her tears from her face with gentle fingers. His kiss was just as tender, every touch a statement of his love for her. This—he—was exactly what she wanted. Someone who understood her, accepted all of her and still wanted her.
His tongue swept over her lips, softly prodding and lazy. Tiny brushes, loving pecks that woke up her libido and urged her forward. She opened to him, shifted to get closer.
He rolled her to her back, settled between her legs and encircled her with his love. Every deep kiss, soft breath, little nip a statement of what they were to each other.
“I love you.” The soft words were breathed into her ear, sending off a rush of goose bumps down her neck.
She dug her fingers into his hair, kissing him again and again. Did he understand what he meant to her? Did he know how special his love was?
His kiss heated with the passion that’d burned between them since the first time. More forceful, he plundered her mouth, hips moving in an impatient rhythm that matched the desire bursting within her.
He had a condom slipped on moments later. A dark shape in the gray light, his features were indistinct. She had them memorized though. Didn’t need to see to know exactly what he looked like.
He filled her, his girth stretching her inner walls in a glorious stroke of sensation. This close, it was impossible to miss the intensity and love that stared down at her.
“I love you.” She injected all her feelings into the words while tracing that perfect bow of his lip. “I’ll never let you go again.” Never.
His kiss was soft and deep, hips rocking to the comforting flow of their love. This was the connection she’d avoided, the one she’d run from. The one that’d been too strong to stay away from.
The passion built, a gentle swell that overtook her heart and shoved another round of tears up her dry throat. She clutched him close, his breath warming her neck, his soft grunts teasing her ear.
“You’re so perfect for me.” He kissed across her shoulder, hips working faster, each stroke another declaration of how far they’d come. Of where they were still heading.
“You too,” she managed to answer around a gasp. She was awash in sensation, in the love that spilled over to make her stronger. She’d always feared it would weaken her when it’d done the exact opposite.
Her toes tingled, her orgasm building in a slow crest that warmed instead of overwhelmed. It was just as intimate, just as amazing as any of the wild sex they’d shared. This was confirmation and renewal. A grasp at tomorrow she’d been afraid to claim.
His thrusts increased until her climax rolled through her in gentle waves that peaked in a sharp hitch and pulse of muscles. Henrik shoved hard a few more times and she rode the crest with him, clung to him and gave back.
She embraced the euphoria until her muscles stopped shaking and he stilled. Relaxing into the mattress, he followed her down, breaths gusting over her skin where he nuzzled her shoulder.
Thank you. The silent gratitude went up to whatever entity had sent Henrik into her life. This was one gift she’d never again doubt.
Chapter Thirty-One
“We’re not going to discuss this further,” Allen Benning insisted. “It’s still early in the season, and a lot can happen between now and June.” The GM sat back in his chair and glared at Henrik across the conference table.
“I won’t change my mind,” Henrik told him, unwavering. The meeting had gone about like he’d expected. The Glaciers were resistant but not completely angry. “I thought it was right to let you know what I was planning.” That was what family did.
“You’re going to leave a big hole in our defense,” Coach O said from his spot next to Benning, one hand methodically rubbing his goatee.
“I can be replaced. There are plenty of guys ready to do so.”
“You’ve still got years left in your legs,” he countered. “There’s nothing in your medical about injuries either.”
“This is about me doing what I need to do.” He glanced at Vanessa who sat at his side, soaking in her support. “I’m not walking tomorrow. I’m not leaving the team in a lurch.” He took a long breath, let it settle. “We are all more than one thing, and it’s time for me to embrace that.”
“Damn it, Roller,” Benning snapped. “What kind of a game are you playing?”
“A straight-up one.” He could’ve stayed quiet and simply