26
Nadia’s nonstop flight to Detroit took two hours and forty minutes. She spent the entire time battling anxiety and nervousness over the prospect of meeting Reid’s family.
What if they were cold and unfriendly? What if they didn’t approve of Reid dating her? What if they hated her on sight?
The questions nagged at her, making it impossible for her to relax and enjoy the plush first-class seat Reid had paid for. Her only consolation was that she didn’t have to meet the Holdens all at once. Since Reid’s sisters were picking her up from the airport, she’d get to meet the family in increments, like a new swimmer easing her way into the deep end of a pool.
When she arrived at the airport, Reid’s sisters were waiting for her. She recognized them right away from the pictures she’d seen on Reid’s Instagram page.
Avery had pretty features with sleek dark hair cut stylishly beneath her chin. It swung from side to side as she moved across the terminal, elegantly slim in a tailored blazer, ruffled white blouse and gray dress slacks with designer pumps. She was only twenty-six, just a year older than Nadia. But she carried herself with an air of sophistication that was hard not to admire.
Her sister Aria was drop-dead gorgeous with high cheekbones and rich dark hair that hung in a waterfall down her back. She was wearing a low-cut red blouse under a cropped leather jacket with skinny jeans molded to her long legs. Her calf-high black leather boots made her appear even taller than she already was.
When the two sisters spotted Nadia, they waved and hurried forward to greet her. Despite having shorter legs, Avery reached her first, her green eyes sparkling with her smile as she eagerly clasped Nadia’s hand.
“Hi, I’m Avery. It’s so good to meet you.”
Nadia smiled warmly. “Same to you,” she said, some of her nervousness abating in the face of such a friendly greeting.
“Hi, Nadia!” Aria leaned down and gave her a warm, sisterly hug. “We’re so glad you could come this weekend.”
“Thank you for having me.”
Aria pulled back and beamed at Nadia. She had big blue eyes with long, sweeping lashes that gave her a perpetual look of wide-eyed innocence—until you glanced downward and saw her bombshell curves.
“Oh my God,” she gushed. “You’re so pretty!”
Avery grinned. “Isn’t she a doll?” She draped an arm around Nadia’s shoulders, giving her a quick squeeze before pointing to the strappy leather heels that laced up her ankles. “I love those shoes.”
“So do I.” Aria looked Nadia up and down in approval. “Love the whole damn outfit.”
Nadia beamed. “Why, thank you, ladies.”
Although she normally preferred to travel in comfort, she’d wanted to make a good first impression on Reid’s sisters. So she’d donned a stylish black jumpsuit with a deep V neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. To complete the glam look, she’d slicked her hair back into a sleek ponytail that accentuated her features. In anticipation of her trip to Detroit, she’d splurged on an Olivia Pope–inspired white Burberry trench. If the wool coat didn’t help her survive the Michigan cold, Reid would.
His sisters ushered her outside to a silver Lexus coupe parked at the busy curb. It belonged to Avery, who apparently didn’t share Reid’s conviction about driving only American cars.
After stowing Nadia’s bag in the trunk, Avery insisted that she sit up front with her, and Aria slid into the backseat before Nadia could refuse.
As they pulled away from the airport, she said warmly, “Thanks for picking me up.”
“No problem,” Avery said, waving off her gratitude. “It gives us a chance to get to know you before you meet everyone else.”
Nadia smiled. “I appreciate that.”
“It also gives us a chance to dish all the dirt on Reid,” Aria joked.
They all laughed.
“Is this your first visit to Detroit, Nadia?” Avery asked conversationally.
“It is,” she said.
Avery grinned. “Forget what you’ve heard. This is the best damn city in the world.”
Nadia chuckled. “Your brother says the same thing. I’d never actually met anyone from Detroit before I met him.”
“Aww. So he’s your first.”
Nadia grinned. “He is.”
A naughty twinkle entered Avery’s eyes. “I told him you could stay with me, but he politely declined. Apparently he’s planning to have a sleepover with you at the hotel.”
Nadia’s cheeks warmed. Lifting her chin, she sniffed with feigned indignation. “I’m not that kind of girl.”
Avery and Aria burst into delighted laughter, and Nadia joined them.
Before long they reached downtown Detroit. Nadia stared out the window, taking in the tall buildings, bright lights and glittering holiday decorations. Downtown, at least, was much nicer than she’d expected. But she kept the thought to herself, unsure how it would be received.
Reid had put her up in the same hotel where he was staying. When Avery pulled up in front of the glistening glass building, a valet immediately came out to open their doors. Another attendant retrieved Nadia’s bag from the trunk and carried it inside the elegant lobby while she, Avery and Aria followed behind, their arms linked like old friends.
After stopping at the front desk to pick up Nadia’s room key, they rode the elevator all the way up to the top floor. That should have been Nadia’s first clue about her accommodations. But she didn’t become suspicious until she stepped off the elevator and saw that there weren’t many rooms on the floor.
When she unlocked her door and stepped inside, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
Reid had booked her a penthouse suite.
It was huge and luxuriously appointed with high-end furniture, sparkling chandeliers and sumptuous carpeting. The paintings on the walls were illuminated by their own spotlights. The suite boasted a dining room, a wet bar and an expansive seating area separated from the bedroom and bath by a bank of French doors. There was a private balcony beyond floor-to-ceiling windows that provided stunning views of the city. In one direction lay downtown, a forest of glittering skyscrapers. In the other direction, the Detroit River glistened luminously in the night.
Avery let out a long, appreciative whistle. “Whoa.”
Nadia couldn’t help feeling a little embarrassed as she set her bag down. “He really didn’t have to do this,” she protested, looking around in stunned disbelief. “A standard room would have sufficed.”
Aria snorted, giving her a look of amused incredulity. “Honey, if a rich dude wants to put you up in a three-thousand-dollar-a-night suite, by all means, let him.”
“Seriously,” Avery agreed, grinning broadly. “Our brother’s crazy about you, Nadia. And we love it. ”
“We sure do.”
“Also— Wait.” Avery turned and stared at Aria, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “How do you know the nightly rate for these suites?”
Aria bit her lip, looking guilty as sin. “Lucky guess?”
“Lucky guess, my ass,” Avery said with a snort. “You spent the night here with that douchebag, didn’t you?”
Aria frowned, those big eyes of hers blinking innocently. “What douchebag?”
“You know damn well I’m talking about that smarmy real estate hotshot you were dating a few months ago. I can’t believe you slept with him after I specifically warned you—”
“Warned? Jeez, Av, how old do you think I am?”
“You’re twenty-four, old enough to know better. Too bad you don’t act like it.”
As the two sisters began bickering, Nadia grinned and discreetly stepped away to check out the gorgeous bouquet of flowers that had been left on the dining table. Next to the lavish arrangement was a gourmet gift basket filled with assorted goodies and an expensive bottle of Chardonnay.
