They fell into the pattern of the quick stepping dance. How in the hell did he know how to do that?
************
Seeing her on the ice was breathtaking. She took some warm up strokes and then tried out her edges, swaying this way and that into the curves she carved onto the ice. She did some turns and a spin or two then headed back to center ice. She stopped, put her toe pick in and then stood up straighter arms above her head as if she were going to do a program.
Once she started it he recognized it, and almost without thinking he skated to the rink to partner her.
Putting his hand on her waist he joined in, skating alongside her, the routine he supposed he'd forgotten coming to him with every move. There were a lot of slip steps, which were okay on hockey blades and intricate footwork, which really was not. He hoped he wouldn't cut her as they swung in and out of the rolls required of the dance.
At the conclusion, he was down on one knee and she was above him, arm extended, eyes shining, her smile as big as all outdoors.
"How. Did. You. Learn. That?" She asked, breathless.
He laughed "Us hockey boys, we got recruited, there were never enough guys in the skating club to partner the girls, so some smart aleck coach raided the hockey, team. None of us wanted to do it at first, but then you know...girls, so we did. I got pretty good really, never took the tests for real or anything, but still. It was fun, and I got to hold the hands of some of the best-looking women at school, so it was a win/win. In the end, I felt like it improved my skating a lot, way more than only doing hockey drills."
She shook her head "The things I don't know about you,"
"What happened to shopping," he asked her, not because he really wanted to know, but mostly because he just didn't want to end the conversation.
"Oh, I'm done, I didn't need that much. Stopped at the sporting goods store and lucked into the skates so I thought I'd come here. I was surprised the rink was open, I'm not sure when open skate is during the day, but I figured the worst that would happen is they'd throw me out."
"It's open on my nickel actually. When I'm in town, and there isn't anything else happening, I have them keep it unlocked so the boys and I can practice. In fact some of them should be here shortly," he said, reluctantly checking his watch. "Oh, yeah, any minute now."
"Ok, I'll head to the bleachers."
"You're watching?"
"I'm watching, my chores are done and it's back to work. And you're my work."
He skated close to her and lifted her chin so she was looking up at him. "Is that all? I'm just your work?" Then he bent his head to hers and their lips touched. Gently he kissed her, sliding his hand through her hair and pressing her closer to him. She was sure there had never been a kiss like this before. She felt breathless and lighter than air. Her whole body felt alive with excitement. Everywhere he touched her felt electric. With her eyes closed she could imagine they were somewhere else. That she was someone else and that this is something that was absolutely fine to be doing.
Then she opened her eyes and knew it wasn't.
She was saved by the whoops of the other members of his team as the entered the back of the arena. Blinking hard she squeezed his hand, then turned to leave the ice and head upstairs to watch.
The boys from the team didn't seem to be doing any specific practice or drills, this looked like they were all on their own. It looked like a mess, to be honest, she couldn't tell who was doing what, and she had no idea how they stopped from ramming into one another.
Her mind was on other things, like dancing with Justus, and skating with Justus and sleeping with him, and fighting with him. Why did he make her so mad, and why did it matter? She was losing the battle to convince herself that he was bad news for her. She was on the rebound, she had plans, she had an RV to go live in...none of that seemed to matter when his breath was on her neck and his voice was making shivers run up and down her spine.
Eventually the skaters finished and one by one left the ice. Eva went out to her car and drove around back to find Justus.
He came out and knocked on the drivers side window for her to lower it.
"See you at home, I'll be there soon. Just have to run to the bank."
Eva sighed, he wasn't understanding she needed to keep eyes on him all the time. Cripes, he was thick.
"Fine, see you in a few minutes then?"
"Yep," he tossed over his shoulder as he loped to his car and got in.
Eva struggled with whether to follow him or not. She didn't. She should have.
************************
Justus was so tired of being regarded as that woman's work. He could manage his life just fine, thank you very much. He had been doing it for years, long before she had blown into his life like a fresh breeze when he was in high school, and long after she had left. taking the light and laughter with her.
