Under Fire: A Florida Glaze Hockey Romance, page 22
I can’t fight the smirk. It appears Tucker got his sense of humor from his mother. I should have figured.
“A couple years later, when we played Minnesota, she came to a game. Did she wear my jersey? No. She got a Minnesota jersey and had my name put on the back of it. Wore it to the game instead.”
This time I start laughing.
“It took me forever to live that one down. And not just from my own teammate. The Wild talked trash about it too all night long.” He shakes his head. “My point is, don’t worry about me. You should be more concerned about the fact that she’s using your children to poke fun at me.”
“Sounds like she really wants you to come home.”
“I think it’s less about wanting me to come home and more about making sure I know I always have a place to come home to. That no matter what happens, she will welcome me back with open arms. Decking the kids out in those god-awful ugly ass jerseys was a message from her that she knows I screwed up, and it changes nothing except how many people are welcome. That all of you are welcome home.”
“That is…” I blink back the tears that have suddenly filled my eyes. “So fucking kind.”
Tucker tugs on my hand. “What? Why does that make you sad?”
“I guess it’s just different. When I made a mistake, my family cut me off completely. Disowned me. But your mom, her love is unconditional.” I swipe at the stray tear sliding down my cheek. “I’ve never known anyone like that before. Well, I guess I know you.”
“You think I’m like that too?”
“You call Kody your kid. You’re exactly like that.”
“Good. I like hearing that. My mom isn’t perfect, obviously by her terrible sense of hockey style, but she’s always made sure we know she loves us no matter what. That’s how I want to raise the kids. I hope you want that, too.”
“I do. More than anything. I never want Sutton to feel like she can’t tell me when she’s screwed up. That she’s afraid I’ll reject her. I never will. I never want to.”
“And I won’t let you. But I think we need to change one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Our verbiage. We didn’t screw up when we made Sutton. We screwed…” he waggles his eyebrows suggestively.
“Har har. That was cheesy.”
“… but we didn’t screw up,” he continues. “She was a surprise and I’ll never forgive myself for missing out on the first part of her life. But she’s perfection in every way. Even when she’s an obnoxious teenager and hates us because we’re ruining her life, or whatever, I’ll never think of her as a mistake.”
I swallow hard before asking the one question that still haunts me. “What about me? Am I a mistake?”
Tucker shifts his weight, turning more fully toward me and cups my jaw. The scent of his body wash is overwhelming my senses. I should be afraid, wary, but I’m not. This is what I came in here for, right? To lower the last of my defenses and see if we can build a family and a relationship at the same time?
“You have never been a mistake.” He brushes a stray piece of hair out of my face. “You know I used to dream about you. Now you’re here and I want nothing more than to get to know you more. Not only because of Sutton, but because of you. You are the only woman I see anymore, Lacy. Even when we’re on the road and the guys want to go out and party, no one catches my attention. I’d rather be in my hotel room, video chatting with you, than have my hands on anyone else.”
His words break down the last of my defenses. But I have to hear him say it. I have to know for sure. And I have to be brave enough to ask for clarification. “What does that mean?”
Cupping my jaw with one hand, he strokes my cheekbone with his other thumb. “I am falling so hard for you, Lacy. You are smart and strong and sacrifice yourself for others. Most people don’t see it, but I do. I see how you gave up your pride and everything you had built on your own so I could have a chance to get to know Sutton. You didn’t have to do that. No court would have ordered us to live together, but you did it for her. For me.”
My heart beats louder as his words invade my whole being, healing me from the inside out. But he’s not done.
“You are loyal to those you love, and you never want anyone to feel the kind of rejection you have felt. I love that I don’t ever have to worry about my daughter. That no matter what happens to me, she has a better mother than I could have dreamed up for her.”
Tuckers rests his forehead against mine and breathes me in. “Whenever you’re ready, Lacy. I’m so ready to be all in with you.”
The funny thing about everything Tucker said is that I feel all those things about him, too. We react to stressful situations differently, but ultimately, deep down, we’re on the exact same page with our priorities and goals. I know there are no guarantees with Tucker. Relationships don’t always work out. But I also know if anyone is going to fight for this one to work, it’ll be him. And it’ll be me.
“I’m ready,” I whisper, my mouth so close to his, I know he can feel my breath on his lips.
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been so sure,” I admit.
That’s all he needs to hear before his mouth is on mine and the frenzy begins. Our tongues begin to tangle as our hands start to explore. My fingers slide down his chest, discovering the ridges of his abs. When my fingers graze the waistband of his shorts, he groans, responding by sliding his hand up my nightshirt and gently rubbing the underside of my breast.
Already about to explode and we’ve barely even begun, I stand and situate myself between his legs. His hands slide up my calves, up my thighs, and land at the swell of my ass. I pull the nightshirt over my head, leaving me in lacy red panties that he quickly discards.
He leans his head against my stomach and sighs with contentment. Looking up at me, he says those words every woman loves to hear in a moment like this. “You’re so beautiful.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.” I drop to my knees in front of him, sliding my fingers into the waistband of his shorts and tugging.
