Asher paced near the back of the stage, hidden by a red velvet curtain. Onstage they were announcing the award for GM of the Year, and next would be Man of the Year. He could see Ben sitting with Olivia at a table with several of his teammates, but he’d yet to talk to him. His stomach was in knots. They hadn’t really spoken since their argument, and now he had to acknowledge him onstage, in front of everyone who was anyone in the NHL, along with their family, who was waiting until Ben took the stage to appear.
Glancing toward his own table, his gaze fell on Emma, and his heart pounded even more. He couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there. He had so much he wanted to do with her, and removing that sexy-as-hell dress was the beginning…but only the beginning. The urge to move forward with a relationship caught him completely off guard, and he had no idea what that really entailed, but he was excited.
Maybe the injury hadn’t been as untimely as he’d thought. Being unable to play hockey was making him realize that there was more to life than his sport. The last few weeks had put things into perspective a whole hell of a lot quicker than he’d expected. Putting off a life with Emma until he was done with hockey had once been the only thing he could see. Now, things were shining in a different light.
He wanted both. Needed both. He just had no idea how to have both.
“Next, we will be presenting the NHL Man of the Year award, an award that recognizes a player who demonstrates great sportsmanship on the ice and off, contributing and giving back to their community…And we think this year’s recipient embodies the true spirit of this award.” The presenter’s voice broke into his thoughts. “His work with the local children’s hospital and his latest teaming with the burn victims unit at the Denver Burn Institute has made this player’s personal charity contribution exceed any of the athletes in this year’s category. He donates not only his money, but also his time, making appearances throughout the year, offering support and hope, and enriching the lives of others.”
Asher swallowed hard and wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. Ben was all of those things, if not also an arrogant pain in his ass their entire lives. He sighed as the presenter continued.
“Here tonight, along with his family, is Asher Westmore to present the award to his brother. Ben Westmore, congratulations on being this year’s NHL Man of the Year.”
The crowd was on its feet, and a chorus of applause rang through the ballroom as Asher limped slightly to the podium. “Thank you,” he said, taking the award in one hand and the mic in the other. “Maybe I’ll just keep this one,” he said, gaining some laughs as Ben climbed the steps to the stage.
His gaze met his brother’s and he saw a look of surprise and apprehension flicker across his face.
He grinned and Ben’s shoulders relaxed as he leaned in to hug him. “Congrats, bro.”
“Thanks for being here, man,” Ben whispered then pulled back to mess up his hair.
Right. Onstage he was being schooled by his bigger, better brother. In front of his family, his teammates, coach, industry bigwigs…and the woman he was in love with.
But for that evening, he was okay with it.
Ben grinned as he accepted the award.
“I want to congratulate my brother on this achievement,” Asher started and the crowd sat. A silence fell over the room and all eyes were on him. The heat of the lights on the stage made him sweat even more as he unfolded his prepared speech with shaky hands.
He saw his mother, Jackson, and Abby now seated in the formerly empty seats at the table near the stage, and his confidence faltered slightly, so he looked at Emma. “Growing up with one of hockey’s greatest heroes wasn’t easy…Hell, it’s still not easy,” he said, glancing down at his feet and taking a steadying breath.
The spotlight was on him, and he was nervous as shit.
Next to him, his brother looked cool, calm, and relaxed. Ben reveled in the attention. Asher didn’t.
But this was his brother’s night. This was about Ben. For no one else would he be standing up there tonight.
“Hockey was like religion in the Westmore house. It was the only thing that we collectively agreed was the one thing that mattered. When Jackson started getting serious about playing, Ben and I quickly realized we couldn’t let him have all the fun. Then the competitive spirit between the three of us came alive. We played, we practiced, we played some more. We pushed one another, and we supported one another.”
His mother winked at him through her tears and again his gaze returned to Emma.
His rock.
He glanced at his paper before continuing. “Ben’s accomplishments throughout his entire career, not just this year, are why he is awarded this honor tonight. His athletic ability is second to none, and his determination to succeed knows no bounds.” He gestured to his leg, and a ripple of laughter went through the crowd.
“Sorry about that,” Ben muttered behind him.
The first real, sincere apology—though Asher no longer needed one. “My brother is everything this award encompasses.” He paused. A memory returning, he folded the speech, no longer needing it. “I remember as kids—I might have been five or six—playing on the frozen lake behind our house as long as daylight would let us and being so exhausted on the walk home hours later. The muscles in my legs would be aching and my feet would be sore from the skates and Ben here…” He stopped, the memory wrapping around him so vividly he could once again feel the chill in the air and the tired achiness of his young muscles as they’d trudge home through the snow after dark. “Ben would take my gear and say ‘hop on,’ and I’d jump onto his back and he’d carry my tired ass the rest of the way.”
