Chapter 31

31

“Now, Georgia, I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone.” Trish pulled one of Connie’s suitcases out to her car, while Banks managed the others. “Dylan, surely you can bring her with you on the trip to Boston.”

Before Banks could comment, Georgia jumped in. They’d had this discussion all morning, a back and forth over whether it was okay to leave Georgia alone in Chicago while life and hockey went on without her. As it stood, the Rebels were headed to Beantown with a two-love lead in the series.

“He needs to bond with his teammates. And I will be perfectly fine with Cheddar.” She gave Connie a hug, then Trish, April, and Sandy. “Have a good trip back and send me a text when you’re home.”

Connie grinned. “You should come with us to Apple Falls. Plenty of room. We can introduce you to the neighbors.”

“Babcia, Georgia needs a break from us.” Trish held onto the hug with Georgia a little longer.

She couldn’t disagree, but if she had to spend time with any family, it would be this one.

Trish raised her hand. “Oh, I think I’ve forgotten my phone charger. Georgia, could you help me find it?”

Georgia sent a sideways look Banks’s way. He gave her a knowing eye roll right back.

“Subtle, Mom.”

“What? I need that charger.”

She marched back into the house with Georgia following and made a show of looking for it under a seat cushion while Georgia waited for her to get to the point. After about ten seconds, she pulled her daughter-in-law to sit down.

“So, can I say something without you taking it the wrong way?”

Georgia tensed. “Go for it.”

“If you divorce my son, I will never forgive you.”

“Excuse me?”

“You make him happy.”

“I-I don’t know about that. Things are kind of up in the air right now and?—”

Trish took her hand. “Are they? Or are they just settling down after the initial shock? Georgia, my son is not a risk taker or an impetuous man. He barely drinks.”

“Which probably explains his low alcohol tolerance.”

Trish’s expression was all pity. “Deny all you want. I know what I see here, and I hope you two give this thing a real go of it.”

She would not like what Georgia had planned as soon as they left. Best to keep that to herself.

“Mom, we have to go,” April called out.

“Coming!” Trish stood, dragging Georgia upright before giving her a tight hug. “If you need anything, and I mean anything, text, call, video, whatever. Okay?”

Tears threatened. This was likely the last time she would see them.

“Okay!” Smile wide, eyes bright. You’re fine, Georgia. You’re always fine.

Back outside, more hugs were dispensed in all the people combinations and finally, everyone was on their way. Georgia turned to Banks as the cars turned onto Sheridan.

“How are you doing?”

He blew out a breath. “I’ll see them again soon.”

“I know. But it’s okay to be upset that they’re gone.”

He nodded, her stoic man unable to verbalize, so she wrapped herself around the one person she’d missed during the hug fest. Even better, he let her, sinking into her like she was weighty enough to handle it. But then she always was the dependable one in the Goodwin family, the girl who could manage her own emotions so as not to steal focus from the people who needed attention. Like Dani.

Guilt pinched at her. Dani wasn’t to blame for Georgia not getting a little more Mom and Dad time. And she’d sure made up for those neglected years, hadn’t she?

She pulled back, realizing that she was using him to make herself feel better when he was the one who needed comfort. Just like that night in Vegas when she told him she didn’t want to say goodbye and reeled him in for a trip to the altar.

“You have to get ready for your trip.” Desperate to shift gears, she moved away and headed for the door. “And I probably should …”

He followed her inside. “You probably should what?”

“Pack up.”

His eyebrows crashed together. “Why the fuck would you want to do that?”

“Because your family is gone and I’m sure you’d like to get back to some sense of normal. When you come back, I’ll be out of your flow, and you can focus on what’s important.”

She had planned to be gone by the time he returned and not tell him before he left. But neither did she want to be sneaky about it.

“What about your parents?”

“We can worry about that later. It’s not as if they’re going to come visit. I thought that once we’d done this, for Connie and your family, you might be ready to … move on.”

He closed the gap between them quickly and held her face with both hands. “Do you want to leave?”

Never. “It’s what you need. For your game.”

“Georgia.” Her name on his lips was almost beseeching. “What I need right now is for my wife to tell me the truth.”

It wasn’t fair of him to use the W word, not when she was feeling sad.

“What do you need?”

Suddenly, this wasn’t about the bargain they’d struck. She didn’t want to keep lying to him—or to herself.

“I need … you.”

He released a pent-up breath, its warm puff a signal of intent against her lips. Which he claimed roughly, possessively. Her response was frenzied, a recognition by her body that they were finally alone—properly—and this couldn’t wait.

The kiss didn’t stop, not even as he lifted her onto a table in the foyer. Not even as her house keys fell to the floor with a clattering sound. Not even as she wrapped her legs around his waist and his hands grasped her ass, pulling her flush with his erection.

“You need me,” he panted. “And I need you. So fucking bad, Georgia.”

