Stick Play (Boston Bucks #4)

19. Gina

19

Gina

H e called me his girlfriend.

Sure, it was a slip, a mistake—Freudian perhaps—and then he tried to walk it back. Yet, despite all that, I liked it. A lot. It was a healing salve to my damaged soul. I can’t explain why or how, but suddenly, I’m tired of being afraid, of worrying that every man is going to hurt me or my daughter because they’re not who they say they are.

Ash Wheeler is a good guy. He’s proven that over and over again, and while I no longer have any idea what’s happening between us, I do know that I’m finding it harder and harder to fight what I’m really feeling for this man. Is it love? I can’t say for sure, because I’m not sure I ever knew what love was. What I felt for Lucian, well…I thought that was love. Now, I know it wasn’t.

But I am sure that Ash cares about me, my daughter, his father, and his teammates. He’d do anything for any one of us, and I used to think he took care of me because I was friends with the WAGs. I’m not so sure about that anymore, either. Seems like I’m not too sure about a lot of things.

Maybe the WAGs—my good friends—are right. Maybe Ash and I are perfect together—a word he’s used a time or two where I’m concerned—and while I worry about Zoe getting too close, maybe she could still have Grant in her life if Ash and I go our different ways. Wow, I just used the word if , not when .

Does that mean I want something more? I think it does. Does it mean even if Ash doesn’t, Zoe could still have a faux grandfather? I think it does. Zoe and Grant seem to love hanging out, both seem to need each other in their lives. Right now, however, what I need is the man standing before me—in my life and my bed. He swallows as he gazes at me like he’s dying to see what’s underneath the jersey. Perhaps I shouldn’t keep him guessing.

I take his hand and lead him to my bedroom. Inside, I shut the door tightly, and give him a little shove. He arches a brow as he backs up toward my bed and drops down. I’m the one who said I wanted him to be bad, but I might want to drive him a little mad first.

Sliding my finger across my phone, I put on some music and Ash’s big fingers dig into my bedding as I slowly start moving my hips. His blue eyes darken with heat and lust, and I grip the hem of the jersey and lift it slightly, just enough to expose my upper thighs, but not enough for him to see if I’m wearing anything underneath. His deep, animalistic growl warms the needy spot between my legs, and I slowly turn, presenting him with my backside.

I lift the jersey again, exposing the bottom of my cheeks, and when I glance at him over my shoulder and watch his chest rise and fall rapidly, a thrill goes through me. Wiggling, I hike my jersey up a bit higher and his tongue practically rolls across the floor. I guess this old lady mother has still got it. Take that, Callie.

Seconds from turning around, a grin on my face, his body presses against mine. “Oh,” I murmur, as he puts his hands on my hips and pulls my ass against a very hard erection straining, no doubt painfully, against his pants.

“You keep teasing me like this, and I’ll toss you on the bed, hold you down, and fuck you so hard you’ll forget your own name by the time I’m done with you.”

I gulp, loving the idea of him taking charge like that. It’s been so long since I’ve put myself in anyone’s hands, so long since I’ve trusted a man’s hands, and I do trust Ash. I push away from him and turn to face him, offering him a mischievous grin.

“Me, teasing?” I nibble my bottom lip, and his growl provokes me even more. Gripping the hem of my jersey, I lift it. His gaze drops to take in my pussy, which is so wet for him. I wiggle a bit as I peel the jersey off and stand before him, open, vulnerable…and completely naked.

“Okay, that’s it.” With one big step, he’s hovering over me, and he picks me up like I’m lighter than his hockey stick as he carries me to the bed, lays me out and falls over me. Pinned between his hard body and my soft mattress, I writhe as he takes my hands in his and pulls them over my head.

Oh my.

His mouth finds mine for a hard kiss, one born of passion and need and maybe…just maybe…something else. I kiss him back, taste the depths of him as I spread my legs to offer him my body. One hand slides between my legs and the groan that crawls out of his throat when he inserts a finger and finds me soaking wet, nearly makes me climax. When was the last time I ever had so much fun?

Once my lips are thoroughly and beautifully bruised, he inches back. The intensity about him fills the room with heated energy. He presses my hands into the mattress. “Don’t fucking move,” he commands in a low tone. A hard quiver goes through me.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Growling, he inches back, running his fingers down my neck and between my breasts. “You are so beautiful, Gina.” This time there’s a softness in his voice, a tenderness that I’ve only ever heard in the bedroom. Is it reserved for just me? It’s insane how much I want that to be true.

He stands beside the bed and takes off his clothes, and I let my gaze rake over him, feeling zero shame in the way I’m admiring his rock-hard body. There’s a small grin on his face when my eyes finally make their way up, back to his. He likes the way I look at him. I crook my finger, everything inside me craving him. I swear if he doesn’t put his cock in me in the next second, I’m going to explode.

“Get over here. There’s a mountain I need to climb.”

He falls over me, his cock centered between my legs, and in one fast thrust, he’s inside me, like he too is desperate for this connection. He fucks me long and deep, his grunts and growls turning me inside out. My palms explore his shoulders and back, and the way he quakes under my touch wraps around my heart and squeezes.

“Ash, that is so good.” He nuzzles my neck and slips a hand between our bodies to rub my clit, and I go off like a firecracker.

“Fuck, I feel you, babe.”

He continues to drive in and out of me, my muscles clenching hard around his pistoning cock. I soak him, and glance down to see my slick juices all over his body. I love everything about that, but I want more. I’m about to push him off me, not entirely sure I can, and as if reading my mind, he grips my hips.

