Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 49239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
When the bus pulls up in front of the hotel and parks, Colby stands up in our seat near the front of the bus and turns around.
“Hey, everyone, if I could get your attention for just a second.” The bus gets quiet and everyone looks at him. “I just wanted to make an announcement so you guys are the first to know. Mila and I are expecting. She’s four months along.”
Everyone cheers and I stand up and put an arm around him.
“Congrats, man. That’s awesome news.”
“Thanks. It was unexpected, but we’re both happy. Guess we weren’t meant to wait another year.”
“You guys will be great parents.”
“I hope so. It’s kind of scary. I’m working on saying fuck less.”
I grin. “I mean, he’s gonna grow up around a hockey team; you might as well just let it rip.”
“I agree, but Mila wants our kid to be civilized.”
We start filing off the bus, everyone stopping to congratulate Colby. His kid will have it all—perfect genes and an absolute fortune at birth since Mila’s so wealthy.
I imagine Tess cradling a baby, and it actually doesn’t scare the hell out of me. Tess and Mila are a lot alike—both strong, powerful women who can come off cold, but they’re actually fiercely nurturing and protective of those they love.
We drop our stuff off at the hotel and then head to the Seattle arena for our morning skate. Road games are always more hectic than home ones, and I don’t get a moment to stop and text Tess until after our game is over that night. We lost 3–0, which sucks. I’m in a shit mood, but I still want to check in with her.
When I check my phone in the locker room, I see a text from her that includes a photo of her in my bed, wearing my jersey. She’s sleeping in my bedroom while I’m on the road, and Bodi is lying beside her, looking content.
Tess: Long day. Benton has been great, thank you so much. I’m wearing your jersey and nothing else to bed. Wish you were here. Good night. xo
I swallow hard, making sure no one else can see my screen even though she’s fully clothed in the photo. This photo is for me and me only.
Fuck, she looks amazing in my bed. No makeup. Her dark hair fanned across the pillow. I imagine what it would be like to be in bed next to her, reaching over to touch her bare legs. Slide my hand up to her pussy and find out if she’s wet. And if she’s not, get her there with my fingers.
She deserves to be worshipped. To be satisfied until she’s boneless and barely able to walk. Just the thought of sinking inside her, of sharing my bed with her, has me rock hard with anticipation.
“Having fun?” Ford quips, gesturing at my lap.
Shit. I forgot I was in the locker room with my teammates and I’m sitting here with a boner. I put my phone away.
“One of those texts,” I say.
“From the single mom?”
“Her name’s Tess. And yeah.”
“Do we get to meet her soon?”
“I hope so.”
He nods and walks away and I get my phone back out, texting Tess even though she’s probably asleep because she sent her text more than two hours ago.
Dom: I’ve never been so jealous of my dog. Lucky bastard. A week is a long time to go without seeing you. Miss you, beautiful.
A full week of texts like this means a full week of jerking off in the shower every day. Because no way am I going out with the guys on this trip. I wouldn’t be tempted to cheat on Tess, but it feels wrong to be out in a bar with puck bunnies when she could be in danger. We haven’t even formalized our relationship, but I’m with her in every way that matters to me.
I’ve fucked up a couple of times with her, but I’ll never make her doubt that she’s the one and only woman I want. Even if it’s painfully hard to wait for time alone with her, she’s it for me.
Somehow, I already know it’ll be worth the wait.
Chapter Eighteen
Tess
* * *
“Everything’s secure. Nothing to worry about.”
Benton has assured Dom and me several times that it’s okay to leave the house for our date, but we’re both still hesitating.
“What if there’s a power outage?” I ask. “Would that take out the security system?”
“No, I have a backup generator,” Dom says.
“I checked the functionality with the security company when the kids were at school a few days ago,” Benton says. “We cut power to the house and the generator kicked on. No lapse at all.”
“They’re in good hands,” Dom reminds me.
Cam is having a movie night in the basement with the kids. Even Zane agreed to stay here tonight to keep me from worrying about him. Dom has a projector with theater-like couches in his movie room, and the kids love watching movies in there. Tonight, it’s going to be Monsters, Inc., complete with popcorn and monster cookies.