Secret Obsession

by S. Massery

“I’m going to enjoy watching your blood run cold,” he promises. “Return to Crown Point and keep this phone on you. Poor Willow is running out of air, and I need you close.”

“He said he wants to torture me before he kills me.” The sad part is that I’d accept it, if it means Willow lives.

“She’s not ordinary.” “No? Neither was my brother. He competed in the two thousand and four Olympics. He had a family⁠—” “He tried to rape her,” I growl. “So clearly he didn’t think she was so ordinary either.”

“Are you sorry for killing my brother?” he asks. “Your final words, Whiteshaw. Better make it count.” His thumb pulls back the safety. I don’t know shit about guns, but clearly everything up until now wasn’t a real threat. Now, it’s ready to go. I lift my chin and stare him down. “If I knew this was how it would end, I would’ve tortured him a bit more first.”

“I love you,” he says. “You’re still yelling,” I whisper. “I can’t hear you.” I smile. It makes it easier to say, “I love you, too.” He grins. Oh, so he heard that? “Asshole,” I add. But my smile widens, too.

Home. Weird to think about the hockey house that way. But the longer I think on it, the more I realize it’s true. It’s home—but more than that, Miles is. And I want nothing more than to go home to him.

“Ride my cock like a good little slut,” he says with a smirk. “But tell me you love me while you do it.”

“Miles Whiteshaw,” I start. “I think I may love you more than anyone I’ve ever known.” “You think?” I put my mouth to his ear, my movements so fucking slow, it’s going to drive both of us crazy. “I do,”

“Now I’m going to fuck the love of my life,” he murmurs. “And I’m going to come inside you. Maybe twice. Just because. And you’re going to match me, orgasm for orgasm.”

“You’re the best, babe.” My nose wrinkles. He smells like sweat and blood. I shove him away. “Don’t mention it.” “No, I will mention it to everyone. Willow Reed is the best. She’s forgiven me for my deepest sins. She’s going to tell my brother to forgive me⁠—”

He’d been drafted to an NHL team. Seems they wanted him all along, but he was more focused on leveling up his skills at the collegiate level. That’s what he tells me anyway. So. No more college for Miles. He’s happy to leave with three years under his belt.

But then I see what Jacob must’ve seen. A flash of blonde, a manicured finger pushing dark-framed glasses up her nose. I recognize her, even though it’s been over two years since I was in her class. Professor Melody Cameron. And she’s not alone.

“I love you. I’ve wanted to marry you since the moment you dragged me down on the ice with you.” I smile. “You’re the best person in the world. You’re the only one I want to be with every moment of the day, for the rest of our lives. Will you make it official and marry me?”

Cheers break out across the hillside, and our friends—who made the hike in the dark to get here ahead of us—emerge from their hiding places. “Oh my God,” Willow laughs, still clutching me. She presses her cheek to my chest. “Is this real?” “Yeah, baby.” I’m unable to hold back my grin. “It is.”