Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance (Sinners on the Ice)
Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance: Chapter 29

4 years 4 months ago, July

“Good morning,” I say, leaning down and planting a kiss on Layla’s forehead. She smiles affectionately and sits up. Her back is pressed to the headboard of my bed, her eyes still sleepy. “Brought you something delicious.” I lower the tray on her lap.

Layla observes the food I made for her: eggs Benedict, two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a bowl with sliced banana, apple, and orange, and a mug of coffee, then she meets my gaze. “Why, Clay Rodgers? Are you trying to bribe me?”

I laugh, rounding the bed, and sit down beside her. “Bribe you? Definitely not. Trying to change your mind? Yes.”

She puts her head on my shoulder, sighing deeply. “Clay, I need to go back home. You know I already signed the contract, and I want to give this job a try. I’m not feeling very confident, not sure real estate is something I want to do in the future, but…I have to try, you know? I wanted it before.”

“I hate that you couldn’t replace the job here, in Chicago. Fuck all these people who didn’t see how awesome you are. Who cares you don’t have any experience? They’re all stupid.” I bite out, the anger in my voice too prominent. “I thought once you graduated, you’d come here…We could’ve lived together.”

I fall quiet, my emotions strangling me. She’s been with me in Chicago for two weeks and now she’s leaving in two days. Going back home, starting her first job, starting a new life—away from me. And it fucking pains me. I love her so damn much, and with each year, my feelings are growing stronger, while with her…I’m never sure. We’re not official. We’re not exclusive. She never even said she loved me.

“Yeah, it sucked hearing no again and again, but what else could I do? I needed a job, and this agency in Detroit saw something in me. I signed this contract for a year. It will be fine.”

A hesitant smile is on her lips.

Layla nuzzles her nose in my skin, trailing her lips over my throat. I close my eyes, reveling in how nice it feels. Her soft, plump lips, her warm breath, her velvety tongue. Everything in her is addicting to me, and she knows it. She’s using my feelings for her as a way for me to drop my questions, to stop pressuring her for answers. I understand that, and I’m so fucking weak for her that it takes a lot of effort not to give in.

“Promise me that once your contract is over, you’re coming here, to live with me?” I whisper, my words coming out hoarse. “Promise me that we’ll try to be together? For real this time.”

She leans away. “I promise.”

“And we’ll tell all our friends. And Drake.” I hate that I’m lying to everyone around me. That I’m not telling the truth to my family, to Colton, about why I’m staying in Chicago instead of going back home to Michigan, instead of flying to visit Colt in Santa Clara. I want this to end, just as much as I want her to be with me.

“I promise.” But by the tone of her voice, I know she’s annoyed. “Everyone will know what a terrible person I am.”

This concept is still baffling to me. She genuinely believes that if our friends know that we got back together again, they won’t be supportive…because she broke my heart. But if I can move on and forgive that, why would anyone care?

“They’ll be happy for us, Layla.”

“We’ll see,” she mutters and picks up the fork from the tray. And that’s how I know that our conversation is over.

I kiss her temple and roll out of bed. “Enjoy your meal. I’ll go for a little run, and once I’m back, we can hop into the shower together.”

“Sounds good,” she says with her mouth full. “Ahhh, this is the best eggs Benedict I’ve ever tried. You’re incredible, Clay.”

“That’s because I’m trying to impress my girl.” I wink at her and head to the walk-in closet to change my clothes.

“And it’s working,” Layla yells after me, making me chuckle. Though once I start changing, my smile drops. If it were working, she would’ve been here with me a long time ago.

And this truth hurts.

I hold Layla close, my arms wrapped around her from behind as we lie on the couch in my living room. Gossip Girl is on TV. It’s not the first time I’m watching it with her, but I don’t mind. She loves the show, and if watching it makes her happy, then I’m happy too.

Though tonight it’s hard for me to actually focus on the screen. I’m lost in my own thoughts, and none of them are good. It was one thing when she was in college. Busy with her studies, busy with school life and cheerleading. I knew all about her friends, about the guys she was hanging out with. But her life after graduation will be a totally different thing, when she will be working hours at this estate agency, meeting new people, making new friends. What if she meets someone who will turn her head? Someone who will be there for her? Someone who she can see daily, go on dates with? Do all the stuff couples do?

With how I still don’t know how she feels about me, it’s fucking hard not to be scared. I’m worried I’m gonna lose her.

“Aww, it’s one of my favorite moments,” Layla murmurs, ripping me out of my thoughts. I glance at the screen. It’s Chuck proposing to Blair. “How this ring still found its way back to them. Another proof that they were always meant to be, don’t you think?”

“Uh-huh.” She’s oblivious to how I feel now, to all the dark thoughts and worries that circulate in my brain. I never told her that, but deep down, I believed she was coming to me this time to stay.

Layla wiggles and turns to look at me, her eyes roaming over my face. I brush away a strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. I love you. The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I hold them to myself.

Only when I know for sure she’s ready.

