Tanner

I know I have to get up and get ready. We have a game today, and I need to go to the complex, but I don't want to move from this spot. Holding my girl in my arms after pouring my deepest desires into what we just did is the only place I want to be right now.

I made love to her slow, deep, sensual. There was no rush, no reason to make this end any sooner. There was nothing but Jenna and me. We took our time exploring one another. We met each other at every wave, and we reached the peak of bliss simultaneously.

I never want to leave this spot. I never want to let go of Jenna. I never want to leave the woman I love.

Wow, there it is- the woman I love. I never thought I'd see the day when those words ran through my head.

I know it's the truth. I love her. She accepts me- all of me- my present, my past, my faults, and attributes. She accepts me, Tanner Levine, and all that makes me flawed. She doesn't just expect me to be Tanner Levine, star hockey player, good in bed, rich, and famous.

No, she could care less about the latter, but she accepts all of me, even the shitty parts. And she has given me more of herself than anyone ever has before. She let me see her vulnerabilities. She's shared parts of herself with me that I'm sure very few have ever gotten to see.

When she shared with me what happened in the first several months as she was trying to process her brother's death, she proved she was willing to open up to me like I was to her. I felt honored that she would share things like that with me. I want to be the one she comes to, the one she shares things with, the one she trusts. I finally feel like she's starting to see me as that person for her, and damn, that lifts me up.

Yeah, I love her. So freaking much. I'd do anything for her.

I look at her in my arms and kiss her again. Jenna smiles as she starts to stir. "As much as I hate to leave your warm bed, we both need to get up and start the day. You have a game, mister."

I laugh and pull her tight against me, then kiss the top of her head. "If you say so, babe. Come on. I'll make my specialty before you go to work."

Jenna finishes the breakfast I made her and heads to the office. I head off to the complex to get ready for the game.

~

Before the game starts, Jenna texts me and lets me know she won't be at the game because she got pulled into a last-minute meeting with her boss. She tells me that she's sorry she'll miss it, but she'll meet up at the bar with everyone afterward.

The game was close, but we pulled off the win in overtime. We knew the team we were playing tonight would be a challenge, but the new drills we've been running at practice gave us an edge tonight. It was challenging, and we all worked our asses off out there. I probably worked harder than I ever have before. The only thing that could make this win better is having my girl by my side.

~

The boys and I head to the bar after the game to celebrate. We get situated at our usual table and put in our order with the server. I find myself looking for Jenna, but she's nowhere to be found. Damn, I wonder what that meeting was all about. I figured she'd be here by now.

After a bit, I see a flash of dark hair plowing through the crowd toward our tables. It's Jenna. She rushes over to Lindsey, Chase, and Liam and slams Liam's drink, then Chase's.

Oh, fuck! That's not good.

I'm chomping at the bit to go over to her- to ask her if she's okay. Her eyes meet mine, and she subtly tells me to stay put. The guys ask her what's wrong, and I listen intently, fighting the urge to be by her side. She flags down the server and orders a drink.

Okay, what the fuck happened!?

I see the anger in my girl's eyes, and I'm instantly balling my hands into fists. As much as it kills me, I stay in my seat and hold myself back from running to check on her. She's not ready to tell people about us, but how the hell am I just supposed to sit back and watch her go through hell and not reach out to console her?

I listen intently to her conversation. She starts to explain what happened to Chase, Lindsey, and Liam, but it's loud in here, and I don't catch what she says. I'm starting to get antsy, and it's getting harder to fight the urge to run to her.

Don't do anything stupid, Tanner. She'll tell you later.

I have to keep my cool while I'm here in front of everyone. Then, I hear Jenna say she needs some time alone and is going to head home. I look at her, and she flicks her eyes to mine, making sure I got the message.

I got it, loud and clear. After she leaves, I wait a little while, let everyone start up a new topic, and get fresh drinks. Then, I sneak out before anyone notices.

~

I meet her at her place, and she tells me everything. She says she got fired. Her boss didn't want to but had to fire her because someone higher up made the call. Her boss told her he wasn't supposed to say anything, but there was a claim from a rep from another company that Jenna was leaking private client information to him. The guy told high ups that this didn't sit right with him, and he felt he had to report it.

Her boss told her who made the bullshit claim- Max Beckham, her ex-boyfriend. Her boss was trying to fix everything and get her job back. But in the meantime, the higher-ups told him she had to be let go immediately in case the report was true.

I am going to kick that lying weasel's ass. That fucking prick, Max! I'm livid and want to go hunt that mother fucker down, but I don't want to upset Jenna. She needs me now, so I'll do whatever she asks of me.

I ask her what I can do. She tells me to just stay with her tonight and hold her. I ask what to do about the roommates, and she says we can stay in her room and sneak me out in the morning. "I just need you here tonight, Tanner. Please."

There's nothing in the world I would deny her. "Of course, I'll stay."

She smiles at me, but it doesn't reach her eyes. I can tell she's hurting, so I do what I can to comfort her. She stays in my arms for a while, just resting her head on my chest while I brush my fingers through her hair.

I don't know how much time has passed when she says she's going to take a shower, but it doesn't seem like much. While she showers, I make her favorite tea and bring it to her room along with a bottle of water for myself. I lock the door and strip down to my boxers. There's no way I'm sleeping in dress pants.

After her shower, Jenna thanks me for the tea, and we curl up on her bed. I wrap my arms around her protectively and hold her close. She doesn't say much, neither do I as we lay there together.

I kiss her head as I listen to her soft breathing. "I'm always here for you. Whatever you need, I'll give it to you."

She doesn't say anything. Instead, she hugs me tighter and nestles further into me. Eventually, she falls asleep in my arms, and I hear the roommates come home.

I steady my breathing when I hear a soft knock on the door, and Lindsey quietly calls Jenna's name. I'm frozen in place, holding my girl close as I wait for Lindsey to make her next move.

When Jenna doesn't answer, Lindsey walks away. Shortly after, I hear the apartment grow quiet. Only then do I relax.

I shift us, so we're laying on our sides. I position the pillow under her head and curl my arms around her, pulling her as close as I can. My only job is to keep my girl safe and warm through the night.

Seeing her in pain like that kills me. It tears me up inside. I never understood how people made others' pain their own, how they felt it on such a deep level. Not until now.

Not until I fell in love with Jenna.

I'd take on the world for you, baby, if only it would make you smile.

I kiss the top of her head and whisper, "I love you, Jenna," before I fall asleep.