Damn it. These women are going to kill me.
I lean on the counter, feeding Ally one of the leftover strawberries I had boxed up for us. She leans on the bar, her teeth grazing my fingers, and she is delectably naked underneath my white tee. I’m aware I think she is the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen, but it seems that, at every turn, she becomes more and more beautiful. As if every time, I’m seeing her in a new light. I don’t know what it is about this night, but it’s fucking magic.
She’s like a fairy tale.
I can see her nipples through the shirt, and her hair is wild along her shoulders. Her makeup is gone, and those lips are swollen from my kisses. I’m pretty damn sure we broke my bed, and I’m unsure how we’re up and moving. But when she suggested we eat the rest of our dessert, I was down. Food may be a favorite of mine, but sitting across from Ally, I’ve decided she is my new favorite.
She licks her lips, and then her fingers, free of chocolate as she leans back, pulling her hair up and into a messy bun. “Shit, you wore me out.”
I grin. “Same. You’re one hot tamale, Ally T.”
She gives me a sneaky grin. “I actually like being sexy with you. I was a little nervous it would be weird.”
I lick the tips of my fingers, my eyes locked with hers. “Weird?”
She shrugs. “Yeah, I thought you’d want some soft, missionary sex, but damn, if you don’t fuck me like a paid hooker.”
I snort, almost choking on the strawberry I just ate. “My mom would be so proud.”
We both grimace at my awful joke. She grins as she crosses her legs. “Well, leaving your mom out of this, I happen to love it.”
“Good. I do too,” I say, reaching over and cupping her wrist. It’s not enough, though. I walk around the bar, and she watches me with confusion swirling in those green depths. I reach for her, picking her up out of the chair and carrying her to the couch. I set her in my lap, holding her close as I lie back. She snuggles deep into my chest as I move my hands up and down her hips. I kiss her temple, loving how close she is as I take in a deep inhale of her scent. She brings her hand up to my neck, holding my jaw, and I take it, feeling my mom’s ring under my palm. I think I should tell her it’s my mom’s, what it means to me. But I don’t want to yet. I want to wait.
“What does A.A. stand for?”
I look down to see she is inspecting the ring’s b
and touching the skin along the base of her finger.
It stands for Asher and Aiden, but I say, “Always, Asher.”
Wow, that lie came off my tongue like it belongs between us. I’ve never really lied to Ally, but here we are. I don’t even know what I’m doing.
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
I kiss her palm, the ring, and then the tip of each finger. I’m trying to distract her, but she’s in love with the ring. I clear my throat and ask, “You sure you gotta go?”
She nuzzles her nose along my jaw. I didn’t shave today, but I don’t think she minds. She’s been nuzzling like this at every turn. “Yeah. I have an early meeting with my adviser.”
“What for?”
She hesitates, and I feel her body going taut. I’m pretty sure this is what she wanted to talk about. “I finally got all my recommendations from everyone, so I sent off the majority of my applications for jobs that are open. We’re going to go over them, make sure I sent everything I needed, and then look at some leads she has for me.”
I move my nose in her hair as my stomach turns. “Where all did you apply?”
“All major market hockey cities. She wants me to expand to other sports, but I’d rather try for the field I want.”
I slowly nod against her head. “This is what you wanted to discuss, huh?”
She doesn’t answer right away, and I can feel the anxiety coming off her in waves. “Yeah. I know it’s months away, but I guess I’m in my head about what will happen with us if I get a job in another state. I put in for some rehab centers here, and of course, the Assassins. But Elli just hired a new sports psychologist last year, so I know she won’t hire me—or fire that girl—no matter how much she may want to.”
I swallow hard around the lump in my throat threatening to choke me. “Oh, okay.”
She moves, and I don’t want to let her go. I don’t want her to look me in the eye and see the fear I’m sure is all over my face. I knew she was graduating; I also knew the possibility of her leaving town was high, but having it in front of me, right in my face, is another feeling. I don’t want her to leave. I don’t want to leave either. She sits up, turning so her feet are at my hips. She leans on her knees, but she doesn’t look at me. “There is an awesome job in South Carolina, with the IceCats, that I’d love to get. I could also do that program Angie got into to further my education. But there are over a hundred applicants for this job, and I’m a brand-new college graduate.”
I slide my hands along her ass, her hips, needing to move them to keep myself in the moment. My initial reaction is to hide and not discuss this. This is hard. This is relationship shit I’m not ready for, but it’s time to stop hiding. I want to let myself feel what I want to feel for this woman. I owe her that. “I don’t know, babe. I hadn’t really thought of leaving once I came back.” She nods and swallows visibly before pushing a piece of hair behind her ear. “I like it here now. I love my jobs—”
“No, I know that.”