Page 61 of Stick Play

What would it be like to make a baby with this man?

My eyes fly open. Why are all these thoughts jumping into my brain tonight? His eyes meet mine, and they’re so full of pleasure as he fills my body with his seed. I fall over him, place my cheek against his chest, our bodies fusing as one. I close my eyes, a new kind of peace swirling around me as his fingers lightly roam my back.

“You’re incredible, babe.”

I lift my head, and he pushes my hair from my face and brings my mouth to his for a kiss. It’s then that I realize just how tired he is too. He had a big game tonight, and tomorrow he’s headed to Tampa.

I slide off him, and a quiver goes through me as he leaves my body. “Let’s get you to bed.”

He laughs and glances around. “Haven’t we already done that?”

“Yes, but I mean, you need sleep. You take my bed, and I’ll go to the spare room.”

I try to leave, but he pulls me down. “Maybe I want to sleep in this bed with you tonight.”

“As much as I like that too, I have a little one to worry about.”

“Yeah, we do, don’t we?”

Everything in the way he says ‘we’ once again makes me feel like we’re a team in this thing called living.

“If she catches us, she’s going to think you’re going to be her daddy.”

He glances down, and he’s not frowning or smiling. No, he seems like he’s deep in thought and I’m not sure if he likes the idea of Zoe thinking that or not.

After a moment, he gives a curt nod. “You take this bed. Zoe expects to find you in here tomorrow, not me.” He leans in and gives me a soft kiss. Standing, he tugs on his clothes, and before he leaves the room, he adjusts the blankets around me. “Don’t move.”

I laugh. “When did you become so bossy?”

He disappears down the hall, and comes back with a bottle of water for me, and my heart wobbles. I stare at his big hands and he uncaps it. “I’ll be gone before you guys are up in the morning.” I nod. “Can I call tomorrow night?”

“I’d like that.”

“Good.” Another kiss where our lips linger a little longer, and then, “Okay, babe, you get some sleep.”

Body tired, I collapse on my pillow, and the next thing I know, my early morning alarm is going off. I stretch out, and my sore body reminds me of last night’s glorious lovemaking. Lovemaking? Maybe, or maybe it was just sex.

Little feet pounding on the floor give me little time to think about it. I jump up and grab my robe. “Morning, Zoe. You seem pretty happy and energetic this morning after being up so late last night.”

“I found this on my pillow.” She hands me a note, and I frown as I take it. That frown turns into a small grin as I read it to her: I’ll be back Saturday, and I’m going to have a present for you. Have a good day at school.

“Look, Mommy, look. You have a note too.” An apple-sized lump pushes into my throat. I work to force air into my lungs as my heart pounds against my ribs. My God, Ash left us both a note. Could the man be any sweeter?

Zoe begins to hop around as I pick up the note and read it. “What does it say?” she asks.

I read his scribbled words: Hey babe. Hope I didn’t keep you up too late last night. I’m on the road, and will call you tonight. Have a great day, and I’ll be bringing a present back for you too.

I can barely talk when I say, “Just that he’ll have a present for me too.” I sit on the edge of the bed, thinking about what that big present might be. I pull my daughter toward me and hold her hands. “Zoe, you like Ash, right?”

“I do.” She tugs one hand free and points to the jersey she insisted on sleeping in, again. “He’s my favorite player.”

I am not entirely certain what my future holds with Ash and me. Brighton and Melanie made it perfectly clear that I’m part of this hockey family and always will be. Since being a part of a big family is something I’ve always wanted, I intended to keep this whole relationship a secret for fear of friendship complications and I didn’t want my daughter to get hurt. I do know that Ash and I agreed to end this thing at the end of the month—and I need to be prepared for that—but it doesn’t mean my daughter has to end things too. Ash can and will always be a part of her life.

As she stares at me with big curious eyes, I begin, “Do you know how Camryn and Tate call him Uncle Ash?”

“Yeah.”

“He could be your uncle like that too.”

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