Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

DARIO

My day has taken an unexpected turn. As I watch Gemma sleep, my chest feels heavy, and my head is full of what ifs. The main one being, what if I hadn't been there? I'm usually gone by that time. This situation would be different.

Gemma doesn't know that I meant every word I said. She goes wherever I go. I want to suggest moving in with her, but after thinking about it, I want her to move in with me. Bradford and Madden also live there. There will be more of us to protect her.

The door slowly opens. I glance at Gemma, who is asleep, and then back to the door. Lake's wife, Juniper, enters, followed by Rhodes and Nikoli's girls, Rosie, and Willow. The food they are carrying wafts into my nose and my stomach makes a loud growl.

Gemma blinks awake and rubs her eyes. "Food," I say unnecessarily.

Juniper spreads it out on the wheeled table. "We brought comfort food. I hope that's okay?"

"That's really nice of you." Gemma tries to sit up, so I jump up and help rearrange the pillows. "Thank you."

"We'll keep you company," Rosie says. Then to me, "When you've eaten, why don't you go to the arena for a while. Take a break. The boys will be there."

I shake my head. "I'm not going anywhere." I open one of the breakfast sandwiches and hand it to Gemma, who gives me a small smile.

"We're here to help, Dario. That's what being part of a team is all about. We want to help."

Hesitantly, I feel Gemma's light touch as she takes my hand. Her hand trembles slightly as I wrap my larger one around her smaller one. I swallow. "Give us today and maybe tomorrow you can keep Gemma company. I have a game." What I don't say is that, for the first time in a long time, I'm not looking forward to getting on the ice. The girls mean well, but I can't bring myself to leave Gemma just yet.

I kiss Gemma's hand and let her go so she can eat while the food is still warm. I force myself to sit in the chair and eat mine. The coffee I drink makes me feel like I haven't had any for days. The girls are chatting quietly, including Gemma, which is nice. I sense my girl is lonely in the friendship department.

Rosie moves away from the others and sits on the arm of the chair. I notice Gemma's eyes narrow at the move. Inwardly, I smile at her jealousy. Outwardly, I stand and make sure Rosie catches the look on Gemma's face.

Rosie winces. "Sorry." She pats Gemma's arm. "I wanted you to know that Dodge is investigating what happened. He's good. We'll keep you safe." She smiles.

"I don't know what to say." Gemma tears up and tries to smile but fails miserably.

I set my coffee on the table, gently brush her hair away from her face, and lean in to kiss the trail of her tears. "It's okay, sweetheart."

"What can we do, Dario?" Willow asks.

I plant a kiss on Gemma's lips and pull away. "I'm with her today. I can't let the team down tomorrow." I let out a loud sigh and run my hands through my hair. "I won't let Gemma down either. If she's up to it, she can come to practice with me and stay with the team. During the game, she can be with the boss."

"Don't I get a say in this?" Gemma asks. Irritation flickers in her eyes.

"Of course you do," Juniper says, giving me a look. "Our men need us to be safe so they can concentrate on the game." She smirks. "Besides, Willow is armed."

"What the hell!" I hiss. "They let you in with a gun?"

Willow giggles. "Twelve thousand volts of electricity shooting into any asshole who messes with us."

"You have a Taser?" Gemma laughs. "Okay, I'll hang out with the team. Dario promised me I'd be in the locker room with the men. How can I turn down an offer like that?" She smiles.

Juniper, Willow, and Rosie fall silent. Gemma giggles. "He said I'd wear an eye mask so I wouldn't see anyone but him naked."

I clear my throat as all eyes turn to me. A blush begins to gather along my cheekbones. "I may have said that. I'll ask Coach to keep an eye on you," I tell Gemma. "I don't want any jealous girls coming after me."

"Now that that's taken care of, I look forward to spending time with you during the game," she adds. "So that's covered. What about overnight," Rosie comments, looking at me.

"I got that."

"You do?" Gemma blushes a lovely shade of red.

Willow snorts. "I guess that's our cue to leave. I'll see you tomorrow, Gemma. Don't forget to wear a jersey."

When the girls are gone, I pick up the trash and throw it in the garbage. I go to the bathroom, wash my hands, and then go back to Gemma.

Kicking off my shoes, I push Gemma over in the bed and climb in next to her. My arms hold her close, and for a few seconds I fear she'll refuse. She doesn't. I pull her in until her head is resting on my chest and her entire body is wrapped around me. "You have no idea how many times I wanted to hold you like this, but in my bed. So many," I confess. "That's where you'll be when you're released. I share an apartment with Madden and Bradford. You'll be safe there." I kiss the top of her head, hoping she doesn't mind.

"Won't I be cramping your style?"

