Pucking Strong: An MM Workplace Hockey Romance (Jacksonville Rays Book 4)

I don’t stay for the end of the press conference. I know Henrik left to come find me. Slipping from the back of the crowd, I make my way through the tunnels, jogging towards the double doors that lead to the WAG room. Rolando, the security guard, waves me past the checkpoint with a nod.

I turn the corner to find Nat and Jayla standing with the girls in front of a brightly painted mural. A local artist crafted it to look like a watercolor painting of a school of rays on a coral reef. The girls are each exclaiming, pointing out the different fish.

Jayla sees me first. “Where did you go?”

Nat spins around, eyes wide with concern.

I jog up, smiling from ear to ear. “Sorry, Henrik was doing the press conference. I didn’t wanna miss it.”

Jayla’s expression is wary. “Everything good?”

I nod. God, I feel like I have a pinball loose in my chest. It’s pinging all around, making my heart flutter. And I can’t stop smiling.

Nat grins. “Ted, what are you into? What did you do?”

Before I can reply, the door at the end of the hall slams open, and Henrik comes striding out, still in his Rays warm-up kit. Which, you know, thank god for whoever was in charge of picking the five-inch inseam on those uniform shorts. His tree-trunk thigh muscles flex as he jogs down the hallway.

“Hey, Henrik,” Jayla calls with a wave.

“Can we still say, ‘good game’?” Nat mutters at me.

I groan, shrugging her hand off my shoulder.

“We promised the girls we’d go get ice cream,” says Jayla. “Hope you don’t mind.”

If Henrik hears her, he makes no sign of it. He only has eyes for me. His energy is volcanic as he sweeps down the hallway, determination thundering with every step. Once he’s close enough, he smiles. My god, he’s dazzling.

I hold out my hands to him. “Babe, that was amazing. I’m so proud of you—”

Henrik reels me in, kissing me breathless. Behind me, the nieces all squeak. His passion and excitement only fans mine. I’m gasping when he breaks the kiss too soon. Still smiling, he drops down to one knee.

“Henrik, what—”

“Marry me.”

Behind me, my sisters shriek, and the girls fall apart in a fit of swooning giggles. My brain does a backflip while my stupid, boyish heart starts doing cartwheels. “I—babe, we’re already married.”

“I don’t care.” His gaze is steadfast, the blue of his eyes deep and warm. “Marry me again. Marry me properly. With flower girls, and photographers, and vows in English.”

“And a kiss,” Karolina squeals, bouncing in the seat of her wheelchair.

“And a kiss,” he echoes.

I just shake my head. This is crazy. Too much is happening. There are too many unknowns. How can he think about us getting remarried while we’re dealing with his family, and Karro’s PT, and our work schedules, and this press-fueled nightmare with the case worker?

He searches my face, his brow furrowing slightly. “Why do you hesitate?”

I try to process all my thoughts and emotions to form one succinct answer. “Well … why now?”

Jayla steps in behind me, shaking my shoulders. “Are you crazy, Teddy? Just say yes!”

“Shh.” Natalie pulls her back. “I wanna hear his answer.”

Slowly, Henrik rises to his feet. His heated gaze dances over the letters of my name, stitched onto the left breast of my WAG jacket. His number is on both my arms and my back. Our names are combined across my shoulders: “TEDRIK.” Two halves of one whole.

“Why now?” I repeat.

He has to say it. I think I’ll die if he won’t.

Smiling, he cups my cheek. “Because I love you.”

I close my eyes, leaning into the press of his hand. Behind me, my sisters and nieces squeal again.

“Look at me,” he soothes, both hands now resting on my shoulders.

I blink my eyes open, ignoring my blurry tears.

“I love you,” he says again. “You know I do. You knew it before I did. Before I could ever form the words, you already knew. I love you as a friend, as a lover, as the partner of my life.”

“I hoped you did,” I admit.

But he shakes his head. “No. You knew. You know me, mitt hjärta. No one has ever made me feel more seen than you. No matter what comes, we will be together, yes?”

I place both hands on his hips, anchoring myself to him as I nod. “Henrik, yes. I’m yours, you know that. I would have liked a second sink to prove your love,” I tease. “But I guess this works too.”

“You have to give him a ring!” Camila shouts from behind me.

