Chapter 5 Jack

I stumble into the apartment, the lingering buzz of alcohol warming my veins. Sam trails behind, his boisterous laughter echoing down the hallway. We'd hit up a few bars after our team dinner, reveling in the camaraderie that comes from being hockey warriors together.

The living room is dark, save for the flickering glow of the TV. I squint, making out Elyse's silhouette on the couch. She must have drifted off watching a movie. A small smile tugs at my lips as I take in her sleeping form, one arm dangling off the edge, her head rolled back against the cushions. She looks so peaceful and so damn beautiful.

"Hey, the princess is out cold," Sam whispers with a grin, nudging me. "Think we should wake her?"

I shake my head, shooing him toward his room. "Let her sleep. I'll take care of it."

Sam shrugs, that mischievous glint never leaving his eyes. With a wink, he disappears down the hall. I roll my eyes at his antics before turning my attention back to Elyse.

Carefully, I crouch beside the couch, studying her in this open moment. Her chest rises and falls with each soft breath, and a few strands of dark hair have fallen across her face. Without thinking, I reach out to gently brush them aside. Her skin is warm and impossibly soft beneath my calloused fingertips.

She stirs, her eyes fluttering open. For a heartbeat, I'm transfixed by those olive depths. "Jack?" she asks, voice thick with sleep. "What time is it?"

"Late," I say, clearing my throat. "You must've dozed off."

She blinks a few times, seeming to reorient herself. "I was waiting up for you guys." A sheepish smile curves her lips. "Guess I got a little too cozy on the couch."

"Sorry we kept you up. You know how team nights can get." I grin ruefully, the memory of raucous laughter and clinking beer glasses still fresh. "Or maybe you don't, which is probably for the best."

Elyse stretches her arms overhead with a soft groan. The motion causes her shirt to ride up, revealing a tantalizing strip of toned midriff. I swallow hard, my gaze lingering perhaps a beat too long.

"No worries," she says, oblivious to my momentary lapse. "I was hoping to make you guys a late-night snack or something when you got back."

I raise an eyebrow. "At this hour? Shouldn't you be getting your beauty sleep, Rapunzel?"

"I think that's Sleeping Beauty." She scrunches her nose in mock indignation. "I'll have you know I'm an excellent hostess, and don't act like you don't love my cooking."

"Can't argue with that." I chuckle, rising to my feet. "How about I make us something instead? I could go for some cocoa."

Elyse perks up at that. "Cocoa does sound amazing right about now, but don't rush off yet." She pats the couch cushion beside her. "Keep me company?"

How can I refuse that warm, inviting smile? I nod, sinking onto the couch as she tucks her legs beneath her. Our knees brush, sending an unexpected jolt through me at the simple contact.

"Did you guys celebrate a win, or just blowing off steam?"

"A little of both, I guess." I lean back, stretching my arm along the back of the couch. "We practiced hard this week. The guys deserved to let loose."

Elyse nods sagely. "I can only imagine the kind of pressure you're all under, especially this close to the pre-season starting." She studies me intently. "Does it ever get…overwhelming?"

Her concern catches me off guard. I consider brushing it off with some macho bravado about being able to handle anything, but there's something about Elyse's open, earnest expression that makes me want to be honest.

"Sometimes," I say with a rueful chuckle. "This life is a hell of a ride. The highs are incredible, but the lows can knock you on your ass if you're not careful."

She nods slowly, and I'm unable to look away from those soulful eyes. "Tell me about it?" she asks softly. "If you don't mind sharing, that is. I'd love to hear more about you."

And just like that, the words start tumbling out. I share tales from my rookie days—the chaos of being thrown into the pro league, the long road trips, the mind games, and the locker room antics. She hangs on every word, reacting with gasps and laughter in all the right places.

Before I know it, I'm recounting one of my worst injuries—a brutal hit that nearly ended my career. I roll up my sleeve, showing her the jagged scar along my bicep. "It was a stupid play," I say, tracing the raised line with my finger. "I got reckless, took a chance I shouldn't have. Ended up with a nasty gash and a badly separated shoulder." I look away from her for a moment, not wanting her to realize the shoulder is still bothering me months later.

Elyse's brow furrows with concern as she reaches out, her fingertips lightly grazing the scar. An electric tingle races up my arm at her gentle touch. "That must have been so scary," she says. "I can't even imagine…"

I shrug, feigning nonchalance. "All part of the job, I guess. You get used to playing through the pain."

"But you shouldn't have to," she insists, her eyes blazing with conviction. "That's not right. You're putting your body and your health on the line out there."

"Hey, I knew what I was signing up for." I force a casual smile, though her concern for my well-being leaves me oddly touched. "An athlete's career is short. You learn to make the most of it while you can."

She shakes her head. "Even so…you deserve to be taken care of. To have someone in your corner, looking out for you."

Her sincerity and fierce protectiveness are almost too much. I have to look away, swallowing hard against the sudden tightness in my throat. "Yeah, well…" I trail off, clearing my throat. "I've been going it alone for a long time now. You get used to it after a while."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see her expression soften into something achingly tender. "You don't have to, you know," she says. "Not anymore."

