The Doctor's Fake Marriage: A Single Dad & Virgin Romance by Amy Brent (27)

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.” I twisted around to smirk at him.

“You mean, about us?”

“Of course.”

“Well,” he said, sighing. He paused for a long moment, talking about it. “If you want to get technical about it, we were only really step-siblings for about six months.”

I laughed and shook my head. “So that's the story?”

“We'll just tell them,” he said, pulling me close again, “that our parents introduced us.”

I laughed, held him tight, and kissed him. That sounded like the perfect answer to me.

UNEXPECTED BABY

PART 1

CHAPTER ONE

Aaron Nellers parked his gray Range Rover in the new spot under the Garden, letting it sink in that he was now the owner of the New York Rangers after a bit of negotiation on the part of a few people. It was quiet around him and he enjoyed the calm before the storm before he went in to check on things and take a look at the practice.

Nothing was like being out there for any player, but for Aaron, that was over. He’d suffered a few blows to his collateral ligament, resulting in too many surgeries to continue playing. He retired at thirty-one and taken some time to recover from the life altering change as well as to decide what to do now.

Aaron had been responsible with his money, inspired by his father’s background in banking and smart choices. He was grateful that finances hadn’t been a problem for him but the loss of the sport had been devastating, having been a center for The Rangers for most of his career after a brief stint with the Penguins. Aaron was one of the best players on the ice when his injuries became too much for the sport, leaving behind a few records for the younger players to try and catch up to.

He’d slipped into an intense darkness at first, not leaving his apartment and using the excuse that he was recovering from his tenth surgery. Aaron was angry and resentful, not speaking to anybody for weeks until his parents had stepped in.

Aaron was particularly close to his father Glen and his mother Janice, only in their sixties and still very active and currently into traveling. That had made it easier for him to sulk until they arrived back from Australia, a trip they’d planned before the surgery. He’d insisted that they stick to their plans and that he’d have help, becoming a recluse immediately afterward. Once they got home and stopped over at his Manhattan apartment to see how he was doing, both parents became immediately concerned. Their son was clearly not taking care of himself; not eating well, sleeping too much and not doing the exercise required for the healing or any other kind for that matter.

Glen started taking him to see a therapist to deal with the changes in his life as well as one of the best physical therapists in the world, both things that Aaron should have been taking care of himself. There were many long talks about his future that he hated during the course of them, though they left him with more love and respect for his folks than he’d ever guess he’d have when he was younger and thought that he knew it all. He eventually pulled himself out of the blackness and started exercising again per strict doctor’s orders to regain his health as close as he could to when he’d played.

Six months after the day he retired, Aaron found out that his former team was for sale after having a couple of bad years in the books. The current owner was older and planning to retire, which is when Aaron consulted with his father and made the plan to make an offer. He had a lot of money saved, several contacts in the sport to fill the spots needed to make a better team and the knowledge from playing himself. Aaron was also well-liked and he was one of the favorites in the fight for the team. He was both pleased and slightly resentful when he became the new owner, knowing that it was going to hurt seeing them play the way that he couldn’t. Aaron had to move on and this was a good way to stay in something that he loved and lived for as well as bringing in some good income for his future.

He was honest with his therapist Lydia how much it hurt him to make the decision, something that she helped him through just like everything else. Aaron had taken care of the unpleasantness of the necessary firings himself, using his connections to get a new head coach in a friend who had played a few years longer than him as an aggressive and excellent goalie. He’d be tough and inspiring for the team that had been sinking lately under the scandal of the former owner, leaving them with low morale and little motivation. The assistant coach was someone that he knew from the college circuit, leading his team in several championships before he’d accepted the position.

Those were easy choices for Aaron. He’d also looked to fill a few other positions, including a sports therapist for the team. The former had a pattern of calling in and leaving the team with recurring injuries. There were the usual older applicants with incredible experience but when the pretty redhead walked into the room to sit before the panel, he and his coaches and father had all sat up a little straighter.

Holly Miller was only twenty-two, but she’d been working with one of the best UFC teams for the last couple of years before she’d graduated. Holly had been involved in sports for years in school and had chosen early on to pursue therapy as a degree choice, taking whatever classes that she could to gain early credits for college. She’d moved here to attend school in the city after two years at the University of Southern California, choosing to follow her fighter and continue to work with him. She knew her stuff and her energy was almost contagious as she impressed them with every answer.

Apart from that, Holly was gorgeous. She had red curls that were pulled back to go with her professional power suit of a skirt and a jacket over a white blouse, topped off by some of the sexiest heels that Aaron had ever seen. Her skin was pale and flawless with deep green eyes that sparkled with passion as she spoke about her field, flexing her perfect legs from time to time as he forced himself not to watch. Holly obviously understood the need to be in as good of shape as her clients, if not better, and she took care of herself. She was curvy at all the right places and her body radiated a dangerous confidence.

She had won them all over and despite concerns about the players being a little too into their care, Holly was hired. She accepted over the phone, making Aaron harden at the sound of her throaty voice as she apologized for the allergies that were wreaking havoc in her throat before she assured him she was taking care of it. He thought of a lot of things that she could take care of for him as he hung up, rubbing the erection under his track pants slowly. It had been a while since he’d been with a woman, both due to injuries and his lack of interest. But there was something about Holly that he almost instantaneously knew he wanted!

Aaron knew that he was appealing to women from school and his playing days with his dark indigo eyes and tousled Blonde hair that he’d grown out over the past year. He’d been with many in his years but now he was just turning thirty-two and wasn’t looking for the one-night stand thing as much.

Nor was he foolish enough to fuck his sports therapist but the idea was tempting as he remembered her hot, curvy body and green eyes that had rested on him more than once during the interview. Holly had some depth that most women didn’t, especially at her age. She was also intelligent and that had always intrigued Aaron, even during his period of lots of women that didn’t offer that at all.

CHAPTER TWO

Aaron got out of his car and shut the door, locking it and setting the alarm with the button. He knew that it was safe in here with the intense security that the arena offered, but he liked the sound of it echoing in the garage that he and a few choice others got to use. He greeted the guard at the elevator that would take him the few stories he needed get to work, taking in his size and intimidation level as he asked Aaron for his badge with a severe look. Aaron knew that he’d be showing that often and happily pulled it from the pocket of his slacks before boarding the car. He entered into the hallway that led to the main part of the arena as well as holding the room for Holly and her assistant that was fully furnished with state-of-the-art machines that she would need along with an open budget. Aaron strolled down the thick flooring used for the skates of the players, hearing voices coming from the ice.

He took a moment to remember the times that he’d been on this, going to or from a game with his team as adrenaline rushed through all of them. Nothing would ever compare. Aaron heard footsteps next to him and glanced over to see Holly and the man that walked with her, deciding that there could be something that might compare as he took in her loose braid and yoga pants with a matching thin jacket. “Mr. Neller. Good afternoon. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

She was make-up free and glowing and he watched as she took him in with a lingering up and down gaze before he answered. “I wanted to see the first practice and make sure everything was going well. How are your facilities, Miss Miller?”

“They’re fantastic and call me Holly. Miss is way too formal. I loved working with Manny and what they offered but this place is amazing.” Holly responded enthusiastically, smiling as she glanced over at him again. “Thanks again for giving me free reign of the machines. I do a lot of yoga but sometimes the gym is what I need and you have the best here.” Aaron noted the small bracelet around her arm that many people used now to track their workouts and nodded as their eyes met.

“I am still going to use it myself. I live close and I always enjoyed working out here.” Aaron wanted to ask what her usual time was to work out but he held the question back as they entered into the arena to the team skating on the ice.

It would be incredible to watch such a curvy, confident, beautiful woman workout! Aaron felt himself growing hard, yet again, but dismissed the thought of working out with her as they moved towards the team.

It was their first practice and they were going to make some introductions as well as lay the groundwork for the following season. Pat and James, the head and assistant coaches saw them and flagged them over as Pat called out to the team. “Guys, head over here for a minute. You know this guy, I think. He’s the new owner and looking forward to seeing a playoff win here this year. Aaron Neller, these are the guys.” He introduced them by name and position, many of them looking familiar to Aaron from games as well as still knowing some. They all shook his hand, skating forward in an informal line as he told them hello and hugged some of the ones that he’d played with. That took several moments and Aaron stepped back to see Holly step forward with her assistant and glance at the group. “This is Holly Miller and her assistant Tanner James. They’ll be working with you as far as injuries and the therapy that comes along with them. She used to work with Manny Hernandez. Heard of him?”

“Hell yes. That guy can fight.” Walter called out, making some of the other guys laugh. He was the new center and showed a lot of potential with the right leadership, something that made Aaron’s stomach twist as he glanced at the floor. Walter was twenty-four and a great player, having good control over the team when he wasn’t the only one offering it. He felt eyes on him and glanced over to see Holly glancing at him with curious green eyes as he met her gaze.

“Good, good. She’ll be working closely with the medical staff here and make sure to keep you guys healthy. We don’t need to have any players out on injury.” Pat’s eyes scanned over the team as he glanced at Holly, Tanner and Aaron.

“I’d like a chance to speak with all of you about any problem areas I need to know about. I’ll be in my room all day, so feel free to stop in if you can.” Holly told them, and Aaron saw the look in their eyes as they nodded and looked her over. She didn’t back down a bit, meeting their eyes as she kept her tone serious while shooting them down. They seemed to understand, exchanging glances as Aaron shook his head and they were told to take to the ice. He watched enviously, moving to the glass as he felt someone step up beside him. “You miss it, don’t you?”

Aaron nodded as he looked over at Holly, who was watching them as well. She stood straight with her perfect breasts curving underneath the jacket that she wore over a perfect waist only graced by the pants. He suspected she had a good bra on, since it was smooth in this cold temperature. “You know me.”

“I did some research after the interview. You’re a young owner, Mr. Neller.” Holly replied, just a few feet shorter than his height of six feet two inches. “I was curious.”

“You have me there. The chance came up and I took it.” He glanced at her, shivering a bit as he smiled. “Call me Aaron.”

“Really?” Holly asked him, giving him a disbelieving glance. “Okay then.”

“We’re a family here. I don’t want it uncomfortable or even formal. This is a tough game and I don’t like to sugarcoat things.” Aaron told her, seeing her nod. “I want everyone involved and I want you to feel like you can come to me with anything, Holly. I am going to be a very involved owner.”

“I can see that.” She replied, meeting his eyes again. “I like that in a boss.”

“I prefer colleague.” Aaron corrected her, holding her eyes longer. This wasn’t some restaurant where he’d be asking her to clean. Aaron was putting her in charge of a big part of his team’s life.

The team started taking shots on the empty goal before the new-to-the-league goalie stepped in to stop them. The media that was allowed in took the seats and spaces for filming, excited about the new Rangers. Holly sat down as Aaron’s interviews started, something he’d dressed for in slacks and jacket with the shirt and tie underneath. He sold the new coaches and staff, assuring the reporters of a very good year with the charismatic smile that had gotten him through several player interviews during those days.

Aaron smiled when his parents stepped inside to see the action, taking a seat with them as he looked over the tough practice that he’d known Pat would give them. Everyone kept it clean for the cameras and guests, having fun with each other as they honed their skills. He noticed Holly leaving towards the end, feeling her eyes on him a few times during the practice as he watched her leave.

That ass. Oh…that looked sooo…tempting.

He wanted her on his desk upstairs, spread out and waiting for his hardening cock. She turned her head once to look at him, her skin flushed pink before she turned forward again. Aaron looked back at the ice, feeling his father look at him. “The league doesn’t need a scandal, son. You’re an owner now.”

“Just looking, Dad.” Aaron responded, locking his gaze on the center as he skated the puck around several players and scored a goal. “She’ll have her hands full with these guys.”

“She’ll handle them just fine. That girl has spunk but it’s not meant for you.”

“She’s lovely though, Glen.” His mother gushed, her cheeks pink with the cold and excitement as she snuggled against her husband. They’d been in love since they first met and she was always ready for her son to meet a nice girl, since his sisters were married with two kids each now.

“Simmer down over there, Mom.” Aaron teased her, keeping his tone light as he agreed silently with her. He took them to his office after practice was over, offering a generous view of the ice and the best technology that money could buy. That had been just a slight upgrade on Aaron’s part, since the old owner was set up with televisions and a large monitor when he left. Aaron also had the owner seat high in the crowd if he chose to sit there, as well as some of the best box seats that he knew the family would love. He talked with them as he imagined the guys coming in to see her, using all of their charm to try to get into her pants like he wanted. Aaron had been that player once and had quite the tryst with one of the therapists back in his day. The thought it her doing it made his stomach twist and he offered to take his folks to lunch to distract him from it.

Aaron went home afterward, watching the night’s game as he googled Holly on his laptop. She had indeed worked for the UFC and kept her fighter going for a long time and a few championships before choosing to move on. She was smart to gain that kind of experience while she was still in school and Aaron glanced over pictures of her at various events. She had a beautiful smile and her hair was silky and curly when she wore it down, though not so far at work. Holly seemed to be a natural girl, not wearing a lot of make up like some women did. She knew how to play herself up and he admired several pictures as his father’s words played through his mind.

There was a story about an assault after an event, one that Aaron read closely. Manny’s security had stopped it before it became a full-fledged rape but she’d been sent to the hospital with some injuries and the photo of her with a black eye and split lip filled him with rage. That was about the time she’d decided to leave the job, something he couldn’t blame her for with all of the publicity. She’d worked for a private firm until applying for this job, seemingly ready to be in the public eye again. Aaron had two sisters and hated the idea of anybody hurting them and the protective blood filled his veins as he forced himself to move past that picture and look at others where she was all dressed up and appeared happy and smiling.

CHAPTER THREE

There was no need to reason to go to the arena the following day aside from the fact Aaron wanted a good workout and it was the best gym in the area. He belonged to the one in his building as well but he’d always loved the team gym and he was hoping that some of the guys might be there. Better yet, he hoped that Holly was there even though she’d told him that her focus was on yoga. He could tell in the pictures too. Her legs were toned and body lean with the perfect curves, showing that she didn’t starve herself or be unhealthy about things.

Aaron cleared his mind of the thoughts as he entered into the lower level and took an elevator to the top, using his key to get into the building. There was usually someone here to prepare for one of the many events going on or just handling orders for them. He was already dressed for the gym and walked into the large room with his bag, glancing around the room as he decided what to do. It was fairly empty except for someone on the treadmill in the corner and he looked closer to see red curls bouncing as he grinned. She was here.

Aaron settled on weights to start, sliding in his ear buds as it seemed she had done the same. He set the high weight that he’d stuck to his whole life, since his arms were fine and he wouldn’t give up everything. He grabbed his cold water and rested back on the weight bench against his towel, shirtless in only a pair of workout shorts now. He’d noticed that Holly was wearing figure hugging tiny shorts and a fitted tank top as she walked, moving her head along to some beat. He tried to forget that she was there looking that good and started lifting smoothly as he let his breath in and out. It felt good to strain his muscles and he pushed himself today since he might just stick with weights and a little treadmill. He was just finishing when he looked up to see her looking down at him, her eyes bright and wide as she watched him set the bar back and reach for his water. “Morning.” Holly greeted him, reminding him of the news story as he tried to fight his attraction towards her. “Easy for you to get here too?”

“I walked. How about you?” Aaron replied easily, enjoying the way she skimmed over his body slowly.

“Yep. I have a place with a roommate close to here. I can actually afford it now that I have a decent job.” She smiled at him as she pressed the towel around her neck up to the sweat that was pooling in her hair. “Thank you for that.”

“You had all of the qualifications. Just try to keep the guys away from you.” Aaron warned her lightly as his eyes darkened.

