Page 1 of If You Love Me

CHAPTER 1

ROMAN

“No fuckin’ way.”

Standing at the front of the room, looking like a damn vision, is the woman of my dreams. Quite literally, she’s been the star of them for the past three-plus years. At least once a month I wake up with a massive hard-on, the wisps of yet another dream featuring her slow to fade. I love those nights as much as I loathe them. They’re a reminder of what I had, briefly, and lost.

“Alexandria Forrester comes to us from the Ontario League…”

Coach Vander Zee keeps talking, but I don’t hear any of it, because I’m too busy staring at the siren of a woman next to him and the GM, trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

And now I have a last name to go with the one I groaned and whispered like a prayer.

Alexandria Forrester.

Lexi.

It was hands down the best forty-eight hours of my life. Most of it was spent naked.

And now here she is. In three dimensions. Real and tangible and more beautiful than she was the last time I saw her.

I tune back in as Vander Zee says, “She’ll be joining the Terror as our new assistant coach.”

My entire world inverts. Because the woman of my dreams—the one who disappeared without so much as a goodbye note—just became my fucking boss.

CHAPTER 2

LEXI

Idid not accurately account for the level of anxiety that would come with seeing Roman again in person. The best goalie the league has ever seen.

I’ve never met RomanThe Playerbefore—only RomanThe Man. There’s no way he would remember me the way I remember him. And I remember every last detail of my time with Roman Hammerstein.

Owner of my fucking body. Provider of magical orgasms. Biggest dick I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying (and failing) to deep throat. But my effort was applauded, appreciated, and rewarded with more multiple orgasms than I’ve ever received in a weekend.

Roman was an incredible, intelligent, filthy sex machine. But maybe all the ladies he spends time with feel that way. Maybe he’s just that good. And where does that leave me?

Except now, I’m left standing in front of my new team, staring at the man who rocked my entire world and made everyone I’ve tried to date after him seem like elevator music.

My stomach is a roiling mess. Starting a new job is never easy, but being a woman under thirty on the coaching staff of apro hockey team? If they smell my fear, I’m finished before my skates even touch the ice.

“Let me introduce you to some of our key players,” Coach Vander Zee says after the guys have been given the go-ahead to grab a plate and get in line for the buffet.

The other two assistant coaches, Ralph Boxer and Arnold Thomas, and the equipment manager, Donnie Richards, have joined the line and are chatting with the players. Ralph seems nice, a little quirky, but he’s the goalie coach, so that tracks. Arnold and Donnie have been a touch remote, but maybe they were tight with the previous assistant coach. Both of them are quite a bit older than me, so that could be a factor as well.

Vander Zee scans the room, and of course the closest person happens to be Roman. I can barely breathe as Coach calls him over. This could go one of two ways. Neither is awesome.

Roman’s expression remains impassive. He’s grown even more attractive in the years since I last saw him. Gray flirts at his temples. He’s broad and thick and stupidly gorgeous, and while I convinced myself there’s no way he’d remember me, I’m suddenly worried I could be wrong. But I can’t rewind time and fix it.

“Alexandria, I’m sure you recognize Roman, the most outstanding goalie in the league,” Vander Zee says with genuine pride. “Roman, this is Alexandria. She coached the men’s team in Windsor and the women’s team in Niagara before coming to us.” Vander Zee claps Roman on the shoulder. “Roman will be a great resource for you as you learn the ropes here.”

Roman smiles and extends his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Alexandria.”

My knees nearly buckle at the sound of my full name in his exquisite, rich voice. Several other things I’ve heard that voice say crowd my mind.

You’re going to be my good girl and let me feed you my cock, Lexi.

Such a pretty pussy. I’m going to make it weep for me.

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