Page 94 of Pucking Strong (Jacksonville Rays #4)

“It should be criminal,” I mutter, mirroring his anger.

He glances at me. “It may not do enough to stem the flow of bad press.” Lifting our joined hands off the shifter, he kisses my knuckles.

“I will do whatever else is required to keep you and Karolina safe. I’ll retire from hockey, or I’ll get myself traded to a European team.

The spotlight dims rather dramatically beyond the glare of the League. ”

Heart in my throat, I sit forward. “Henrik, no. All this bullshit aside, you’re having an amazing season. Have you heard any rumblings from the team about trading you?”

“No.”

“And this announcement tonight speaks of Talbot’s willingness to support you on and off the ice. He’s rolled you out as his first major partner for his flagship philanthropy foundation. I mean, that’s no small thing.”

He nods, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand.

“And the case worker came back,” I add, trying to reassure myself now as much as him.

“We have to trust she’ll see through all the media drama and cut to the facts.

And the fact is that Karolina is happy, healthy, and loved.

None of this has touched her. We won’t let it touch her.

We can protect her, Henrik. You and me. Together.

We can be everything she needs and more.

We’ll love her the way Petra would want her to be loved. ”

Reaching across the car, Henrik pulls me in for a kiss. “I love you,” he says against my lips. “I know I don’t deserve you—”

“Shut up,” I growl. The stupid center console is blocking me from climbing into his lap, which is all I want to do in this moment. “Take me upstairs.”

We kiss our way up the elevator and into the apartment. I kick off my shoes and am taking off my WAG jacket when Henrik reels me in by the wrists. “No, wait. Keep it on a moment longer.”

Feeling drunk on anticipation, I drop my hands. “Why?”

“I need to show you something.”

I lean away, eyes wide. “What do you need to show me?”

He takes me by the hand. “Come with me.”

We pass through the living room. Gone are the boring white walls and furniture pointed at a lonely TV.

Now, the space actually looks lived in—cozy blankets draped on the couches, art on the walls, framed pictures of us on the bookshelves.

Karro’s art box lies open on the coffee table, a mess of colored pencils left scattered atop her latest half-doodled masterpiece.

The results of our morning baking session sit on the counter in the kitchen.

Karro and I made Swedish thumbprint cookies, dolloped with raspberry jam.

The baking process was a sticky mess, but great PT to improve her fine and gross motor skills.

And the results are passable. I may be a shit cook, but there’s definitely potential for my baking.

“Babe, what—”

“Just come,” he says, leading me down the back hall and into our bedroom.

I look around with narrowed eyes. Nothing looks out of place.

The bed is made for once, and Henrik installed this floating shelf thingy that helps me organize my bedside table.

The books I don’t read are stacked on the shelf, while a charging station lets me plug in all my various electronics and hide them in the top drawer.

I frown. “Nothing’s different.”

He walks backwards, pulling me into the bathroom. “I had it in mind to propose to you in here. But when the moment came, I found I simply couldn’t wait. Besides, I think it mattered to your sisters that they got to be involved this time.”

“It did,” I say, placing my hands on his chest. “It mattered so much. Thank you.” I brush a kiss to his lips, feeling light and bubbly, like I swallowed a case of cola.

He smiles.

“What did you want to show me?”

Taking me by the shoulders, he turns me around.

I gasp as I take in the new vanity. It’s a near match to the old one, but where there was once only one sink, now there are two.

And next to the right side of the vanity, two new floating shelves hold all my hair- and skincare products.

“Oh my god.” I spin around, hands on his shoulders. “Babe, you got me a love sink!”

His smile widens. “I did.”

“How? When did you do this?”

“Tonight, while we were all at the game. Tess let the delivery men in, and Ilmari installed the shelves.”

I beam at him. “You’re so sneaky. But I’ll admit that I knew something was up when your phone was pinging yesterday. Your phone never pings unless it’s from me. Between that and your silence over the media stuff, I was getting worried.”