Tucker’s eyes widen as he realizes what’s happening. “Lacy…” he breathes.
“Trust no one, remember?” He nods but I’m not done. “No one except you.”
His features soften at the understanding of my words. I don’t trust many people. I’ve been too hurt for that. But I trust Tucker completely.
He pushes my hair back and shifts his hips so I can slide his shorts down his legs, evening the playing field. He sucks in a breath as I take him in my mouth, enjoying the feel and flavor of him, of this man that I love. Love. And trust in ways I never expected.
Tucker only allows it for a few seconds before pulling me off him and picking me up, fusing our mouths together again.
“I know how much that meant to you, what you’re trying to say,” he mumbles against my lips, just as unwilling to break the physical connection as I am. “But we’ve already had dirty, raunchy sex.”
“You don’t want that tonight?”
Using his powerful arms, he shifts us around so I’m on my back on the bed. Hovering over me, he shakes his head. “Tomorrow, I can flip you over and hit it from behind if you want.”
“It’ll be my Christmas present,” I say with a giggle.
“I’ve got bigger plans than that, but I’m not opposed to mommy fucking Santa Claus tomorrow night.”
A bigger laugh bursts out of me. I love that about Tucker. He always has quick little funny things to toss into any conversation. It gives me a reprieve from how deep conversations can get sometimes. That doesn’t mean I don’t feel things deeply. He just knows how to keep me comfortable when there are a lot of emotions involved. And by the way his smile softens, there are a lot of feelings in this exact moment.
“Tonight, I want to love you, Lacy. I want to take things slow so I don’t miss any part of you. And when I’m buried deep inside you, I want you to know I’m claiming you as mine. Not just for the night or the holiday week, but permanently. I don’t want to do this any other way.”
I try to blink back the tears filling my eyes. One of them escapes, and without saying a word, Tucker swipes it away with his finger.
Resting his forehead against mine again, I take the opportunity to run my fingers through his floppy hair. “I love you, Lacy. So much.”
“I love you, too.”
As Tucker leans in, kissing me deeply, I wrap my arms and legs around him, holding tightly, not ever wanting to let go. When he kisses my jaw, down my neck, between my breasts, I loosen my grip. When he gets to my stomach, he pauses.
“What is this?” He runs a finger over the faint scar.
“C-Section.” His eyes glance up to mine in question. “She was breech, and they couldn’t get her to turn around.”
“Oh, Lacy,” he breathes before kissing all along the scar. “I can’t believe you went through that for her. For us.” I want to respond but my thoughts can’t focus as I just feel. The small swipes of his tongue and gentle pressure as his fingers grip my hips distract me from anything else. Especially since he’s not done moving south.
As soon as he hooks his arms around my legs and I realize his Intentions, I stop him. “I thought we weren’t doing that tonight?”
Spreading me open, he licks his lips in anticipation. “Trust no one, except you, remember?”
Before I can respond, he swipes the flat of his tongue up my center, making me moan. His tongue circles my clit a few times before he sucks on it just gently enough to make me writhe with anticipation. I can feel the pleasure building, my core tightening along with my grip on his hair. Just as I’m about to reach my peak, he pulls away.
“No,” I gasp. “I was so close.”
“I’ll get you there again.” He climbs up my body, settling himself in between my legs. “But I want to see you. Can I see you, Lacy?”
He has no idea how true his words ring. He’s one of the few people who sees me, the real me, and loves me in spite of it. Or because of it. I’m unsure in this moment when all I can do is nod in response.
“Are you ready?” he asks, his forehead resting against mine again, which I’m quickly realizing is Tucker’s preferred form of intimate touch.
I peck a kiss on the tip of his nose, widen my legs further, and press my heels into the back of his thighs, urging him to move forward.
Without taking his eyes off mine, he slowly slides into me, as deep as he can get. I pull in a breath as the magnitude of this moment hits me. He’s not just deep inside my body. He’s deep inside my heart. My soul.
Tucker starts to move, deep thrusts, then shallow, helping our bodies build to the moment we’re both needing. He clasps my hands in his, pinning my arms over my head, stretching my body and giving him better access to my neck where he nibbles the skin gently, creating goose pimples all over my body.
“I love you so much, Lacy,” he whispers. “I’ve waited so long for you.”
“Me, too.” That’s all I can get out as I continue to chase my release, moving my hips in small circles, while he continues to thrust deep.
His movements become erratic, and I’m so tightly wound, my insides feel like a balloon waiting to pop. Suddenly, without warning, the explosion hits.
My mouth opens but nothing comes out, just a silent scream as pleasure rocks through me.
Tucker is still above me, his body pressed hard into mine as his own orgasm takes over, leaving him groaning heavy breaths as we stare into each other’s eyes.
As I come down from my high, I have the strangest thought that I’ve finally found my home in this man who stormed into my life and turned it upside down in the best possible way. And when he gently lays his weight on top of me, peppering small kisses all over my neck and shoulder and collarbone, I fall into the deepest, most contented sleep I can remember ever having in my life.
CHAPTER THIRTY
TUCKER
“Daddy!”
