Chapter 13

Blake lathered his face,wetting his razor. He was out of bed a little earlier than usual this morning, but that was on purpose. He was going to see Erika today—within the next twenty minutes, even if he had to move heaven and fucking earth to make it happen.

He'd been disappointed and worried when he'd seen her texts last night after the game. Blake had spent a lot of time with her parents, who were totally awesome, so he'd been concerned about her dad. The guy was turning eighty on his next birthday, so Blake didn't blame Erika for hightailing it out of the game to check on him.

He'd texted her, asking her to keep him in the loop, and she had, texting him several more times during the night.

She had convinced the old guy to go to the hospital for X-rays, which was a good thing because he had fractured his ankle. Unfortunately, that meant they'd spent several hours in the ER while he was fitted for a boot, after which, Erika had taken her parents home to get her dad settled.

Blake had no idea what time she finally made it home. He'd tried to stay awake, listening for her, but he'd fallen asleep sometime after three a.m. on the couch with Corky.

He'd also spent too much of the night analyzing those x's and o's she'd texted him, perfectly aware she had never used that sign-off before.

It was ridiculous how those two letters had taken him from dark to light in one-point-four seconds. He'd read her text about leaving the game early, and while he'd been concerned about her dad, there was a small part of him that worried perhaps she was using her parents as an excuse to avoid him.

Then he'd seen the xoxo, and something that felt very much like hope erased that fear completely. Between that and scoring the goals, he'd felt ten feet tall and bulletproof as he celebrated the win with old friends and his teammates.

Spending time with Elio, Alex, and their wives at Pat's Pub had been a great boost for his confidence as Charley and Gianna both expressed how much they liked Erika, and how a man would have to be a fool not to snatch up a woman like her. They'd become less and less obvious about their matchmaking attempts as the night progressed, until Blake started to suspect Erika had said something to them.

He grinned when he heard a knock on his door. Despite her late night, it appeared Erika was just as anxious to see him as he was her.

"Come in. It's unlocked," he yelled from the bathroom, when he didn't hear the door open.

"Since when do we knock?" he muttered to himself, relieved when he heard footsteps coming down the hall.

"I'll be out in a minute," he said, scraping the razor over his jaw. "Just need to finish shaving."

He heard her and Corky moving around the bedroom, Erika no doubt playing with the puppy while she waited.

Grabbing the toothpaste, he brushed his teeth quickly because he'd already decided the second he went out there, he was kissing his girl senseless until there was no question between them that she was his.

Rinsing out his mouth, he ran his fingers through his wet hair, still wearing just the towel he'd wrapped around his hips after climbing out of the shower.

He grinned, deciding not to lead with the kiss.

Nope. He had a better idea how to get this party started.

Walking into his bedroom, he pulled the towel off and dropped it to the floor just as he looked up.

He scowled.

Because it wasn't Erika waiting for him, playing with Corky.

It was Mindy.

Naked and tied to his bed.

What the fuck?

Blake frowned, thinking he'd spoken his thoughts aloud…until he realized he'd heard them in a female voice.

He turned, panicking when he saw it was Erika who'd asked the question. Then he recognized exactly what Erika was seeing from her vantage point in the doorway to his bedroom.

"Shit," he cursed, bending down to retrieve his towel, covering himself with it before turning back to Mindy. "I don't know what the fuck you're doing here, but get dressed!"

Mindy looked equal parts chagrinned and embarrassed. "Can you untie me?"

Jesus Christ!

Blake walked over to the bed, hastily loosening the knots on her wrists, careful to keep his eyes on Erika. He was terrified she'd make a run for it.

Mercifully, she stayed put, though that felt like a small comfort, considering the expression on her face was pure murder.

How the fuck was he going to explain this?

Once Mindy was free, Blake turned away from her, gripping Erika's elbow and guiding her down the hallway. When they were in the living room, he placed himself between her and the door, ready to tackle her if she tried to make a break for it.

"Erik," he said. "I didn't know she was here."

Erika frowned. "She's tied up."

He hadn't told her about Mindy's ridiculous talent because he took enough teasing from her about the puck bunny.

"It's her party trick."

Erika snorted. "Of course it is. Might be a neater trick if she could untie herself too," she muttered.

Blake couldn't quite interpret that response. It sounded not only like she believed him…but like she was amused.

That couldn't be right. Could it?

Before he could test that theory, Mindy came down the hall.

