Hold Me Forever (A Hockey Romance)

by Layla Hagen

  “Roger that. Have fun.”

  “I will.”

  I hadn’t actually made plans with Kendra yet, but that was just a technicality. This was one of the best things to happen to me, and I wanted to celebrate it with her.

  I texted her right away.

  Tyler: Hey, what are you doing?

  Kendra: Still at the office, trying to finish a schedule. Feels a bit like putting together a puzzle that's beyond my age limit, and I can't make all the pieces fit together.

  I decided to surprise her.

  Once I arrived at the office building, I found the front door open and went straight inside. I was expecting to find Kendra with her sister or on her own. Instead, there was a guy in there.

  "Thank you so much, Alex," she said. “I'll sign everything for you, and you can take it right back.”

  He was carrying a backpack. He was probably a bike messenger. His eyes were fixed on Kendra while she signed some papers. He was obviously checking her out, and I didn't like it one bit.

  "Kendra, I’m here," I said. She looked up at me, and the corners of her mouth instantly lifted.

  "Tyler, hey!"

  "Holy shit," the guy exclaimed. "You're Tyler Maxwell. Man, I'm such a fan of the Blades. I hope you get back on the ice soon. You're the best goalie they've got. How's your shoulder?"

  "Healing," I said.

  "Can I get your autograph? I have a pen. Damn, I don't have paper!"

  "Here, I have one for you," Kendra said, taking a sheet from the printer.

  "Can you autograph this for me, man? My name's Alex."

  I quickly signed my name for the overecstatic Alex, eager to get him out.

  "Kendra, you didn't tell me you knew this guy."

  "I'm not at liberty to talk about my clients," she said.

  Client. I wasn't just a fucking client, and I wanted this guy to know it. I stepped closer to Kendra, putting an arm around her waist. I felt her tense. Didn't she want us to go public? Then I tilted my head to take a closer look at her. Her eyes were wide in surprise. Okay, surprise was good.

  The guy's mouth hung open when he looked at the autograph, and then his eyes rested on my arm. Yeah, I was damn possessive, but I wanted him to get the message. And he did.

  "Kendra, thanks for being so quick. And thank you too, man, for the autograph. I'll be going now."

  He secured his backpack, folding the sheet of paper and putting it in his pocket before leaving, closing the door behind him.

  The second we were alone, Kendra looked up at me.

  A smile was tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Mr. Superstar Goalie, what's with this?" She tapped the fingers I had on her waist.

  "He was checking you out."

  She cocked her brow. "Um, well, he’s asked me out a few times."

  I jerked my head back. "You went out with him?"

  "No, he asked me. I didn't say yes."

  "Woman, you want to drive me crazy?" I tightened my grip on her waist, bringing her flush against my chest.

  "Me telling you a random guy asked me out like a year ago drives you crazy?"

  "Fuck yes. Drove me crazy just seeing him looking at you."

  Her lips parted. "Wow. How can you be jealous of anyone?"

  I hoisted her up on her desk, parting her legs wide and standing between them. "I don't know."

  I touched her face, stretching my fingers on her jaw and cheek, fixing her with my gaze. "Any time I think about a guy even looking at you, I want to make it clear to everyone that you're off-limits."

  "And why is that?" she whispered.

  "Because you're mine, Kendra. Your kisses are mine. Everything is mine."

  “Tyler...”

  “I want you so damn bad. But that’s not why I came here.”

  Clearing her throat, she flashed me a smile, shimmying farther back on her desk. “Let it be noted that I wouldn’t give in. I mean, I know it looked like that, but I’m tough, and I can ignore the sexiness you’re exuding.”

  “Is that a challenge?” I wiggled my eyebrows.

  Her cheeks flushed. “Why don’t you tell me how it went with management?”

  “They’re putting me back on the ice in a few weeks.”

  She gasped. “That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you.”

  “And I want to celebrate tonight with you.”

  Her face exploded in a huge smile. “You’re looking at me like you want to devour me.”

