T hey spent the rest of the day and the next having makeup sex. They talked, laughed and played games. Martin made sure they were on solid ground before they went to bed both nights. It was sweet and unexpected. Not that their fight had been a bad one. It had registered as a minor disagreement as far as Sylvie was concerned. It didn’t compare to the yelling matches she’d had with Renny the last few months they were together. Leading up to summer, she couldn’t do or say anything right. The slightest breeze would set him off and they’d be in each other’s face. They rarely had makeup sex.

Time and distance brought a new perspective on her previous dysfunctional relationship. She’d connected with Renny on an intellectual level, but at some point, the sparks had fizzled. There used to be more love than arguments, and those were the moments she missed. An entire lifetime planned around hopes and dreams. But plans change and feelings evolve.

The past few nights, she’d sat awake watching Martin once he’d fallen asleep. He appeared so peaceful and beautiful. His features were a symmetrical work of art. Only in slumber did his shoulders relax and the lines around his eyes smooth out. She knew the pressure he was under. He carried the weight of the team and all the fans on his shoulders. It would get worse the closer they came to the playoffs.

She woke up with a heavy heart. Martin hadn’t asked her to fall in love with him. He’d been nothing short of amazing since she’d arrived. He’d welcomed her into his home, his life and his bed. It was crazy to want his heart too. But she did; she wanted it all.

Only that was her issue and cross to bear. Telling him would only add more weight on his overloaded shoulders. Their argument had taught her how much the pressure got to him. Everything he did was selfless, but everyone wanted something from him. She refused to be like the others. Even if that meant keeping her love to herself. A few days ago, she cursed the word and now it’s all she thought about.

As much as she wanted him to return her affections and fall madly in love with her, it wasn’t likely to happen. He made no bones about his distaste for love, marriage, kids and happily ever after. Those were all things she wanted someday. And she wanted them with him. That wasn’t smart.

“I can see the wheels spinning in that sexy brain of yours. What are you thinking about?” Martin sat on the foot of the bed, pulling on his socks. He had a morning skate, followed by a massage and a visit with the boss.

“Nothing.” She chewed her lip and stared at the wall past him.

“It’s never nothing with you. You can tell me anything.”

She sighed. There was no way she would drop the love bomb on him before an important meeting. “You really want to know?”

He crossed his arms over his chest, causing the muscles to flex. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.” He stood, and she feasted upon his nakedness.

Sex was a fabulous distraction.

“I was thinking I like being with you. Starting my day with the best view on the planet isn’t getting old. I really like the way your cock fills me and your mouth feels against mine.” She pulled the covers off, exposing her naked form. She glanced at the clock and back at him. “We have time for a game. I dare you to stay and play.”

“You’re a temptress,” he said, reaching out and gripping her ankles. “One I can’t refuse.”

“What are you… doing?” She yelped as he pulled her towards the edge of the bed.

He dropped to his knees. “Reminding you what my mouth feels like down here.” He buried his face between her legs and pressed his lips to her mound. “I accept your challenge and dare you to keep up with me?”

The exquisite tenderness sent a shiver through her. It started slow and sweet. He placed gentle kisses all over her sex, making her so wet she was certain she’d soaked the sheets underneath. Then he turned it up, French kissing her pussy and driving her insane. She sat propped on her elbows as he rendered her incoherent. Only whimpers and moans escaped. He flicked his tongue over her clit until she was near sobbing; fast, slow, hard and so good.

She came hard against his face. It caused her legs to tremble and her arms to give way. “Oh… Martin!” She screamed his name to the heavens. He kept kissing, licking and sucking until the bliss rolled into another powerful orgasm. When he finally stopped, she was sweating, exhausted and utterly spent. “You win.”

His laughter floated around the room as he dressed. “Don’t forget me while I’m gone.” He covered her with the blanket and blew her a kiss goodbye.

Walking him out wasn’t a possibility because her limbs had turned to jelly. She’d wanted to distract him, but he turned the tables on her. She did the only thing she could, and that was close her eyes and sleep.

The door slammed, waking her from the most vivid and erotic dream. The clock revealed three hours had passed. She’d wasted the entire morning in bed.

“Where are you?” Martin yelled.

“In bed.” Her voice was groggy. She stretched and rolled onto her back, keeping the covers tucked under her chin.

“Stay there. I have to clean the fridge and then come for a nap.” His tone was clipped.

That wasn’t a good sign since the fridge was spotless. When things didn’t go his way or as he expected, he cleaned as a way to deal with his emotions. Since he was a kid every time he had a bad game or didn’t make the team he wanted, he’d shower or clean something. He’d been the only teenager with an organized sock drawer. She knew better than to bug him until after he scrubbed his way through whatever he was feeling. She grabbed her phone off the table and checked her email.

