Page 24 of He Has MVP (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
“As long as there’s not another squirrel,” I say. “You’re probably right.” We stop walking. “Okay, put her down. But let me talk to her first.”
Pink snorts a laugh. “This I’ve got to hear.”
It’s good to see Pink’s teeth flash in a smile, though it’s barely visible in the gloom of the rainy forest. I take the puppy from her and talk, telling her she needs to find her way back home. Telling her not to leave us behind. “Make sure you bark, so we don’t lose track of you.” I squat down and put her on the ground, still holding onto her.
“And whatever you do, keep us in your sights.” I let go of her and she barks at me, then sniffs around. She takes off at a trot and I grab Pink’s hand and follow. We reach the edge of the woods within five minutes and Curly darts ahead, beating us to the front door in a race.
Once we get inside, I go for the blanket on the couch and drape it over Pink’s shoulders, wrapping her in it and holding her.
“You need to get warmed up.”
“I-I need to get dry,” she says through chattering teeth. I feel the shuddering go through me and clamp down. She’s right, but I’m reluctant to let her go. I want to be the one to dry her off with a towel so bad, to attend to every corner of her body, to worship it and care for her, make her warm. And then make her hot.
But I know better than to offer my services at this juncture. According to my calculations, another rejection from Pink will feel like a puck to my groin. Without a cup. So I walk her to the master bedroom.
“I’ll take care of drying Curly. You get yourself into dry clothes and—”I’ll keep you warm.I want to say the words so bad, but I can’t. I don’t. She meets my eyes and I see them flicker with promise. Or I think I do. But the light is dim and it could be wishful thinking.
“Okay,” she says. Clenching her teeth against the chattering, she manages a smile.
I let her go through the door and close it behind her and wait. But there’s no sound of the latch clicking into place. My heart lurches with a spark of hope and a grin finds its way to my face. That’s all I need to get me going again, to make me sayfuck youto the storm.
After I dry Curly vigorously with a towel, I find a too small T-shirt and gym shorts in the guest room closet and change. Back in the great room, I know we need a fire, but the wood pile in the box is low and I know there’s nothing dry outside, so I put it off. Time to conserve.
Turning to the master bedroom door, I will Pink to open it, to come out and join me. Or better yet, to invite me in. But I shake my head and attend to the puppies, settling them down.
It doesn’t take long before the dogs are curled up in their bed by the cold fireplace and I put a blanket over them as they sleep in a huddle. Looking around, I decide against finding something to eat. I’m not hungry. Not for food. I look back to the bedroom again, to where Pink is and I wonder if she’s asleep.
Tiptoeing—something I’m not used to doing—I glide to the bedroom door, feeling like a stealthy jungle cat on the prowl. Listening, I don’t hear anything. She’s probably asleep, but I need confirmation. Or that’s what I tell myself as I push the door open slow and easy, without a sound.
Candlelight flickers on the dresser, reflected in the mirror. But my eyes are drawn to something else reflected in the mirror, the lithe form of a naked female body, perfect in its balance and grace. Pink turns to me. My mouth is open and dry and silent.
“There’s no hot water for the shower,” she says.
“Sorry, I—” I turn away but she stops me with her words.
“It’s okay. I was about to invite you in. To warm me.”
Spinning back around, I look hard at her, my dick hearing her perfectly, though my ears might need her to say it twice.
“You want me naked.” It’s not a question because I don’t want her to say no, but I need her to confirm. Everything in me is seized up with anticipation.
She nods her head.
That’s all I need to shut the door behind me. Then I lift the shirt over my head and, watching for her reaction, because I’m more ready for her invitation than I have a right to be, I drop my shorts.