  “That’s exactly what I want.”

  “One kiss, and then we’re out of here.” She grinned, pulling me closer to her.

  “I’m gonna try real hard to make that happen.”

  I kissed her hard, wanting to leave a mark of sorts on her. I needed her with an intensity that was new to me, one I’d only felt before when I was on the ice. I didn't want to fight it. I wanted to claim her in every way possible.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kendra

  "Where are you taking me?" I asked him as we walked along Columbus, stopping for a few minutes in front of the Buckingham Fountain. He’d parked nearby so I assumed the location for our date wasn’t far away.

  "To the best steak restaurant Chicago has to offer."

  "Ooooh, I can’t wait. I love steak."

  "I know. You told me at the cabin. That's why I made reservations there."

  I warmed up in all the places where we were touching. He still had an arm possessively around my waist as if he wanted to make sure anyone passing us knew exactly what was going on here. This was surreal. Ever since I met him, I sort of felt like I was living in a parallel universe.

  A gust of wind blew around us, chilling me completely. November was here. The air was brisk and a bit foggy. Thank God for the lampposts, because it was already pitch dark.

  “How was your day?” he asked.

  “It was great. I started it with a visit to my house. A moving company took my boxes there. I’m keeping them in the basement.”

  “You’re really looking forward to moving, huh?”

  “Yeah. I feel like I’m almost living there because at least I brought some stuff over.”

  “You’re cute.”

  We arrived at our destination a few minutes later. The restaurant was very cozy, giving off a cosmopolitan vibe with wood-paneled walls and brass chandeliers—it was an eclectic mix. Some seemed to be of oriental origin, while others were more industrial.

  Tyler and I were seated at a corner table with a bench, so we sat on adjacent sides of the table. He had a particularly smug smile.

  "Why are you smiling?” I asked. I didn't mind at all. I just wanted to be prepared for whatever he had in mind.

  He didn't say anything because the waitress appeared, bringing us the menus. After she left, he looked at me out of the corner of his eye.

  I was acutely aware of him sitting very close to me. My eyes popped when I glanced at the prices, and my stomach sank. Holy fuck. Steak was usually expensive, but this was completely ridiculous. How could a steak cost as much as a dress?

  They didn't have too many options, so I glanced quickly to see what else I could order.

  "Um, I'm not that hungry. I'll just take a Caesar salad." It was by far the cheapest thing on the menu.

  Tyler's brows knitted together. "What do you mean? You like steak, right? You were excited about it."

  "Yeah, but I'm not feeling too hungry." I sounded ridiculous.

  "Kendra, what's wrong, baby? If you don't like it, we can go somewhere else."

  "It's just so expensive," I whispered, looking around.

  "Babe, this is a date. I'm taking you out. You don't have to worry about anything, and you're not paying for any of this."

  I shook my head. "That's not the point. I feel guilty spending anyone's money like this."

  "If I want to splurge to treat my girlfriend, I will.”

  Okay, wow. He just called me his girlfriend.

  I looked back at the menu, biting the inside of my cheek. Splurging had never been part of m
y vocabulary. It couldn't. The most splurging I ever did was treat myself to popcorn and nachos when going to see a movie.

  "Kendra, if you're feeling uncomfortable, tell me, and we'll go somewhere else. But if you want to stay here, if you're curious to try this, just let me do this for you, okay?"

  "Okay," I said.

  "You promise you'll enjoy it? We don’t have to stay because we came here. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable."

  I sighed, looking up at him. "How can I not enjoy it? I'm here with the sexiest guy alive."

  He smirked. "The sexiest guy alive? I don't think anyone's ever called me that."

  It was my turn to cock a brow in disbelief. "Maybe not to your face. I’m—”

  "Are you ready to order?" the waitress interrupted, appearing in front of us.

  Tyler looked at me.

  "Yes," I said, "we're ready."

  We both ordered the house specialty: steak with fries, fried green beans, and salad.

  “And champagne,” he said.

