24. Kiley
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
KILEY
It’s late Saturday morning and I’m scrambling to get myself ready to go work at O’Shea’s.
I don’t normally work at the pub during the weekends, but Jax has offered to host hockey trivia while we televise the All-Star game, and we’re anticipating a big crowd.
It was another incredibly generous gesture by Jax to help the bar generate more revenue.
I think Jax has been feeling guilty that he hasn’t seen my dad or visited O’Shea’s much since Chloe’s arrival in Chicago.
I tried to tell him everyone understands and it would be more alarming if he were frequenting the bar while she was here.
Nevertheless, he still feels bad and hopes that today will help.
I start applying my makeup but stop when I can’t suppress my yawn anymore.
Between my full-time job, going to Jax’s games and then staying up late while he devours my body, exhaustion is finally catching up to me.
I can’t contain the ridiculous grin that crosses my face remembering all the things he did to me last week.
We’ve graduated to oral sex and after he went out with the boys to celebrate the victory against Kelowna, Jax came home and made sure I was his dessert.
I had to smother my face with a pillow to make sure the kids didn’t hear me screaming out my orgasm.
He wouldn’t let me reciprocate that night, but I made sure to make up for it when he arrived home late after his away game on Thursday.
He was surprised to see that I waited up and was even more surprised when I dropped to my knees in front of him and took control.
A shiver runs through me, remembering the high I felt watching him lose control all because of me.
I’m addicted to our secret nights together and am going to miss them these next three weeks while he’s on break.
I won’t miss having to sneak back into my bed in the early hours of the morning though to avoid the kids catching us together.
I lean into the mirror to apply my mascara and once done, take a hard look at myself and ponder.
I know I’ve been living in a fantasy world since Jax and I started this arrangement.
Admitting that I’m going to miss him marks me in dangerous territory.
I crave our nights together—every look, every touch, every kiss.
I’ve become emotionally invested despite knowing the consequences.
I throw my mascara tube in my makeup bag, disgusted with myself for succumbing so easily.
The guy hasn’t even been inside me yet and this is how I already feel?
Maybe this break will be good for me to snap back into reality and remember that this is all just temporary for a couple more months and then what?
Will we resume our arrangement next season, even when Chloe is back in Canada and I’m not living part-time under his roof?
Or is this a one season only arrangement, and once done, we go on with our lives?
The thought makes me sad, but I need to accept what I signed up for.
He has made it abundantly clear we will never be more.
Even if he did feel differently and we lived in the same city, would I even want more?
Being with an athlete comes with a lot of sacrifices and people wanting to know your personal business.
Despite all that, I know the answer would be yes.
Jax is a great guy and the total package.
Besides being handsome and smart, he’s funny, loyal and a great dad.
I sigh, regretting that I signed up to help today, even though my dad needs all hands-on deck. I just need to remind myself that I’m there to help the bar and not there to see Jax. When I see him, I will be professional, stay busy and try to ignore him as best as I can.
I finish my makeup and throw my hair into a loose ponytail. I grab my shoes from my room and join Zander in the living room.
“Time to go to Grammy’s, buddy. Shut the TV off and get your shoes on, please.”
Since Zander’s excited to spend the day with my mom while I work, he doesn’t argue and does everything I ask in record time. I grab our coats, my keys and purse and we’re off.
Iarrive at the bar two hours before the event time to help with set-up and food prep.
We rearrange tables and chairs, and I wipe them all down.
I then set up the portable audio system and make sure it’s working so Jax has a microphone.
We then get all the TVs adjusted to the right channel for the game.
While I’m helping Colby and Gina stock the bar, I hear my dad’s booming voice greet Jax, announcing his arrival.
I glance up and see him hugging my dad. He looks at me over my dad’s shoulder, and I give him a nod, refusing to physically go over to him.
I need to keep as much distance between us as possible, especially under my father and brother’s watchful eyes.
Jax arrived with two other players, forward Eli McDevitt and goalie Lucas Rathborne, but I don’t see Chloe with him.
Keegan comes out of the kitchen with some fresh glasses and puts them down for us to unload. He looks up and sees the guys. “Ki, do you want to instruct the players on today’s timeline and be their personal attendee?”
“Nope.” I answer quickly, knowing that would be a terrible idea. “You or Colby should do it. I would rather be behind the bar or helping in the kitchen.”
My brother doesn’t answer right away, and I glance at him to see his intense scrutiny. “What?” I question.
“Interesting,” is all he says and leaves the bar to join my dad.
I shrug my shoulders, not really understanding Keegan’s reaction.
If Keegan suspects something, he hasn’t said a word, whereas my dad has made vague comments.
