by Kristen Echo
“Wow,” I said as the front door opened and Aaron stepped out, looking sexier than ever.
The early morning sunshine painted his bronzed skin and highlighted his muscular arms. I swear there were flecks of gold scattered through his brown hair. He was dressed causal in a white t-shirt and jeans that seemed custom fit for his large frame. My heart thundered in my chest as I approached.
“Happy Holidays, Aaron,” Presley said. “It’s great to see you.”
“Finally, you’re here. Safe and sound.” He winked and my insides liquified. “This is going to be a Christmas to remember.”
I climbed the steps, dropped my bag and launched myself at him. “Hi.”
“Hello,” he wheezed as our bodies collided.
“I missed you.”
Grabbing a fistful of cotton, I pushed him against the stone wall. His dark eyes met mine. Sultry and inviting. My fingers tangled in his hair. I lifted onto the tips of my toes and peppered his clean-shaven jaw with kisses.
“I missed you too, Josephine.”
I loved that he always used my full name. He held me against his hard chest. As he stared at me, a fire deep in my core ignited. A second later, his lips descended and covered mine. With a persuasive sweep of his tongue, my mouth opened, and he deepened the kiss. His hand covered my ass, and he squeezed. I moaned. Within seconds, I was utterly lost in him.
“Get a room,” Presley muttered as she walked past us into the house.
Aaron pulled away and pressed his forehead to mine. “You have no idea how happy I am to have you here.”
“I have a pretty good idea,” I said as I rubbed my stomach against his erection.
He growled. Low and deep. The sound made my nipples hard. Everything about him turned me on. The weeks apart made my heart grow fonder, and my lust for him intensified.
“Speaking of rooms.” I worried my lip between my teeth. As I toyed with the soft strands at the base of his head, I summoned the courage to put myself out there. “Are we sharing?”
“Hell yes,” he replied. “You’re mine. I plan to keep you as close as possible while you’re here.”
“Good. Because you’re mine.” I claimed his lips again.
Passion flowed, and an eruption of desire spilled over me. I only meant for the kiss to be chaste, but my hunger for him refused to be satiated. It was impossible to make up for a month’s worth of lost kisses in just a few days, but this was a great start. My lips felt swollen by the time we came up for air.
He grabbed my bag and my hand. “Welcome home.”
“It’s great to be here.” I smiled and gripped his hand tighter as he showed me around his magnificent house.
His place was every bit as wonderful inside as out, but with more personality. Aaron collected art and showcased them in every room. Several were Presley Drakos originals. She was so talented. Even the stuff she did as a kid blew me away. It was too bad she hadn’t pursued art in school.
As we ventured from room to room, my nerves dissipated. Sure, this place was expensive, but it was homey. I felt at ease, and not like a fish out of water. His sense of style was relaxed. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
By the time we completed the tour, dropped my bag in the master bedroom, and made out like teenagers, I was starved. With the rhythmic waves of the waterfall beside us, we ate lunch by the pool. The weather was warm and comfortable for a leisurely afternoon, chilling outside.
Presley stood and wiped the pie crumbs off her lap. “I’m going over to Carter’s house to help his wife prepare dinner.”
Aaron’s best friend and teammate, Jeremiah Carter, and his wife, Latisha, were hosting a Christmas dinner. Several of the players and their families would be there. My boyfriend was excited to formally introduce me to his buddies. My nerves had been playing tug of war since he mentioned the party. I would have preferred an intimate evening with just the three of us, but I could tell how much his hockey family meant to him.
“We can all go,” I offered, but didn’t move from the lounger where Aaron and I snuggled. I wasn’t ready to leave our bubble just yet.
“Nah. You two enjoy a few hours alone.”
“Are you sure? If Latisha needs another set of hands—”
She smirked, but the smile never reached her sad eyes. “My girl is a control freak. An amazing lady, but I’ll be lucky if she lets me assist with setting the table.” My best friend lowered her gaze and shuffled her feet. “Besides, I need her advice about… you know.”
