Page 14

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

NASH

I stare down at my foot, the feeling of the pressure of the pad against my ankle making it even more uncomfortable. My fingers slide along the sides of the boot, attempting to adjust it as I look back at Davison. “Can’t I just try skating without this?”

He clicks his tongue and shakes his head at me. “You heard what the doctor said. If you want to be back in the game this soon, we have to do everything and anything we can to protect the bone.”

“So, I just make sure I stay out of the way. If I don’t get hit, I’ll be fine.”

He stares at me with an unamused expression. “Nash, you know it’s not that simple.”

An exaggerated sigh escapes me and I reach back down to adjust the pad again. It’s supposed to keep the pressure off my ankle from my skate, but it still feels uncomfortable as hell. It’s still pretty sore and the padding just feels fucking weird.

“Do you want to play or do you want to have to wait a month or more?”

“I want to play.”

He nods, his jaw set as he gives me a stern look. “Then get over it and do what you have to do.”

After two days of complete rest, the doctors had me doing some rehab with the physical therapists, although with it mainly just being the bone, there isn’t much to do. I was cleared to skate again today, but ordered to go slow. No game play for at least another week, but they advised me to get back on my skates and start getting used to it. I’m no stranger to playing and skating through pain, so I’m not worried about it.

What I’m actually worried about is when I’ll have to go back home.

Even though I’m able to bear weight again, Riley told me to stay until I was back to one hundred percent. She claimed she liked having company. It makes her evenings a little less lonely, and I’m not going to pass up the option of spending time with her.

One day this will all have to end and I’ll have no choice but to go back home.

Just a little bit longer with her…

Rowan comes strolling into the room, smiling at me as he walks over and claps his hand on my shoulder. “How are you feelin’, big boy?”

“Pretty good. Ready to get back on the ice.” I shrug. “Doctor said just light skating, but he never said I can’t skate with a stick.”

A shit-eating grin breaks out across Rowan’s lips and he shakes his head at me as he lets out a soft chuckle. “Forever finding a loophole.”

“Come on, Simmons,” Liam, one of the assistant coaches, calls from the doorway as he motions with his head. I head out the door of the locker room with him and we walk through the training facility to the rink. My ankle feels as stable as expected right now, but I ignore the nagging pain that lingers along the bone.

I cannot afford to miss any more time than the minimum of what the doctors expect. Even that is too much time missed.

My blades hit the ice and I’m acutely aware of the padding pressing against the bone of my ankle as I begin to move about. It’s annoying and I don’t like the way it feels, but it offers additional support and protection that I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t using it.

It feels good to be back… even if I have to temporarily skate with some adjustments.

Now, I’m just ready to get back into the game.

***

Since Riley has only been working mornings at her flower shop, she’s already home when I get to her house. I find her in the living room, a smile pulling on my lips as I see her curled up on the couch. Her hand is tucked underneath the side of her face, her knees curled up as far as they can with her pregnant stomach. Her chest rises and falls with each shallow breath she takes.

I stand in the doorway, watching her for a moment, my heart swelling in my chest at the sight of her. She looks so peaceful, her features soft and relaxed as she drifts through her dreams. I know these past few months have been rough for her and I’m just glad to finally see that things are calming down.

It seems like the easier she takes things, the better her pregnancy is for her. She hasn’t had any dizzy spells recently, at least not that she’s told me about. I know she has an appointment this week, so she’ll know more about how everything is going for her and the baby, but so far, it seems like things have been better than they were.

Grabbing a blanket from the basket near the couch, I drape it over her, making sure she’s completely covered except for her face. She stirs a little bit, but thankfully she doesn’t wake up. I duck out of the room, heading into the kitchen to make dinner. I pull my AirPods from my coat pocket as I take it off and hang it in the foyer before returning to her fridge.

Music plays against my eardrums as I lose myself in the act, moving around the room as I get everything prepared and start to cook. Riley’s been on an enchilada kick lately and they may not be as good as the ones from the restaurant, but making her dinner is the least I can do in return for everything she’s been doing for me. All I can do is hope this turns out to be edible.

Time passes and I’m lost in the moment, my torso moving back and forth to the music as I finish up everything and get to arranging it on a plate. I slowly turn around, my shoulders dipping as my head bobs, when I stop in my tracks.