  I shimmied in my seat after the waitress left. "That's right. We have something to celebrate."

  He covered my hand with his over the table, stroking my palm with his thumb. "Ever since I got the news, I wanted to celebrate with you."

  "I'm so happy for you," I said honestly. "Especially because it happened so quickly."

  "I was expecting them to keep punishing me for a while. I can't wait to get back on the ice.”

  “Hockey is important to you."

  He nodded. “It’s my life, to be honest.”

  "How did you get into it?"

  "We played after school, and I was hooked. Then I begged my parents to take me to lessons, and they did, and from there it was history. I only realized later how much of a toll it would take on them, especially Mom, to drive me to games or take me to train and then for her and Dad to spend all that time in the stands. I didn't know it at the time, but it added a lot to their already busy day. But their efforts paid off. I’m the best goalie in the league."

  "I'm sure they're proud. But again, I think they would be proud no matter what."

  "Yeah, I think so too. They're great people."

  "Did you ever think about going into the bookstore business back when they still owned the chain?" I asked.

  "Honestly, no. I got the hockey bug early on, and by the time I was in college and playing, my parents had sold the company. They even set up trust funds for all of us kids. But I left all the money in the Maxwell trust. Maybe it's going to help future generations. I don't need the money anyway."

  My eyes bulged. "Wow. I can't even wrap my mind around the idea of anyone working this hard when they don't need it."

  "I can't say it's hard work."

  I chuckled. "You train for hours a day, and you travel all the time. It is hard work. Your hotness score increased."

  He looked at me with genuine surprise in his eyes. "The things that are important to you fascinate me."

  Our food arrived a few minutes later.

  "That was quick," I said.

  The steak was mouthwatering. When I tasted it, I couldn't help but close my eyes and hum in pleasure. It truly was the best I'd ever had. It said on the menu that they cooked it with the sous vide method, so it was extra tender. And the flavor was to die for. I tried to block out the price, but it was dancing behind my eyelids, mocking me.

  I opened my eyes, looking straight at Tyler, determined to enjoy this without even one ounce of guilt. Easier said than done.

  "And?" he asked.

  "It's amazing. Thank you for bringing me here."

  "I'm glad you like it."

  We chatted a bit about his schedule and how training the kids would change while we ate. The fries and the beans were perfect too, of course. Honestly, I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that food could taste like this. But I'd never been to a restaurant this fancy.

  We both ate quickly. I only paused to breathe after my plate was clean, as Tyler finished his meal too.

  “By the way, I asked Luke about contractors. He said he found someone, and he’ll have him contact you directly in a couple days. If you don’t like him, no problem.”

  “Oh my gosh, that’s amazing. I’m sure I will, but it depends if he’s in my price range. I can’t wait to move in. When Emma and I were kids, we daydreamed about the house we’d live in together all the time. We wouldn’t have any nosy neighbors, and we’d each have a room. This one comes pretty close in the layout. However, I’ve yet to talk my sister into moving in with me. We’re a bit too old for that now, but I’d love it.”

  “You’re a remarkable woman, Kendra.”

  “Because I bought a house?” I asked, genuinely confused.

  “Because you’ve been through a lot, and you’re such a fighter.”

  “It wasn’t a big deal, and I got used to it pretty fast. Though it was a bit stressful to always walk on tiptoes and make sure the neighbors couldn’t tell we were home alone.”

  “How was your relationship with your mom?”

  “She was a very sweet person, always talked and reasoned with us and played a ton of games. She rarely yelled. After Dad passed away, she was mostly working. When she came home in the evening, she was too tired to do much. I used to heat up her dinner, and the three of us would sit on the couch, and she’d ask us to tell her about our day. She always listened. I miss her. I hope she’s looking down on me and is proud.”

  He squeezed my hand. “I’m sure she is. You’re a great person. I admire that about you.”

  “Oh yeah? What else?”