Nadia smiled, leaning down to bury her nose in the fragrant bouquet. There was a small white card nestled among the blossoms. She plucked it out and read the note, which was more of a letter:
Hey, beautiful. Welcome to my hometown. I wish I could have met you at the airport, but duty calls. I hope my sisters are behaving themselves. You should be ready for dinner by now, so why don’t you and the girls order room service or try the restaurant downstairs. It’s owned by some famous chef and the food is excellent. Avery and Aria can keep you company until I get there. But once I walk through that door, it’s on, baby!
See you soon....
Love,
Your First Detroiter
Nadia laughed softly, her insides melting.
She glanced over her shoulder to look at Avery and Aria, whose argument was ramping up. The sight of the two sisters rolling their necks and wagging their fingers at each other amused her to no end.
And who says only black women behave that way? Pfft.
She cleared her throat loudly, cutting through the cacophony of bickering voices.
Avery and Aria shut up instantly and looked at her as if they’d forgotten she was there.
Satisfied that she had their attention, she humorously announced, “As a token of his appreciation for your hospitality, Reid is treating us all to dinner.”
A delighted grin eased across Aria’s face. “Big brother’s buying dinner?”
“Yup.” Nadia held up the card, paraphrasing what Reid had written—minus the part about him ravishing her.
Avery beamed with pleasure. “He’s so thoughtful. It’s been a long day, so I vote for room service.”
Aria clapped her hands together. “I’m ordering lobster!”
Laughing, the three women peeled off their coats, kicked off their shoes and ordered room service. While they waited for their food, they uncorked the bottle of wine and ripped open the basket of gourmet treats, then made themselves comfortable around the crackling fire in the sitting room.
Avery took a sip of her wine and sighed. “Isn’t this cozy?”
“Very.” Nadia broke off a chunk of fudge and stuffed it into her mouth, savoring the melting sweetness on her tongue. “God, that’s good.”
Aria grinned. “That’s Sanders fudge.”
“Sanders?”
“It’s a Detroit-based confectionary,” Avery explained. “Their hot fudge is a local staple that goes back generations. They actually invented the ice-cream soda, and we grew up on their hot fudge cream puffs and bumpy cake.”
“Yeah?” Nadia ate another morsel of the delectable fudge and sighed appreciatively. “I think I’m in love.”
Avery and Aria laughed.
“Better not let Reid hear you say that,” Aria warned teasingly. “He might get jealous.”
Nadia laughed. “He probably would. Your brother can be very, let’s just say, territorial.”
“Really?” Aria shared a delighted glance with Avery. “Reid’s never been the possessive type.”
Avery grinned. “He sure hasn’t. Protective of his mother and sisters? Definitely. But possessive over girlfriends? Nahhh.”
“Is that right?” Nadia chuckled dryly. “That’s surprising. He’s got the jealous caveman act down to a fine art.”
“That’s because you’re special to him,” Aria said in a singsong voice.
“Seriously,” Avery agreed, her eyes sparkling with fascination as she stared at Nadia. “Reid’s never brought a woman home to meet the family. You’re the first. So that’s how we know he’s really serious about you.”
“Yup.” Aria polished off a butter brickle pretzel, then rubbed her hands together in diabolical glee and grinned at Nadia. “So what do you want to know about your man? Ask us anything and we’ll tell you.”
Nadia laughed. “Um…what was he like as a kid?”
Aria was disappointed. “Seriously? That’s what you want to know?” She rolled her eyes in mock disgust.
Nadia grinned wryly. “I don’t think I can handle hearing about his old girlfriends. Not yet anyway.”
Avery gave her a sympathetic smile. “If it’s any consolation, there’s not much to tell in that regard. Reid never had any serious relationships. I mean, yeah, he dated in high school and college, and he was always very popular with the ladies. But they never meant anything to him, and he never stayed with any particular girl for very long.”
“Sure didn’t,” Aria confirmed. “He didn’t have time for relationships. He ate, slept and breathed hockey. So while his friends were horsing around after school, he was at the ice rink practicing or playing in a game or traveling to a tournament. During the offseason he attended summer hockey camps, sometimes getting shipped off to Canada to train with former NHL coaches and players.”
“Wow,” Nadia marveled. “How exciting.”
“Oh, it was definitely exciting for him. But it was also stressful and grueling. And since Mom was a stickler for academics, most of his free time was spent studying and doing homework and completing extra credit assignments to keep his grades up. She always threatened to pull him out of hockey if he got anything lower than a B on his report card. We never believed she’d actually do it. Hockey was way too important to her and Dad. But Reid wasn’t taking any chances, so he always made the honor roll. He loved playing hockey. That was his life.”
“That’s why we’re so happy you came along, Nadia,” Avery chimed in warmly. “You’re really good for Reid. You make him see the bigger picture. I don’t think he realized just how much he was missing until he met you.”
Nadia’s throat tightened at Avery’s words. “I feel the same way about him.”
“Aww,” Avery and Aria cooed, tears misting their eyes as they shared a sentimental look.
“We love our brother so much,” Avery said, a husky catch in her voice. “He’s always been there for us. Whether we needed financial support, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a stern pep talk—”
“Or we needed him to kick some loser’s ass,” Aria added.
Avery gave a teary laugh. “Yes, that too.” She sniffled and sighed, then smiled softly at Nadia. “The point is, we’ve always been able to count on him. So it’s wonderful to know he has someone special in his life, someone who can be there for him in every way. Whether you know it or not, Nadia, you’ve been a godsend. Any woman who loves Reid and makes him happy is our sister for life.”
“Amen,” Aria heartily concurred.
Now it was Nadia’s turn to blink back tears. “Thank you,” she said, giving the sisters a look of warm gratitude. “I really appreciate hearing that.”
Avery grinned. “I think this calls for a group hug.”
They rose from the sofa and wrapped their arms around one another, laughing as they hugged long and hard. When they pulled apart, all three were dabbing at the corners of their eyes.
“Where’s Oprah when you need her?” Avery joked, drawing more laughter.
Just then there was a firm knock at the door. “Room service,” a male voice announced.
Aria clapped her hands together. “Food’s here!”
They ate in the sitting room, chatting and laughing nonstop. Avery and Aria asked Nadia about her family and growing up in Denver. Then they regaled her with tales from their childhood, humorously recounting the pranks Reid and Ryder had played on them and the creative ways they’d gotten revenge.
Nadia was having so much fun she lost track of time until the door to the suite opened. When she turned around, her heart gave a thrilled bump at the sight of Reid stepping across the threshold.
When their gazes met, his eyes lit up and a broad grin swept across his face. He looked just as happy to see her as she was to see him.
She got to her feet, but she didn’t rush headlong into his arms like she wanted to. She hung back to let him greet his sisters first, which seemed only fair given that she’d seen him more recently than they had.
“Reid!” Aria jumped up from the sofa and raced across the suite toward her brother.
He caught her, lifted her off the floor and spun her around, laughing at her girlish peals of laughter.
“Hey, baby girl,” he said affectionately, setting her down and tweaking her nose. “Good to see you.”