“It takes one to know one, right?” She shot back in her own teasing tone, catching his gaze with a smile. “I encountered a lot of that in the other job, Aaron. I handled it and I’ll handle this. I might be younger, but these testosterone- minded players are not my thing.”

“What is your thing?” Aaron asked her, unable to stop himself as their gazes locked.

“I like older guys personally. Someone who can balance me.” Holly said, pressing her full lips together. “I was never into those quick casual things, since I like to actually talk as well.” She let her eyes rest on his abs for a long moment. “I used to have a crush on you in high school, you know. Posters and the whole thing. It was always kind of my goal to work for the NHL.”

“High school? I guess it went away and you met better guys?” Aaron asked her, sitting up to look at her with deepening eyes.

“Nobody can compare to a hockey player.” Holly told him, smiling at him. “Why didn’t you coach instead of jump right in?”

“I thought about it after everything went down. When the team came up for sale, my dad and I talked about it and I figured I’d try. I know my stuff and I can guide these guys.” Aaron replied, taking another swig of water. He dared to look down her body at the dark purple shirt that was tight against her body and the shorts that showed off those legs as she moved from one foot to the other. “I can’t not be involved in the sport. It’s my life.”

“I knew that when you played. There was a magic to your skills.” Holly complimented him as he looked back into her face. “I was very sorry when you announced your retirement.”

“Thanks. That means a lot.” Aaron told her, reaching for his own towel. “Would you like to go get some lunch? Neither of us have to work until tomorrow before the game.”

“Is that against the rules or something?” Holly’s voice was a whisper as he glanced around the room to see some of the guys walking in.

“I can keep it to myself if you can.” He replied softly as he looked back up at her. “All done here for today?” His voice was louder now as she smiled at him and nodded. “Be safe out there.”

“I’ll meet you out front in a few.” Holly mouthed as she greeted the others with a warm smile. “How are you all feeling today? Nothing’s causing a problem right?”

The guys responded with various forms of hello and that they were feeling fine before she hoisted the bag over her shoulder and told everyone goodbye. Aaron chatted with them about the game next day and the early practice, telling them to play their best and listen to their coaches. The guys knew what they were doing. He stood about ten minutes later, pulling on a shirt before he told them goodbye and left the room.

Holly was waiting by the front doors downstairs dressed in a simple black dress with a thin jacket pulled over it. It was warm right now, unusually so in the city. She had her hair loose around her shoulders and she glanced at him with a shy smile. “Did they suspect anything?”

“They were too busy watching your ass on the way out.” He replied dryly as she shook her head.

“Let them. They’re a great bunch of guys but I’m not into anyone that way.” Holly assured him as they stepped out onto the crowded sidewalk. “What do you like? I’m vegetarian so that might complicate things a bit.”

“Not at all. How about we cab it to Blossom?” Aaron offered, trying to lean that way a bit himself.

“Let’s walk.” She challenged him and he grinned at her.

“It’s nice out. This has been a good Fall.”

“Lead the way.” Holly secured her bag on her arm and started down the sidewalk as she remained silent for a moment.

“Is this going to be a problem?” Her voice was hesitant as he looked at her.

“Lunch?” Aaron asked, needing her to tell her what she wanted.

“Maybe. You’re my boss, Aaron. I work for you. I know that I’m not supposed to date any of the players even though anyone in the industry knows that it happens. I assume that goes for the boss as well?” Holly questioned as he looked forward. “I don’t want to risk your job or mine but I was risking that going to the interview. I knew that I was attracted to you.”

“I knew that I was when you walked into the room. I want to kick all of their asses when they look at you the way they do.” His confession was low and rough as he watched her shiver, her nipples forming into hard points as the breeze blew the jacket open.

“So we’re doing this,” she said slowly, looking at him for a long moment.

“I want to if you do.” Aaron told her, watching her blush and nod. They kept walking, talking softly about their lives as the city faded around them. She didn’t talk about the attack, though he didn’t expect her to. Aaron just wanted to know what she was comfortable with as a result of it, since he wasn’t known to be gentle in bed. Aaron also kept his private life under the radar so he doubted she’d know anything about that, knowing that it wasn’t as wild as anyone had heard anyway. She was complex and smart, observing so much about life for someone as young as she was.

They reached the place and he opened the door for her as someone walking out called out his name. Aaron stepped outside to greet the crowd of two guys and two girls, taking a picture for them as he watched Holly wait inside with a smile on her face. He didn’t expect a lot of paparazzi around for himself, but he had a habit of being careful.

This was wrong for both of them to do on some level. It was forbidden, but he’d deal with that later. Once he was inside, they ordered tea and their entrees as he looked at her face in the sun. “You are so damn beautiful. No wonder the boys get distracted when you are around. How do you handle so much attention?”

Holly frowned and sipped the iced tea as it was set in front of them. “I focus on work, Aaron. I am not here to get promoted because I slept with someone as I’ve had that offer in the past. I turned it down. I can admit that some of the men I’ve worked with are very handsome and my friends have asked me how I resist them in what they call an intimate situation.” She shook her head. “Seeing them in pain isn’t intimate to me. It’s time to work to make them better for the next time out there or the next day and to help the doctor.” He frowned as she spoke, realizing how shallow his time with the therapist had been as he looked back. “I don’t want to be with you for my job. I am just really attracted to you.”

She was honest about it and he appreciated that over the ways other women had approached him, seeing her heart on her sleeve. “I think we should keep this completely outside of work, to be honest. I am going to be around a lot, in part because of you, but they won’t know that. I just want to see the team grow and that’s what they’ll know.” They shared a long look as their food came, heated and wanting as she forced herself to look down at the food with a deep breath.

He felt a little nervous as they ate, asking more questions about the UFC as she answered them with a lot of laughter. It had been very fun for her when the guys were working out or preparing for a fight, but the actual events were tense for her. She’d sat in the front row with the rest of the crew, ready to run and do whatever needed if someone decided to fight nasty. Holly was actually a fan of the newer rules of fighting in hockey, which made him chuckle. Aaron wasn’t a big fighter in his time but he liked a little badmouthing on the ice here and there.

They paid the bill and walked out to head to their part of town, comfortable as they walked closer together but didn’t hold hands. Aaron wanted to but he wanted things to look professional for the public since she’d already been through so much. Once they reached his building, he asked her where she lived as they paused on the sidewalk. It was a few blocks further and he licked his lips as he looked into her eyes. “Want to come in? I can order in some dinner later and we can get to know each other.”

“I…should we?” Holly asked, her green eyes heavy with need as she stared at him. They both knew what would happen if she said yes, and he nodded.

“I won’t do anything that you’re not comfortable with, Holly.” Aaron promised her, telling his cock to calm down as it hardened painfully. “I'm not that guy.”

“Yes. I want to.” They walked into the building as he greeted the doorman and led her to an elevator. “This is a nice building.”

“I bought the apartment a few years into playing with the team. It suits me.” Aaron replied, wondering what her apartment looked like as he realized he might not see it at all. He pushed the button for the twentieth floor as her eyes widened, moving a bit closer to her in the empty car.

“Mine is just on the third floor.” Holly admitted, watching as he joined their hands together with the same eyes.

CHAPTER FOUR

Aaron opened his door just a few steps away from the elevator, his heart picking up the pace in his chest as he watched her walk in slowly. She smelled like a mixture of cherries and lime, something he hadn’t noticed until he was this close to her. Her hair bounced around her lean shoulders, looking loose and free as she looked around the large living room. “This is beautiful, Aaron. I mean, I’ve been in places like this but wow.”

“You’ve traveled in some good circles in your business.” Aaron walked over to the shelf to drop his keys into the bowl of rocks and looked at her. “It still takes you by surprise though, yeah? You didn’t grow up with money, did you?”

“We just did okay. Average really. I worked hard in school to get my scholarship and take as much as I could early so I could work sooner.” Holly admitted, smiling as she spoke about her family. “They’re in Kentucky with my sister. Abby is in tenth grade and Dad works for the State while my mom is a travel agent. They’re very happy but they’ve always been simple. I guess I feel guilty sometimes for what I’ve seen but I help them out when I can.” She looked around again. “New York has really been overwhelming to me.”

“I grew up over in Philadelphia. Dad moved them here when I started playing for the team though they have a house out on Long Island. Mom isn’t a fan of city life.” Aaron told her, watching as she walked over to him. “Dad did well investing what he made at the bank as a manager and mom sold houses part time. My two older sisters are married to nine-to-five guys and have families out there as well. They taught me to work hard for what I have.”

“You have.” Holly murmured, dropping her bag onto the floor by the couch and licking her lips. “I can’t believe I am going to kiss Aaron Neller.”

“Are you?” He asked her in a husky voice, feeling her response in the way that she threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his softly, guiding the kiss before she moved his mouth against hers slowly. Holly moved to her tiptoes as she took a deep breath through her nose and parted her lips for him, inviting him to taste her mouth as he pulled her closer. Aaron slid his tongue against hers slowly, dragging out the feeling of it as his body started responding.

He’d kissed a lot more women than he’d actually slept with, but nothing had ever felt the way her hot mouth did as he dragged his tongue back over hers harder as she moaned against him. It was intoxicating and he slid his hands up and down her body over the jacket before she pulled away to shrug it off. Her lips were swollen and pink as she stared at him with a drunken look, making him want to shove her against the wall and kiss her into oblivion. Aaron had to remind himself that she’d been through something awful even though desire was the only thing that he saw in her eyes as she looked around the room slowly. “This is surreal,” Holly told him as she sank onto the couch and leaned back, inviting him with her eyes.

Aaron joined her, pulling her face to his to claim her lips roughly in a deep kiss that she immediately returned, tilting her head to allow him to go in harder. He kissed her with everything that he had as his cock hardened and his nerve endings twitched with need, careful not to push her too far as she whimpered against his lips. Holly moved over him, pushing the dress up to straddle him as she sucked his tongue between her lips and moved against him with a slow movement of her hips. He gripped her ass with one hand and let the other drag in her hair as he guided her movements, their kisses getting careless and sloppy as she moved against him in a torturous movement. “Holly…I want you so bad.” Aaron told her as he pulled away, closing his eyes and taking a breath. “How much do you want from me, baby?”

“I haven’t wanted this for a long time, Aaron. I do now.” Holly told him, making him think that it had been since the attack over a year ago. “I need you.”

“Tell me to stop anytime.” Aaron reminded her before he kissed her again, softly and deeply before running his hands up and down her back down to her legs as she shivered. She was so soft and hot as he stroked her outer thighs, jolting against him as she brushed against his cock. Her nipples were hard and pressed against his chest as he memorized the feeling of her in his arms, feeling like it was going to end all too soon. “Can I take this off?”

Holly glanced at the window, high and private before she nodded at him with a heated look. Aaron lifted the soft dress over her head, admiring her pale curves and deep pink nipples as he dropped it to the couch, smoothing her hair down her back. Her skin was damp and he leaned in to kiss her lips again as he stroked the underside of her breast slowly, making her moan. He tugged softly on her hair before he kissed her jaw gently, thumbing her nipple as she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. “You’re gorgeous. Sexy and so ready.” Aaron told her as he kissed her neck softly, slipping his hands down to cup her bare, rounded ass gently as she rocked against him.

This was better than anything he’d ever had before, taboo or not. He wasn’t even in a great rush to be inside of her as he kissed down her chest slowly, tasting her sweat from earlier as he inhaled the scent of her desire. He cupped a breast with his hand, still squeezing her ass with the other one as he leaned in to tongue her teasingly before sucking it between his lips. She groaned as she dropped her head back, her hair tickling his hand as she murmured words that he couldn’t focus on as he tasted her sweet body eagerly. “Oh God.” She rode him harder, whimpering with each thrust of her hip as he sucked harder, drawing the nipple between his teeth as he waited for her reaction. “Ahhhhhh, yes.” Holly gripped his hair as he watched her fall apart before him, shaking and wetting his shorts with her release as her skin flushed a deep pink and she dropped against him. “I’ve never done that like that before.” She was stammering, breathless and gorgeous as he felt her twitch through the long orgasm. “Ohhhhhh,” Aaron ran his fingers through her hair as he felt her relax against him with a soft giggle. “That felt really good.”

“I agree.” Aaron told her as she lifted her head to look at him, embarrassed by the sun.

“You didn’t get to…” Holly pressed her lips together as he leaned in to kiss her.

“I didn’t have to. This isn’t some quick thing for me, Holly.” Aaron confessed to her as she frowned at him.

“How will this end?” Holly questioned as he kissed her again, sliding her arms around his neck.

“Let’s take it day-by-day for now. I just love feeling you like this.” Aaron whispered to her, hearing her breath catch in her throat.

“I want to feel you inside of me, Aaron. I don’t think that I can get enough of you.” Holly told him, moving back to tug at his shirt as she eyed him greedily. “I couldn’t stop staring at you in the gym today.” He assisted her in taking it off and then moved his hands to the shorts. Holly tugged them, moving to free them from his feet as she gasped and stared at him. “Will that even fit?”

“Perfectly. I can wear a condom for you but I’m clean. I am checked a lot if you feel comfortable with me going bare.” Aaron told her, having been a bit worried during his wilder days.

“I have been on the pill forever. Bad periods.” Holly told him, reaching down to stroke him with her hand. She stared into his eyes as he breathed slowly, focused on the squeeze of her small hand around him.

“Do you really want this?” Aaron asked her, feeling close to coming as he started to rock against her hand.

“Why are you so worried about me?” Holly asked him, her eyes darkening in the light of the room. “Oh, Aaron…you looked me up. Didn’t you?”

“Holly, I didn’t know what I ‘d find. I just don’t want to hurt you.” He assured her, cupping her face and staring into her eyes. Her eyes teared up and she closed them slowly. “I just wanted to start a normal life again and there you were.”

“I’m the first since it happened?” Aaron asked her and she nodded slowly. “I want it to be good for you, Holly. I want you to trust me.”

“I do,” she told him and he kissed her as he pressed her onto her back on the couch. “Make love to me.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Aaron looked at his body poised over hers for a moment before asking her if she wanted to use a condom again. She shook her head no and he parted her legs with one hand as he stroked her wet center with his fingers, feeling how ready she was! Holly cried out as she felt him rub her clit softly with his finger as he slipped a finger inside of her. He moved in front of her entrance, stroking her softly before he slipped inside of her with a low groan.

Holly was tight around him, her legs spread and her head dropped as he moved slowly and deeply inside to allow her to adjust to his size. He leaned down to suck a nipple into her mouth as he pulled out of her slowly, moving back in as she lifted her hips. Aaron buried himself inside of her as she met his thrust, begging him to go harder as he gasped and pulled out again. Slowly, they began to increase the pace together as he fought not to come too fast inside of her tight walls.

Once she tightened around him and cried out, Aaron released inside of her long and forcefully with a low moan against her neck. They both relaxed against one another as she stroked his hair and he kissed her skin softly. “I didn’t think that would happen so fast. It wasn’t my plan.” He almost apologized to her as she sighed underneath him.

“I wanted it too. I couldn’t stop thinking about you once I saw you again and when it seemed like you wanted me as well, I had to try.” Holly told him, wrapping her arms around him. She kissed him and he returned it quietly, their tongues dancing together lightly.

They drifted to sleep together, lips pressed together as each one fought to keep their eyes open. Aaron carried her to his bed when he woke up first, placing her gently on the mattress as he looked her over. This was more than just sex and he knew that he couldn’t tell anyone about it. This was wrong so he could never tell anyone how good it was.

What if they got serious? What would he do then?