I chuckle. "Sweetheart, I haven't had a style to cramp since I met you." I stroke her back. "I smile and flirt because it's expected, but that's all I do. That night, it's something I regret. But honestly, I haven't been interested in anyone for a good while now."

"Oh." She snuggles even closer, which I didn't think was possible. "This is all so sudden and new, Dario. I keep thinking it's all a dream I'm going to wake up from."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"I could lose my job," she whispers, wrapping an arm around my stomach, her palm resting possessively on my waist.

"I could lose my place on the team," I add. "None of that matters anymore. My career means nothing if you're not by my side."

"Dario!" She gasps and lifts her head, her palms spread on my chest. "How can you say that? You worked so hard to make the team. I'm not going to let you throw that away for me." Pause. "Do you have a pierced nipple?"

I blink, trying to catch up, and then I realize she can feel it through my shirt. I smile and take her hand, sliding it up the inside so she has skin.

The moment I press the palm of her hand against my nipple, I get goosebumps.

"Oh!" She gasps and rubs the tight nipple. It's not the only thing that gets tight from her touch as her fingers circle the bar before she gives it a tug. My dick goes solid.

I'm about to tell her to stop when she settles down against me, one leg slipping between mine. She tugs on the silver bar over-and-over again. It's only when I feel pre-cum oozing from my shaft that I whisper, "You have to stop." I cover her hand, breathing hard.

"You're sensitive?" She brings her hips against mine and there is no doubt that she feels how sensitive I am.

"Dario," she mumbles, wiggling and pressing closer. "I have a nipple ring too."

My eyes go wide. "What?" There is no way she said what I think she said.

"I got it after everything that happened with Wayne. It was so far out of my comfort zone that I went for it."

"You have a nipple ring?"

"Yes."

My hands clench on her bottom as I pull her against my erection.

"Do you want to see it?" She asks quietly.

I swallow hard. "Sweetheart, if you show me your chest, I'll have you naked and under me." I close my eyes. "A dream come true, but not here where anyone can walk in."

"But you can't rest with an erection. I feel you throbbing." She grabs me through the sweats.

"Gemma," I pant, pulling her hand away. "The first time you make me come will be with my dick buried deep inside your body." The image alone is enough to turn me on. "Talk to me. I need to calm down."

She sighs. "I'm older than you. You think that makes me a cougar?"

I can't help myself and burst out laughing. "I think you'd have to be more than six years older to be a cougar, babe."

"Pity." She giggles. "I've always wanted to walk on the wild side."

"I'm not sure about the wild side, but as soon as I get you home, I'll show you the filthy side."

"I thought you needed to calm down."

"I do." Pause. "Tell me about your job. Like what arrangements you need to make for away games. I've never thought about it. I just show up where I'm told, when I'm told."

Gemma snorts. "Well, it helps that Wyatt owns the plane and the buses we use. That makes things a lot easier.

"We have contracts with a hotel group, so that means a designated person. We book extra rooms to make sure we have enough. Unless otherwise specified, everyone shares with the same person each time, so we have a master list that is given to the hotel. When we arrive, Davy and I pick up the envelopes with the names and room numbers on them. It makes the whole thing pain‐ less and keeps us from clogging up the front desk."

"That doesn't sound too difficult."

"It isn't, mostly. The hardest part is making sure the hotels have enough security to keep the fans and puck bunnies off the floors."

"We have our own security."

"They travel as well, you know that, but we don't have access to the security cameras and stuff like that. Other guests are also entitled to their privacy.

"Davy told me that a while back, two players who shared a room in the NHL got into it. Trashed a room. Luckily, I haven't had to deal with anything like that."

"At least your job doesn't sound boring." I rub my cheek against the top of her head and sigh. "Do you feel what I feel, Gemma? This closeness? You don't want to be away from me? I feel it. I knew if I ever got this close to you, I wouldn't be able to walk away."

"I feel it too." Pause. "I've always been a loner, Dario. I enjoy my own company. Loud noises frighten me. I'm okay during games, but I can't handle nightclubs and concerts."

"I can do without those things." I move down the bed, so we're face to face. "Don't worry about your job. I'll explain to Wyatt that what's between us is not to be taken lightly."

"I can't survive without my job. It's all I have."

I move closer. "Not anymore. You have me. I share with the guys, but they won't mind if you move in with us."

"I can't move in with you."

I brush my lips over hers. "Until I know you're safe, I want you to stay with us. Then I can move in with you." I grin. "Until then, you won't be able to sleep without being pressed against my body."

"Are you sure?" she huffs.

"I wasn't," I admit quietly. "I am now. I'm not an idiot, Gemma. I would never try to control you the way Wayne did. When it comes to your safety, yes, I will be bossy, but only then. I promise you can trust me."

"I do."

I set her against me. "Let's take a nap." She snorts, but she's the first to fall asleep.