“That’s true,” Natalie says from my left. “A proposal usually comes with a ring, Henrik. If you’re doing this all again, do it right, honey.”

Lips pursed with amusement, Henrik drops his hands from me and works the slender gold ring off his right pinkie. My heart officially fucking stops. He holds it up for my sisters and nieces to inspect. “Will this suffice?”

Jayla’s eyes narrow on the band. “Is that real gold?”

I groan, but Henrik just chuckles. “It is. A Karlsson has worn this as a wedding ring for over one hundred years. It was my mother’s. She gifted it to Teddy, the man who is my heart’s fire, mate of my soul … Those were her words, correct?” he adds at me with a teasing smile.

It’s all I can do to nod, tears ready to brim over.

“I’ve kept it safe for you, mitt hjärta. You told me to wait and give it to a partner I love, cherish, and adore.” He holds it out to me. “Will you take it now? Take it, like you’ve taken my heart.”

“Sweet lord,” Jayla murmurs.

Nat elbows her. “Will you hush up? Let the man have his moment.”

“Kneel down, Morbror,” Karolina calls. “They always kneel down.”

“Yeah, honey, do it right,” says Jay.

I feel like I’ve swallowed a fucking rainbow as Henrik dutifully drops to one knee again, holding out the slender gold ring. He takes my right hand in his, pressing a tender kiss to my knuckles. “Theodore Malik O’Connor, make me the happiest man alive, and marry me … again.”

“In English,” Nat adds over my shoulder.

“Yes, in English,” he agrees.

“And I’m flower girl,” Karolina shouts.

“And we’re all invited,” Jayla adds.

“Of course.” He gives a solemn nod. Then he looks to me. “So, will you? In front of our family and friends, will you vow to be mine for always?”

“Say yes, Uncle Teddy!”

“If you don’t say yes, I will.”

Henrik just waits, smiling only for me.

Feeling joyous and free, I nod. “Yes, Henrik. I’ll marry you again.”

Fingers trembling, he slips the thin gold band onto my right pinkie. We both stare down at it, finally at home on my finger. He brushes his thumb over the band. Leaning down, he kisses it. His lips sear my skin like a brand. It’s a sacred act, a sealing of his intent. In this moment I decide: This ring is never coming off my finger again.

Grabbing him by the shirt, I pull him up to standing. My arms go around his shoulders and then we’re kissing. The hallway erupts in cheers as our family loses it. I’m laughing and crying, kissing him again and again. “I love you,” I pant, our hands everywhere as I claim his mouth.

“I love you.”

“I’ll marry you. God, baby, I’d marry you every day of the week.”

He hums a laugh, holding me close. “Once more will be enough, I think.”

Nat peeks around me, tapping us each on the shoulder. Then she pulls a scowl that could rival my mother. “Word to the wise? If Mama doesn’t get to walk Teddy down the aisle this time, she’ll probably burn this whole arena down.”

Henrik nods. “Noted.”

Leaning up on her toes, she kisses his cheek. “Welcome to the family.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about all that stuff with the donations?” I say, my fingers woven with Henrik’s atop the gearshift.

We’re cruising home in the SUV. After our celebratory ice cream party, we dropped my sisters off at their hotel for the night. Camila and Evie begged us to let Karolina stay too. I’ve already denied them all so much time to bond as cousins. One look at my face, and Henrik quickly agreed. We’ve all made plans to have a big breakfast together tomorrow before I take them to the airport.

For tonight, I finally get Henrik to myself again.

“Poppy asked me not to,” Henrik replies. “Not until everything was settled. And I didn’t want to get your hopes up if it came to nothing.”

“Well, so how did it happen?”

He keeps his eyes on the road. “Apparently, Poppy has been looking for an exit from public relations for a while now. She’s been helping Mark Talbot build the scaffold of a new philanthropy foundation.”

“Ray of Hope?”

He nods. “They had plans to announce it in the summer. She came to me with this idea, and they had to scramble to move up their timeline. But Talbot seems pleased. And Poppy is thrilled. She’ll be announcing her departure from Rays PR just as soon as they hire her replacement.”

I lean my head back against the headrest. “Rays PR without Poppy St. James … it’s like the end of an era.”

He hums his agreement, taking a turn one-handed as he pulls us onto the street of our apartment building.

