Page 26 of Power Play (Titans Hockey #2)

Chapter twenty-three

Lacey

T here's a knock on my open door as I'm spraying and wiping down my table. I just finished massaging Ryan's quads and groin.

Scott peeks his head into my room, and I can't help but smile.

It's been a month, and he's really taken the whole courting me thing seriously.

Flowers, pastries, back and neck massages.

The fact that this man has kept away from women is a shame.

He really knows how to do the whole boyfriend thing, even if he's twenty years older than me and definitely not a boy.

We've kept our relationships out of the workplace, but we know we need to, at the very least, disclose our relationship with HR, the general manager and maybe the PR lady, Siobhan? Just in case the media somehow gets wind of it.

He steps into my room and hands me a ginger ale and saltine crackers.

"You need to eat, little mama. I've been watching you and you haven't eaten in hours."

I roll my eyes at him, but my smile widens.

I take the offered gifts. "Yes, Dad," I say, pouring as much sarcasm into it as I can.

I love that I can tease him about his age and he doesn't get upset.

Honestly, the nausea was starting to creep in and I was planning on snacking on what Martha had packed me for lunch.

"Not Dad to you," he growls back.

I drop my voice seductively. "Yes, Daddy," I purr, and it's like I'd stuck a cattle prod against his ass. He slams my door roughly and then I'm in his arms before I even know what's going on. He spins me and pins me against the door.

He trails his nose up my neck, breathing me in, as he rocks his already hard cock against my core.

"Say it again." His voice is low and gravelly and demanding.

But two can play that game.

I cup him over his pants and squeeze, earning me a hiss as I press my chest into his. "Yes, Daddy," I coo.

I've never been sexual. I've enjoyed sex, but it was a separate activity in my life, not who I am. But the insatiable appetites and the security and freedom I have in the bedroom with these three have awakened a sexual being I didn't know I could be.

I want them. All the time. And they're only too happy to oblige.

We've kept the sex a one-on-one activity, none of us really sure how to cross that line of group play and group sex.

We all try to be respectful of each other, and I love that they're so willing to respect each other as much as they respect me.

Jonesy and I are still figuring out what we are.

When it's just him and me, he's soft, vulnerable, tender, but I can tell he's still not one hundred percent comfortable showing affection.

But he's trying. And I'm falling for him because of it.

Scott growls, low and deep in his chest. I place my hands on his chest and feel him literally vibrating with need.

"Woah there, cowboy. We agreed to no PDA at work, right? I definitely don't think it's okay for the coach to bang his PT against her door."

He instantly steps back, shaking his head, his glazed eyes clearing .

"Right. That's why I wanted to come get you. I set up a meeting with the GM and HR to discuss everything. The boys are meeting us upstairs in a few minutes."

I look down at the front of his athletic pants tenting. "I think you might need a cold shower before we head upstairs." I love how powerful all of the boys make me feel. I love knowing I elicit this response from all three of them.

But I also can't help fucking with him a little. He makes me feel safe enough that I'm comfortable teasing him. It's something I've never had before. Even with Ben, we were kids, always afraid of getting caught. Our touches were under blankets and in the backseat of his truck.

I drag one finger from his chest, straight down his hard stomach. He grips my wrist tightly before I can make it to his waistband.

"Woman, I'm going to poke someone's eye out if you don't stop. And then the gig will be up anyway, and I will fuck my new PT against her door."

An electrical storm surges low in my abdomen and my panties dampen at his dark promises.

He closes his eyes and tilts his head back at the ceiling, trying to regain his composure. I decide to be good, for once, and let him have this moment so we can all go stand in front of the firing squad.

I'm not nervous about Craig. Scott said that they had a great personal relationship, and he would go to bat for me.

HR? PR? I didn't know what to expect with those.

They could very well fire me. And I couldn't even blame them.

I complicated the lives of two of their players, their head coach, and their new physical therapist.

