AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Does it sting?Not gonna lie. You bet your sweet ass it does.
I was always there for any one of them. Whenever they needed shit, I was the one to help them out. Not that I need them, because I learned from a young age not to need anyone. The only person in life you can rely on is yourself. Though I have to admit I’ve let myself down a lot lately too.
I walk into my apartment, tossing my bag on the floor in the foyer. I’ll deal with that later. I look towards the hallway, where I left Aliyah asleep in the guest room. I stuck my head in before leaving this morning, and she was out of it. I didn’t want to wake her, so I closed the door and left. I’m certain she won’t still be there though. It’s eleven a.m. There’s no way she’s still asleep.
I find Matty in the living room eating a bowl of my cereal and watching some shitty reality television show.
“Why the fuck do you watch that BS?” I ask, plopping myself down beside him.
“Because they’re all MILFs,” he says.
My gaze shifts back to the hallway. I don’t know why I’m obsessing over checking that room. Do I want her to be here?No, I don’t.
But, also, I kind of do.
“She hasn’t surfaced yet, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Matty says.
“Why would I be wondering?”
“Because you’ve got that look on your face and you can’t stop glancing down the hall.”
“I’m not wondering. I couldn’t care less.” I get up off the sofa. “I’m hitting the shower.”
“Your hair is still wet from the shower you clearly just took.” The little fucker smirks.
I flip him the bird as I walk in the direction of the room I really shouldn’t be walking towards. Then again, it’s my fucking guest room. If I need to go in there, I can. Indecision fills my head as I stare at the door handle. I shouldn’t open it. I should just leave her. This could be my opportunity to go out and spread my wings. She’s asleep and won’t be able to cock-block me.
My hand reaches out just as the door swings open, and a distressed Aliyah walks right into me. My arm wraps around her back to keep her from falling.
“We really need to stop meeting like this, princess,” I tell her.
“Ew. And cut it out with thewholeprincessthing. Why didn’t you wake me up?” Her hands push against my chest. I don’t want to let her go, so I don’t.
“Because I told you no one would go into that room while you were in there.” I shrug.
“Please tell me you went to morning skate?” she asks, shoving harder to get out of my hold.
This time, I let her go. I’m not supposed to like how good she feels pressed up against me anyway. And, honestly, if it weren’t for her shoving at my chest, I wouldn’t have dropped my arms. I would have pushed her back into that bedroom, down onto that bed I can see behind her, and covered her body with mine. Preferably naked-style.
“I went. So don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours. Iamcapable of doing my job.” I roll my eyes. I’ve never missed a fucking practice session in my whole career. Even when I was injured and unable to skate, I’d still show up. I’d watch from the bench or work out in the gym with the trainers.
“I don’t doubt that. No one gets to the NHL without dedication and commitment.Butyou’ve made some questionable decisions lately, and it’s my job to ensure that you don’t fuck up again.”
“Or fuck at all, apparently,” I mutter under my breath. Then I take her hand. “Come on, I’ll lend you some clothes.”
“What for?”
“Because you’re not wearing any and I’m not about to let you walk out of my apartment without clothes on,” I tell her, tugging her towards my bedroom.
“I have clothes on,” she fires back.
“Barely.” I look at her, letting my eyes take in all of that creamy skin on full display. My gaze lands on her breasts, her nipples pebbled under the skin-tight cotton of her sleep top. Fuck me, I’m going to hell. Or, at the very least, I’m going to have my kneecaps blown out, because I already know there is no way I’m going to be able to withstand temptation. I need a taste of this woman. I let out a groan and force myself to turn back around. But not before I catch the blush creeping up Aliyah’s neck.
“I don’t need your clothes, Liam. I’m going home to change.”
“It’s freezing out there, Aliyah, and it’s my fault you’re running around town practically naked.” I walk into the closet and pull out one of the Vancouver Knights sweaters that was sent to me when I first signed. It has my number and name on it. “Put this on, then you can go home.”
“I’m not wearing your clothes, and I’m not going home alone. You’re coming with me,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.