“Say the word, and I’ll kill him,” Aaron offered. His muscles flexed behind me. “No one hurts my sister and gets away with it.”
“He didn’t hurt me,” she proclaimed, but we all saw through the lies.
She had fallen for him, and he ended things by text. It hurt my soul to see the pain radiating off her. That guy was a jerk. I was glad Presley had other friends she confided in because she wasn’t leaning on me.
I wiggled out of Aaron’s arms and stood. “If you want me to come for girl talk, I’m yours.”
“Appreciate the offer, but I’ll see you guys there for dinner.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Aaron said. “We’ll walk you out.”
The second the door closed behind Presley, he pushed me against the wall. “Have I told you how happy I am to see you?”
“A few times,” I said as his he pressed his body against mine. “Do you think she’s going to be all right?”
“She’s strong. No more talking about my sister.”
His lips grazed below my ear at the spot that instantly made my legs tremble and my panties wet. I threaded my fingers through his thick hair. We kissed. Our hands roamed freely. We were all over each other.
It was our first time alone in ages. Before I knew what happened, he tossed me over his shoulder. Aaron carried me up the stairs and threw me on his bed as though I weighed nothing. I loved how strong he was and that he hadn’t even broken a sweat. Within seconds, our clothing littered the wooden floor. I was naked with his underwear gripped in my hands.
“I want you,” I panted. “Let’s take these off.”
“Are you in a rush?” His mouth descended on my nipple, licking around the puckered tip. “I’ll be naked in due time.”
The heat and suction forced my body to shudder. I tugged on his silky tresses and held him against my bosom. When I was on the brink of delirium, I let him go and clutched the sheets. He continued kissing his way down, over my stomach, and stopped at the apex of my legs. Parting my folds with his fingers, he inhaled and then licked deep into my core.
“Yesss! Aaron… don’t stop.”
My hips lifted off the mattress. He lapped at my moisture as I squirmed and moaned for more. His tongue circled my clit, and he pushed two fingers inside my wet channel. The combination of soft and hard, rough and gentle brought a wave of bliss so intense I lost focus. The room blurred as an orgasm tore through me.
I wheezed for air, staring down at this mighty talented man. He placed gentle kisses over my mound and against my thighs as he removed his briefs. The position didn’t grant me a good angle to see all of him.
“Let me see you.”
Kneeling between my spread legs, he lifted and gripped his cock. A lump formed in my throat. I’d never seen anything so virile. Aaron was stunning. Everything about him was big and impressive. I collected a drop of precum with my finger and licked it. The salty cream exploded against my taste buds, making me thirsty.
As he stroked his long, thick shaft, I chewed on my lip. Aaron Drakos had the body of an Adonis with tanned skin and bulging muscles. Two V-shaped grooves pointed at the most perfect cock. I traced the outline of the V, eager to get my hand around those hard inches.
“You are gorgeous.” I arched my eyebrow and smiled. “Time to return the favor.”
His low roar sent a jolt to my heart. “If you put your mouth on me, I…” Another roar followed.
“Tell me what you want.”
I covered his hand with mine. My fi
st circled his shaft. His dark eyes rolled back slightly as I pumped his rock-hard length.
“You.” His tone was husky and commanding. “I want all of you.”
I guided him against my sex and coated him with my release. Fisting his erection tighter, I worked him from root to tip and back again. I brushed the tip against my entrance and over my clit, repeating the motion until we were both panting.
“I can’t wait any longer to make love to you,” he said, reaching over and grabbing a condom from his bedside table. “Josephine, say you’ll be mine.”
The way he said mine sounded so possessive. I didn’t want to read too much into his words, but I wanted to be his. I had never wanted anything more.
“Yes.” I released his cock, slipped my hand over his hip, and gripped his ass. “Aaron, I want us to make love.”
