I jolted awake, panting as I tried to catch my breath.

The light purple of pre-dawn filled the room, the sound of Connor’s steady breathing at my side. I smoothed my wild hair from my face, wondering what had been chasing me in my dreams to wake me before five a.m.

Shifting slightly, I glanced at Connor, eyes closed, chiseled muscles loose from sleep. Muscles that had been coiled with tension until he’d finally passed out from exhaustion.

Yesterday had settled heavy on his chest.

Hope and hurt and the chaotic reality that was his sister’s condition.

I’d never been exposed to that world—but Connor had told me about it last night...poured his soul out, painting a picture so vivid it was like I’d been there. Close enough to see the darkness of that world. The shadows that stalked in the corners threatening to consume you if you took one taste. The powerlessness in the addiction, the desperation that smelled of metal and sugar and smoke.

Connor had seen the world more times than he could remember, and he never lost hope. Even when she’d left her little girl on his doorstep, he kept searching. And finally, he’d found her.

Hannah still didn’t know.

And it would remain that way until Connor believed Jessica and her desire for rehabilitation.

He wouldn’t put Hannah through a false hope, and neither would I.

But, I hoped for her sake that Jessica would be true to her word. If there was anything worth living for in her life, it was Hannah. The brilliant burst of life that came from the shadows of her soul.

Connor shifted, stretching his body as if he could feel me watching him.

The smooth skin that slid over his corded muscles.

The single tattoo he had hidden underneath his right arm—a date, Hannah’s birthday.

The way each muscle seemed connected to the other to construct the most mouthwatering body one could have.

“Was it a nightmare?” His voice, raspy from sleep, cracked the stillness in the room.

I lightly scraped my nails against his scalp, his silky hair sliding around my fingers. “No,” I whispered. “It happened.”

Slowly, he opened his eyes, and in an instant, his arms crushed me against him. “Thank you,” he said, his breath warm against my bare neck as he buried his face in it.

“For what?” I hold him to me, wishing I could do more than the simple physical action. Wishing I could make Jessica see just how lucky she was to have the family she did.

“For being here,” he said, rolling to his back, tucking me against his chest. “I’m not sure I would’ve been able to get through yesterday and last night, without you.”

“You’re stronger than you think.” I traced the lines of his muscles as I tilted my head up to look at him. “You’ve endured this for years—”

“Alone,” he cut me off. “Eric and Lukas were always there. Offering to help, and in their way they did. But I’ve never let anyone close enough to really see what was happening. Not like you have. I’ve never let anyone all the way in.”

“Why?”

He shrugged underneath me, and I continued to run my fingertips over his skin, up and down, smooth sweeping strokes that raised chills. Silently, I waited, giving him the choice to keep talking or change the subject. I know how hard it was for him to lay himself bare for me, and I wouldn’t push.

“Guess I was afraid whoever I showed would think I’d turn out the same. That it would scare them away.”

I shook my head against his chest. “You are good, Connor. A good man who has had an impossible responsibility in caring for a sister with such an affliction.”

“But my mother...Jessica…their blood is mine.”

“So?” I raised up on my knees, adjusting the blanket covering our naked bodies until I straddled him. I make him look me in the eye. “It’s Hannah’s blood, too.” His eyes flew wide. “And she’s the most pure and good soul on the planet.” His eyes softened, a smile on his lips. “Where do you think all that good comes from?” I asked.

“According to her, rainbows and fairies.”

I chuckled softly, leaning down to kiss his lips. “You.”

He fiddled with a strand of my hair that hung by his face, silently denying me.

“It’s true,” I said. “You’re the reason she’s so optimistic, so happy and hopeful and kind.” He turned his head away like if he didn’t look at me, he wouldn’t have to accept my answer. I gently cupped his cheek, catching his gaze. “She has had every reason to rebel, to act out, to give up on school or making friends or accepting strangers into her life. The only reason, the sole reason she has for being the amazing girl she is? It’s you. You’ve raised her to be that girl—the one who believes in magic and sees the world through glitter colored glasses. You created that for her, and she lives according to the truth you give her. The unconditional love you offer.”

He closed his eyes, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.

And when he opened them, I could see the acceptance there, the warmth and love and goodness of this incredibly strong man. The one who was capable of arguing with me until I was ready to rip his hair out and just as quickly decide to rip his clothes off instead. The man who sailed across the ice like a bird through the air, who had such a powerful shot it was near impossible to block. The man who was this side of wild and fiercely loyal to the small circle of people he surrounded himself with.

I was so damn lucky to have been let into that circle.

“I’ve been a starting Shark for two years,” he said, reaching up to hold my face with both hands. “And I’ve never, not once, regretted an away game.”

I tilted my head.

“You make me want to stay.”

I grinned, sinking on top of him, eyes flaring wide when I felt him steadily growing underneath me. “We have a few hours before your flight,” I said and rolled my hips, coating him in the warmth that swirled in my core.

He growled, hands flying from my face to my devious hips.

I folded over him, continuing my torturous rocking, and flicked my tongue over his lips. “I better make sure I give you something to think about when you’re away.”

