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.