Ben cleared his throat next to him, and Asher didn’t dare glance at him. His older brother getting emotional would be the end of him. He avoided the women at the family table as well. And also Emma, knowing his feelings for her might prevent him from holding back his emotions.
He locked his gaze on the waiters, ready to serve dessert in the back of the room as he continued. “That was Ben. He was always looking out for me…looking out for all of us, and he still has that altruistic, giving spirit. No amount of fame or money or awards like this one has changed my brother. He’s still looking out for those who need him, and I’m proud of what he has achieved.” Swallowing hard, he finally turned to Ben again and extended a hand. “Congratulations, Ben. You deserve this.”
Ben pulled him in for another hug, then wiped his eye as he pulled away. “Can’t believe you remember that.”
“You don’t forget kindness, Ben.” He tapped his shoulder and stepped away as Ben took the mic. Heading down the stairs, his heart felt lighter as he rejoined Emma at their table.
“That was nice,” she whispered, tucking a tissue in her hand, her eyes still glistening.
He took her hand under the table. “This is Ben’s night…until we get to your place, then I’m getting my reward for being a good brother.” With his free hand, he ran a trail along her thigh, feeling the soft fabric and the curves of her legs beneath. Sexy, muscular legs that he wanted to have around him all night. A week without her had been a dumb idea. He felt himself harden as she leaned closer and whispered in his ear.
“How long do we have to stay?”
His grip on her thigh tightened. The delicious smell of her skin made him want to ditch out on the rest of the evening immediately. “As soon as Ben stops talking, we are out of here.”
* * *
The idea of a date after their shared history had seemed silly at first, but as Emma opened her apartment door and led the way inside, the butterflies in her stomach and the slight intoxicating dizziness she felt had nothing to do with the Champagne she’d consumed.
The evening had been magical. The event itself had reminded her of what it was like to be a part of the pro athlete world. Watching some of hockey’s greatest players being recognized for their accomplishments gave a nostalgia for events and nights like these of her own.
She’d been surprised that the people at their table had even known who she was, yet they’d been so flattering about her past career.
It had been wonderful to be seen in that light again. And yet, as she talked about her past, she realized further that while she’d loved her career on the slopes, she was okay with it being over. She’d always have those memories, those accomplishments, those stories, and now she was ready to achieve new ones.
And being there with Ash, on full display on his arm as his date—not a friend, not a casual acquaintance, but his date—in front of his family, his teammates, and the paparazzi had been the first step in that direction.
Her usually reserved, private best friend hadn’t cared who’d seen them together, and that had made her feel like the luckiest woman in the room.
Asher followed her inside and locked the door, and his arms went immediately to her waist, drawing her closer to unbutton her coat.
She laughed. “Do you really think I’m going to put out on the first date?”
“Hoping,” he said, sliding the coat over her bare shoulders and slowly down her arms.
Turning, she stepped out of it, and he placed it on the back of a chair in the living room before removing his overcoat and tossing it on top. His gaze took in the length of her in the dress and he let out a low whistle. “To say you are breathtaking this evening would be a lie,” he said. “My breath has been coming hard and fast since seeing you in this dress.”
She smiled. “Really? You like it that much?” She glanced at the fabric clinging to her slim frame. She’d been hoping it would have this effect on him.
“Me and every other guy in the room,” he said.
He smelled so good. His cologne filled her senses and she closed her eyes, breathing him in. Being in his big arms made her feel so safe, so wanted. He tightened his hold around her and kissed the bare skin at her shoulder, his lips cool against her warm flesh and the light late evening stubble on his chin tickling her. She could already feel his erection, and the thought that she was the cause made her confidence soar.
“And it’s not just the dress,” he murmured against her ear. “It’s this tempting-as-hell body, and this amazing perfume you’re wearing…The way those heels make your legs look like they go on forever, all the way to these sexy hips…” His hands gripped them tight and her breath caught as his lips moved to the base of her neck. “And seeing you smile and laugh, your face lighting up when you talked about your career…”
“Past career,” she corrected, though who the hell cared when his hands were climbing higher over her rib cage and his mouth was pressed against her soft skin.
He ignored her as he reached around to unhook and unzip the dress.
She swallowed hard and held her breath as the fabric fell away, leaving her completely naked in front of him.
“Holy shit. If I’d known you were naked under there, we would have left a whole hell of a lot sooner,” Asher said, bending to pick up the dress, carefully laying it on top of their coats. Then he loosened his tie, yanking it off over his head before unbuttoning his dress shirt and pulling the fabric free of his pants.
Emma kicked off her heels and immediately felt like her old self, like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight…but it didn’t matter, because her prince was standing in front of her, his bare chest and stomach and arms making her mouth water as he unbuttoned his pants and let them fall to the floor.
He wasted no time collecting his own clothing, simply leaving it on the floor. Taking her hand, he led the way to her bedroom and eased her down onto the bed. “You were amazing tonight,” he said as he lay next to her, trailing his hand along her chest, between her breasts, down her stomach, and back up again.
