37
SYLAS
“How are you feeling?” is the first thing Harlow asks when I step into her office.
I’d known the trade was inevitable. I wasn’t the same after the injury. I was constantly angry, anxious, and depressed. I left Anna, my agent was shit, my father was teaching me a lesson by giving me the silent treatment, and my mother was trying to set me up again.
So I took out my feelings on the team and everyone around me. The general manager was fed up and decided I needed to go. I wasn’t worth it anymore. Other teams felt that way too. It was Boston that decided to give me a chance.
I didn’t want to come here. I dreaded it.
Who knew coming here would be the greatest thing to happen to me and that I’d be able to say this is the best I’ve felt in a long time.
“Good, actually.” I fold my palms on my lap and shift my gaze to the window. The sun is out, shining brighter than ever, but you can still feel the chill.
“I know these past few weeks have been a lot, but you’ve handled yourself so well. I’m very proud of you.” There’s pride on the surface of her smile. “But please, don’t hesitate to ask for help. If there’s anything I can do, let me know and I’ll get it done.”
I’m so glad I took a chance on Harlow. It’s so refreshing working with her and knowing she genuinely cares about my well-being.
“I know you will. Thank you.” I nod. “And thanks for everything you’ve done online.”
She and the team have been working hard. While there’s only so much you can do to control what people say online, they’re making sure Anna’s name isn’t being dragged and that Rosie’s face isn’t being splashed everywhere.
“I told you we’d be on it. No one is going to control your life online but you. We’re still keeping tabs on your parents. They haven’t released a statement about it, but the moment they post anything, I’ll let you know.”
I know they will eventually. It’s unlike my mother not to, especially if it involves her family. I just don’t know what she’s waiting for.
“Thanks again. You are a godsend.”
It’s her job, but compared to Camden Parsons, she’s fucking incredible.
“No, thank you for taking a chance on me. I promise you won’t regret working with me.”
“I never thought I would. I trust you.”
This is the biggest I’ve ever seen her smile. “How are Anna and Rosie doing? I hope she’s not upset about what happened? It was rough the first few days, but we’ve got it under control.”
“Rosie is great, and Anna is…” I try to tame my smile, keep it small, but my lips naturally stretch wide.
“Yeah, she’s great too. She’s busy with the bakery, and is staying offline.
Even if she wasn’t, she’s not bothered. She’s so strong and resilient.
It also helps that we took care of it as soon as it was out. ”
She stares at me knowingly. “Good, I’m happy to hear it. If she needs anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to let me know. And you too, please. I’m here to help you in any way I can.”
“Thanks, but I think we’re good.” I pause. “Actually, I do need help with one thing.”
I’m getting ready for tonight’s game—it’s the first of the season—when I hear a knock on my bedroom door. It can’t be Anna because she’s at work and Rosie wouldn’t be able to get her knuckles to beat on the door that loud.
While the girls have been living here for a while, Maya’s never stepped on this side of the condo. We talk more than I thought we would. Granted, it’s not a lot, but I know she doesn’t hate me, and I’ve no doubt she knows about me and her sister.
I also thought she and Rosie weren’t here. She said she was going to take her to the park. I didn’t hear them get back.
I let the silk tie hang around my neck and open the door, but then I pull it all the way back. It’s not Maya on the other side but Anna.
“Hey, I—” She doesn’t manage to get the rest of the words out as I circle my arms around her and press her to my body.
“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
The bakery doesn’t close for a few more hours, so I didn’t expect to see her until later tonight.
Anna circles her arms around me. “I’ll be going back, but I…I just wanted to wish you good luck.”
I cup her face, tipping her head back to look at her. My heart was already racing madly, but now, it’s out of control.
“I love you,” I blurt. I internally wince.
Is it too soon to tell her? I used to be able to say it all the time, whenever I wanted, but this is different.
I don’t want her to feel obligated to say it or feel like I’m trying to rush things.
“You don’t have to say it back. I just needed to tell you because I do. I love you and I’ll never stop.”
She wedges her lip between her teeth, mulling over what I’ve said, and as she does, her cheeks rise. “I love you and I’ll never stop, unfortunately. I tried, but alas, my efforts were for nothing.”
God, I love this woman. I lift her up and close the space between our mouths as I kiss her. She giggles into my mouth, and when I lay her on my bed, she quiets down. Both ends of my tie hover over her face when I pull back, and that’s when her gaze roams all over me.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” She groans, her expression pinched with annoyance.
“What?” I look at myself to make sure I don’t have anything on my suit.
“This color?” She gingerly grabs the lapel, running the pads of her fingers down it to the button. “I can’t stand you.”
I’m wearing her favorite color. “I just had to. Looks good on me, huh?”
“I’m not going to agree with you. Your ego doesn’t need any more inflating.” She pats my shoulder, urging me to get off her.
I steal one more kiss before I’m pushing off the bed and she’s getting up. We switch positions. I perch on the edge and she’s standing between my parted thighs, grabbing my tie to fix it for me. She used to do this, not all the time but occasionally.
I snake my arms around my waist and debate whether now is the time to tell her what I’ve been thinking.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” she asks, eyes fixed on my neck.
