by Toni Aleo
“First to three right?”
He set her with a serious look, breathing hard. “I said five.”
She giggled. “Sure ya did.”
“It isn’t fair. You’re fast as shit, and it isn’t like I can slam you against the boards to stop you,” he complained, and she looked over her shoulder at him as she got in place before he took the puck out.
“Are you crying like a little bitch, Thomas?”
“Did you just call me a bitch?” he asked, shocked, and she nodded.
“I did. Now hush, girlie girl, and let’s do this.”
“Oh no, you didn’t,” he said in the same Valley girl voice that Karson liked to use. Taking off, she thought he was going to go left, so she deked, ready to cut him off. But he threw the puck over her, and then to her surprise, batted the puck into the net. Throwing his hands up, he said, “Boom!”
“Boom, what?” she screeched. “You didn’t even hit the post.”
He looked at the net and then to her. “Yes, I did.”
“You liar! You did not!” she yelled, and she was about to go on when he shot her a big grin.
“Fine, I didn’t. But I should get a point for the awesome batting I did,” he suggested and she shook her head, taking the puck out.
“I don’t give charity goals,” she shot at him and he laughed.
“Such a badass,” he teased and she grinned as she went to the line.
“I score, I win,” she reminded him and he shrugged.
“Won’t happen. I’m gonna stop you and then score three in a row,” he proclaimed and it took everything out of her not to laugh, but he just looked so adorably hot. His brow was furrowed, his breathing hard, and he had sweat dripping from his beard. But the best part was his intense gaze. He wanted to win, and she was so sad to disappoint him, but he was going down. She knew it wasn’t fair. He’d had practice before they hit the ice, but it wasn’t her fault he’d challenged her. She doubted he would ever make that mistake again.
Grinning, she slap shot the puck, whizzing it past him and knocking into the boards.
“What the hell?” he called. And as she knew it would, it caught him off guard, so she rushed, catching the rebound and then lifting it off the ice to hit the crossbar. “Now, that’s not fair! You distracted me!”
Giggling, she shrugged as she pulled off her helmet, shaking out her hair and then taking her mouthguard out. “Told ya I’d win.”
He shook his head. “You already did that move though!”
“There are no rules for repeat moves. It worked the first time, and I figured it’d work the second.”
He glared. “You know I’m worn out from practice too. You wouldn’t have beat me if I was at full strength.”
“Of course not,” she said, trying not to smile.
“Plus, my core hurts. You made me do a billion crunches and seven billion burpees,” he accused and she shrugged.
“Helped with your slap shot though. So in the long run, you’ll be thanking me and you’ll forget about your little bruised ego.”
“You’re being condescending, aren’t you?” he asked, coming toe-to-toe with her, his eyes locked on hers.
“Just a little. I won fair and square.”
His face twisted in shock. “The hell you did! You did some cutesy shit that no one does and caught me off guard.”
“You’re full of it! I’ve seen plenty of people do that in the NHL. You’re just mad that you got beat by Khaotic Kacey!”
Looking up at the roof, he laughed from his gut. “Are you really busting out that wack-ass nickname? You aren’t Khaotic Kacey, you’re crazy!”
She scoffed. “Hater.”
“Brat,” he said, taking her by her jersey and pulling her to him.
“Sore loser.”
“Show-off,” he shot back before his mouth came down to hers.
“I don’t kiss losers,” she muttered right as his lips came to hers.
“Well, you’re in luck, ’cause I love kissing chaotic, crazy winners who make up stupid nicknames for themselves,” he said with a grin before capturing her mouth with his. She wanted to laugh, but there was no laughing when Jordie Thomas’s mouth was on hers. Dropping her gloves, she wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. He nibbled on her bottom lip and she felt his gloves hit the ground before his hands snaked into her girdle, grabbing her bottom. “I also love sex with said person I just described.”
“Well, you’re gonna have to wait, because I am not having sex here.”
“No one is here though,” he said, thrusting into her.
