“Do you need to come, love?” Maddox’s voice was strained. He was holding back.
“Yes!” I cried as he ground his hips leisurely, like he could do this all night.
“Tell me you’re mine,” he gritted out.
“I’m yours! Please!” I sobbed, mindless with pleasure.
A low growl sounded, and the next time his hips pulled back, it wasn’t a slow, firm stroke; it was a jarring slam. My neck arched as my eyes closed, and I gasped, “Right there. More.”
One hand let go of mine. His forearm hooked under my knee, spreading me open even wider. Maddox grunted, pounding into me, sending me careening over the cliff I’d been teetering on all night.
“Fuck yes!” I screamed, my throat raw, as my pussy clamped down on his cock, never wanting to let it go.
After a few more jarring thrusts, Maddox stilled on a guttural groan, his eyes slamming shut as he emptied himself inside me.
When he collapsed off to my side, he tucked me against his heaving chest, keeping our connection intact. Normally, I was the first one to jump up to clean myself, but with him, I didn’t mind the mess. His arms were where I belonged, where I felt safe, and nothing else mattered more than that.
Our breathing leveled out, and Maddox hooked his fingers beneath my chin to tilt my face up. With a dazed expression on his, he asked, “Are you sure this isn’t a dream?”
My heart swelled. “If it is, I never want to wake up.”
Placing my ear directly over his beating heart, I let the steady rhythm soothe me until my eyes grew heavy.
My last thought before I slipped into unconsciousness was one of thanks to Braxton for his interference on my first night in Indy. If Maddox and I hadn’t hooked up after connecting at PipesbeforeI knew who he was, I wouldn’t be here, wrapped in his arms, happier than I’d ever been in my life.
All the hardship between that moment and now was worth it if this was the end result.
Chapter 26
Maddox
Athletes often found themselvesin the spotlight, under constant scrutiny from the media, and while that might seem oppressive and intrusive, most of us had found a way to use that attention to spark good in our communities. Players used their platforms to bring awareness to important causes, not only by writing large checks to support worthy causes but by volunteering their time and making a personal impact.
Everyone had charities that were near and dear to their hearts. Braxton often served meals at soup kitchens, feeding the homeless and those who struggled to provide hot meals for themselves. Jenner gravitated toward children’s charities. He went to group homes and mentored youth without strong role models.
For me, it always came back to hockey. I was the one funding youth leagues for families who found the cost barrier to the sport I loved too high, supporting the cost of equipment and ice for entire teams. The kids and parents alike went wild when I made guest appearances at practices, but I’d stopped doing that after the injury. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go;I just figured they wouldn’t want me. I wasn’t the Maddox Sterling they idolized anymore; instead, the one who’d lost it all, whom they pitied.
Beyond our personal endeavors, the Indianapolis Speed, as an organization, sponsored several events throughout the year for the entire team to attend and give back. Events like passing out pre-packaged Thanksgiving meals at the food bank, sponsoring the cost of winter clothing for underprivileged youth, and a Christmas trip to the Children’s Hospital. Today, it was Dream Day.
Nothing was more heartwarming than making a dream come true for a kid battling a life-threatening condition or illness. Even though life had been supremely unfair to them, you never heard a word of complaint; they were always the happiest, most gracious children you’d ever meet. We might be the ones granting their wish, but at the end of the day, they always managed to give us something more important—perspective.
We might grumble about sore bodies, injuries, and the rigors of constant travel, but we had it better than most. This day served as a reminder of that fact.
I arrived at the rink early in preparation. Our public relations head, Lily, was sorting through four sets of youth gear in the locker room.
“Need some help?” I offered, stepping inside.
“Hey, Maddox.” She turned to smile at me. “If you’ve got a minute, I could use an extra hand. Thanks.”
“Sure thing.” I dropped to my knees beside her.
Lily pointed to a list of names and sizes. “Everything came in one giant box, and I’m trying to make sure I get the gear right for each child.”
“Seems simple enough.”
I grabbed a pair of skates, checked the size, and placed it in a pile for a child named Will. The next pair belonged to Jamie, then Tyler, andVictoria. I smiled, thinking of a girl wanting to be a hockey player. It was great that the game was growing and becoming more inclusive.
“Check this out.” Lily’s voice drew my attention away from my methodical sorting.