I turn my head to take in his profile, illuminated by the passing streetlights. “Announcing a major donation was an amazing idea. It’s such an important cause. And you stated the case so well.”

“You think so?”

“Totally. In the end, it’s all about preserving human dignity. In their rush to print stories, the press seems to forget about the people behind them. These are very human lives they hold in their hands, and they have the power to crush us into dust with a few pointed words. Maria deserves more. Karolina definitely does.”

Henrik just nods again.

“And Gunnar and Maria are really okay with it? Being in the press like this?”noveldrama

He sighs, pulling us into the parking garage and coasting into our reserved spot. “Dad and I are both protective of Mom. And we Swedes are notoriously private people. But you’re right—it’s a matter of human dignity. That reporter knew my mother was unwell.” He glares at the steering wheel, squeezing it tight. “He knew, and he pressed her anyway. It’s unconscionable.”

“It should be criminal,” I mutter, mirroring his anger.

He glances at me. “It may not do enough to stem the flow of bad press.” Lifting our joined hands off the shifter, he kisses my knuckles. “I will do whatever else is required to keep you and Karolina safe. I’ll retire from hockey, or I’ll get myself traded to a European team. The spotlight dims rather dramatically beyond the glare of the League.”

Heart in my throat, I sit forward. “Henrik, no. All this bullshit aside, you’re having an amazing season. Have you heard any rumblings from the team about trading you?”

“No.”

“And this announcement tonight speaks of Talbot’s willingness to support you on and off the ice. He’s rolled you out as his first major partner for his flagship philanthropy foundation. I mean, that’s no small thing.”

He nods, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand.

“And the case worker came back,” I add, trying to reassure myself now as much as him. “We have to trust she’ll see through all the media drama and cut to the facts. And the fact is that Karolina is happy, healthy, and loved. None of this has touched her. We won’t let it touch her. We can protect her, Henrik. You and me. Together. We can be everything she needs and more. We’ll love her the way Petra would want her to be loved.”

Reaching across the car, Henrik pulls me in for a kiss. “I love you,” he says against my lips. “I know I don’t deserve you—”

“Shut up,” I growl. The stupid center console is blocking me from climbing into his lap, which is all I want to do in this moment. “Take me upstairs.”

We kiss our way up the elevator and into the apartment. I kick off my shoes and am taking off my WAG jacket when Henrik reels me in by the wrists. “No, wait. Keep it on a moment longer.”

Feeling drunk on anticipation, I drop my hands. “Why?”

“I need to show you something.”

I lean away, eyes wide. “What do you need to show me?”

He takes me by the hand. “Come with me.”

We pass through the living room. Gone are the boring white walls and furniture pointed at a lonely TV. Now, the space actually looks lived in—cozy blankets draped on the couches, art on the walls, framed pictures of us on the bookshelves. Karro’s art box lies open on the coffee table, a mess of colored pencils left scattered atop her latest half-doodled masterpiece.

The results of our morning baking session sit on the counter in the kitchen. Karro and I made Swedish thumbprint cookies, dolloped with raspberry jam. The baking process was a sticky mess, but great PT to improve her fine and gross motor skills. And the results are passable. I may be a shit cook, but there’s definitely potential for my baking.

“Babe, what—”

“Just come,” he says, leading me down the back hall and into our bedroom.

I look around with narrowed eyes. Nothing looks out of place. The bed is made for once, and Henrik installed this floating shelf thingy that helps me organize my bedside table. The books I don’t read are stacked on the shelf, while a charging station lets me plug in all my various electronics and hide them in the top drawer.

I frown. “Nothing’s different.”

He walks backwards, pulling me into the bathroom. “I had it in mind to propose to you in here. But when the moment came, I found I simply couldn’t wait. Besides, I think it mattered to your sisters that they got to be involved this time.”

“It did,” I say, placing my hands on his chest. “It mattered so much. Thank you.” I brush a kiss to his lips, feeling light and bubbly, like I swallowed a case of cola.

He smiles.

“What did you want to show me?”

Taking me by the shoulders, he turns me around.

I gasp as I take in the new vanity. It’s a near match to the old one, but where there was once only one sink, now there are two. And next to the right side of the vanity, two new floating shelves hold all my hair- and skincare products. “Oh my god.” I spin around, hands on his shoulders. “Babe, you got me a love sink!”