“Whatever, this place isn’t empty, for one. And two, who wants to have sex in an ice rink? That’s so unbelievably dumb. What if your ass sticks to the ice? Or, by God, your dick! I would die…and so take pictures to post on Facebook,” she said, dissolving into laughter as his face filled with horror.
Removing his hands from her body, he shook his head. “And the moment is dead.”
“Good, make sure it stays that way. You don’t disrespect the ice by fucking on it.” She scoffed and he laughed.
“But it’s combining two of my favorite things: hockey and you.”
“We’ll play,” she shot at him as they picked up their gear. “And I’ll keep winning.”
“What the hell ever,” he barked as they skated toward the bench. “But on a serious note, why didn’t you keep playing? You’re good, baby,” he said, smacking her shin with his stick.
She smiled. “Thanks, but you know I reached the end goal for me. I wanted to win the gold. I did, and that’s it.”
“You know I’m sorry for not being there. I watched on the TV though, drank a lot for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “You should have stopped at the you watched part.”
He shrugged. “Maybe, but really, you should have done more with it. Like, go into the NHL.”
“I never thought about going into the NHL ’cause I didn’t think it was possible, but Baylor Moore proved that wrong.”
And boy, did she. She was all over the media, and she was a little rough around the edges, so of course, Kacey liked her. She was nice enough, but driven. She played her heart out and had truly embarrassed all the naysayers. With a daddy like star Bruins forward River Moore, it only made sense. But still, it was so cool to see a woman in the NHL. Kacey was probably more excited than Baylor was about the first game. She just hoped it opened the door for other little girls who wanted that as their end goal.
“You could still do it, y’know,” he suggested, but she shook her head.
“I don’t want to. I want to be a wife and a mom one day. Can’t do that while I’m working to further my hockey career. And plus, I think I always knew I would end up with a hockey player. I kinda think they’re hot—”
“You mean, I’m hot,” he corrected. “Singular. One hockey player. Me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I kinda think you’re hot, and I don’t think it’d be fair to the kids when they are being raised by a nanny,” she said and he nodded.
“Yeah, you’re right. I just wish you’d use your talent on something. Maybe coaching some girlies?”
She shrugged. It was an idea, but one she really hadn’t thought about. “Maybe.”
He leaned over, kissing the side of her mouth. “You’d be good,” he said, kissing her again. “Plus, you’d be hot blowing a whistle. Which, by the way, wanna blow mine?”
He waggled his eyebrows at her and she smacked him as she laughed. “You’re a horndog.”
“Yes, ma’am. Only for you though,” he said with a wink. She grinned, going over the boards and onto the bench to untie her laces. “What are you doing after this?”
She looked up and shrugged. “You have AA, right?”
He threw off his jersey and lifted his leg, stretching it. “Yeah, in about forty. I’m gonna grab a shower and head out.”
“Cool, can I go?”
He looked over at her. “You want to?”
“Yeah
,” she said slowly. “If that’s okay.”
“Yeah, I guess. I’m…um, actually, I don’t go today on normal weeks, but since tonight is the team party, I figured it’d be a good idea to go.”
“Sure, absolutely,” she agreed, and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous about him being around all the alcohol. He seemed confident and brushed off her concerns, but still, it made her nervous. It was like putting a kid in a candy store and saying they couldn’t have any. It scared her.
“I’m…um—”
“What’s up with all the pausing and the ums?” she asked, chuckling, and he shot her a grin.
“I just got nervous for some reason that you’re going,” he admitted and her grin dropped.
“Do you not want me to go?” she asked, giving him an out. “I’d understand.”
“No, I do. It’s just…I’m singing today.”
Her head spun to the side. “Singing?”
“Yeah,” he answered sheepishly.
“Well, then, hell yeah, I’m there,” she said earnestly.
And thank God she went.
