18. Tom

Chapter 18

Tom

I laced up my skates after Saint left for the afternoon. He'd been spending less time at the rink now that it was off-season, and I knew his new relationship with Kara had a lot to do with it. I couldn’t blame him.

The ice was freshly zambonied, smooth as glass under the harsh lights of the arena. I stepped onto it, feeling the familiar chill seep through my bones. It was a different kind of cold than what had settled in my chest since Ally walked back into my life.

I pushed off, letting my legs stretch out and fall into rhythm. Skating had always been second nature to me—something that came without thought or effort. But today, each stride felt heavy, like I was dragging a weight behind me.

Ally’s face flashed in my mind—the way her blue eyes darted away when I asked her if something was wrong, how her hands trembled slightly when she stepped out of my office after her little chat with Janet. She was hiding something, and it gnawed at me like a splinter buried too deep to reach.

The rink echoed with the sound of my blades cutting through the ice. The solitude of the arena usually brought me peace, but today it only amplified the questions circling in my head.

Why wouldn’t she just tell me?

I’d been honest with her about everything—about Nick, about Janet, about my own failures and regrets. Yet there was this wall she kept up between us, an invisible barrier that made it impossible for us to move forward.

It wasn’t just frustration; it hurt. The thought that she didn’t trust me enough to open up cut deeper than I wanted to admit. Every time I tried to bridge that gap, she pulled away, leaving me standing on the edge of a chasm that seemed to widen with each passing day.

I increased my pace, trying to outskate the emotions welling up inside me. The ice became a blur beneath my feet as I raced around the rink, but no matter how fast I went, I couldn’t outrun the ache in my chest.

Ally’s secrets were a storm cloud hanging over us, and until she trusted me enough to let me in, that cloud would keep darkening our path forward.

I pushed myself harder, the edges of my skates biting into the ice, propelling me forward. Each stride sent a jolt up my legs, but I welcomed the burn. It was a distraction, a way to drown out the noise in my head. My breath came in short, ragged gasps as I rounded another corner, pushing past the point where I knew I should stop.

Then it hit—sharp and unrelenting. Pain shot through my knee, forcing me to slow down and eventually stop. I coasted to the edge of the rink, leaning heavily on the boards as I caught my breath. The ache in my knee throbbed in time with my heartbeat, a cruel reminder of a past that wouldn’t let me go.

I hated this. Hated being beholden to an injury that refused to heal, even after all these years. It wasn’t just physical; it was like a chain around my neck, dragging me back every time I tried to move forward.

Closing my eyes, I wished for a different life. A life where things had gone right with Nick. Where Janet hadn’t?—

No. The voice in my head was stern. You can’t keep blaming her. You played your part too.

My teeth clenched together, jaw tight with resentment and regret. Admitting that truth felt like swallowing glass, but deep down, I knew it was right. I could have been better. As a partner, as a father—as a man.

I opened my eyes and stared at the empty rink, feeling the fight leave me. It was so much easier to place the blame on others—to make Janet the villain in our story or to see Nick’s anger as unwarranted rebellion.

But at the end of the day, I’d made choices too. Choices that led us here.

The weight of it all settled over me like a heavy blanket—my knee still throbbing, my chest tight with emotions I didn’t want to face. It would have been so easy to skate away from everything if only my body would let me.

Instead, I stood there at the edge of the ice, knowing that skating faster or harder wouldn’t change what was broken inside me or between us.

No amount of speed could outrun that truth.

Stepping off the ice, I winced as the pain in my knee flared up again. I leaned on the boards for a moment, catching my breath and gathering myself before heading to the locker room. The ache in my knee mirrored the gnawing frustration in my chest.

The drive home felt longer than usual. Each mile stretched out, thoughts of Ally swirling in my mind. I wanted to check on her, make sure she was okay after Janet's visit, but I didn't want to push her further away.

Fucking Janet.

Once home, I filled the bathtub with ice and cold water, sinking into it with a groan as the chill seeped into my muscles. The pain dulled slightly, but it did nothing for the turmoil inside me.

I grabbed my phone from the edge of the tub and shot off a text to Janet:

Stay away from Ally.

Her response came almost instantly:

I take it she told you I stopped by? When can I expect my check?

Excuse the fuck out of me?

My fingers flew over the screen, anger boiling over.

The little bubble popped up, indicating she was typing something, then it disappeared. My jaw tightened as I waited. It popped back up again.

