Page 36

THIRTY-ONE

Owen

NOW

S cooping Ellie up, I carried her back to my room. Our room, if I had anything to say about that.

Ellie thought we couldn’t get back the time we’d lost, and maybe she was right. But I meant what I said, too. Everything that’s meant to be always works out in the end . And we were meant to be. I knew that in my heart.

Zamboni followed behind me, already attached at the hip despite me only picking her up this afternoon after practice. I’d already shown her the new dog bed I’d gotten her in our room, and put a snuggly blanket in her crate along with toys so hopefully she’d feel safe inside.

My girl bit her bottom lip as I settled her onto the bed. “Are you sure about this? About… us?”

God, didn’t she know how obsessed with her I was? How it was hard to keep my hands off of her? “Yes.” The word was practically a growl as I ran my hands up her legs, pushing her dress up and exposing her pretty lacy underwear to me. My girl loved her matching sets, and I loved how delicate and feminine they all were.

I ran my nose down the seam of her panties, shutting my eyes as I breathed in her scent .

“I was so mad at you for so long,” I admitted. Ellie’s eyes were watery when I looked up, but I continued on, hooking my fingers into her waistband and dragging them down her legs. “For leaving me. For denying us this. For only giving me once.” A groan escaped me as I pried open her thighs, catching sight of her pretty pink pussy. “Fuck, baby. It was so hard.” I ran my tongue through her slit, and Ellie let out a soft moan.

Her voice was a hardly more than a whisper. “I know. I shouldn’t have…”

Circling her clit, I felt her body relax under my touch as I lapped at her, blowing lightly on her clit as I kneeled in front of her. Her body jerked slightly, but my fingers held her in place.

I kissed her thigh. “I would have fought for you. For us.”

“I know,” she said, her entire face downcast. Like this decision had haunted her the same way it had me.

“Then why , Ellie? Why did you have to end it? Why did you have to leave me ?”

She shook her head. “Why didn’t you come home? Five years, and…”

“You know why, Ellie baby.” I rubbed at the daisy tattooed on my arm. I’d worn a t-shirt today.

Maybe before, I’d felt the need to hide it from her. Because it had been an omission I hadn’t been ready for. But now, everything was different. “If I went home, I wouldn’t have been able to respect your decision. I wouldn’t have been able to stay away from you.” Resting my elbows on her legs, I stared up at her. The girl I’d loved. The girl who had broken my heart. The girl who I’d always wanted.

“Do you know how amazing you are?” Ellie blurted out.

I blinked. “You broke up with me because… I’m amazing?”

“No.” She bit her lip, like she was deciding how much she should confess. “Do you know I’ve watched every single one of your games since you joined the NHL? Even before I moved up here.” I wasn’t sure I was breathing. Every game ? She’d been watching all this time? My heart ached with everything we’d lost. All the time we could have had. “I could recite your stats sheet like the back of my hand.” Ellie paused, taking a deep breath. “Since before you started Junior Hockey, I knew you were going to go places, Owen. And then you got drafted, and I was so proud of you. You went to college, and?—”

“And you were supposed to come with me,” I interrupted her. We were supposed to have two years together before this.

“ And ,” she repeated. “I visited you. I watched you on campus. Saw how you interacted with your teammates. How happy you were. And I heard what your teammates were saying about you. That the Seals wanted you to start early instead of waiting for you to graduate. And I knew you wouldn’t go. Not if I was there.” Ellie combed her fingers through my hair.

I swallowed roughly. “But we could have done it together. Been together.”

Ellie just gave me a sad smile. “You would have been more focused on me than hockey. And I couldn’t cost you your dream, Owen. I couldn’t be the one to hold you back. Your teammates were right. Look at you now. Look at how much you’ve accomplished.”

“What did they say?” I furrowed my brow.

“I don’t remember. It was a long time ago and?—”

“What. Did. They. Say.” I growled the words.

Her shoulders dropped. “It doesn’t matter now.”

“My Daisy girl.” I cupped her chin, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “It matters to me.”

She bit her lip. “I don’t want to relive that day. I was young and stupid. I just want now.” Her hands slid up in between my t-shirt and my jeans, running over my abs .

