Chapter 27

I send Aurora a bouquet of gerbera daisies, wishing her luck on her presentation, before Roman and I leave for the airport. I sleep on the plane and watch practice from the bench. They’ve started rotating in our backup goalie during practices to prepare for the inevitable shift when Roman hangs up his skates.

Coach takes a seat beside me as the team skates. “Doc said your knee is healing well.”

“The strength is coming back faster this time.” I’m crossing my fingers it means I’ll be back on the ice sooner.

“I know it’s frustrating to be out with another injury,” he says.

“It’s important to give it the time it needs to heal.” I know this is the right answer, though I hate it. “I’m doing everything I can to get back on the ice before the playoffs.”

“One step at a time, Hendrix. Hopefully, you’ll be cleared for practice soon.”

When they’re finished on the ice, I join the guys in the sauna and grab lunch with the team. Roman and a bunch of the guys plan to rewatch Seattle’s last couple of games when we return to the hotel. But my kitty-cam alerts show activity in my penthouse. And I have new messages from Aurora.

“I need to call my sister, but I’ll catch up with you in a bit, if that’s okay,” I tell Roman when we get back. The lies feel like quicksand these days. But I want to check on Aurora, make sure she’s okay, and I need privacy for that.

“Everything okay there?” Roman asks, always the concerned dad.

“Oh yeah, just our weekly call.” We have a standing date we rarely miss. It’s just not right now.

“Okay. We’ll be in Dallas and Ash’s room. Sixteen-thirteen.”

“See you in a bit.” I flip the safety latch after he leaves and check my messages.

Princess

Someone sent me flowers today. Without a card. They’re beautiful.

It’s accompanied by a picture of them on her dresser.

Princess

Too bad you’re at practice because I’m about to visit the kitties.

Another picture, this one of her lying on my bed with my cats, follows. Postie is stretched out on her chest, and Malone is snuggled up beside them, looking disgruntled. It was sent half an hour ago.

I keep scrolling, jaw clenching as I scan the next messages.

Princess

Now that you’ve had your fingers in my pussy, am I allowed to use Batdick in your bed?

Guess I’ll find out later.

Might want to check your kitty cams.

You’re missing all the fun.

I fire off a reply.

Hollis

What bad things are you doing in my bed without me, Princess?

No response.

I retrieve my laptop and flip it open, popping in my earbuds as I pull up the video feeds. My living room is empty. And I’m momentarily confused when I check the camera in my bedroom. I’m looking at my shower instead of my bed. The glass is foggy, but Aurora’s naked outline is visible. Her hands are pressed against the wall, and her head hangs low. The sound of the spray hitting the tile muffles her words until she moans loudly. “Fuck, yes. Right there. So damn close.”

What I wouldn’t give to be there with her. But since I’m hours away, all I can do is watch and wish. Things should have gone differently before I left, but at least Aurora seems to have forgiven me. I spot her phone on the edge of the vanity and message her again.

Hollis

Someone’s a very naughty girl.

Getting off in my bed and my shower again.

Remember I’m keeping track.

I hear the ping, ping, ping as each message registers on her phone.

Aurora’s lips turn up in a coy grin as she slides the door open and hops out of the shower. I drink in the sight of her naked body, slick and wet, all her curves on display as she drips water on my bathroom floor. She wipes her hands on a towel and holds her phone up, unlocking it.

She says something I don’t catch, but a second later my phone pings.

Princess

You better mean that.

You’re watching right now?

Hollis

You’re naked in my bathroom.

That’s how our date should have ended.

Princess

Want to see why I love your shower so much?

Hollis

Show me.

She grins again, sets her phone down, blows the kitty cam a kiss, and steps back into the shower, leaving the door open. She spreads her legs wide, braces a hand on the tile and adjusts the angle of the wall jet. And now it makes perfect sense. Her head falls forward, and she plants both palms on the wall. When she moans, I slide my hand into my joggers and stroke myself in time to the roll of her hips.

