Page 132 of Hard to Get

Her lips part. “Ohhh. Oh God.”

I shrug. “Alanna said happily single women don’t need a man, so if you’re in her life, you know she wants you in her life.”

“Yes. Yes, exactly.”

“And when I thought about it, I was pretty sure that since you still wanted to keep seeing me… you did want me in your life.”

“I did. I do.”

Relief flows through me like cool water. “She said a man has to make a woman’s life better for him to be attractive to her.”

“You were always attractive to me.” She leans her head on my shoulder. “You were so attractive, it scared me. I was afraid of falling for you, right from the start. But she makes a good point.” She lifts her head to meet my eyes again. “You did make my life better.”

“That actually wasn’t my goal. I just wanted to be with you. Take care of you. Support you.” I brush a kiss over her mouth. “Fuck you.”

She chokes on a little laugh. “That definitely made my life better.”

“I know.”

She grins and shakes her head. “I like laughing with you.” She lays her palm on my cheek. “Talking hockey with you. Talking about anything with you. I feel safe with you. I feel respected. I feel seen with you. I… feel good when I’m around you.”

“I feel good when I’m around you, too.”

“I’m glad. I know it was hard finding time to see each other sometimes, but you never got mad about that.”

“Of course not. I respect your career. I’m in awe of it.” I push her hair off her shoulder and rest my hand on her neck, my thumb brushing her jaw. “I wasn’t looking for anything serious, either. But once I met you, it felt like it was meant to be.”

Her mouth ticks up on one side. “Fate.”

“Maybe. But I wasn’t letting fate decide whether we were going to be together. I took charge of that bitch and made sure of it.”

35

STELLA

“I wasn’t being entirely honest when I told you I’m falling for you.”

Jayden stiffens, hands on my waist in my bedroom. “Okay.”

“I’ve already fallen. Hard. I love you.”

His face softens and his eyes glow. He backs up toward the bed and sits, bringing me onto his lap so I straddle his hips. He sets his hands on my waist and meets my eyes. “I love you.”

He slides a hand up my back and into my hair to bring my mouth to his for a kiss. I pour it all into that kiss, everything I feel, all my admiration and gratitude and love for him. I slide my hands over his chest, his shoulders, the back of his neck as our mouths join in slow, clinging kisses of worship and promise.

He caresses my neck, his thumb sliding up in front of my ear, brushing the corner of my mouth, and I turn my head to suck his thumb. He groans and nudges my mouth back to his again, opening me to him, licking inside to find my tongue. Arousal moves through me like slow liquid heat. Then he slides both hands into my hair to hold my head as we devour each other.

His hands move over my body, everywhere he can reach: my back, my waist, my breasts. He slowly pulls off my sweater, letting his hands linger on my shoulders and arms, and sucks in a breath at seeing my pink lacey bra.

“Gorgeous,” he rasps. “Look at you.”

He leans down to kiss my collarbone, then the soft upper curve of one breast. My breathing hitches and my nipples pucker.

“Beautiful. So perfect.” He eases me back so he can bend and kiss my breasts. He tugs the lace cup down and closes his lips over one tender tip.

I clutch his shoulders and gasp. “Oh God. I love that.”

“Yeah,” he mumbles against my skin. “So good. You taste sweet, Stella.” He tugs the nub into his mouth once more, then lifts his head and meets my eyes again in a long, wordless look of love.