Because as Jordie’s beautiful, smoky voice filled the church, his fingers moving ever so effortlessly across the strings, Kacey was completely entranced by him. He sang the song like it was his and not Love and Theft’s “Whiskey on My Breath.” She was totally blown away, and she knew it wasn’t the first time she had seen or heard him sing, but it felt like it. As his eyes drifted shut, his voice so raspy and full of conviction, the words left his lips like they were made just for him, and Kacey’s eyes quickly filled with tears.
She hadn’t really listened to the song before, but she was convinced that the duo had written it with Jordie, and anyone else who was fighting the battle of addiction, in mind. It was such a moving thing to see and she wanted to make sure everyone else felt the same, but she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She would admit that she didn’t understand what he had gone through—the struggle, the pain, and the need—but she was proud, so freaking proud of him for overcoming it all.
That was her man and he was so fucking beautiful.
As he sang the chorus once more, people started to sing with him. When the person beside her slid his hand into hers, she looked at him and he was crying. Big, huge tears, rushing down his face and staining his shirt, and he slowly nodded, feeling every single one of the words like she was. Her heart just hurt as she gave him the best smile she could before turning her gaze back to Jordie. The room was full of so much promise, so much need to succeed, and Kacey was proud to be witnessing it.
She just prayed the others were as moved as she was.
When he finished, everyone clapped as Jordie smiled proudly, leaning into his guitar, his gaze meeting hers. Wiping away her tears, she smiled back and nodded, hoping that he knew she was saying that he was downright amazing.
I’m so proud of you, she mouthed and his grin grew.
Thanks, he mouthed back. For everything.
Anytime.
And always.
“So hold on,” Jordie said as Kacey took his hand, getting out of the car. “I not only have to let you out, looking so fucking hot that I’m pretty sure my friends will want to gangbang you—”
“What every girl wants to hear,” she laughed, pulling her skirt down a bit. But it didn’t help. The skirt was short, showing off those toned thighs, and tight, hugging the ass that drove him nuts. The dress was also low-cut, cupping her breasts with the sole mission to give him blue balls. That was the only thing he could come up with. Her hair was in curls, framing her face, and her makeup was dark and dramatic, making the red of her dress pop even more against her bronze skin. Add in the fact that she was wearing strappy fuck-me-stupid heels, and Jordie was having a hard time just forming a coherent thought, let alone coming up with a reason why they should just go back home.
“Anyway, you’re so hot my friends are gonna be checking you out. And I’m not supposed to kick anyone’s ass? But also, I’m unable to grope you? Or even sneak you off into the bathroom for a quickie? That’s just rude,” he said, feigning hurt, and like he wanted, she grinned, her dark red, glossed-up mouth puckering out at him before she shook her head.
“It took me, no joke, three hours to look this good. And that was while smacking away your hands from grabbing my kitty. So please, let me bask in my hotness for the party, and then you can have your way with me once we get home.”
He thought that over for a moment. “So I can put it in your butt?”
Lucas and his wife Fallon looked back at him, wide-eyed, and started to laugh. It didn’t faze him. He wasn’t shy around his friends, but apparently, it mortified the hell out of Kacey. Smacking him with her purse, she mock yelled, “Really? I’m gonna kill you.”
“What? Baby, that’s a tight ass,” he teased, kissing her bare shoulder as they walked into the arena. It was decorated in the team’s colors, purple and black, but still had a very elegant feel to it. Everyone was dressed to the nines, but Jordie couldn’t look at anyone but Kacey.
“You’ll be lucky if I let you touch it,” she sneered, smacking his hand away as he took ahold of her butt. “Jesus, man, behave yourself!”
“Come on. A quickie. It’ll take two seconds maybe, and I swear, I’ll put you back together,” he begged playfully and she rolled her eyes.
“One, I don’t know if I can get this dress back on, and two, I work here, Jordie. No!” She was trying to be mad, she was, but she wasn’t committed to it yet. He may be annoying her, but she loved every second of it. He knew because her nipples were hard and, man, how he wanted to put one or both in his mouth.
Jesus, he wasn’t gonna make it.