I placed a hand on either side of the bed and kissed her deeply.

“I’m proud of you,” Ellie murmured when we pulled apart. “You made it to the NHL. You got your dream.”

“No.” I shook my head, her dress bunched in my hands. “My dream wasn’t complete without you with me. I was so damn lonely, Ellie. I missed you so fucking much.”

“So show me. Let’s make up for lost time.” She spread her legs, and I stepped into the space between her thighs, pressing our bodies together as she worked my shirt up and over my torso. “You don’t have to be lonely anymore, Owen.”

“Thank fuck.” I let my shirt drop to the floor and pulled her cute little dress over her head, exposing her matching teal lace bra. There was a little bow between her breasts, and I dipped down, pressing a kiss to each swell before tugging on the bow with my teeth. I could see her hardened nipples through the fabric, and I sucked one into my mouth through the lace, enjoying the way it made Ellie’s head fall back with a moan.

With one hand, I flicked the clasp open, the other buried in her hair, keeping her still.

Without warning, she unzipped my pants, her hand eagerly finding my cock—hard and ready for her. God, I wanted this beautiful woman. In my bed. In my heart.

I wanted to give it back to her so badly.

Ellie whimpered as I bent down, giving her my full weight as I captured her lips, nipping on them slightly. She gasped, and I swept my tongue in, our saliva mixing as we shared a messy kiss. My dick was practically weeping with the need to bury myself inside her tight, wet heat, and I couldn’t think of anything else.

“Lie back,” I murmured, pulling the bra straps off her arms tenderly, looking at her stripped naked in front of me. I pushed my jeans and boxer briefs down in one quick motion, and then I lined myself up with her entrance, burying myself to the hilt in one thrust. We both groaned as I settled inside of her, the sensations too good. It was raw and real, and there was no hiding. Not when it felt like this.

“So big,” she moaned. “I’m so full.”

“You’re so wet for me,” I said, squeezing my eyes shut as I adjusted to being inside her perfect body. “Such a good girl. So perfect.”

She cried out as I pulled out halfway before thrusting in again, fucking her with shallow strokes. “Right there,” she panted. “Keep going.”

“I’m never letting you go again,” I whispered in her ear as I dug my fingers into her hips. “Never,” I promised her.

There was no going back. Not for us. Not after this.

Leaning against the doorframe, I watched as Ellie curled her hair in my bathroom, getting ready for the team’s Halloween party a few days later. I was glad Sophia had invited her, even though I wanted to be the one to invite her to team stuff. Which was stupid, because I hadn’t even invited her back to another game yet, too worried that she’d say no. And how could I have thought that, when this beautiful woman confessed that she’d watched all of my games? Thinking about her back in Portland, turning on the TV just to watch me, made my heart skip a beat.

I thought about the bag I had stashed in the closet. Something I’d had made for her after she’d shown up at my first game, even though it had been impulsive. Now it didn’t feel impulsive at all. It just felt right.

“I have a question,” I asked before I could lose my nerve. What about this girl made me so nervous? We’d already said we were together. She’d slept in my bed every night this week. I’d adopted a dog for us, for fuck’s sake. I could ask her to come to my games.

“Hmmm?” she hummed, turning towards me.

“You can say no if you don’t want to.” Hesitating, I went into the closet and grabbed the bag, and then stuck it on the counter in front of her. “But I got this for you, and, well…” I shook my head. “Just open it.”

Ellie put down the curling iron after she finished her current curl, giving me a weird look. “Okay…”

Zamboni was curled up on her bed, watching Ellie get ready. She was a snuggle bug, and whenever either of us was on the couch, she was immediately in one of our laps. We’d gotten her a sparkly blue tag with her name for her collar. Of course, it was rimmed in rhinestones, because Ellie had seen that design and fallen in love instantly. I’d already bought our girl a Seals collar and toys from the gift shop—because how could I not—and she looked so darn cute when she padded around the house, wearing her collar with pride.

Yep, I was definitely going to be one of those dog owners.

My girl reached into the bag, pulling out the brand new blue sweater.