Staying far away from Jax today is the right decision, and I will not be derailed by those gorgeous eyes and that charming, sexy smile.
Just keep busy, Kiley.
Twenty minutes later, the game starts, and the bar is packed.
We’re so busy that I can’t pay attention to how Jax is doing.
First period intermission flies by, and we’re slammed with drink and food orders.
We make it through the first wave and come up for air right when the second intermission starts, and the chaos begins all over again.
Once third period commences, I float around, helping out wherever I’m needed until I’m summoned to the kitchen.
Thirty minutes later, I have unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher.
Things have seemed to calm down, and I decide I finally need to relieve my bladder.
I hustle to the bathroom and lock the door.
I let out a deep sigh and do my business.
After I wash my hands, I wipe underneath my eyes to get rid of any melted mascara, adjust my ponytail and get ready to go back out there.
I turn around, unlock the door and open it, but am startled backwards, my heart feeling like it skipped many beats.
“You scared me,” I gasp as Jax casually leans against the doorframe, blocking my exit.
He pushes off and comes in, causing me to walk backwards.
He shuts the door, turns the lock and proceeds to get into my personal space until my butt hits the front of the sink.
He places his hands on either side of the sink, trapping me in, and leans down until our faces are merely inches apart.
I gulp and I have to mentally tell my body to calm down when it senses his familiar scent.
“You’re ignoring me.”
I lick my dry lips, and his gaze drops down to watch. “No, I’ve been working.”
“I know, I’ve been watching you.”
I smirk. “Creeper.”
He straightens and steps closer so that his chest flattens against mine. I sharply inhale when his hand presses my lower back in order for my pelvis to be flush against his so I can feel how hard he is.
“You’re the smart one. It’s probably best that you stay away.
” He rubs his nose along my jaw, inhaling my scent.
I close my eyes and release a ragged breath.
I’m hanging on by a thread; the desire I have for him streaming through my veins like a rapid current.
My hands go to his chest and fist his shirt, needing to squeeze something to keep myself in control.
“Why do you say that?” I whisper, my voice sounding foreign to me with its huskiness.
“Because all I want to do when I see you is this…” and in one swoop, he claims my lips with his. I don’t even try to stop him. I thrust my hands into his hair and hold his head to deepen the kiss. Our tongues clash, and our moans are soon filling the air.
His hands are rubbing up and down my back, over my backside, and I can feel his growing erection.
His fingers wrap around my ponytail and pull my head back, breaking our kiss.
He caresses my neck with firm, warm kisses.
Electric static buzzes throughout my body, and my hands run down his ripped abs, around his hips and slide into his back pockets of his jeans to cup his delicious, firm ass.
I hear distant voices and my hooded eyelids open slightly. “We need to stop,” I groan, hating that I even have to say the words.
His teeth graze my earlobe, and he sighs, resting his forehead on my collarbone. “You’re right. Dry humping in this bathroom would be a sin.”
I chuckle. “I can think of worse things that have been done here.”
He pulls back and smiles. “Oh trust me, I know.”
My heart drops into my stomach. “You’ve done naughty things in here?” I can’t even say the three-letter word because the image of Jax and someone else doing that right here where we are makes me want to throw up.
He shakes his head. “No, never, but other players have.”
I feel instantly relieved. He kisses my forehead, and I use my thumb to wipe off the faint lipstick on his lips and cheek. He nips at the tip of my thumb, causing me to laugh.
“I’ve missed that sound.” He’s gazing at me softly, and I have to look away.
I blush, loving it when he gives me a compliment. “Where’s Chloe?” I ask, needing to change the subject or I’m going to start kissing him again.
“At her friend’s house, rehearsing. I have to pick them up in”—he lets go of my hip to glance at his watch. “— thirty minutes and then they’re all coming back to my place.”
“Ooh, Chloe’s first sleepover in Chicago. How exciting.”
“She’s very excited. I wish you were going to be there with me.
Speaking about sleepovers,” his eyes light up and I see the mischief in them.
“Do you think you can convince your parents to take Zander for the night next Saturday? Chloe is staying the night at her friend’s house and I figured we could have our own sleepover.
” He wiggles his eyes brows and I giggle.
“I think so, but that means I would have to lie to my parents.” The thought makes me uncomfortable because I don’t like to lie to them.
“It’s not lying if you tell them you're sleeping at a friend’s house. You’re just not telling them which friend it is,” he answers with a wicked grin.
I chuckle. “While this is true, my parents are nosy and will want to know names, even though I’m a grown ass adult.”
He sighs. “To be fair, I would also want to know if I were your dad.”
He’s giving me an out to choose not to lie to my parents. I really should be using this as an excuse to stay away from him, but instead, I respond, “I will handle my parents. What time should I arrive?”