Thanks for all the amazing reviews! I know the cliffhanger was a little mean but I hope this chapter can live up to your expectations. Unfortunately I have to tell you that everything has to come to an end eventually. There will be an epilogue to top this story off but this is the final chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 14

She couldn't move a muscle, she couldn't even blink. She hadn't expected him to come to her at all. Who was this man standing right in front of her? A few months ago he was an arrogant prick who didn't seem to care if he hurt women in his wake because he was Mark 'Hot Shot' Sloan and he would just proceed to the next one.

He wasn't this man anymore. She thought he couldn't change but he apparently had. His eyes were searching hers for any reaction but she was in complete shock. It wasn't only the fact that he told her that he loved her what was pretty amazing in itself. It was the fact that he told her that he didn't care about the game that melted her heart completely. He would give up everything he had, everything he ever dreamed of, just to be with her.

He stood in the middle of her floor, soaking wet, and she could swear she could see tears shimmering in his eyes. What did she do to him? Somehow he managed to break him. She could see it that he'd been saying the truth. He was a complete mess and Lexie could feel the joy rising up in her chest. He was a mess because of her. Because he loved her.

"I'm too late." Mark whispered defeated, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket, turning his head so that she couldn't see the tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry for disturbing your evening. I'll go now."

As Mark turned around Lexie realized that she still hadn't said anything and her hand shot forward grabbing his and yanking him back. "You are a complete idiot, Mark Sloan. I don't know why I put up with you."

"What?" Mark asked completely stunned and suddenly a chuckle broke out of Lexie and she wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him down.

"Say it again." She demanded and it took Mark a few seconds until he realized what she wanted to hear.

"I love you." Mark spoke hoarsely, huffing out a relieved breath. "I love you more than you can imagine."

"Good." Lexie grinned from ear to ear now. "Because I love you, too."

"So you are giving me another chance?" Mark asked, still a little dazzled by her confession, not sure if it really meant what he wanted it to mean.

"I do. But don't mess it up this time." Lexie stabbed her finger in his chest. "I'll have your balls if you do."

"It's really disturbing that I'm convinced you would actually make me an eunuch if I screw this up." Mark chuckled, wrapping his hand around her finger. Looking up in her smiling face, his smile dropped off his face and he said quietly. "God, I missed you."

"It's been only two weeks, Mark."

"So you're telling me you didn't miss me?" Mark asked only half-joking, still afraid that this could turn out to be only a dream.

Lexie could see the worry still lingering in his eyes and she lifted her hand, cupping his cheek. "No, I missed you too."

The worry eased considerable in his eyes upon hearing her words and he turned his head pressing a kiss against her palm. Raising her eye brows questioningly as she felt his smirk against her skin, Mark took her hand and pressed it against his chest, the smile never leaving his face. "So if you missed me and I missed you ..."

"Yeah?"

"Can I throw you against the wall now?" Mark asked, wiggling his eye brows suggestively.

Lexie burst out in laughter and shook her head. "You're incorrigible."

"What?" Mark suppressed a smile, taking one step closer, pressing her against the wall, his wet jacket soaking through her shirt but she didn't really realize it as her heart stuttered a second and her breath caught in her throat when she looked into his handsome face. "I missed kissing you ..." He pressed a soft kiss against her lips, then moved along her jaw to her ear. " … everywhere."

Lexie's hands slipped under his jacket, throwing it on the floor, her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, their hands collided as he tried to help her, apparently needing to feel her fingers on his skin as much as she needed to feel it. With a loud thud the shirt hit the floor and Lexie shivered as she pressed her hands flat against his chest, feeling his muscles flex under her fingers.

It wasn't the coldness of his skin that made her shiver but the desire that rushed through her as she trailed her fingers over his abs, outlining every single bulge of his impressive six-pack and Mark hissed in a breath as her hand reached his jeans, her finger stopping a second before she moved it slowly from left to right while her tongue darted into his mouth, her other hand reaching up to his head. Pulling him down, she arched her back, her erected nipples pressing into his chest while he felt her fingers working on his belt.