She shivered beneath his soft, delicate caress. Sex was always passionate with Ash, always intense and full of desire, but she couldn’t remember it being gentle and soft, the way it was starting tonight.
His want of her was evident in his cock straining against the confines of his boxer briefs, but he was taking his time.
“You were amazing. That tribute to Ben was really nice. There wasn’t a dry female eye in the room.” She knew because she’d been watching the women watching Asher. But for the first time she hadn’t felt insecure. She hadn’t been questioning who he’d rather be taking home. His eyes, his attention, and his desire had all been aimed at her and only her.
Reaching for him, she pulled him down on top of her and spread her legs as he lay between them. “How’s your leg?” The therapist in her just couldn’t be still.
“Perfect,” he said, raising his upper body to stare down at her. “Emma, being with you tonight was…”
“Perfect,” she said. She leaned up to kiss him, soft at first, then more desperate as his mouth crushed hers.
He rested his weight on his forearms as her head fell back against the pillow and his tongue separated her lips. His kiss was the one she was used to. Demanding, passionate, desperate. She lifted her hands overhead to lock fingers with him, and he squeezed her hands as he deepened the kiss even more. His tongue explored her mouth, his lips warm and wet.
She couldn’t breathe under his weight and his mouth on hers, but she didn’t care.
He pushed his hips into hers and the feel of his hard cock against her pelvis had her arching her back and aching with need.
She rocked her hips against him and he moaned against her mouth. “Emma, you are driving me insane. I want you so fucking bad.”
“Then take me, Ash. I’m all yours.” I’ve always been all yours.
He removed his underwear, then, rejoining their hands, he slid himself between her legs. Along her wet folds, the tip of his cock pressing against her opening.
She swallowed hard as she reconnected their mouths, her breath labored as he pushed a little deeper, so just the tip teased the rim of her.
Jesus, she was so close. Having him inside of her, but not fulfilling the burning ache, was torture, and just the thought of his long cock on the verge of entering her body had her pulsating. “Ash, please fuck me,” she begged, breaking the contact with his mouth. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she clung to him, trying to force him deeper.
He remained on the edge, sliding the tip in and out in a torturously slow rhythm. He grinned at her as he stared into her eyes. “Anxious, Em?”
She wanted to hit him for the way he was killing her, but he had her hands pinned overhead. She was at his mercy. And he was showing none. Dipping his head to her neck, he began to suck gently at first, then harder as if he couldn’t get enough of the taste of her. All the while, his cock hovered on the edge, refusing to give her the release she craved.
She moaned and forced her hips higher and he raised his mouth to her ear. “Patience, Emma…”
Damn it. She’d had patience. For too long. Waiting for this moment. When the sex wasn’t just sex but a connection that solidified taking their relationship a step further. A step toward a future together. A real one. One she’d been wanting for so long. She’d had patience. Now she wanted him.
With all her strength she pushed her hips upward and felt his cock slide inside. He groaned as every inch of him plunged deeper, connecting with every inch of her warm, ready body.
She released a sigh of relief and immediately began rocking against him. The friction in her frantic pace provided some of the relief she sought, but not enough. “Harder, Ash. Faster,” she begged, clinging to his hips now, forcing his body in and out of her.
“Emma, you’re killing me. I was trying to make this last,” he said, moving his hips in rhythm with hers, his head burrowed in the pillow next to her head.
“We can do it again. All night. Over and over,” she said, feeling the length of him sliding faster, harder in and out.
She struggled for breath as the pace quickened and the pressure of his pelvis against her clit had her body screaming for release as she edged closer and closer. “Yes, Asher, Ash…” She closed her eyes and arched her back as the ripples of pleasure coursed through her. The intensity of her orgasm was almost painful as she clung to him, holding him still while she clenched and throbbed around him. “Oh my God…” she whispered.
“My turn,” he said, picking up her legs beneath her thighs and wrapping them higher around his body. He pinned her shoulders against the bed as he plunged deeper at this new angle, making her cry out at the sensation.
Three fast and hard thrusts before his eyes closed and his head fell forward. His fingers gripped her shoulders and he moaned his own release. He forced several deep breaths and she hugged his body with her legs, until she felt him slide out of her slowly.
As he rolled off of her, he pulled her into him, spooning her as he held her close. “So, pretty girl,” he whispered against her ear, moving her hair away from her neck. “Do you think you’d like to date me again?”
Date him. Marry him. Grow old with him. “This one would be hard to beat.” She snuggled closer, loving the feel of his body against hers, legs tangled together, hands folded against her chest, his stomach pressed to her back. Loved it so hard. It was the one thing in that moment that she was sure was right.
“Leave that up to me,” he said, kissing her as her eyes closed in pure blissful exhaustion.