“So close, so close.” She catches her bottom lip between her teeth and grabs the handrail. Her legs tremble, and I quicken my pace, aggressively stroking my cock as her back arches and her head falls back.

Judging from the pitch of her moan, she’s about to come. And I’m right there with her. She drops to her knees and twists away from the jet so it hits her back. Her hand slides between her parted thighs as she rides out the orgasm. She slaps her clit repeatedly, moaning my name as her hips jerk. It isn’t until she sags against the shower wall that I let go. But I grab a handful of tissues first, so I don’t have to change my freaking shirt. Or pants.

She slowly pulls herself to standing and turns off the water, then grabs a towel from the rack and wraps it around her gorgeous body.

What I wouldn’t give to be there toweling her off, taking her to bed, kissing every inch of her, touching her in all the places that make her moan my name.

I grab my phone and call her.

She answers on the first ring, slightly breathless. “Hi.”

“We’re showering together when I get home.” Aurora wet, naked, and soapy? Fuck yes.

“We’d better be doing a hell of a lot more than showering, Hollis.”

“Oh we will be, I promise.” I pull one of my earbuds free, making sure all is quiet. “But first, I think I need to spank that naughty little ass of yours for all the bad things you get up to when I’m not home.”

Her eyes light up as she moves toward the kitty cam.

“Now I really can’t wait.” She carries the camera back to the bedroom and aims it at the bed. Then she crosses to my closet, finds a T-shirt, and pulls it over her head. “How was the flight and practice? How’s your knee?”

Beyond the unbearable sexual tension that’s growing exponentially, my desire to confide in her again is also on the rise. “The flight was fine. I slept for most of it. Aside from watching from the bench, practice was good. Fingers crossed I get cleared for the ice next week. Might not have to wait for the playoffs after all. And my knee was a bit achy from all the sitting, but I spent some time in the sauna, and the pool, and the hot tub, so it’s better now. How was your presentation? Did you do well?”

“Uh, we had a PowerPoint glitch, but I had a printed version, so I talked through the points and used the whiteboard while they sorted it out.”

“That’s my girl, always on top of things.”

“I’d like to be on top of you—or under you.”

I chuckle. “Both can be arranged when I’m home.”

“God, I’m so horny it’s ridiculous, Hollis. I’ve already made a mess of your sheets and your shower, and I’m still all achy.”

“You need me to talk you through another round?” Tell her exactly how I’d hold her hips as she straddled me. How I’d pinch her clit and fist her hair to keep her close.

“What I need is you pounding me into a mattress. Rix will be at Tristan’s all weekend.” She runs a brush through her hair. “She’s halfway moved in already.”

“So I could come to yours.” When it’s just her and I it’s easy to forget how complicated this all is outside our bubble of two.

“It would be easier than me sneaking up to your place.” She bites her lip.

We need to talk this part through. All the sneaking around, hiding shit—it can’t continue indefinitely. Unless she’s not at the same place as me. Even if she is now, nothing is ever guaranteed.

“Hollis?”

“Sorry, yeah, I agree. It would be easier.”

The door to my hotel room opens, but only a few inches, thanks to the safety latch.

“Hey, Hollis, can you unlatch this? I gotta grab my iPad.”

“Shit,” I mutter. “Coming! Just a sec.” I slam my laptop shut, but not before I catch Aurora’s panicked expression.

“Is that my dad?” she whispers.

“Yeah. Talk tomorrow.” I end the call before she can reply and roll off the bed, shoving the tissues under my pillow before I rush to let Roman in.

He gives me a questioning look.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to lock you out. You heading back to Dallas and Ash’s room?”

“Yeah. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, all good. Let me grab a sweatshirt real quick.” I turn away and take a few deep breaths, calming my heart rate. That’s two close calls. I pull a hoodie over my head while he grabs his iPad, then follow him into the hall, so grateful I’d flipped the latch.