  He shifted closer. “Everything. That you’re hardworking and caring.” He put a hand on my leg, moving it from midthigh to my knee and back up. “And so damn sexy when you follow my commands in the bedroom.”

  I gasped, pressing my thighs together. “That escalated quickly.”

  We'd only had a bit of champagne, not nearly enough to go to my head. I was just drunk on him. The fact that he brought me here and looked at me with that mix of possessiveness and admiration was more than I could have dreamed of.

  “It’s going to escalate a whole lot more. You’re damn sexy in this skirt.”

  Hmm... maybe he had more to drink, and I didn’t notice? Because I was still wearing my office attire: skirt and blouse.

  “You’re looking at me like you’re already planning to take it off.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m thinking about.”

  He feathered his thumb on my thigh, pinning me with those soulful eyes. “Spend the night with me, Kendra.”

  I sucked in a breath, leaning in slightly. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Hell yes. I appreciate you being such a gentleman. But since last night, all I can think about is you knocking down my door.”

  He groaned, pressing his fingers into my thigh. “You’re killing me, Kendra.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kendra

  I never saw anyone move so fast. Within minutes, he’d already paid the bill. We ended up going to his place, a condo in a modern thirty-story building in the West Loop. The sexual tension between us was palpable, and we barely spoke during the elevator ride. The second we were inside his home, he sealed his mouth over mine.

  He undressed me right there in the foyer, and I wasn’t too shy either. I needed my man naked. Pronto.

  When I was completely naked, he took a step back. God, the way he looked at me was like I was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. That was how I felt right then anyway. He first looked down, focusing on my mouth before descending to my chest, resting on my hips, and then between my legs. When he slid his gaze back up, we made eye contact, and I felt myself blushing. I was desperate for him, just because I was seeing him naked up close like this. I stepped even closer, and I could smell his shower gel.

  "What do you want, Kendra?" he asked.

  "You. I just want you."

  We were both too lost in each other to move from where we
were. He smiled slowly. It was a wolfish expression like I'd just walked into a trap. Oh sweet Lord, I'd let this man trap me all day long and do with me whatever he wanted.

  A second later, I realized that was exactly what was about to happen.

  He turned me around, so I was facing the wall. I was so excited to let him take the lead, shaking with need and anticipation and a crazy desire for him. I felt him at my back, chest to my shoulders, cock pressing against my right ass cheek. Goose bumps broke out on my skin. He smelled so decadent and delicious. He skimmed his hands down my arms, clasping our fingers together, then brought his mouth to my ear. At the same time, he propped our hands at the same level with my head on the wall.

  "Keep your hands here, or I’ll stop," he said in a strong, no-argument-allowed tone. I didn't have to ask what he meant, because I knew exactly what he planned: to turn me on and give me pleasure. And I was absolutely in favor of that.

  He kissed my right shoulder, moving down my arm. I could still feel his cock between us, pulsing. I gasped. He moved to my other shoulder, teasing me there too, before kissing down my back. The lower he went, the more aroused I became. I wanted him so much that I could barely breathe. I didn't know what to do with all this desire I had pent up in me. I couldn't even move my hands. But somehow, internalizing all this just made me more sensitive to him. I guessed that was his plan all along, and it was working.

  When I felt his lips on my right ass cheek, I gasped, and then he slid one finger inside me. My vision dimmed at the corners. I didn't expect the wave of pleasure ricocheting through my body. It was almost too much. Then, just as quickly, he took his finger out. When I was about to protest, I felt a wet kiss on my left ass cheek, and he slid in two fingers. If I thought it was too much before, now I felt like I was about to explode. When he curved his fingers, I cried out, pressing my forehead against the wall. My legs weakened. My pussy was on fire. I was so overwhelmed that I didn't even know where I was or what was happening. I just knew I was hyperaware of this pleasure and him.

  "I love seeing you like this," he said in the same rugged voice as before. Wait, no, it seemed even richer somehow, and it had an edge.

  "Tyler, this is so good, so good. Can I drop my hands now?" I asked somewhat shyly.