Aaron climbed onto the mattress beside her, pulling her into his arms as he inhaled her again with a slow breath. They slept on and off through the afternoon, waking up starving as he ordered some Thai food to be delivered. He handed her a tee shirt from his drawer, hating to see her covered up as he slipped on a pair of track pants. Aaron went to get some water from the fridge as he felt light and happy for the first time in a long time. Too bad it had to be kept secret.

He brought her a bottle of water, watching her bring her knees to her chest as she rested against his pillows with a sweet smile. She sipped it slowly as they talked about what to do the next day at work, both of them somber at the idea of having to hide it. When the doorbell rang, Aaron told her to stay put until the delivery guy was gone and left the room to pay him with a generous tip. He’d made sure to order something she would enjoy and he locked the door and set up the table with the containers and some plates. “Come on out and eat.”

Holly walked down the hallway, looking absolutely gorgeous as she walked into the light. She sat down with her water, declining anything else as she started spooning vegetables and rice onto a plate. Aaron chose the chicken and made a big plate as she smiled and shook her head. “You can eat like that because you work out so much.”

“It’s decent food though. I eat pretty clean for the most part.” Aaron told her, stabbing the meat with his fork as he looked at her. “Look who’s talking, yoga girl.”

“I love it. It balances me and I have struggled with my weight a little bit here and there.” Holly defended herself, laughing as he took his bite. “I need to be fit with what I do. Particularly now with a team instead of just a couple of clients!”

“You’re stunning.” Aaron told her, making her blush. “I was checking out your legs at the interview in those heels.”

“Oh my God.” She laughed and took a small bite of rice. “I was so nervous.” She shook her head and swallowed the food. “I still can’t believe I’m even here.”

“Nor can I. I didn’t think anything like this would happen, at least not this fast.” Aaron said again, looking at her for a long moment. “I don’t feel like I can claim you with the situation, Holly. I know that we have to hide this so I don’t want you to close yourself off to anything else that might come along.”

“I don’t want anybody else.” Holly told him, staring at him. “Do you?”

“No. Those days are long over.” Aaron told her, watching her push her plate away. “I just don’t want you to not live your life because of this.” He gestured his hand between them, watching her face sadden. “We will spend most of our time here. If you can trust your roommate to keep this secret, we might go there but I won’t expose you to the media by taking you out in public. We’d be in front of the firing squad quickly and they’d be digging into your past. I don’t want that for you.”

“I can find another job if this really turns into something. There’s a lot of companies in the city that would hire me. Not that I want you to throw your position away but I would consider it.” Holly told him, standing to move to the windows. “Was this a mistake?”

“No. It wasn’t.” He stood to walk over to her and gaze over her shoulder out at the expansive city before them. “Let’s just play it down for now so I can see how this would go over in the next few weeks. It might be fine as long as they’re sure I am not showing you any special treatment.” He kissed her hair. “I wouldn’t. I know you can do your job without any help. We checked your references and they were solid even if I couldn’t tell by knowing you.”

Holly left quietly after dinner, kissing him at the door before she went down in the elevator. Aaron remembered why he liked the quickies back in his younger days as he achingly wondered if he was going to end up hurting her in all of this. Holly had given herself to him, body and soul. She’d been through something terrible and she wanted him to replace the memory of her attack, coming so easily in his arms.

He thought again to his father’s words, knowing that Glen would give him a firm lecture if he learned about this. His father had never been thrilled with his shenanigans before but he respected that Aaron kept it out of the public eye and respected the girls as much as he could in the situation. He’d been young once himself and gave his son that much respect.

CHAPTER SIX

Aaron spent the night tossing and turning, missing the woman behind the smell on his sheets and pillow. He got up early to clean the sex off of his skin reluctantly and work out in his building, trying to get the blood flowing through his veins. He needed to be the owner of a team today, not a distracted man. He ran hard on the treadmill, still imagining Holly in his bed and on his couch as he sped up to escape the memory that wouldn’t leave his brain.

Once he was done, Aaron showered again and pulled out his black suit to hang against the bathroom door. He pulled on his boxer briefs and a white undershirt, sliding a new white shirt over it and buttoning up carefully. His hair was tousled but with product tonight and he slipped a blue tie on to honor the team. Aaron finished buttoning up his pants and slipped the coat on as he grabbed his keys, deciding to drive tonight.

He was nervous as the doorman wished him to have a good game and was aware of the eyes on him and the voices talking about him. Aaron flashed them his traditional smile, accepting their well-wishes as he went down to the garage to get his vehicle. He drove in the crowd to the arena just a few blocks away, seeing his team’s name in lights as his heart burst with pride. They were going to kill it this year.

Parking and entering the busy hallway, Aaron looked around as everyone greeted him. The level of adrenaline was overpowering as he soaked it all in, grinning as he remembered it from before. The team was just coming back in from practice and he high-fived them as they trudged by to shower and dress for the game in two hours, getting food in that time as well.

Aaron headed to his office, pausing in front of the therapy room as he glanced inside. Holly was there, dressed in dark blue workout pants and a white tank with the team jacket draped over the chair near her. She was choosing to watch the game, ready to head back when needed and she looked focused until she glanced up and met his eyes. Heat passed through them as well as sadness and he returned the look until somebody bumped into him and made him break away from her gaze. Aaron gave her one more look before stepping out onto the ice to confer with the coaches and referees, standing to gaze over the empty ice for a long moment. He weighed the love for the game over the possibility of love as he took in the view, watching as the Zamboni moved to clean the ice.

In just a little while, this place would be filled with fans of his team as well as the Bruins, all screaming and cheering their teams. The media would be interviewing him about this first game and the changes as he waited for one glimpse of the beautiful redhead that he craved already. He’d have to hide it from the team, the coaches, his family when they came to sit in his box seats and even the woman that he was protecting.

Aaron turned to go to his office for a few moments of peace, gazing down at the therapy room once again as he wished he could go in and kiss her. Tell her hello and that he missed her last night.

Aaron settled on sending her a text once he was alone. They’d exchanged numbers listed under fake names so nobody would be suspicious at a glance. Aaron doubted that she got it as she prepared for the night and he slid his phone into his drawer and paced across the room to the window to look out again.

He headed down for more interviews, straightening his tie and jacket before he stepped out near the bench. Aaron spoke about a positive ending to this game as well as the season and told them how good he felt about the team. He knew all too well what to say to the cameras and he smiled wearily as they moved on to talk to Pat.

Aaron stayed down as the team skated onto the ice to piercing screams and cheers, watching everything reverently as Pat moved next to him to lean against the wall. “Miss it?” His voice was loud enough for Aaron to hear but for it still to remain private.

“Yeah. I do.” Aaron admitted, looking over to see Holly securing her hair in a low ponytail as she stepped out to watch the team. She was wearing the jacket and covering her up her body that he’d loved last night, and he stared at her before turning his eyes back to the ice. It was a secret if there even was anything to hide now. It was hard to tell with the way they were having to act.

The game was fast-paced and everything that the fans wanted, with the Rangers scoring two goals in the first period to loud horns and cheers throughout the room. Aaron excused himself when it ended to see how his family was, pausing in front of Holly for just a moment as the team rushed by. “I should go see if they’re all okay.” She spoke in a monotone, her eyes dull and tired.

“I missed you last night.” His words were soft as she wiped her eyes and turned to leave him standing there, while the reporters rushed him to ask what he thought about his team in the first period. He responded on auto pilot before heading up to his family, greeting his young nephews and nieces with hugs as they ran towards him babbling about the man with the sticks. Aaron moved to his sisters next, hugging them and shaking the hands of their husbands as they congratulated him again.

Last was his mother after he hugged his dad, and he held onto her a little longer than normal. “Are you okay, Aaron? You look so tired.”

“That’s all it is, Mom. It’s a big day.” He took a seat in front of the window and chatted about the game with his family, unable to stop thinking about the empty look in Holly’s eyes.

****to be continued as PART 2***

PART 2

CHAPTER ONE

The night ended with Aaron and a bottle of whiskey in his bed after he chose a low-key dinner with his family to celebrate the first win of the season. The team had headed to their favorite bar to eat and have some beer, inviting him along, but Aaron didn’t want to drain the energy from the room.

Sure, he’d faked it through the interviews and smiled as he boasted about the scores and the defense. Aaron had seemed like the picture of a professional, standing with the coaches and some of the players as they laughed and carried on about some of the finer points of the game.

He couldn’t help but to feel her eyes on him as she watched the festivities from the bench, trying not to make any eye contact that would break his facade. One look into her sad eyes would break him, and Aaron wasn’t ready for that yet. He didn’t know what it was about this woman but the time that he’d spent with Holly had gotten him hooked, both his body and his mind. She challenged him while she turned him on and few had ever done that to him in the past.

His mom had looked at him in surprise when he offered to take all of them to one of the best steakhouses in the city, sharing a long glance with his father.

“Son, this is your team and you should celebrate with them. Your heart is still on that ice.” Glen told him, making Aaron laugh bitterly inside of his head. His heart felt more like it was still with Holly in his apartment the day before.

“I’m not in the mood for the crazy. I’m an old man now, Dad.” Aaron replied, smiling around at his family. “I owe you for this, too. I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for you guys.”

“You’d have found your way, Aaron.” Glen said calmly, both of them men feeling tears in their eyes. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you.” Aaron replied gruffly, slinging an arm around his mom. “Want some grub?” The kids started squealing and jumping around him in response while his sisters smiled at each other, asking if he was sure that he could handle it. They made their way out of the crowded arena as he glanced back to see Holly watching him, her eyes bright and shimmering as their gazes locked.

Aaron woke up in his bright bedroom, blinking as his head started pounding. Fucking hell but the whiskey was coming back to haunt him. After dinner, everyone else had headed home and he’d followed suit before finding himself alone and miserable. Instead of dealing with it like an adult, like he should have, Aaron broke out the bottle and started drinking as he watched highlights of the game and tried to force himself into that mindset. He tried to reason with himself why he was better off single as he always had been, free to do what he needed to do. He’d gotten sloppy drunk and passed out in his boxers and tee shirt like he would do in college.

Aaron was embarrassed as he slowly sat up, taking slow breaths and trying to figure out what he was capable of. There wasn’t anything pressing today, with just a practice scheduled and an away game the following night over in Philadelphia. Aaron didn’t need to travel with the team, though he had planned to upon the purchase when it was close and convenient. He loved the game and he wanted to be as much a part of it as he could.

Right now he just needed to recover. He glanced around as he stood slowly, his stomach lurching as he closed his eyes. “Asshole move, Neller.” He smiled wistfully at the fact that he called himself by his last name as it was done in the league. There was a beeping sound from somewhere in the room and he sat back down to look around slowly, seeing his phone on the mattress next to where he was sleeping. He reached over gingerly to grab it, standing up for some much needed water from the fridge along with a few Advil.

Water first. He took it to the couch, breathing in the air from the open window as he took a seat on the couch and ran a hand through his hair. Aaron glanced at the screen to see a few notifications, unlocking it to skim through them. There was a lot of congratulation themed messages on every form of his social media, along with Goggle alerts and emails. There were even a few texts that he decided to read, cringing when he saw the thread with Holly’s name. He’d been a jerk to her, starting an argument about the night before while drunk and senseless as he read through her concerned responses. The last one must have been after he’d fallen asleep, asking over and over if he was alright.

Well, fuck him. Aaron took a deep breath and another long sip of water before he stared forward for a few moments. He needed to say something, to do something. He started typing an apology, sounding weak and unfocused as he read it with a scowl on his face. Aaron had brushed off a lot of girls this way yet he found himself having trouble apologizing? What the hell was happening to him?

It was Holly. He could still smell her in the apartment if he inhaled deeply enough. Aaron could still feel her tight around him, clinging to him as she reached her intense orgasms as he heard her cries.

He forced himself back to reality and shook his head, composing something that sounded sincere and responsible, as opposed to what he’d sent last night. Apparently, he’d tried to sect her along the way as well, making him shake his head. He hit send and sat quietly, wondering what would happen from there.

Aaron wasn’t ready to let her go, not yet. They couldn’t out themselves to the world but they could spend time together and get to know each other. He imagined nights spent at his apartment as he closed his eyes and took a slow breath, feeling his stomach growl softly. Food. That might help.

The phone chimed, making him jump as he opened his eyes to see that it was a friend from college congratulating him on the win. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Aaron grunted, staring at it as he waited.

He stilled as the phone rang, displaying her name. “Holly?”

“I can’t believe you just dropped off the face of the earth like that last night. You were a goddamn mess, Aaron.” Her voice was emotional and high and he closed his eyes. “What the hell are you trying to do to me?”

“I don’t know what I was trying to do to myself, Holly. I hated last night…well, the part where I couldn’t do anything more than talk briefly with you. All I wanted to do was go in your room and hold you for a minute, kiss you hello. I had to hold back on all of that and it was harder than anything I’ve ever done.” Aaron told her, getting more confused with every word. “You’ve gotten to me. I don’t know how but something other than hockey has gotten under my skin. I need more of you.”

“I wanted the same, Aaron. You looked so handsome last night and I felt like I was nothing there.” Holly admitted, making him launch into another apology. “It wasn’t as much you as I’d like to let you think. It was me as well. I know that I’m falling for you and I’m scared to death.” Her voice softened as she took a breath. “I know that we shouldn’t be doing this at all.”

“I can’t stop.” Aaron admitted, relief flooding him when she told him the same. “I have to see you.”

“You sound like you’re in bad shape,” Holly noted as he ran a hand through his hair.

“I am. I was an idiot last night and I’m sorry, baby. I can’t do that again.” Aaron couldn’t tell her that enough and she sighed at the other end.

“Would you like some food? I can bring something.”

CHAPTER TWO

Aaron was damp from his shower when she knocked at the door, his hair falling into his face in damp chunks as he pulled a shirt on. He’d slid on some worn jeans as well and he brushed his hair back before opening it. “You certainly don’t look as on it as you did at the arena last night.” He let her in, breathing in her scent as she headed into the kitchen.

The smell of the deli sandwiches hit him next and he closed the door slowly as he watched her in her yoga pants. “I guess I don’t. Think the team would be proud now?”

“From what they were saying, I am certain a few of the guys are feeling the same way.” Holly replied, shaking her head as she turned to look at them. “I tell all of my clients what to do for their bodies but some never listen. I guess I wouldn’t either, being just a girl their age.”

“Much smarter and prettier than they are though.” Aaron walked over to the counter, chugging his Gatorade as she watched quietly. “The ones that want to make it will do what they need to do. It’s a tough lesson when you lose everything but it’s not like we’ve only been skating for a couple of years. This is a lifetime dream for most of us.” He set the bottle down and his face sank as he heard himself. “Us.”

“I saw your passion in the sport last night. You are a star up there talking about it, all knowledge and power and sexy as hell. I had a hard time standing still.” Holly assured him, making him gaze at her with curious eyes. “I wanted to climb inside you just to know what it’s like to love something as much as you love hockey.”

“Is that the only reason?” Aaron asked her, watching her flush a deep pink from her chest to her face.

“God, no. I wanted to drag you somewhere and rip that suit off and have my wicked way with you.” Holly told him, her eyes wide with desire as he felt his cock tighten. “I mean…I am still upset with you.”

“I need to eat some of this before I think about that yet, but it’s the best way to make up.” Aaron told her huskily as she blinked slowly, looking fresh and beautiful as he considered skipping lunch. He walked over to her, holding her face as he kissed her softly and thanking anyone he could silently for the chance to do this again. Hell, he might start having a little faith again, wish was something he lost after his injuries. “God, you taste so sweet. I couldn’t stop thinking about these lips last night even with everything going on around me.”