“What’s this?” she asked, holding up the jersey.

I cleared my throat. “It’s for you.” Obviously . God, I was an idiot. And terrible at this. “To wear. At my games. If you want to come to them.”

“Oh, Owen.” Her eyes were glassy.

Stepping closer to her, I ran my finger under her eye. “Please don’t cry. You’ll ruin your pretty makeup.”

She laughed. “ Of course , I want to come to your games. And of course, I’ll wear it. I’d be honored.” She turned it around, looking at the name and number on the back. Mine. Because damn, I wanted to see her in my jersey. With my name on her back. Just like old times. The way it was always supposed to be. “I love it,” she whispered, stepping up on her tiptoes to kiss me softly. “Thank you.” She looked hesitantly at the floor. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to be there. You hadn’t asked me again, and I didn’t want to assume, so…”

“I always want you there, Ellie baby. But I know you have to be at school early in the mornings, so I didn’t want to burden you with coming on weeknights if it was too much. Whenever you want to come, you’ll always have a seat.”

She wrapped her arms around my waist, pulling me into a hug. I rubbed mine over her back, enjoying the feel of her body pressed up against mine. “Thank you.”

“Always,” I promised her.

Ellie pushed at my chest. “Now, go away. I have to finish getting ready, and we’ll never make it out of here if you’re being this sweet to me.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “Why, because it makes you want to?—”

“Owen!” She slapped a hand over my mouth, laughing. “Out. Go get your costume on.”

“Fine.” I gave her a quick kiss before padding into the bedroom, crouching in front of Zamboni’s bed. “Your mommy kicked me out, huh?”

“I can still hear you!” She shouted from the bathroom.

I laughed as I went to put on my costume, trying to figure out how I’d gotten so lucky.

My dream girl was back in my life, and we were together, and everything else would fall into place. At least, I hoped it would.

I interlaced my fingers with Ellie’s as we walked into the Captain’s house. Though that word wasn’t quite right, considering how large the place was. Stefan and Lauren had bought it after they’d gotten married, no doubt thanks to his large salary. Now, she was expecting their first child .

Would this be Ellie and I’s life someday? If she chose to stay in Seattle—stay with me? I hoped so. I wanted to see her with my ring on her finger, glowing with happiness as she carried our baby. Not yet—we still had so much time to make up for. But someday. I’d always known I wanted a family. With such a large, loving family like ours, how could I not? I’d never doubted my parent’s love for me. They’d supported me through everything.

I knew how I felt—how I’d always felt—but it was so hard to let myself feel it fully again, because I knew what would happen if she left me again. It would devastate me. How would I survive it?

Ellie squeezed my hand as we looked up at the door.

“I can’t believe you’re here with me,” I admitted. “All of this feels like a dream. Ever since you showed up at the arena and I saw you on the other side of the boards.”

“It’s not,” she said, cupping my cheek with her palm. I closed my eyes, leaning into her touch. “It’s not a dream, Owen. I’m here.”

“Good.” I leaned down to kiss her, but then the front door opened, and I was greeted by the sight of Brooks, who was grinning as he leaned against the door.

Ellie’s cheeks were pink, like we’d just been caught doing something we shouldn’t have been. “Oh, hi.”

“Hey, you two. Want to come inside?” He was dressed like Marty McFly from Back to the Future, and I gave him a nod in greeting. “I told Cap I’d man the door so he and Lauren can be good hosts, but really, I’m just trying to keep her off her feet.”

We walked into the entryway, taking in all the decorations around the house. Brooks wandered off, probably to get another drink, and I had a moment alone with my girl.

“Should we have brought Zamboni?” Ellie whispered to me. “I feel bad about leaving her alone.”

“She’ll be okay, El,” I promised. “She has to get used to her crate, anyway.” We were crate training her for when Ellie was at work and I was at the arena, and neither one of us was home with her. “It’s just a few hours, and then we can go home.” I ran my fingers through her hair.

We were dressed as Barbie and Ken, which should have felt a little emasculating, but I didn’t really care. We’d picked out the costumes at the last minute, and I was just glad we’d found something that fit me. Plus, I was really digging Ellie in those boots. It was hot as fuck.