Her words hang in the air, weighted with unspoken promise. Slowly, I turn to face her again, my breath catching at her nearness. When did she move so close?

Elyse's gaze drops to my lips, and I can't stop the way my eyes are drawn to her mouth in turn. Plump, rosy, and so damn tempting. She licks her lips, and a tremor of pure desire lances through me.

This is insane. She's Sam's little sister, for god's sake, but even as the thought surfaces, it's drowned out by the thunderous pounding of my heart and the molten heat pooling in my gut.

She leans in closer, her eyes slipping shut. I can feel her breath on my lips now and smell her sweet floral shampoo. It would be so easy to close that last sliver of distance between us…

With a herculean effort, I tear my gaze away, clenching my jaw. "We should get that cocoa started." My voice sounds strangled even to my own ears.

For a beat, she doesn't move, disappointment flickering across her delicate features. Then, she pulls back with a small nod. "Right. Cocoa. Good idea."

I force myself to my feet, scrubbing a hand down my face. What the hell was I thinking? I need to regain control before I do something incredibly stupid.

She follows me into the kitchen, leaning against the counter as I bustle about heating the milk and adding the ingredients. An awkward silence stretches between us, thick with unspoken tension. I can still feel the phantom warmth of her nearness and taste the promise of her lips on mine.

By some miracle, I manage to make it through preparing the drinks without incident. I hand Elyse her mug, our fingers brushing in the exchange. It's just a tiny spark, but it's enough to set my pulse racing anew.

"Thanks," she says, wrapping her hands around the steaming ceramic. She peers up at me from beneath her lashes, nibbling her lower lip. "For the cocoa…and for sharing your story with me."

I nod as we return to the living room. Once seated beside her again, I lean back against the couch cushions with a contented sigh, deliciously relaxed. Elyse shifts beside me, her warmth tantalizingly close. While sipping cocoa, we settle in to watch a movie, with one thing leading to another until we found ourselves cuddled together beneath a shared blanket.

"This is nice," she whispers. "Just…being here with you like this."

A late-September rain shower punctuates the stillness of the night whenever there's a pause in the movie. It's cozy, being like this with her. I'm not a guy who normally does cozy, but I hum in agreement, eyes drifting shut as I savor the moment. Her floral scent surrounds me, lulling me into a state of utter peace. Who knew something so simple could feel so right?

On the screen, the movie drones on, but truthfully, I lost the plot long ago. I'm far too consumed by Elyse; the rise and fall of her breathing, and the occasional brush of her fingertips against my arm, which sends tingles racing along my skin.

Slowly, I open my eyes, turning my head to study her profile. She's focused on the flickering images before us, those expressive eyes reflecting the play of light and shadow. She's stunning. The realization hits me all over again with startling clarity, like a physical force knocking the wind from my lungs.

As if sensing my gaze, she glances over, her lips curving into a soft smile. "What is it?"

I open my mouth, but the words seem to catch in my throat. What can I possibly say? That I've never felt this way before? That the very sight of her ignites a blazing need in my chest, an all-consuming hunger I can't begin to comprehend?

Instead of speaking, I let my actions answer for me.

Cupping her jaw with one hand, I guide her face toward mine until our lips are almost touching. I search her eyes, silently asking permission. Elyse's pupils are wide, dark pools of longing as she gives the smallest of nods.

That's all the invitation I need.

Our mouths collide, and her lips are impossibly soft beneath mine. A low groan rumbles up from my chest as I angle my head, deepening the caress. She melts against me, tangling her fingers in my hair as our bodies press flush together.

Heat floods through my veins. I can taste the sweet remnants of cocoa on her tongue. Every sense is overwhelmed by her, surrounding me and consuming me until there's nothing left but the two of us in this moment.

My hands roam freely, mapping every curve as she arches into me with a breathy whimper, raking her nails along my neck and making me shudder. I growl against her mouth, and the sound seems to spur her on as she nips at my lower lip.

Rational thought has fled. All I can do is lose myself in the heat of her tongue and the sweet lines of her body molded so perfectly to mine.

We're both panting when we finally break apart, foreheads pressed together as we struggle to catch our breath. Her eyes are heavy-lidded, and her cheeks are flushed an alluring shade of rose as she gazes up at me through those sinfully long lashes.

"Jack…" she says my name like a reverent whisper on her lips as she reaches up, tracing my jaw with trembling fingertips.

I capture her hand, pressing a fervent kiss to her knuckles as I try to find my voice. "You have no idea how long I've wanted this."

She lets out a shuddering exhale, leaning into my touch. "I think I might," she says, low and smoky in a way that sends a fresh jolt of desire searing through me. "For me, it was even before seeing you in the towel. On TV…"

Unable to resist, I dip my head once more, capturing her mouth in a series of slow, smoldering kisses. Elyse winds her arms around my neck, holding me closely as our bodies shift in a delicious tangle of limbs.

The movie is all but forgotten as we lose ourselves in each other's embrace. For once, there are no nagging doubts and no voices of caution whispering their warnings. There is only this skin on skin and the electrifying thrum of desire coursing through my veins. She's awakened a craving, and I feel like I'll die if I don't get more of her.