Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Fernandez: Delay.
Fernandez: Fuckin holidays.
Fernandez: Will check in after the 25th.
I adjust my gear bag over my navy-blue suit jacket on a disappointed sigh.
See.
This is exactly why I didn’t wanna tell my woman about the search for her sister.
I wanted to give her good news for Christmas, not false hope.
Thank fuck Father suggested I buy a backup, something for her to actually unwrap on the holiday.
Second best advice he’s given me about the situation with the first being to ask in house security to recommend a PI.
Funny thing about deciding to try to connect Joeski to lost family is that in a way, it’s reconnected me to part of mine.
Never expected Father to be so helpful for shit outside of the rink but…he really has been. And while I initially accused him of just trying to right the wrongs from my childhood with his granddaughter, Joeski not so sweetly reminded me to stop snow showering his efforts and appreciate what they are.
Him trying to be a better player for this family.
It takes pracky.
And drive.
And Father is definitely starting to be more like a grinder than I ever imagined he would be.
Hell, lately, he hasn’t even brought up his own games without me asking.
That’s a goal I never thought I’d see.
Upon entering the house, I’m immediately assaulted by a team of Christmas scents. While Joeski smells like peppermint regardless of the time of year, cinnamon, gingerbread, and evergreen are definitely seasonal all-stars.
Although not a winning lineup in my opinion.
Which I’ll keep to myself.
Trying to disagree with her about holiday shit is like arguing with stripes during a boat race.
Best not to do anything to get yourself locked in the box.
Abandoning my shit near the front door precedes a slow stroll towards the living room in order to admire the homemade decorations that weren’t here when I left. Pictures Bella created haphazardly placed around alongside what I’m guessing are snowflakes pull warm hearted chuckles out of me as do the crooked hung homemade wreaths and pink glitter bombed nutcrackers the housekeeper is going to loathe cleaning up after.
“Joeski…” I cautiously call out during my approach through the kitchen. “Uh…Joeski….?” The fact that Four Christmases is playing on the big screen informs me she was recently in here even if she’s not anymore, a fact that prompts me to continue to the couch for clues on where she’s probably gone. However, instead of evidence of a bathroom break or crafting material run, I find the woman who has my heart, stretched out in a bright red, see through, lingerie dress, with white fuzzy edges looking like the snow bunny waiting to tempt Santa into cheating on Mrs. Claus.
And if he saw her beautiful, brown ass playing peak-a-book right now he wouldn’t think twice about ending up on the naughty list for grabbing a handful.
I’m damn sure not.
Leaning over the back of the couch and gently dragging my fingertips up the length of her calves and thighs conjures soft, low hums of approval, yet the instant they flex on her ass cheek she releases a loud whimper.
Rolls onto her back.
Lets her legs drift apart at the same time she sleepily stares up at me. “Welcome home, Ig.”
It’s impossible to not teasingly smirk. “Oh, so this shit is for me?” Both hands momentarily wrap around the edge of the furniture. “You weren’t practicing seduction skills for the big man in red?”
“Nah, just the big man in green.”
The waggling of her eyebrows immediately gets me laughing.
Joeski folds her arms behind her head and lovingly asks, “You get to finish your book?”
A heavier than intended sigh hits the air. “Net.”
“Oh no…” she playfully states. “Do we need to rush through sex, so you don’t have to stay up all night reading?” Her lips twist mischievously upward prior to giggling. “You’re wayyyyyy less likely to make me hot chocolate before you work out when that happens.”
Redness coats my cheeks as snickers sheepishly leave me. “You supposed to be an A not a pest.”
“Um…pests can be an A.” Joeski shoots me a sassy head tilt. “Hello, Claude Lemieux.”
There’s no hesitation to let my eyes narrow suspiciously in her direction.
“Your dad took it upon himself to give me a hockey lesson in the difference between pests, agitators, and enforcers after watching WonderWahl almost get ejected out of that dry spell.”
The egg reminder that lasted until the last twenty-two seconds of the game threatens to sour my mood. “Yeah no. That shit was far from a Christmas miracle for us.”
“You played great.”
“Teams win championships, baby. Not players.”
My Slayer shifts around just enough to cause her full tits to slightly bounce. “You know I find you extra sexy when you’re humble…”
“And you know I find you extra sexy when you’re pantyless.”
She once more shifts while pushing the fabric away from her thighs. “You mean like this?”