She bit her lip, and her eyes flared with heat. Yeah, I wanted to get her alone tonight. To peel that pink outfit off her body and?—

“Behave,” Ellie whispered.

“Can’t help it,” I murmured, cupping her ass and then squeezing it. “You look so hot right now, Ellie baby.”

She stood on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek, and then said low against my ear, “You can show me just how hot you find me later, Hockey Boy.”

I smirked. Damn right I would. “Let’s go, baby.” Threading our fingers together, I headed towards the living room. “Time to meet the rest of the team.”

She’d met some of my teammates that night at the bar, and a lot of their wives and girlfriends, but it was a big team. And everyone was here for our Halloween party—even Coach Donovan and his daughter, Sophia. Victoria Monroe, our assistant coach, was chatting with Lauren Kovac in the living room. I was pretty sure it was the first time I’d seen her with her hair down, since she normally wore it in a braid or bun for practices and games.

Everyone was in a costume, and I grinned. Rhodes was dressed as a grumpy lumberjack, though the grumpy part was one hundred percent him , while the Captain and his wife were dressed as skeletons, complete with a little skeleton baby over Lauren’s bump. We also had a doctor and a nurse duo, some zombies, a sexy firefighter, and more .

This was one of my favorite events of the year with everyone, because it was an opportunity we all had to relax and unwind during the season, and we could just be ourselves. No press, no hockey, no PR—just the guys, our girls, and a giant spread of themed snacks and drinks.

I took her around, pointing the rest of the guys out to her by name and introducing her to everyone as my girl. My boys Brooks and Maverick were both wearing identical, shit-eating grins as they saw me with Ellie. Rolling my eyes, I tried not to focus on how different the party felt this year. Of course, this was the first year I was bringing anyone with me to team events.

I’d never had a girlfriend to bring before. No one to sit in the wives’ room waiting for me, or to cheer me on in the stands. Maybe because I knew that anyone else would pale compared to Ellie.

Ellie, practically beaming at my side, was dressed in hot pink and looking as stunning as ever. It wasn’t a color she wore often—maybe because it was her older sister, Abi’s favorite—but I liked the glow she had. It was kicking my heart into overdrive, and I hoped she couldn’t hear how rapidly it was beating in my chest as I looked at her. Obsessed was an understatement.

Maybe that was why I was ignoring the fact that there was fringe on my matching costume.

“I’m gonna go say hi to Sophia,” she whispered to me, seeing the coach’s daughter in the other room.

I kissed the top of her head. “Okay. Have fun.”

She smiled, heading off towards her friend, and I grabbed a beer from the kitchen.

“I’m happy for ya,” Reid said, patting me on the shoulder as he joined me. He was dressed in a traditional Scottish kilt. I almost teased him for using his heritage as his costume, but damn, the guy pulled it off well. We all liked to poke fun at each other on the team. After so many years playing together, most of the guys were used to giving each other shit.

Taking a long pull of my beer, I couldn’t help but grin. “Thanks, man.” I’d been worried that she would be a distraction, but so far, everything was amazing.

We’d won our home game this week, and we had another one tomorrow. One that Ellie would be in the stands at, hopefully wearing the jersey I’d just given her.

“I can’t believe you got a puppy,” he said, running his fingers over his red beard.

After Ellie had come home, I’d texted my group chat with the guys and sent them a photo. “I’ve wanted one for a long time,” I admitted. “Couldn’t imagine leaving one behind during road trips, though.”

“So what changed?”

My eyes drifted over to Ellie, who was smiling and laughing with Sophia. I chuckled. “She did.” I couldn’t imagine her being alone in my big empty apartment, either. I’d been lonely, but I didn’t want her to be. Taking another sip of my drink, I turned back to my teammate.

“Big sap, that’s what you are,” Brooks said, sliding in next to us.

“Where’s Mav?” I looked around the room, but didn’t see his brother. Rhodes was sitting on the couch, though I couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes drifted over to Coach’s daughter every so often.

“Think he’s flirting with Monroe again,” Brooks said, rolling his eyes.