"Sorry, Blake," she said, glancing from him to Erika and back again. "Last night's game was awesome. So I thought I'd surprise you."

"You did," he murmured.

Mindy laughed humorlessly. "Yeah. Well, I guess I'll leave you guys to…" She waved her hand, gesturing to him and Erika. "Whatever this is. Bye, Erika."

Wow. Mindy finally got Erika's name right. Not that Blake expected that to help him get out of this predicament.

Erika lifted her hand. "Bye, Mandy."

Tou-fucking-ché.

Blake had to bite his lip not to laugh out loud.

The second the door closed behind Mindy, Blake started talking. "Erika, I swear to you?—"

"Blake," she started.

Panic was his overriding every other emotion as the stress of the past few days caught up with him. Because even if he hadn't said the words, she had to fucking know how he felt about her. He threw his hands in the air. "Goddammit! You don't really think I would bring Mindy back here, would sleep with her after what you and I?—"

"I don't," she interjected loudly, cutting his tirade short. "I know you wouldn't do that."

For the first time since seeing Mindy in his bed, Blake managed to take a full breath. "You do?"

She nodded. "Of course I do."

Her eyes were softer now, the anger he'd seen in his bedroom completely gone. Suddenly it occurred to him maybe that ire wasn't directed at him but at Mindy. It gave him the courage to take a step closer.

"God, I missed you," he whispered.

His confession made her smile, which made his heart beat faster.

"I missed you too," she admitted. "So much."

With those words, Blake closed the distance between them, reaching out to wrap his arms around her. The smell of her—that sweet white peach—worked like a goddamn aphrodisiac and had him hard in an instant.

He ignored it. Last time they were together, he let his libido take charge. This time, he was making sure they said everything that needed to be said. He wasn't leaving anything to chance, wasn't willing to let there be any misunderstandings.

"Erik, I need you to know what this is."

She grinned. "I already do."

His brows furrowed. "You do?"

She nodded. "Yep."

He waited for her to elaborate…but she didn't.

Not good enough. He needed to say it. Needed to hear the words from her.

"So you know you're my girlfriend? You know that I'm so fucking in love with you, I can't see straight? You know that before the day is out, we're going to have to flip a coin to see whose apartment we're both living in together?"

She laughed. "You want to live together?"

"That was what you took from all that?"

Erika snaked her arms around his shoulders. "I already knew the rest. I'm your girlfriend. And…" She blushed. Fuck, he loved it when she blushed. "I love you too."

Blake blew out a long, slow breath as every drop of tension flowed from his body. He pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. "Thank God," he breathed, remaining there for a moment, soaking in how good it felt to have her in his arms like this, with all the walls down, all the secrets told.

When he lifted his head, he gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. "And to answer your question, yes, we're living together. Because I plan to spend every single night I'm home in the same damn bed as you. And on the nights when I'm on the road, we're going to FaceTime and sext our asses off. Which reminds me…" He narrowed his eyes. "You're going to have to up your texting game when I'm gone, Erik. You ghosted me one whole day during this last trip and?—"

"I had food poisoning."

He reared back. "What?"

Erika gave him a guilty grimace. "I grabbed a sandwich from one of the vending machines at work…"

She stumbled when he placed his hands on his hips.

"And?" he asked, not bothering to hide his annoyed tone.

"And I got food poisoning. Spent one whole day hugging the toilet. By the way, I'm giving Ashley a raise on her hourly rate. That girl was a lifesaver."

"I agree on the raise. Ashley is amazing." Then, he grinned. "Well, I guess that just proves we have no choice but to live together. Clearly, you need me around full-time to make sure you're eating right."

Erika drew one finger down the center of his bare chest. "You know…" she drawled, her tone pure seduction. "I am kinda hungry right now."

"Is that right?" he replied, loving the hell out of where her head was.

She nodded. "Starving, actually." Her fingers made their way over his stomach, stopping at where the bath towel was hanging low around his hips.

"Should I make us some scrambled eggs?" he teased.

She shook her head. "No."

"Toast?"

She shook her head again, her fingers slipping underneath the towel. "It's not that kind of hunger."

"Oh, gotcha." He tried not to chuckle when he said, "You want bacon."

Erika laughed, and he joined her, though it was short-lived when she ripped the towel off. To be honest, it was a miracle the thing stayed on, considering the tent his cock had pitched beneath the soft material.

