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  I stood. “I was, and then I grabbed a flight here. My plane home leaves at five in the morning.”

  Pulling out her keys, she opened the door and I followed her in. “I told you I wanted space.” She angrily tossed her keys onto the kitchen counter.

  I slammed the door behind me. “And when you’re married, you can’t just run away like that. Especially when you’re here and I’m down in North Carolina, we can’t use the distance to separate us. We need to work things out.”

  With a heavy sigh, she glanced at me over her shoulder. The distrust was there. I could see it in her eyes. Slowly I approached her and grasped her arms, pulling her into my chest. Her muscles tensed, but then they relaxed as I ran my hands over her skin. “I don’t know how to trust you,” she whispered.

  “All you have to do is try. If I have to fly up here every day, I will. I’ll do anything, Lacey. Just give me a chance.”

  She turned around in my arms. “You’d do that?”

  I nodded. “Anything. You have no idea how much it kills me to see the doubt on your face. I know I haven’t proved my loyalty, but it’s there.”

  Her lips pulled back slightly. “I’ll admit, it was a shock seeing you at my door. Maybe I did get carried away with the picture. After all the tabloids caught me the other day with Braeden.”

  “Exactly,” I said.

  She lifted a hand. “But Braeden wasn’t rubbing up on me, though. There’s a big difference between the two photos.”

  “True,” I agreed, “but it’s hard to get the full picture when you don’t know what’s going on. I’m not going to lie, the girl at the party was coming onto me, but I told her I wasn’t interested. I don’t want anyone other than you.”

  Her eyes saddened. “It just sucks, Maddox. Being apart isn’t going to work.”

  “Then I’ll move up here. I’ll drop everything.” My gaze never wavered. I’d meant every single word.

  “No,” she murmured, shaking her head. “There’s no need.”

  My heart sank. “Why is that?”

  She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and smiled. “I have an appointment tomorrow with my program director to request my transfer.”

  “Really?” I placed my hands on her face. “You set that up even after telling me you needed space?”

  “Of course I did. Just because I needed space didn’t mean I wanted to end things. When I get angry, I need time to get over it. You’ll soon figure that out.”

  I held her tight. “I was so fucking nervous coming here tonight. I thought you were done with me.”

  “No,” she whispered. “I made that mistake before because I was afraid. I told you I’d try to make this work.”

  I kissed her neck and loosened my hold. “Does that mean in every aspect?” I asked, sliding a hand down her backside.

  She shivered in my arms. “Definitely.”

  Sliding my hands under her shirt, I unclasped her bra. “We have about eight hours before I need to leave for the airport.”

  “What are you trying to say?” She looked up at me and smiled.

  “I’m saying I want to make love to you before I go.”

  “You might want to let me take a shower first. I’ve been at work all day.”

  I lifted her shirt and tossed it onto the floor, along with her bra. Cupping her breasts, I squeezed them and my cock strained against my jeans. I grabbed her hips and pulled her against me. “I’ll take one with you.”

  She winked. “I’d like that.”

  Taking my hand, she led me into the bathroom. She turned on the water and steam filled the air. She slid her pants down to the floor and stepped into the shower while I took my clothes off. With hooded eyes, she took her soap and started rubbing it over her breasts and then down in between her legs.

  “Shit,” I groaned, unable to take my eyes away. “I think I might need to stay out here and stare at you a little longer. I could sit here and watch you touch yourself all day.” I hopped into the shower.

  Giggling, she took the soapy washcloth and rubbed it on my arms and stomach before moving behind me to get my back. It felt so damn good, especially when she reached around and cupped my balls with one hand and wrapped her fingers around my cock with the other.

  “Well, I’ll definitely have to remember you like that.” She pressed her tits to my back and worked her hands up and down, over and over. She was relentless and she wasn’t stopping.

  Placing my hands on the shower wall, I leaned forward and groaned. “I’m going to come if you don’t stop.”