His brother had been flirting with our Assistant Coach ever since she’d been taken over the role, though she kept turning him down. It was amusing for the rest of us, to say the least. The administration would never allow it, but I had to give it to him. He was bound and determined.

I laughed. “That sounds like your brother.” He was a giant flirt. Had been as long as I’d known him. “One day some girl is going to make him fall on his ass, mark my words.”

“Probably.” Reid cracked open his own beer, though I knew he preferred something stronger. “All the mighty succumb, eventually.”

“What about you, Mack? Anyone special in your life?”

“Nope. No time for the lasses.” He tapped his head. “Gotta keep everything fresh up here. Stay sharp. How else can I be the top goalie in the league?”

Brooks chuckled, adjusting his sleeves and then pulling on his puffy vest. “It’s okay. Leaves more for the rest of us.”

I scrunched up my nose. “Speak for yourself.” I’d never been interested in bunnies or any of the girls that were hanging around on the off chance they could sleep with a pro-hockey player. Not that I’d ever been attracted to them, anyway. The only girl who seemed to get my dick hard was currently across the room in a bright pink barbie outfit, and damn if that wasn’t just the way I liked it.

“Don’t worry. I know you’re off the market.” My partner nudged me in the arm with his elbow. “I knew from the moment you introduced us to her that you weren’t ever going to look at anyone else.”

He was right. Even though I hated that I was so easy to read. “She’s the only one for me, man.” I admitted.

Brooks made a little whipped motion with his hand and a sound. “Harps, it’s been nice knowing you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Nothing’s going to change, you jerk.” I shoved at his shoulder. “Also, does anyone think Rhodes looks extra grumpy tonight? I swear, he’s been scowling ever since he got here.”

“Oh, yeah.” Reid agreed. “Plus, he can’t take his eyes off of Soph. I think Coach would kill him if he went there.”

Grimacing, I tried not to imagine the look on Coach’s face if someone actually dared to lay a finger on his daughter. It was one of his biggest rules, especially since Sophia was always hanging around the team lately. “No one’s dumb enough for that.”

I couldn’t imagine what I’d do if I hadn’t been allowed to be with Ellie. I’d asked her parents’ permission before we ever started dating, and he’d made sure my intentions were good. And they were. I’d cared about Ellie in a way that went beyond words.

She was my sunshine, and I was happy to have my world orbit around her.

As if summoned by my thoughts, my beautiful barbie sauntered up to me, tilting her cowgirl hat back.

“Hi,” she murmured, winding an arm around my waist.

“Hey, Skater Girl.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Having fun?” Ellie nodded, her eyes bright. “Good.” I squeezed her hip.

“I’m gonna grab a drink,” she said, pulling back. “Don’t have too much fun, boys.”

I watched her sashay away, watching the way her hips swayed with the motion, and when I turned back to the guys, I knew they’d all just seen me staring at her ass. I just shrugged.

Stefan joined us, his face paint a little smudged around his lips. I grinned. I suspected that his wife’s makeup was equally messed up. “Hey, Cap. Having a good time?”

He ran his fingers through his dark hair. “I told Lo the face paint was a bad idea. Can’t even kiss my damn wife without everyone teasing me about it.”

“Hey, at least you aren’t wearing fringe, like this cowboy here,” Maverick said, throwing an arm around me.

“Look who finally decided to join us,” Reid snorted. “Did you strike out?”

Mav crossed his arms over his chest. “No.”

“Sure.” Brooks rolled his eyes.

Our captain turned to me. “Harps. I’ve known you a long time, man, but I gotta say, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so happy. I think she’s good for you.”

I was pretty sure my ears were red—the Scandinavian and Irish heritage from both of my parents certainly hadn’t given me a complexion that could hide my embarrassment. I also burned like a lobster in the sun, so hockey was definitely the best sport I could have chosen.

“Thanks.” I didn’t voice my concerns. That I’d get distracted. Most of the guys knew I’d had a serious girlfriend in high school and college before signing my contract and joining the team, but they didn’t know what had happened.

How I’d almost lost everything after I’d lost her. I couldn’t repeat that again.