He shrugs, brushing his hands down his arms. “I wanted it all to be a surprise.”

I turn in his arms, smiling at our reflection in the mirror. “I love it. And I love you.” I wait, holding his gaze.

Pulling me in close, he kisses the crook of my neck. His arms unfold from around my middle, his hands coasting up the hard planes of my chest. “Jag ?lskar dig,” he breathes in my ear. “Mitt livs k?rlek … mitt allt.”

“Min man,” I tease, pressing into him.

He pulls aside the collar of my WAG jacket, sucking on the point where my shoulder meets my neck.

I fight a shiver, arching against him. “Why did you want me to leave the jacket on?”

He hums, still kissing me as he walks me forward.

We don’t stop until I hit the vanity, my hands bracing against my new sink.

Our gazes catch in the mirror. His intensity makes my stomach flip.

Reaching around, he strokes his hand down the column of my neck.

“I’m going to fuck you against this sink while you’re wearing nothing but my number on your back. ”

Watching him say the words hits even harder as I hear them whispered in my ear. “Henrik—”

Jerking me back against his chest, his other hand wraps around to slip inside the top of my pants.

He cups my hard dick, nipping at my ear as he adds, “And you’re going to watch every second of it in this mirror.

You’ll watch me fuck you and know you’re claimed.

My man wears my number and my cum. Only you, Teddy. ”

I whimper, dick twitching as he starts to stroke me. “Only me.”

“My only love.” His expression is adoring as he holds my gaze in the mirror and leans away. “Take your clothes off. Everything but the jacket.”

My hands are at the top of my pants, ready to shuck them down, when I stop. Excitement bursts like little pops of fireworks in my chest as I smile. “Make me.”

With a growl, Henrik folds me over the sink and jerks my pants down around my ankles. His hand wraps around to fist my hard dick, and I’m flying, rocking back against him. He’s already panting, watching my face in the mirror as he strokes me. “Will you never just do as I say?”

I huff a laugh that sounds more like a groan as he circles his thumb over my tip. “Is that what you want tonight, baby? Want me to get on my knees and treat you like a king?”

His brain short-circuits as his brow furrows.

I laugh out loud. He’s just too damn easy.

I spin around, ass pressed against the sink, my hands smoothing over his chest. “I’ll tell you what.

Tonight, I’ll only be a brat until you get your dick inside me.

Then I promise to melt in your arms and let you fuck me into oblivion. Deal?”

His frown deepens as he considers. “If you irritate me too greatly, am I free to spank you?”

I laugh again. “Like you even need to ask?” I kiss him, pressing my body against his. “Just you wait. We haven’t even started to dip our toes into the pleasure pool. I’ve got toys that’ll make you think your spirit was sucked out of your balls.”

His eyes go wide, and I can’t quite tell if there’s a hint of interest mixed in with his shock.

“Fine, we’ll take it slow. No vibrating cock rings tonight.

” Tipping my chin up, I kiss him again. “We have the rest of our lives to learn and play together, find out what the other really likes. For now, we’ll do things your way. ”

I turn in his arms and slip out of my WAG jacket.

In the reflection, Henrik glares at me. “Teddy …”

Feeling confident and in control, I shrug out of my T-shirt, leaving me naked and Henrik fully clothed.

For good measure, I tug off the folded teal bandana that was holding my locs back, tossing it to the floor.

Then I slip back into the jacket and bend myself over the sink.

“I believe you wanted to fuck me with nothing but your number on my back?”

Groaning, Henrik folds himself over me, his hands smoothing up my naked torso. “I’ve never wanted anything the way I want you.”

I rock back into each stroke of his hand on my dick, watching the possessive way he kisses and touches me in the mirror. I catch his eye and his hold on me softens. He flicks my hair aside and kisses the sensitive spot behind my ear.

“You have me,” I assure him. “Forever.”