He pierced me with his lust filled stare as he sheathed his cock. Without a word, he lunged forward, thrusting inside me. His dark eyes never left mine. I gasped at the fullness. Absolutely lost in his gaze; my heart skipped a beat. He blanketed my body and kissed me as he pushed deeper. I wrapped my legs around his hips. It didn’t take long for my body to adjust to him.
We moved together as if we’d done this before. Our lips connected as our bodies synchronized. I slid my hands over his broad shoulders and gripped his biceps as he pumped his hips. The slow and controlled pace morphed into a frantic race for an orgasm. Our grunts eclipsed the steady slapping of skin on skin. When his fingers pressed against my clit, my climax charged through me like a freight train. I shook and screamed his name. With my body wrapped around him like a vine, I held him against me.
“Josephine… yes!” He reared back like a stallion as he spilled his release inside me. His face contorted as he emptied himself.
When the orgasm subsided, he showered my face with kisses. I ran my fingers through his sweat soaked hair as the final tremors subsided. He was magnificent.
“You are amazing,” he said as he pulled out and rolled over.
My heart swelled. I had been falling for him before we got physical, but this changed things. A knot twisted in my stomach. My mouth was dry. I couldn’t speak. If I did, I was likely to declare my love. It was too soon.
“I… Aaron, I… am going to clean up.” I quickly raced to the bathroom and closed the door behind me.
As I splashed water on my face, I tried to rein in my emotions. I wasn’t a virgin, but I’d never experienced anything like that. My body was still vibrating like the aftershocks of an earthquake. My cheeks were pink, my hair a mess, and my lips were swollen from his kisses. I was a mess. Leaning against the sink, I waited for my pulse to return to normal.
A knock on the door startled me. “Are you all right? Did I hurt you?”
I opened the door, hiding behind it slightly. “You didn’t hurt me. I’m more than all right.” I’m in love, I almost blurted.
“Then get back into bed with me.” He grabbed my hand. “I’m not letting you go,” he said as we fell back onto the wrinkled sheets.
As I bounced into his arms, I giggled. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Josephine, can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Anything.”
He pulled the blankets over our lower halves. “Do you still think I’m a player?”
Aaron might have played the field, but I didn’t think he was playing me. Our connection grew stronger with each passing day. Not to mention, Presley confirmed that her brother had never acted this way before with his other girlfriends. What we shared was special.
I cupped his jaw and stared into his eyes. “No. I don’t think you’re a player anymore.”
He exhaled as if he’d been holding his breath. “Good.” He smiled. “I’m clean. I get tested all the time.”
“That’s a statement. Not a question,” I joked, placing my hand over his heart.
“Are you on the pill? I’d love to ditch the condoms.”
It was a simple question, yet I hesitated. I’d never had unprotected sex. While I didn’t like to imagine him with other women, I knew about his past.
“Did you often not use condoms?”
“Never,” he answered and wound my hair around his fist. He inched closer until the tip of his nose caressed mine. “I’ve had a condom break before, but this is the first time I’ve ever considered not using them. Only with you.”
The scent of sex clung to the sheets. Resting my head on his pillow, I gazed at his smiling face. I had never felt so safe and desired. As I searched his eyes, I found love reflected back at me. This was real.
“I’m on the pill. We can make love without a condom.”
“Merry Christmas,” he said before he claimed my lips and my body again.
Chapter 6
Aaron
There was a moment over the Christmas holidays where my cheeks hurt from smiling. Not since I was a kid had I felt that elated. Not even my first NHL game compared to making love to Josephine for the first time. I had fallen hard for my sister’s best friend.
The miles between us couldn’t stop the love blooming in my heart. It was too bad my career granted only a few days off during the season. If we made playoffs, it would be even harder to find time to see each other. I loved my job, but for the first time in my life I wondered what life outside of the NHL would be like. Not that I planned to stop playing anytime soon. I still had a few good years left before I intended to hang up my skates.
I pounded my stick against the ice as our goalie gloved the puck. The next faceoff didn’t go so well for us. With my ass on the bench, I followed the play and chewed on my mouth guard. A slapshot sailed towards the net. This time the puck slipped between his pads and they scored.
