Page 47 of Roughing
Extracting myself carefully from his hold, I grabbed my clothes and stepped into the bathroom.
A few minutes later, I emerged. I bent down and kissed Briggs’s cheek lightly before heading for the door. One look back answered the question that’d been rolling around in my head all night.
I wanted to be with Briggs. Good or bad decision, at least I’d made one. I wasn’t going anywhere. As tempting as it was to protect my heart, I couldn’t, not at the expense of what we might be together.
Last night had been more than epic. Briggs had been a different kind of lover, as if we’d progressed to another level. He’d always been passionate, but this time he was gentle, almost reverent, showing me once again that he had many layers.
I wanted to explore those layers, and I vowed I would do just that.
ChapterSeventeen
COMPETITION
~~Briggs~~
Isqueezed my eyes shut to block out the sun streaming through my window. Between the rays of sunshine and the warmth of the bed, contentment washed over me. I rolled onto my back, luxuriating in that cozy space between asleep and awake. All was right with my world, and I didn’t want to break the spell. I hadn’t slept this well in months.
I took a few moments to get my bearings and recall why unfettered joy had wrapped me in her arms. Last night with Michella flooded back, and I smiled.
Based on the sun’s position, it was late morning. I reached for her warm body, but she was gone. She’d been cuddled next to me when I’d fallen asleep, but I had no idea when she’d actually left.
Disappointment surged through me until I realized we’d gone down a road never taken. She’d never stayed the night before, and this had been a first. In the past, we’d done the dirty and hadn’t lingered.
Last night felt different because it had been different.
I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom. I had twenty minutes to get to practice, and I was close to being late. I took a quick shower, threw on some workout clothes, and grabbed a protein bar on the way out the door. Five minutes later, I hurried into the locker room. Most of my teammates were already dressed except for a few stragglers.
I plopped down in front of my locker, and Drakos glanced up from tying his skates.
“You look like I feel,” he commented. “Hot night, eh?”
“You could say that. You too?” I realized I was making small talk with a teammate, something I’d never done before with any Icehawk player.
“Oh, fuck yeah. Went clubbing and couldn’t decide between the blonde or redhead, so I took them both home.” Drakos appeared quite proud of himself, despite his rough shape.
“I’m guessing the lack of sleep was worth it.”
“I’ll pick sex over sleep any day of the week.”
I would, too, especially with Michella. That woman instinctually knew how to maximize my pleasure. Sometimes, I couldn’t believe I had survived the emotional onslaught. Sex with Michella felt too good with a passion so strong no mortal should survive, but I had.
I glanced up from tying my skates as a young guy strode into the room. He exuded confidence without being cocky, and that spoke volumes. A few of the guys welcomed him. I watched as he stopped in front of a locker with the name Belanger. Where had I heard that name before?
Drakos followed my gaze and cocked a brow. “Interesting. I wonder who he’s looking to replace?”
“Who is he?”
“Nolan Belanger, a young defenseman who’s been burning up the minor leagues. Looks like he’s getting his chance in the bigs.”
Our third-pairing defenseman had been injured last game. Belanger would be slotted in with Slade Adams. I had heard of the kid now that I thought of it. He was big and strong, and once we took to the ice, he showed everyone on the team that he belonged there.
Only then did the truth hit me like a ton of bricks. I was the problem child of the defensemen. I’d been vocal about wanting to be on any team but this one. Even though I’d curbed my negativity, I wasn’t fitting in as I should. The new guy fit in as if he’d always been here. He joked with the boys and was embraced as one of the team, while I wasn’t.
Betrayal cut through me like a knife slicing across my gut. The coach had given me a second chance to prove myself, but the GM had clearly voiced his opinion about my being a continued part of this team. Regardless, they hadn’t bumped me down to the third pairing. I guess that said something, but my current output level had to be a disappointment. I wasn’t playing my best. Trying too hard made me tense and a step too slow.
Of all the defensemen on this team, I was the highest paid and most underperforming, which left me vulnerable. The call-up of Nolan Belanger threatened my place on the team, possibly sooner rather than later. The handwriting was on the wall brighter than graffiti on an overpass. The team had put me on notice. No one would say as much, but I knew how these things worked.
I also knew I had to get myAgame back. Just keeping my negative comments to a minimum wasn’t going to be enough.