  “I don’t want to stop,” she moaned, moving faster. “I want you to come.”

  I could feel my release coming, and it was coming fast. Her hands were like magic, squeezing so tight it could almost pass for her pussy. “Ah fuck!” I shouted. I closed my eyes, and my body jerked. She slowed her rhythm as I came all over the shower wall.

  “How did that feel?” she asked, bending underneath my arm so she could face me. I had her caged in my arms with water dripping all over her body, down her breasts to the spot between her legs.

  Pushing her against the wall, I opened her mouth with my lips and licked the water off with my tongue. She wrapped her arms around my neck and held on tight as I grabbed her thighs and lifted her above my waist, spreading her wide. “It felt fucking amazing.”

  She gasped as I pushed her against the wall again, gazing down at me with heat-filled eyes. “You ready for this?” I asked, growling the words.

  She moaned breathlessly, “Oh yes.”

  I sucked on her nipple and bit down at the same time I pushed into her hard. She screamed out and dug her nails into my back, holding on tight as I thrust inside of her. The harder I licked and sucked her nipples, the harder she clenched around my cock.

  Wrapping her legs tighter around my waist, I took my hands off her ass and leaned against the wall so I could push harder. “Is…this…what you wanted?” I asked between kisses, biting my way down her neck.

  Moaning, she nodded her head quickly. “Yes. It feels so good.”

  As I rocked my hips more vigorously, she countered my motions, moving her body along with mine. Her flesh clenched and tightened around my cock, and I knew she was close…so was I. “I’m going to come so hard in you, sunshine.”

  Lacey lowered her lips to my neck and bit down, screaming out her orgasm as I pounded harder, coming inside of her. I held her against the shower wall, breathing hard, letting the aftershocks of our orgasms ebb before lowering her feet to the floor.

  She swayed when I set her down, gazing dreamily into my eyes. “I needed that,” she murmured, smiling lazily up at me.

  “So did I,” I admitted honestly. “I’ll be one happy man when I can make love to you every day.”

  Lacey laughed and kissed me again. “Soon. That time will be here before you know it. Now let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving.”

  * * *

  —

  I was tired as fuck, so I slept on the plane ride back to Charlotte. It was worth it, though. I was slowly earning back Lacey’s trust and I felt we were going in the right direction. I was the first one in the locker room, but Dallas came in not far after me.

  He tossed his bag onto the floor. “Just the man I wanted to see.”

  “Oh yeah? Why?” I asked, holding my breath. He didn’t look pissed, so it couldn’t have anything to do with Lacey.

  “Callie said your grandfather was an excellent woodworker and landscape designer. She showed me pictures of the kind of stuff he did.”

  Nodding, I leaned against the lockers. “He was amazing.”

  “She said your grandfather taught you how to do all of that. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind coming to the house and seeing what can be done with my backyard.”

  “Seriously? You want my help?” I asked incredulously.

  Dallas chuckled. “Callie says you’re the best. I’m trusting you won’t let us down.”

  I held out my hand. “I’ll be there. Just w
arning you, I’ve never done this professionally.”

  He shook my hand. “I’m not worried. I know where to find you if you mess up.”

  This was just what I needed to get in good with Lacey’s family. If I could impress Dallas, he’d see that I was good enough for his sister. “I’ll swing by today after practice.”

  Dallas nodded. “Sounds good. Callie’s cooking chicken tacos. You can join us.”

  “Perfect.”

  Pulling out my phone, I texted Lacey.

  Me: Hope you have a good day at work. I’ll be spending the afternoon with your brother.

  I knew she had a few minutes before she had to be at work so her reply was instant.

  Lacey: Be on your best behavior…lol. What are you guys doing?

  Me: Something I haven’t done in a long time. Wish me luck?

  Lacey: Now you have me nervous.

  Me: It’s all good. Trust me, I need this time with him. It’ll make things easier for us.

  Lacey: I hope so. You can tell me all about it when I get off work. I miss you already.