Why don't you talk to that little tart about it?

When you're done, let me know when I can pick up my check.

No way in fuck am I giving you shit.

?? Talk to her, and then let me know.

It took everything in me not to throw my phone across the room. The water around me felt colder, sharper, against my skin. Janet had always known how to push my buttons, but this—this was a new low.

What had Ally told her? Or more importantly, what hadn’t Ally told me?

I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stay in the ice bath for another few minutes before getting out. Wrapping a towel around myself, I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror—dark circles under eyes that were tired of this endless battle.

My phone buzzed again, another text from Janet, no doubt, but I ignored it. For now, all that mattered was figuring out what she knew and why Ally had kept it from me.

I needed answers. And those answers started with Ally.

I got dressed quickly, ignoring the dull throb in my knee. My movements were mechanical—shirt, pants, jacket. I grabbed my keys from the counter, the metal cold against my skin. The pain in my knee flared as I headed to the door, but I pushed it aside. I needed answers.

The drive to Ally’s place felt like an eternity. The street lights blurred past me, a hazy reminder of how much time had slipped through our fingers. Each mile brought me closer to the confrontation I dreaded but knew was necessary.

I pulled up outside her building and parked, taking a deep breath before stepping out of the car. The strain in my knee intensified as I climbed the stairs to her apartment. My knuckles rapped against the wood, careful not to pound.

After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open. Ally stood there, her hair a tangled mess and dressed in just a t-shirt. She looked at me with eyes that were both wary and weary.

I opened my mouth, but words failed me. The anger I’d carried with me melted away in the face of her sadness.

"Can I come in?" My voice was softer than I intended.

She nodded, curling a strand of hair behind her ear as she stepped aside to let me in.

Her apartment was small, but cozy. The walls were adorned with framed photographs—her work, no doubt. Each picture captured moments of raw emotion, frozen in time by her skilled eye. A cluttered coffee table sat between a worn-out couch and an armchair that had seen better days. Books and magazines were scattered across the surfaces, evidence of a life lived in quiet introspection.

I stood awkwardly by the door, unsure where to begin. The tension between us hung heavy in the air, a palpable reminder of everything left unsaid.

I glanced around, trying to find something—anything—to break the silence. My gaze landed on a photograph discarded on her desk—a black-and-white shot of a mother holding her newborn child. The sight of it twisted something deep inside me.

Finally, I turned back to Ally, who was watching me with those eyes that always seemed to see right through me.

"We need to talk," I said, voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

She nodded again, her expression unreadable as she motioned for me to sit on the couch.

As I lowered myself onto the cushions, careful not to aggravate my knee further, I realized this conversation would be anything but easy. But it was necessary—for both of us.

"Tom, I—" She stopped herself, pacing in front of me.

My eyes trailed up and down her body. She always looked so damn good in my shirts, her shapely legs long and inviting. A bruise marred her shin, nothing new considering she wasn’t exactly the most graceful. It only made her more real to me.

"Ally," I said, grabbing her wrist and tugging her toward me.

She fell into my lap, straddling me with a surprising ease that sent a jolt through my system.

"Tom," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I just… I don't want to talk about it. Please."

I knew there was more to it, an unspoken weight hanging between us. Every instinct told me to push, to pry open whatever door she kept firmly shut. But instead, I nodded, letting the moment hang heavy with unspoken words.

She kissed me then, passionately, with a fervor that stole the breath from my lungs. Her lips were soft yet insistent against mine, a mixture of desperation and need that mirrored my own. My hands found their way to her hips, gripping her tightly as if afraid she might vanish if I let go.

The kiss deepened, a raw connection that seemed to momentarily bridge the chasm between us. It was messy and frantic, filled with the urgency of two people trying to escape their own thoughts through each other.

Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as if proximity alone could dissolve the barriers we’d built. I responded in kind, losing myself in the sensation of her warmth against me. Each touch felt like a promise—a silent vow that despite everything else swirling around us, this moment was ours.

We broke apart just long enough for a breath before she captured my lips again, her movements more insistent this time. Her body pressed against mine in a way that felt both familiar and electric.

I let myself get lost in it—in her—if only for a few stolen moments.