He grunted when Erika wasted no time grasping his cock, running her hand up and down with a firm grip that was already testing his control.

Blake placed his hand over hers, slowing her pace as he leaned toward her, giving her a long, wet, hard kiss.

By the time they parted, her breathing was as labored as his.

Blake's lips were by her ear when he said, "Take off your clothes, dirty girl."

She released his cock. He missed her hand instantly, so when she didn't move quickly enough, shrugging off her hoodie, he took over.

She shook her head, grinning widely when he stripped off her bra in record time. "You are ridiculously good at that," she said, raising one accusatory eyebrow.

Blake may have suffered a few concussions during the course of his career, but he hadn't been hit on the head enough that he'd make a joke about having lots of practice in that particular area.

Besides, it was clear Erika already knew exactly why he was well-versed in snapping bra hooks free.

He brushed her fingers away, unfastening her jeans, which he shoved down to her ankles along with her panties. That was when he realized she'd crossed the hall to his place barefoot. She hadn't bothered with shoes, which—while not an uncommon thing—told him just how anxious she'd been to see him this morning.

Once she was naked, Erika started to reach for his dick again, but he moved faster. Flipping their positions, he pushed her until her back was pressed against his living room wall. He kissed her again, but this time, he was unable to make it soft or gentle or even fucking sweet.

Erika wasn't the only one who was hungry. The last few days had been hell on him—emotionally and physically.

Now that they'd said what needed to be said, his body was demanding its own satisfaction.

Erika's fingers pushed through his hair, her fists closing around it. She was using that tight grip to keep his lips on hers. She didn't need to expend the effort. He wasn't going anywhere any time soon.

Their tongues stroked, and Erika whimpered when he nipped at her lower lip. His cock brushed against her bare stomach as she pressed her hips closer, fighting to take even more.

Then, before she could read his intention, he knelt before her, throwing one of her legs over his shoulder, running his tongue over her clit, loving the way she gasped—the perfect blend of surprise and desire.

"Blake," she breathed. "God."

He loved the way she said his name, the way her hands clawed at the wall behind her as he teased her clit with his tongue and his teeth.

"Please," she begged.

"More," he demanded. She was going to beg a lot more. "Beg me, dirty girl."

"Blake!" There was so much need in her tone. He liked it. A lot.

"Better," he murmured against her pussy.

She huffed out a breathy laugh, her body twitching when he added his fingers to the game, circling her opening, coating his finger with her arousal before sliding back until he found her anus.

She jerked hard enough that he had to pull away. Glancing at her flushed face, he winked as he pushed just the tip of his finger into that tight hole.

Erika threw her head back, lightly banging it on the wall behind her. He wiggled his finger for a moment, before returning his attention to her clit, stroking it harder and faster, driving her closer and closer to the edge.

"More. I need you inside me," she said, her gaze never leaving his. "So fucking much. These last few days… Please don't tease me. I don't think I can?—"

She stopped when he rose rapidly, her pleas mimicking his own feelings, his own strung-out needs.

Drawing out the teasing and building the anticipation were games they could play later.

They had a lifetime, after all.

The old Blake might have panicked at the thought of forever with one woman, but Erika's Blake…he was here. For. It.

He gripped her ass, using that hold to lift her.

"Wrap your legs around my waist," he demanded.

Erika was halfway there before he finished telling her what he wanted, her arms encircling his neck as he used the wall at her back to hold her one-handed, moving the other to guide his cock?—

Fuck.

His uncovered cock.

Blake stilled, glancing down the hallway of his apartment, toward his bedroom. Where his stash of condoms were.

"I get the birth control shot," she said, reading his thoughts.

He frowned. Was she saying… "I'm clean," he swore.

She nodded, her eyes heavy with a need that told him she didn't want to make that trip down the hall any more than he did. "I trust you, Blake," she whispered. "Just us this time. Nothing between."

He kissed her again, because Jesus, every word out of her mouth felt like the most beautiful song he'd ever heard. As they kissed, he ran the head of his cock along her slit, her very wet, very hot slit.

Then, he pushed inside and found heaven.

He entered her with one hard, fast, no-holds-barred thrust that pushed her up the wall as she cried out and—fuck him—came. Immediately.

Her pussy constricted hard, squeezing him so tightly he saw stars. He held still, gritting his teeth painfully until her orgasm wavered, then faded.