His stomach growling again made him pull away from her reluctantly, grabbing the bag and some waters before asking her if she wanted to eat on the balcony. There was a nice breeze today and she nodded as she reached down to braid her wild hair slowly, following him once she’d secured it. He had a table out there for eight, explaining that sometimes his family came over during the summer for BBQ. They sat beside each other, the heat like electricity as he unpacked their food and looked at her for a long moment before unwrapping the huge meal that she’d brought him. “You’re close to your family?” Holly asked, watching him nod as he took a bite.

“Very. They were all their last night to see the game.” Aaron replied, smiling automatically at the mention of them before he realized that she might not be able to meet them. “How about you?”

“Close enough. The parents and the sister are all in Colorado still but we talk a lot. They’re very supportive.” Holly told him, seeing him nod as he looked at her warmly. “I try to go for the holidays, depending on my schedule. My sister is having her first baby soon. A girl.”

“How old is she?” Aaron asked and she picked off a piece of her bread.

“Twenty-six. They’ve been married five years and they’re so cute together. I don’t know…I haven’t had the time or the focus to even think about finding that.” Holly spoke slowly, sneaking a glance at him that spoke volumes. “I’m going to be twenty-three soon and it seems like I should.”

“I’m thirty-two and I only recently started thinking about it.” Aaron admitted, making her eyes widen. “I see the players with their kids and it looks so great. I love my sister’s kids to pieces.”

“They are sweet. I saw them last night.” Holly told him, smiling with him as he shook his head.

“Yeah.” Aaron said, taking another bite before he asked what she’d done last night. Holly told him that she’d gone for a bit to the bar before the crowds got to be too much, trying to enjoy the adrenaline that had been in everyone’s blood. “Did they protect you from the wolves?”

“Completely. I don’t think I’d be able to meet anyone even if I was looking with those guys around.” Holly told him, laughing as she took a bite of her smaller sandwich filled with vegetables.

“It’s not all innocent, Holly. Trust me.” Aaron warned her, making her narrow her eyes at him. “You’re so different from other girls that they’re going to want to have you…all of them.” He shook his head as she raised one eyebrow at him.

“I haven’t seen much about you in the media but I’m guessing you were ‘one of them’ at one time?” Holly asked, making his stomach twist as he stared at her.

“I was a sports figure, Holly.” Aaron said wearily as she smiled weakly.

“You still are…bigger if anything. I don’t doubt that you have women throwing themselves at you every chance they get. Now you’re an owner and really in the spotlight here in New York.” She shook her head and wrapped her sandwich as she glanced at it with disinterest. “Great. I’m mad at you because you’re so jealous and here I am being the same way.” She met his eyes. “After I was attacked that night, I didn’t want anyone for a really long time. I was guarded and scared, to be honest. I didn’t even go out to dinner with someone if they asked me. Holly’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I wanted you from the moment I saw you. There was no fear, no hesitation. There was just a need to be with you and a trust that I’d thought I lost, which is scarier in some ways than being terrified for so long.” Holly reached for his hand and laced her fingers through his. “Let’s not waste the time that we have being jealous.”

He looked down where they were joined together as his body indicated that it wasn’t enough. “I’ve never heard a better idea, except for this one.” Aaron told her, leaning over to kiss her as she stilled against him. They stumbled in to put the food in the fridge for later a few minutes into the kiss, with him lifting her against his body to carry her to the bedroom.

“I swore that I was done with this,” Holly moaned as he dropped onto the bed and pulled her over him.

“It’s bit of a mess in here. Sorry.” Aaron apologized before kissing her neck as she looked around. The empty bottle was turned sideways on the bed, the sheets wrinkled and messy as her eyes fluttered closed briefly.

“You really did yourself in last night. Oh god.” Holly murmured as his teeth dragged across her skin. “That explains the picture. Don’t leave marks.”

“Everyone will know that you’re taken that way,” he growled before her first sentence paused in his brain. He pulled away and stared into her face as she looked back with her cheeks pink and flushed. “Pictures?”

“Yeah, from when you were trying to get me to come over. I was so tempted. You’re relentless, Aaron.” Holly told him weakly as he closed his eyes and tried to remember the night before. Alcohol and fueled emotions weren’t good for him.

“Tempted?” He returned to sucking on her skin again, ignoring her reminders to not leave a mark.

She pulled him closer as she pressed against him, rocking gently as she whispered how bad she wanted him. She told him what she’d done after he’d sent the pictures, making him harden painfully as he gripped her ass hard with his large hands. “Aaron,” Holly whispered as she felt him pressing into her, just clothing between them. “I want you.”

He kissed her as he pressed her down onto the bed slowly, his hands sliding down her body as his muscles ached slightly from the night before. Hangover or not, this wasn’t stopping and he made fast work of sliding her yoga pants off as she moaned into his mouth. “Need you.” Holly returned the favor by stripping off his shirt, her eyes darkening at the sight of his muscled torso as she threw it to the floor. He kissed her again, slipping his hands under the tee shirt that she’d worn over without a bra, finding her nipples hard and ready for him as he moved down to her neck. “I wish I could’ve seen you last night. I wish I could’ve tasted you.” Holly yelped as he spread her legs wide with his hands, kissing down her stomach. “Maybe I should get you mad at me more often if that’s what it does to you.”

“No, never again.” Holly pleaded, her hands slipping into his hair as he leaned close to lick her firmly, slowing down in all of the right places. “I’m so close.” He slipped her shirt up, revealing her breasts as he took a look up her body, harder as he saw how close she was to falling apart for him. Aaron slipped his tongue inside of her, stroking her with his thumb as she bucked and jerked her head back. He kept his pace fast and hard, drinking her in as she released with a small cry of his name. Aaron pulled himself jerkily from her, standing to strip off his jeans as she pulled her knees up.

“Stay there,” Aaron told her in a shaking voice as he kneeled before her, pressing her legs back before he slipped inside of her with a groan of relief. Addiction overtook him as he leaned over and took her slow and deep, making their voices blend as they released their desires. He was fighting his urge as she tightened again, letting out a long whimper as he slid deeper and harder inside of her. “Holly…come with me.” She did as he jerked with it, shooting inside of her as his cock was warmed by her juices. Aaron rocked slowly, whispering her name over and over as she slipped her hands over her thighs to touch his skin.

CHAPTER THREE

She relaxed in his arms afterward, lost in a sated daze as he stroked her hair. “Did I really send you a cock pic?”

“You didn’t look back at the texts?” Holly asked him, giggling against him as she looked into his face. “Did you send any to anyone else?” =

“I didn’t check but let’s hope not. Every other text was business.” Aaron told her, shaking his head. “I’ve never done that before.” She looked at him in disbelief. “Seriously, I haven’t. Don’t let it get out into the public. There’s already a scandal involved with the team.”

“What was that one again?”

“Kid with another woman. He had a whole secret life that blew up in his face. He said he sold because he was close to retiring but I think it was a cop out.” Aaron yawned as he buried his face in her hair, breathing deeply. “I love this scent. I’ve never smelled it before.”

“I order it on line. It’s only sold at a store in Colorado so I keep it stocked up.” Holly told him, parting her lips as he found them with his own.

They ended up making love again, her on top as she rode him hard and slow. Aaron was mesmerized as her tits bounced, watching them languidly as he held onto her hips and let her have the control. She leaned down to kiss him as he came with her, their tongues dancing together as she pulsed above him.

They ate the rest of the sandwiches after an hour of dozing in bed, dressed in his clothes as they relaxed on the couch and watched a movie. “Am I leaving tonight?” Holly asked him softly, causing him to stare at her for a long moment.

“I don’t want you to leave. Are you leaving with the team tomorrow morning?” Aaron asked her as she nodded. “Are you packed?”

“Yeah. I did that this morning.” Holly replied, tilting her head at him. “Are you going? You don’t have to as the owner, right?”

“I don’t, but I plan to for the closer games at the very least. I figure the hotel room is a good tax write off and I enjoy them.” Aaron told her, setting his wrapper behind them on the table he had behind the couch. “It’s a block away from the team one. Want to stay with me?”

“Aaron…we’d be so busted.” Holly murmured as she pulled him down for a kiss.

“How? You have your own room.” He argued against her lips, kissing her harder.

“Did you arrange that?” Holly accused him, making him laugh as he pulled away from her.

“It’s the rule for female staff unless they room together. It works out pretty well here, I think.”

“So we’re secret still?” Holly whispered, feeling his eyes lock with hers as he felt her pain in the room.

“I’m going to find ways for us to be together, Holly. I can’t come right out with it, not for a while but it won’t be no contact. We’ll spend time together and work on this and make a decision later.” Aaron promised her, pulling her close. “We work together and I am going to take advantage of that as much as I can.”

She stayed the night in his bed with him, dragging herself out on the morning to get showered and to the bus with the team. Aaron was leaving a couple of hours later, packing as he gazed at the sheets that were torn off the bed absently. He was just driving himself and planned to be there in time for the afternoon practice and some media.

Aaron had reserved a nice room for this trip with the idea of her staying with him in mind. It had a huge garden tub and big shower and would offer them some privacy from the team and staff. There was always the chance he’d see fans there but Aaron had a plan for them to exit separately, and they could be together in the same place for the sake of the team. He’d thought of everything the night he’d been drinking, missing her too much not to see her anymore. He wasn’t accustomed to these kind of gestures but she was worth every bit of it.

On the way there, Aaron imagined her driving with him, holding hands as they talked about the game. Of course, in his daydream she’d given up her job as opposed to him sacrificing his. He was willing to support her so she’d never have to work again but Holly wasn’t that kind of girl. She loved her job and he knew that she was stubborn enough to choose her independence over him. He came back to reality as his phone rang, answering using his blue tooth to speak to Pat about some issue. They’d arrived an hour ago and everyone was getting set up in their rooms and some food before they had a practice, with one of the rookies complaining about leg pain. Aaron told him to have Holly take a look at it and see what she thought, ending the call with a sigh as he pressed on the gas pedal a little harder.

He needed to be there.

Tanner glanced at Holly as they set up the room in the home team arena, raising his eyebrow. “What’s that on your neck, Holly?” She was wearing her hair in a loose bun on her head and flushed pink at the question as her mouth dried up in anticipation.

She sipped some water and shrugged as she checked her bag. “I started seeing someone. No biggie.”

“I hope he’s not a part of this world, or hell…maybe he should be. Your schedule is going to be tough to keep up with.” Tanner whistled as she stared at the towels in front of her.

“It is.” He seemed to drop it as one of the players came in to tell her about some pain, and she had him hop on the table in his shorts as she pressed against his calf with a frown. “Feels like a muscle. Let me work it out for you.” She continued the work and looked at the young guy. “Are you stretching with your workouts?”

“Not as much as I should be,” Randy admitted and she shook her head at him with a small smile.

“Start. Do some yoga here and there to break things up and really get a good stretch in. You guys kill yourself in that gym.” Holly reprimanded him as she watched him nod and scratch his minimum of a beard. “Tell me how it feels after the skate.” She watched as he left the room and glanced over at Tanner. “These guys are my age or older than me and I feel like their mother sometimes.” They both looked up as voices filled the walkway outside of the door, her picking up on the fact that Aaron was here. “Want to watch the practice and see how Randy does?”

“Sure.” Tanner responded, following her out and to the rink where they were gathered and listening to Pat. Holly took a seat in the first row and leaned forward, sipping her water as she glanced at Aaron. He nodded at her, greeting both of them as Tanner leaned back against the glass behind the player’s bench.

“Did you get a chance to look at Randy?” Aaron asked her, taking the seat beside her casually as her heart started beating faster. He was dressed in slacks and a white shirt with a red tie today and she had to force herself to stare forward.

“He’s not stretching like he should be. I told him to update me after practice.” She set her hand between their seats, brushing her fingers against his thigh as she watched him shiver out of the corner of her eyes.

Nobody was watching them and she dared to glance at him, taking him in with one long hungry glance. Aaron looked over at her, his eyes already darkening as their gazes locked. “Holly.” His voice was a whisper before they both heard his name and looked forward with a slight jump.

Pat was waving him down to the ice and she watched as he stood quickly and darted away from her, taking a deep breath as she tried to calm the feelings inside of her. The guys really started to skate and she found herself staring at Aaron more than she did the players, feeling like a girl with a crush in high school.

She knew that this was much more than that.

Tanner joined her in the seats as they analyzed a few things and made a few comments about some of the shots. After an hour and a half, it was time for the home team to get a chance and she stood slowly before stretching out and closing her eyes. Holly would love a good yoga class right now to relax her but she knew they souled get some dinner before the game so she wouldn’t be tempted to eat junk at the game.

She was surprised when a few of them went to a local bistro, one of those people being Aaron. He took the seat across from her as they ordered, everyone sticking to high protein meals and water as she nodded approvingly. They had a light meal of chatting and laughter before everyone seemed to sober up before the game. She and Aaron walked a bit slower than everyone else, trying not to draw attention to themselves as she fought taking his hand. “Tonight?” He asked her softly after glancing around to make sure they were alone.

“Yeah.” Holly told him, watching him slip his phone from his pocket and enter something into it before hers vibrated in her purse. She looked at him as they followed the others into the lobby, dropping her face as she headed to her room to get dressed into her work clothes for the game.

The arena was filling up as she dealt with the players stopping in to see her for advice or just to talk. Holly was getting close to some of them and she found it comforting that there might be brother figures on this team, since her heart belonged to Aaron. She wished them all luck as she leaned out of the door, telling them to kick ass before she shrugged her jacket on and straightened her bun quickly. Holly couldn’t stand the idea of not watching the game, since she’d always watched Manny’s fights pretty closely.

She told herself that it had nothing to do with Aaron as she stood by the wall and stared at him talking to Pat near the bench. He was focused on the ice as he made hand motions to the coach, nodding passionately as they seemed to agree on something. She thought he was so hot talking about the love of his life and always had. The way he’d played was captivating and quite the introduction to teenage hormones for Holly, leading her to a few clumsy and realistic experiences with high school boys.

She blinked as she realized that the crowd was screaming as the teams moved onto the ice, seeing Aaron glance over at her quickly in the pandemonium. Holly smiled and gave her guys positive reinforcement as they moved past her to the sound of boos, something that was expected in an away game. She kept the smile on her face for the cameras that were no doubt filming even though she hated the booing. At the fights, the terms had become downright violent as well as extremely sexual in nature from the women. The signs were all of that multiplied by millions.

Holly looked over the crowd, seeing several signs promoting the fans team or player, finding nothing too harsh. She preferred this environment and she took a deep breath as she stared over the ice, moving forward to stand against the glass. Randy looked good and she confirmed silently that he was likely slacking off in his work outs as she moved onto the other players.

Once the puck was dropped, her adrenaline as a therapist kicked in hard. Holly watched all of the movement on the ice closely, breathing in relief a few times when guys managed to get up from being down on the ice. She was in good shape but she’d never understand how these guys bounced back from some of their injuries. Aaron had several that he didn’t recover so well from and she let her glance pass over the people around her to where he stood behind the players, his eyes locked onto the action even as she picked up on the scowl that lightly graced his face. He turned his head to meet her eyes and the adrenaline that they were both feeling turned into a dangerous heat as she felt her breath hitch in her throat. The professional in her wavered as she considered taking him back into the empty parts of the arena where they could do all of the things that their eyes screamed for. Her thighs ached and her nipples were pressed against the sports bra that she wore under her shirt, needing teeth and lips against them. Holly forced her eyes back to the ice, feeling like her need could melt the ice around her as she tried to see the players but the crowd broke out in screams as something loud filled the air. She saw her guys celebrating and it registered that they’d scored the first goal as she raised her own arms in celebration, still feeling the heaviness of her breasts underneath her clothes.

