Page 60 of Game Changer

“I think I’m finally used to you calling me Pim,” he said. “I kinda like it. It doesn’t feel insulting like it does when Ana uses it. When you use it, it feels much more affectionate.”

He smiled at her and kissed her gently. As he stood in the room holding her, and kissing her, everything that had happened between them rushed through his head and made his heart ache. He ached for lying to her, he ached for making her cry, he ached for being so damn stupid and marrying Britt. As she stared into his eyes, he could have sworn she could see all of his pain and hurt right there on display. He blushed and kissed her again. This time it was a long, deep kiss, his palms spread across her back and he held her tightly. Her fingers played with the collar of his shirt.

Getting caught up in the emotion between them, he finally gave in to his overwhelming need to be close to her. He unzipped her dress and dropped it to the floor, while her fingers slowly opened each button on his shirt. She hesitated with the last button – but only for a moment. He could tell she was nervous, but he felt calm and relaxed – more so than he’d felt in a while.

His pants joined her dress on the floor and she closed her eyes.

Does she not want to look at me? No, I don’t think that’s it; she has openly admitted she likes looking at me. Why is she closing her eyes then?

Aha. She’s got herself worked up about me seeing her naked. I know she’s self-conscious. I don’t know why, though. She’s so incredibly beautiful.

He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. She tried to look away, but he cupped her face with both her hands and kissed her gently.

“You’re beautiful,” he breathed, as he tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “I can’t believe you’re mine.”

Staring into her eyes, he willed her to see that he truly meant what he was saying. He thought she was beautiful from her head to her toes and he wished she could see it too. He wished she’d love herself as much as he loved her. All of her.

She placed her palms against his chest, and slowly traced the lines of his muscles with her fingertips. He swept her hair off her shoulder and kissed her neck, stopping at her ear to tell her he loved her before leading her to the bed.

Finally!He thought as he lay on top of her.

Lying under the covers, he was propped up on his elbow and leaning slightly over her. His free hand was tracing down her bare side. They kissed again. Her arm was under his elbow, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

“Penny for your thoughts?” she asked him, watching him intently. He could get lost in those blue eyes.

“You don’t really want to know,” he replied, grinning at her mischievously.

He rolled back over on top of her as she slipped her arms around him. Her fingers moved up his back and over his shoulders, he shivered slightly as she rubbed against his scar tissue. She must have felt him react at her touch and eased off on the pressure. He trusted her, so he let her hands explore his shoulders. She was gentle with him; he ran his fingers through her hair and she smiled at him.

Her fingers continued their journey along his shoulders, tracing little shapes on his smooth shoulder blades.

“Are you sure?” he asked her.

She nodded and bit her lip, “I’m sure.”

He kissed her deeply and they moved together, slowly at first, holding each other tightly. As their rhythm intensified their clammy skin stuck together. It took a long time for their heavy breathing and racing pulses to return to anywhere near normal.

“You ok?” he asked as he pushed her damp hair off her face so he could see into her eyes.

She nodded and rested her head upon his chest.

She feels like home.

Chapter 18

As he unlaced his skates post-game, his head was swimming with the events of the last twenty-four hours. He had been to a glamorous ball with the woman he loved. Andfinallygot laid after months of torturous flirting online and in-person foreplay. A morning of making out with Lisa and watching her verbally spar with Jeremy, followed by a lunch together with their friends that made his sides ache from laughing and a rough-and-tumble game that called for an ice bath. And the day couldn’t have been more perfect.

I really could get used to hanging out with our friends like that. Stress of Canadian fake-wifey aside, I’m happy, really happy, with Lisa.

The game had been more physical than usual.

There was a lot of on-ice tension.

And punching.

She’s not going to be thrilled with me for dropping my gloves.

At least I won the fight?

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