“You have to ask your mom when you can have them. It doesn’t have to be today. They should be good a while,” Michael says in my direction, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Mommy.” Johnny races to where I sit and drops the red box in my lap. “Wen ten I ’ave fluit loobs?” He blinks at rapid speed.
“Are you hungry right now?” I ask.
He shakes his head all the way from left to right. Bless kids and their ability to only eat when they’re hungry.
“You can have them tomorrow for breakfast, okay?”
“Tay.” He grabs the box again and races back to where Michael is still sitting on the floor with his stiff leg stretched out in front of him and the other one placed under his butt. How can that be comfortable?
“Mitel, ten you tome to brekfas’ ’morrow?” Johnny climbs on Michael’s outstretched leg. I hold my breath, but Michael doesn’t even flinch.
“You want me to have breakfast with you?” Michael ruffles through Johnny’s curls and smiles.
“Yeah.” Johnny jumps up and down on Michael’s lap like a bouncy ball. Two lines appear on Michael’s forehead, but he doesn’t put a stop to Johnny’s outburst.
“You have to ask your mommy if it’s okay.” He turns his head back to me and meets my eyes. I nod in silent agreement. If Johnny wants to have breakfast with Michael, fine with me. I could drop Johnny off at his place and could run some errands while my son enjoys his Fruit Loops.
“Mommy?” Johnny races back to me.
“It’s okay, Johnny,” I say while my son gasps for air. “Why don’t you visit Michael and have breakfast with him tomorrow?”
Michael’s smile disappears. Did he want me to be there too? Don’t get your hopes up, Ellie. He isn’t for you. Toy time is over.
“Ten I tom ’morrow?” Johnny runs back to Michael and plops down on his outstretched leg again, panting.
Michael gasps, but then catches himself. “Sure. When do you want to come over?”
Before Johnny has to race back and forth between us another time, I stand up and drop down where the two are sitting on the floor. “I could drop him off around ten.”
“Great. It’s a date.” He beams again.
“With Johnny.” I look him right in the eyes.
Michael opens his mouth, but instead of saying anything to me, he talks to my son again. “I have another present for you.” He pulls out an envelope and holds it up for Johnny to take.
“Hmmm.” Johnny grabs the thing and turns the white piece of paper around with a frown.
“You need to open it,” Michael says.
“You ’ave to op’n it.” He jumps up from his sitting position and steps from one foot to the other.
Michael throws his head back and laughs. “Sorry, that’s exactly what he said when I had to open his diaper for him,” he says in my direction.
“No di’per. Tsonny big.” My son stomps his foot.
I chuckle. “Johnny doesn’t need a night diaper anymore,” I explain what my son means to his guests. Good thing Nessy and his wife couldn’t make it with the kids today. I’m not sure I wanted them to hear this conversation.
And I have no idea where we would’ve put them. Not everyone is fine with a place on the floor. My apartment certainly isn’t a mansion, more like a shoebox with too many people in it. It’s not much space for Johnny and me, but my sister, Patrick, and Michael make the living room seem smaller than it is. Speaking of which, those two are sitting on the couch and observing our interaction in silence. I’m pretty sure Daphne will have a million questions later.
Like them, I watch as Michael opens the envelope for my son and pulls out a card.
“Tino.” Johnny jumps up and down once more and points at the card.
“That’s right. It’s a dinosaur card. Do you know what kind of dinosaur that is?”
Johnny pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, tilts his head, and frowns. “T-Rex?”
“No, it’s a Titanosaur.”
“Ti-ta-no-saur. Ti-tano-saur. Titanosaur.” Johnny repeats the word over and over again while he climbs back on Michael’s lap to have a closer look at the newly discovered dinosaur.
“Do you know where he gets that dino love from?” My sister speaks for the first time since Michael’s arrival.
I turn my head around. “No idea. He’s pretty much obsessed with them. I bought one picture book with a dino for him, and then he didn’t want anything else anymore.”
“A lot of children are fascinated by these creatures,” Patrick chimes in.
