Page 78

Epilogue

Alex

The sun filters through the window, lighting up the room in a bright haze as I move through the kitchen with precision and purpose.

I glance at my watch and curse. Jordan should be home any minute, and I’ve got a little less than an hour to get to practice.

The door opens just as I’m plating up our dinner—cheesy pasta with smoked sausage and steamed vegetables.

“Hey,” he calls out as I’m rushing about to get everything put together and set on the table.

“Hey,” I say, looking at him with a grin as I sprint back toward the cabinet to grab our glasses to pour our drinks, but before I can get them from the cabinet, I feel him.

He wraps his arms around me, pushing me against the sparkling quartz countertop.

A small gasp leaves my throat as he kisses me slowly, pressing his body against me.

I can’t help but relax. I feel his heartbeat against my chest, and when he breaks away, I realize I’m breathing easier.

“What was that for?” I ask, feeling slightly flushed.

“Sit down,” he says with a dark look, and just like that, the switch is flipped. I bite my lip, realizing he’s still pressed against me and he’s hard as fuck.

I groan, leaning my forehead against his. Food or fucking? Which do I choose? I’m not sure I have time for both.

I thrust my hips against him, sliding my hands around his waist. His body is heavy against mine, and I fucking love it.

“I know exactly where I want to sit,” I murmur as I kiss him. The scent of the cheese and meat is thick in the air and he groans, sliding his tongue into my mouth before grinning and breaking away.

He gives me a knowing look, as if he can read my mind, and says once more, “Sit the fuck down, Alex.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine.”

Food it is, I guess.

I do as he says and sit at the dining room table.

Every time I sit here, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride because I built it.

It was the first project I tackled in this house, and the first full piece of furniture I’ve ever built.

Well, “upcycled” is the term, I guess. I frankensteined it from a couple of other pieces of furniture, including his table from his house in Ashbourne and mine.

Of course, I had some help. Though Jordan’s help mostly consisted of moral support every time I wanted to throw the pieces against the wall in frustration because it was taking too long.

But now it’s done, and looks amazing.

He brings the food and drinks into the dining room, and I steal a glance at him in his fitted black polo and khakis, hair slicked back, and those thick forearms bulging from where his flannel sleeves are rolled up.

My cock twitches, and it hits me all over again.

This man is going to be mine. Forever.

How the fuck did I get so lucky? I don’t know, but I thank my lucky stars every day because this… this is so fucking perfect.

“What?” he asks as he pushes my bowl to me. Time stands still as I stare him, making no apologies. I never apologize for staring at him like the cut of filet he fucking is.

“Just appreciating the view,” I say as I stab my pasta.

He chuckles, taking his seat.

“So I was thinking,” I say with a grin, knowing he’s either going to be receptive to my idea or he’s going to tell me I’m a fucking idiot, but I’ve learned in the last few years, it’s better to just be out with things than hold them in.

“That’s always a dangerous thing,” he teases me, and I kick him under the table.

“Asshole.”

He laughs as he shovels a forkful of cheesy pasta into his mouth and groans.

“This is fucking good.”

I smirk at him after I take a sip of my coconut water. “You expected it not to be?” I say cockily. “I’m good at everything I do.”

He rolls his eyes as he motions for me to continue.

“What were you thinking about?”

I glance at my watch. Forty-five minutes. Fuck, I need to eat.

“We should get married in Vegas,” I say with a grin.

He groans. “Are you ser—”

“Hear me out!” I say, kicking him under the table again.

He huffs out an annoyed sound, but holds my gaze as he stabs another fork full of pasta.

“It’s like our origin story. One night in Vegas changed everything. ” I say the words softer than I mean to, and I see the look in his eyes shift a little.

“It can be just us. You and me. Find one of those little love chapels and—”

“I thought you wanted a gigantic wedding? I believe your words were, ‘It needs to be bigger than both of Austen’s weddings put together’”.

I sigh. “If you would have let me finish.” I stab some pasta and take a bite before continuing. “We could still have a party after,” I say petulantly. “I just…”

My heart stops as I look at him, sitting here in our fucking dining room.

He looks back at me, his gaze softening. “Would you want the party in Vegas or—”

I grin. “Hmmm… we could do a whole thing. I guess that’s an option. Big ceremony at Caesar’s or the Bellagio. Oh! We could do the whole thing in front of the fountains!”

He shakes his head.

“You’re insane.”