  Me: I miss you, too.

  Grinning widely, I put my phone away. For the first time in my life, it felt like things were right.

  Chapter 15

  Lacey

  The past few weeks passed by in a blur. Maddox had been working at my brother’s house, designing a whole new backyard for him and Callie. I was happy for him. Not many people knew that Maddox had other talents besides hockey. I just hated it took up so much of his free time. The commute back and forth to New York for short visits had to be hard on Maddox. But it was comforting to know he hated being away from me, too.

  My morning shift had been nothing but nonstop patients and my feet killed me. My phone rang, so I stopped just outside the cafeteria doors and moved so others could go in. “Hey, D,” I answered.

  “Haven’t talked to you much lately, sis. How’s work?” Dallas asked.

  “Been working my ass off. I’m sorry I haven’t called.”

  “I hear ya. You just don’t have time for me anymore.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. I’m waiting on Sophia and Maria to come down to the cafeteria so I can eat a quick lunch and get back to work.”

  “Sounds good. Have you talked to Mom and Dad?”

  I could still hear my mother’s voice as she scolded me about not keeping in touch. “Yes,” I said, laughing. “They weren’t happy with me. Hopefully I appeased her the other night. We talked for two hours. They want me to visit them and Maggie.” Maggie was my older sister, who lived in Maine and was happily married with a family. I was never close to her, not like I was with Dallas.

  Dallas chuckled. “Same here. After the season’s over, Callie and I are going to head up that way.”

  “I’ve missed you and Callie,” I said sweetly. “What have you two been up to recently?” I’d texted her a few times here and there when I had time during the day, but as soon as I got home in the evenings, I’d crash.

  “Just fixing up the house. Well, Maddox is. We’ve just been watching him. You wouldn’t believe the changes. Our whole backyard looks completely different. You’ll have to see it when you come down for the game. I’m having the party at my house.”

  “I can’t wait.” Maddox told me how amazing it was. I couldn’t wait to see it. “Will everyone be at the party?”

  “As in the team?” he asked.

  “Yep.”

  “Pretty much. I want everyone to see what Maddox did. He’s been coming over to help almost every day. The man’s a fucking genius when it comes to landscape.”

  “I bet he is.” It was great to hear that coming from him. “I take it hanging out with him has been okay?”

  “Eh, things changed. Ever since the wedding, he’s actually been pretty cool to hang out with. Even at practice, he’s different. The guy’s really making an effort to change.”

  “Just like that, you’re friends?” I inquired.

  “You’ll like him, too, once you get to know him.” Oh, I knew him very well.

  Sophia and Maria turned the corner and waved at me. “D, I have to go. I need to eat before my lunch break ends.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow night when you get in. Are you staying at Braeden’s? I know he’s dying to see you.”

  That wasn’t going to go over too well with Maddox. “Not sure yet,” I said. “I’m going to see how it goes when I get down there.”

  “Sounds good. You have the guest bedroom here if you want.”

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “No worries, sis. It’s all good. Be safe on your way home. I’ll see you soon.” We hung up and I joined Sophia and Maria in the cafeteria line. All of a sudden, I didn’t feel too well.

  Sophia stared at me. “You okay?”

  I swallowed hard. “I think so. It’s probably because I didn’t sleep last night.”

  “Why not?”

  My body was still sore. Grinning wide, I leaned in close. “Maddox showed up.”

  She gasped. “Oh my God, he’s so in love with you. I’m jealous.”

  “Who?” Maria asked.

  I waved her off. “This guy I’ve been seeing.”

  “Ah, must be Braeden Wallace. I think everyone knows that.” She walked away to pay for her food.

  Sophia giggled. “If she only knew.”

  “The world will sooner or later. But yeah, he showed up last night after that whole debacle about the picture. Guess you can say he wore me out.”

  She scoffed. “You are so lucky. Does he know you got the transfer?”

  I shook my head. “Not yet. I’m going to surprise him this weekend.”