If our relationship implodes, the Titans are looking at having four very distracted, very heartbroken members all at the same time .

I slide my hand into his, drawing his attention again. His face softens as he sees the worry on my face.

He tucks his cock against his thigh before speaking. "You have nothing to worry about. They're not going to fire you. If they even try, they'll be looking for a new head coach, too."

I let out a small chuckle. "You can't just blackmail people into doing what you want."

He dips his head before throwing me a wink. "Can't I?"

I shake my head, but don't push it. After another calming breath, he releases my hand and opens the door. I follow silently behind him, out of the main gym, down the hallway, and to the elevator.

The elevator door opens, and I flinch as I see a familiar face reflected back at me.

"Bestie!" Tracey's overly bright and loud voice echoes in the bare hallway. I stiffen. Scott stiffens. He glances at me sideways before frowning down at Tracey.

"Hey Trace," I say, sidestepping her and entering the elevator.

Her keen eyes trace over my form and Scott's, assessing our body language in an instant. She's always been too good at reading people and using it to her advantage.

"I stopped by your apartment the other day looking for a cup of sugar, but you didn't answer the door."

She likely hasn't seen me on the cameras I suspect she put up since I moved in with Scott, but I don't know how to navigate this conversation without giving anything away. So, I don't reply.

"And Ben wasn't in his either..." her voice is still bright and airy, but her smile doesn't reach her penetrating eyes .

"Must have just missed them." Scott barks in reply. It's spoken as if it's an excuse, but it's barked like a demand. It says, " stop poking your nose into other people's business ."

Luckily, the doors begin to close. Just before they do, I catch Tracey's eyes narrowing on me. "Must have," she grumbles, almost to herself.

The hair on the back of my arms stands on end, and I can feel the familiar prickle of fight or flight.

"Eyes on me, darling," he growls lowly. I look up at him instantly. My body's learned she gets rewarded when she obeys Scott, and like the greedy animal she is, she's eager to do so.

"She doesn't know. She has her suspicions, but she doesn't know. And even if she did, who cares? She can't get to you. And if she starts poking around our house, I'll hire you security."

I look down in shame. This overwhelming feeling that I'll never be able to escape her weighs me down.

I'd tried therapy once. She'd asked me what I was afraid of, but the list is so long it's overwhelming to even digest. People are afraid of spiders.

They're afraid of looking dumb in front of friends or breaking up with a girlfriend.

If I had those simple fears, my life would be a million times easier.

Shame and fear were equal dance partners in my fucked-up life. What I was ashamed of, though, I didn't know. Just the same way I knew everything I was afraid of.

But Scott's looking at me, waiting for me to respond. But I don't know what to say. He makes everything sound so easy, so simple. But my life is anything but .

I lie awake at night wondering if we should have reported Tracey. If it would be selfish or protecting myself. What would have happened if Scott hadn't noticed right away? I'd brought a predator to his door, and he'd been sexually assaulted because of me.

We've talked about it in depth. After another marathon session, we sat in bed like we did in the hotel and talked like best friends.

I love that about him. I love that about us.

He said he was fine. That nothing happened, and that more than anything, he was angry on my behalf. But it still doesn't sit well with me.

I reach out and squeeze his hand again. "I just really want this meeting to go well. I'm worried I'll be fired, or that the team will see me differently? Lose respect for me? Lose their trust in me?"

I can tell he wants to touch me, to hold me, kiss me, press me against the wall like we had in Vancouver, but I was clear about not wanting PDA at work, and he's respecting my wishes. There aren't cameras in my office, but there are in the elevator. And I love him even more for it.

I squeeze his hand again, but drop it quickly as the elevator car stops and the doors open.

"You might not know this about me yet, but I will never let anything bad happen to you."

I look up at him and see the firm set of his jaw, the furrowed brow. I know he believes he'd never let anything happen to me. But if I know anything, it's that there are no guarantees in life. He can want to protect me, but he may not be able to.

Not from what I know is coming.