Page 99 of Bad Wolf

Me: Those shots are life. Bagel: make it double sausage and I’ll agree. Hockey forces you to become a morning person, but I’d rather stay up all night with you.

Sometimes, like with this text, it’s something I already know, and other times I’m learning something new. Occasionally I’m shocked by a change she’s made. And then there are times when I can guess what she might prefer or dislike.

It’s a cool back and forth we’ve perfected, and I look forward to each and every message.

Dream Girl: Thanks for the vote of confidence. I spilled coffee down my new blouse, so I was late leaving the house. Made it on time though–Hey there’s something new. Arrived with time to spare

Me: Can I call?

Dream Girl: Yeah, Anna isn’t here yet

I’m trying to think of something fun for us to do that’s not hockey-related or bed-related, and if I’m honest, I’m drawing a blank. The pull and the need to get that woman naked is almost uncontrollable, and saying goodbye the other night with a simple, chaste kiss took superhuman strength. One kiss would lead to two, which would lead to a hundred and me inside her all night long, but with the early flight, I needed to sleep.

I made a promise to get a handle on my life and that means being honest with myself. No matter how good it would have felt to fuck Wren, I wanted to head into this road trip ready and prepared. Well rested.

I owe my team and myself at least that much. So, responsible Knox, who thinks with his brain and not his dick, will be in charge. At least for a little while, so I can focus on repairing all the damage I’ve done the past few months.

That doesn’t mean that as soon as I get home I won’t be rushing over to Scott’s and fucking her into the mattress, it just means I’m making good choices.

I can find out every morsel of information there is to know about her that I don’t already. We can build a stronger connection than we ever had, and we can take all the time in the world doing it. But I can’t be near her and not wanna make her come.

I sit up and hit the video icon waiting for it to connect.

Her gorgeous face fills the screen, and my breath catches in my chest. She’s stunning this morning, glossy hair pulled back high, cheeks rosy from the crisp spring morning in New York, green eyes bright, the flecks of gold glittering—she looks edible, and I couldn’t drop the smile on my face if I tried. She’s only gotten more beautiful these past six years.

“Hi,” she says, almost giddy.

“Hi back.”

“You just getting up?” she asks, capturing her full bottom lip in her teeth.

I look down at my bare torso, “Yeah need to head for breakfast soon.”

She nods, her eyes ping-ponging from my face to my chest and back again.

I flex a little making her eyes flare. “Like what you see?”

“I really do. Turns out you were kinda puny in high school.”

I scoff, “Yeah right. I’m just next level big now.”

“So what’s your day looking like?”

“Game day, baby. You know the drill.” She had front-row tickets to most of my pregame rituals.

“Hmmm. Any changes there I should know about?”

I shake my head, “Not a one. Everything is the same except I’m not dragging my own kit around.”

“So it doesn’t matter that the stakes are higher, or the arenas are bigger, or the fans are louder?”

“Nope, the goal is still the same.”

“Win,” we say together.

My lips kick up at that. “So where should our next date be?”

“Hmm, something simple. You’ll have been out of town for so long…Oh, I gotta go. Anna’s just getting out of a cab. Have a good day, speak to you later?”

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