Juggling two coffees and a bag of breakfast sandwiches, I used the key I'd nicked off the counter a few hours earlier to ease Jo's front door open, trying to be as quiet as possible. Because while it was pushing ten thirty, I had no idea if she'd yet managed to haul herself out of bed, especially considering neither of us had gotten much sleep. Not after I'd scored the winning goal in last night's game against Chicago and had arrived late to see Jo waiting up to congratulate me.

I'd barely made it through the door before her lips were on mine and she was pulling me towards her bedroom, where we spent hours exhausting one another until falling asleep with our limbs intertwined.

Though my body had certainly chastised me when I snuck out before the sun had risen to make it to practice on time.

Leaving the food on the dining table, I heard nothing but silence as I made my way back towards Jo's bedroom, only to come to a halt and scramble for my phone as it's ringtone blared loud and obnoxiously.

"Henry, what is it?" I asked, my voice hushed as I circled the living room, noticing the sketches Jo had left strewn across the table.

"I wanted to call and make sure I have all the details for today ironed out," he started, jumping right into business. With this being one of the only times this season the team was scheduled with a home game Friday and Sunday, as well as a Saturday off, the front office had organized a charity skate to give back to the younger fans in the community. School groups and recreational hockey teams had been given a slew of tickets for one of four ice times throughout the afternoon, giving all the kids a chance to skate with the team. In addition, the Knights organization was planning to donate the proceeds from tomorrow's game evenly amongst the invited groups in hopes of giving them better access to resources and equipment. "From what I've been told, the event starts at noon, correct?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding despite knowing he couldn't see me.

"Then when are you planning to show up?"

"Uh... noon. Or a bit before, I guess. I'm bringing Jo along, so I don't want her having to wait around long before we can get on the ice."

"You're bringing Jo?" he asked, sounding thrown off by the news.

"Is that a problem?"

"Well, technically no, but you should be using this opportunity to try and get yourself out there, Seb. To talk to the press that'll be hanging around before and after the event. Especially after your goal last night; they'd be interested."

"The reporters aren't there to talk to me. They're there to talk to the GM. Or Coach. Maybe Jack or Nyberg if they want to get a player's perspective on things."

"And if you keep thinking like that, they'll never want to talk to you."

"Today isn't about getting noticed, Henry," I said roughly, my jaw ticking. "It's about giving back to the kids and making sure they have fun."

"It's about showing the public the Knights are an organization who care enough to include the community in their fundraising efforts. And newsflash, you're part of that organization. So, don't get too caught up with having your girl there and forget that."

"Trust me," I said roughly, "I won't."

"Good, then I'll talk to you later," he said, getting in the last word before cutting off the call.

Rubbing a hand down my face, I reined in the frustration coursing through my body. It was moments like this where Isla and Cameron's opinions on Henry proved to have merit. His approach to his work was focused primarily on the goal and not the person he was trying to help achieve that goal. Which had worked fine when my goal had aligned with his—to get me into the NHL. Now, however, I was focused on improving my skills and proving I deserved my spot, not making myself a household name.

At some point, I knew I would have to sit down with him and talk about our conflicting views moving forwards. But not today.

After all, I had more important things to be concerned with.

Quietly entering Jo's bedroom, a smile grew on my lips when I saw she was still asleep and bundled beneath the sheets. With the side of the bed I'd been occupying empty, I laid down beside her, fully clothed, and snuggled her closer to my chest. Her response wasn't immediate, but after a few minutes of lying there with her in my arms, she began to stir. Leaning forwards, my lips met the soft skin at the nape of her neck, and I felt a shiver run through her body as she sank further into my embrace.

"Good morning," I whispered against her skin, pulling back slightly when she rolled over and met my gaze with a shy smile.

"Morning." Humming, she shifted closer, though as her hands met my now-covered chest, she leaned back again with an eyebrow raised. "Going somewhere?"

A quiet laugh filled the sliver of space between us before I brushed my lips softly over hers. "I had practice this morning and thought I'd let you sleep." Her eyes widened and I could practically see her mind at work, wondering how I'd managed to sneak away. "Though I did pick up breakfast."

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, trailing her fingers up my arm. "I wouldn't have kept you up if I'd known."

"That's exactly why I didn't tell you," I replied cheekily, only to receive a playful eye roll in return. "Besides, it wasn't mandatory, but I still thought it'd be a good idea to get some ice time in before tomorrow's game."

"And you came back here afterwards?"

As she moved ever so slightly, I couldn't help the way my gaze dropped, searing through the thin sheet with unabashed heat. "Well I couldn't just leave you all alone in bed, now could I?"

She grinned as I leaned forward, skimming my fingers against her jaw before taking her lips in a kiss. Starting off tender and sweet, her hands snuck up and underneath my shirt, arms circling my body to draw me closer, but the intensity grew quickly. Drawing my tongue against the seam of her lips, I shifted my weight and rolled her beneath me as she gasped and opened for me.

Roaming her body with skillful hands—over her arms, her breasts, and her thighs—I left a trail of goosebumps in my wake. When my lips traced a line across her skin, moving from her neck to the sensitive skin behind her ear and back again, I could feel her begin to squirm. Wanting more. Reading her cues, I slipped my fingers between her legs, only to be rewarded when a moan of pleasure fell from her lips.