Riley sits at the island, a smile dancing across her lips as she watches me. Heat creeps up my neck, but I ignore it as I move over to her, setting the plate down in front of her. Riley looks up at me, her eyes filled with amusement as I pull my AirPods from my ears and reach for my phone on the counter. I tap the screen until the music’s playing directly from the speakers.

“Dance with me,” I murmur, setting my phone down as I reach for her hand. She slides her palm against mine, letting me pull her to her feet. Her lips part, a soft breath escaping her as she stands in front of me.

Time is suspended, my breath catching in my throat as she closes the distance between us, lifting her arms to wrap them around the back of my neck. Her stomach presses against me and I pull her closer, her body shifting sideways enough that she’s pressed against my chest. She drops her face against me as I wrap my arms around her back.

“I thought you don’t like to dance,” she says softly, her body warming mine.

A smile forms on my lips and I move my head to rest my chin on top of her head. I pause for a moment, breathing in the scent of her before pressing a soft kiss against her crown. “With you, I do.”

A soft sound escapes her and we move together, swaying back and forth in circles around the kitchen. The music sounds in the background, but all I can hear is the sound of my heart as it pounds erratically in my chest. Feeling her this close brings back the memory of that night at the gala.

“Nash,” she says softly, my name sounding like a plea on her lips as she pulls away and looks up at me. Her eyes bounce back and forth between mine with the sparks of a fire burning within her irises. “Can I ask you for a favor?”

“Anything,” I breathe as I instinctively slide one hand up to cup the back of her head.

“Can you kiss me?” The request tumbles from her lips in a whisper. Her nostrils flare, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. It’s almost as if she realizes what she’s asked me and she’s suddenly self-conscious of it. “I just—I don’t know. This is a weird time for me and I need something to make me feel. Something to distract me from the fact that I’m really here doing this alone. If you don’t want to, I understa?—”

I silence her with my mouth, my lips instantly finding hers as I drop my face down to hers. Her lips are soft and she doesn’t move at first, like she’s surprised I’m actually kissing her.

That’s the thing when it comes to Riley Harris.

I will do whatever she asks me to do.

Her lips move and she kisses me back. I breathe her in, my hand moving along the small of her back as I hold her close, kissing her deeper. Her lips part and she lets me in, her tongue tangling with mine. It’s been months since I’ve kissed her, but my god, it’s something I’d never forget.

Electricity sparks in the air surrounding us and my heart pounds strong and steady in my chest, the pace a little sped up as my stomach flutters. She’s been under my skin for as long as I can remember, but she’s worked her way into the crevices of my heart.

I kiss her slowly, tasting and teasing her with my tongue until she’s breathless, moving against me. My cock grows in my pants and I know she can feel it pressing against her, but she doesn’t move away.

We break apart, coming up for air after diving in deep together. Riley’s eyelashes fan across the tops of her cheekbones before they flutter open, instantly finding my gaze. “Thank you,” she breathes, her voice barely audible. “I’m sorry I asked you to do that.”

Lifting my hand from the small of her back, I move it to cup the side of her face, my thumb stroking her chin. “Don’t ever apologize for asking for something you want or need.” My gaze drops down to her lips and back to her eyes. “What if I told you I wanted to do it again?”

A soft breath escapes her. “I wouldn’t stop you.”

My mouth drops back down to hers and I kiss her with a tenderness, a softness, that seeps into my soul. My tongue slides along the seam of her lips and she parts them instantly, letting me in.

Our mouths melt together and I kiss her with an intensity that’s sweet and slow, tender and torturous. I kiss her until there’s no air left in either of our lungs. Until we’re breaking apart, coming up for air once more. Riley’s chest rises and falls in rapid succession, short and shallow ragged breaths escaping her as her bright eyes search mine.

“Can I tell you something, love?”

She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, biting down as she nods. Her eyebrows lift, a hopefulness washing over her irises.

“You’re not alone.” I pause, my heart pounding harder in my chest. “I’m right here with you.” I let out a soft breath, emotion washing over me as I get lost in the swirling hues of green in her eyes. “You’ll never be alone.”