I lower myself on top of Oakley. Her legs immediately part to make room for mine and my cock fits snug up against her hot pussy.
Resting on my elbows I look down at her. I want to etch every second of our time together in my memory so I can pull it out whenever we’re apart.
I don’t know what will happen in the next few weeks, don’t know if we’ll have to be away from each other as we sort through both our futures.
She needs to concentrate on the Rogues announcement and I have to deal with my retirement.
Then there’s the logistics of where we live, the move I need to make to join her down south.
“Walker?” Her hand cups my jaw and I lean into it.
I smile. “You take my breath away and it’s not because you’re naked under me.”
She returns my smile and moves her hand up the side of my face until her fingers are in my hair. With a little pressure she pulls me down. “Kiss me.”
She doesn’t need to ask. My mouth is already aiming for hers.
I take my time, press lightly, angle my head, and press a bit harder. It’s nothing like the kisses we’ve shared since we got inside the front door.
This is sweet and tender and says far more than either of us is willing to voice yet.
I can’t see my life without this woman in it. I can’t imagine spending a night without her in my bed.
It’s only the second night we’ve spent together, and I know I never want to sleep apart again. And I’m not just talking about sex.
I want her head on the pillow next to mine. I want her scent on the sheets. Hell, I want our clothes in the same closet and dresser. I want her girly stuff cluttering the counters in the bathroom.
I want my ring on her finger.
Pulling back, I stare into her eyes and try to convey everything I’m feeling. Neither of us is ready for where my head and heart are going.
I can’t believe I’m even thinking of forever when less than forty-eight hours ago we hadn’t met.
“Oakley.” I swallow. “I…”
Her smile is sweet and knowing and without saying a word I know she gets it, understands what’s going through my head.
“One day at a time.”
Her words are soft, a whisper in the night between us, and I want to argue, want to have that ring on her finger as soon as possible but I know we’ve got other stuff to deal with.
If I had those wishes we joked about earlier, I’d use one to wish the world away. To wish all the complications and obstacles we’re bound to face away too.
“One day at a time,” I say before pressing my mouth to hers.
This kiss is deeper, wetter, and as each second ticks by, turns more carnal. By the time I pull back to drag in a breath, we’re both panting and our hips are rocking together.
It takes no effort, no stumbling moves or awkward directions to slip my cock into her. To push in deep and take all she is, give all I am.
“Walker.” She murmurs my name against my jaw and I’m helpless to deny her anything.
The way she sounds when she calls to me while I’m buried inside her is the most magnificent sound I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard the buzzer at the end of a winning game for the Cup.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m at a crossroads or if it’s just Oakley, but I’ve never felt anything like the euphoria I feel when I’m with her.
How do you fall in love in one day?
How do you connect with someone so deeply, so completely, within hours of meeting?
How does something so new feel so familiar, so right?
I can’t answer any of those questions except to say it can happen. I’m feeling it, living it, falling deep into it in a way I never dreamed existed.
“We will make this work.” It’s a promise, a demand, a vow.
“We will.”
Her agreement should soothe me, should ease the anxiety thrumming through me when I think about letting her out of this bed.
“I know I said fast and furious but…”
“Slow and easy works too.”
“It all works.”
I’m talking about more than the physical between us. Tonight at dinner, sitting beside her, talking with her and our companions, didn’t feel like the first time.
Nothing with Oakley feels like the first time.
“How long will it take you to pack up your life here?” she asks.
“I’ll leave it all behind.” I don’t care about any of it. I don’t care what happens to it.
Laughing, she brushes her hand down over my head to my neck. She grips me, her hold firm, and locks her gaze with mine. “You will not. We’ll take a couple of days to sort things then head to Baton Rouge. Together.”
“It might all blow up in our faces tomorrow.” I can’t believe I’m voicing the fear. Except it’s been playing in the back of my mind all night.
Once we stepped out in public, we opened up our little bubble, and I know there will be talk. Add in the announcement going out to the media tomorrow about my retirement and we’re in for a lot of attention.
Attention we’ve avoided because we’ve been behind closed doors.
Not to mention this is all new.
So new this time two days ago we hadn’t met.
“Walker.” The snap in her voice pulls me from my head. “We’ll deal with whatever happens.”
“Together.”
