Chapter Seven

Duke

I wake slowly, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, painting warm patterns on the wall. I feel her beside me, Tilly's warm body curled against mine. A rush of affection floods through me, and I can't help but smile.

Last night was a blur of laughter and kisses, the kind of night that leaves you feeling breathless. As I shift slightly, Tilly stirs, her eyelashes fluttering before she opens her eyes, blinking in the soft light. She looks beautiful, her hair tousled and a faint blush still lingering from our kisses.

"Good morning," I whisper, brushing a lock of hair away from her face.

"Good morning," she replies, her voice a little hoarse. She smiles shyly, and I can't help but lean in for another quick kiss.

After that, I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stretch, feeling the tightness in my muscles from years of playing hockey. "I should make us some breakfast," I say, glancing back at her still lying in my bed. It's damn hard to leave her there.

"Are you sure? I don't want to be any trouble," she responds, propping herself up on one elbow.

"You're never trouble," I assure her.

I head to the kitchen and pull out eggs, cheese, and some veggies. I'll make us omelets.

I'm almost finished when I hear her footsteps behind me. I turn and she's leaning against the doorway, watching me with that sweet smile. "What are you making?" she asks, clearly amused.

"Veggie omelets," I reply, sliding the second one onto a plate. "I hope you're hungry."

"Starving!" she laughs, and my heart does a little flip. There's nothing this woman does that doesn't make me happy.

We sit at the table and start eating our breakfast. The conversation flows easily, punctuated by comfortable silences. We talk about everything and nothing —our plans for the day, the things that made us laugh last night, and what a great time we had last night.

"So, what's on your agenda today?" I ask as I push my empty plate away.

Tilly takes a sip of her coffee, her eyes thoughtful. "Well, I was planning on going to the game with Paisley," she says, her tone casual, but I can feel the weight of her words.

"That's great." Knowing she's in the stands will be a new experience, but I feel energized by the idea. "Want to wear my jersey at the game?" I suggest in a playful tone.

Tilly shakes her head, suddenly looking a little sad, "I can't do that, Duke. I'd never hear the end of it from Ryan."

"I get that, I guess," I say, a little deflated. "But, we're a couple now, right?"

The question hangs in the air, and I see her hesitate. "I want to be, but I'm not ready to tell him yet. I don't want to cause problems for either of you."

I try to mask my disappointment. I don't want to pressure her, but I hate the idea of hiding the feelings I have for her. "I understand and for now I'll go along with it. I don't want to hide who we are to each other. You are important to me."

"I know. You're important to me," she replies earnestly. I just need a little more time. Let's enjoy what we have right now, okay?"

"Alright," I say, forcing a smile. "But don't think I'm giving up on this. I'm going to wear you down."

She giggles, and the sound brightens my mood. "I can't wait," she teases.

After breakfast, I head to the bathroom to get ready for practice. As I brush my teeth, I catch a glimpse of Tilly through the mirror, sitting on the edge of the bed, her gaze thoughtful. I finish getting ready and find her dressed in one of my T-shirts and her jeans from the night before.

I have to fight the urge to strip her naked and climb back in bed with her to spend the day wrapped up in our own cocoon. The outside world complicates things, but here we're golden.

She wraps her arms around me and I feel a rush of warmth through my body, "I'll cheer really loud for you today. You're gonna kick ass."

"Thanks, princess. It's gonna be different with my girl there," I say, my voice a little rougher than I intended.

"You're going to do great." She places a sweet kiss on my lips. "And I'll see you after the game."

"Promise?"

She nods and kisses me again. Then I walk her out to her car and help her get in. I know I'm dragging out every second and if I don't get my ass up to the stadium soon I'll be late for our pre-game meeting and practice.

"I'll see you later," I say as I shut her door and stand watching her as she drives away. My phone buzzes with a text from Simon telling me I have fifteen minutes to be at the arena. He's always on all of us to be on time. Quickly I head in, grab my bag, and leave for the arena.

* * *

The drive to the rink is filled with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy. I try to focus on the game ahead, but thoughts of Tilly linger in my mind. The way she looked this morning, the of her kisses —it all fuels me.

As I walk into the locker room, my teammates are already buzzing with energy. Ryan glances over at me. "Duke, you seem like you're in a better mood this morning. What's up?"

I roll my eyes, laughing it off. "Just had a good night, that's all," I say, trying to sound casual.

Simon chimes in, clapping me on the shoulder, "Good for you." He leans in closer, lowering his voice. "But serious, are you still hung up on that mystery girl?"

I pause, the words catching in my throat. I want to tell them about Tilly —how amazing she is, how she makes me feel —but I can't betray her trust like that. She doesn't want her brother to know about us yet. That doesn't mean I can't let the guys know a little. "I found her," I say finally, and their interest piques.

"Dude, who is she?" Ryan asks, leaning in.

I shake my head, a smirk playing on my lips. "Not telling. Some things are just for me to know."

"Come on," Simon presses. "You can't just drop that and leave us hanging!"

"I'm serious, guys," I say, my tone firm. "It's not like that. It's just….complicated."

They share glances, clearly intrigued, but I can see they'll let it go for now. I appreciate their concern, but I'm not going to break Tilly's trust. I don't want to hide my relationship with Tilly, but I respect her feelings. The balance feels precarious, but I know it's worth it —she's worth it.

As my skates hit the ice for a mini before-game practice, I push all throughs of the world away, focusing on the ice, the puck, and my teammates. Every shot, every pass —everything flows through me with a renewed energy. Tilly's smile, her laughter, and the taste of her lips are my fuel.