"I missed touching you ..." Lexie whispered against his lips, one of her hands skipping over his back. "... everywhere." She breathed as she slipped her fingers under his boxer briefs, taking him firmly into her hand.

Mark pressed his hands against the wall, his head dropped to her shoulder and he sucked in her flesh as she began to move her hand, spreading his legs wider to give her better access as he trailed one trembling hand down her neck over her collar bone until his fingers reached her breast and tightened around it the exact moment her fingers tightened around him almost painfully.

Mark groaned deep in his throat and he leaned back, his fingers searching blindly for the hem of her shirt, almost ripping it apart as he pulled it over her head, his mouth shooting down to suck in her nipple through the lace of her bra.

Lexie shivered again as his tongue stroked over her, her hands reaching out to his head, pressing him further into her. He pulled her back from the wall, turning her so that he could bend her backwards. She clutched her hands around his biceps as he bend her even further back, his hands the only thing that kept her from falling. Her core was pressed against his, his tongue was twirling around her nipple, his teeth scraping her skin.

Lexie felt as if her back would break any minute but she couldn't stop him, she didn't want him to stop. His erection pressing against her almost drove her crazy. His mouth ravished her other breast while her fingers left imprints on his arms. She almost came when he closed his teeth carefully around her, nibbling and sucking, licking over it in the next second. She couldn't bear it any longer, her body pounded heavily, every fiber in her screaming, sending jolts across her skin.

"Mark!" Lexie groaned urgently and as if he understood what she wanted to tell him by only saying his name, he pulled her up so fast that she felt completely dizzy and sagged into his arms. But he just scooped her up and carried her into the bed room, his mouth coming down on hers, his tongue demanding entrance and she opened up willingly, meeting his tongue with the same ferocity.

They fell on the bed, tugging at their clothes frantically, Lexie becoming extremely frustrated when his wet jeans and boxer briefs got stuck at the middle of his thighs. Not able to wait any longer she leaned forward, taking him in her mouth and sucking him in as deep as she could.

A jolt of electricity shot through his body and he grabbed the sheet, clenched the material between his fingers, trying desperately not to lose it right then and there as her mouth left a hot trail on him, licking and sucking as if her life depended on it. He grabbed her hair, not knowing if he wanted to pull her back or push her deeper down. But the urge to plunge into her not her mouth was stronger and he uttered a strangled sound, not able to form a coherent word.

Lexie looked up into his face, a smug grin appearing on her face as she saw the tendons in his neck bulging as he clenched his teeth, the passion in his eyes increasing her smugness even more. 'All mine' she sighed inwardly.

"Come here." Mark bellowed, almost jerking her up by her arms.

Lexie followed his command, rubbing her body against his on her way up until Mark had enough of her teasing and flipped her around, pinning her against the mattress.

"Stay there." He growled as he stood up, pulling at his jeans until they finally flapped to the ground, his eyes roaming over her body, making her whole body trembling with anticipation, the animalistic glint in his eyes turning her on more than it should.

"I hope you are ready." Mark grunted as he pushed her legs apart and his roughness shot another wave of wetness straight to her core.

Lexie had expected him to plunge into her right away but she should have known better. No matter how much he wanted to just take her he would never hurt her. His mouth closed around her nipple again, his hand reaching between her thighs, his fingers slipping into her, making sure that she was really ready for him.

Lexie couldn't wait any longer. She pulled him up, her tongue darting out to shot into his mouth. She wrapped her hand around him, leading him where she wanted him the most, moaning loudly as he finally plunged into her, his hand slipping under her body, lifting her up so that he could penetrate her even deeper and she dug her nails into his skin, meeting his thrusts, riding with him higher and higher until they exploded, his body jerking above her while she almost passed out as wave after wave rushed through her.

Mark crashed down on her, burying her underneath him and Lexie could hardly breathe as his weight pressed her into the bed but she didn't care as she wrapped her arms around him, her hands trailing down his back, finding his ass and squeezing him the moment she tightened her walls around him one more time and Mark arched his back, a shiver rippling through his body.