She didn’t doubt his sincerity. But he was also in a weird place, already missing his family, worried about his body holding up. She could do that for him, be the placeholder, while taking a little something for herself.

No more second-guessing. She curled a hand inside his sweatpants and pulled them down, freeing his thick cock. Wrapping a hand around it, she stroked roughly, just how he liked it. His groan was loud, echoing in the entryway and all the way to her pussy.

“Please, Dylan. Need?—”

He was already one step ahead of her. Leggings down, a hand shoved between her thighs. Two fingers stroked and drew her moan. His other hand pulled at her bottoms, forcing them down until she had to let go of him and finish the job of removing them.

With one hand on his cock, the other under her ass, he plunged inside her with a deep all-consuming thrust. He held her close for the longest moment, the most perfect moment, his mouth close to hers as he murmured her name. Georgia. Not any of the nicknames, just “Georgia.” His eyes were closed like the sight of her might be too painfully sweet to bear. She reached for his jaw and held him close as her body adjusted to his size. To everything Banks.

She squeezed one perfect butt cheek. He withdrew a few inches, then sank inside her again.

“Ohhh!”

His eyes snapped open, and in their depths, she saw desire and compassion and all the things she loved about this man. Her heart was beating like a hammer, just like the lyrics of that old Metric song, “Help, I’m Alive.”

She was. Finally. Banks had brought her back from a deep, dead place, but with new life came old fears.

He paused his thrusts, held her face. “Hey, it’s okay.” He swiped at a tear. “I’m here, okay? Not going anywhere.”

But you are. Eventually you’ll leave, just like Dani.

He waited, though it must have been killing him, and she squeezed her inner muscles to let him know she was back from the hole she’d dropped into for a moment. Blanking her mind, she let the numbing sensation of pleasure take over, let her heart soar, and take this moment for herself. He wasn’t far behind with a roar that didn’t need muffling now that they were alone.

Only when he pulled out did she realize they’d not used a condom.

He looked down between their still throbbing bodies, then back up. “Fuck.”

“I’m sorry.”

He frowned. “Why are you sorry? This is on me, I practically mauled you.”

She laughed. “I was all in on the mauling, Big Guy. And I’m on birth control. As for the rest …”

“Full physical when I joined the team in February and no one but you since. I think we’re good.”

Her lust-fogged brain tried to parse what he’d said. February … no one but you … we’re good.

Had he abstained because of her? Surely not. After all, they had believed they were divorced.

“Going raw like that, Georgia … it was really fucking hot.”

“It was.” Something about no barriers. Skin to skin …

Another look between them landed on his come pooling on the table. They really should move and clean up but neither of them seemed ready to go anywhere. Banks’s cock was … oh God, thickening before her eyes.

“You like the mess, don’t you?” Strange, considering how regimented he liked his life to be. Could Banks be adapting to the untidier aspects of Tornado Georgia barreling into his life?

“I’m guessing you don’t. We can get you cleaned?—”

He broke off as his lips parted in shock.

She had shocked herself. But here she was, her fingers rubbing Banks’s cooling come on her exposed pussy. She wasn’t an exhibitionist. She’d never done anything like this for any guy.

But this was for her, too.

A dark flush came over Banks’s cheeks as his gaze locked on her hand, swirling, stroking.

“Georgia.” His voice was strained through gravel. “You are so sexy.”

She needed him to see more, to see right into the heart of her. Lifting one leg, she placed her foot on the table, widening her thighs and showing him everything.

His erection climbed to full mast once more. That was hockey player resilience for you.

“Touch yourself.” The demand from her lips didn’t sound like her. She felt strong, emboldened, powerful as she continued erotic, circular strokes over her swollen folds.

He took himself in hand again and pulled lazily on his perfect cock.

“You like my come on you?” The words were harsh, labored. “You like my mark?”

As sexy as it was to rub herself with her husband’s sperm, just hearing how this affected him raised it to another level.

My mark.

She nodded, rubbed harder. It should have taken forever after she’d orgasmed only a few minutes ago, but with Banks everything was heightened. She was close to coming again.

“Show me your pretty tits, wife.”

Oh my Banks. Lust-dazed, she peeled off her T-shirt and yanked down her bralette. He continued jerking off, his strokes getting choppier, the head of his cock becoming redder, as raw as the feelings coursing through her. Taking her hands, still covered with his release, she squeezed her right breast, then the other. Pushed them together for her husband.

“Come on me, Dylan.”

Another rough jerk and he sprayed silky ropes of come across her chest. Then he fell on her, all wet and sloppy kisses, so deep she wondered how she’d ever find her way back to the shallows. They spent a few minutes, coming down from the high as the kisses turned softer and more tender.

“You have to go,” she finally said. “The plane’s waiting.”

“Let ’em wait. My wife needs me.”

Scooping her up like she weighed nothing, he marched them to the bathroom.