The door flies open, startling me awake. My eyes barely open, I catch the fuzzy glimpse of two toddlers, eyes wide and maniacal as they should be on Christmas morning.
“Merry Christmas, kiddos.”
“Santa came, Daddy! Can I open presents? Can I?” Sutton pleads. Kody nods vigorously next to her.
I rub my hand down my face, clearing my vision just in time to see my mother come up behind them. Her eyes widen and I look down to make sure my junk is covered up by the sheet.
Yep. I’m good.
“Why is Mommy sleeping in your bed?” Sutton asks sweetly.
Ah. That’s why my mother looks like she just swallowed her tongue. Wait, is Lacy covered up? I look over at her and she’s on her stomach, covered by the sheet from her mid-back down. Good enough for little eyes. Not a good enough excuse for her being here, however, so I come up with something on the fly.
“We had a sleepover last night.”
“She’s not wearing a shirt.”
“It got hot in here.”
My mother fights back a smirk, catching the truth in my words. The kids just shrug. I guess I gave a reasonable answer.
“Mommy!” Sutton screams at the top of her lungs. Lacy pops her head up off the pillow with a gasp.
I immediately place a hand on her back, just in case she forgets she’s naked and tries to jump out of bed.
“Merry Christmas, Mommy!” I yell, hoping to divert any more attention away from the lack of clothing in this bed.
Unfortunately, it has the side effect of making the kids even more excited, so they race over to Lacy, who seems to have just realized she’s topless as she lays back down slowly and gives quick kisses to the kids, encouraging them to go get Ellie up and tell her to make coffee.
As they race out of the room, my mom just cocks an eyebrow at me and closes the door behind them. Good thing, too. I can’t hold myself back from wrapping my arms around this beautiful woman and peppering kisses on her shoulder. No telling where the sheet will end up.
Lacy pushes her hair out of her face but doesn’t resist me. That’s a good sign. I was worried she’d have regrets this morning. Instead, it seems her only regret is not anticipating the lack of boundaries in this house.
“Please tell me your mother didn’t just see me naked in your bed.”
I chuckle against her skin. “It would be a Christmas miracle if she somehow missed it.”
Lacy groans into the pillow.
“Don’t worry about her,” I say and rub her arm reassuringly. And also so I can feel her soft skin underneath my palms. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of touching her. “My mother has walked in on way worse before.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“Really? It makes me feel a lot better knowing she didn’t see my naked ass mid-thrust this time.”
Lacy pops up, almost nailing my nose with the back of her head. “Tucker! Your mom walked in on you having sex? Like in the act?”
“Not my finest moment. But I was in high school, and it was my first girlfriend. She should have known better than to come a knocking when the room was rocking.”
“Oh man, and now I triggered all those old memories. She’s never going to like me now.”
I give her one last kiss on the shoulder, then climb out of bed, grabbing my shorts from a pile of clothes on the floor. “She already loves you and now that you love me, she doesn’t have a choice but to keep it up. You do still love me this morning, right?” I ask it in jest, but deep down, I really need to know it wasn’t a fluke. That last night meant as much to her as it did to me.
Lacy smiles shyly. “I do still love you. You still love me?”
I scramble back onto the bed staying on my hands and knees, knowing I’ll never leave this room without taking her again if I feel her body underneath me. I kiss her gently. “So much that I should be afraid of how this is all going to play out, but I’m not. Is that weird?”
“Not at all,” Lacy says as she rubs my scruff with her fingernails. “I feel the exact same way.”
I kiss her again, giving over to the moment enjoying the way our tongues leisurely tangle and our lips fit perfectly. When the head in my pants starts to wake up, I know that’s my cue to pull away from her before the kids come back again and get the same kind of eyeful my mother did all those years ago.
Shaking her hip gently, I give Lacy one last quick peck. “Let’s go. We’ve got kids waiting to see what Santa brought.”
Lacy gasps. “Santa! Oh shit. Please tell me you ate some of the cookies.”
I stick my tongue out and making a gagging sound at the memory. “I remembered after you fell asleep and took care of it. I’m sure I still have eggshells in my teeth to prove it.”
Lacy covers her mouth and giggles. “Were they that bad?”
“I wish I could tell you I’ve had worse, but I can’t.” I grab her nightshirt off the floor and hand it to her. “The icing would have made it tolerable if I hadn’t seen Kody sneeze on it while they were decorating.”
“You’re such a good daddy/not daddy,” she says with a grin.
“Doing my best, babe.” I snatch a shirt from my drawer and pull it on. “I’ll get them something to eat while you get dressed. No telling how much longer they’re going to last before they start climbing the tree.”
“I’ll just be a minute.”
“No worries. Take all the time you need.”
As I close the door behind me, I lean against it and let out a deep sigh of contentment. She loves me. I love her. We love each other. That’s all the gift I need.
By the time I get to the kitchen, the celebration is in full swing. Coffee has been made, Ellie and the kids are eating some pancakes that either have red and green food coloring mixed in or they’re moldy, and Christmas carols are playing in the background.
As I grab a mug, I stop when I recognize the song. Turning to my mother, I purse my lips. “Really mother?”