"Yeah, I definitely missed that." Lexie breathed into his ear and Mark chuckled against her neck. "What? My ass or this?" He shifted his body slightly and pushed into her again, still half-erect.

Lexie groaned, closing her eyes, relishing the feeling of him in her, his scruff scratching against her sensitive skin as he propped himself up on his elbows, relieving her from his weight.

"Both, I guess." Lexie whispered with still closed eyes.

Lexie could hear the smile in his voice as he replied. "And I missed those two."

Lexie opened her eyes, contemplating what he'd meant but he answered her with pulling one of her nipples between his teeth while his fingers pinched the other one and Lexie felt the immediate reaction as her stomach tightened, furrowing her brows as she felt him growing in her again.

"No way." Lexie's eyes widened in surprise. "How is it possible that you are already ready again? You are almost thirty-seven." She added almost reproachfully and Mark laughed out loud before he replied with an immense cockiness in his voice. "Did I wear you out already?"

"Nope." Lexie said, wrapping her legs around his waist. "Not the slightest. Can't wait for the next round."

Mark pulled her up, leaning back, shifting his legs under her thighs so that she was sitting on his lap, pressing his hands firmly against her back. "Okay then." One hand trailed along her rib cage over her nipple before he threaded his fingers into her hair, pulling her down to seal her lips with his. Loosening his grip on her back, his hands rested now on her hips as he locked eyes with her, a mischievous grin splitting up his face as he pushed her back a little just to pull her towards him again a second later, plunging hard and deep into her, grinning wolfishly as she threw her head back, her moan vibrating in the air. "Let's start round two."

~M&L~

"He did what?" Lexie's voice became considerably louder, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"I'm sitting on the bench." Mark repeated, the disappointment evident in his voice.

He'd just came back from the team meeting three hours before the game and the Couch had told him that he wouldn't start from the beginning. Lexie had waited in front of the stadium for him and he'd pulled her aside to tell her the bad news right away, not expecting her to explode like she did.

"Is he crazy?"

"Lex, I left without saying a word and missed the last two training sessions. He is right to not let me play." Mark tried to explain it to his furious girlfriend.

It hurt to not be on the ice today from the beginning but seeing Lexie going in full-blown protective mode made his chest swell. She was gorgeous like hell as her hair was flying around her face as she railed against the Couch. Right at that moment he couldn't even think about the game. All he could think about was dragging her into the next closet and have his way with her.

As Ryan stepped through the door, Lexie suddenly stormed forward slipping past him and Ryan looked stunned after her while Mark jogged by him, grabbing her arm to hold her back.

"Hey, what do you think you are doing?"

"Making sure that you're playing." Lex gritted out through clenched teeth and Mark was so surprised about the anger in her voice that he loosened his grip around her arm and she stomped towards the office of the Couch, Ryan following the exchange highly amused.

Mark rubbed his hand over his neck, looking completely baffled back to Ryan. "What just happened?"

"Man, you are so screwed!" Ryan laughed, slapping him playfully on the back.

"What?" Mark asked confused. "Why?"

"She is obviously the one who has the pants on in your relationship."

Mark still looked completely dumbfounded, his gaze returning to the door Lexie just had disappeared behind before he shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe. Should I feel embarrassed about it?"

"Sloan, you are so whipped!" Ryan chuckled.

"Yeah." Mark replied, not even trying to deny it and Ryan's smile widened as he saw the happiness in his friend's eyes. Yeah, Mark was completely, head over heels, in love with Lexie. No doubt and it suited him. Not that he would tell him that.

They suddenly turned around as Scott Hampton walked down the corridor, chuckling to himself. As he spotted Mark and Ryan at the entrance he joined them, slapping his hand on Mark's back as Ryan had done just a minute earlier.

"She actually talked to Coach Bryan." Scott said, not able to hide his amusement. "I happened to be next his office so I heard everything."

"You happened to be next his office?" Mark quirked an eye brow, adding sarcastically. "Of course."

"You would have loved it. She talked him against the wall. Telling him pretty aggressively that we wouldn't be where we are now without you and that he would be a complete idiot if he wouldn't let you play today. She was very convincing. She is a hell of a catch, Mark."