I shrug. I’d rather find out why Michael has given him a card with a dinosaur on the front. “So, what’s with the card?”
Michael looks up but keeps his attention more on Johnny and the card than on me. “It’s a gift card.”
“For what?”
“To visit the Titanosaur.” He winks.
“’Sit tino?” Johnny looks from Michael to me with huge eyes.
“Yeah, you can visit the dino.”
Johnny gives Michael a kiss on the cheek. How the hell am I supposed to shut the man out of my life when he makes my little man so happy?
I clear my throat. “And where does the Titanosaur live?” There’s no way I can deny my son seeing the mass of bones now. Like I said, he’s obsessed. Michael’s found the perfect gift for him again. Hockey and dinosaurs, that’s all Johnny needs in his life.
“He lives in New York with other dinosaurs in the Museum of Natural History. The gift card comes with a trip to New York.”
“More Tino? Wen?” Johnny stares Michael right in the eyes, as if he can’t believe his luck. I hear you, little man.
“We have to ask your mommy when we can visit the dino. She needs to come with us.”
Johnny’s head flies in my direction. “Mommy, wen?”
I tap a finger against my lip. “Hmm. A Sunday would be best—”
“We need the Saturday before as well. It’s going to be a two-day trip,” Michael says.
“Two?” Johnny lifts up two fingers.
“Yes, two days,” Michael confirms. “We’re going to stay overnight, and you need to pick someone to come with us because I have a surprise for your mommy on the second day.”
Yup, my sister will be on me the second Michael leaves. “Aunt Daphne cou—”
“Wa’t Lily,” Johnny says before I can finish my sentence and jumps up and down on Michael’s lap again. Michael coughs but still endures whatever pain Johnny’s inflicting on his stiff leg. The man’s become a saint when it comes to dealing with Johnny.
I turn my head and give my sister an apologetic look. She shrugs.
“You want Lily to come with us?” Michael confirms Johnny’s choice.
“Yeah.” He nods once.
“Do you like Lily?” Michael adjusts my son on his lap. I wonder why.
“Lily loks lite p’inces.” Johnny’s voice reaches an all-time high at the word princess.
“Lily looks like a princess? Do you think she’s pretty?” Michael raises an eyebrow.
Johnny nods twice, using as much range of motion as his neck muscles allow. “Lily, ve’y prety.” He draws each word out and emphasizes pretty with a nod.
Michael chuckles, and so do I. My son is in love. Not sure Lily knows how he feels about her. And God forbid Tyler ever finds out he has a rival.
“Just a tip, turn it down a notch whenever Tyler’s around. You wouldn’t want to mess with him. Lily might want to bring him with her to New York.” Michael uses that exact moment to inform my son about Lily’s relationship status. To my knowledge, Johnny’s never met Tyler so far, which is probably a good thing.
“Hmm.” Johnny frowns. “Don’t want T’ler.”
“Johnny, Tyler’s Lily’s boyfriend—” I begin to say.
“No.” He jumps from Michael’s lap and stomps his foot twice. “No boyfre’d.”
“Let’s ask Lily when she has time and schedule our trip, Johnny,” I interfere before Johnny gets in a tantrum m
ood. The distraction works. Johnny can’t stop talking to Lily when we call her to schedule our trip. The city that never sleeps expects us in two weeks. It’s a date. With Johnny. And me.
“Are you ready for your surprise?” Michael asks.
“Will there be coffee?” My eyes want to fall shut again after only four hours of sleep.
Our first day in New York was a wonderful but also exhausting experience. First, we spend five hours at the Natural History Museum, where Michael carried Johnny around for most of the day to inspect the bones of his favorite animals from every possible angle. I got tired just from observing the two of them as they made their way from one dino to the next one just to start over from the beginning again.
Then we had lunch at a burger place where Michael took the word saint to the next level when Johnny covered himself in ketchup while eating fries. Johnny insisted Michael take him to the bathroom and help him get changed.
