Chapter 37 Roman
ROMAN
Three games in four days. Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The kind of road trip that’s brutal even when everything’s going well, and right now I don’t want to leave.
Marnie’s still asleep beside me, face peaceful in the early morning light.
She’s been back at work for three days and the exhaustion is catching up with her—late nights working on documentation, early mornings to avoid rush hour traffic.
Yesterday she fell asleep on the couch at eight PM and I had to carry her to bed.
I could let her sleep. Should let her sleep, probably. The flight doesn’t leave until nine.
But we have time.
I lean over and press my lips to her shoulder, then her neck, working my way down where her sleep shirt has fallen open.
She makes a sleepy sound, shifting toward me. “What time is it?”
“Early.” I kiss her jaw. “But I’m leaving soon.”
“Mmm.” Her eyes are still closed but she’s smiling slightly. “So this is a goodbye?”
“Something like that.”
She opens her eyes then, turning to face me properly. “You’re leaving for five days.”
“Four and a half.”
“That’s still a long time.” Her hand slides up my chest, fingers tracing patterns. “What am I supposed to do without you?”
“Work. Sleep. Eat actual meals instead of protein bars.”
“Boring.”
“Healthy.”
“Still boring.” She snuggles into my chest. “Show me what I’m going to miss.”
I don’t need to be asked twice.
I roll her onto her back, settling between her thighs, taking my time kissing down her neck. I push the fabric of her shirt up, exposing her ribs, her breasts.
“Roman—” She arches slightly when my mouth finds her nipple.
“Shh. I’m being thorough.”
“You’re being slow.”
“Same thing.”
I work my way down her stomach, kissing every inch of exposed skin. The tattoo on her ribs gets special attention—the one about dancing alone. My mouth traces the words while my hands hold her hips steady.
“You’re really committed to this thorough thing,” she manages, breathless.
“You have no idea.”
I hook my fingers in her underwear, pull them down slowly. She lifts her hips to help and then she’s bare beneath me, beautiful in the morning light.
I spread her thighs wider, settle between them, and put my mouth on her.
She gasps, hands immediately going to my hair.
I take my time with this too. I know exactly what makes her breath catch, what makes her hips lift, what makes her say my name like that. She tastes good and she’s already wet and I could do this for hours if we had hours.
But we don’t. So I focus, using everything I’ve learned about her body over the past weeks.
Tongue and lips and the right amount of pressure in exactly the right place.
Letting the scruff on my face scrape across her sensitive thighs.
The thing I discovered two days ago where I suck while shaking my head just a bit, just enough to add sideways friction to the pressure of my mouth.
I thought she’d actually ripped my hair out when I figured out that little party trick.
“Oh god—” Her thighs start to shake. “Don’t stop.”
I don’t. Just keep the same rhythm, the same pressure, until she’s crying out and falling apart against my mouth.
I gentle my movements as she comes down, pressing kisses to her inner thigh while she catches her breath.
“Okay,” she manages finally. “That’s—you’re very good at that.”
“I’m very motivated.”
She laughs, pulling me up to kiss her. She can taste herself on my mouth and doesn’t seem to care, just kisses me harder.
“Your turn,” she says against my lips.
“We have time?”
“We’re making time.”
She pushes me onto my back, strips off my shirt, works my boxer briefs down and off. Then she’s straddling me, looking down with that expression that always makes my brain short-circuit slightly.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving me for five days.”
“Four and a half.”
“That’s still too long.” She lifts up on her knees, reaches down to line us up. “I’m going to miss this.”
“Me too.”
She sinks down slowly, taking me in inch by inch until she’s fully seated. We both groan at the sensation.
“Fuck,” I manage. “Marnie—”
“I know.” She braces her hands on my chest, starts moving. Slow at first, finding the rhythm. “I know.”
I grip her hips, helping guide her movements, watching the way her face changes as she rides me. She’s gorgeous like this—confident, in control, taking what she wants.
“Touch yourself,” I tell her.
She does, one hand sliding down between her legs while she keeps moving. The sight of it, combined with the feel of her around me, is almost too much.
“That’s it,” I encourage. “Show me.”
She moves faster, chasing her pleasure, and I help by lifting my hips to meet her movements. The angle changes slightly and she gasps.
“There—right there—”
I keep the same angle, the same rhythm, feeling her start to tighten around me. She’s close again and so am I but I want her to finish first.
“Come on, Moxie. Let me see it.”
That does it. She cries out, body arching, and I feel her clench around me as she comes. It pushes me over too and I finish with a groan, holding her hips tight as I pulse inside her.
She collapses forward onto my chest, both of us breathing hard.
“Okay,” she says after a moment. “That’s a good goodbye.”
“Just good?”
“Great. Excellent. I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m going to miss you too.” I run my hand down her back. “But you’ll be busy with work and I’ll be busy getting my ass kicked in Calgary.”
“You won’t get your ass kicked.”
“Have you seen Calgary’s defense?”
“You’ll be fine.” She lifts her head to look at me. “Just come home safe.”
“Always do.”
We stay like that for a few more minutes, neither of us wanting to move. But eventually reality intrudes—the clock on the nightstand shows 6:35, the knowledge that I need to shower and pack and get to the airport.
“I should let you get ready,” she says, reluctantly rolling off me.
“Come with me.”
“To the shower?”
“Unless you want to be late for work.”
She grins. “I could be convinced.”
We shower together, which takes longer than it should because I can’t keep my hands to myself. By the time we’re done, it’s almost seven and I’m definitely cutting it close.
I throw clothes in my bag while Marnie makes coffee and toast. She’s dressed for work now—professional and competent and still slightly rumpled from sex, which is a good look on her.
“Barrett promoted me,” she says casually, handing me a travel mug.
I stop mid-zip. “What?”
“Yesterday. He called me into his office and offered me Director of Sports Medicine and Recovery. It’s a new position.
I’d oversee all the PT staff, coordinate with team physicians, manage recovery protocols.
” She’s trying to look calm but I can see the excitement underneath.
“It’s a significant raise and it means I’m not reporting to anyone except Barrett and the GM. ”
“Marnie.” I set the bag down, pull her into a hug. “That’s incredible.”
“It’s a little terrifying. I’ve only been back three days.”
“It’s what you deserve. Making you Director just makes it official.”
She leans against my chest. “I haven’t accepted yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because I wanted to talk to you first. Make sure it doesn’t—I don’t know. Complicate things.”
“How would it complicate things?”
“I’d be more visible. More scrutiny. Everyone will be watching to make sure I’m not showing favoritism—”
“So you don’t show favoritism. You do your job, I do mine, and we’re professional at work.” I tilt her head back so she meets my eyes. “But Marnie, you can’t turn down a promotion because of me.”
“I’m not turning it down. I just wanted to make sure we’re on the same page.”
“We are. Take the job. You’ve earned it.”
She nods slowly. “Okay. I’ll tell him today.”
“Good.” I kiss her forehead. “Now I really need to go or I’m going to miss the flight.”
She walks me to the door, helps me with my bags. “Text me when you land?”
“Always.”
“And when you get to the hotel?”
“Yes.”
“And after the game?”
“Marnie.” I kiss her gently, then harder, wanting to show her how much I’ll miss her. “I’ll text you every chance I get. I promise.”
“Okay.” She brushes her hands over my shoulder, worried even now. “Go win some games.”
“Yes ma’am.”
One more kiss and then I’m out the door, heading for my truck, already counting down the hours until I’m back.
Four and a half days. I can do four and a half days.
Probably.