I sank to the floor of the shower. My knee was swelling again, my back was screaming in pain, and my elbow felt like it was on fire. I had been thrown into the boards over and over the entire game and I was thankful to be in the hotel room finally tending to my aching body.

Being one of the youngest guys on the team made it hard to complain about being sore or torn up – the other guys had dealt with worse and for way longer than me. I could still hear Cox scoffing at me, “Suck it up, buttercup,” as I wrapped my elbow after the second period.

“Harding, ya got a visitor,” Crosby called into the bathroom.

“Tell who ever the fuck it is to go fuck themselves, I am not leaving this shower until this hotel runs out of hot water,” I yelled through the shut door.

“Wrong answer,” I heard my wife’s sweet voice giggle as she started to open the door to the large bathroom.

“Nik! What in the world are you doing in Chicago? Who has the kids?” I wanted to get up to greet her, but my knee was protesting.

“Your sister has the weekend off. She took them. It’s been way too long since I have surprised you. And, before you ask, yes, Crosby is already heading to another room so we can be alone.”

“Have I told you lately, that you’re amazing?” I watched as Nikki stripped out her yoga pants and sweater.

“It’s still nice to hear it all of the time.” She winked, pulling her hair up into a ponytail. “Got some room in there for me too?”

Being six-foot-three and bulky, I took up most of the shower floor but my little ballerina was just the right size to sit on my lap. I patted my thigh, smiling up at her. “There’s always room for you, babe.”

She sank down on my lap, kissing me gently. “I saw the game. You all right?”

I sighed, I wasn’t going to be able to hide it from her. “I’m all sorts of banged up, Nik.”

With her arms wrapped around my neck, she leaned her forehead onto mine. “Then, I am glad I am here to make you feel better.”

Our lips brushed together, before I pulled her petite body closer to mine. “Sorry this isn’t going to be more fun for you, babe. I can barely move my leg and I have to be right as rain for tomorrow’s game.”

“How about I order some room service, find a movie on TV and get some of that hot cream stuff on you before your muscles tighten up.”

“How’d I get this lucky?”

She jumped to her feet, grabbing a towel as she hopped out of the steamy shower. “It all started with a book.” With a wink, she ducked out of the bathroom to order me a steak and find some stupid comedy to distract me from the pain.

I loved the way that Nikki and I met and being reminded of it. That day in the coffee shop, I took the best leap of faith of my life and I was still shocked that I had the balls to even walk up to Nikki. Even after all of these years, I still was beyond grateful to my younger self for grabbing her hand and not worrying about rejection.

We scarfed down New York strips and roasted potatoes while watching Anchor Man. After Nikki rubbed the orange miracle goo all over my body, I passed out instantly.

In the middle of the night, I woke up with Nikki on the other side of the bed with the entire comforter cocooned around her body.

Rolling over, I gently started to unravel her from the blanket fortress she had created.

She moaned, trying to push me away in her sleep.

“Babe, you have to share,” I whispered, trying my best to not completely wake her up.

Too late.

“You better be waking me up for a better reason than to steal the covers,” she complained with a yawn.

Finally, I had her unraveled enough to feel her warm, smooth skin. Even with aching muscles, desire took over.

“What do you want, baby?” I asked, pulling her thong to the side and rolling my fingertips over her slick opening.

“Just you, Chase.” She murmured.

Teasing her clit, I rubbed and plucked at her sensitive skin. Rolling her onto her stomach, I wrapped one arm around her slender throat to gently apply pressure as she gasped from just my light playing.

With two fingers, I explored her wetness as her desire pooled in my hand. I loved feeling her shake from my hands. Even after all this time, Nikki still melted at my touch – it was intoxicating.

She gasped as she wrapped her hands in the sheets.

“Come for me, Nik. I want you to drench my fingers.” I commanded.

Her eyes slammed shut as she cried, “Oh, fuck! Chase!”

Nikki’s entire body tensed as I pulled her hard into my chest and finger fucked her into euphoria.

Without even letting her come down from her high, I pulled my boxers down to my knees, pushed her down onto the bed and thrust into her throbbing cunt. My knee was screaming as I push pressure on it to position myself over her, my back was tensing with every thrust, my arm was shaking as I pulled on her hair – it was all worth it.

I was always in pain, I was always sore, it was never going to keep me from making love to my wife. Being a ballerina, she was in the same boat half of the time, but we learned early on the passionate intimacy was important for both of us.

“I love you, Nikki,” I growled in her ear as I thrust hard and deep into her pussy.

As she cried out, a smile pulled at the sided of her lips.

I loved watching her eyes flutter, her smile wide, her breath hitch. Those were my undoing. Yes, the feeling of fucking her was incredible, but that wasn’t what did it for me. It wasn’t how amazing her body was even after have three children, it wasn’t how soft her skin was, how tight her pussy was, or how good she was in bed – all of those things were nice, don’t get me wrong. But, it was how much she enjoyed me and how much she showed it. It was written on her face, laced in her tone, exploding from her touch.

Right as she reached back and drug her nails into my shoulder, I was a goner. I rocked my hips hard into her as I filled her.

“Chase, holy fuck,” she panted, rolling over to kiss me.

“Get some sleep.” I kissed her back, pulling the covers up over her again.

Grabbing a towel from the floor, dove under the blanket to clean her up before doing the same for me.

“Thanks,” she mumbled as her eyes fluttered shut.

“Are you glad you came up?” I asked, tucking her into my side.

“Glad would be a total understatement.”