I’m not sure how Michael did it, but Johnny was squeaky clean when they joined me again. The men’s bathroom must have had a secret shower or Michael has magical powers. After we ate, we went on a private bus tour to admire the stunning Christmas lights all over the city. During which Johnny fell asleep on Michael’s lap, his little head resting against broad shoulders.
I’m not sure what was more beautiful to watch, my son on Michael or the lights. I sure had a hard time concentrating on the beautiful displays but made mental notes about next year’s Christmas décor for the shop. The best way to save money on that stuff is to buy it right after Christmas, after all.
“Maybe.” Michael’s answer interrupts my thoughts. His cocky grin is back when he opens the door of a yellow taxi for me.
“There better be coffee.” I brush past him and climb in the car, glad to spend as little time in the ice-cold morning air as possible. New York is stunning during the holiday season, but it’s also freaking cold.
“Where are we going?” I ask when he closes the door behind himself and tells the driver to go ahead.
“You’ll see.”
I shake my head and look out the window as we pass the Empire State Building. It’s seven a.m. and the city that supposedly never sleeps is pretty silent. Why go out in the cold if you can stay in a warm and cozy hotel room? As much as I want to find out what my surprise will be, I envy Lily and Johnny right now. They’re most likely still sound asleep. They won’t leave the room until much later to visit the zoo.
We turn around a corner and the car stops. This can’t have been more than a ten-minute ride.
I peek out of the window. My mouth falls open. How did he know I always wanted to have breakfast at Tiffany’s?
“Come on.” Michael opens the car door for me.
I climb out of the car while he turns to the driver and accepts a brown paper bag and coffee cup.
I stare at the store windows, mesmerized by the displays and décor. Not that I’ll ever be able to afford the stuff, but I can appreciate the view. When would I wear the expensive jewelry anyway?
“Do you feel like Audrey now?” Michael hands me a croissant and one of the coffee cups.
“I don’t think she was freezing her ass off,” I say with a smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He takes a hearty bite from his croissant. Interesting. Since when does he eat carbs every day?
I walk to another window and inspect stunning watches, inwardly flinching when I see the price tags.
“Which one’s your favorite?” Michael peeks over my shoulder, and I shiver—not from the cold, but from how close he is.
“They’re all beautiful.” I keep my eyes on the jewelry.
“So are you.” He takes a small step forward until our bodies melt together and waits until I look up.
I freeze, still facing the window front but watching his face reflected in there. “Michael—”
“No, please. I… I need to say a few things. I want to explain a few things. I never told you why I wanted you to leave.” He closes his eyes and swallows while I’m still frozen in place. “I…. When you left to have your leg examined, Johnny threw a tantrum.” He swallows again, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly up and down. “I already told you that he wanted to watch hockey on TV. I wouldn’t let him. I couldn’t. He ran behind the couch and when… when I followed him…” He pauses and closes his eyes again. “I wasn’t fast enough. My stupid leg wouldn’t let me. He… he ran against a shelf and a vase fell down. He… it nearly hit him.”
I blink, then turn around and hug Michael as tight as possible. “I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot. I thought…” I say against his chest while his hands press my body closer to his.
My muscles slacken and I melt in the embrace. As unsuited as we might look on a first glance, this feels right. We feel right. If I could, I would stay in his embrace forever.
“I’m not finished with my speech,” he mumbles against my hair.
“Can you hurry up? There are way too many clothes between us, and my toes are numb.”
He chuckles. Then he lifts my chin up with one finger. “Don’t you want to hear me say it?” He draws his eyebrows together.
“Say what?” I lower my head again and grin against his chest. Michael doesn’t need to spell it out for me. It’s crystal clear. Actions speak louder than words. And I would have to be deaf not to have heard his.
“Can you look at me, please?”
I lift my head from his chest and meet icy-blue eyes with a new warm undertone.
“I love you, Ellie Sullivan. And just so you know, it takes more courage to say those three words than it took me each time I threw myself in front of a two-hundred-pound forward. I’m scared shitless. I know now why the L-word drives people to desperate acts. When your heart is at stake, you’re willing to cross every limit you’ve ever set for yourself, because if the other person doesn’t feel the same, you’ll fall.”
