I lift my hands off. “By all means, you’re the expert.”
She quickly wraps the ice pack in the towel, then wraps the entire thing around my leg, using the ends of the towel to secure it.
“Thanks,” I say as she finally sits back down beside me.
“I feel like I should be thanking you.” She starts to pick at the label of the bottle. “What you said down there and just now. Thank you.” When her eyes meet mine, the pain and tension is almost gone, even though her usual sparkle hasn’t returned. “You made this day a lot easier to get through.”
I shift slightly so I can look at her. I’m starting to wonder if Lily’s cheerful, outgoing personality is truly her, or if it’s a front she uses to hide all of this mess.
And on the heels of that thought comes another. Does she have anyone in her life who’s on her side? Who knows just how bad it is with her family and is willing to be there for her and remind her they’re wrong?
I need to talk to my sister when we get home. She’s the one person I can think of who might be able to shed some light on things. And I need to know, I need to understand.
For the first time since my injury, I’m focused on something other than hockey and the likely end of my career.
Because Lily Chapman is everything I said she was when we were in front of her cousin and more. But she’s also vulnerable. And while I might not have the first clue what to do about it, I can’t deny the truth that’s settled in me.
I want to protect her. I want to show her she’s not alone.
Chapter twelve
Jude
The sound of very light snoring is the first thing that registers as I blink my eyes open. The second thing is the warm weight of a body draped over top of me.
It takes a second for me to rememberwhyI’m not alone in bed. And then, since apparently this morning is the morning for all the surprises, I realize I don’t remember being awake most of the night.
I slept.
For the first time in God knows how long, I actually slept soundly through the night. And the only difference between last night and countless others is the woman in bed with me.
Slowly, I lift my hand up to stroke back her hair. She’s tucked into my side, her head on my shoulder, her leg draped over my good one, and a curtain of dark hair is tickling my bare chest.
I’m not surprised to wake up shirtless, but a quick check reassures me I didn’t also take off my sweats. That’s a relief, seeing as most nights I end up naked, thanks to a tendency to overheat. It’s going to be weird enough for Lily to wake up and realize she cuddled me all night like a koala bear, I can’t imagine how she would handle it if I was in the buff.
I like this. Waking up with Lily. Feeling her in my arms. And it’s not just because she’s a woman, or that any warm body would do — it’s her.
I’m drawn to her warmth and light, like a moth to a flame. There’s a familiarity there, sure. I’ve known her most of my life. But it’s different, too. That protective feeling stirring inside of me has nothing to do with her being Kat’s best friend, and everything to do with her being an incredible woman who makes me feel better, simply by being nearby.
For the first time since my accident, I feel calm. At peace. Dare I say content.
My lips brush over the top of her head, the floral scent of her shampoo filling my senses. It’s no more than what I did last night, kissing her hair in front of her cousin. But in the morning quiet, with our limbs tangled together, it feels far more intimate.
She lets out a soft sigh and rubs against me, stirring my already half-mast dick. Morning wood hasn’t been an issue for a while, but it sure as shit is today. I try to shift away, but koala-Lily just pulls in closer.
I’ll blame it on not being fully awake. That’s the only reason why I kiss her again, this time on her forehead. And when her head tips up, inviting me to explore, I do. My lips trail across her skin, covering every inch of her face except her rosebud mouth, her small sounds of arousal and her hands moving over my bare torso are all the permission my semiconscious brain needs.
A part of me knows I probably shouldn’t be doing this.Weshouldn’t be doing this. But I don’t want to listen to reason right now.
“Jude,” she murmurs, raking her fingers through my hair, then down my arms. “Kiss me.”
Our lips come together instantly. I’m awake now, all parts of me, completely. There’s no denying what’s happening.
I’m kissing Lily Chapman.
It feels as if every single nerve ending is suddenly waking up after being asleep for months. Our lips fit together perfectly, and when her tongue traces the seam of my mouth, I open instantly, dancing with her. Normally, I’d take control of a kiss, but I’m surprisingly content to let this be balanced between us. To just explore her and let her explore me.
Sure, there’s a small part of me that wonders if we should be doing this, but that voice is easy to silence.
