AllFreeNovel
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When I step into the private back hall to the locker room, she’s there waiting for me. She lets out a squeal and jumps into my arms. I tuck my head into her shoulder and breathe her in. I don’t remember the last time I was so at peace. Freya does that.
“That was an awesome goal.” I bite my lip, enjoying that sentence. “So, how do you feel?” she asks. I set her back down.
“Incredible.” I think back to the sound of the buzzer and the guys slamming into me with back slaps. Their padded arms wrapped around me. I drop my head between my shoulders and shake my head. “I can’t believe it.”
Pulling the souvenir out of my bag, I show it to her. “Check it out. My first NHL puck.”
“Wow!” She holds it in her hand, turning it over before she hands it back. “This is so cool. Where are we going to celebrate?”
I wrap my arms around her. “My bed.”
She gives me a playful nudge. “I’m serious! Are they going to Top Shelf or somewhere special? I’m going to buy you a drink.”
“I am being serious. You’re coming home with me.” And I’m not drinking tonight, I want to be sober because I’m ready to put in the work with Freya.
And that same heady buzz I felt on the ice before my goal is the same one I feel when I look at her.
TWENTY-NINE
She’s wiping down the bar and the other barback splits up the cash in the tip jar. She’s got three more minutes on the clock, and I know she will work all one hundred eighty seconds of them. That’s how Freya is. I won’t rush her. I take my time checking her out in that tiny black top.
The last several weeks have been wonderful together. Whenever I can, I meet her at work, hangout with the boys or at the bar until her shift ends, then I get to take her upstairs where we spend as much time as we can together before I have to get back on a plane for another away game. It’s hard being apart. I find myself missing her more and more. She’s become such a part of my life that sometimes it’s hard to remember there was ever a time she wasn’t there.
She taps the touchscreen monitor and glances toward me. I wet my bottom lip. I’m wrapped around her finger. She waves to her coworker and grabs her envelope of tips before making her way to our booth. Every step closer makes my heart race faster. I can feel the guys’ gazes on us, but a train wreck couldn’t make me peel my eyes away. Let ’em look.
Usually she greets me with a bratty little remark. Not tonight. The gleam in her eyes tells me everything I need to know. Without saying a word, I take her hand, stand up, and lead her into the dark hallway we know so well. Only this time, we aren’t stopping. At the top of the stairs, she unlocks her door, and I follow her into her apartment. As soon as I cross the threshold, I kick the door shut, hold her neck with my palm, and pull the hair tie from her hair. The delicious smell of her shampoo releases as I sink both hands into her thick locks.
Towering above, I walk her backward until she hits the wall, locking my lips on hers. It’s all I’ve been able to think about. Her mouth drops open for me, and she sucks in a breath. Her tongue darts out to lick my lips, and she swipes her tongue over mine.
“Goddamn, I’ve missed you,” I growl under my breath.
“I smell like stale beer and work. Can I take a shower first?”
“Can I watch?”
“Sure.” She smiles.
She walks away, and I stare at her ass strut down the hallway. No sane person could turn down that invitation.
She turns on the shower and before long, the glass doors fog with steam. I lean against the bathroom doorway while she strips. Facing away from me, I’m rewarded a second helping of the view I got following her here.
“See something you like?” She doesn’t turn around; she must feel my presence.
“Yes.”
“You’re welcome to join me.”
“Raincheck.” If I go in there, we’ll end up fucking before she flips the top on her shampoo bottle. I’d rather take her in bed where we have more room to play.
“Suit yourself,” she says, opening the shower door and slipping inside.
Something tells me I will regret turning down her offer to step behind those glass walls. She takes time soaping up. She’s doing it to tease me. It’s working. I just want to admire her for a few minutes with no distractions. The fear of mixing hockey and women doesn’t exist anymore. I don’t care about the consequences. Whatever they are, she’s worth it.
Freya turns off the shower, opens the door, and wrings out the water from her hair. I’m standing on the rug, waiting with her towel. Most of her makeup has washed off, but I swipe under her eyes to clear some of the leftover mascara. It’s unbelievable how green her eyes are. I wrap her up in the towel and turn her so she can see herself in the mirror while I dry her off. Starting at her shoulders and arms, working my way down her back, over her breasts and stomach, her waist, hips, ass, thighs, calves, and feet. Every inch of her glows. She smells fresh and clean. The scent is all Freya.
She raises a hairbrush to her strands, but I slide it out of her hand and brush her hair, starting at the ends and working my way up. She swallows. It might be the most intimate thing I’ve ever done. But intimacy feels so natural with Freya. Our gaze meets in the mirror, and I notice a small dose of apprehension in her eyes. She looks like she’s about to say something but then stops.
When I’m finished, I pick up the hairdryer on the counter and turn it on. I want to take care of her tonight. I tousle her hair, running the warm air over it. I feel her watching me in the reflection the entire time. When I’m finished, I give it another quick brush. I can’t help but run my fingers through it. This time, I’m watching her. Her eyes close and every once in a while, a small shudder runs up her back when my touch grazes her neck.