“You too.” Aria playfully punched his arm, beaming up at him with almost childlike adoration.
Avery was more restrained, but no less excited to see her brother. As he approached, she rose from the sofa and gave him a big warm hug, then stood on tiptoe to skim her fingers through his hair.
He grinned at her. “Don’t say it.”
“You need a haircut.”
“I thought I told you not to say it.”
“Since when do I listen to you?” she quipped.
They both laughed and hugged again.
Nadia smiled as she watched them. Hearing about the siblings’ close bond was one thing. Seeing it with her own two eyes was downright heartwarming.
She was still smiling when Reid turned to her.
“Hi,” he murmured.
Her stomach fluttered. “Hi.”
Stepping forward, he kissed her forehead and then pulled her in close, giving her one of those hugs that was all broad chest, masculine heat and protective strength. She sighed and closed her eyes, snuggling against him as he murmured endearments for her ears only. His sweater was soft under her cheek and he smelled wonderful.
“Wow,” Avery marveled. “Talk about an epically romantic greeting.”
Everyone laughed.
Reid reluctantly pulled away. Holding Nadia by the shoulders, he let his eyes run over every inch of her until she melted under his gaze.
Missed you, he mouthed.
Missed you more, she mouthed back.
His eyes glinted. That’s not even possible.
She smiled.
He winked at her, then turned to grin at his sisters. “Thanks for looking after Nadia for me.”
“No problem,” Avery said easily. “It was our pleasure.”
“Yeah,” Aria agreed. “We really like her, Reid. You did good.”
Reid and Nadia laughed.
There was a sudden knock at the door.
“That’s probably the fellas,” Reid said. “They wanted to stop by and say hello.”
When he went to answer the door, Nadia watched in amusement as Avery and Aria fussed with their hair and checked each other’s teeth for leftover food.
As Viggo, Logan Brassard and Hunter Duchene entered the suite, the sisters beamed at them and called out flirtatiously, “Hey, guys.”
“Evening, ladies,” a chorus of deep voices responded.
Nadia smiled, watching as the hunky hockey players sauntered forward. Like Reid, the newcomers were well over six feet and powerfully built, with wide shoulders, massive chests and long legs. They were dressed similarly in muscle-hugging ribbed sweaters, dark jeans and heavy black boots.
The sight of them filled Nadia with feminine appreciation, and she found herself appraising them one by one.
Logan’s black hair was cut military-short, and he had gorgeous brown eyes and full lips. Stubble darkened his square jaw, and his heavy-lidded appearance all but screamed sex.
Hunter had wavy dark hair and sported a meticulously trimmed short beard and mustache. His piercing green eyes were startling in their intensity. His skin was swarthy, making Nadia wonder if he had some Italian ancestry running through his veins. All she knew was that he was French Canadian. And he was fine.
And then there was Viggo, who had the kind of looks that made a woman’s lungs collapse from lack of oxygen. He was, quite simply, breathtaking.
Reid escorted his teammates across the suite, the four of them exuding so much testosterone that it had a dizzying effect on Nadia.
Holy hell. These white boys were hot as fuck.
Over the next few minutes, more hugs and pleasantries were exchanged. Viggo, Logan and Hunter greeted Nadia warmly and took turns kissing her hand with a gallantry that rivaled the knights of Arthurian legend. Their attentiveness reduced her to a blushing, simpering idiot, which had Reid narrowing his eyes and looking disgruntled.
She wasn’t surprised when he took her hand and led her over to a plush armchair near the fireplace, set slightly apart from the group. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms tight around her waist. It was such an alpha male move that she could only laugh and shake her head at him.
When Logan plopped down in the middle of the sofa and draped his arms over the back, Avery and Aria giggled and sat on either side of him. Ignoring the empty loveseat, Viggo and Hunter chose to remain standing. It would have been a tight squeeze for them, and Reid had probably warned all of them not to get too comfortable.
“So how was the team dinner?” Avery asked conversationally.
“It was great.” Logan rubbed his flat, hard stomach with a satisfied grin. “We ate like kings.”
Aria grinned. “Really? What’d they feed you boys?”
“Everything. It was a buffet dinner. So we had…”
Nadia tuned out the conversation as Reid rubbed his nose against her nape, breathing in her scent. “God, I love the way you smell, baby,” he whispered. “Thank you for not skinny-dipping in cheap perfume.”
She grinned, amused by the odd compliment. “You’re welcome,” she whispered back. “That was kinda…random.”
“I know. Long story.” He nuzzled the skin at the curve between her shoulder and neck, making her shiver. “In case you couldn’t tell, I love this outfit you’re wearing. You look gorgeous.”
She smiled. “Thank—”
“Can’t wait to get you out of it though.”
Heat bloomed between her thighs. She looked over her shoulder at him and whispered, “Shh.”
He muffled a low laugh against her skin. “They’re not paying attention to us.”
He was right, Nadia realized. The others were chatting and laughing raucously, seemingly oblivious to the horny couple in the corner. She watched as Aria batted her lashes and tossed her head, causing her long hair to cascade over one shoulder. She was in full-on flirt mode.
Feeling naughty, Nadia turned and brought her lips to Reid’s ear, the warm tickle of her breath making him shiver as she whispered, “Guess what?”
“What?”
She flicked her tongue against his ear. “I’m not wearing any panties.”
He shuddered, his cock instantly hardening beneath her bottom. “Jesus, Nadia,” he rasped.
She covered her mouth to smother a laugh as his hand slid over her hip. When he felt the waistband of her bikini panties, he chuckled deep in his throat. “Little tease.”
She grinned and squirmed against his massive erection, teasing him some more. His breath hissed out between his teeth and his arms tightened around her.
“What’re you doing?” The rough need in his voice tightened her nipples and made her pussy warm and wet.
“What do you mean?” she whispered.
“Why are you playing games?”
She gave him a saucy smile. “Because I’m wicked.”
“You are.” He nipped her earlobe. “Very wicked. And I’m gonna make you pay.”
Just then Nadia caught Logan’s amused glance. She blushed, wondering if Reid’s words had carried across the room. Clearing her throat, she straightened on his lap and shifted her attention back to the group.
Aria was beaming flirtatiously at Viggo and Hunter. “…a Swede and a Canadian. See, that’s another thing I just love about hockey. It’s so international!”
The airhead remark met with silence.
Then Avery frowned in puzzlement and looked at her sister. “You know, if we didn’t come out of the same woman’s vajayjay, I would have sworn you were born a blonde.”
Aria scowled as everyone burst into laughter.
At that moment Reid’s phone rang. Grinning, he dug it out of his back pocket and looked at the screen.
Nadia glanced back at him. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. It’s Kyle. I’m supposed to be shooting the Nike commercial soon. He probably just wants to confirm some last-minute details.” Reid leaned close and brushed a kiss across her mouth. “Be right back.”
“Okay,” she said smilingly. “I’ll be waiting.”