The game ended with a three goal lead and some happy and healthy players walking by her as she smiled and slapped some of their gloves. Holly had been achy the entire game and she wanted to be in Aaron’s room with him as soon as possible, barely registering the game. Thankfully, there were no injuries to be concerned about but she made a mental note to pull her shit together so she could do her job properly if there had been. This was dangerous.

The locker room was loud as she headed to her room, not wanting to go in there and see things that she didn’t need to see. Aaron would love that. Walter was the first to come in, picking her up and twirling her in a hug as he held her against the post-game clothes that they wore to greet the crowd. “Did you see that goal?”

Which one? The first, second or third? “I did. Very nice, Walt!” She’d grown close to the captain and preferred this nickname to the use of his last name as the other players used. “What are your plans?”

“Food and drink. Want to come?” Walt asked her and she didn’t know what to say. There were too many things to consider and she felt relieved as some of the others popped into the room. Walter crowed again as she laughed.

CHAPTER FOUR

Holly learned from some of the others that it was a big group dinner that everyone was going to, including coaches and the owner. “Do I have time to change?” She really did like wearing feminine clothing and had some packed just in case.

“We’re meeting in an hour.” Quinn told her the name of the restaurant and she nodded as she glanced around. Everyone seemed good here, though she still called out to check on all of them before she planned on leaving.

Tanner and Holly walked the short distance to the hotel to change, knowing the guys would be drinking at the bar with their day off the following Friday. She slipped her hand into her pocket, feeling her phone vibrate but knowing she couldn’t check it like she desperately wanted to. They arranged to meet in the lobby as she hurried down the hall to her door, closing it and getting her phone as a weight dropped off of her shoulders. Her family was testing about seeing the game and the win. Friends were doing the same but she skimmed past those to find the name that she used for Aaron and clicked on those messages.

He told her about the dinner and asked that she come so he could see her, double checking on their later plans as well. He seemed really wound up and Holly assured him that she’d be there as she smiled briefly. She slipped out of her work clothes and found her cute black skirt with a long sleeved shirt in a burnt orange that had a sexy little scoop neck and gathered sleeves. Underneath it, she wore the new lingerie that she’d gone shopping for Aaron. It was a demi cup bra in black lace and a matching thong and garter that she secured under her outfit as she ran her hands down her body. Holly slipped her feet into her favorite black heels that had been her gift to herself for getting the job, getting a jacket before she left the room. On the way down in the elevator, she sent responses to the other texts with a lot of smiling faces and cheer telling them that she was meeting the team for a celebration dinner.

Tanner called for a cab at the corner to get them to Del Frisco's on the other side of town, chatting about the game and some of the plays as she nodded and smiled. Holly hadn’t had a lot of time to get ready but she’d managed to add some liner to her eyes along with mascara. Her favorite dark red lipstick was smeared over her lips and he glanced at her as they slid inside of the back of the car. “You clean up pretty well, Miller.”

“You too.” Tanner was in slacks and a white shirt with a tie, his hair controlled with some product in its tousled waves. She smiled and realized how attractive he was with his dark hair and eyes.

They arrived on the corner within a short time and exited the cab as he tossed some bills at the driver. Holly approached the door, seeing a crowd but knowing that the guys had a place inside. She heard her name called and turned her head right to left, smiling when she saw one of Manny’s assistants approaching her. “Phil! Hello!” She hugged him, waving Tanner inside as she asked how he was. “How was the fight tonight?”

“He kicked ass and we’re eating here. Imagine that!” Phil told her, making her laugh and hook arms with him as they moved past the line and entered. It turned out that their large tables were very close and Holly saw everyone mingling as she smiled up at the very tall and intimidating man on her arm. “The boys are making friends.”

They joined the crowd, each ordering a drink as Manny gave her a tight squeeze and greeted her warmly. She stood with him as she eyed the menu, starving suddenly from all of the excitement and need she’d been fighting with all night. Ordering the crab from the waitress making the rounds, she looked around for Aaron and found him standing by Pat as he watched her intently. There was a dark steel to his eyes and she realized that it was directed at the fighter standing beside her. That needed to be nipped in the bud and she turned her attention to him. “So, do you guys miss me yet?” Holly hoped that Manny wouldn’t take too much notice to what was going on.

“Scott just isn’t the same.” Manny groaned in a teasing tone, fully aware of why she’d chosen to leave his team. “How are these guys treating you?”

“It’s like a whole bunch of big brothers. Don’t mind the looks they might give you.” Holly told him, smiling brightly as he glanced around. “I think it’s a bit more hectic at times but I love it.” Her eyes met Aaron’s again and she sipped her drink, some fruity concoction that she’d forgotten the name of. She looked around the building, admiring the red material draped around the high ceilings and the general feel of the high-class place. She’d be getting used to this working for the clients that she was. Her phone vibrated in her purse that was draped over her arm, only holding what she needed.

Holly excused herself to use the restroom after she glanced at it with a small smile, walking out of the crowded dining room and down the hallway into a quieter area. She saw the bathrooms ahead of her as footsteps followed her, making her glance back. Aaron approached her, his eyes searching the area as they focused on one door and took her arm. He opened it, pulling her inside and closing it to darkness as she gasped. “What is this?”

“Storage closet. What is that asshole doing here?” Aaron asked her, slipping his hands around her slim waist and pulling her against him.

“Manny? Aaron, he’s my former boss and what happened isn’t his fault. Stop that.” Holly hissed, silenced as he kissed her hungrily. She tasted the whiskey on his breath and shivered as she thought back to the night he’d had too much. His tongue was inside of her and demanding as she pulled him closer, feeling him lift her onto something that seemed soft enough as she wrapped her legs around his waist. “I want you.” Holly moved her mouth down to his jaw, her body on fire as she nipped at him and heard him unzip his pants as she sighed in relief.

“I wanted you all night.” Aaron slipped a hand between them, moving her thong aside just from feeling alone and teasing her with his fingers as she moaned. “One look from you and I’m ready to go down on my fucking knees.” He slipped one inside as she dropped her head back, sliding in and out. “I knew that you were wet the entire time for me just by looking at you.”

“I like watching you behind the bench, all passion and power. I like it as much as I liked watching you play.” Holly told him, breathless in the dark, not knowing his next move. She knew that they were risking a lot sneaking away like this but couldn’t find it inside of her to care as he spread her legs and drove himself inside of her. “Aaron…oh…harder.”

“I am taking you to my room tonight and fucking the hell out of you tonight after this. I just can’t wait to be inside of you.” Aaron promised her as he took her slow and rough, pinning her body against his in the room. They stopped talking and moved together to find their needed release after a long night of want, with Holly breaking right before he did. Aaron thrust one more time before dropping back and letting her fall against him as his hands drifted down her thighs. “Garters? You’re wearing only those tonight, Holly.”

“That’s what I was hoping for.” She whispered back, feeling his kiss as she parted her lips for him.

They left the room separately and both went in to repair their appearance, feeling like they’d gotten away with it. Holly calmed her hair down and cleaned up the smeared lipstick before replacing it carefully. She blotted her face with a damp towel to even out the pink spots and fixed her clothes as she looked critically at herself. Aaron was standing right at the entrance of the dining room on his phone as she passed, her body still pulsing for him.

She returned to the table, happy to see that their food was being brought out. She was starving now. Holly sat by Phil and Walter as they got to talking, happily cracking and eating her dinner as she moaned over it. Aaron came back over and dug into his steak, glancing at her for a few seconds every now and then as he talked with some of the other guys. It was a very festive group, eating and drinking until they started leaving in pairs and groups. “Want to head out?” Tanner asked her, yawning from the few beers that he’d enjoyed.

“I’m going to enjoy one more drink with the guys but I’ll catch a cab back to the hotel.” Holly promised him, watching him nod and look carefully at the group before heading out. She looked at Aaron, standing up and saying his farewells to Pat as he shot her a look. Everyone seemed to be calling it a night and since nobody had heard her excuse with Tanner, she slipped out front with Aaron casually. “How do we do this?” Her voice was a whisper and he stared at her before replying.

“I’ll take the first cab and head up to the room. Follow me with your own.” She nodded, watching him step away and into a car before she did the same. Holly hoped that nobody was watching as she pulled away from the curb and her own hotel, ending up at his as she walked to his room ready for more.

CHAPTER FIVE

Their affair continued the same way for a couple of months. Aaron always managed to make time for them, be it after a game at home on somewhere on the road. He romanced her as much as anybody could without their relationship being known. They both hated it, but the season was busy and they made do with being satisfied by the time that they did have. Nobody seemed to be catching on and Holly felt both relieved and disappointed in that.

Some of the players asked her out along the way, after a little time had passed since she started. Holly always told them that she was flattered and that she didn’t feel right about that, given her position with the team. It was the stock answer but not the one that she could give Aaron, choosing to run back to his bed every chance she got so they could enjoy the way they knew and loved each other’s bodies.

They were on a week-long trip when she started feeling sick, assuming that she’d picked up a virus from one of the games. Though she kept herself really healthy, there were thousands of people at any given arena and it was bound to happen. She was resting in Aaron’s bed in Minnesota, smiling at the way that he was fussing over her and insisting that she eat. “I’m okay. I’ll kick this, Aaron. It’s just been busy with the couple of injuries and the traveling.” She’d tried to insist on sleeping in her own room but he loved having her in his, making her relent and find a cab after she’d passed on the team dinner. “I just need sleep.”

They both went to sleep snuggled against each other, making love slowly before she got up to go to the hotel to head home on a plane. Everything was going well apart from the secret that they were keeping and it worried her, making her restless in her seat beside Tanner. “You look a little rough.” He told her, causing her to scowl in his direction.

“I’m just tired and kind of sick, I think. Too much traveling.” Holly rested her head back on the seat and closed her eyes lazily, feeling thirsty.

“Rest up this week while we’re home. This isn’t your style, Holly.” Tanner teased her as she smiled wanly.

“Don’t I know it?”

They got home and she went home to sleep, still feeling unsettled a week later. Holly was doing everything in her power to get better but it seemed to drag on just enough to wear her down even as she felt hungry all of the time. She ate healthier food than usual and ended up falling asleep on Aaron faster than he was used to, finally suggesting she see a doctor.

Just as she was picking up the phone to make an appointment as she eyed the calendar for a good day, her heart dropped into her stomach, settling like a heavy lump. Holly wasn’t the most regular girl in the world, but it had been about six weeks since her last period. She’d been so busy that she hadn’t thought about it. Holly stared at the dates, thinking that there was no way she could be pregnant. She was great about taking her pills and had not been on any kind of medication to alter their effect.

Shit. She grabbed her purse and walked out of the apartment in her worn jeans and a sweater to the corner store, glancing around for any familiar faces. Holly wasn’t a celebrity by any means, but she’d gotten to know a few people working with the team. She didn’t want to explain this or have it get back to Aaron, since it had to be her mind running on overtime. Holly let out a small sigh of relief and grabbed a few choices from the aisle, exiting it as she dropped the test kits into a basket and ducking her head. She chose self-checkout to stay discreet, paying and bagging everything as fast as possible before heading to the quiet apartment to suffer through this alone.

Holly locked the door behind her and drank a whole glass of water before she looked over her choices in pregnancy tests. She felt sick thinking about this but she picked the one that seemed easiest and headed into the bathroom to do her thing. The worst part was going to be waiting and she walked back out into the living room to grab the other tests and drop them onto her bed as she paced back and forth.

Holly was young and she was sleeping with her boss, which was the worst situation to have this happen to her…to them. This kind of news could tank Aaron’s reputation and bring scandal to the team all over again while she could apply elsewhere and disappear quietly from his life. It was the only answer if that test did come up positive. He couldn’t even make this a real relationship with her yet. How would he handle becoming a father from some fling that he was having?

After the given time, Holly walked back into the bathroom and sat on the cold toilet before she picked up her future. She took a deep breath and stared at the two lines that would forever change her life, staring at them as tears slid down her cheeks. She knew that anything with Aaron was over to save his position in the world that he loved, leaving Holly to decide where to go from there. She could end it herself and pretend that nothing had happened, continuing to work but knowing deep inside that she could never face Aaron with that kind of knowledge inside of her head. Holly didn’t even think she could consider that by herself. She might have to get another position and move away to do this on her own, or find a way to make him think it was somebody else’s baby.

Any one of those choices broke her heart as she cried for the loss of the man that had made her trust again, curling her knees against her body as she sat against the wall. Aaron had become everything to her, so much so that she couldn’t hurt him and his job with this news. He’d gotten too far.

****to be continued as PART 3****

PART 3

CHAPTER ONE

Aaron left the restaurant with a grin on his face, pleased to have scored another sponsor for the team. Since their games had been all wins and things were looking great, they were starting to step forward.

At least that was working in his life. It wouldn’t leave his mind that he hadn’t seen Holly in a week though it had been a busy one for all of them. Three away games, practices and some meetings on his end as well. She had a few small injuries with the team that she was working out but he hadn’t really even talked to her. Aaron hated to admit it, but he missed her. He missed everything about her, pushing away the feelings that he knew were cemented within him even as he did it. It made him wonder too much about their future. He stopped at the curb on the way back to his apartment, slipping his phone from his pocket and glancing down at it.

Nothing from Holly. He decided to take a chance and wrote a text about the lunch as well as asking to see her. The light changed and he strode forward, making it to his house in twenty minutes without any response. He took the elevator up, feeling restless with his free afternoon as he changed into workout clothes and debated which gym to head to. He didn’t feel like being home and the silence from his phone was eating away at him. Aaron decided on the team one and left his place again to walk over, using his key to get inside and into the huge room, happy to see a few players doing their thing. No redhead though, making him feel bitter inside.

Aaron had always enjoyed an intense workout when he had things on his mind, particularly after his depression. He had found himself doing it more and more these days, missing the daily exercise of the game. Aaron knew that he had replaced it with Holly, making love with her every chance he got. He hardened at the memories of it, glancing around as he set his bag down against the wall. There was some hard rock playing over the speakers as everybody greeted him in cheerful moods, feeling the positive spirit of the team fill the room. He loved it.

Holly was on her computer when her phone chimed, researching everything that she could about a healthy pregnancy. She looked sadly at the screen, seeing a text from Aaron that would go ignored. She didn’t know what to say, though the team had been so busy that it hadn’t been an issue yet anyway.

She missed him. She missed talking with him, cuddling with him and her newly awakened hormones missed sex with him when she wasn’t feeling sick. Holly had no idea how she was going to handle that knowing fully well that she couldn’t imagine being with anybody but Aaron. She loved him but she needed to protect him. She returned to the page about nutrition that she had pulled up, making a grocery list as she looked over it. All of her energy was going into this baby and work, something she was trying to tell herself was a healthy thing. She heard the front door open and glanced over to see her roommate walk in with a bag from a nearby store. “Hi Lisa. Shopping again?”

“Just on the way home from meeting with a client.” Lisa replied walking over to Holly with worry etched on her pretty face. Holly had been honest with her about everything going on and Lisa had even met Aaron once at the apartment when they were closer to it than his, seeing how happy her friend was in the smile on her face. “I saw Aaron walking back. He looks unhappy, Hol.”

“I got a text from him. I need to make up an excuse as to why it’s over.” Her tone was sad and Lisa read the page closely, realizing that there was going to be a lot of good food in their kitchen soon.

“You could tell him about the baby as well,” Lisa suggested, looking at Holly as she glanced up. “I love that you’re into the health aspect of this, but all of the physical work isn’t going to help your head. I mean, you are keeping it and he should know too.”

