Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“Maybe I’ll stay one night at yours, say services got the leak fixed earlier than they thought, and then go back to my place and do what the team suggested: have them arrange help for me.”
Sel stops walking.
“Is that what you want?”
“No, I’d rather be with you.”
“We can still arrange for assistance during the day if you need it.” Sel nods. “What about when I go back on the road next week?”
“You told me to stay, but it’s probably safer if I don’t. We’re already risking a lot.”
Sel presses his lips together and nods.
“You’re right.”
Then why do I feel like crap? Staying with a friend, even a teammate, is no big deal. I’ve done it many times.
Only you’re way more than that and it’s getting harder to hide how you feel.
“We better go back upstairs,” Sel mumbles. “You need to rest.”
It’s only then that I realize Sel has hold of my arm. He never pulled it away when we were with Sorensen.
“Oh, no,” I whisper.
If the cat’s not out of the hockey bag soon, it will be. Then again, I’m injured, and Sel’s helping me. Looks totally innocent. Right?
“What? Did you forget something?”
I don’t want Sel to freak out, not yet. He’s tired too, so I keep my mouth shut.
“Nothing. Just thinking of all the ice time I’ll miss.”
“Not for long.”
Entering his place feels like home. More than mine does. I never want to leave. Suddenly, the words I need to say to him are right there on the tip of my tongue. They can’t wait any longer.
“Sel, I need to tell you—”
“Later. First you need to go lie down,” he insists as he heads off to his bedroom. “Ice your shoulder, eat, and take your pain meds. Then sleep.”
“But—” I say as I follow him.
“Oh, sorry, do you want a shower first?”
“Uh, yeah, I think so. Maybe?”
I can’t even answer a simple freaking question because I’m shaking all over, trying to hold onto what’s left of my control. What if I say it and he doesn’t say it back?
“Hey.” Sel turns and cups my face. “You’re trembling. Go lie down. I’ll help you shower and change the sheets later, alright?”
I nod nervously, swallowing past what feels like a couple of pucks stuck in my throat. He puts down my bag, helps me undress, gets me settled in bed, and grabs a couple of soft ice packs for my shoulder.
“Close your eyes,” he reassures me. “I’ll be back in a bit to bring you something to eat. Any preferences?”
I shake my head, not sure I’m capable of eating anything. I lean against his pillows, close my eyes, and sink into the mattress. My arm is cold, but the rest of my body’s warming up and my heart’s pounding out of control. Fuck, I think I need to go back to the hospital.
You have time to tell him.
The stress of the last twenty-four hours catches up to me. I nod off for I don’t know how long, until Sel’s voice breaks through my dream.
“Time to eat, Finn,” he says softly.
I admit, despite my earlier nerves, my hunger is back.
“I hope you like grilled salmon and pasta with roasted veg?”
I nod.
Sel places a tray over my lap and sits down opposite me.
“Do you need help with—”
I hold my good hand up and shake my head. “Thanks for the offer, but I can feed myself.”
“Maybe next time we can feed each other,” he offers with a wink.
“That, I’m down for.”
I scarf down the delicious food while Sel talks about the rest of the week: the next practice, upcoming games, one against New Jersey and the other against Winnipeg. Minute by minute, I’m starting to relax.
“Oh,” he adds. “One more thing. I’ll be out tonight for a few hours, leaving at seven, but I’ll be back by eleven.”
“Where to?”
“It’s my final event with Taylor.”
Like an injured animal, I snarl, and Sel raises an eyebrow.
“Fake,” he reminds me. “And it’s the last time.”
“Where?”
“A fashion event. Uptown.”
“Don’t you want to reconsider given the bruises and the cut lip?” I reply.
“I’ll cover most of it with concealer. Besides, Taylor knows what happened. He texted me last night to see how I was doing.”
“Did he?” I force the words out through clenched teeth. “How… nice.”
The thought of that football player getting cosy with Sel…
He moves the tray aside and takes my hand.
“It was nice. Now, back to you. It’s time for your med.”
Once I’m done eating, Sel hands me a pain pill. I want to talk more about Taylor, but my eyes grow heavy as the pain in my shoulder fades. The bed shifts but I’m too tired to say anything else.
A couple of hours later, with a waterproof guard over my arm, Sel helps me into the shower.
My head’s woozy, so I lean against him and nuzzle my face into his neck.
He’s warm, all mine, and I want to stay like this as long as I can.
My senses are offline, but my dick isn’t, and neither is Sel’s.
His erection is so freaking hard and tempting.
I’m beyond annoyed that I can’t do anything about it.
“Soon,” he says as he kisses my cheek.
He helps me dry off, removes the guard, and steers me back to bed.
“I’ll get your dinner heated up—steak and garlic mash okay?”
“Yes, please.”
“And then I have to get ready.”
All my frustration about his date with Taylor comes rushing back. Despite my foggy brain, inspiration strikes.
“Can you pass me my bag?” I ask.
Sel places it on the bed beside me, unzips it, and heads off to get my dinner.
Once he’s gone, I rummage through my duffle to find the items I’m looking for. It’s not easy because I’ve got tons of random shit in there.
By the time Sel comes back, I’m ready.
“You want to change into that?” he asks, pointing to my right hand.
“No, this is for you to wear this evening.”
He reaches over, plucks the white jock from my hand, and holds it up. He start laughing so hard he’s nearly in tears.
“Property of Dimples?”
“I wrote it in permanent marker, so there’s no misunderstanding.”
Sel sits down, leaning over to kiss me.
“None. And I like the addition of the smiley face. Very cute.”
“You can be fun and stylish.”
“I’d rather be home with you. And I will be. As soon as I’ve done my thing, I’m outta there.”
“Good, because I need my personal pillow.”
Chuckling, Sel stands up and slips on the jock. I reach for my phone.
“Can I?”
He grins. “You can.”
I take a pic and crop it.
“You sure you want to keep that?” he asks.
“A pic of you in that jock? How can you even ask?”
Sel chuckles and heads over to the closet.
“Don’t wear anything sheer,” I tease as I throw my phone aside.
“I’ll save that for you.”
That sounds sexy as hell. I’m so distracted by the image of him wearing almost nothing, that I startle when he steps in front of me.
“What do you think?”
He’s wearing a crisp black button down, a pair of striped dress pants, and a slick leather jacket. The fit of the pants is relaxed, but the shirt is tight and so is the jacket. Paired with burgundy boots, he looks too damn hot to be going out with someone else.
“I think you should save that outfit for our first public date.”
Sel pauses, open-mouthed, and drops down onto the end of the bed.
“That’s what you want?” he whispers.
“Yes.” I stare at him. “When the time’s right.”
He silently gets up, walks to the closet, and changes into an olive-green suit.
“Better, but still too sexy,” I quip.
He saunters back to me, claiming my lips.
“Stop distracting me or I’ll never leave,” he whispers.
“And?” I tease.
He shakes his head.
“Trouble,” he grins.
I’m about to flirt again when his phone pings. Damn.
“I gotta get going, sweetheart. I’ll bring you water and snacks before I leave.”
“It’s okay. I’m going to take over your couch and watch TV. I can root around in your fridge and cupboards if I need something.”
“If you feel sick, call me and I’ll head straight home.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t forget, you need another ice pack at nine.”
“I’ve got it scheduled in my phone,” I reassure him. “Now get. The sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll come back.”
“Of course.” Sel offers a sexy grin as he points to his crotch. “I am, after all, the property of Dimples, and I don’t want to keep him waiting.”