He winked at her, then lifted her off his lap and stood. As she dropped back into the chair, she didn’t miss the way he tugged down his sweater to conceal the bulge in his pants before he headed for the bedroom to take the call. She watched him go, admiring the view of his strong back and juicy ass.
When he was out of sight, she sighed and returned her attention to his teammates, who were still laughing and joking with Avery and Aria.
Just then Viggo turned his head, his gray eyes meeting Nadia’s. When she smiled, he came over and stood next to her chair.
“How’s your cousin doing?”
“Scarlett?” Nadia grinned. “She’s fine.”
“She certainly is.” Viggo’s eyes glinted with unmistakable appreciation.
Her grin widened.
“When’s their next album coming out?”
“Sometime next year,” Nadia answered. “They’re going back into the studio in January.”
“That’s great. I can’t wait to hear their new work. They’re really good.”
“Thank you, Viggo. I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying their music.”
“Definitely.”
Viggo was so tall she had to crane her head back to stare up at him. As if sensing her predicament, he smoothly dropped to a crouch beside her, hitting her with the full force of his hotness.
Her mouth ran dry and her brain felt scrambled. Good God. Was any woman safe from the power of this man’s magnetism?
“So, listen, Nadia…” When he began speaking, she found herself sitting forward in the chair. He had one of those deep, hypnotic voices that made women lean closer so they wouldn’t miss a single word.
“Now that you and Reid are back together,” he continued, “I was hoping you could introduce me to Scarlett.”
Nadia smiled, staring at him in fascination. He was a gorgeous hockey superstar who could have any woman he wanted with a mere crook of his finger. And here he was practically begging for an introduction to her cousin. It was unreal. And totally adorable.
“Tell you what, Viggo,” Nadia said warmly. “When we get back to Denver, I’ll talk to Scarlett and bring her to your next home game. Then maybe afterward the four of us can go out to dinner. How does that sound?”
A pleased smile curved his lips. God, what a panty dropper he was.
“It sounds perfect,” he said.
“Great. Can’t wait.” Now she just had to convince Scarlett to lift her ban on dating athletes.
“Thank you,” Viggo told her.
She waved off his gratitude. “No need to thank me. I enjoy playing matchmaker, and I really hope you and Scarlett hit it off.”
“So do I.” His eyes twinkled. “But that’s not actually what I was thanking you for. I mean, yes, I’m very grateful for the hookup. But I was thanking you for another reason.”
Nadia gave him a quizzical smile. “What’s that?”
His expression softened. “Thank you for taking Reid back. He was a miserable son of a bitch without you, Nadia. So on behalf of myself and the rest of the team, thank you for giving him a second chance.”
Nadia laughed warmly, touched by his heartfelt words. “You’re very welcome, Viggo. All of you.” She winked. “I don’t mind taking one for the team.”
They both laughed.
Reid returned at that moment, scowling at the sight of Viggo cozying up to Nadia.
Catching the expression on his face, Avery smiled knowingly and then slipped on her pumps, grabbed her purse and rose from the sofa.
“Well, folks, it’s been fun,” she announced cheerfully. “But I have an early appointment tomorrow, and I’m sure these two lovebirds are dying to be alone. Hint, hint.”
Reid gave her a grateful look, and she winked at him.
As soon as everyone said their goodbyes and left, Reid and Nadia pounced on each other, hugging and kissing feverishly. Their hands were all over each other, releasing buttons and lowering zippers. Clothing was stripped away, desperate hands exploring bare flesh while hungry mouths licked and tasted.
By the time they were down to just their underwear, Nadia was half out of her mind from wanting him, her body trembling with need.
Then Reid threw her a curveball.
“I saw the way you were looking at my teammates,” he whispered, staring into her eyes. “You think they’re hot, don’t you?”
“What?” She pulled away, guilty heat stinging her cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His eyes narrowed in warning even as his lips twitched. “So you’re just gonna stand there and lie to me?”
She floundered. “I…I—”
He grabbed her hand and led her over to the sofa. He sat down and then reached for her, pulling her across his lap. “You’ve been a bad girl, Nadia,” he scolded, running his palm over the curve of her buttocks. “I think you need a spanking.”
“A what?” she choked out.
“You heard me. You’ve been naughty, and you need to be punished.”
“Seriously?” She laughed and squirmed on his lap. “Don’t you d—”
His hand came down on her bare ass with a firm, carefully controlled smack.
She gasped, instinctively squeezing her cheeks together. “Are you cr—”
His hand came down again, a little harder this time, the sound echoing around the suite.
She cried out, shocked to feel a hot burst of wetness leaking out of her pussy. “Oh, God…”
“What? You thought you could get away with it?” Reid delivered a resounding smack to her other ass cheek, making her cry out again as more juices gushed out of her.
As she wiggled and writhed on his lap, she could feel his cock hardening and lengthening beneath his boxer briefs. He was as turned on as she was. And that knowledge made her even hotter and wetter.
He gently rubbed her buttocks, soothing the sting of his blows. “Are you sorry for misbehaving?” he demanded sternly.
She was panting, breathless with laughter and lust. Some wickedly perverse impulse made her confess, “Actually, I wouldn’t mind having a threesome with you and any of—”
“What?” Reid gave her another hearty swat on her ass.
She let out a long, throaty groan.
“Ahh. I see.” His voice was a dark, sexy rumble. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Nadia closed her eyes and bit her lip, her fingers digging into the sofa cushion. Her bikini panties had gotten wedged between her ass cheeks. Reid ran his fingertips along the strip of lace until he found her wetness, slicking it over her lips and clit. As she writhed and moaned with pleasure, his breathing quickened and his cock grew impossibly harder.
“Answer me,” he growled.
She couldn’t even remember the question. Burying her face in the sofa cushion, she arched her back and lifted her ass into the air. “Spank me, papi!”
Reid brought his hand down hard, delivering another stinging smack.
She climaxed with a quivering scream.
“I knew it,” Reid leaned down to whisper in her ear. “You’re a wicked girl, aren’t you, Nadia? A wicked girl who likes playing wicked games.”
She gave a breathy laugh as hot shivers ran through her body.
Her pussy was still spasming when he lifted her off his lap and set her down on the sofa. Her ass cheeks were burning, but she didn’t care. She’d thoroughly enjoyed getting spanked by her big strapping hockey player. She’d definitely have to misbehave more often.
Licking her lips, she watched through glazed eyes as Reid slid off the sofa to kneel between her thighs. When she lifted her hips, he pulled her panties off and tossed them aside. Then she lay back against the sofa cushion, letting him arrange her legs over his massive shoulders.
She watched as he leaned down and fastened his mouth onto her drenched pussy, caressing her with his tongue and lightly biting her clit. Her body jolted and she cried out, arching against his mouth.
He groaned roughly, the sexy sound vibrating against her tender flesh. “I love the taste of your cum. So fucking hot and sweet.”
She shivered violently, her head rolling back against the sofa. He slid his tongue into her slick folds, nuzzling her clit with the tip. She pulled on his hair, gasping and pushing her hips into his face.