“Together.” Her hands trail down my back where she digs her fingers into my ass. “Now get going with the slow and easy or fast and furious.”
She’s grinning, her eyes sparkling and I know everything will be okay. We’ll have shit to handle but we’ll handle it.
Together.
I move slowly, softly, smoothly. Gliding my cock in and out with gentle slides of hard through soft. It’s an easy rock of my hips against hers.
And the whole time our gazes stay locked. In her eyes I see my future, a life I never dreamed of before meeting her.
I want to tell her I love her but I know it’s too soon to utter those words. But I can show her. I can make her feel them with every breath she takes for the rest of the night.
And as much as she wanted to worship me when we got home, as much as I wanted to let her, I want to worship her more.
Before the sun comes up and we have to deal with the world outside, she’ll be in no doubt I’m all in.
Picking up the pace, I push harder, faster, and take us up to the peak we were both so close to before I let my emotions and fear get in our way.
There will be time to indulge those later. After I’ve given her so much pleasure, she’s breathless and limp and falling asleep in my arms.
Breaking eye contact, I lower my head and kiss her jaw, her cheek, her lips. It’s the last that snags me. Catches me in the lush heat of her mouth and keeps me there.
She gives as well as takes, and in seconds we’ve gone from slow and easy to fast and furious.
The tension in her body under me reveals her need and the tingle and pull of my balls tucking up speaks of mine.
I keep my mouth on hers, lips and tongue and teeth; we sip and stroke and nip. All the while I’m driving my cock into her in deep hard plunges of advance and retreat.
Heat and pleasure and gasps and moans surround us. The scent of our sex fills my nose and the slap of our bodies coming together fills my ears.
It’s a symphony of lust and love and I know I’m not the only one feeling that way.
I don’t know how much longer I can hold off saying the words. They’re burning my tongue. Pounding in my brain to match the pounding of my pulse in my veins.
Every part of me beats a rhythm as old as time, one I’ve never heard or felt before. One I can’t ignore.
And as Oakley tips over the peak and her body grips mine and takes me with her, I’m helpless to keep the words inside.
Burying my face in the curve of her throat, I utter words I’ve never spoken to any other woman. And never will.
“I love you.”
* * *
Clouds have moved in and stolen the light of the moon, leaving the bedroom in darkness.
I want to turn on the light so I can watch Oakley sleep. Except I don’t want to wake her. I’m not ready to hear what she has to say about the words I spoke into her skin.
They’re true, as fucking bizarre as it is to know that after less than two days together.
I have no doubt she heard me. I felt her stiffen under me, in my arms. Her silence concerned me until I looked into her eyes and saw the moisture filling them.
The emotion in her gaze was breath stealing and I found it hard to keep looking at her.
I’d been overwhelmed and out of control and I’d seen the same in her eyes so I’d given us both a reprieve by getting up and heading into the bathroom to get a cloth to clean up.
She let me take care of her and after I tossed the face cloth toward the bathroom and pulled her into my arms, I tucked her head beneath my chin.
It didn’t take long for her to drift off to sleep. And the soft weight of her at my side, the way she uses my shoulder as a pillow, has me breathing easy even if I still can’t find the peace of sleep.
Tomorrow will bring who knows what and I know I can’t predict or control it in any way. Except after the drama of the media frenzy after my injury I have no desire to relive that kind of attention.
Sighing, I snuggle Oakley closer to me. I need to rest if I’m going to be able to stand beside her for what will no doubt be some trying weeks ahead.
The least of which will be my retirement announcement.
I can’t decide if the franchise announcement or my head coach role will cause the bigger stir.
“You can’t solve all our problems when we don’t know what they are.” Oakley’s sleepy voice rumbles against my chest.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“I was.”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.”
She laughs drowsily. “You didn’t. I have to pee.”
“Oh.” I lift my arm and let her up.
“Back in a minute.”
She’s just a shadow as she rolls out of bed and pads across the room. I’m surprised and yet not when she doesn’t bother shutting the bathroom door.
We’re so comfortable with each other that the need for closed doors while taking care of a nature call isn’t necessary.
Relief flows through me. Any concern I had about whispering I love you is gone because without words she’s just told me she’s on the same page.
The level of trust and acceptance the act of leaving the door open as she takes care of such a personal need is something you don’t give a two-night stand.