“I work here too, it’s okay. I’ll bring the Cup home for Elli to make up for all the sex I’m gonna have all over this arena,” he said. And when Phillip Anderson looked over at him laughing, Kacey groaned.
“Will you hush!” she demanded.
Taking ahold of her waist, he brought her back hard against his chest. His cock rested against her ass as he chuckled into her neck. “Your fault, it should be illegal for you to be this hot.”
Closing her eyes, she grinned as she shook out of his arms. “You’re making me blush. Stop.”
“You’re making me hard,” he whispered against her neck. “Please don’t ever stop.”
Looking over at him, she shook her head, but she wasn’t mad. She was loving it. Moving her hair behind her ear, he nibbled on her lobe, feeling her grin against his cheek. “Since you’re making it hard for me to walk right now, just know, you won’t be walking tomorrow.” Pulling away, he chuckled at her shocked face as he asked, “Want something to drink?”
Looking at him incredulously, she nodded her head. “Water. Ice water, please,” she muttered before turning and heading toward where Lacey and Karson were. As he watched her ass move side to side, he bit his knuckle to keep from groaning.
God, she was hot.
And all his.
“Damn, please tell me that’s not your girlfriend,” Benji Paxton said from his left. Looking over at him, Jordie grinned like a fool, nodding his head.
“That is, and also our trainer.”
“No way!” he gasped, his head falling to the side. “When did she get that hot? And also, way to go, bro. She’s killer.”
Jordie nodded, shaking his hand. “Some would object to our appreciative talk of my girlfriend.”
“Are you part of that some?” he asked and Jordie thought for a moment.
“Nope, she’s fucking hot and all mine.”
Benji laughed as he nodded. “Lucky bastard.”
“I am,” he said, taking two cups of water from the waiter. “Whatcha drinking?”
“Pop with no alcohol whatsoever,” Benji said with a grin. “Eleven years sober.”
Jordie nodded. “Hundred twenty-seven days sober for me.”
“Ah, my sobriety brother, great job and way to go. The first hundred days are tough, but the year will fly by,” he said
excitedly and Jordie’s heart sped up.
“Really? Did you relapse?”
“Nope, never, but those first hundred take a toll. How long was rehab for you?”
“Ninety.”
“Oh, awesome. Did you do, like, a stay-in one or just meetings?”
“Both,” Jordie said, taking a sip. “Sucked ass.”
“I know. I did the same, but only for thirty. That’s why the hundred was tough for me, but you can do it, dude. Don’t lose faith.”
“Thanks, bro,” Jordie said, grinning. “I’m only a little bit nervous. If I fail, I let down a lot of people.”
“Good motivation. I had no one to let down but myself and the memory of my wife, daughter, and brother. But that story is one for the road. I’ll let you get back to your hot-ass girlfriend,” he said, tipping his head to her. “But I look forward to getting to know each other.”
“You too, bro. Have a good night,” he said and Benji shrugged.
“Dude, let’s be honest. I’ll leave here and go home to watch Game of Thrones,” he said and Jordie laughed because he assumed he was joking. The dude wasn’t ugly by any means, sorta looked like an underwear model with his chiseled cheekbones and puffy lips. But when he just turned around and walked away, defeat in his eyes, it left Jordie with the assumption that he would really go home and watch Game of Thrones instead of finding a lady to go home with.
Poor sap.
That wouldn’t be Jordie though. Oh no, he had himself a firecracker of a hottie that he would be all over as soon as he found her.
Walking toward where he thought she was, he ran right into Audrey Odder, Tate’s wife. Smacking him, she hugged him tightly. “JT! I haven’t seen you in eons! I always make your favorite cupcake every Friday, hoping you’ll come in.”
His mouth watered at the thought of the snickerdoodle cupcakes she made. She owned a little cupcakery that he used to pass every day on his way home. He was pretty sure he had been sporting not only a whiskey belly but an Audrey Jane’s cupcake belly. He used to joke that he had a body by Audrey Jane’s. With everything that had been going on, he sort of forgot about Audrey and her shop. He should take Kacey there.