She felt him shudder as he swirled his tongue over and around her swollen clit, the teasing friction making her toes curl.
“Reid…oh, shit, baby,” she whimpered, gripping his hair in one hand and squeezing her breast in the other.
As he ran his tongue up one side of her slit and down the other, her stomach muscles twitched and her thighs tensed. She breathed in and out as his tongue flayed her clit, delivering hot lashes that made her eyes cross. When he wrapped his lips around the sensitive bundle of nerves and began sucking her, she grew hotter and wetter, the pleasure intensifying until she came apart with a hoarse scream, her whole body arching upward. Her orgasm rolled sharply over her like a colossal tidal wave, drowning her in sensations that left her shaking and gasping for breath.
Reid watched her with blazing satisfaction, his lips and jaw smeared wet with her juices. She sagged back against the sofa, reeling from the indescribable pleasure of his tongue game.
When her spasms died away, he lowered her legs from his shoulders and stood, shoving down his boxer briefs. His massive cock sprang free and slapped against his stomach, the fat crown glistening wetly.
A ripple of lust shot through her pussy.
“My turn.” She was off the sofa and kneeling between his thighs before he could open his mouth. She gripped his jutting cock in her hand and slicked her tongue along the tip, delighting in his low hiss. He was so thick and hard, pulsing and throbbing with need. For her. All for her.
“Such a big, beautiful dick,” she said in a breathy voice. “You’ve seriously ruined me for all other dicks.”
He made a rough noise in his throat, something between a laugh and a groan.
She lifted her eyes from his cock to his face. He was so tall she had to tilt her head back to look into those smoldering blue eyes. He was staring down at her, as powerful and imposing as an ancient Greek god, a mythological ruler who was about to get the blowjob of his life.
Smiling at the thought, she began to pump his cock, stroking the rigid column from base to crown. He shuddered and let out a ragged groan that made her clit tingle with excitement.
She licked the bulging vein that ran the length of his cock, feeling him pulse against her tongue. Staring into his eyes, she took him slowly into her mouth.
His sharp intake of breath thrilled and aroused her beyond belief.
“Mmm,” she purred. “This dick is everything.”
“Jesus,” he gasped, bracing his legs apart as if to keep from crumpling to the floor.
She mouthed the thick cap of his cock, curling her tongue around it and nibbling the ridge. He moaned hoarsely and plowed his hands into her hair, his fingers pressing into her scalp. Emboldened by his reaction, she opened her lips wider, taking him deeper inside. His dick seemed to grow impossibly longer, thicker. Harder.
She licked and sucked him until he grabbed the back of her skull and growled a low warning, “You’re gonna make me come so fucking hard.”
Her pussy squeezed. “Please do. I want to swallow your cum.”
“Fuck,” he groaned, his head falling back.
As she worked her lips and tongue along his shaft, his hands tightened in her hair, holding her head close to his groin. His heady male scent filled her nostrils, an intoxicating aphrodisiac that heated her blood. Lifting her mouth from his cock, she cupped his balls, enjoying the heft of them in her palm before leaning in to lick them.
Reid jerked and shuddered, hissing in pleasure.
She suckled and massaged his swollen balls, staring up into his face. His lips were parted, his eyes closed in anguished ecstasy. Aroused by the image, she returned to sucking his dick, savoring the hard pressure of him straining in her mouth.
He moaned gutturally as she flicked her tongue over his cockhead and deepened the suction of her mouth on each downward stroke. She’d never considered herself a pro at giving head. But she was so attuned to this man’s body that she knew just where to lick and nibble, when to pull and suck harder to set his nerve endings on fire.
“Ah, fuck,” he groaned, sounding agonized. “Nadia…baby…goddamn…”
He began thrusting his hips back and forth, sliding his cock in and out of her mouth as he groaned her name over and over.
She felt his skin tightening, felt him growing even thicker and harder. His thigh muscles clenched and his breathing grew harsher, coming in ragged gasps as his hips pistoned faster. Reaching around his body, she squeezed his taut ass cheek as he fucked her mouth.
He came with a wrenching shout, flooding her mouth with hot spurts of cum. She moaned with pleasure as she swallowed every drop, savoring his musky maleness.
By the time he was done, she was so wet and turned on she couldn’t see straight. As she withdrew her mouth from his dick, a string of saliva connected them for a moment and then snapped.
Reid stood above her gasping, his eyes closed, chest heaving up and down. Unable to resist, she reached up and flattened her palm against the hard muscles of his abdomen, feeling them quiver in response to her touch. She licked her lips, staring at the glistening length of his shaft hanging between his legs. She couldn’t wait to have him inside her, pounding her into sweet oblivion.
Slowly he opened his eyes and gazed down at her, stroking her hair. “The things you do to me…”
She smiled up at him. “The things we do to each other.”
A lazy smile of satisfaction curved his mouth. “I’m a lucky son of a bitch.”
“You are.” She licked her lips seductively. “And the night’s still young. Let’s see how much luckier you can get.”
His cock jumped, rising before her eyes.
“Mmm,” she purred. “I think I’m the lucky one, Mr. Super Stamina.”
Grinning, he reached down and helped her to her feet, then lifted her effortlessly into his arms. She wrapped her thighs around his hips, feeling his cock press against her folds as she kissed and nibbled his neck. He carried her across the suite to the dining table and set her down on the edge. The glossy marble was smooth and cool beneath her naked bottom.
She watched as Reid reached into the gourmet basket behind her and removed a small jar of hot fudge. He unscrewed the lid, his eyes gleaming wickedly as he drawled, “I’m in the mood for double chocolate.”
The jar came with a handy little serving spoon. He scooped out a spoonful of fudge, held it over her chest and tipped the spoon over.
Both of them looked down, watching as a dark ribbon of chocolate trickled slowly down her breast. It dripped off the pointy tip of her nipple, clung there for a moment, and then splashed onto her thigh.
“Oh, fuck, that’s hot,” Reid rasped.
She shivered as he leaned down to lick the melting trail of fudge.
“Mmm,” he rumbled his appreciation against her skin. “Chocolate on chocolate.”
She let out a throaty laugh and arched backward, her eyes closing in ecstasy as his hot tongue laved and sucked her erect nipple. The decadent sensation shot straight down to her pussy, making her throb and ache.
He groaned with pleasure. “Sanders fudge never tasted so damn good.”
She whimpered and bit her lip, her clit pulsing fiercely between her thighs. “More,” she whispered.
He was already grabbing the jar and spooning out more fudge. She shivered hard as warm ribbons of chocolate drizzled down, sliding over her breasts and coating her sensitive nipples.
Reid smiled with wicked satisfaction. Then he bent and licked the chocolate off her tits, making her gasp and arch into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around her left nipple and gave it a teasing nip before sucking the hard point between his lips. She moaned with pleasure, her clit throbbing in time with each hot, hungry pull of his mouth.
“God, Nadia.” His voice was rough, needy. “I could devour you whole right now.”