“You. Are. Everything.” He groaned out each word as I kissed my way down his chest, licking and biting until I reached his considerable length.

Without preamble, I took him in my mouth, sucking his plump head while fisting the rest of him with my hand. I alternated between licking and sucking and pumping until the man was a writhing, growling animal beneath me.

The power in the act—the way he trembled at my touch, fingers in my hair, sighing and relinquishing control to me so fully, the trust impenetrable between us—it all soared and tightened into a delicious ache that had my entire body rocking in time to the movements of my mouth.

He tasted of salt and heat, and his moans slicked the spot between my thighs.

And just as I quickened my pace, knowing it would be his undoing, I was flipped.

One second he was in my mouth, the next I was on my back, Connor’s breathless face above mine, his hips between my legs.

“Ivy.” He fingered the strands of my hair, twisting and tugging gently to expose my neck to him. “God, you’re amazing,” he said before lightly nipping at my neck. I arched against him, the delightful bite sending shocks down my spine.

I locked my ankles around his back, begging him with my body to put me out of my misery. He held my gaze, a soft smile on those lips as he slowly, agonizingly slid into my sweet heat, inch by brutal inch.

Hard yet gentle.

Wild yet contained.

The man snaked an arm under my back, hefting me upward as he slowly thrust into me, each time longer than the next. Our bodies flush, I clung to him, holding on as he stroked me into a searing slow burn that threatened to shatter me completely.

“Why can’t we go?” Hannah asked, her eyes full puppy mode as she hugged Connor’s neck. He was on his knees to be at her level outside the airport. He flashed me a look over her shoulder, pure agony.

“I would love for you to come, Hannah Banana,” he said. “But,” he continued, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Ivy told me she needed some girl time. Can you take care of that for me while I’m gone?”

Hannah’s frown turned to an uncontainable smile as she glanced back at me. “You’re staying with me?”

I nodded. “Lettie too,” I said. “We’re going to have a full-on girl’s sleepover complete with painted nails, glitter hair bows, and movies. If that’s okay with you,” I added.

“Yes!” She kissed Connor on the cheek quickly before releasing him. “Have a good trip.”

Connor chuckled, rising to stand. I took the few steps separating us, arching my neck so I could meet his eyes. Seriously, the man was freaking tall.

“Thank you,” he whispered, rubbing his hand up and down my arm.

“Of course,” I said. I knew this was killing him but he knew it wouldn’t be good for Hannah to go to every single away game, let alone the Stanley Cup Finals. Their media schedule was grueling, morning skates, games...it would all add up to Hannah being on the sidelines more than with Connor. The exhaustion that came from keeping a Sharks’ schedule was enough to wreck an adult, let alone a five-year old girl.

He wetted his lips before inching them toward mine. I met him halfway and crushed my mouth against his, my arms around his neck as he kissed the breath from me. Warm chills raced across my skin, the pleasant soreness between my thighs from earlier this morning awakening with need.

“I love you,” he said against my lips, and I jolted in his embrace. He raised his brows, never letting go of me as he shrugged. “I do. I know it’s fast, Ivy. But I can’t help it. I fucking love you.”

“Language!” Hannah scolded from where she was playing with her Anna and Elsa Barbies a few feet away.

“The girl has the ears of a dog and the eyes of a hawk,” he laughed, then focused on me, noting my silence. “Too soon?”

“No,” I said, finally speaking around my heart that had leaped to my throat. “I’m totally gone for you.”

He tilted his head, his eyes pleading.

“I’ve loved you since you won in the second round, Connor.”

A smile lit up his face before it quickly turned to a smirk. “So you only love me because I’m a Shark?” He teased, and I smacked his chest.

“No.” I rolled my eyes. “I realized it that day. When you were on the ice and I had your daugh—Hannah on my hip.” I bit my bottom lip, internally scolding myself for my slip about Hannah’s title.

He kissed my lip free. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“You and I…you used to hate—”

“You know that isn’t true,” he cut me off, kissing me again. “You know me, Ivy. I’ve laid every piece of my soul bare to you. You’re it.” He glanced over my shoulder then back to me. “You and Hannah. You’re both a world I never knew I could possibly deserve.”

Tears bit my eyes, making his form shimmer around the edges.

“I love you,” I finally said, kissing him before I could let the happy tears fall.

“God, how did I get so damn lucky?” He pressed his forehead against mine.

“You happened to bring an exceptionally cool kid to a hockey game,” I teased.

“Best thing I ever did.”

Connor set me on my feet after a few more kisses, and then scooped up his bag.

“Win for us,” I said, wrapping an arm around Hannah.

“Always for you two,” he said, as he turned and entered the airport.

And as I watched the doors close behind him, I had the sudden sense that I was glimpsing my future. Goodbyes for games, taking care of Hannah, and the sweet reconnections once he came home. Hannah and me cheering for him at games, holidays with Eric and Pepper. Fights and making up and wild nights when Hannah slept over at Lettie’s.

The rush of images was almost too fast to keep up with, but damn me if they didn’t look perfect.