“He loves hockey, Lisa. He’ll probably step down and he can’t do that. Aaron needs it in his life too much.” Holly told her stubbornly, her hand dropping to her stomach. “This little one is going to have two awesome moms here and my family will love the time that they get too. There will be holidays and all of that fun stuff.”

There was a lot that Lisa wanted to say, but this was new to her friend and she allowed her to keep thinking that was for the moment. She walked into her room to pull out her clothes and hang them up as she pictured Aaron in her mind. She had been jealous seeing Holly with him in a good way, because the man was gorgeous. He’d be snatched up in no time if Holly kept being insistent about not wanting all of this and she’d be really hurt. Lisa was aware that they both said it wasn’t that serious but they were clearly in love when seen together. Not to mention how happy his family would be about the baby.

The next day at work, Holly stepped into her therapy room as she sipped the orange juice that she seemed to depend on to get her through the day. One of the guys was having some leg pains that she was working on. Every step in this place made her think about Aaron and her body ran with the thoughts as she heated up uncomfortably. She pulled her loose curls up into a ponytail and wiped down the chair that she used quickly before he came in. Holly heard the door open and glanced up to see Walter enter as she forced a smile on her face. “I saw you come in. Shoulder?”

“Sit down.” He’d pulled it during the last game and she watching him sit down as she took another sip of the organic juice. He was dressed in a tee shirt for a workout and she pressed into his skin with her fingers. “You see Todd about this?” She worked closely with the team medical staff and all of the guys knew that nothing would get by either of them.

“It’s mild. Just a little muscle pull and it will heal. Don’t even suggest my staying out of the game because it isn’t happening.” Walter told her, making her laugh as she massaged him hard and deep.

“Such the cocky center you are.” She teased him back comfortable as her stomach rolled, realizing how hungry she was. He did too, chuckling.

“Did you forget to eat?” Walter teased her and she grimaced as she thought back to how she was throwing up nothing over eating.

“I was sleeping too late.” Holly glanced at the clock on the wall. “Mike should be here in about fifteen minutes. I can grab something after that.”

“Want some company?” Walter offered and she accepted easily. Despite his arrogance on the ice, she really liked him as a friend. She finished him up before grabbing a banana from her bag to eat before Mike came inside. Walter stayed in to chat as she pressed against his leg, laughing sadly inside as she realized that she was surrounded by hot guys every day and not tempted by any of them. That was reserved for Aaron. She checked on the intensity of it, choosing to ice it today after she was done with the intense massage. “We’re going to grab some grub at The Diner. Want to join us?” Walter asked Mike, who agreed as she glanced up with a frown on her face. “Is that cool, Holly?”

“Yeah, of course. I was just thinking about something.” She smiled at them to make it seem like everything was fine even as her head started to hurt as the thoughts invaded her mind.

An hour later, Mike was ready for the day’s practice and she was starving. They headed out onto the street to walk the short distance to the diner as Holly felt her mood rapidly changing, hating this part of pregnancy. Holly remained quiet knowing that she’d let loose on her roommate a few times in this state before she’d fed herself. It wasn’t pretty.

It took a few minutes with fans stopping them to get autographs from Walter and she stood back and watched as she sighed softly. They finally made it into the glass doors and she felt eyes on her as she stepped up to the hostess and asked for a table.

Aaron stood outside and across the street, watching her go inside with two of his teammates. He frowned, not blind to the fact that Holly was getting closer to Walter as time passed. Aaron couldn’t tell her not to spend any time with the players even as he was constantly aware of how beautiful she was and how they might want to get involved with her at levels that she might not be able to handle.

CHAPTER TWO

Holly pushed away her plate with a happy sigh, seeing the absence of all of the food that she’d ordered. The guys were done as well, wiping their faces with napkins as Walter observed her with an intent gaze. He offered to pay for all of them as she shook her head and he insisted, laughing as Mike instantly accepted.

“Fine.” Holly gave in, watching as Walter threw some big bills on the table. The three left with Mike going back to the arena for some light exercise to stretch himself out and Walter left eying Holly as she stared at him. “What? I said thank you.”

“I’ve just been noticing things the last few weeks. I am a little worried about it.” Walter told her, making her heart race as she wondered what he meant.

“Meaning what?” Holly pressed, challenging him with her eyes.

“My little sister is pregnant right now. Lil is about three months along and I am noticing similarities between the two of you here and there. Hell, today you looked just like her going out to eat right now.” Walter said softly as her eyes widened and her face paled. “Are you pregnant?”

“Oh my God. It’s that obvious?” Holly said before she covered her mouth with her hand.

“Not to everyone, I’m sure.” Walter assured her, his eyes seeking hers. “Does he know?”

I…no. It’s complicated. I’m on my own.” Holly admitted, watching him frown as Lisa’s words filled her mind. “I can do this.”

“I’m not saying that you can’t, but I’d want to know if it was me. I think we’re friends enough for me to say that.” Walter told her firmly, making her shake her head.

“Well, I think we both know it isn’t.” She told him, looking up and down the street. “I’ll be okay.”

“I will be here for anything that you need, Holly. Appointments, meals…anything.” Walter told her, watching a tear slide down her cheek as she wished that it was Aaron telling her this and pulling her into his arms. “I don’t want you to be alone.”

She nodded as she gave him a hug, willing to take what he was offering. It wasn’t the right person and not who she wanted, but Walter was a good support system and a good man. She was much more scared than she wanted to admit and Holly whispered her thanks to him as she pulled away. She started to wander down the street slowly, staring at the windows absently as she thought about everything. Her phone chimed and she slipped it out of her purse to see that Aaron was calling. She swallowed the lump in her throat and answered it in a soft voice, hating what she was about to do.

Holly let the tears fall as she hung up after giving him every excuse in the book about why she didn’t want to see him anymore.

It was wrong.

They could get in trouble.

She didn’t want to be with him anymore.

The rest blurred in her mind as she heard him arguing back, telling her that he didn’t want this. Holly could swear that she heard tears in his voice as he spoke, graceful when he ended the call so she could cry.

Finding a small park with a bench, Holly sank down and cried harder as she realized that Aaron was gone. She’d done it. She was pregnant and on her own in New York, looking up and seeing that nobody was looking at her as they walked by or jogged.

It just made her feel more alone.

She ended up in some baby stores, looking towards her future as she eyed baby blankets and cribs. Their apartment was small but they had a small den where she could set up the baby’s room. Holly wasn’t sure if the fancy changing tables were necessary as she looked at them, deciding that a thick blanket and any safe surface might do the trick. The strollers were pricey and seemed impossible for her to own, despite her job and she knew that she didn’t have twenty girlfriends to have a big baby shower with.

She was home and showered by the time practice started, wearing her comfortable yoga pants and a loose tee shirt, feeling like her stomach was showing her predicament. Lisa walked back into her therapy room, cleaning it up before she took a seat to watch them and see how everyone was doing. Holly knew that her skin was pale and that her eyes showed traces of red from all of the tears she’d cried, though everyone was focused on the players on the ice. Walter glanced up at her, smiling as she nodded back at him with a forced smile.

Aaron sat on his couch staring forward, knowing that he could be at the practice but not wanting to see Holly right now. It was harder for him to think about going in when they were over more than it was when they were together. At least then he could talk to her. Now she acted like she never wanted to see her again. He didn’t believe that she was really done despite the phone call, feeling angry and lost as he sat in his house alone.

Aaron was not the kind of guy to pursue a woman who had made it clear that she didn’t want to be with him and he’d always been that way, usually moving on with something casual easily. He didn’t want to harass Holly, but he didn’t believe her. Aaron leaned back and decided to give himself the day to wallow and be a human the next day, though tonight wouldn’t include whiskey.

They were both needed at the arena the following night for a home game and she cried all the way up until she took a shower, since Lisa was at her graphic design job for the day. She washed her face under hot water as she felt dried up, wiping it off with a soft towel as she stood naked in front of the mirror. Holly was still slim and she ran her hands over her stomach slowly. She wasn’t showing yet but she knew that there was a life in there. What would she do when she was clearly pregnant? What would Aaron say?

Holly felt like she should create something to go with her pregnancy, have a relationship to fall back on. She couldn’t even imagine that.

She was in her room and dressed for the game before it started, her hair in a long French braid down her back. Holly heard the team coming down the walkway and she added some red lip tint to her dry lips to give herself some color to her pale face. Holly saw Tanner walk inside and she smiled his way as she walked forward to pretend to be an interested sports therapist that wasn’t broken inside.

The game was touch and go with her boys winning by a goal at the end of the game, celebrating on the ice together as she let out a long sigh. They all seemed healthy and that was a good thing. Her eyes drifted to the bench to take a quick look at Aaron, seeing the way his jaw was set and the circles under his eyes. He didn’t look good and she glanced away quickly as she saw him start to return her look. They’d played this game the entire game and she wanted to take back everything and drag him to his office and make him scratch her itch desperately. That had gotten her in trouble before but what could it do now? She was horny.

At her first appointment about the baby, Holly found out that the pills she’d been taking were bad when they’d been distributed. There were probably going to be several surprise babies for a few women but why did she have to deal with it in her situation? She had asked for every bit of information that she needed and noted websites that she should visit on her phone in the notes app. Holly left crying as she walked home.

CHAPTER THREE

The next couple of weeks passed by slowly and painfully as she kept up her strong front for everybody, dropping that at home and little by little with Walter. He was a really caring guy underneath it all and he helped. Aaron seemed to get back into the game as she watched him from afar, she being into her job that was going to support her and the child inside of her. She knew that it would be ugly when she had to tell the team but she had great health insurance until then and she was going to take advantage of it, since she might lose her job for lying anyway. What a complicated web she had weaved.

The next trip was going to be a week from then and she packed as many snacks as she did clothing, all loose and comfortable for her to wear as she hid her condition. Holly knew that she needed to go shopping soon for maternity clothes and she both loved and hated the idea. She was really in love with her baby even with all of the pain that came along with it.

The phone calls had stopped as well as the texts. Aaron pretended that she wasn’t there most of the time, the anger still in his gaze when it did pass over her before he went to speak to the team doctor. She missed their talks and missed their intimacy but she made friends with the team and a couple of their girlfriends. It was nice hanging out with other people and she appreciated it when they were kind about her pregnancy, letting her do what she needed as they drank and partied around her. It was part of being with a team and she liked watching them.

Lisa was getting excited about the baby as well. She’d dropped the talk about Aaron though Holly still saw the expression on her face sometimes that told her she thought about it. They slowly set up what they could in the shoe box of a den before a month later when she’d be finding out what it was with Walter and Lisa. He’d gotten into it, getting excited when everything was going well and joking around about corrupting his niece or nephew.

Holly also noticed a bit of a spark between him and Lisa as they got to know each other.

She carried on, beginning to wear her maternity jeans and slacks when she didn’t wear her go to yoga pants. Her stomach was small but it showed that she was having a baby and she still fought to cover it up.

Aaron watched her go everywhere with Walter as they’d leave the arena, talking seriously and closely as they walked to his monster of an SUV. After games, after practice and they even arrived together a few times. Holly looked beautiful and different to him somehow as he watched her when she wasn’t looking. She was glowing and…something else. He couldn’t put his finger on it. Maybe she was happy with his center. Maybe she was having the kind of sex with him that he’d had, making him hit his desk as he sat alone in his office.

The team was moving quickly. There were a few great sponsors signing on and they were in a winning streak. It took a lot of time for Aaron that would otherwise be spent thinking about Holly and he appreciated that.

One night, he went out drinking with them as he found the thoughts too much. Walter was conveniently absent and he looked around as he threw back the whiskey that he was familiar with, half listening to something that one of the coaches said. “You in there, Neller?” Pat teased him as he looked at his friend. “What’s gotten under your skin lately?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Aaron said bluntly as Pat shook his head.

“I like that you’re hands on with all of this, but there’s more to life. Aaron, I am here a lot as well but I also balance time with my own family.” Pat told him, making Aaron look at him. “Hell, you’re young. Get laid, at least. You’re a hot ticket in this city.”

Aaron shook his head, letting his eyes pass over the players that were drinking and talking to some of the ladies in the bar, remembering those days. Those days before Holly. He found the gaze of a pretty black haired woman as he continued to look, with bright blue eyes and a soft smile as she blushed. His neglected cock reacted before his heart did, making him realize that he needed to give up waiting for Holly and start living again. He returned her smile, forcing the small sense of hope that was buried under his pain forward as he stood up.

At the next game, Holly noticed the hockey on his neck as she frowned and her heart broke again. Who was she? She was feeling bloated and fat and he was off gallivanting, as he should be. She focused on the game happening before her with a scowl, trying to pay attention to her players. They won with a few goals advantage and she stood up to scream and clap as the stadium roared with fans. Maybe she could move past this and love what she did again without feeling the pain of her mistake.

Holly was too tired to go out to eat and Walter offered to take her to a quiet dinner. Aaron watched them before he went to Marcy’s apartment for a way to release his emotions, eating quickly before kissing her against the wall as he closed his eyes. She was kind and willing to be with him on his terms, nothing serious or public. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her hard, feeling her full breasts pressing against him as he moved his hands down to her ass. Marcy groaned hard as he squeezed tightly, feeling his pain in his grip. He ripped off her dress and tossed it onto the floor, taking her bare form in from the light of the kitchen as he realized what he was doing. He was going to fuck her thinking of Holly, but the hell with it. Aaron slipped his shirt off of his shoulders and kissed her again, lifting her to carry her to the bedroom.

He sucked on one of her nipples hard as his fingers worked inside of her, listening to her cries and wishing that she smelled like Holly. Marcy preferred the smell of vanilla and it was heavy in the air as he curled his fingers and felt her release on him with a choked cry. He moved down her body to lick her hard, always willing to please a lady no matter what the situation. Marcy grabbed his hair, rocking against him as he heard Holly in his mind but tasted another woman on his lips.

Was Walter doing this? Aaron moved Marcy onto her stomach before donning a condom and taking her hard as she gripped her sheets. She begged for more as he closed his eyes and drove inside deeply, needing the physical release that it was going to give him.

He came with a loud cry of anonymity, not using her name as she did his. Aaron didn’t even know when she’d orgasmed and he pulled out and dropped onto the mattress with a groan. The space around him blurred as he felt something cold nudged into his hand, bringing him back to reality. Aaron took a long sip of the water, listening to the compliments from the woman beside him. Her voice was sweet and soft and her words sincere, making Aaron realize that she was a great idea for him. Why not dive in and see what came of it, since he was here anyway? He looked over at her, seeing her propped up on one arm as she smiled at him, pulling the sheet up to cover herself. “So, I was thinking…would you like to go out to dinner tomorrow night?”

“Out?’ Marcy asked, her eyes brightening.

“Yeah. Somewhere nice.” Aaron promised her, trying to find happiness in her smile.

Holly pulled on a sweater over her protruding stomach, enjoying the Christmas decorations as she walked into the living room. Walter was sitting close to Lisa as she observed them, envying their closeness before she cleared her throat. “Oh. Hey.” Lisa blushed as she looked up, blushing deeply.

“Ready to find out what kind of demon I’m birthing?” Holly asked, rubbing her stomach as she spoke.

“Shut up. That’s my niece or nephew you’re talking about.” Lisa grinned as Walter kissed her hair and pulled her off of the couch. They left the apartment, driving to the doctor’s office in his car as Holly felt her hands shaking. She’d been without Aaron longer than with him at this point and it felt so sad to be doing this without him. Lisa opened her door for her once they were parked and hugged her as she slid onto the sidewalk. “I’m so excited. We get to plan a baby shower.”