She trembled as he dragged his lips and tongue over her heated flesh, licking every last drop of the sweet confection off her body. Her thighs quivered and her pussy creamed under the deliciously sinful onslaught.
“Reid…oh, God…” She writhed against him, her hand tangling in his hair as he moved downward, licking off the fudge he’d spilled on her thigh. Her back arched and her hips surged off the table to grind against his face, his chest, any part of him she could touch. The need to have him inside her was like a burning fever she couldn’t bear any longer.
He cupped her cheek, the rough skin of his palm inciting shivers. Lifting her face to his, she welcomed his hungry kiss, tasting the sweet chocolate mingled with his hot desire. His other hand slid down to her buttocks and pulled her flush against him. She quivered from the contact, her skin wet and sticky from the chocolate and his tongue.
“I need you,” she whispered desperately. “Oh, God, Reid, I need you so bad.”
His eyes glittered at her. “How bad?”
She bit his lower lip. “Don’t play with me.”
With a husky laugh, he lowered her back down to the table. She eagerly stroked his chest and stomach, caressing rope after rope of hard muscle. Reaching down, he spread her thighs wide and rocked against her slick folds, his cock hard as granite.
She moaned his name, need clawing through her. “Reid…”
“I got you, baby,” he whispered.
She watched in breathless anticipation as his hand went to his groin, strong fingers wrapping around his cock as he guided himself to her drenched opening. Aroused beyond all bearing, she could hardly stand the wait.
His eyes lifted, searing her with his scorching gaze.
She wrapped her legs around him, locking her ankles at the small of his back. He groaned and pushed inside her, his cock so thick and hot she gasped.
He shuddered. “Fuck, Nadia.”
“Yes, please,” she whispered.
A flash of wicked amusement lit his eyes before he began a slow pump into her, the luscious heat of him filling her to swelling.
She raked her hands down his back and cupped his round buttocks. She could feel the tight clenching of his muscles as he pushed deep inside her, then the relaxing of those same muscles as he pulled back out. It was so erotic, the sensations so blisteringly intense. All she could do was hold on and just try to breathe.
Increasing his tempo, he fucked her deep and hard, whispering a litany of words into her ear—guttural, male, explicitly erotic words that had her quivering and moaning. He told her how good she felt, the things he wanted to do to her, what he was already doing and how much deeper and harder he could go.
“Oh, yes,” she whispered between panting breaths, reeling from his words and the steely length of his thrusting cock. “You fuck me so good, baby. So damn good.”
He held her face between his hands, spearing her with his gaze as his hips pounded her in a driving rhythm that left her gasping, hard tremors racing through her body. She was so wet she could hear the slurping sounds their genitals made as he stroked in and out of her, possessing her with enough force to rattle the table beneath her.
She clawed his muscular back and bit his shoulder, causing him to growl and thrust even faster and harder, his heavy balls slapping the curve of her ass.
It wasn’t long before they both started to shake, gripped by an explosive orgasm that had them exultantly shouting each other’s names. Nadia’s thighs clamped tighter around Reid’s hips as he pumped hot jets of semen inside her, making her womb spasm with every throb of his release.
Then they collapsed together on the table, his big body blanketing hers, their sweat-slick limbs trembling and their breath coming in shallow gasps.
Neither of them could speak for several moments.
When Nadia got her voice back, she murmured lazily, “Something tells me your incidental charges are gonna be astronomical. We almost broke the table, and it’s only my first night here.”
A low chuckle rumbled from his throat as his lips nuzzled her ear. “Whatever the charges are, it’ll be money well spent.”
She let out a breathy laugh, running her hand slowly down his back.
He braced himself above her, the muscles in his arms bulging on either side of her head as he scattered kisses along her jaw, throat and collarbone. She arched into him, pure bliss radiating through every part of her body and soul.
Eventually he lifted off her, pulling her up with him. Her lips curved in a hazy smile of contentment as he ran a hand across her cheek and through her damp hair, then kissed her nose. He couldn’t stop touching her, kissing her, and she basked in it, soaking it up like a cat drowsing in a sun-filled window.
He rested his forehead against hers, mesmerizing her with the depths of his searching gaze. “When I held you down and spanked you…I didn’t even think. Was that triggering for you?”
His concern for her caused her heart to swell. God, she loved this man.
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “It wasn’t triggering at all.”
Relief flickered in his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” She reached up and touched his cheek. “I feel completely safe with you, Reid. I know you could never hurt me like that.”
He turned his face into her hand and kissed her palm. Then, holding her tender gaze, he leaned down and slanted his mouth over hers.
She lost herself in the kiss, in the long, slow movement of his mouth against hers.
Without breaking the seal of their lips, he lifted her into his arms and carried her through the doorway into the bedroom.
Sometime later that night, Reid got the munchies, as he often did after sex. So he rolled quietly out of bed, pulled on a pair of black pajama bottoms and went in search of snacks.
Nadia lay there for a few minutes, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking until she had to get up and pee. After using the bathroom, she slipped on the black satin Carine Gilson kimono she’d splurged on. Tying the belt of the short robe, she padded from the bedroom to find Reid reclining on the sofa with his bare feet propped up on the coffee table. He was munching on a gourmet pretzel he’d pilfered from the gift basket. The room was dark save for the flickering glow of the large flatscreen television mounted on the wall.
Nadia sat next to him on the sofa, tucking her legs underneath her. He fed her the rest of his pretzel, brushing a crumb from the corner of her mouth and letting his thumb linger on her lips as she chewed.
She gave him a smile.
He smiled back and winked before returning his attention to the television. He was watching NHL Tonight on the hockey channel. Highlights and scores from tonight’s games flashed across the screen. A Blackhawks loss had pushed the Rebels into first place in the division, second overall in the Western Conference.
Nadia grinned. “Well, that’s certainly good news.”
“Yup.” Reid leaned his head back against the sofa, folded his hands over his rock-hard stomach and crossed his ankles on the table. His feet were long, broad and masculine with a sprinkling of dark hair and short, clean toenails. Every inch of the man was sexy.
“You should be sleeping,” Nadia told him. “You have to be up early for practice.”
“I know,” he murmured. “But I can’t sleep.”
“Too wired?”
He nodded.
“Mind racing?”
His chest lifted on a soft exhalation of breath. “Yeah.”
Nadia studied him. Flickering lights from the television played across the hard angles of his face, highlighting his thick eyelashes and the dark beard growth on his jaw.
“What’s on your mind?” she gently probed.
When he didn’t respond, she tried not to take it personal. He got like this sometimes. Quiet, withdrawn, brooding. The moods usually passed, but while they lingered, he felt so distant from her. Impenetrable.
She tried a different question. “So how does it feel to be back home?”
“Feels good.” His expression softened. “There’s no place like home.”
She smiled. “I can’t wait to see more of it.”
He nodded. “I’ll take you sightseeing tomorrow after practice. I want to give you a tour of the community center, and I’ll show you some of my old stomping grounds and where I used to live.”
She grinned. “Sounds like a plan,” she said, excited at the prospect of getting visual glimpses into his past.