"I know." Mark said with a slightly dreamy look on his face before his eyes shot back to Scott, giving him a murderous look. "So keep your hands off her."

"Wouldn't dare touch her." Scott stepped back, raising his hands defensively. "She is yours, Sloan. Everyone knows that."

"Yep. She belongs to me." Mark replied, an odd sense of pride rising up in his chest. "Don't forget it."

~M&L~

They hadn't won the sixth game even though Mark played once again one of his best hockey but the Devils were just better that day. But they'd had the home advantage in the decisive seventh game and they'd won it. Lexie had jumped up and down the moment the siren declared the end of the game almost as happy as the players themselves. He won the Stanley Cup. She was so proud of him as he skated around the ice with the Cup held high over his head.

The Cup made the round, every player skated around with it and Lexie couldn't stop grinning. They looked so much like little boys even though most of them had beards that covered almost their complete faces. But their smiles were infectious. As the last player had made his round with the Cup he brought it back to the middle and put it down in front of Mark. Someone handed Mark a microphone and he cleared his throat, waiting for the crowd to get quiet before his voice came loud and clear over the speakers.

"I'm happy that I could play all those years with this amazing team and for those amazing fans." Applause went up and Mark smiled. "But you should leave on a high note and winning the Cup is everything I've always dreamed of. Professionally. This is it. I'm retiring. My career as a hockey player is over. It's time. I'm old." Whistles shrilled through the stadium and a voice shouted that he was still able to play every rookie against the wall. "Just ask my doctor. She actually told me that I'm way too old for professional sport." With a boyish grin on his face, Mark turned towards his teammates. "Ryan, Scott bring her to me."

Lexie stared wide-eyed at Ryan and Scott as they stopped in front of her, stretching her hands out, waiting for her to take them. Mark hadn't said a word that he was planning to retire, taking her completely by surprise with his statement. She looked up and seeing the smile on his face melted her heart. When she took the hands of the two players they lifted her over the board and carried her over to Mark, setting her down carefully on the ice in front of him.

"Ladies and gentleman, you might not believe it but it happened." Mark spoke clearly into the microphone, pausing briefly to give his next statement even more effect even though the crowd was already hanging on his lips. "Mark Sloan is off the market. He fell in love with a beautiful and stubborn woman who is hopefully gonna marry him one day."

Wrapping his arms around her, he bend her backwards and kissed her in front of thousands of fans, right in the middle of the ice, not caring about the hundreds of flashlights of the reporters who all wanted to capture the picture that would be on the front page of every sport section tomorrow morning.

"Hopefully gonna marry him one day?" Lexie asked breathlessly as he pulled her up again, her hands clutching his shirt tightly so that she wouldn't lose the balance on the ice. "Was this a proposal?"

"No." Mark smirked. "Not yet."

"So there will be one in the future?" Lexie cocked her head, looking at him challengingly, daring him to back out but he only leaned down and pressed another hard kiss on her mouth.

"Yep. Definitely! You are not gonna get rid of me. Ever." Mark replied determined.

"Who said I wanna get rid of you?" Lexie asked, her hand reaching up to caress his scruff, glad that he was one of the few players who actually cut his beard during the play-offs.

"I just wanted to make it clear that there is no chance in hell that you are gonna kick me out again."

"I'm gonna hold you to that." Lexie smirked.

"To what? Not gonna kick me out?"

"No." Lexie paused briefly, a full-blown smile erupted on her face as she added. "To being the future Mrs. Sloan."

"I like the sound of that." Mark replied, his smile matching hers.

"Me too." Lexie beamed up to him, taking his face between her hands, completely forgetting that they were surrounded by thousands of people as she stood up on her tiptoes, Mark's hand at her back stabilizing her, giving him a toe-curling kiss, smiling broadly as the cheering of the crowd reached their ears. "Me too."

Like I said at the beginning of this chapter there is going to be an epilogue to give you a glimpse into their future life because I can't resist to give you all a cheesy ending. :-) What can I say? I'm a sucker for such endings. Deal with it! ;-)