They were nowhere near done.

"More will kill me," she murmured, her forehead pressed to his shoulder.

Blake didn't realize he'd spoken aloud. Unfortunately, he needed this—her—too much, so he let go of his hard-won control and took her, claimed her.

"Mine," he growled in her ear, as he fucked her with a force he'd never used with another woman. Erika met him blow for blow, her hips moving in time with his thrusts, driving him deeper.

"Yes!" she cried out, telling him she was almost there again. He reached between them and delivered the knock-out punch, pinching her clit.

Erika keened, her eyes closed as her body shook. Blake held her tightly, aware that if he wasn't, she'd be sliding down the wall, her bones turned to jelly.

This time, he didn't hold still as she came back to herself. He continued to shift inside her, a slow in, a slower out, drawing out her orgasm as she shook in his arms.

It was a full minute before Erika regained her wits, opened her eyes, and realized he was still hard, still inside her.

"Blake," she said, her voice hoarse from her cries.

"More," he repeated.

This time she didn't argue, didn't offer a single bit of resistance when he lowered her legs and twisted her until she faced away from him. Then he guided her toward the couch, pushing her face down over one arm.

She jolted when he slapped her ass, more a light tap than something painful. He had intended to leave it there, but the shameless flirt wiggled her ass, so he gave her a couple more, these with more force.

Erika glanced over her shoulder, her cheeks still flushed from her first two orgasms. "Don't tease me with a good time."

He laughed at her joke, even as his body ached for completion.

"Later," he promised, before guiding his cock to her opening and slamming inside once more.

Erika found her second wind fast, lifting her hips in time, breathlessly begging him. "Deeper. Harder. God, Blake! So good."

Her words as much as her actions pushed him to the cliff, and this time he gave in, jumping into the abyss, shocked and thrilled when Erika went over with him.

He filled her with his come—wondering how long he should wait to propose and how much time he had to let pass before he asked her to stop getting the birth control shot. Now that he had her, he wanted it all. He was going to be greedy and demanding, God help his woman.

The two of them remained there, connected, quiet except for their breathing, which slowed as they managed to calm their racing hearts.

He really should pull out, but there was something very tempting about keeping his come inside her, even though he knew nothing would take root.

Now that he'd imagined Erika pregnant, it was all he could think about.

Finally, the decision to stay buried within her was taken away from him. Blake withdrew, he and Erika laughing, as Corky hopped on the couch. Erika's head was still pressed against the cushion, something the cute puppy took advantage of as Corky started licking her face.

"Corky." Erika lifted a clumsy hand to try to pet the adorable puppy demanding affection.

Blake reached down, helping Erika upright, steadying her until she found her strength.

"It's still early," he said. "What do you say we crawl back into bed for an hour or so?"

"That sounds perfect." Erika led the way to his bedroom, standing in front of him while he wrapped his arms around her from behind, his hands gently stroking her stomach.

She looked at the bed, pure mischievous in her gaze when she glanced over her shoulder. "Do I need to learn any fancy bedroom party tricks to keep you interested?"

He groaned. It was too damn soon to joke about Mindy's little show. "No. You don't." Victor's words from the plane drifted back to him. "When you're tied up in my bed, I'm going to be the one tightening the ropes."

He didn't miss Erika's slight intake of breath. Soooo…she liked the idea of bondage. Just when he thought he couldn't love her any more.

Then he considered all the ways he wanted to bind this woman to him.

"That's not the only way I'm going to tie you up," he said, his lips sliding along the side of her neck as he spoke.

"Do tell," she whispered.

"I'm going to drag your sweet ass in front of an altar and tie us together with vows and rings too."

Erika hummed. "I like the sound of that."

"Then I'm going to go for the hat trick," he continued. "Husband. Wife… Parents."

Erika twisted in his arms. "You want babies?"

"Hell yeah. And not just for me. Corky needs siblings."

She laughed. "I guess she has sort of been our practice kid."

"And we've been nailing it," he pointed out.

"Except for that time I lost her," Erika said, grinning widely.

"Yeah," he agreed, chuckling. "Except for that time. So what do you say, Erik? Should we go ahead and claim it all—marriage, babies, forever? Because it seems like that kind of win deserves a victory dance." He wiggled his eyebrows as he tilted his head toward the bed.

Erika shook her head, smiling. "You have no restraint, Balakay. And I love that about you."