Gage (Pittsburgh Titans 3)

We didn’t stay long, only for two drinks. Hugs to Marianne and Daniel, fist bumps to teammates, and we were on our way to my house.

I pull into the garage of my Churchill home just east of the city. It’s only about a twenty-minute drive to the arena outside of rush hour, so the location is ideal for me. I could’ve chosen something closer to the arena, but honestly, these days, I prefer quiet to bustle.

My house is small by professional hockey player standards, particularly one such as me who’s spent a lengthy career with lucrative contracts and endorsement deals that I’ve wisely invested. I could’ve easily plunked down five million on a house if I’d wanted, but I didn’t. I wasn’t sure how long I’d be here, and besides, that’s a lot of damn house for one guy.

I like this contemporary, multilevel I found with the help of a good Realtor. It has tons of large windows and eleven-foot ceilings. Some features don’t mean much to me—like the European-style cabinetry and quartz counters that the Realtor was very keen to point out—but honestly, I don’t need much.

If I stay in Pittsburgh, this house will do just fine. If I leave, I could sell it or keep it for rental property. Admittedly, I’ve been feeling all kinds of unsure about leaving this city, though, because Jenna is here. Maybe I could play another season, assuming they offer me a contract.

Switching off the car, I glance at Jenna in the passenger seat. She turns my way and tips her head with a smile. “What?”

“Nothing,” I reply with a shrug. “Just like looking at you.”

“You’re quite the charmer,” she replies dryly and opens the car door.

I’d ordinarily get out first to open her door, because that’s how my mom raised me, but we’re still working out some kinks in this very new relationship.

Jenna rounds the front of the car and meets me at the door that leads into the house. We head into the kitchen where I open the fridge for two bottles of water. “You were a little quiet on the ride here,” I mention. “You okay?”

“I can’t stop worrying about what Keller might do to you,” Jenna says as she sets her purse on the counter.

I uncap a bottle and give it to Jenna before opening the other for myself. “I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. It was a scuffle. He wasn’t hurt. And now he’s gone.”

Jenna regards me with a mixture of admonition and amusement. “It was a bit more than a scuffle. You practically crushed his voice box.”

I roll my eyes and place my water bottle on the counter, moving into her. I take her bottle and set it down as well.

My hands go to the sides of her neck, and I peer down at her. My voice is low, husky. “Tell the truth… You found it sexy, didn’t you?”

She smirks and refuses to answer.

I bend down and nuzzle her ear, causing her to squirm. “Admit it… I made you hot and bothered, and you want nothing more than for me to take you to bed right now.”

Jenna snorts, and I chuckle. My mouth moves to hers for a long, slow kiss. Jenna sighs in pleasure, and her body yields.

“I’m going to take that as a yes,” I proclaim smugly.

“I’m not going to argue,” she replies.

I take her hand and pull her through the living room and down the hall to the master suite. She follows willingly, which is fitting, because I would gladly follow her anywhere.

My bedroom is exactly as I left it this morning. Sheets and blankets rumpled from last night. The single bedside lamp glowing, shining like a beacon on the bed where we’ll end up.

I turn around and pull Jenna into me, putting my mouth on hers for a ravaging kiss. The chemistry between us is volatile, and she immediately deepens it, hands going straight to the buttons of my shirt. She works them loose and growls her dismay to find a cotton T-shirt under it.

The muscles in my chest leap as her hands snake under my clothing, and I kiss her harder. My hands go to her ass, pulling her into me, and I squeeze the firm globes. Jenna gasps as she pulls and pushes at my two shirts, trying to get them off. I’m a good guy, so I help her out, and when I’m naked from the waist up, Jenna boldly leans back to take a good long look.

I work hard in the gym and I follow a fairly healthy diet. I do so for peak performance on the ice, but damn if a side benefit isn’t having a woman like Jenna look at me the way she is right now.

As if I were an ice cream cone she wants to lick.