SWNOVELS Chapter 30
As soon as I shove into the locker room, I toss my gloves and helmet into my locker and grab my phone, firing off a quick text to Willow.
Really loved seeing you in my jersey
Three little dots appear before her message pops up on the screen.
I’m certainly not the only girl who was wearing a Maverick McKinnon jersey tonight. You’re incredibly popular with the female fans.
I only noticed you, sunshine. Plus, you’re the only one who was wearing one from me.
I wait a second or two before firing off another text. The last thing I want is for her to have second thoughts and take off on me.
I saw you with my sister. Just stick with her and I’ll find you once we’re released, okay?
When she doesn’t immediately respond, I tap out another message.
Sunshine? Don’t make me hunt your ass down. You know I will.
Okay. I’ll meet you in the lobby.
I can’t help but grin, oblivious to all the commotion and the good-natured ribbing that unfolds around me.
Good girl. Then I tack on a winky face.
All I can think about is getting my hands on her and finishing what we started in her bedroom a couple hours ago.
On second thought, maybe we won’t head to the bar at all. I’d much rather strip her bare and—
“What the hell are you grinning at? The expression on your ugly mug makes you look like a total psychopath,” Hayes says, knocking me from all thoughts of Willow.
He raises a brow as I toss the cell back into my locker.
“Nothing,” I say, shrugging off the comment.
If this guy thinks I’m about to hand over info about Willow, he couldn’t be more wrong. Hayes is notorious for giving people shit.
When I sink to the bench to unlace my skates, he settles beside me. “Does it have anything to do with the hot blonde you’ve been screwing?”
My head snaps up and I bite out, “You know what her name is, and I haven’t been screwing her.”
His brows shoot up. “Huh. Interesting. If this isn’t straight-up fucking, what is it?”
“None of your damn business. How about that?”
The whistle that escapes from him is long and low. “Damn, dude. Sounds like it could be serious. Can’t say I was expecting that.”
“Maybe it is.”
“Have you met the fam yet?”
I jerk my shoulders, refusing to admit that I’m still trying to convince this girl to dump her boyfriend and give me a shot. “Nope.”
He tosses his skates into his locker before stripping off his pads until he’s down to his jock. “Maybe you should do that before you start making plans and thinking long term.”
I blink, thrown off by the strange comment. Before I can ask what the hell he means, he takes off the cup and heads to the showers.
Not that I’ll admit it to Hayes, but it’s much too late to slow my roll with Willow. Even though she’s still with River, long-term thoughts are already circling my brain. The more time we spend together, the more obsessed I find myself.
Everything about her drives me crazy and has me falling a little bit harder.
She’s the first girl that I’ve actually wanted in my bed at night. I love spooning her smaller body and wrapping her up tight in my arms.
When it comes down to it, I just love being with her.
Even if that means we’re at the library studying. She’s so patient and caring. As much as I’ve always hated working with tutors, especially peer ones, Willow is different. She takes the time before we meet to organize what we’re working on into small, digestible chucks. She suggested that I get a smartpen, which records lectures while taking notes and then syncs them together. I’ve always been resistant to using any kind of device or aid that will tip off the people around me that I have a learning disability.
I hate to admit how much it’s helped.
She also encouraged me to ask for extra time on tests if I need it.
And my grades have improved because of her suggestions.
Just like hockey is my passion, teaching is hers.
I can just imagine her in a classroom with a bunch of kiddos hanging on her every word.
Is it weird that I can picture having one or two, maybe more with her?
I drag a hand through my sweat-soaked hair.
Clearly, I’m getting way ahead of myself.
This is the first time I’ve given my future outside of hockey serious consideration. The thoughts circling around in my head should freak the fuck out of me.
What does it mean that they don’t?
All I want to do is lock her down tight and make her mine.
More than anything, I need to know she feels the same about our relationship. That this isn’t all one sided. That what she has with me is different—better—than what she has with River.
Only then will I be able to ease up and loosen my grip. I hate feeling like she’ll slip through my fingers any second.
The need to see her crashes over me like a tidal wave as I strip off the pads and head to the shower. Ten minutes later, I’ve dried off and am dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. I plow my fingers through my hair, shoving the damp strands away from my face before slicking on some pit sauce.
Voilà—ready to go.
As I grab my duffle and head to the door, Ryder calls out, “You’re not gonna wait for me?”
“I’ll catch you out there,” I throw over my shoulder.
I’m much too impatient to make sure Willow stuck around.
My earlier threat wasn’t an idle one.
I’ll hunt her ass down.
Before he can fire off anything else, I’m shoving through the thick metal door and into the corridor. My steps quicken as I turn the corner and find the lobby crammed with people. It’s not uncommon for friends and family to stick around after games and wait for the players to get released from the locker room. There’s also a dozen or so groupies milling around, hoping to get lucky.
I don’t give them the time of day.
My gaze coasts over the crowd, looking for Willow’s golden-blonde head. When I don’t immediately spot her, nerves hum along my skin.
Where the hell is she?
It’s tempting to dip my fingers inside my pocket and pull out my cell. That’s the moment Britt shifts and my attention lands on her. It’s like getting smacked in the head with a two by four. My heart stalls at the sight of her wearing my jersey with her long blonde hair styled into two thick braids that rest against her shoulders.
She glances around, as if able to feel the heat of my gaze singeing her skin. When our eyes collide, the air gets knocked from my lungs, making full breaths impossible.
I’ve never experienced anything like it before.
It takes effort to force my feet into movement as I cut a path straight to her. Hands reach out, patting me on the shoulder as people compliment my game.
Even though I say thanks, I don’t bother making eye contact with any of them.
I can’t rip my attention away from her.
Once she’s within striking distance, my hands slide over her cheeks and I pull her close enough for my mouth to crash into hers.
I don’t give a shit who’s watching.
All I care about is her.
My tongue sweeps over the seam of her lips before she opens, giving herself over to me. Only then does the beast raging inside calm enough for me to think clearly.
After I’ve had my fill, I pull away just enough to rest my forehead against hers before staring into her bright blue eyes.
They’ve turned hazy.
Just the way I like them.
I love that my touch—my kisses—does that to her.
Truth be told, it does the same damn thing to me.
I’m so tightly wrapped up in this girl that I can’t see straight.
“Have I mentioned how good you look in my jersey?”
Her lips lift into a smile. “You might have said something about it earlier.”
“Good enough to eat,” I growl.
The thought of stripping her naked and pushing her thighs apart so I can lick up all her cream has my cock turning to stone.
A groan works its way free from my lips.
It’s only when someone clears their throat that I break eye contact and find my parents standing a few feet away. Both of their eyebrows are buried in their hairlines.
I certainly can’t blame them for their bewilderment.
The last time they saw me take interest in a girl was with Sabrina back in high school. That was more than three years ago.
I force myself to back away enough to slip my arm around Willow’s waist and tug her close.
Not only are my parents staring at us, but so are Ryder and Juliette. A big smile lights up my sister’s face, which I take as confirmation that she approves of Willow. Ryder’s expression looks eerily similar to my folks’.
When spontaneous applause breaks out from my teammates, I can’t help the grin that stretches across my face as Willow’s eyes widen. She buries her face against my arm as a tortured groan escapes from her.
“What’s wrong, sunshine? You got a problem with everyone knowing that you belong to me?”
“I… We still need to talk,” she murmurs.
When fear bubbles up inside me, I stomp it out. I refuse to let anything dampen this moment. “We will. But not before I introduce you to my parents.”