My Hockey Alpha Neighbor

Chapter 34

Wrong?”

“Why Aiden asks, his expression creased with concern. He pulls off his helmet and runs a hand through his hair.

His tousled locks look messy in a shockingly attractive way. I try to shove down the immediate wave of attraction I feel at the sight. Not now, I remind myself. This is important.

I take a deep breath. “Aiden. I know you want to win. I know this match is important to you, of course, but… Don’t you think this is a little much?”

Aiden only looks more confused. “A little much? It’s just an extra practice. Coach Bower recommended it,” he says. His words come out more quickly than normal. I can tell he’s still a little out of breath even now. If he’s out of breath, I can’t even imagine how his teammates feel, I realize.

“I understand,” I say slowly, “but you need to be careful.” Aiden still doesn’t seem to catch my meaning, so I gesture toward his teammates, “Just look at them.”

Aiden turns his head. His teammates haven’t even skated over to the sidelines. Instead, they have elected to collapse to the ground wherever they last were. The pain and exhaustion is palpable in the room.

“Pushing yourself and your teammates to the brink isn’t the answer, I say, my voice gentle but firm. “If you overwork yourselves, the team will only suffer in the long run. Not only will they hurt themselves, but they’ll grow to resent this sport.”

Aiden turns back to me with a look of realization. His head sags with regret. “You’re right,” he admits. “I’ve been far too hard

on them.

I rub his shoulder, my heart swelling with sympathy. “It’s okay.” I reassure him. “I know you’re in a difficult position. You’re being hard on yourself – I can tell. But you need to be careful how that impacts others.”

Aiden nods and offers me a weak smile. “You know me too well, he chuckles. “I’m surprised you haven’t dumped me yet.” I laugh softly.

“Don’t worry, lover boy, that’s not in the plans,” I tease him, nudging his shoulder with mine. “Don’t worry. You caught it early. It’s never too late to change things.”

Aiden nods with determination. He leaves his helmet on the sidelines as he skates back onto the rink. I see his teammates tense with anticipation of the drilling to come.

Luckily, Alden surprises all of them. “Good work, everyone. Let’s wrap up practice early today and clean up the locker room. You’ve worked hard, you deserve a break. I’ll practice more on my own time.”

A wave of relief washes over the team. They pull themselves to their feet and thankfully make their way to the sidelines. As they pull off their gear, I catch a few sending thankful glances in my direction. It seems like they sensed I intervened on their behalf.

Aiden insists that I stay on the sidelines as the team cleans the locker room. I agree readily – I’m sure the smell in there isn’t something I want to experience right now. I look through my emails for a few minutes until Aiden steps back our

“Everyone’s cleared out,” he calls to me from the entrance to the locker room. “It’s finally clean in here, if you’d like to join

me

I follow Aiden to the locker room. I’m genuinely surprised to find how clean it is. The room smells fresh, and it looks like everyone’s gear has been cleaned out. I smile.

“I’m impressed!” I say, “Although I haven’t ever seen it when it’s dirty, so I don’t really have a comparison point.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to, Auden assures me almost grimly put my things down on a beach and take a moment to look around, admiring how clean it looks.

=

15:16 Mon, Jun 10

Chapter 31

MJ

“So, are you planning on practicing more after this?” I ask.

Aiden

andkes his head, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Actually, I had something else in mind,” he replied, his voice low

I feel my body grow hot as I realize exactly what Aiden means. I lowly turn to him with a small smile playing on my lips.

“I thought you were worried the locker room would be too dirty teased him. He shrugs,

“I know just how to clean oil.” He nods toward the showers with a smirk. “Care to join me?”

1 watch with rapt attention as he pulls off his shirt. His muscles glisten with sweat under the dim lights of the locker room. He pulls off his pants, next, and soon enough he’s standing in the locker room fully nude.

I swallow hard. “You’re sure no one else is in here?” I whisper. He grins.

but me

“I made sure of it. No one else gets to see you but

A thrill goes down my spine at how possessive Aiden is being. My eyes are fixed on Aiden as he strides over to the showers and turns on the water. I glance around the room one last time before finally deciding to join him.

I begin to quickly unbutton my blouse, but he holds out a hand. Hey, no rush. I want to enjoy this.”

My face burns with embarrassment, but I don’t want to give up the opportunity to drive Aiden crazy. I slow my pace, unbuttoning my shirt and slipping out of my pencil skirt at a languid pace. By the time I’m out of all of my clothes, Aiden’s expression is ravenous.

“Come here,” he demands almost pleads. 1 decide to oblige.

As soon as I step under the warm water of the showers, Aiden pulls me into his arms. He captures my lips in a passionate kiss. The world around us seems to fade away as we lose ourselves in each other.

The feeling of the warm water cascading over our bodies only adds to the heat of our intimacy. With a soft sigh, I melt into Aiden’s strong embrace.

Our bodies tangle together like that was what they were meant to do. Aiden’s powerful arms lift me, and my legs lock around his hips. We move in perfect tandem with one another as we both get closer and closer to satisfaction.

1 feel Aiden pick up the pace, bracing my back against the wall of the showers behind me. The sound of running water becomes the perfect backdrop to the sound of our intimate union. At long last, with one last embrace, both of us are satisfied.

Aiden holds me in his arms for a long moment before slowly letting the to my feet. I’m wobbly for a moment, a bit lightheaded at the intensity of our encounter. Aiden catches me and chuckles.

“You’re perfect,” he whispers, leaning in to kiss my forehead. I feel my face flush again. I wrap my arms around him and press my ear against his chest just to hear his heartbeat.

“I don’t know why you think that,” I admit quietly. Aiden squeezes me against his chest,

“Because you’re perfect for me,” he whispers

For a long moment, the two of us enjoy the warmth of the shower and the warmth of each other’s bodies. When I’m with Aiden like this, everything else seems to melt away — at least for now.

The moon is high and the stars are wonkling as Aiden and I step out of his car into the driveway of his villa. The cool night air soliy kisses toy skin and 1 take a mute to stretch out my holy thosurprisingly. I feel a little bit sore after our… activities in the lucker mom 1 groan quietly to myself. That’s going to ache in the morning, isn’t it?

M 15:16 Mon, Jun 10 M

Chapter 34

“Are you still coming, or are you going to keep doing calisthenics?” Aiden teases, noticing that I had paused. I roll my eyes.

45

“This is your fault, you know,” 1 accuse. “Not all of us are hockey players. It’s not fair to break a sudden workout on a regular person. Aiden laughs at my response and pockets his keys, making his way toward the door.

I’m about to follow after him as I feel a sudden chill down my spine. I’m hit by an almost sickening wave of deja vu. I freeze where I’m standing

Something about this moment feels exactly like the strange dreams I’ve been having recently.

B