Aaron was embarrassed as he slowly sat up, taking slow breaths and trying to figure out what he was capable of. There wasn’t anything pressing today, with just a practice scheduled and an away game the following night over in Philadelphia. Aaron didn’t need to travel with the team, though he had planned to upon the purchase when it was close and convenient. He loved the game and he wanted to be as much a part of it as he could.
Right now he just needed to recover. He glanced around as he stood slowly, his stomach lurching as he closed his eyes. “Asshole move, Neller.” He smiled wistfully at the fact that he called himself by his last name as it was done in the league. There was a beeping sound from somewhere in the room and he sat back down to look around slowly, seeing his phone on the mattress next to where he was sleeping. He reached over gingerly to grab it, standing up for some much needed water from the fridge along with a few Advil.
Water first. He took it to the couch, breathing in the air from the open window as he took a seat on the couch and ran a hand through his hair. Aaron glanced at the screen to see a few notifications, unlocking it to skim through them. There was a lot of congratulation themed messages on every form of his social media, along with Goggle alerts and emails. There were even a few texts that he decided to read, cringing when he saw the thread with Holly’s name. He’d been a jerk to her, starting an argument about the night before while drunk and senseless as he read through her concerned responses. The last one must have been after he’d fallen asleep, asking over and over if he was alright.
Well, fuck him. Aaron took a deep breath and another long sip of water before he stared forward for a few moments. He needed to say something, to do something. He started typing an apology, sounding weak and unfocused as he read it with a scowl on his face. Aaron had brushed off a lot of girls this way yet he found himself having trouble apologizing? What the hell was happening to him?
It was Holly. He could still smell her in the apartment if he inhaled deeply enough. Aaron could still feel her tight around him, clinging to him as she reached her intense orgasms as he heard her cries.
He forced himself back to reality and shook his head, composing something that sounded sincere and responsible, as opposed to what he’d sent last night. Apparently, he’d tried to sect her along the way as well, making him shake his head. He hit send and sat quietly, wondering what would happen from there.
Aaron wasn’t ready to let her go, not yet. They couldn’t out themselves to the world but they could spend time together and get to know each other. He imagined nights spent at his apartment as he closed his eyes and took a slow breath, feeling his stomach growl softly. Food. That might help.
The phone chimed, making him jump as he opened his eyes to see that it was a friend from college congratulating him on the win. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Aaron grunted, staring at it as he waited.
He stilled as the phone rang, displaying her name. “Holly?”
“I can’t believe you just dropped off the face of the earth like that last night. You were a goddamn mess, Aaron.” Her voice was emotional and high and he closed his eyes. “What the hell are you trying to do to me?”
“I don’t know what I was trying to do to myself, Holly. I hated last night…well, the part where I couldn’t do anything more than talk briefly with you. All I wanted to do was go in your room and hold you for a minute, kiss you hello. I had to hold back on all of that and it was harder than anything I’ve ever done.” Aaron told her, getting more confused with every word. “You’ve gotten to me. I don’t know how but something other than hockey has gotten under my skin. I need more of you.”
“I wanted the same, Aaron. You looked so handsome last night and I felt like I was nothing there.” Holly admitted, making him launch into another apology. “It wasn’t as much you as I’d like to let you think. It was me as well. I know that I’m falling for you and I’m scared to death.” Her voice softened as she took a breath. “I know that we shouldn’t be doing this at all.”
“I can’t stop.” Aaron admitted, relief flooding him when she told him the same. “I have to see you.”
“You sound like you’re in bad shape,” Holly noted as he ran a hand through his hair.
“I am. I was an idiot last night and I’m sorry, baby. I can’t do that again.” Aaron couldn’t tell her that enough and she sighed at the other end.
“Would you like some food? I can bring something.”
CHAPTER TWO
Aaron was damp from his shower when she knocked at the door, his hair falling into his face in damp chunks as he pulled a shirt on. He’d slid on some worn jeans as well and he brushed his hair back before opening it. “You certainly don’t look as on it as you did at the arena last night.” He let her in, breathing in her scent as she headed into the kitchen.
The smell of the deli sandwiches hit him next and he closed the door slowly as he watched her in her yoga pants. “I guess I don’t. Think the team would be proud now?”
“From what they were saying, I am certain a few of the guys are feeling the same way.” Holly replied, shaking her head as she turned to look at them. “I tell all of my clients what to do for their bodies but some never listen. I guess I wouldn’t either, being just a girl their age.”
“Much smarter and prettier than they are though.” Aaron walked over to the counter, chugging his Gatorade as she watched quietly. “The ones that want to make it will do what they need to do. It’s a tough lesson when you lose everything but it’s not like we’ve only been skating for a couple of years. This is a lifetime dream for most of us.” He set the bottle down and his face sank as he heard himself. “Us.”
“I saw your passion in the sport last night. You are a star up there talking about it, all knowledge and power and sexy as hell. I had a hard time standing still.” Holly assured him, making him gaze at her with curious eyes. “I wanted to climb inside you just to know what it’s like to love something as much as you love hockey.”
“Is that the only reason?” Aaron asked her, watching her flush a deep pink from her chest to her face.
“God, no. I wanted to drag you somewhere and rip that suit off and have my wicked way with you.” Holly told him, her eyes wide with desire as he felt his cock tighten. “I mean…I am still upset with you.”
“I need to eat some of this before I think about that yet, but it’s the best way to make up.” Aaron told her huskily as she blinked slowly, looking fresh and beautiful as he considered skipping lunch. He walked over to her, holding her face as he kissed her softly and thanking anyone he could silently for the chance to do this again. Hell, he might start having a little faith again, wish was something he lost after his injuries. “God, you taste so sweet. I couldn’t stop thinking about these lips last night even with everything going on around me.”
His stomach growling again made him pull away from her reluctantly, grabbing the bag and some waters before asking her if she wanted to eat on the balcony. There was a nice breeze today and she nodded as she reached down to braid her wild hair slowly, following him once she’d secured it. He had a table out there for eight, explaining that sometimes his family came over during the summer for BBQ. They sat beside each other, the heat like electricity as he unpacked their food and looked at her for a long moment before unwrapping the huge meal that she’d brought him. “You’re close to your family?” Holly asked, watching him nod as he took a bite.
“Very. They were all their last night to see the game.” Aaron replied, smiling automatically at the mention of them before he realized that she might not be able to meet them. “How about you?”
“Close enough. The parents and the sister are all in Colorado still but we talk a lot. They’re very supportive.” Holly told him, seeing him nod as he looked at her warmly. “I try to go for the holidays, depending on my schedule. My sister is having her first baby soon. A girl.”
“How old is she?” Aaron asked and she picked off a piece of her bread.
“Twenty-six. They’ve been married five years and they’re so cute together. I don’t know…I haven’t had the time or the focus to even think about finding that.” Holly spoke slowly, sneaking a glance at him that spoke volumes. “I’m going to be twenty-three soon and it seems like I should.”
“I’m thirty-two and I only recently started thinking about it.” Aaron admitted, making her eyes widen. “I see the players with their kids and it looks so great. I love my sister’s kids to pieces.”
“They are sweet. I saw them last night.” Holly told him, smiling with him as he shook his head.
“Yeah.” Aaron said, taking another bite before he asked what she’d done last night. Holly told him that she’d gone for a bit to the bar before the crowds got to be too much, trying to enjoy the adrenaline that had been in everyone’s blood. “Did they protect you from the wolves?”
“Completely. I don’t think I’d be able to meet anyone even if I was looking with those guys around.” Holly told him, laughing as she took a bite of her smaller sandwich filled with vegetables.