Page 37 of Stick With Me
We’ve only made it to the playoffs once and were eliminated in the first round. Normally, missing the playoffs would sting more, but having the offseason come a little earlier this year doesn’t sound so bad.You didn’t hear that, hockey gods.
Wanting the summer break to arrive sooner might have something to do with my newroommate.
We rush through post-game showers and media, eager to get home. My teammates grumble about the travel schedule, most of them missing their families. Road games have never bothered me, but now, for the first time, they do. Just the thought of seeing Hannah has my leg bouncing restlessly as the plane takes off.
The almost four-hour flight passes, though it feels endless. By the time I’m driving home, the dash reads three a.m. The closer I get, the more my nerves kick in. It’s too early for her to be awake, but I still can’t wait to see her in my space. Inourspace. Fuck, our sounds good.
Am I going to become a “we” person?
Slow your roll, remember the rule: take baby steps.
“Can you stop shaking the whole damn car with your restless legs, dude?” Fox’s voice reminds me of his presence. I’ve had a one-track mind since stepping off the plane, but now that he’s calling me out, I try to chill out.
“You in a hurry because of your girl? I’ve never seen you this eager to get back,” he adds.
“Yeah, I am. You gonna give me shit?” I raise a brow, glancing over at him.
He puts his hands up in mock surrender.
Twenty minutes later, I park in the garage, grab my bag, and practically shove Fox out of the car. I give him a quick wave as he heads across the yard to his place, while I hurry into mine.
Inside, everything is just as I left it, except for her boots by the back door. The sight brings a stupid smile to my face, but it fades as the silence confirms that Hannah is asleep. I head to the kitchen for a glass of water, but the faint glow from the TV, muted on ESPN, catches my attention. That’s when I see her—curled up on the oversized couch. She must’ve fallen asleep watching my game, and the thought tightens something in my chest.
I crouch beside her. Her hands are tucked under her cheek, lips slightly parted as she breathes deeply. Her blonde hair is a mess, with soft waves falling across her face. Careful not to wake her, I gently brush the strands from her eyes, my fingers threading through the tangles. I can’t bring myself to pull away. She’s so fucking beautiful.
Her thick, dark lashes flutter against her freckle-splattered cheeks, still kissed with color from our time in Florida. My eyes lock onto the tiny freckle just above her cupid’s bow. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve thought about kissing that exact spot. And now, my mind drifts back to our one and only kiss—a kiss I promised to forget, yet it’s still front and center in my mind. I’ve also lost count of the number of times I’ve replayed that kiss as I’ve wrapped my hand around my cock. The familiar sensation of desire courses through my veins.Fuck, now I’m hard.
I must linger too long because when I meet her eyes again, they’re open, peering up at me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“What time is it?” Her voice is raspy from sleep.
“A little after three. Go back to sleep.”
She grumbles something I don’t catch and flips onto her other side, giving me a perfect view of her ass. Tight black leggings hug her curves, and her oversized tee has ridden up just enough to reveal the smooth skin of her lower back. Not helping the tightness in my pants. I bite my lip to suppress a groan. It takes all my self-control not to slide in behind her.
“You want me to help you get up to bed?” There’s gravel in my voice that I can’t blame on sleep.
She shakes her head, but I stay put. When it’s clear she’s not planning to move from the couch, and I can’t keep hovering like a creep, I stand, ready to head to bed. Just as I’m about to walk away, she twists, reaching out to grab my hand.
“Cuddle with me,” she says, still sounding half asleep. I freeze, feeling the gentle tug on my arm, silently urging me to lie down. Even knowing my body will regret a night on the couch, I go willingly, powerless to deny her anything she asks for.
I settle in behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and breathing in her coconut and vanilla scent. I keep a little space between us, because if our lower bodies touch, there’s no way I’ll be able to control my semi from going fully hard. Just having her in my arms is more than I ever expected today, and I’m going to savor it. Her steady breathing, in and out, soothes me, and before long, mine falls into sync as I drift off to sleep.
As the sun filters through the windows, I slowly blink my eyes open, confused by the warm body nestled next to mine. As consciousness returns, I remember how I ended up here, holding her.
Sleep me didn’t get the memo about keeping distance. I’m still behind her, but the gap between us is non-existent. My body is flush against hers—from the top of her head tucked under my chin to her toes nestled between my calves. I’m sporting morning wood that there’s no hiding. Luckily, she’s still sleeping, so she’s none the wiser.
I tell myself not to, to pull back, but my hips move forward of their own accord, trying to relieve the ache. I stifle the groan threatening to escape as my dick presses tight against her ass.
Because every inch of my body is connected to hers, I feel the exact moment she goes unnaturally stiff, signaling she’s awake… and probably feels my erection pressed against her back. Remembering the last time she felt it and her subsequent freak-out, I jerk back. A bit too aggressively, rolling off the couch and landing flat on my back with an “Umph.” Thankfully, I’ve taken the pillow I was using down with me and quickly use it to cover my still hard dick.
Hannah’s head peeks over the side of the couch, her hair cascading down around her face. “What’re you doing down there?” Her voice is thick with sleep, confusion… and is that amusement?
“All part of my morning routine,” I deadpan. “How do you think I maintain my elite athleticism?”
She lets out a huff of breath, but her lips tip up into a smile. “I would’ve thought hitting the floor that hard would be bad for your back… but what do I know.”