His smile widens. “I did.”

“How? When did you do this?”

“Tonight, while we were all at the game. Tess let the delivery men in, and Ilmari installed the shelves.”

I beam at him. “You’re so sneaky. But I’ll admit that I knew something was up when your phone was pinging yesterday. Your phone never pings unless it’s from me. Between that and your silence over the media stuff, I was getting worried.”

He shrugs, brushing his hands down his arms. “I wanted it all to be a surprise.”

I turn in his arms, smiling at our reflection in the mirror. “I love it. And I love you.” I wait, holding his gaze.

Pulling me in close, he kisses the crook of my neck. His arms unfold from around my middle, his hands coasting up the hard planes of my chest. “Jag älskar dig,” he breathes in my ear. “Mitt livs kärlek … mitt allt.”

“Min man,” I tease, pressing into him.

He pulls aside the collar of my WAG jacket, sucking on the point where my shoulder meets my neck.

I fight a shiver, arching against him. “Why did you want me to leave the jacket on?”

He hums, still kissing me as he walks me forward. We don’t stop until I hit the vanity, my hands bracing against my new sink. Our gazes catch in the mirror. His intensity makes my stomach flip. Reaching around, he strokes his hand down the column of my neck. “I’m going to fuck you against this sink while you’re wearing nothing but my number on your back.”

Watching him say the words hits even harder as I hear them whispered in my ear. “Henrik—”

Jerking me back against his chest, his other hand wraps around to slip inside the top of my pants. He cups my hard dick, nipping at my ear as he adds, “And you’re going to watch every second of it in this mirror. You’ll watch me fuck you and know you’re claimed. My man wears my number and my cum. Only you, Teddy.”

I whimper, dick twitching as he starts to stroke me. “Only me.”

“My only love.” His expression is adoring as he holds my gaze in the mirror and leans away. “Take your clothes off. Everything but the jacket.”

My hands are at the top of my pants, ready to shuck them down, when I stop. Excitement bursts like little pops of fireworks in my chest as I smile. “Make me.”

With a growl, Henrik folds me over the sink and jerks my pants down around my ankles. His hand wraps around to fist my hard dick, and I’m flying, rocking back against him. He’s already panting, watching my face in the mirror as he strokes me. “Will you never just do as I say?”

I huff a laugh that sounds more like a groan as he circles his thumb over my tip. “Is that what you want tonight, baby? Want me to get on my knees and treat you like a king?”

His brain short-circuits as his brow furrows. I laugh out loud. He’s just too damn easy. I spin around, ass pressed against the sink, my hands smoothing over his chest. “I’ll tell you what. Tonight, I’ll only be a brat until you get your dick inside me. Then I promise to melt in your arms and let you fuck me into oblivion. Deal?”

His frown deepens as he considers. “If you irritate me too greatly, am I free to spank you?”

I laugh again. “Like you even need to ask?” I kiss him, pressing my body against his. “Just you wait. We haven’t even started to dip our toes into the pleasure pool. I’ve got toys that’ll make you think your spirit was sucked out of your balls.”

His eyes go wide, and I can’t quite tell if there’s a hint of interest mixed in with his shock. “Fine, we’ll take it slow. No vibrating cock rings tonight.” Tipping my chin up, I kiss him again. “We have the rest of our lives to learn and play together, find out what the other really likes. For now, we’ll do things your way.”

I turn in his arms and slip out of my WAG jacket.

In the reflection, Henrik glares at me. “Teddy …”

Feeling confident and in control, I shrug out of my T-shirt, leaving me naked and Henrik fully clothed. For good measure, I tug off the folded teal bandana that was holding my locs back, tossing it to the floor. Then I slip back into the jacket and bend myself over the sink. “I believe you wanted to fuck me with nothing but your number on my back?”

Groaning, Henrik folds himself over me, his hands smoothing up my naked torso. “I’ve never wanted anything the way I want you.”

I rock back into each stroke of his hand on my dick, watching the possessive way he kisses and touches me in the mirror. I catch his eye and his hold on me softens. He flicks my hair aside and kisses the sensitive spot behind my ear.

“You have me,” I assure him. “Forever.”