“You are pretty stubborn,” she mused as she played with the hair at the nape of my neck. “And you do like to argue.”
“I never once told you anything differently. That’s who I am, love. And where you’re concerned, I will always be protective and overly opinionated.”
She stared up at me as she hooked her legs around my lower back, pulling me flush against her. “You’re so unapologetically you and I love it.”
My face dipped down to hers. “Yeah, well, I love you.”
“Not as much as I love you,” she argued back with a smirk pulling on her lips.
“I beg to differ,” I chuckled before claiming her mouth with mine. I breathed her in, my tongue sliding along the seam of her lips. She parted them and let me in as our tongues tangled together. She was the only thing that mattered to me and I would spend the rest of my life showing her that. No matter what came our way, we would always find a way to make it work.
Abruptly, I pulled away from her. “Does this mean you’re going to move in with me now?”
Harper laughed and shook her head. “Nope.”
“Dammit,” I muttered, fighting the playful smirk that pulled on the corners of my lips. “What are your plans then?”
“I’m going to do my own thing,” she said quietly but her tone was filled with confidence. “'I’m officially starting my own photography business to do what I love. I have enough money saved up and I think I have enough clients to get things started. All I can do is try to build from here and hope it turns into a real career.”
I’d never felt more proud in my entire fucking life. Even the day I was drafted into the NHL didn’t compare to watching Harper blossom and grow.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, love. You are so fucking amazing and I know you will go far with this.”
She tilted her head to the side. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because I believe in you, Harper.”
She fell silent for a moment as she stared back at me. “How would you feel about maybe staying here with me more often? You know… since Giana is going to be staying at your place.”
My lips twitched. “Is this your way of asking me to move in with you without coming out and actually saying it?”
She shrugged and smiled shyly. “I don’t want to ask you to give up your place or anything. I was just thinking that if you were here, we would be able to spend more time together and not have to go back and forth.”
“Only if I can bring Ballsy with me.”
Her eyes widened as she lifted her eyebrows. “You’re kidding.”
I shook my head. “You’re not my only good luck charm. I need both of you in order to succeed.”
“I don’t know where we would put it. Can’t you just go back to your place to see it when you need to?”
I laughed out loud and shook my head. “You don’t understand how it works, do you?”
Harper stared at me. “You do whatever you need to do. If it needs to be here with you, then bring it along. I just thought if we stayed here, then your sister could have your place to herself.”
“You mean, so then I can fuck you on every surface of your apartment without someone walking in on us?”
She half choked, half laughed. “You’re bold.”
“I just know what I want, love,” I said matter-of-factly as my face dipped back down to hers. “And that’s you.”
EPILOGUE
NICO
One year later
As I walked out to the parking lot, I found Harper waiting for me by the VIP entrance. Since she didn’t work for the team as their photographer anymore, she was able to come along to my games with me and watch them from the stands. It was a pretty amazing feeling when I scanned the crowds for her.
There was just something about having her here to watch rather than working her own job that made it have a different feel. It was like a special moment I was able to share with her, even if she wasn’t able to be at the team level anymore like she used to be.
Harper’s smile was bright when she spotted me and I couldn’t fight the grin that took over my lips as I walked up to her. I wrapped my arms around her waist with my lips instantly finding hers. Harper kissed me back and I breathed her in, feeling her soft lips against mine.
“You looked amazing tonight,” she said softly as I pulled away from her.
I wrapped my arm around the tops of her shoulders and pulled her flush against my side. “Not as amazing as you look every night.”
“You know you don’t have to try and charm me anymore,” she laughed quietly as we headed out into the parking lot through the VIP entrance. The air was warm outside and I removed my arm from Harper so she could take off her coat. I instantly smiled as I saw her with my jersey on.
It was what she normally wore when she came to my games, but fuck me. Seeing her with my name and number on her back did something to me. Something deep down inside that made me want to lock her away and never let anyone have access to her but me.
“I’m not trying to charm you, love. Just stating the obvious.” I grinned and winked as we reached my car. She pressed her back against the side of the car as I went to open the door, but I instantly abandoned it. Instead, I closed the space between us, entering her personal space within a fraction of a second.
I slid my hand along the side of her neck, cupping the back of her head before crashing my lips against hers. They were perfect and so fucking soft. She tasted like candy, and I wanted to live in this moment forever. Our bodies were flush against one another’s and I pressed her against the side of the car as I kissed her breathless.
I wanted the oxygen in her lungs. I wanted the blood in her veins.
I. Wanted. All. Of. Her.
“Fuck,” I murmured against her lips as I slowed our kiss. “There’s something about seeing you wearing my jersey that drives me fucking crazy. I want to see you wearing nothing but my jersey.”
Harper smirked against my mouth before nipping at my bottom lip. “How about I do one better and fuck you with it on instead?”
My tongue slid along the seam of her lips as I urged them open. Harper obeyed and I breathed her in once again. Our tongues tangled together in a rush and I couldn’t get enough of her. I knew I needed to get her home, but I was ready to fuck her up against the side of my car instead. Fuck it all.
I pulled away, once again leaving both of us breathless. “I need you, Harper. I want you riding my cock with my number on your back.”
Harper laughed softly and shook her head. “Not happening here,” she said quietly. “We’re standing in the middle of the parking lot, Nico.”
I angled my chin down to look at her. “Well, I’m not waiting until we get home and I’m not fucking you in my car.” I paused for a heartbeat before slowly taking a step back. I held my hand out to her. “Come with me.”
“You better not be taking me to the locker room again,” she said, her laughter floating around us as I led her back toward the building.
“Nope,” I said with a grin as I looked down at her and led her inside. “You have to be quiet, though.”
She pulled her lip in between her teeth and nodded. Everyone had already cleared out and I wasn’t sure where the security guards were, but I didn’t even care. Harper followed behind me until we were walking back through the locker room. She didn’t question me as I led her down the tunnel toward the ice.