Her enthusiasm made him smile briefly before he fell silent, his lids at half mast as he stared unseeingly at the television. He looked like he was a million miles away. But when his picture suddenly appeared on the screen, he picked up the remote control and muted the television. He didn’t like hearing about himself, even though the commentary was overwhelmingly positive, littered with superlatives and glowing praise about his dominance and greatness on the ice. It was borderline sycophantic, really.
Still facing Reid, Nadia pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her cheek against the back of the sofa. The muted television had created a vacuum of silence between them. She didn’t mind silences, but this one felt weighted with sadness, and she didn’t know why.
“So…”
Reid glanced at her.
“Big game coming up, huh?”
He nodded.
She reached over, tunneling her fingers through the thick strands of his hair. “Will you be disappointed if you don’t score your three hundredth goal during Saturday’s game?”
He smiled a little. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
“On one hand, it would mean a lot to me to reach that milestone right here in my hometown, in front of my family and friends. But on the other hand, I think it would be pretty special to celebrate in my own arena with Rebels fans. So…I guess I’m kinda torn.”
Nadia nodded, smiling. “I can totally understand that.” She paused. “Well, not totally since I’ve never played hockey, but—”
Reid’s mouth twitched. “I know what you meant.”
She grinned, stroking his hair and massaging his scalp. She knew how much he loved her gentle caresses. She could already feel some of the tension dissipating from his body.
“So how did you get to be such an offensive scoring machine anyway?” she said teasingly. “You’re a defenseman, and you play with three other guys who are among the top scorers in the league.”
“True.” A small, lazy smile curved his lips. “When Viggo and I got drafted by the Rebels, the team was in pretty bad shape.”
“How bad?”
“We were lackluster on defense and downright abysmal offensively, and the team had never won a Stanley Cup. Frankly, it was embarrassing. Viggo and I were brought on board to help the Rebels become serious contenders, and we welcomed the challenge. It didn’t matter that we were rookies. We put the team on our backs and just did whatever we could, whatever was necessary, to win games. Being a defenseman wasn’t going to stop me from contributing offensively. I wanted to get the puck in the net at all costs, so I took just about every scoring opportunity I could get.”
Nadia smiled. “Hence the record-breaking rookie season you had, which got you selected to the All-Rookie Team. You and Viggo. You were a dynamic duo.”
Reid nodded, his eyes closed. “Once the Rebels traded for Hunter and then drafted Logan, those guys provided the missing pieces we needed. My style of play didn’t necessarily change. Coach still wanted me to put up big offensive numbers. But sharing the ice with three dominant forwards took a lot of pressure off me and allowed me to focus on improving other aspects of my game.”
Nadia nodded slowly. “That makes perfect sense.”
“Does it?” His voice was lazy. “I feel like I’m rambling.”
She laughed softly. “You’re not rambling. I understood everything you said. Knowing your playing history gives me an even greater appreciation and respect for everything you’ve accomplished.”
He nodded but made no comment.
Nadia watched him intently for a few moments. He was relaxed and pliant under her hand. It was the perfect moment to broach the subject he’d been evading almost from the day they met.
“Reid?”
“Hmm?”
She hesitated. “Are you ever going to tell me why you stopped talking to reporters?”
He stilled, instantly tensing under her touch. As his expression darkened, she slowly withdrew her hand from his hair.
He opened his eyes but didn’t look at her, staring at the muted television in brooding silence.
“If we’re going to be together,” she gently prodded, “we can’t have any secrets between us.”
His lashes flickered downward and he clenched his jaw. “I know.”
She bit her lip, anxiously waiting for him to continue.
A full minute passed.
“Four years ago,” he began in a low voice, “my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.”
“Oh, no,” Nadia said quietly. “I’m so sorry, Reid. I had no idea.”
“Only our family and close friends knew. Mom’s always been a very private person. She didn’t want the public prying into our lives, and she was afraid of becoming an object of pity. So we kept the story out of the media.”
Nadia nodded, listening intently as he went on.
“It was a very difficult time for her. After years of running a busy household and tending to her family, she’d gotten used to neglecting her own health. By the time her doctor detected the cancer, it was pretty advanced. She needed a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. The treatments…they were brutal. Some days she would be so weak she could barely talk on the phone.”
He paused, closing his eyes against the painful memory. “It was so fucking hard to be away from home during that time. I felt guilty for not being here to drive her to her chemo appointments. I should have been here to sit with her and talk to her and hold her hand. Ryder felt the same way. He was stationed on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, so he only came home twice a month. It was hard for me to focus on playing hockey when my mother was suffering and my family needed me. I wanted to take a leave of absence and come home to help look after Mom, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She said she’d never forgive me if I stepped away from hockey after all the sacrifices she’d made to get me where I was. When we talked on the phone, she told me that watching my games was one of the few things that cheered her up and got her through her chemo treatments. She encouraged me to keep the end goal in sight and not lose focus. So that’s what I did. Every time I stepped out onto the ice, I played lights-out hockey because I knew Mom was watching, and I wanted to make her proud and give her something to smile about.”
His words tugged at Nadia’s heart, making her ache for him.
“My father was a wreck,” he continued grimly. “Sometimes he’d call me when I was on the road, and I could hear the tears in his voice. He was trying so hard to put on a brave face, but I knew he was terrified of losing her. We all were. She was our rock, the glue that held us all together. We couldn’t imagine…” He trailed off and shook his head, nostrils flaring with emotion.
Nadia reached over, gently laying her hand on his rigid forearm.
“After the mastectomy,” he went on quietly, “Mom didn’t feel beautiful anymore. Without her breasts, she felt like less of a woman. Avery was at the house one day when Mom had an emotional breakdown. She was getting dressed and caught a glimpse of her body in the mirror. She burst into tears, then started screaming and throwing things at the mirror. Avery said she’d never seen her so out of control before. She had to help her into bed, then hold her until she finally calmed down and fell asleep. Shortly after that episode, Dad told me that Mom wouldn’t let him touch her anymore. No kissing, no hugging, no intimacy whatsoever. He was devastated. The more he tried to reassure her that she was still beautiful, the more she pushed him away. This went on for months before he finally reached his breaking point.”
Nadia stared at Reid, a knot of dread forming in her stomach. “What happened?”
His jaw was clenched tight. “He’d met this woman through his consulting work. Over a business lunch one afternoon, she started flirting with him. He was feeling lonely, vulnerable, rejected by Mom. He looked across the table and saw this beautiful, vibrant woman who wanted him, who didn’t flinch away from his touch. And he found himself flirting back. One thing led to another and they wound up at the hotel next door.”
“Oh, Reid,” Nadia breathed, stricken. “I’m so sorry.”