I know that’s not what we are, not after she orchestrated the photographers getting their pictures of us together. If she planned to ditch me when she went back home, she wouldn’t have done that.
Hell, what the fuck am I thinking?
She’d never have gotten into bed with me after offering me the job of head coach if her plan was to walk away after our time together here.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I try to clear my head.
I’m not used to the emotional upheaval I’ve gone through in recent months, the last few days especially.
What with meeting Oakley and admitting my playing career is over.
“Hey.” Oakley crawls into bed and lays on top of me. “What’s wrong?”
“Just my brain freaking out.”
“Over what you said?” I feel her stiffen above me and I wrap my arms around her.
“No. Yes. Fuck. There’s so much going on in my head, but I meant what I said.”
“Well, that’s good, because no take-backs.”
I grin. “Oh?”
“You gave those words to me so they’re mine now and I’m keeping them.”
“You want them?”
“Yes.” She leans down and presses her mouth to mine. “And I know it’s crazy—we just met—but I love you too, Walker.”
Air rushes from my chest and an ache I wasn’t aware of disappears. “Okay. Good. Good. Okay.”
She laughs, her breasts jiggling against my chest. “Can you sleep now? We have a lot to deal with in the morning.”
“Yeah, we do. I wish I knew what it was that we needed to deal with.”
“We do. Your statement will be released and no doubt our relationship will be splashed across the internet before that.”
“Which do you think will garner more attention?”
“Your retirement.”
“Yeah? You don’t think me dating the CEO of Rogue sportswear is a big deal?”
“Oh, it’s the biggest deal but I think your retirement will be what gets the most attention because you’ve been in the news for months. Now they’ll have what they’ve been searching for.”
“What?”
“When you’ll be getting back on the ice.”
“I need to tell you something.” I don’t know when I made the decision to tell her, but I know I can’t go to sleep tonight until I have. “I’m not retiring because of my knees.”
“Okay,” she drags the word out.
“You know I had a mild concussion.”
“Yes.”
“Well, the hit wasn’t enough to scramble my brain completely or even forever, but it did cause damage to my right eye.”
“What?” she pushes up, but I hold her down.
“I’ve lost peripheral vision on the right.”
“You lost your sight?” Now she pushing against me and trying harder to sit up. “What the fuck, Walker?”
“I’m fine. It’s fine. Well, it’s not but it hasn’t improved; they don’t know if it will.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, let me up. I need the light on.”
I let her go and reach over to switch on the beside lamp.
She’s looking at me in horror and all I want to do is reassure her I’m okay. “I’m fine, Oakley. I can see. And the loss is only a small amount but it’s enough to stop me from being able to see anyone on that side of me. I wouldn’t see a puck or a hit coming until it was too late.”
“Oh, Walker.” The tears in her eyes spill over.
Holding out a hand I say, “Come here.” Pulling her in, I hold her close and let her cry. “I haven’t told anyone the exact reason I’m calling it. Drake knows the most, but he thinks it’s my knees, not my sight.”
She sniffles into my neck. “Does he know about your sight at all?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to reveal why you’re retiring in your announcement?”
“I wasn’t going to but I’m wondering now if I should.”
“Does anyone really need to know? It doesn’t seem to be something you have to reveal.”
I shrug. “I’ve never thought about it. We went bare bones on the announcement. Hell, we didn’t even tell the Knights why I was retiring, just that it was due to the injuries I received on ice.”
“Leave it that way. No one needs to know. I won’t tell anyone.”
“I’ll need to tell Blake if only so we can work together without difficulty.”
“I haven’t noticed anything. Not once did I suspect you had a vision issue.”
“It’s not obvious; it would be during a game though.”
“I’ll leave it to you who you tell. Just let me know so I’m aware.”
“I think I should tell the whole Rogues org, from the players to the front office to the arena staff.”
“Do you want to tell the public? Or leave it to naturally filter out?”
“How about we worry about it after the franchise announcement.”
“We can do that.”
“Okay. Now we should get some sleep.” I reach over and tap my phone. “Shit. It’s five-fifteen.”
“Almost time to get up.” Oakley snuggles in as I slide back down the bed with her in my arms.
She’s asleep again in seconds and this time instead of staying awake and overthinking everything I’m right behind her.