“Shit,” I groaned and glanced up.
The scoreboard reflected our lackluster performance in the first two periods. Three to zero. We had allowed far too many shots on net. Having Josephine here added to my lust for victory, but apparently her presence didn’t infuse my team with the same zeal.
As I hopped over the boards, my eyes found her. My gorgeous girlfriend sat in the stands, wearing my jersey. She offered a supportive smile. I winked and skated into position. When the puck dropped, everything and everyone faded from existence. For the next twenty minutes, I played my heart out, but it wasn’t enough. We lost.
Despite the final score, I left the ice with a smile on my face. Josephine was here. She had trekked to Buffalo the previous evening. The weeks apart had flown by. I hadn’t realized how badly I missed her kisses, and her gentle touch until she was back with me. Holding her in my arms last night was magical. I couldn’t get enough of her sweet curves. I loved the way her body bounced as she rode my cock, and the way she moaned my name as she climaxed was like an erotic symphony. We made love so many times I lost count. It was great. Except, I wanted more time with her. She made my life better.
The second the locker room door closed, our head coach tore a strip off us. He was livid. “That garbage can’t happen again! What the hell are you smiling about Drakos?”
I ran my hands through my damp hair. “Nothing game related.”
“Your focus, everyone’s focus, should be one hundred and fifty percent on winning games. No exceptions!”
I nodded, stripped my jersey off and used it to wipe the sweat from my brow. I kept my mouth shut while he continued his tirade. We deserved his wrath. If we wanted to kiss the Stanley Cup in a few months, we needed to do better. His speech wasn’t demoralizing but uplifting. I liked the coaching staff in Vegas. Over the years, we had amassed a great team. A winning team. This loss was a minor setback.
“We’ll do better next time. We will take the Cup,” he finished.
A chorus of agreements echoed through the room. I removed the rest of my gear and showered. The hot water soothed my aching muscles, but I didn’t linger under the stream for long. I had a beautiful woman waiting for me.
“Don’t let him or our loss take away your good mood,” Carter said as I changed int
o my suit next to him.
“It won’t,” I replied, fumbling with the buttons on my olive dress shirt. The color matched Josephine’s eyes.
“I haven’t seen you this happy in… actually, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you like this.”
“Like what?”
“In love.” My best friend rubbed his jaw as his brown eyes danced with mirth.
With a raised brow, I scoffed. I had been in love before. Plenty of times. Or so I thought. In truth, nothing compared to the way I felt about Josephine. This was different. She didn’t care about my stats or the number in my bank account. After countless hours of talking, we hadn’t run out of things to say.
“Call it like I see it.” He bumped my shoulder.
It was pointless to deny my feelings. I wore my heart on my sleeve, but the first time I spoke the words aloud deserved to be to her. I rubbed my arm. I had played well, but I took some hard hits. The bones and cartilage cracked and popped. Nothing new. I wasn’t in my twenties anymore. My body took longer to bounce back after rough games. I shrugged my shoulders and didn’t respond.
“Love is for losers,” Yanick Poulet mumbled.
This was his rookie year. The kid was overwhelmed with the limelight and the bunnies. He sought out drama and reveled in it. If he didn’t change his ways soon, he wouldn’t last long in the league.
“Wait till you meet your match.” Carter slapped him on the back. “Trust me. You won’t think it’s for losers.”
The kid shook his head. “You might be our captain, but you’re pussy-whipped. And you’ve brought poor Drakos over to the dark side with your love is great bullshit. Anyone who thinks tapping the same old snatch day in and day out is a good time, needs to have their head examined.”
Carter’s jaw clenched. “That’s enough.”
“I’ll never get enough,” he shot back.
I finished dressing without engaging. Locker room banter with the boys sometimes strayed into sensitive subjects. Carter was great at shutting down trash talk before it got out of hand. We all had mothers, sisters, girlfriends, and several guys were married. Women deserved to be respected.