Her kiss tasted like desperation and longing. As her hands tugged at my shirt, I responded in kind, my fingers finding the hem of her t-shirt and lifting it over her head. The soft fabric slid away, revealing her bare skin. I took a moment to admire her—her chest rising and falling with each breath, the curve of her collarbone, the vulnerability in her eyes.

I leaned forward, taking one of her breasts into my mouth. Her moan reverberated through me, sending a jolt straight to my core. My tongue flicked over her nipple, feeling it harden under my touch. She arched into me, pressing herself closer as if seeking more contact.

Her fingers tightened in my hair, urging me on as I lavished attention on her breast. Each sound she made fueled the fire building inside me. The sensation of her warmth against my mouth, the taste of her skin—it was intoxicating.

As I moved to the other breast, she shifted slightly, grinding against me. The thin fabric of our clothes did little to hide how wet she was getting. I could feel the heat radiating from between her legs, and it made me grow even harder.

I sucked gently on her nipple, savoring every reaction I elicited from her. Her back arched again, and she let out a breathless moan that sent shivers down my spine.

The connection between us felt raw and electric, every touch igniting a spark that threatened to consume us both. I could feel myself losing control, driven by the primal need to be closer to her.

“Please,” she whimpered, her voice breathless and needy.

I couldn’t resist her any longer. My hands moved to unbutton my jeans, the sound of the zipper cutting through the thick silence. I pulled out my cock, feeling the heat of her gaze on me. Stroking it once, twice, I could feel myself growing harder in anticipation.

Gripping Ally's hips, I positioned her above me and slowly slid her down my shaft. She gasped, her eyes widening as she adjusted to my girth. Her fingers dug into my shoulders, and I could feel her nails through the fabric of my shirt. She clawed at it until I helped her get it off me so she could touch my skin. Each inch she took sent a wave of pleasure through me, a sensation that was both intoxicating and grounding.

“God, you feel so good,” I muttered, voice rough with desire.

She began to move, rocking her hips in a slow rhythm that drove me wild. I matched her pace, thrusting up into her with deliberate force. The way she rode me was both controlled and wild, an enticing mix that left me craving more.

“Fuck, Ally,” I groaned. “You’re so tight.”

Her movements quickened in response to my words. The friction between us built steadily, each thrust sending jolts of pleasure through my body. Her moans grew louder, mingling with my own guttural sounds.

“Tell me how much you want this,” I demanded, my hands guiding her movements as she rode me.

“I want it,” she panted, eyes half-closed in ecstasy. “I want you.”

Hearing those words only spurred me on. I leaned forward slightly, capturing one of her nipples in my mouth again while my hands continued to guide her hips. She cried out at the sensation, arching into me as she moved faster.

“You like that?” I murmured against her skin. “You like being fucked like this?”

“Yes,” she gasped, her voice breaking on the word.

Her nails raked down my back as she clung to me, lost in the rhythm we’d created together. Each thrust brought us closer to the edge, the intensity between us growing with every movement.

“Take all of me,” I urged, gripping her hips tighter as we moved together in a desperate dance of need and desire.

She responded with a fervor that matched my own, riding me harder and faster until we were both teetering on the brink of release.

Feeling Ally clench around me as she reached her climax felt like the first time every fucking time. Her walls tightened, a ripple of pressure that sent shudders through my entire body. She threw her head back, eyes closed, and her breath came out in broken gasps. The sight of her lost in ecstasy pushed me over the edge.

My own release followed hers, an intense wave crashing through me as I spilled inside her. Every muscle tensed, my grip on her hips tightening as if to anchor myself to this moment. The sensation was both overwhelming and grounding, a raw connection that felt impossibly right.

We stayed like that for a heartbeat—her breath mingling with mine, our bodies intertwined in the aftermath of shared pleasure. Slowly, our breathing began to sync, each inhale and exhale a reminder of the bond we’d just solidified.

Ally collapsed against me, her head resting on my shoulder as we both tried to catch our breath. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close, unwilling to let go just yet.

For a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. There was only the sound of our breathing and the feel of her warmth against me. My mind drifted back to the tension and unresolved questions between us—what she was keeping from me, what Janet knew—but for now, those thoughts could wait.

I stroked Ally’s back gently, feeling the smoothness of her skin beneath my fingers. Whatever secrets she held would eventually come to light. But right now, I had no intention of letting her go.

We were tangled together in more ways than one, and though the road ahead was murky with complications and unspoken truths, this moment felt undeniably clear.

For now, she was here with me, and that was enough.