"Oh." She sighed, making it increasingly difficult to concentrate as my blood rushed south.

But my time would come; after she did.

Sensing she was on edge as I circled my thumb in just the right spot, I slid one finger inside her, then another, watching her arch towards me, desperate for release. When she finally cried out, I kissed her hard, feeling the way her heart beat wildly inside her chest, and only when it slowed did I pull back.

Ridding myself of my shirt as she caught her breath, I rolled the two of us over, pleased to see the sheet that'd been covering her now bunched behind her. Every one of her dips and curves were on display, her hair was wild, and a light pink blush colored her cheeks. "You're beautiful," I said, my voice raspy while my hands moved idly along the skin of her thighs.

Resting her hands on my chest, she leaned down to brush her lips against mine. "And you're overdressed."

Taking the hint, I quickly shucked off my pants and boxers, leaving us skin-to-skin as she straddled me and fused our mouths together once more. It was hot and tongue-twisting letting her take the lead, but just when I was on the verge of reaching for a condom, she sat up, putting a pause on things.

"We're going to be late," she protested.

Though with the lust in her eyes and the way her body moved—her hips rotating against mine—it was clear she had no real objection.

"Trust me, there's definitely time," I replied easily. One of my hands sailed upwards, coming to rest on her right breast as I ran my thumb across her nipple. "So, unless you have other pressing matters to attend to...?"

Trailing off, I shot her a wicked grin as I tilted my hips so we were perfectly aligned.

Laughing, she shook her head, but nevertheless, grabbed a condom from the nightstand and rolled it onto me in one smooth stroke. "You're horrible."

"But you love it," I mused.

Her smile softened at my words, and with our eyes locked, she sank down onto me slowly. Almost torturously. A hiss of pleasure escaped my lips and her nails dug into my chest as I filled her to the hilt. Each time was better than the last, and since the first time we'd slept together—hell, since the first time I'd met her—something had flipped inside of me. I couldn't get enough of her.

Squeezing her thighs in encouragement, I let her take the lead, holding back as she built up a steady rhythm. Moans and gasps left the both of us, and before long, I was meeting her thrust for thrust, our bodies slamming together with a frantic need.

Knowing there was no way I was lasting much longer, I moved one hand between her legs, urging her to get there. And not a few moments later, her body tightened around me, drawing out my own orgasm and scrambling my brain to a point where I was fighting to remember we were on a time crunch and couldn't just lay around in bed all day.

No matter how appealing the idea was.

***

Though we'd been cutting it close, we made it to the arena minutes before the charity skate was set to start.

"You know, I probably should've made sure you knew how to skate before bringing you along," I said as I squatted in front of Jo, lacing up the pair of rental skates I'd asked the front office to set aside for her.

"I know how to skate," Jo replied. "It's just been a few years since I've actually done it."

"Then let's hope you haven't lost any of that skill." Finishing her laces, I tapped her shin and let her foot fall to the ground. "Tight enough?"

Standing, she held onto me to keep her balance. "I think so," she said, bending her knees to test out the skates.

Wearing the signed jersey I'd jokingly gifted her at Christmas, the two of us matched as I donned my home jersey. "Then you ready to get out there?"

Seeing as we were the only ones left in the locker room, she nodded, allowing me to lead her through the small crowd of people loitering the halls. Most were members of the organization, so I nodded with acknowledgement as Jo and I headed down the tunnel towards the rink, but my focus was on making sure she kept her balance.

"You good?" I asked as I stepped onto the ice, turning to face her.

Her movements were slower and more calculated as she joined me on the rink—players, guests, and children alike mingling around us—though a smile grew on her lips as she gained her footing. And while a few glances were thrown our way, both from those on the ice and the parents in the stands, most people were too busy enjoying themselves to pay us much attention.

With the rink having been divided into two parts—one for the free-skate and another to house an organized 3-on-3 game—the two of us slowly circled our half, still hand in hand. After a few trips around our half of the ice however, I noticed Jo eyeing my teammates on the other side who were in the middle of a game with the kids.

"Is your coach going to be on your case about skating with me?" she asked.

"Not really." I squeezed her hand in reassurance. "Most of the games he scheduled me for are in the later sessions."

"Are you sure?" Her eyebrows furrowed. "I don't want to get you in trouble."

Leaning down, my lips grazed her temple. "Don't worry. If it'll make you feel better, I'll join them in a few. Just as soon as I know you'll be okay on your own."

Because while Aimee had meant to be tagging along with Jack today, she'd backed out last minute after being invited to speak at a conference out of state. Meaning, besides Jack and possibly a few other teammates, Jo didn't know anyone else here.

"Trust me, I'll be okay." Dropping my hand, she glided backwards slightly, her balance unwavering. "See," she said, grinning confidently. "I'm fine."

Yet no more than a few seconds passed before her balance teetered as Wellsley suddenly appeared beside us, causing a yelp to leave her lips when snow sprayed up from the ice, showering us both.