“What was that you said about climbing a mountain?” In one easy move, he rolls. A moan laced in pleasure rumbles in my throat as he positions me on top of him and takes my breasts into his big hands. “Do you have any idea how much I like making you come?”

“Do you have any idea how much I like it when you make me come?” I return, and it brings a laugh to his throat.

God, I love this man.

My heart stalls.

I love this man.

As that realization hits me, I stop moving, stop thinking…stop breathing.

Concern jumps into his eyes. “Babe, are you okay?” He sits up a bit, and puts his hands on my cheeks. “You disappeared for a second there. Did I hurt you? Jesus, if I hurt you…” His voice falls silent as the fear in his eyes says it all.

I struggle for words, to form a coherent sentence as his gaze races over my face. “No, you didn’t hurt me. It’s just the opposite, Ash. You make me feel better than I’ve ever felt before.” My heart races as a bevy of emotions fill my soul. “I love…I love…” I catch myself at the last second, reining in the things I’m feeling. If I tell him I love him, will that scare him away? “I love having sex with you.”

He relaxes and exhales his words. “Okay, good.” He brushes my hair back. “I love having sex with you too, babe.”

I slowly move my hips in a circle and his mouth falls open. Damn, I love how much I affect him. “Then maybe you should get back to it.”

He growls, grips my hips and starts moving me over his cock, up and down, grinding deep and hard, and with each thrust, he stimulates my clit. This…right here…it is so good. I close my eyes as pleasure takes hold, and as the world closes in on me again, I tumble into another orgasm. My muscles tighten around his thick cock, and he pulls me down and holds me still as he pumps into me.

What would it be like to make a baby with this man?

My eyes fly open. Why are all these thoughts jumping into my brain tonight? His eyes meet mine, and they’re so full of pleasure as he fills my body with his seed. I fall over him, place my cheek against his chest, our bodies fusing as one. I close my eyes, a new kind of peace swirling around me as his fingers lightly roam my back.

“You’re incredible, babe.”

I lift my head, and he pushes my hair from my face and brings my mouth to his for a kiss. It’s then that I realize just how tired he is too. He had a big game tonight, and tomorrow he’s headed to Tampa.

I slide off him, and a quiver goes through me as he leaves my body. “Let’s get you to bed.”

He laughs and glances around. “Haven’t we already done that?”

“Yes, but I mean, you need sleep. You take my bed, and I’ll go to the spare room.”

I try to leave, but he pulls me down. “Maybe I want to sleep in this bed with you tonight.”

“As much as I like that too, I have a little one to worry about.”

“Yeah, we do, don’t we?”

Everything in the way he says ‘we’ once again makes me feel like we’re a team in this thing called living.

“If she catches us, she’s going to think you’re going to be her daddy.”

He glances down, and he’s not frowning or smiling. No, he seems like he’s deep in thought and I’m not sure if he likes the idea of Zoe thinking that or not.

After a moment, he gives a curt nod. “You take this bed. Zoe expects to find you in here tomorrow, not me.” He leans in and gives me a soft kiss. Standing, he tugs on his clothes, and before he leaves the room, he adjusts the blankets around me. “Don’t move.”

I laugh. “When did you become so bossy?”

He disappears down the hall, and comes back with a bottle of water for me, and my heart wobbles. I stare at his big hands and he uncaps it. “I’ll be gone before you guys are up in the morning.” I nod. “Can I call tomorrow night?”

“I’d like that.”

“Good.” Another kiss where our lips linger a little longer, and then, “Okay, babe, you get some sleep.”

Body tired, I collapse on my pillow, and the next thing I know, my early morning alarm is going off. I stretch out, and my sore body reminds me of last night’s glorious lovemaking. Lovemaking? Maybe, or maybe it was just sex.

Little feet pounding on the floor give me little time to think about it. I jump up and grab my robe. “Morning, Zoe. You seem pretty happy and energetic this morning after being up so late last night.”

“I found this on my pillow.” She hands me a note, and I frown as I take it. That frown turns into a small grin as I read it to her: I’ll be back Saturday, and I’m going to have a present for you. Have a good day at school.

“Look, Mommy, look. You have a note too.” An apple-sized lump pushes into my throat. I work to force air into my lungs as my heart pounds against my ribs. My God, Ash left us both a note. Could the man be any sweeter?

Zoe begins to hop around as I pick up the note and read it. “What does it say?” she asks.

I read his scribbled words: Hey babe. Hope I didn’t keep you up too late last night. I’m on the road, and will call you tonight. Have a great day, and I’ll be bringing a present back for you too.

I can barely talk when I say, “Just that he’ll have a present for me too.” I sit on the edge of the bed, thinking about what that big present might be. I pull my daughter toward me and hold her hands. “Zoe, you like Ash, right?”

“I do.” She tugs one hand free and points to the jersey she insisted on sleeping in, again. “He’s my favorite player.”

I am not entirely certain what my future holds with Ash and me. Brighton and Melanie made it perfectly clear that I’m part of this hockey family and always will be. Since being a part of a big family is something I’ve always wanted, I intended to keep this whole relationship a secret for fear of friendship complications and I didn’t want my daughter to get hurt. I do know that Ash and I agreed to end this thing at the end of the month—and I need to be prepared for that—but it doesn’t mean my daughter has to end things too. Ash can and will always be a part of her life.

As she stares at me with big curious eyes, I begin, “Do you know how Camryn and Tate call him Uncle Ash?”

“Yeah.”

“He could be your uncle like that too.”

“No,” she says, and shakes her head so hard, she’s giving me a headache. “I’m never calling him that, Mommy.” She pulls away from me and runs from the room and that’s when I get it.

She doesn’t want to call him Uncle Ash, she wants to call him daddy.

Oh boy.