Page 43 of Power Play (Titans Hockey #2)

Chapter thirty-nine

Scott

I 'm the grumpy one. I'm the coach people respect with a healthy amount of fear. I always try to be fair, but firm. It's how my coaches were growing up and it always seemed more effective than the coaches that wanted to be your friend.

Friendly coaches aren't taken seriously.

Grumpy ones are.

So, it's not surprising to me that the smile on my face has caused more than a handful of second glances.

I just can't fucking help it. So, I lock myself in my office for most of the day. This afternoon is family day at the arena - a time for wives, girlfriends, kids, and other family members to take the ice with their hockey players.

It's a way of showing the family that we appreciate the sacrifice and patience it takes to love a professional hockey player.

But I have enough emails to catch up on to keep me busy until I meet everyone downstairs.

Ben and Jonesy took Lacey for a spa day - mani/pedis and a blowout, whatever the hell that is.

I know the toll Lacey's pregnancy and family have been having on her, so I'm grateful for the other two knuckleheads giving me back up.

If it were just she and I, she'd be home alone right now.

Or at the arena with me, waiting until I caught up on admin tasks.

The night of the wedding was the hottest night of my life. I loved taking Lacey alone. But seeing her writhing, desperate, and worshipped properly had me harder than rock. I know I'm good in bed, and the chemistry between Lacey and me is off the charts.

But the desperate, feral, completely-overwhelmed-with-pleasure Lacey? With me in her pussy, Jonesy at her breasts and Ben kissing her senseless?

That was an image I wanted to hire a professional painter to recreate.

Or tattooed on the backs of my eyelids so I can see it again whenever I close my eyes.

My smile widens. And I get her for the rest of my life.

I may not have been the one to marry her, but deep in my soul, I know as long as I don't fuck this up, we'll be growing old together.

I should feel guilty about being twenty years older than her. That she'll have to take care of me when I'm old and feeble. And that I'll pass long before she will. But that makes me feel even more sure that this entire crazy relationship works because of how Ben and Garrett are there, too.

Like today. They're taking care of my woman while I catch up on work. And when they are still playing competitively, I'll have retired and can take care of her when they can't.

And the swell of her stomach? Her breasts are heavier now, too, as they prepare to feed our babies.

Fuck, I've even imagined her nipples dripping with milk and it makes me completely feral.

I even had to Google it. Apparently being incredibly turned on by your partner's pregnancy is called maiesiophilia.

And being turned on by your partner lactating is called lactophilia .

I'd thought I'd been too old for new kinks, but fuck . I'd keep her pregnant and breastfeeding forever. Hopefully she'll want more kids after the trauma of these two heals.

I reply to a handful of emails from Siobhan with PR opportunities - interviews, puck drops at some Junior league games, non-profit events. And a few from our defensive coordinator with game footage from our opponents the next handful of games.

Maybe I'll go over them with the boys tonight after dinner. Ben's young, and he just moved up from rookie status to third string this year, but he's got a good head on his shoulders and the potential to become one of the best. He's humble, dedicated, and hungry to learn.

Garrett's a contradiction. He makes everything into a joke, but I've seen how determined he is on the ice, and how much fire he brings to the game.

It'd be easy to toss him in the category of spoiled rich kid who got ahead because of Mommy or Daddy's money, but underneath the flippant personality is a deeply driven man.

Which makes me think he's doing this for himself and maybe doesn't have the support I assumed he had.

I think it's time to get to know my girlfriend's husband better.

I chuckle to myself as I shut down my computer and walk down to the main arena where the staff is setting everything up.

As I'm approaching the arena I hear raised voices coming from the locker hallway.

I stop as I recognize Lacey's. Where the fuck are Ben and Garrett?!

"Why am I finding out from Mrs. Jennings at the hair salon that my own daughter got married? To a famous hockey player?!" an older version of Lacey growls.

I wasn't above laying an old woman out flat on her back .

"Is there a problem here?" I shout, letting my low voice echo in the bare hallway.

The man, woman, and Tracey the Snake, as I've taken to calling her in my head, snap their gazes my way.

All three people react completely differently.

Lacey's mom, I'm assuming, narrows her eyes at me, ready for a fight.

Tracey looks down, knowing she's on thin fucking ice with me, and the man that I'm assuming is Lacey's dad looks startled.

He's not used to being challenged. Good mother fucker.

I don't know everything about Lacey's family, but I know enough to know her parents failed her. Her mother and father should have protected her, cared for her, loved her unconditionally. But it seems they've gotten accustomed to shitting on her with no consequences.

Actions...meet consequences. In the name of Scott Fucking Ward.

I glance at Lacey and struggle to contain the growl that threatens to rip out of my chest. She's sullen, folded in on herself again, back to taking up as little space as possible. Where is the brazen woman who took three men on her wedding night? Who proposed to Jonesy? Who lit my world on fire?

I want to throw her entire family out. To fuck them all up. But I don't know where her mind is at. If she didn't want them to know about me, I couldn't blame them. It would invite more criticism. I'm older, a divorcee, sorta kinda her boss.

But more than that, I know she walks a tight line. If she admits outright that we're together, her sister will only double down on her efforts to seduce me.

Before, she'd only done it off of a hunch.

So right now, I won't be her boyfriend. But I will fucking defend her .

Her mother waves her hand nonchalantly. "Nothing that concerns you," she says, dismissing me.

Fuck that, lady.

