51. Hayden

CHAPTER 51

HAYDEN

"You sure you're going to be okay on your own?" I ask as Darcy pulls up to the departures area at the airport.

It's our last away game stretch of the season, and I don't want to leave her.

"I promise." She gives me a quick grin. "I'm not a kid. I can take care of myself."

"I know." I like taking care of her, though, and I like making sure she has enough food in the fridge. "You can call or text anytime. Or you can call my parents if you need help with something."

She nods, resting her gaze on me, and something in my chest tugs. Things are finally on the right track for us, and leaving now feels all wrong. But I know taking things slow and giving her time to process is a good thing. The last guy rushed her, and I don't want to end up like him.

My thoughts flick to the unanswered text in my pocket. He'll be back in Vancouver for a game in a few weeks and wants to meet for a drink to catch up.

I don't want to see him. As far as I'm concerned, he's out of our lives, but a part of me wants to lay into him for what he did.

"Have a great trip." Darcy wears a small, shy smile as her eyes move over my face. She's been doing this more in the past few days, openly looking at me, studying me.

I like having her full attention.

Heat gathers in my groin, and I lower my mouth to hers, nipping at her bottom lip. She sighs into me, hand flattening on my chest and smoothing over the front of the t-shirt she got me on Valentine's Day. My favorite t-shirt, my most prized possession.

My body's frustrated, though, and from the way her nails dig into me, she is, too. Please? she whispered this morning as she ground back against me. It took every ounce of my control not to sink my cock deep inside her.

Not rushing her, I remind myself while I claim her mouth. Giving her time to adjust to this new dynamic between us, a dynamic I want to be permanent. And that means no sex yet.

No matter how badly we both want it.

"You're going to miss your plane," she whispers between kisses.

"Whatever."

She chuckles. God, she's fucking gorgeous. My heart twists, and I reach for her wrist, toying with the bracelet, brushing my fingers over it, something I seem to do whenever she's in my vicinity. I kiss her again, pulling a soft, sweet moan from her.

"The back seat's big enough if you want to change your mind," she teases, sounding breathless between kisses, and I laugh. "The windows are tinted."

Fucking hell, I want to hear her come again. I pull back before I get carried away.

"I'm going to miss you," I admit, meeting her gaze. I've never said that to a woman before. It should make me uncomfortable, but it doesn't.

"I'm going to miss you, too."

She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, and with a curse, I kiss her again, inhaling her, threading my fingers into her soft hair.

"One more."

She laughs against my mouth, and I frame her perfect face with my hands.

"Don't do anything wild while I'm away, okay?" Under my lips, she smiles. "Save it for when I get home so we can be wild together."

"Deal," she whispers.

If I don't get out of the car now, I never will. I press one last kiss to her mouth before climbing out, just as Volkov gets out of the car behind me.

He nods at me and I suck in a deep breath. We haven't talked since the double date last week. He leans down to look in the car window and waves at Darcy.

She rolls down the window and waves back. "Hi, Alexei."

"Hi." He glances between us before raising an eyebrow at Darcy. "Want to go out again?"

She laughs, but jealousy roars through me, and my jaw clenches. I know he's fucking with me, Darcy knows he's fucking with me, but still. When it comes to Darcy and dating other guys, I can't think straight.

"No," I snap, and the corner of Volkov's mouth twitches. "She's busy." I lean down to meet her gaze and my expression relaxes. "Bye. Thanks for the ride."

She grins. "Bye."

Volkov and I watch her drive away. I'm already looking forward to coming home to her.

"You're welcome," Volkov says with a sidelong look as we head inside the airport.

My teeth grit. "For what?"

"A push in the right direction."

"Fuck you. "

He laughs. The asshole actually fucking laughs . I stare at him in shock. I don't think I've ever seen him laugh. We flash our IDs at the entrance to the security area, and the guy waves us in.

"You know I'm right." He hoists his bag onto the conveyor to be scanned before his expression turns more serious. "It's good to see you happy."

"I'm always happy."

"Not like this."

My heart does a few hard thumps, because he's right. I've spent years telling myself I'm the type of guy women have fun with but don't settle down with.

Darcy makes me feel like more, though, and maybe I am.

Volkov and I settle into our seats, and a few minutes later, Miller steps onto the plane, finds me, and lets out a crow of victory.

"There's my guy." He shakes my shoulders with a big shit-eating grin all over his face. "Mr. Darcy Andersen, as I live and breathe."

I shove him off, but I'm laughing, smug pride expanding through my chest. He kneels on the seat in front of us, facing backward.

"So, what's the deal? Are you two together now?"

I shrug, trying not to smile too hard. "We're just seeing how things go."

I almost laugh at how insincere the words feel. Of course we're together. I'm not letting her go.

In the aisle, as Streicher lifts his bag into the overhead bin, he gives me an are you fucking kidding me? look, and I put my hands up .

"I don't want to rush her." I glance out the window, thinking about the flower deliveries I have booked for every day while I'm out of town. A pleased grin pulls up on my mouth. "We're just having fun."

Volkov and Miller exchange a look, and Miller's eyes glitter.

"I'll watch for the save the date," Miller says before turning around and taking a seat.

I grin out the window, imagining it, before I find a picture of Darcy and me from the cast party and set it to my phone background.

When the game packets are passed out, I open mine to an instant photo of that stupid gnome in my hot tub, wearing Darcy's sunglasses.

Thinking of you - xo Daniel is written in her writing.

Volkov eyes the photo. "You two are weird."

My face hurts, I smile so hard. "I know."

I wouldn't have it any other way.