There were enough female friends in her life now to do that, making Holly smile. Maybe her family could come out too. “Nothing big.”

The three sat in the waiting room together as Holly closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She was feeling great and the baby was healthy and everything was good. She could do this.

“Holly?” She jerked her head and looked at the familiar nurse, who was smiling at her. “Big day huh?” They were closer and her voice carried through the room.

“Yeah. It is.” Holly agreed as she walked into the hallway followed by her friends. She was led to a different room where she was told to lie down and pull her shirt up to reveal her belly. Holly lowered her pants to a respectable level and her shirt up as she grimaced from the pressure on her bladder. She was forced to drink epic amounts of water for this and she sighed as she hoped that it was worth it. Lisa moved beside her and Walter took up the back of the room as a young woman entered.

“Good morning. Ready to see your baby?” Her voice was bright and cheerful and Holly nodded as brown eyes surveyed the group in the room. “Are we finding out the sex today?”

“I am.” Holly replied, smiling as Lisa chimed in. She saw the girl look between Walter and Lisa and she laughed. “He’s not the dad. Just a friend like her.” She may have sounded amused by it but she was hurting inside as she missed Aaron all over again.

“Well, then. Let’s get started.” Everyone watched closely as she dumped the chilly gel on Holly’s stomach and started to rub the device over it. She told her measurements and information as Holly longed for the bathroom until the woman paused. “So…here is your baby’s legs and you are having a little girl.”

“Oh my God.” Everything stopped for Holly as she felt Lisa squeeze her hand in joy, feeling tears slide down her cheeks. She now knew what this being was and it was going to be her daughter in just a few short months. She looked at her best friend and they smiled at each other as the woman started to tell her more stuff.

Holly was told that she could use the restroom and she pulled her clothes back on before rushing out of the room and across the hall. She had never been so happy to pee and she focused on her baby as she released her pressure. A daughter. Would she look like Holly or Aaron…or both? Would they get along like she did with her mom?

Leaving the restroom, she stepped back into the room for the sonogram pictures and thanked the woman for the good news. Lisa and Walter were amped up and wanted to get lunch before Lisa took her shopping as Holly blinked. She stepped out onto the busy street and took a deep breath for a moment. Everything blurred together and Lisa grabbed her arm. “Are you okay?”

“I just need a sec,” Holly panted as she felt a cold bottle against her hand.

“Here. Drink this.” Walter told her and she knew that it was water since everybody was being so protective of her.

“I want to eat. I’m starving.” Holly admitted, blinking slowly as the world came back into focus. “I’ll decide after that about shopping. Okay?”

They decided on a place as they looked around to see what was close, and Holly bit into her cheeseburger with a happy smile. “Now I feel better.”

“What do you think we need?” Lisa asked as she bounced happily in her seat. They had a little crib and Holly was planning on using the chair in the living room for a makeshift rocker.

“I guess we can get some bedding and blankets now. Clothes. So many clothes.” Holly brightened as she thought about it and Walter chuckled. “Maybe a store or two?”

CHAPTER FOUR

They came home with a few bags of items and Holly put them all into the crib for the time being, adding them to the stuff her family had sent her. They weren’t thrilled that she was alone in this but respected her decision to keep the baby, believing that the father had left her and not the other way around. She heard Lisa call out that she was leaving and told her thanks as the door closed. Holly grabbed some yogurt from the fridge as she sat in front of her computer, warming it up as she took in the silence of the apartment. It wouldn’t be much longer and there would be the cries of her daughter needing her.

She noticed something in the corner, realizing that she’d set up alerts for news on the team so she could keep up. Holly clicked on the banner and read down as the news scroll opened as her stomach dropped at one of the headlines. She clicked one more time to read further, scanning the gossip column about Aaron and his new girlfriend. They were pictured together walking into a restaurant and even with the way the woman was blocking her face, Holly could tell that she was beautiful. More noticeably, he didn’t look as angry and she realized that he must have found someone that made him happy.

That would make it easier to announce the pregnancy she could no longer hide. Maybe he wouldn’t even care and she could just plan her time off in advance with an agreeable boss. Tanner worked well enough to work on his own for a little while during her maternity leave and everything would be fine if he just went along with it. She closed that story, wondering if the woman had met his family and if they were serious. She was jealous of the fact that she was getting Aaron at night in bed, still missing sex very much. Even in the harder times, Holly couldn’t bring herself to meet anyone. The players that she spent time with made it difficult anyway, making her wonder if she ever looked like one of their girlfriends. It wasn’t a bad thing in the end.

The following day as she got ready for work, Holly sighed and pulled a fitted shirt over her pants. Now it was clear that she was pregnant and she needed to be a big girl about it. There was a game and it would be a major way to announce it, but screw it. She was ready. She grabbed her team jacket before she left, knowing that Lisa would be sitting in one of her seats to watch Walter. They had made things official now and she was at every game that she could get to. Holly chose to walk tonight since it was so nice and brisk out and the girls lived pretty close by when she wasn’t exhausted. There were throngs of people in the streets and she smiled as she ducked through them, telling herself that everything would be fine. Aaron had moved on and so could she. Someday.

Holly made her way to the therapy room as people stopped her to congratulate her, making her blush. Tanner had already known and he grinned at her as she walked in. “Is everyone shocked?”

“It would seem so.” Holly replied, laughing as she glanced around. “I guess since I know it’s a girl, there’s no reason to hide it anymore.”

“Congratulations!” Tanner told her, giving her a hug as she smiled. He also believed that she’d been dumped and that there was no father in the picture. “He’s missing out.”

“Yeah, he is.” Holly agreed solemnly as she glanced at the clock. They needed to get out to the ice and she slipped the jacket over her arms before they walked out with the team, hooting along with them as they took the ice while Tanner took a protective stance with her.

“You’ll have to be careful, Holly. These guys can do some damage.” She smiled, having already seen that side of them a few times. They stood off to the right while the crowd screamed for their team, her arms by her side and her stomach on full display. She glanced at the bench, seeing Aaron and the coaches talking closely as she watched as the baby moved. He looked out onto the ice and she let her eyes drift away, letting him go in her mind even if her heart held on tight.

They won another game, making things look really good for finals as Tanner and Holly hugged each other. “This is awesome. We’re totally going to get the cup!” Tanner said as she giggled and held on to him for a moment. “We have to go out tonight. There is celebrating to be done.”

“Sure thing.” Holly agreed as she pulled away and called out to the team. The ones that were seeing her for the first time took second looks as they congratulated her and she waved them off with a smile.

Holly knew that they were all good as she walked slowly back to her room to meet Tanner, who went to meet with the doctors for a moment. “Holly!” The voice was sharp and angry, making her cringe as she knew that it was Aaron. “Stop.”

She paused and turned around, seeing the fire in his eyes. “What?”

“Why didn’t you tell me that you were pregnant?” He walked right up to her and backed her into the wall as she gasped. “This looks pretty far along and I can do the fucking math.”

“It’s not your problem, Mr. Neller. I’ll be taking a few months off when I deliver and that is all that matters to you.” Holly informed him as his face dropped.

“Were you fucking someone else when we were together? There’s no chance this is mine?” Aaron demanded softly, making her look around in panic.

“No. Stop this. Not here. Go find your girlfriend and forget about this.” Holly insisted, seeing the pain in his face as he pulled back.

“I haven’t forgotten about you and I never will.” Aaron told her, turning to walk away as she stared at him. She wanted to scream for him to come back and tell him that it was his baby…that she loved him. Holly just glanced around to see if anyone had noticed the small argument and continued to the room with her head down, assuming they hadn’t.

The dinner was at a pizza place this time, stripped down and casual. Holly sat with Lisa, Walter, Tanner and a few other people as she looked at Aaron across the room. His arm was slung around the black haired woman as he sipped a beer and he looked comfortable. She wondered bitterly what it would be like to have felt that out like this, knowing they would have been really affectionate had they been allowed to be. She forced her eyes away, biting into another gooey slice of pizza as she wallowed in her misery.

He’d walked away so easily. Did he not care that she was pregnant? Did he really do the math because even if she was protected, there was no way she could have ever slept with anyone else. She knew how special it had been with him and it hurt her that he didn’t understand that. “You okay?” Tanner asked her, bringing her back to reality as she blinked and nodded.

“Tired. Exciting night. Pizza.” Holly broke it down easily, feeling his arm around her shoulders. They left first as he walked her to her apartment, still in his arm. “Thanks, Tanner.”

“For what?” He asked as she slipped her arm around his waist.

“You’ve been great to me these past few months. It means a lot.” She paused at the light and rested her head against him.

“I like you, Holly. It’s been hard watching you go through this alone. I don’t know how he just left you.” Tanner’s voice was soft and sincere and she stared up at him.

“Like like?” Holly asked in shock as he nodded.

“I was going to ask you out before, but you told me that you were seeing someone. After that, you seemed to have stopped and you looked so wrecked over it. I wanted to give you time.” Tanner shook his head. “Then you told me about the baby.”

“What did that change?” Holly asked as he led her across the street by taking her hand.

“It made me want to take care of you and the baby. The father has never stepped up to the plate and you need someone, Holly.” Tanner told her and she felt tears in her eyes.

“Tanner, you’re so good.” She sniffled as he held on tight as she started to cry.

“I want to date you. I want to be there for you when the baby is born.” Tanner told her, making her cry harder as she stopped walking. Looking back over the past few months, she realized that he’d liked her for the entire time that she’d known him. It was so obvious but she’d been too obsessed with her affair with Aaron and she fell against him. Had she chosen the wrong guy?

Tanner got her to her apartment and helped her inside, setting her down on the couch before he got her some water. “I wasn’t dumped, Tanner. I ended things when I realized that I was pregnant.” Holly admitted as she stared down at the floor. “I was scared to tell him and I just told him that I wanted to end it.”

“Is he in your life?” Tanner asked, and she shrugged.

“I see him sometimes, yes. He knows about it now…someone told him. I don’t know what will happen.” Holly admitted, falling into silence for a moment. “I kind of wish it had been you now, but this is a big bag of luggage to take on.”

Her phone chimed and she blinked as tears filled her eyes. “Shit.”

“Take the call. I am here for you for whatever you need.” Tanner assured her, kissing her hair with a firm press of his lips before he stood up. She watched him leave painfully, knowing that he could offer her a good, steady life but it wouldn’t be one that she really wanted. The phone sounded again and she bit her lip as she looked to see that Aaron was calling her.

“Hi.” Her voice was breaking as she tried to answer calmly, crying harder.

“I need to see you. I couldn’t even focus at dinner tonight.” Aaron told her huskily, making her heart beat and her hormones kick in.

CHAPTER FIVE

“I…I want to see you too.” Her willpower was faltering, and she didn’t think she could lie about the baby anymore. It wasn’t in her and Tanner’s confession had only made Holly realize how much she loved Aaron. “I know that you’ve moved on, I do. I just want to talk.”

“Where are you?” His voice was demanding and she sat up straighter.

“My apartment. Lisa is staying with Walt tonight so I’m alone.” She told him the address and he ended the call abruptly after telling her that he’d be there soon. Holly went to wash her face with some cold water and freshen up, changing into a cotton dress that draped around her curves and dragged on the floor. She heard the knock at the door as she stared at herself helplessly in the mirror, not knowing what to do as she ran her hands through her hair.

Holly walked out barefoot to answer the door, watching him stride past her into the living room. “Hi.” She closed the door and walked over to the couch to sit down, absently stroking her stomach. “There’s so much I want to know, Holly. I’m so angry that you never told me.”

“I’m sorry.” She whispered, feeling every bit of his pain as she pinched her eyes closed. “I was scared that you’d quit your job and leave the sport. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Hurt me?” Aaron asked, making her jump as he sat next to her. “How could this hurt me? I think I’m more pissed off that you hid it. Why? Isn’t it mine?”

“You know I was never with anyone else. You know how special you were to me.” She told him, looking over with flashing eyes. “I was protecting you. We both have good jobs, and I don’t want you to give up the game. You love it.”

“I love you more than any fucking game.” Aaron told her, making her choke for a moment. “I don’t have to leave the job. I can take care of you and…what is the baby?”

“A girl.” Holly admitted, feeling everything that she wanted to in that room with the monitor as tears filled his eyes. “I found out today. I didn’t want…I don’t know what I wanted.”

“I can’t believe that I’m having a daughter. Holly, I’ll be here for her as a dad but I want to be here for you too.” Aaron promised her, as she started to cry again.

“I love my job.” Holly told him, her shoulders shaking. “I love the team and I love caring for them. I was going to tell you that this was another man’s baby and just forget about you.” She tilted her head up to look at him. “You have someone now.”

“I ended it tonight. It never felt right but after seeing you, I just couldn’t be with her anymore.” Aaron told her, making her heart stop for a moment. “Marcy was a nice woman and my family really liked her but I didn’t feel it. I have always wanted to be with you.”

“You ended it for me?” Holly asked him and she felt him tuck her hair behind her ear.

“No, I needed it for me and I ended it for her. She deserves someone that really cares about her.” Aaron told her as she nodded. “I thought that you were with Walt. I was so pissed off and jealous and then I hear he’s with Lisa. You really know how to fuck with a man’s head, Holly.”

“I didn’t mean to.” She looked at him with a long stare, revealing her current state of desire. “I was trying to do what I thought was the right thing. I was jealous too when I saw the pictures of you with her. I tormented myself most of the night thinking about it and feeling fat and insecure.”

“Hardly.” Aaron looked down her body with a hungry gaze. “I knew that you looked different and even more beautiful than ever, but I didn’t suspect this. You were on the pill, weren’t you?”

“There was a bad batch prescribed. There are probably a lot of pregnant women out there right now.” Holly smiled and shook her head.

“Tell me how the pregnancy has been for you. I want to know everything.” Aaron told her, sitting back as she described all of the odd feelings that came along with it, showing him pictures on her phone that Lisa had taken along the way. She also went into the kitchen to get the sonogram pictures from the kitchen to show him, cutting one off for him. “Look at that.” His voice was filled with wonder and she smiled with tears in her eyes.

“I wanted you here for all of this.” Aaron looked up at her and met her eyes. “I have an appointment every month until the due date is closer. Then it will be more often.”

“When is she due?” Aaron asked, resting his hand on her stomach as the other one clutched the picture.

“April. They keep changing the date with every sonogram so I am just leaving it up to her.” Holly replied, shrugging as she sat down beside him. “Want to see her room?”

She took him into the small den and he looked around with a half-smile. “It’s nice but small. Are you planning on moving?”

Holly blushed as she heard the words and he closed his eyes. “Shit. I think I know the only place that you’ll be moving.”

“Do you want me to someday?” Holly whispered, staring into his face as he nodded slowly.

Aaron stepped closer to her, lifting his hands to cup her face. “More than anything.” Holly sucked in her breath as he kissed her softly, closing her eyes as she memorized the feeling. She’d missed him so much though she was scared to hold on too tight, frightened that he would disappear. “I love you so much.”

“I love you.” Holly told him, finally slipping her arms around his neck. “I never want to live without you again.”

“You won’t have to.” Aaron told her, kissing her between sentences. “Will you be my girlfriend, Holly? I always fought it before but now I know what it’s like to be without you.” He kissed her again. “I’ll talk to the league. I’ll figure this out.”

“Aaron…I don’t care about my job. I’ll quit if I have to. I can work somewhere else. It doesn’t matter…I just want to be with you.”

He kissed her harder this time as she clung to him, giving back all of the passion that he feeding to her as he slipped his arms down her body and tugged her closer. “I want you, Holly. I want to see you.”

