Page 101 of Pucking Around

“Babe.”

Someone is jostling me. Is it in my dream? No—wait—am I dreaming?

“Baby, wake up.”

I shift with a sleepy groan and blink my eyes open, trying to orient myself. I’m lying naked in the world’s most comfortable bed. Jake is here, his hand nudging my shoulder. He brushes my hair back from my face and kisses my brow.

“Babe, look. He’s here. I didn’t want you to miss it.” The tone in his voice is so bright and eager. He jostles me fully awake as he slips off the side of the bed.

God, what time is it? Last night we stumbled home from the benefit to find Caleb crashed out with the dog on the couch. We all but fell into his bed and went straight to sleep. I’m not even sure I took my contacts out.

His room looks so different in the daylight. The room is bathed in beachy white light. I watch, lips pursed, as a very naked Jake tiptoes over to the wall of glass with his phone in hand. The glass has a door inset into it, which leads out to a balcony.

Jake glances over his shoulder at me, grinning like a little kid, then points out through the glass. There, sitting on the deck railing, is a massive pelican. The thing is so ugly, it’s cute, with drab brown feathers and beady eyes. Jake raises his phone, his bare butt mooning me as he snaps pictures.

Watching him, I’m overcome with a wave of such emotion that it literally takes my breath away. I swallow, tears in my eyes. “Hey,” I call softly.

“Hmm?” he says, eyes on his phone.

“I love you.”

“What?” he squawks, spinning around. The combination of his movement and his voice must scare the pelican because it flaps away. “Oh—shit—” He spins back to watch it fly off. “Man, he’s never come that close before.”

I snort, my heart overflowing as I watch my sweet angel pout over his pelican playing hard to get.

“Wait—what the hell did you just say?” He crosses the room, tossing his phone down on the end of the bed.

“You heard me,” I reply, fully aware that the sheets are pooled at my waist and my bare breasts are on display.

He crawls up the bed. “I’m gonna need you to say it again.”

I go to squirm away, but it’s hopeless. He pounces on top of me, pinning me down under the sheets.

“Say it,” he growls, burying his face at my neck as he breathes me in.

I run my hands down his back, giving both his booty cheeks a playful slap.

He clenches, his face buried between my breasts. “Come on, Seattle.Please, say it again? Say it, or I’ll climb the railing and jump off.”

I dig my fingers into his hair and pull his head back until I catch his gaze. “I love you, Jake.”

He pops up on his elbows with a smile that could power the whole city. “Baby, I am so fucking in love with you. I swear to god, you’re it for me. I love you more than I love sushi. More than I love coffee.”

“More than you love hockey?” I tease, laying back as he peppers my breasts with kisses. His morning stubble feels rough on my skin, but I don’t care.

“Fuck—would you accept the truth that I don’t wanna pick? I want both. I want a hockey and Rachel sandwich every day for the rest of forever.”

I laugh. “Fair enough.” I arch back with a contented sigh as he latches onto my peaked nipple, giving it a little suck.

He’s barely started teasing me before he stops. “Come on, babe. Today is cheat day, and I’m starving. Your stomach is growling too.”

I fight the urge to pout. I was about to have a very fortifying meal. A 6’3” professional hockey player was on the menu…hopefully with a side of equipment manager. “What did you have in mind?”

“We’re gonna go find the biggest, most ridiculous stack of banana pancakes and order a whole tower of bacon on the side. And coffee,” he adds, rolling off me. “Lots and lots of coffee.”

I laugh, stretching out like a lazy house cat. “Make them bananas foster pancakes, and I’m in.”

He launches off the bed. “Awesome. Get ready. I’ll go tell Cay!”

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