His fingers tightened into a fist on his thigh. “Unbeknownst to Dad, there was a sports columnist having lunch at the same restaurant. Dad’s a local celebrity, beloved by the media and hockey fans who still remember his glory days at the University of Michigan. Every time he attends a Red Wings game, the sideline reporters approach him to ask questions, usually about me or the Wolverines. He enjoys the attention, but it came back to haunt him that day at the restaurant, because the reporter recognized him and was planning to stop by his table to chat him up and get a few quotes. Before he could get the chance, Dad and his lunch date settled the bill and left together. Of course, the super sleuth reporter decided to follow them to see what they were up to.”
Reid shook his head, anger and bitterness hardening his features. “I had been in the league almost two years, long enough to establish a reputation as a playboy. So I was used to reporters and gossip bloggers tracking my every damn move. But I never thought they’d start stalking my family members. I guess it was a slow news day in Detroit, or that sports columnist just felt like tapping into his inner paparazzo. The next day, his paper ran a sleazy hit piece on my father, complete with pictures of him and that woman checking into the hotel together. I’ll never forget the fucking headline: ‘The Rocket Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree.’”
“Oh my God,” Nadia whispered, aghast.
“Yeah.” Reid’s mouth twisted into a parody of a smile. “But here’s the kicker. Had that crack reporter stuck around another five minutes, he would have seen my father rushing out of the hotel practically in tears.”
Nadia’s eyes widened as she stared at Reid. “You mean he didn’t…?”
“Cheat on my mother?” He shook his head tightly. “Once he and the woman got to the room, Dad came to his senses. He realized that having an affair wasn’t the solution to his problems. It wouldn’t cure Mom’s cancer or make her feel whole again. It would only destroy her and their marriage. So he apologized to the woman, told her he’d made a big mistake by coming up to the room. And then he got the hell out of there as fast as he could.” Reid’s lips twisted bitterly. “Little did he know it was too late.”
Nadia shook her head slowly. “Your mom saw the article.”
Reid nodded, his eyes blazing with grief and fury. “One of her friends told her about it, asked her if she knew Dad was having an affair. Mom was totally blindsided. She couldn’t believe Dad would cheat on her, especially at a time like that. I’ll never forget answering my phone that day and hearing her hysterical sobs. I was scared out of my mind. I thought she’d received more bad news about her prognosis. Avery had to take the phone away from her and tell me what the hell was going on.
“I was so furious I could have killed Dad with my bare hands. I hung up on Avery, called Dad and ripped him a new one. He broke down in tears and explained what had really happened. As livid as I was, I believed him. I knew how much he loved Mom, so I knew he was telling the truth about not sleeping with that woman. But Mom refused to hear him out. He’d hurt her and betrayed her trust at the lowest point in her life, and she couldn’t forgive him for that. So she threw him out of the house. Two weeks later, she shocked the hell out of everyone by filing for divorce.”
Nadia’s lips parted on a soft explosion of breath. “Divorce? On top of everything else she was dealing with?”
The nerve along Reid’s jaw tightened. “We all tried to talk her out of it. We begged her to give it some more time before she made such a drastic decision. We suggested that she and Dad go to counseling. But she’d made up her mind, and no one could get through to her.” He blew out a ragged breath and shoved both hands through his hair, scraping it back from his face.
Nadia instinctively tensed, bracing herself for the story to take an even sadder turn.
“Dad fought the divorce for a while,” Reid continued grimly. “He wasn’t ready to give up on Mom or their marriage. But the more he pushed for reconciliation, the further Mom retreated until one day she snapped and called him over to the house. When he got there, she was sitting in the living room. On the table next to her were a bottle of pills and a glass of water. He could tell she’d been crying, but her demeanor was icy and composed. Before he could say a word, she looked him calmly in the eye and told him she would kill herself if he didn’t sign the divorce papers.”
Nadia gasped. “Oh my God...”
Reid pressed his lips into a grim line. “Dad was stunned and devastated. Then he got mad and started shouting at her. He told her he wouldn’t have been tempted by another woman in the first place if she hadn’t shut him out. He called her a coward and a selfish bitch and told her to go to hell before he slammed out of the house. Later that day, the signed divorce papers were delivered to her doorstep.” Reid paused. “Their divorce was finalized three years ago today.”
Nadia’s heart constricted with sorrow. “No wonder you seemed so sad tonight.”
He nodded slowly. “I saw my parents today, and I could tell they both remembered the significance of today’s date.” He stared blindly at the television for a long moment. “In hindsight, I realized that Mom’s decision to file for divorce had very little to do with Dad’s infidelity. I think she knew, deep down inside, that he didn’t sleep with that woman. His actions that day hurt and humiliated her and severely tested her faith in him. But that wasn’t the main reason she pushed for the divorce. I think ending their marriage was her way of letting him go before he was forced to say goodbye to her. Because her cancer was so advanced, she honestly didn’t think she’d make it through the year. But she did,” Reid said with a small smile. “She beat the odds and survived like the badass I’ve always known her to be.”
Nadia smiled, gently stroking his arm. “How’s she doing now?”
“She’s doing much better. Her cancer’s in remission and she had breast reconstruction surgery, which really helped restore her confidence. She has a lot of friends and keeps herself busy with charity work.”
“That’s good,” Nadia murmured.
“It is. But I know she’s not happy. Neither is Dad. They still love each other. But they’re both too stubborn to admit it. And, honestly, too much damage has been done to go back. All we can do as a family is move forward and continue being there for one another.”
Nadia shook her head sadly. “I’m so sorry, Reid. So sorry you and your family went through such a devastating ordeal.”
He nodded slowly, acknowledging her sympathy. “So now you know why I stopped talking to the media.”
“Yes. And I don’t blame you at all. I probably would have reacted the same way.”
His expression was grim. “Was my reaction fair? Probably not. That sports reporter wasn’t responsible for my parents’ divorce. But that piece of trash he wrote…” Reid’s jaw hardened with renewed anger. “It was vicious, exploitative and pretty fucking reprehensible. I had a game the day after the article was published. We won that night, but after the game, all the reporters wanted to talk about was my father’s extramarital exploits. I was so disgusted by their questions that I got up in the middle of the press conference and walked out on them. And that was the last time I spoke to the media.”
Nadia gave him a soft smile. “Until Nelson came along.”
“You,” Reid countered, meeting her gaze. “Until you came along.”
They stared at each other in the flickering glow from the television.
“I love you,” Nadia whispered feelingly.
“I know,” he said quietly, “and I probably don’t deserve it. But I’m so thankful you do.”
Holding his gaze, Nadia sat up on the sofa and straddled his lap. As he stared up at her, she took his face between her hands, her thumbs resting on his cheeks. Then she leaned down and kissed him tenderly—his forehead, his eyebrows, his eyelids, his nose, his cheekbones, his jaw. When she reached his mouth she paused, her eyes flicking from his lips to his glittering eyes.
He was watching her intently, barely breathing.
She dipped her head lower, letting him feel her warm breath on his lips. She felt him shiver before his arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer. Then she pressed her lips to his, kissing him so sweetly and thoroughly he trembled and melted beneath her.
“I love you so much,” he told her in a husky whisper.
“I know.” She kissed the words onto his mouth, smiling into his eyes. “I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”