“Bed.” Holly told him, feeling him grab her ass and tell her to wrap her legs around him. Aaron carried all of them as she protested, telling him that she was too heavy.

“I’ll never put you down again.” Aaron promised her as he kissed her and pressed her back onto the bed. Holly shuddered as he lifted the dress from her body, taking her in with a lascivious gaze and tossing it to the floor. “Fuck, you’re beautiful.” He ran his hands over her stomach gently, leaning down to kiss her skin as she felt another tear slide down her cheek.

Pregnancy made her cry too much.

Aaron looked up, asking her if she was okay. Holly nodded and he parted her legs, moving down to kiss her thighs as she cried out. “Does pregnancy make you as horny as I’ve heard in the past?”

“Worse.” Holly admitted, biting her lip as his mouth found her and sucked her between his teeth. “Ohhhhhhh.”

“So sweet. So wet.” Aaron panted as he sucked and licked her in alternating moves, making her come fast and hard. “Oh, baby.” He drank it in as she closed her eyes, sobbing happily as she whispered his name.

Aaron made love to her after making sure it wouldn’t hurt her, making her laugh as she told him they could do that until the baby was born unless anything arose. He pressed her back, looking down as he entered her slowly where their bodies joined. “Oh, Aaron. I’ve missed this. I’ve obsessed about this.” Holly told him between moans. He took her harder, unable to hold back as he pushed her legs back and drove his cock inside of her until she was screaming his name. Aaron followed soon after with a guttural cry of his own, dropping down to kiss her forehead as she trembled beneath him.

“I think there’s going to be a lot more babies in our future.” He promised her, kissing her lips.

“Let’s see how this one goes first. Let’s do everything we can to catch up on each other before we’re parents.”

EPILOGUE

Eight months later, Aaron looked back from seat of his box seats to see his Holly snuggling their daughter. Lola Rose Neller was born three months after they got back together in March with a scary time spent in the hospital growing into her premature body. They’d gone out every night once he spoke to the league about their relationship, with Holly taking their recommendation to work for a prominent doctor’s office where she wouldn’t be working so hard or traveling so much. Both Aaron and Holly agreed that this was the best choice, leaving him as the owner of his favorite hockey team.

Looking at his fiancée with their daughter, he knew that he had the best of everything.

THE END

RAFE’S BABY

Lacey

Lacey Kincaid tapped her pencil on the desktop in her office. He was coming home today… that’s what her mother told her anyway. It had been eight years since she had laughed with him, and made funny jokes about the neighborhood kids. Eight years since he had come for a holiday meal, or made it to anything. It wasn’t like he didn’t keep in touch, he did. In fact, writing him back and forth was part of her routine each week that she had come to count on, until a year ago when he simply stopped writing to her at all. It had started slowly at first a missed email or a week between responses, and then it had ended altogether. Deep down, some part of her hated him for disappearing on her the way he did.

Structure was an important factor in her life, so much so that it always played a part in messing up every situation she found herself in. Everything had a place and level of priority, it was the only thing that kept her going strong. She leaned back in her chair, once more thinking about him. Tonight he would be home for dinner, though the circumstances were sad, it would be good to see him.

They had both grown and come so far it was hard to remember how it had all began so many years ago now. She had been lost and lonely, and he had been a strong force for her. Always there to lend an ear, or make all of her wrongs seem more manageable. She closed her eyes, remembering a very different time….

The moment Rafe left town Lacey knew she would miss him. She stood, brushing her long blonde locks, staring intently at the reflection of her face in the mirror. At 11 she was already a pretty girl, though her hurdles were there, still very much a part of her. She moved her hands down her hips, hating the way they felt, and stuck out. She wasn’t like the other girls at school, which was nothing new really.

Ever since her mother had scooped her up as a child and they had escaped the hell they were living in with her father, her life had been one change after another. Everything had been a struggle until her mother met, and married Ben Ramsey. He had been a good man, one that she looked up to and for the first time in her life she saw her mother smile, and be happy.

Part of her new world changed when she first came face to face with her step-brother Rafe. He was older by 6 years, and he was magnetic. Tall and dark, he was there to lend a hand, and to make her feel safe. There was an air of mystery about him, he would come and go as he pleased, always walking with the sort of swagger you would expect out of a rough house kind of guy. More than once she watched him walk out of the house, casually light a cigarette and hop on his motorcycle, to lead him somewhere.

Where he was going was always her focus. Who was he going to see and what was he doing during the night? At her young age, she would often daydream about riding with him, hopping on the back of his bike and letting the air flow freely through her long hair. She would escape with him in the night where everyone was understood and loved, despite their physical make up.

He never made her feel too big, though it was clearly an issue she was battling. Her weight was always an area of concern, though she did her best to make up for it in personality. Rafe was there, in spirit at least as she faced one new school year after another and dealt with the bullying. He had pushed her to keep going and now she was exactly where she wanted to be.

She blinked, once more pulling herself out of the daydream that she was living. That Lacey was gone, long gone. Life had been so hopeful then and now everything had changed, shifted somehow. Her home was full of strangers, and she was in her home office hiding from them all. She knew she needed to go back out there, if for any other reason than to comfort her mother. Ben had loved her for almost ten years, and he had been a good husband and father, despite the issues with Rafe.

She stood, tossing the pencil down on the desktop and walking over to the window to look out into the street below. She loved her townhome, and loved where she lived. Every detail of it was what she wanted, she knew it was the planner in her that had pulled off every aspect from the light fixtures to the final swipe of paint on the walls. She had worked hard to get here, and she had known very early on that she wanted a home… a good home that no one could take from her, or throw her out of.

When she won her first case she put the down payment on a home, and deep down she rested well knowing it was hers and no one else’s. Her mother had been staying there, it was too difficult for her to go home, and together they stayed up at night and laughed about old times… times before Ben had died bringing them all back together now.

If there had been any warning it may have made the blow a little easier, but as it were Ben went to work one morning and simply died in his office. A heart attack, at least that’s what they were listing it as. She had kissed him goodbye that morning, never thinking it would be the last time she saw him.

Getting the call from her mother about it had been the hardest day of her life. The level of emotion her mother expressed was almost overwhelming, and Lacey had carried some of the pain for her. At some point during the planning process, her mother had reached out to Rafe, and he said he would come… said he would be there. Some part of her hated the excitement she felt about seeing him, and the other part of her hated him for being like everyone else.

She took a step towards the door leading into the great room, and taking a deep breath, she walked back out into the mass of people who had come to pay their respects. She carefully calculated everything else that needed to be done, and found her mother in a corner, smiling at someone as she dabbed the wet tissue at the corner of her eyes. Lacey knew she never wanted to feel that way, to feel that kind of loss the way her mother was now. It was just easier to stay single, leaving all the pain to someone else.

It was then that she saw him.

Rafe

He waited, something he didn’t like to begin with. He leaned the bike to the side, silently taking another drag off of the lit cigarette in his hand. His father was dead, and he hadn’t spoken to him in over a year. He knew the responsibility was on him, and the choices he’d made when he left. He ground the cigarette out with the heel of his boot. It was the first one he’d had in two years and he wasn’t about to let the moment of weakness become another habit he would have to kick.

He took long strides over to the site of the funeral, the mass of people all facing the opposite direction which he was grateful for. He let his eyes flick over the crowd hoping to see his step mother and little Lacey. He could only imagine how hard all of this was on them. At this distance it was hard, but he found his step-mother quickly enough. She was lost and crying. Rafe felt the guilt creep in once more as he thought about his absence. Everything he had done had been to save face, and he couldn’t handle disappointing anyone else.

Standing with her was a woman, a blonde tall and even from where he stood it was obvious that she was beautiful. She hugged his step mother close and he heard the preacher say the final words necessary before they put his father to rest once and for all.

As he closed, Rafe watched people start to move around, making their way down the hill and away from the cemetery. He was far enough away that he went unnoticed and once everyone was gone, he made his way up the hill to say his goodbye’s. Sometime later, Rafe jumped on his bike, more determined now than ever to make things right and make sure he was there from now on.

He followed the address in the letter his stepmother had sent him. She was a good woman, and he knew this turn of events would be devastating for her to accept. He moved his bike down the long roads in town, only turning to ride up into the Northerton Hills. He frowned as he drove, knowing his bike would raise more than a few eyebrows when he pulled up to the front of the elegant townhouse. Why they were doing this here was beyond him. He wanted to go home, to the house he had been raised in. He jumped off his bike, take the long strides into the house to find the one woman who knew his father better than he did.

She was standing by the kitchen door, her face was sad, but she was doing her best to keep it together. She saw him and her smile seemed to be genuine as she held her arms out to him. He had been 18 when he left home, but for the years that he had been there, she had been good to him. His father had done the best job he knew how to do, but when he met and married Alice, his world had shifted and changed. Suddenly there was the person who made sure he ate dinner every night and made sure he took a bath regularly.

He hugged her close, reminded of her perfume and the old days when things had been simpler. He moved back and she smiled up at him.

“Rafe, I’m glad you’re here. He would have been happy for that.”

“I’m not sure about that, but I am glad out think so Alice.” He ran a hand through his lanky black hair and his blue eyes glanced around the room as they spoke.

“Well, I know he missed you Rafe, he told me so. But I understand why you did what you did.”

“I hope one day I can understand it. I am sorry I wasn’t here Alice.”

“No one could have known Rafe, it’s not your fault.” She patted his arm.

“Why are you doing this here, I this stuffy townhouse Alice, not at home?”

She sighed, “I couldn’t go home, not yet anyway. I just wasn’t ready.” She blinked, frowning slightly as she looked past him. “As for the townhouse…” She trailed off.

“It’s my stuffy townhouse Rafe, sorry if you're uncomfortable.” A voice behind him rang out.

He spun around to smile at the imp who had driven him crazy for years with her rambling about boys and bully’s. He felt the look she gave him like a punch to the stomach. Lacey was gone… and had been gone for years apparently. In her place was a striking young woman. Her blonde hair fell in soft layers down her shoulders, and the green of her eyes was almost piercing.

“Lacey? Oh my God Lacey is that you?” He squinted his eyes doing his best to not seem shocked by her appearance.

“Yes, Rafe, I’m Lacey.” She crossed her arms over her chest, which was doing its best to break free from the shirt containing them.

He felt something stir in him deep down and immediately hated himself for it. She has his step-sister not some bar chick he was picking up for a night of fun. He sobered as he realized she had heard his comments on her home.

“I didn’t mean...”

“Yes, you did. It's ok, we don’t like the same things, never have.” Except that shirt you're wearing. He tried to stop the thought from creeping in but it rushed to the forefront of his mind far quicker than he intended.

“If you two will excuse me, I have to go; some people are leaving.” Alice leaned up to kiss Rafe on the cheek before she turned to go, leaving him two of them staring at each other.

“I should go too, if you need anything Rafe, I’m sure you will figure it out.” She spun around to leave, giving him a focused view of her ample derriere. He shook his head to clear the thought, before he followed her.

“What the hell is your problem Lacey, why the cold shoulder?” He was there beside her, waiting for a response, but she simply smiled up at him, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m not being a very good hostess; I apologize Rafe. Is there something you need?” She blinked at him and he let his gaze linger just a second too long on the fullness of her bottom lip as it protruded just slightly.

“I’m good right now, I just thought we would talk a while.”

“Fine you want to talk meet me at the house later, I have to go get some things for mom.”

He had no chance to respond as she walked away, putting the ball in his court. As he worked his way through the room, he was reminded of the actions in a small town like this. There were no store owner or churchgoer unaccounted for crammed into the tight walls of the townhouse, making him think of Lacey once more. She had obviously done well for herself, though she never communicated that to him. Now that he thought about it, it had been a long time since they had written anything at all. He had to wonder what had changed for her so much since then. Not to mention Lacey was no longer a kid sister, she was in fact a full grown woman and a beautiful one at that.

How did life go by so fast? What exactly had he missed, really? He knew the only way to find out was to stay and have a real conversation with her. He made his way outside to take the drive to his old home, and wait for her to show up.

Lacey

Why did he have to be so attractive… so damn good looking? She wanted to hate him, to be angry but when he stood in front of her all she wanted was to kiss him, expressing her love for him that had been buried since she was a child. She knew better than to even consider it, after all he was her step-brother and if that weren’t enough reason she knew better than to think a tall and gorgeous man like Rafe would have any kind of feeling about her at all.

She glanced around the room, noting her mother was still chatting happily with a few ladies from church. She knew she would be fine for a few hours while she went to the house to pick up some things… and talk to Rafe.

Slipping into her car she found herself putting the top down, enjoying the feel of the heat on her face on such a sad day. It was the trip that made her relax, the air blowing on her face and the idea that her life was finally on track, and she was exactly where she wanted to be. She felt her heart lurch as she pulled up to the house and saw his bike parked there. There was something intensely sweet in how he had pulled right back into the same spot he used to park so many years ago. In some ways it was as if he had never even left, and had never left her.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the front door, moving inside to find him sitting on the couch, sorting through hundreds of pictures on the table in front of him. He glanced up at her and then back down to them

“I’ve missed a lot I guess?” He held up a picture of her in her prom dress, causing her to roll her eyes and snatch it out of his hand.

“Well, that was your choice wasn’t it Rafe?” She left walking into the kitchen to sort through the fridge to find something to drink. She settled for a bottle of water and she felt him come in the room behind her.

“Ok, so I get it your pissed Lacey, you’ve made that abundantly clear. What the hell are you so mad about?”

“I’m not mad Rafe, not now. IN fact, I just feel sorry for you now, for missing out on everything your father was.”

He sighed loudly, “I had a situation Lacey, something you wouldn’t understand. You think I don’t feel it, but I do. But even that is between me and dad, what does that have to do with you?”

She wanted to scream at him, tell him how he had deserted her leaving her alone when she needed him most. She felt the words form in her throat, but she couldn’t let them out. Instead, she moved the conversation on.

“You can have some of those, the pictures I mean. We made copies of everything.”

He glanced down at the pile, and then back up at her. “Thanks, I will.”

She left the room then, wanting to be anywhere but there, with him and his intense look as he watched her move around the room. She went into her old room, almost laughing at the way it had all stood still, the same pictures and stuffed animal strewn about in various groups, somehow sorted since that was how she did things.

“Stop running from me Lacey and talk to me, no more BS.”

She turned to face him, a frown on her face. “You just disappeared Rafe, just one day here one day gone. Like it was nothing… like I was nothing.” She felt the tears well up, threatening to spill but she held them at bay.

He frowned, his brow furrowed. “I’m sorry Lacey, I didn’t know it was that big a deal. I got caught up in life and I thought you were too. You were a teenager, I assumed you had far better things to do than write me emails all the time.”

“Yeah, well you were wrong.” She glared at him, her eyes blazing and she saw him look at her differently. Something shifted in his gaze as he took a step towards her.

“I’m sorry Lacey.”

He was close… too close and she felt her heart beating faster than it had before. She heard him curse under his breath before she felt the heat from him as his mouth captured hers in a deep and searing kiss.

She was consumed in heat, his kiss branded her in a way she had never felt. He moved then, pushing her backwards until she felt the cold wood behind her head, pressing her to the wall, holding her there as the kiss went on and on deeper than ever. She knew she had lost control of herself as she kissed him back, his mouth, creating a stir in her deep down.

His hands were everywhere at once and she felt his hands in her hair, pulling her head closer to his as he kissed her, pressing the length of him against her. She was alive for the first time in a long time, her body was reacting to him on its own. She had lost control the moment she saw him at the townhouse.

She moved her head, pulling away from him once and for all, leaning forward until she felt her head touching his.