Reaching out to keep her upright, I held in my amusement. "You sure about that?"

"Well, I would've been fine," she said, rolling her eyes in a playful way before turning towards Wellsley. "That is, if you hadn't scared me."

Wellsley chuckled. "Sorry about that," he said. "Though I am going to have to steal your boyfriend away for a while."

I raised an eyebrow. "Everything good?"

"More or less, but Schmidt's hamstring is acting up. Coach sent him upstairs for a PT session, so we're gonna need you to step in for the next game."

Nodding in understanding, I turned my gaze back to Jo. "You sure you'll be okay on your own?"

"I already told you, I'm fine." Patting my chest, she proceeded to drift backwards on her skates. "I'll skate around with the kids for a bit before I sit and watch you play. Though be warned, I might end up cheering against you if the kids start giving you a run for your money."

"Fair enough." I laughed. "I'll catch up with you later."

"And don't worry, I'll make sure this guy stays in one piece for you," Wellsley joked, clapping me on the shoulder while Jo shook her head in amusement. Dodging an elbow to the ribs from me, he spun around and headed to the other end of the rink with me on his heels.

Seeing as the teams had already been decided—everyone simply waiting for me—I grabbed a stick from the pile near the boards and took my spot. All the kids were hyped up with energy as the puck dropped, excited to show a team of NHL players what they could do, and while most of them had to be under twelve years old, a few seemed to possess a raw talent for the sport. Sure, we were all going easy on them, but when a boy no older than ten took a decent slap shot, landing the puck in the top left corner of the net, I wasn't the only one impressed. Coach took notice from the sidelines and called the boy over, giving him a few pointers on how to increase the power behind his shots.

Luckily, he was one of the kids on my team, giving me a laugh every time he deked out one of my teammates and headed for the net.

And when the first game came to an end, I let my gaze wander around the rink in search of Jo, only to see her skating with a little girl. Hand in hand, the two of them laughed as they glided slowly around the ice, not caring that others brushed passed them with ease. It was a sight that brought a smile to my lips and made me feel better, knowing Jo was still enjoying herself while I played my part in today's event.

It was nearly an hour later when a cheer of celebration erupted from a group of kids as one of them managed to sneak a goal passed Nyberg just seconds before the whistle blew to end the game. The third one I'd been a participant in.

"You losing your touch there, man?" Jack joked, causing me and the rest of the guys to chuckle as he clapped Nyberg on the shoulder. "Even I could've made that save."

Taking off his mask, Nyberg's mouth twitched in amusement. "If you want to get between the pipes for the next game, you're more than welcome to."

Jack shook his head. "I've got to give you a chance to redeem yourself, but if you don't pick up the slack, I might have to take you up on that."

That prompted jeers and laughs from most of us, knowing his words were all in good fun. It didn't matter that there wouldn't be any hard shots rifling towards the net or skaters barreling down the ice today, there was no way Jack would strap on the pads.

It was only when the next group of kids made their way towards us, eager to grab a stick and play, that we all split up, though I nudged Jack along the way. "You think you can find a replacement for this game? I want to go talk to Jo for a bit."

He nodded. "Sure, man. We'll pull Mackay in, don't worry about it."

"Thanks, man. I'll step back in for the next one."

High-fiving a couple of the kids who I passed, I looked around for Jo and spotted her standing behind the bench with her phone to her ear and her back to the ice. Slightly concerned, I skated over and stepped off the ice, leaving a bit of space between the two of us as she finished up her call.

"Yeah, no, don't worry about it," Jo spoke into her cell. She glanced at me, an ounce of worry in her eyes. "I can meet you there in about half an hour." A pause. "Okay, sounds good. I'll see you then."

I lifted a brow as she ended the call. "Is everything okay?"

"In a relative sense," she started slowly. Watching as she gnawed on her bottom lip, my forehead creased with confusion, wondering what was going on. "That was one of the contractors I'd talked to about fixing up the boutique. They originally didn't have time to slot me in, but they just had a client cancel on them, so they offered to come do some early estimates on the space today and fit me into their schedule starting Monday."

"That's great."

The corner of her mouth curved upwards. "Yeah," she said before the sliver of guilt wormed its way into her voice, "but that means I have to duck out of here early."

I hid the small pang of disappointment that sparked inside my chest, knowing I wouldn't get to skate with her again today, and disguised it with an understanding smile. "I get it, don't worry. Your boutique is important to you, and you need to do what you need to do to get it up and running."

"I really am sorry."

"There's no need to apologize. Seriously." I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, pulling her close and laying a kiss on the top of her head. "Do you want me to head back to the locker rooms with you or find you a ride?"

She shook her head, leaning back. "I'll be fine. I'll call an Uber when I get my boots on and leave the skates under the bench in the locker room." Planting a kiss on the scruff of my jaw, she smiled softly. "For what it's worth, today was fun."

"I'm glad you thought so, but since you're dipping early, I guess I'll have to find another time to get you on the ice. Maybe with a couple less people around."

Laughing, she pressed her lips against mine quickly. "Looking forward to it," she said before stepping out of my arms, and with one last goodbye, left me standing alone.