Page 27 of Power Play (Titans Hockey #2)

Chapter twenty-four

Scott

G od, I hate her no PDA rule. There's so much I want to do to her. I want to steal her away and make love to her again and again until she no longer doubted who she belonged to. Who she is to me.

I don't believe in love at first sight. I never have. But I believe you can choose love. And choose the right partner for you. Lacey has all the qualities that make a woman amazing - drive, passion, dedication, work ethic, honesty, integrity. Everything my ex didn't.

And yet I sit here and see her nerves. Her insecurities. Insecurities that I'm sure are earned.

I wish she would walk into this meeting, head held high like the Queen I know she is, and put everyone in their place.

But I also remember being her age and cutting my teeth in the NHL and needing to prove myself.

I remember wanting the coach to like me so I wouldn't get traded, to putting in the extra gym time and reps to ensure I was the best.

I understand how she's feeling right now, and I’m torn between wanting to protect her, and our babies, from any threat, and wanting to encourage her to own her power. It's an odd feeling, and definitely more than enough to put me off kilter walking into this meeting I requested.

We're still in the first trimester, so it's early to announce her pregnancy, but the sooner the management and the entire team know, the better. We can make arrangements for her, new rules to ensure she's comfortable .

I open the conference room door for her, to see Craig, Karen from HR, and Siobhan already seated at the table, and Ben and Garrett standing against the far wall, talking in low voices to each other.

I pull out a seat and gesture for Lacey to sit, before taking the seat next to her.

I level every person in this room with a stare that says, "this is serious," and begin. "I've asked you all here today to discuss something very important." I grab Lacey's hand under the table for reassurance. "Lacey, Ben, Garrett, and I are in a relationship."

Craig levels me with a glare. I nod back. He'll want more details over drinks. My nod says he'll get them.

"It will not affect any of our work, and there's no HR policy against it." I nod to Siobhan. "But we wanted management to know in case anything goes public." I nod at Ben and Garrett. "And for the sake of the team, I'd like to tell them right after this meeting."

Craig and Karen are silent, but Siobhan speaks up. "So, are you all with each other, or is it more like Carter, where you're all with her?"

"What are they putting in the water here?" Karen whispers under her breath.

"We're all with her, not each other. There's one other thing." Lacey's gone deathly still and pale. "Lacey's pregnant, and any of us could be the father. That's not something we care about, though, and we've all stepped up to raise the babies."

"Bab-ies?" Siobhan emphasizes the last syllable.

"Yes, she's pregnant with twins." I can't help the proud smile that crosses my face.

"Sonofabitch," Craig growls under his breath .

Lacey flinches. She looks at him. "I really am sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just..."

I squeezed her hand again to shut her up. She has nothing to apologize for. She's a beautiful young woman, living in a new city, and living her best life with men who adore her.

She looks down again, clearly ashamed. I need to set her right when we get home tonight. My mind starts to wander onto all the ways I can punish her until she realizes her worth.

I can make her come again and again and again until she can't stand it. I can fuck her in front of a mirror so she can see how fucking gorgeous she is. I can make the others beg to have her.

A throat clears, and Craig raises an eyebrow at me.

"If there's nothing else, I'd like to tell the team now. Are there any concerns?"

Siobhan's already writing down notes, muttering to herself about something in the water. HR's been silent, because there's really nothing they can say. They might have to negotiate a messy breakup if it happens, but I'm confident it won't.

I stand, pull Lacey's chair out for her, and nod towards the door to the boys. We all filter into the hallway and back to the elevators.

"Ready to tell the team?"

Ben smiles. Lacey and Garrett cringe. Well, that won't do.