  We walked through the line to see what was on the hospital menu: meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Usually, I’d be all for it, but the second the scent of it hit my nose, my stomach rolled. Holding my breath, I walked past the food and straight for the peanut butter crackers. What the hell was wrong with me? I hurried to pay for them and found an empty table near a window. An overwhelming need to throw up engulfed me. I opened my crackers and took a bite, chewing slowly. It was as if my throat didn’t want to swallow it.

  Sophia sat down with her salad, and the second I saw Maria’s plate piled high with meatloaf, my gag reflex kicked into gear. Jumping out of my seat, I raced out of the cafeteria to the closest bathroom. The trash can was the first thing I saw. There wasn’t much in my stomach to begin with, but it all came out. A lady walked out of one of the stalls and washed her hands quickly before bolting out, most likely thinking I had the flu.

  The bathroom door burst open and Sophia rushed inside, her eyes widening at the sight of me hovering over the trash can. “Are you okay?”

  I groaned and moved to the sink to splash cold water on my face. “Hell, if I know. I guess I’m coming down with something. I’ve been feeling a little off this morning.”

  Sophia walked over and met my gaze in the mirror. “You’ve been acting off the past couple of weeks, Lacey.”

  “Stress,” I said with a shrug. “It can wear you down.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “True. Do you think you could be pregnant?” Thinking back to my schedule, it had been a while since I’d had my period.

  “Oh my God. What if I am? I totally haven’t been keeping up with it.” If my calculations were correct, I was a couple of weeks late.

  Sophia took my hand. “I’ll be right beside you the whole time. You should probably get a pregnancy test.”

  “I think that’s a good idea.”

  Chapter 16

  Maddox

  The first game of the season was tonight and we were pumped. To get some of our rookies ready, Kellan had put me in charge of them. He was testing me; I could see it on his face as he watched me with Mark and Cliff. Before, I hated wasting time on the rookies. None of them were as good as the rest of us, but today I actually enjoyed it.

  Dallas worked with Josh Harrison, while Braeden practiced with our other defensemen. The only thing that kept me grounded ove
r the past month is knowing Braeden hadn’t been to New York to see Lacey. As long as he stayed away from her, I was fine for the time being. Dallas and I were friends now and that was all that mattered. After everything I’d done for him, there was no way he’d deny me being with Lacey.

  “Think I’ll get to play tonight?” Cliff asked. He was one of our left wingers and very quick on the ice. He was twenty-two years old, one of the youngest on our team. It was good because we needed fresh blood. The team was getting older and it wouldn’t be long before a lot of us hit retirement age. Trenton James was my backup if I got detained. He’d lost more teeth compared with any other player on our team. The guy was a true fighter and had played hard growing up.

  I chuckled. “Probably. We all know how Henderson likes to sit in the sin bin.” Marshall Henderson, our first position left winger, heard me from across the rink and flipped me off, a huge grin on his face. The only time Cliff would get to play was if Marshall was in the penalty box, which happened quite frequently the past few years. I was known to spend some time in it as well.

  Justin skated over to us. “Send them out there with me. We have a few minutes left.” With it being our first game of the season, Kellan wanted to make sure we were ready. Now that Kellan was our coach, Justin had taken over his position as center. If anything ever happened to Justin, I would be his backup. Growing up, I’d always been center; it was my father’s dream for me. He never liked that I played left wing.

  I nodded toward the ice. “All right, boys, let’s see what you got.” Kellan watched them proudly. I’d taught them some of my signature moves, so there was no way in hell we’d lose.

  The whistle blew and Kellan waved us all in. “Bring it in!”

  We all headed over to the side wall where he could speak to all of us. “Tonight we have our first game. I have to say, you all look better now than when I played with you last year. We have a good team. Some of you will be playing in your first pro game in just a few hours.” Justin and I patted Cliff on the back while the other rookies shouted their excitement. “So go home, rest up, and get ready for what’s bound to be the most amazing comeback yet.”