Michael bends down and kisses me before he continues. “I’ve fallen enough times to last me a lifetime. Who knows how long it’ll take to crawl back again or if I have it in me to do it again? It isn’t impossible, but I’d rather not risk it. You own my heart, Ellie. You and Johnny. I’ve never been more afraid in my life, and yet I feel as if there are no boundaries anymore.”
He clears his throat to swallow the tears that brighten his eyes even more. “My injury brought me to my knees. You have the ability to destroy me for good, Ellie. But I’d rather risk complete destruction than have to live my life without you.” His eyes have grown wider with every word while mine have filled with tears.
He is and will always be an impossible man, but he is my impossible man, and I can’t let him go.
“You’re an idiot, Michael King, if you don’t know by now how much I love you too.” I pull his head down and kiss him. A sweet kiss, one that says it’s good to have you back again.
He chuckles against my mouth, the vibrations making me shiver. “As long as I can be your idiot.”
“I think that can be arranged.” I kiss him again, deeper this time, showing him without words how much I’ve missed him.
“Will you move in with me?” He pulls away, gasping for air.
“I’ll think about it.” I wink. “Can we go back to the hotel now?”
“Didn’t you like your breakfast at Tiffany’s?” He frowns.
“I did, but I’d rather be alone with you now.” I trail a finger down his unfortunately covered chest.
He blinks. Then his signature cocky grin spreads across his face. “Taxi.” He turns around and lifts his arm.
During the ride back, he takes my hand in his and rubs small circles with his thumb all over my hand. I grin. One thing’s for sure, life will never be boring with Michael King at my side.
We hold hands all the way from the car to the hotel room and sneak quick glances at each other. I’m walking on cloud nine. Life doesn’t get much better than a freezing-cold breakfast in front of an overpriced jewelry shop, followed by what hopefully will be a mind-blowing r
ound of sex.
Michael’s on me the second we enter his room and sends my clothes flying in every possible direction. “I can’t wait this time.” He pants between deep kisses and jerky caresses all over my body, acting as if he can’t decide where to touch me first.
“Me neither.” I open his pants, pull them down in a quick motion and free his erection.
“Thank fuck.” He drags me behind him to the king-size bed and throws me on the thing, knocking the air out of my lungs. I giggle. This is… messy, overwhelming, and as imperfect as it can get. But it’s real. And that’s what counts.
His body buries mine beneath his when he opens my legs with his knees and pushes inside me in one jerky movement. I gasp, not because he’s hurting me but because hot jolts run through my body each time he thrusts in and out of my wet core.
My fingernails dig into his back as he picks up speed and bites my neck. I arch off the bed and allow him even deeper access to my body. He growls and his hips roll against me with abandon while I hold on to his shoulders for dear life.
“Fuck, Ellie,” Michael yells as the muscles in my vagina convulse of their own volition and I shatter into a million pieces while liquid heat floods whatever is left of my body. I shudder in the aftermath. Over and over again.
“Just so you know, I had planned to seduce you slowly and to go down on you.” He falls back onto the bed and turns his head.
I reach out and caress his cheek. “There’ll be time for that later. It has been way too long.”
“Come here.” He pulls me close so my head rests on his shoulder. Then he wraps his arms around me in a protective gesture. “You’re… you’re my queen,” he whispers in my hair.
I smile. “And you’re my king.”
“I like that.” His chest expands under me.
“Cocky bastard.” I pull on one of his nipples.
He wipes my hand away and gives me a quick kiss. “Always. So, you’ll move in with me?”
“Like I said, I’ll think about it.” I wink.
He palms my face and kisses me deeply again. “And you love me for it. So will you?”
“When my lease ends in three months.” I drop my head on the pillow, still dizzy from my orgasm.
Fighting against Gravity: A Standalone Enemies-to-Lovers Sports Romance (An Ice Tigers Hockey Romance Book 3) Page 23