I suppress my chuckle. She knows me so well. “It’s not appropriate.”
“Not appropriate?” Her brows furrow, pausing what she’s doing, before she resumes but undoes the knot. She loops the tie around my collar, making sure it’s snug. “Stop holding back, and tell me.”
I swallow and swallow again when she tightens it. My palms drift down, and I see a muscle jump in her jaw. “Your body is different.”
“Oh yeah?”
My throat goes dry, and my cock throbs. “Your ass is bigger, your breasts are bigger, your stretch marks…” I lift her shirt, caressing the faint white lines on her skin.
She doesn’t have many, just a few, but I love looking at them.
“They drive me insane. I just want to bite you, lick you, kiss you, fuck you. I want you.”
Her cheeks flush, and her eyes shine with mischief. Her grip on my tie tightens as she lifts her knee on my erection and slowly strokes it.
My eyes roll back and I buck my hips, rubbing myself against her as I squeeze her ass, imagining her sitting on my face.
I moan, biting her breast over her shirt. Her breath hitches, and she presses her knee down on me, letting me hump it.
“You’re biting too hard,” she whines, but she doesn’t pull away. In fact, she leans in.
I should stop. I need to because I’m close, but I’m easy for her. I struggle to breathe, but that turns me on more. Everything she does makes me go mad. I’m dizzy as my eyes roll back, and a whimper claws out from the back of my throat when my balls tighten.
She drops the tie, straddles my thighs, and rolls her hips frenziedly against me.
“That’s it, baby, fuck, you’re so good,” I say roughly, breathlessly, mesmerized as she humps me.
Her breathing picks up and she squeezes her eyes shut, grinding against me as she comes, and a second later, I’m right behind her. I come so hard my vision goes white.
“Sylas,” she moans, panting harshly. “This wasn’t…” She drops her forehead on my shoulder, still trying to catch her breath. “I didn’t…”
“I know.” I swallow to wet my dry throat and kiss her hair, hugging her firmly. “You’re still so easy for me.”
Anna barks out a laugh. “Says the person who got hard when I choked him.” She lifts her head. Lips close to my ear, she whispers, “Eres fácil. Mira cómo te tengo.”
I grin like a fucking fool. “Okay, we’ll see about that when I get home.”
“I can’t believe you have two suits in the same color.” Anna’s taking in the clean suit I switched to with an incredulous expression.
“Three, actually,” I correct her, and grab a slice of bread and add jelly to it. “What can I say? It’s my favorite color.”
“Berry is your favorite color? Since when?” She cocks a brow.
“Since I found out how much you like it.” I finish making the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when I hear one of my favorite voices.
“Sy!” Rosie is all giggles as she rushes toward me. I crouch down, spreading my arms to pick her up. “Mama, hey!” She bears a toothy grin at her mom, but she stays in my arms.
I go to hand her to her mom, but Anna shakes her head as if she can read my thoughts. She sounds so happy when she says, “It’s okay to hold her. She wants you.”
“Show him—” Maya enters the kitchen, standing on the other side of the island, eyeing me up and down. “You’re wearing Anna’s favorite color.”
“I am,” I answer, and smile at my stunning girl who blushes a little. “But it’s also my favorite color.”
“And to think I hated you. I’m sorry,” she primly states.
I laugh, knowing she has a dry sense of humor just like her sister. “To be fair, I am an asshole sometimes. Right, Anna?”
“Asshole,” Rosie parrots, giddily.
“Don’t say that,” we all say in unison.
Rosie’s brows knit in confusion. She stares at me, wondering why I’m allowed to say it and she’s not.
“Good job. You’re killing it.” Maya snickers, giving me a thumbs-up.
Anna presses her lips together, as if to suppress her smile. “You’re doing amazing, babe.”
I missed her calling me that. I keep replaying the sound of her voice and that word in my head.
“Rosie, show your dad what you found at the park,” Maya tells her as she grabs a cup of water.
Dad. I love the sound of that so much.
“What did you find at the park, querida?” I sit her on the island.
She digs in the front pocket of her overalls, and pulls out something small and green. “Four leaf.”
I gasp enthusiastically. “A four-leaf clover? You know what this means?”
She stares at me, her eyes wide and bright. “What?”
“It means good luck. I’m going to do very well tonight because of you.” I take it from her hand and carefully stuff it in my pocket. “Daddy’s going to win.”
Her eyes sparkle, and a proud smile grows on her face. “Daddy’s going to win.”
The backs of my eyes burn, but I force myself to keep it together and dart my gaze to Anna. I hope that’s okay? I want to ask to make sure I’m not overstepping, but her eyes and smile are so tender, so warm, I know she’s okay with it.
“He is,” Anna agrees. “Now he needs to eat this and watch one episode of The Punisher.”
I have a pre-game ritual. I have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and watch one episode of The Punisher. It started after I scored my first hat trick when I did those two things, so now I do it before every game.
“I want.” Rosie grabs the sandwich and eats it while I make another and offer Maya one.
And then we’re all sitting in the living room, eating our sandwiches as we watch one episode before I need to leave.
Life has never been better.