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For the ones who fight even when they want to give up. I’m rooting for you. (And for the readers who love a hockey player that wears slutty glasses… Riley is for you)
I’m not supposed to have a favorite player on the team—and I love all the guys I work with—but Riley takes the top spot.
One of them eyes Riley with an appreciative glance, but he doesn’t look at her. He keeps his focus on me,
“I’m a good boy, Lex,” he tosses back. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
Women in the past have used all sorts of phrases to describe me: cute. Sexy, but in a nerdy way. Hot as hell when I slide a blindfold over their eyes. The man of their dreams when I kiss their wrists, untying them from the ropes I like to use to keep them still while I eat them out.
Damn
It’s how I learned she’s an only child who hates mushrooms. Where I discovered she likes to read under three fluffy blankets, and she always has to wear a pair of socks. She’ll drink a hot coffee even when it’s pushing a hundred degrees outside, and she doesn’t like scary movies.
Men come and go. Love is fleeting, and I don’t believe in romantic soulmates. I believe in platonic ones though, and these girls are mine.
“Let me, ah, put on some different clothes.” “Really? But the view is so good,” I tease, and his blush deepens. “You’re a goddamn flirt, Armstrong,” he calls out over his shoulder as he makes his way down the hall. “You like it,” I call back, and I swear I hear him say yeah, I do before he disappears, and a strange sensation flutters in my chest.
Riley grins, and it’s fucking beautiful. Carefree, light. Brilliantly bright. I’d love to make him smile like that again.
Fucking hell. I’m never going to get over this crush. “Hi,” I answer, hoping my voice doesn’t crack. “What’s up?”
She told me it takes a lot to impress her, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure I have her attention.
“Thinking about me in your free time, Lex?” I ask, testing the waters.
“Sounds like you might be thinking about me,” she says. “Looking up the exercise I teach? Keeping your word about showing up? I’m going to pretend it’s because you missed me.” I did miss her.
“Is it okay if I touch you?” Screaming out fuck, yes, anywhere you want is probably too aggressive, so I nod.
“I’d never expect that.” I lift the hem of my shirt to wipe my cheek, smirking when her eyes dip to my stomach. I’m going to pretend she likes what she sees. “Stop staring at me, Armstrong.” “Just for that, I’m adding in a third exercise.” She flips me off and walks to the front of the room. “You all can blame Riley for these next moves,” she tells the guys and Piper. Everyone groans except me, and I don’t care. I’m having way too much fucking fun.
“What the hell is that?” “What’s what?” Riley glances down. He snorts and reaches into his left pocket. “A lime.” “Do you regularly carry fruit around with you?”
“No.” He tosses it in the air, catches it, and switches it to his other hand. “I wasn’t sure Maverick had any. I stopped at the store on the way over.” “You—” I blink. It feels like I’m missing the punchline of a joke. “I’m confused.” “You mentioned you liked limes in your drink. Didn’t know if that only applied to cocktails or all forms of fluid.” “When did I mention that?” “June,” he says simply, and he leaves it at that.
“You told me you were hard to impress. How am I doing?” he asks, and a laugh rattles out of me. “I’m on my way to being impressed.” “Good.” He looks up at the moon. His dimple pops, and gosh is he pretty. “Patience is a virtue. I’ll get there one day.” “I can’t wait to see you try,” I say, and I sure as hell mean it.
I haven’t seen Riley yet, and when I can’t find him, I frown. “Where’s Mitchy?” “Did you miss me, Armstrong?” his deep voice says, and I jerk my chin to look up at him. “Eavesdropping, Mitchell?” I toss back, and he grins. “Hard not to when you’re practically shouting my name to the whole airplane.”
“Of course I was fucking jealous. He had your attention. And I’m fucking desperate for it.”
“Don’t you fucking dare,” Riley growls. He surprises me when he wraps my hair around his wrist and gives it a tug. I gasp when my chin tilts up, our eyes meeting. “You’re so fucking bossy. Is this how I get you to shut up? By giving your mouth something to do?”
Because Riley is looking at me like he’s a man starved, like he needs to kiss me again right this very second, and I’ve never been good at denying someone what they want.
“What are your other rules, Lex? You’re in charge here. Tell me what you want and how you want it, and I’ll make it so fucking good for you.”
I’m going to be obsessed with her after tonight, I just know it.
See you soon, Lexi baby.
“What do you want me to do?” Make me come again. Put your hand around my throat. Tell me how good I am. A million other things that should not still be lingering in my brain.
“Thanks,” I murmur. “I thought about not coming tonight. Lots of people, lots of physical activity. But I’m glad I did.” “Why’s that?” she asks. “Because I got to see you,” I say, and her eyes meet mine. “I’m always glad when I get to see you.”
I watch her go, a single thought echoing in my brain. Funny how all my good days include her.
“Do it yourself? I know you can. But here’s the thing, Lexi. I’m not going to be able to sleep. I’m not going to be able to eat. I’m not going to be able to do anything except wonder if you’re okay and taken care of. Put me out of my misery and let me do it for you
Take my whole fucking heart while you’re at it
“I’ve never been anyone’s,” she whispers, clenching around my cock. She closes her eyes and blows out an exhale. “But I think I am yours.”
“I'm so excited.” “You are?” “Of course I am. I get to spend the day with you.
A smile pulls at one corner of her mouth, and I bend to kiss her right there, just so I can have the beam all for myself.
It feels more and more like my heart isn’t even my own anymore. It’s hers, and I think it’s always going to be hers.
“Today was a good day,” I murmur. “They’re all good days with you, Riley,” she whispers, and I hold that as close to chest as tight as I can.
“What does your tattoo mean?” I whisper, and the room is so quiet, I can hear a car horn beeping from all the way across the street. “It’s the stars in the night sky the day I stepped foot into the arena for the first time. And, consequently, the day I met you.”
Knowing I’ve had his attention even when I was busy trying to get it from somewhere else makes me feel like a fool, like I’ve wasted so many good moments I could’ve had with him, but a part of me heals with his words. He’s looking at my baggage. Sticking out his hand, saying here. I can help
“A really good day,” I agree. “But they’re all good days with you, Lexi baby.”
“Because I love you,” I tell her, and she freezes. Her shoulders shake, but I keep going. “I love you so much it fucking hurts, and I know that scares the shit out of you. It scares me too, because how can things be this fucking good with you when the rest of my life is in shambles?”
“You want to know why I’ve had all those good days? Because you were there. Because I’ve been an idiotic, pathetic mess of a man since the first day I saw you. I can’t think straight when you’re around. I can’t walk right when you smile at me. I can’t… I can’t fucking breathe unless you’re looking at me. And everything in your past might have fallen apart, but we won’t. We can’t, because deep down, I know you love me too,” I say.
“If you want to run, I’ll chase you. If you want to build a wall to keep me out, I’ll climb it. If you need time, I’ll give it to you. I’m patient, Lexi. I’m going to be waiting for you when you come back. However long that takes.”
“I love you,” I repeat, my voice hoarse and throat raw. It feels like I’ve been screaming underwater for hours. It also feels like someone is digging a screwdriver into my chest. “And I’m going to love you for as long as you’ll let me.”
“You know the first day of spring after the snow melts?” I croak. “The afternoon where you step outside and tip your chin up to the sky and let out a deep breath? I feel like that every single time he hugs me. It’s never-ending warmth. Constant sunshine, even on the dark days,
