, Connor acts fast and captures my lips for a kiss, as if he knew he had a small window of opportunity.
Morning kisses, this is very new for us. He’s a bit more sensual than I anticipated.
That is until my yoga pants are yanked lower, and he aligns himself with me.
“Hold on to the counter,” he instructs.
I do as I’m told and look forward as I feel him plunge inside of me before he pumps. My entire body jolts on every move, my hands spread along the counter for more support, and as his robust movements intensify, I accidentally knock over my smoothie and neither of us seem to care.
“Connor.” I’m not even sure if it’s a beg or plea. We’re moving fast, and I want it all. “Turn me around,” I decide.
We quickly smack our lips together for a kiss before he retreats out and guides me over to the cabinet and traps me there. I lift my leg, and he enters me, stretching my leg farther.
He peeks down then at me with impressed eyes, and they grow bold when I lift my leg even higher.
“Benefits of having me as your wife. I’m flexible.” My breath is heavy.
“Benefits of having me as your husband. I have stamina and can act fast when needed.”
We both laugh for a second before we go at it with pure abandon until I’m shaking around his length, and he chases me not long after by unloading inside of me.
We stand there, draped around each other, completely spent and satisfied.
“You have the newlywed glow,” Isla remarks as she leans against the ballet barre at my studio in workout gear, waiting for my ballet barre class for adults.
I attempt to avoid her gaze because I need to hide a ridiculous smile. “I don’t,” I deny. But I know the opposite is true. There was yesterday in the kitchen, then last night we might have gone another round after lights out in bed. This morning, I might have let him join me in the shower too.
It’s bad. I’m addicted. But for an unexplained reason, I don’t feel like I should run.
“I’m cautious,” I reaffirm out loud.
“Sure, but you look like someone who can barely walk due to living her best life.”
I have to laugh at her observation while I connect my phone to Bluetooth. “Maybe tone down the orgasm accusations, I have to deal with our moms in like two minutes.”
“Oh please, knowing you and Connor can’t keep your hands off one another would fuel April and Brielle’s souls. They already texted me asking when we can throw a late bridal shower.”
“What?”
She gives me a knowing nod. “I’m responsible for inviting all the girlfriends and wives of the hockey team.” I’m not surprised, they text Isla like she’s a daughter on a normal week, which I love, since other than her brother, Isla doesn’t have a lot of family.
“Well… I guess it could be fun.” I can’t decide.
Isla has a sheepish grin. “You’re kind of enjoying this wild ride you walked right into, huh?”
I croak out a sound. “It’s not like there’s been a boring minute lately.”
“Admit it, of all the guys on that hockey team that you could have woken up married to, you’re happy it’s Connor.”
“Relieved may be more like it,” I admit.
She chuckles as she stretches her arm over her head. “Mark my words, Hadley Crews Spears. That guy isn’t your accidental husband, he’s your forever husband.”
Before I can think of an answer, Isla tips her head to the door. “Speak of the devils.” Isla offers a funny smile as my mom and Brielle enter my studio, along with two other ladies who join the class.
My mom walks to me and gives me a hug, along with Brielle. “You shouldn’t be here, you should be on your honeymoon,” my mom mentions.
“That will come later, I guess.”
She waves a finger in front of me. “I know. But since you made the choice to elope without your parents present…” There is that disproving tone, and here comes her bright cheery smile. “Brielle and I have taken the liberty to explore options that something is done to celebrate your marriage.”
Brielle hands me an envelope. “For you and Connor.”
I examine it with curiosity and see it’s a fancy envelope that’s closed by a traditional stamp that requires melting a stick of wax that I used to do as a kid at the craft station at Pioneer Park nearby. My eyes nearly bug out when I notice the letters H & C engraved on the stamp.
Taking the card out, I begin to read then stop. “Did you two seriously just hand me an invite for my own wedding?”
Brielle bounces her shoulders. “We’re just presenting options. We can’t do nothing. It’s not a wedding, per se, it’s a celebration, wedding-ish.”
I read out the card. “‘Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Crews and Mr. and Mrs. Ford Spears warmly invite you to celebrate the unexpected marriage of their children Hadley Crews and Connors Spears at the Dizzy Duck Inn in Lake Spark.’” My jaw goes slack. “You even put hockey sticks on the invitation?”