I finish my pasta and smirk at him. “I know. But that’s why you love me.”

He shakes his head again as he finishes his dinner while I take my dishes to the kitchen. I glance at my watch.

“I have to go,” I whine as I fire up the Keurig and get my travel mug ready.

It’s seconds later that he’s tossing his dishes into the sink. He leans against the counter and I feel his gaze on me .

“What?” I ask, the look on his face so wicked and devilish, I almost consider going down on him right here and being late for practice.

Almost.

My nerves are all over the place though, because this is Ice Breakers official first camp session.

Hockey is still very much a part of my life, and that will never change. The decision to open my own hockey camp was a no-brainer, considering I know firsthand how hockey can change someone’s life.

Plus, I like working with kids. Teaching Lucy how to ice skate on my last visit to Ashbourne was what gave me the idea.

Apparently, she wants to be a figure skater, which I think is pretty cool.

At least, that’s what she wants to be this year.

Last year, she wanted to be a singer. Of course, all things considered, Lucy was a natural on the ice.

Sarah was not as enthused, so she ended up with a hot chocolate and sat on the bench, where she was happy to watch us.

When I see Betnley at Christmas this year, you bet your ass I’ll be teaching him how to shoot and score.

Jordan must sense my anxiety because he grabs me by the hips and pulls me to him, gazing down at me with warm amber eyes.

“It’s going to go great,” he says with a smile, and all the nerves melt away.

“Yeah?” I lean into him just a fraction .

“Of course. You’re Alex fucking Brewer,” he says with a cocky grin. “You’re good at everything you do.”

I smile, feeling a little better. “Yeah. I guess I am.”

I push off from him and grab my coffee as he smacks my ass and I can’t help but jump.

“Later.” I fire a steely gaze at him.

“Counting on it,” he says with a grin as he turns the faucet on. I shake my head as I make my way for the door, grab my keys and head to the Ice Breakers complex.

It’s nearing ten thirty by the time I get home from practice, but I’m not tired in the least.

The kitchen is dark, but I hear the faint sounds of the announcers coming from the living room.

When I round the corner, I can’t help but grin.

Jordan is sprawled out on the couch in his underwear, eating a pint of ice cream as the light of the TV illuminates every dip and curve of his body.

Between renovating the future building for Long Shots Sports Rehab and going to the gym with me a couple times a week, he’s put on more muscle in the last year, but that hasn’t stopped him from going through a couple pints of ice cream a week.

Though, it doesn’t matter to me one way or the other.

Body built by Bowflex or body built by Ben & Jerry’s, I love his body, period.

He’ll always be hot as fuck, no matter what.

But I know he’s been wanting to get back into better shape, and so I support that.

We’ll both need to be in the best shape we can be, when the time comes, and this house is full of kids.

Which will be soon enough, all things considered.

“Hey, baby,” I say as I remove my shirt. He turns to look at me, his gaze roving over my chest.

“Hey,” he says, his gaze slow as he watches me, his hand sliding over his cock. He grabs himself through his briefs and I grin. I slowly unlatch my belt, noting the way his eyes flash to my cock, and fuck…

Just seeing him like this, knowing he’s looking at me like this, it has me so fucking hard.

“How was practice?” he asks, his gaze never leaving my hands. I slide my pants off slowly, making a show of grabbing my own cock.

“Great. Couldn’t have asked for a better first day,” I say as I slide my fingers into the sides of my waistband. “Though, I do remember you saying you’d fuck me over this couch when I got home.”

His eyes glisten. “I didn’t say that.”

“I think you did.”

I don’t think twice about straddling his hips, grabbing the pint and spoon from his hands. His covered cock pokes me in the ass as I thrust myself against him and take a large spoonful of ice cream to shove in my mouth.

Cookies & Cream. Of course .

“Give that back,” he says, his gaze narrowing on me.

“Make me,” I say, pulling back.

His hands are on my hips and he’s upending me onto the couch. It happens so fast, I nearly drop the pint of ice cream.

He looms over me, his body heavy against mine as his gaze holds me still. He plucks the pint out of my hand and grins.

“You were saying?” He looks into the pint, realizing I’ve eaten the last scoop. “And now the ice cream is all gone.”

“I’m your fiance. You’re supposed to let me have the last bite. It’s like… in the rules.”

He shakes his head as he leans down to kiss me. “Is that so?”

I nod, kissing him deeply.

“Uh huh.”