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Tanner chooses that moment to lumber around the corner, eyebrows knit together and arms crossed over his barreled chest.

“Talking? Who are you seeing, Ali?”

24

Soren

Ali: I don’t think I should come over tonight.

Ali: I’m sorry, but Tanner found out I’m seeing someone.

Ali: He doesn’t know it’s you, but if he finds out…

I stare at the texts that have blown up my phone, a scowl fixed on my face as I hold the device in a crushing grip.

Fucking Rossy.

He’s cockblocked me twice now, and he hasn’t even done it intentionally.

I try to put myself in Tanner’s shoes. If Ali were my sister, I’d be protective, too, just as I am with Anna. I care about her welfare and I would never want to see her hurt again. I may not have been able to protect her from the loss of my brother, but when she finds love again, I won’t hesitate to be all up in her business. I’m looking out for Anna’s best interests, as well as Heinrich’s and Clara’s.

I reread Ali’s texts. She’s obviously concerned about her brother finding out, and I want to do what I can to alleviate that stress, but meeting up with her on the down-low doesn’t bother me. In fact, keeping my sex life private and out of the public eye has always been my goal. I don’t need people passing judgment about my personal life. They do enough of that with their critiques of my on-ice skill.

Ali, though, may not want to be a secret.

I choose my response carefully.

Me: I get you’re worried. But if it makes you feel better, I’ve invited you over tonight to discuss the charity work.

Me: Just put aside the fact that I may also want to get you naked. Wink emoji

Me: Please come. I really want to see you.

There.

I said what I needed to say, and I’ll leave it in her hands to decide. All I want is to spend time with her away from the prying eyes of others. One-on-one is more my style. It doesn’t overwhelm me like the overstimulation of Rossy’s pool party.

Glancing at the clock on my microwave, I decide I have time for a shower before my food delivery arrives. I ordered a feast from the local Italian eatery down the street. A variety of pasta dishes that are good fuel for my training workouts. That way, even if Ali chooses not to come by tonight, at least I’ll have leftovers.

Today’s session was exceptionally brutal. Due to the lower-body strength and speed that I need to be successful in the crease, my workouts and training tend to center on my hip mobility, leg and core strength, and overall flexibility.

And right now, my quads are feeling it.

Although I haven’t seen them, I’ve heard there are Instagram accounts specifically dedicated to hockey goalies and our warm-up routines. We do them because they’re critical to avoiding an injury in a game. The Reels, however, lean heavily toward the sexual innuendo inherent in our butterfly stretches and hip thrusts.

I get it. We’re hot like that. But to be objectified when we’re just doing our job is, quite honestly, annoying. It’s also one of the reasons I stay off social media entirely.

As soon as the shower warms up, I step inside and set the modes—both the high-pressure rainfall shower head and the side heads that ease my sore muscles. It’s one of my favorite features of this bathroom.

With the water coursing down over my body, my thoughts naturally gravitate to Ali. On how her skin looked golden and smooth in that bikini yesterday and what it would be like to peel it off her, piece by piece, and get her wet under this stream.

The mental images fuel my growing arousal, my cock thickening with need. Taking it in my hand, I stroke it in my tight fist, pleasure seizing my spine and making it ricochet to my balls. I drop my chin, my back muscles tense, my breath choppy, water sluicing down my chest as it rises and falls in an uneven rhythm.

Closing my eyes, I pump my swollen erection and picture Ali the way she lay across her bed, legs spread wide, as my fingertips pressed into her thighs, her pussy glistening for my touch.

The memory is all it takes for my balls to tighten, and my cock jerks out my release in my hand as I come with a low, satisfied groan. My insatiable need for her has become somewhat of a preoccupation. She’s all I can think about, and I want to see more of her.

The problem is that we both have concerns about her brother finding out about us.