“Is everything okay?” Layla asks quietly.

I nod. “I’m sad you’re leaving tomorrow.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Clay. I would’ve loved to stay here, but you know I can’t. It’s not a good thing to start career with quitting right after I signed the contract. They are counting on me.”

I can take care of you. I want to tell her, but instead, I settle for a pathetic excuse of asking her about the show. “It’s my second time watching it with you, but I think I’m still not sure why it wasn’t a Tiffany ring, you know. With how much Blair loved everything Audrey-Hepburn-related, I kinda expected a Tiffany ring.”

Layla blinks, then starts giggling. Her melodic laughter coasts over my body, making me ticklish. “I never thought about it.” She holds my gaze. “Just this Harry Winston ring is gorgeous. It didn’t even occur to me to question it. Like, Chuck is a billionaire, and he buys a super expensive ring for the love of his life. That’s kinda logical.”

“Are these rings really that expensive?” I cock an eyebrow, sliding my hands down to her round ass.

“Very,” Layla murmurs. The glint in her eyes turns lustful as I cup her ass with my palms.

“Do you still want to watch the show? Or can I convince you to go back to my bedroom?”

“It depends…” She moves her hand up my chest and then pinches my nipple between her thumb and index finger. “What are you offering?”

Laughter springs out of my mouth as I scoop her in my arms and stand up from the couch. “The answer should be ‘yes, Clay.’ Always.”

I carry her to my bedroom, my eyes never leaving her face. She’s so impeccably beautiful, I lose my mind a bit more every time I look at her. Everything in her is a little puzzle piece that fits my own perfectly. I know she’s the one for me. She’s been the one for me all these years…and I hope one day she’ll look at me and realize I’m the one for her too.

That we were always meant to be.

Once we’re in my bedroom, I lower her on my bed and drop to my knees. I don’t need to tell her what to do as she’s already shimmying out of her tee. Her round breasts with puckered nipples make my mouth water. I place my hands on her legs and pull her to me. Her ass is barely on the bed. The moment her panties land on the floor beside me, I grab both of her legs, wrapping my palms around her ankles and spreading her wide.

I bury my face in her sweet little pussy, inhaling her scent, my own body shuddering from my desire. Delicately, I place a kiss on her inner thigh, then on her folds, and only after that on her clit. A moan rumbles out of her throat, her fingers digging deep in my hair. I smile against her nub and blow a hot breath over it. She wriggles, shoving her cunt in my face, desperate to feel my tongue in it.

And I indulge her because pleasing her is my favorite thing to do.

I suck her clit inside my mouth and release it, then suck again, and this time instead of moving away, I suck on it harder, again and again. My tongue swirls around her clit. I lightly bite on it, drawing a moan out of her.

“Oh God, yes!” Layla screams, her ass lifting from the mattress. “Clay, please…”

My lips, my tongue, my teeth are tasting her, teasing her, pushing her closer and closer to her edge. Her legs are trembling as she tries to shut them, but I don’t let her. I keep her legs wide open, my lips glued to her clit. She always comes just fine with my cock deep inside her pussy, but I know that the strongest orgasm is when I work on her clit.

“Yes, yes, yes!” She’s so fucking loud, I can’t help myself and double my efforts. Layla is arching her back. Her ass is in the air and only her shoulders and her head are on the mattress. “Clay, I’m coming. I’m…I’mma…Oh, God!”

Her body convulses, her skin vibrating under my touch. I don’t stop, not until I know she’s spent. For now.

I let go of her legs and they dangle off the bed as she lies on my sheets, breathing hard. I lower myself on top of her, my hands on both sides of her face as I hold myself above her. Her eyes are hooded with her desire, a lazy smile resting on her lips.

“It was everything,” Layla whispers. She winds her hands around my shoulders, sighing sweetly in my mouth as I press my lips to hers. “You are everything.”

“I’m gonna miss you so fucking bad,” I confess.

“I’m gonna miss you too.” Her fingers tangle in my hair, massaging my scalp. “It’s one year…and then I’ll be back.”

“For good?” I ask, leaning away and staring down at her.

“For good.” Layla nods, and I cover her lips with mine with so much force she whimpers. God, I’m crazy over her.

Layla is asleep. Her chest moves rhythmically from her breathing. I watch her, feeling a pang in my chest. All the happiness, the passion I felt an hour ago, is nowhere to be seen. I’m full of sadness. The anticipation of her flight that will take her away from me again is eating me alive.

I’m wide awake, so instead of tossing and turning, I snatch my cell from the nightstand, unlock it, and launch Safari. As I type Harry Winston in the search bar, my lips curl into a smile. I wonder how come I never thought about this before. Proposing to her with the ring strongly associated with her favorite TV show, and with her favorite couple? It should’ve been a plan a long time ago.

The website loads, and the more I look at the engagement rings, the more my skin warms. Next year when she comes to me to stay—I’m going to propose to her with the prettiest engagement ring ever.

Because Layla deserves the best.