Close to an hour later, he marched into the room with a scowl on his handsome face. She didn’t have to ask how things had gone with the big boss man. He’d had a rough morning and she couldn’t fix it for him. This was something he’d have to sort out on his own.

“Have you seriously been sleeping all morning?” He stomped towards his closet and disappeared from view. His tone matched his outward appearance. Grumpy.

His mood had nothing to do with her, but she wasn’t about to be his doormat. “Yes, and I had a wonderful dream about you. It was so good, I didn’t want to wake up. Based on your foul expression I’m thinking it’s time I get out of bed. We don’t have to nap together.”

He stalked towards her naked. “Perfect. That’s great. Go if you want. At least one of us had a good morning.” He pulled back the covers and jumped into bed next to her.

The mattress jostled her when he landed, leaving barely an inch between them. He huffed and pulled her against him.

“I don’t want to go.” She didn’t know what to do, whether to ask him about what happened at his meeting or leave him be. Her inner turmoil kept her silent. She’d take her cue from him. If he wanted to talk, he would.

He rested his head against her bosom and sighed. He didn’t make any other advances. She ran her fingers through his hair and massaged his scalp. They lay for a while, and she thought he might have fallen asleep, but his body remained tense and rigid.

“My session with the trainer was the only good thing that’s happened since I left the house. On the ice, I… let’s say it wasn’t one of my shinier moments. I don’t know what’s up with me, but I’m off my game. To make matters worse, my meeting pretty much sealed my coffin. My fucking cup dreams are dead.”

She kept playing with his hair as he spoke. “Care to elaborate?”

“Not really. I want to forget this entire day. Well not all of it.” He peered up at her and smiled. She smiled back, knowing he’d been referring to their earlier escapades. “Mr. Northcote mentioned a trade. He didn’t say it directly to me. I overheard him outside his office as he talked with Coach. Benny Wilder. They said his fucking name and sounded so damn happy about it. That fucking guy will take my spot and there’s not a damn thing can I do about it.

“Did Mr. Northcote tell you he planned to trade you?”

“No, he didn’t come right out and say it. Not yet. They’re getting their ducks in a row first.”

“Why do you think they would trade you?”

He sat up and ran his fingers through his messy hair. “Because I’m playing like I’m in the AAA and not the NHL. Christ, I’m waiting for them to call the farm team any moment. With Rich out for the season it makes sense; business-wise. I still can’t believe they’d let me go.”

“Come here,” she said, holding out her hands to him. He melted against her again. He nuzzled her breasts. His nose nudged her nipple, and it puckered. “I wish I could help you regain your confidence on the ice or with business decisions. But those are out of my control. Did you tell your boss you want to stay? Telling people what you want is the first step to getting what you want.”

“He knows I want to stay. I… Actually, I never came right out and said that. You have a valid point. I’m positive it’s all this trade talk that’s getting to me. Until that trade deadline passes I’ll be on edge.” He circled her hardened tip with his nose.

“Okay.”

“What do you mean, okay?” He glanced at her and pulled her nipple between his teeth.

She laughed. “Okay, tell him what you want. Okay, you know your trigger, so now you can find a way to get over it. And okay, you can definitely use my body to make yourself feel better.”

He sucked more of her breast into his mouth and placed his hand over her sex. The moisture between her legs coated his palm as he rubbed her. She offered her other breast, and he lavished attention to that one. “You’re too perfect for me. How did I get so lucky?” His fingers slipped inside her.

“We’re lucky to have each other.” She pulled his face towards her mouth and kissed his lips. Every hockey player had their moments of doubt. But Martin was the best goalie in the league. His fears weren’t substantiated with facts. She had to take his mind off his insecurities. His inner critic wasn’t doing him any favors.

“Thank you for being here. I don’t know what I’d be doing if you weren’t here.”

“Not having nearly as much fun. That’s for sure.” She kissed him again and let his words sink in. He might not have said he loved her, but that was close and a step in the right direction.

“Sex with you is one sure way to make me smile. Hold onto the headboard because I’m going to pound you until we forget everything except how amazing it feels to fuck.”

Her body did a happy dance while her heart wept. The sex they had was raw and powerful, but she considered it making love. The love she felt had grown too deep. She was too far gone to turn back. As he kissed her, she hoped that more time together would help his feelings grow. They needed time. Except, they only had a few more hours before he had to leave to catch his flight. Valentine’s Day was just around the corner, and then it would be her turn to fly away. Time wasn’t on their side.