"If it involves my PT and my social media manager, then it sure as fuck involves me."

I stand next to Lacey, slightly in front of her, thick arms crossed over my chest. I know I'm intimidating, and I'm using it to my advantage.

Her father glares at me like he knows our secret, but it's her blasted mother that makes me want to flip tables.

"I'm just asking my daughter why she had to have a shotgun wedding in Vegas, without her family, to a man we've never met."

Her mom huffs and sets her fists to her hips.

I take a deep breath. Lacey may not stand up for herself but I fucking will.

"Lacey's the smartest, most thoughtful and compassionate woman I've ever met. If she married someone in Vegas it was because it was the right choice. I don't need to question it any further than that. Do you?"

Her mother's mouth puckers, not satisfied with the answer. So, I double down.

"Can you think of any reason she may not have invited you? Or are you completely stupid?"

I'm taking a risk with this. I know families.

If a brother hated a sister he could say any number of awful things about her, but if anyone else did, he would beat them up.

I'd said something awful about her mother, but maybe only she was allowed to.

I really tried not to be an asshole, and only ask a question, but Lacey's arm came to my bicep.

She was attempting to placate me into silence.

I bristle.

It's not in my nature to lessen my temper. My temper earns respect.

But I would, for her. To an extent.

The three Bennetts that I didn't like look between Lacey and me. I glare at them. I fucking dare them.

Finally, Tracey gets the message. "Let's just go back to the arena. I can show you where all the magic happens and introduce you to the team." She's all high pitched and fake-excited. I don't give a fuck.

I want to make sure my woman is okay, and then read Garrett and Ben the riot act for letting Lacey face her family alone.

After her family leaves, she lets out a bone-weary sigh and seems to shrink another two inches.

I pull her into my arms now that the hallway is empty. "I love you, but your family sucks."

She lets out a sad chuckle. "I know. I've been with them almost my entire life. I know how this plays out."

I lean back and hold her shoulders so I can look her in the eye. "And how does it play out?"

She gives a sad shrug. "Tracey does everything right. I do everything wrong." She looks down, unable to meet my eyes and it fucking guts me.

"Darling, I love you, and I mean this with the most love possible... your family is shit and the sooner you stop caring about them the happier you'll be."

She looks down as she considers my words.

I know family means everything to her. But I think it's because she's never seen a real family.

I mean I did while my parents were alive.

They loved and supported each other until I got drafted, played professionally for fifteen years, before they passed in a car accident.

I mourned. Went through all the stages of grief.

But one of the things that helped me recover was knowing that they lived life right.

They loved each other fiercely. Had a family they were proud of.

And loved unconditionally. They pursued passions as well as service.

They were excellent people who knew how to live.

And thanks to the woman in front of me, I stand a chance at the same.

To love her fiercely. To have a family I'm proud of.

One I can love unconditionally. Something I had given up hope for, but this woman.

This. Woman.

"I just don't think I'm ready," she whispers against my chest. "I feel like.

.. like somehow I can still save all of this.

If I just do the right things, say the right things, then suddenly my parents will see me.

I know it's stupid. And people show you with their actions every day where their priorities lay.

But I can't get over the desire that they'll finally see me. "

I peer down into her beautiful green eyes. The most beautiful eyes I've ever looked into because she's mine. Honestly, unapologetically mine.

Lacey has a lot of shit she needs to work through. And I'm more than happy to help her work through it.

You deserve that love and acknowledgement not because you are, or you do anything, but because you exist. Tell me, how do you feel about the babies inside you?"

Her hand instinctively goes to her stomach. "I love them. I haven't even met them, and I love them. "

"And would you treat your babies the way your parents have treated you?"

Her face pales. I may be overstepping now, and I know I'm an asshole, but I still feel like we're on the brink of her finally letting go of her toxic family. I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

Her mouth opens to answer, but I can tell she's spooked, so I interrupt. "In what universe would you ever treat our babies the way your mom treats you?"

Her mouth closes again. Because of course she can't think of one.

The tiny souls growing in her stomach are loved by her unconditionally.

She would never treat her babies any differently.

Of course, there will be hard times and boundaries tested and everything that parenting includes.

But neglecting one over the other? Not a chance.

"In what universe would you choose to love one baby and not another?"

She gasps. The final truth of our reality sinking in.

She may have made excuses for her parents her entire life, but now that she was about to be a mother herself, she knew.

She knew babies deserve unconditional love.

She knew she would love our babies unconditionally.

She knew she would never treat our babies the way her mom had treated her.

I nod. Grateful she's come to the right conclusion.

I hold her close, kissing her hair, her temples, her cheeks, and finally her lips.

"I'm no therapist, baby, but I can tell you that your family's behaviors? They don’t' align with a family who loves.

And you deserve a family that does. And you have it.

You have me, and Ben, and Jonesy. You have the Titans, and Lauren, and Craig.

... who wanted to fight me because he thought I took advantage of you. "

She snorts a laugh and it's a step in the right direction. "What you do with your family is up to you. I think they don't deserve to breathe the same air as you, but I understand it's your battle to fight. Just know, I'll always be in your corner. No matter what you decide."

She looks up at me. Big bright, green eyes that I've fallen in love with. Because they're the window to the soul of the woman I love. And I'm not kidding when I say I would do anything for her. I love her. Unconditionally. And I love our babies. Unconditionally. Because that's what love is.

Unconditional.