32. Ronan

Ronan

You'd think after our recent conversations, Willow and I would be desperate to see each other. And I, for one, am. But that doesn't mean it's been simple trying to get a moment alone with my woman. Not with my responsibilities to the team and to my family, and her work obligations.

She's been working late every day as management figures out how to handle the mess Maverick ended up in. I had dinner sent up to her last night, but every time I tried to check on her today, she was on the phone or in a meeting. Now the team is set to leave for another set of away games tomorrow, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna go out of town without seeing her first.

Which is why, instead of heading home tonight after a quick conditioning practice, I texted Mom saying I'd be home late, then hung around under the pretense of needing extra time in the ice bath. I know I need to just tell her about Willow, especially since Peyton's already mentioned her a few times in front of Mom. So far, she hasn't questioned me, just given me a few raised eyebrows.

The stadium is cleared out except for the janitors, and when I make my way up to the executive floor, it's also empty. Except for one light — in Willow's office. When I get to her door, I stop and just watch her for a moment. The soft glow from the table lamp illuminates her, making the dark hair piled on top of her head glow. She looks tired, and I want nothing more than to take her home, feed her, put her in a hot bath, then curl up around her in bed for the night.

We've still never had an entire night together, and I long to feel the sensation of waking up in the morning with her in my arms.

"Ronan?" Her voice breaks through my fantasies, and I blink to see her looking at me, confused. "What are you doing here so late?"

I push off the door frame I was leaning against and walk into her office, coming around to her side of the desk. "I could ask you the same thing, Cherry. Everyone else has gone home, so why are you still here?"

Her shoulders slump with exhaustion. "It's this situation with Maverick." She waves her hands. "I shouldn't talk about it with you. Sorry."

I move in behind her and squeeze her tense shoulders. "Its okay. We all know what's going on anyway, so I'm here if you need to talk about it. If it helps, he's a good guy, Willow. He fucks up a lot, but he's a good guy in a shitty situation. And if there's anyone that can help him figure out a way through, it's you."

She twists in her chair to look up at me with such wonder, it confuses me for a minute. "How do you sound so confident, so sure, when I don't even feel that way about myself?"

Leaning down, I press a simple kiss to her forehead. "Because, Willow Lawson, you're a force to be reckoned with. You're strong, you're capable, and you're smart. You know what matters for the team and for the players. And nothing will get in your way of making sure everything works out. That's why you're here, doing this job, with everyone's respect and admiration."

She spins around fully, stands up, and leans into me, finally letting me hold her. And it's such a precious gift, this moment in time when I feel her walls come down, I want to savour it. Stay just like this and soak it in. I want to help her, protect her, but most of all, support her. Because she doesn't need me to fix anything, she just needs me to remind her she can do it. Whatever it is. She can, and she will.

Willow might have been the woman to show me I deserve to have it all as long as I put in the effort to balance everything, but I want to be the man to show her she doesn't have to be alone anymore. That there's someone out there who wants to see her succeed. Who believes in her ability to be anything and everything she wants to be. Who respects her drive and passion and doesn't try to stifle it with their own needs.

I take a small step away, still holding one of her hands in mine, and reach into my back pocket, withdrawing the picture Peyton drew when I was on that damn away game series. When I didn't know if Willow would ever give me another chance.

"Peyton wanted you to have this." I watch her face as she unfolds the paper. Her mouth turns up in a smile as her whole being softens with affection toward my daughter.

"This is amazing," she murmurs. When she looks up at me, her eyes are shining with emotion. "Ronan, please tell her I love it."

I stuff my hands in my pockets and try not to appear antsy. But God, I hope that someday, a picture from my daughter isn't the only thing she says she loves. "I will."

She moves around her desk, over to a whiteboard on the wall of her office. Picking a magnet off the board, she sets Peyton's drawing up in the top corner, securing it with the magnet before turning back to me with a smile. "It's perfect."

My gaze is glued to her as she walks over to me. Am I imagining things or is there a bit of a sway to her step, a seductiveness in her moves? When she doesn't stop, coming straight up to me so that just inches separate us, I get my answer. Lifting one hand to wrap around the back of my neck, Willow pulls my head down toward hers.

Her lips meet mine and I can't hold back my groan. The relief that washes over me at having her back in my arms is intense. All-consuming, just like her kiss. Everything that was in turmoil inside of me settles with just the press of her lips against mine.

"Fuck, I've missed you, Cherry."

Her arms squeeze me even tighter. "I missed you, too."

My hands find her ass and I lift her up and into my arms, setting her on the edge of her desk so I can press in close to her.

"Ronan," she murmurs against my mouth, and I feel the upward curve of her smile. "This isn't exactly appropriate workplace behaviour."

I pull away slightly as I laugh. "You started it, woman."

Her affronted look is in direct contrast to the laughter I see her holding back. "Listen. It's not my fault baseball players have great butts." Tugging me back in close, her hand roams down my back to squeeze my ass. "And they look even better in compression tights and shorts."

I smirk. "So, my decision to hang around after training was a good one. Is that what you're saying?"

"For more than one reason." Willow guides my head down to whisper in my ear. "There's no one here except the janitors. Close the door."

I move fast, shutting and locking her office door and returning to my place between her legs in seconds. Her giggle is throaty, sexy, and sends a jolt of lust straight to my dick. "I thought you were worried about appropriate workplace behaviour?" I rumble, capturing her earlobe in between my teeth. Her fingers rake through my hair as she tilts her head to the side, presenting the smooth column of her neck for me to kiss.

"Maybe that's not such a problem anymore."

I still, needing to hear the words from her, despite her obvious intentions. "Does that mean you're ready for this? For our relationship to be out in the open?"

Willow straightens, smiling softly at me. "That means you're mine and I'm yours. In private and in public. I don't want to hide anymore."

"Thank fuck," I growl immediately before taking her mouth again, giving everything I have to our kiss. Her ankles lock around my waist, her desk putting Willow's hot core at the perfect level. There's just too many layers of clothes between us.

My hand snakes down between us, popping the button open at the top of her pants and sliding down the zipper so I can slip my fingers inside. She's drenched. "Damn, Cherry. Is this all for me?"

Her answering moan as I play with her slick folds is all the answer I need. With a wicked grin, I drop to my knees. Willow helpfully lifts her hips so I can slide her pants down and all the way off as she kicks her shoes to the side. Then she's spreading those long, luscious legs, baring herself to me.

Her back arches as soon as my tongue hits her damp flesh. I swipe up and down her slit, lapping up every drop of her. I want to go slow, to make our reunion last for a long time, but all hope of that is lost when she grips my hair, moaning low and long with pleasure. I circle her clit a few times, flicking the tip with my tongue. I want to bury my entire face in her sweetness. Drown myself in it. As much as I want to watch her come undone, my eyes close as I press my face in closer, moving faster, plunging my tongue in as deep as I can until her thighs clamp around my head and she starts chanting my name. Just when I think I'll lose the ability to breathe, her body hits the precipice and topples over into her orgasm. And I slow my movements, licking and sucking gently until the tension leaves her body and her legs go limp.

When I move to stand, my knees ache a little, but the pain is worth it when I see the dreamy and dazed but completely satisfied expression on her face. After I wipe my wet mouth on my sleeve, I lean in and press a soft kiss to her upturned lips.

"Mmm," she hums, opening her eyes. She might not be ready to say it, but I can see her feelings for me written across her face. "That was…perfect."

She's perfect. And finally, I get to start proving that to her. One orgasm, one smile, one moment at a time. Nothing can ruin how happy I am right now. Everything I never knew I wanted is mine.