He wasn't such bad news, not really. Well maybe a little bit, he admitted to himself. But not enormously bad news. Maybe bad for her, though. Hell, he didn't even know anymore. She was special, beautiful, strong, sexy, nothing like the girls that came and went during the season. Nothing like anyone he had ever been with.
She was completely rejecting, though.
Fuck it, he thought as he turned the car around and headed to the Tavern downtown. He needed a break from feeling like he was being judged all the time and found wanting. Beer was that break.
No sooner had he entered the Tav than Carri pulled a beer for him. She was a college kid pouring drafts for JC, the owner of the place. JC was a hound and Justus was pretty sure JC was gettin' it on with Carri. He usually did with every female bartender he hired, sometimes in the cold storage in the back. Why wait he said, when there was a perfectly good room on site. JC was a creeper, thought of these girls as his own personal wenches. Not cool as far as Justus was concerned.
Justus sat at the bar and took a drink of his draft. It was icy cold, and he felt relaxed as soon as he swallowed it. The TV was playing hockey re-runs, and, fortunately, it wasn't a CoyWolves game, or he'd have wanted to leave right away. Watching himself play, on TV, in a bar wasn't his idea of fun.
The place was pretty deserted, a couple of girls in the back, a guy or two at the bar. It was dinner time though, the place would fill up soon enough.
Sure enough other guys from the team started to filter in, a few characters from the village, a friend or two from high school and soon there was a crowd. Most of them knew him or knew of him.
"Justus, man, how's it hanging?"
"What's up man, can I buy you a drink?"
"Hey, over here, come sit with us!"
Justus waved all of them off, content to marinate in his own thoughts for a while.
A couple of women approached and sat at the bar near him.
"Justus?"
"Yeah, hi how are you?" He had no idea who she was, probably a puck bunny he laid and forgotten. There were a lot of them around.
"Hey, so how've you been?"
"Great thanks, just relaxing before playoffs start."
"I know, you're doing great this year, we've been watching," she giggled.
"Let me buy you girls a drink." He knew better, he really did, but he was tired of the watcher and just wanted to have some fun.
He waved at the bartender and set up the girls with drinks.
"You don't remember my name, do you?"
Justus nodded "You're right, I don't, forgive me?"
"Of course, just one night with Justus Knight is enough for any girl," she smiled and winked "but two nights would be better. I'm Anna," she said holding out her hand.
"Well, Anna, it's nice to re-meet you," he should have been embarrassed he realized, but he wasn't. She wasn't anyone to him. But if he were going to get his mind off of Eva, Anna was as good a way as any.
Anna slid in closer to him. and they chatted about nothing, the weather, the town, the upcoming playoffs. All the while she was tracing lazy circles on his thigh with her right hand. The cir
cles came closer and closer to his crotch. He could feel himself stirring, and so he did what he always did, he ordered another round of beers. This time for the whole bar, which had filled up considerably in the time he had been there.
How long had it been, Justus wondered to himself. And where was he going to take Anna. He wondered if she had an apartment of her own.
Just as he was leaning in to ask her, he saw her. Eva, storming in the bar, obviously looking for him.
She stalked straight to him, and standing on the opposite side from Anna, grabbed his beer and pushed it away from him.
"Hey!" he said, reaching to grab the glass back.
Eva reached across and plucked Anna's hand from Justus's lap.
"What the hell?" Anna yelped as she leaned across him.
"Hang on, I got this, don't worry," he patted Anna's arm and turned toward Eva.
"We got a problem?" he asked.
"You know damn well we do. I took you at your word, I went home and waited for you. Gave you extra time in case you really had shit to do, and look where I find you."
"Home?" Anna asked. "She lives with you?"
"Yes, yes I do. I'm his fiancée, haven't you heard?'
"Oh no, I had no idea."
Eva was pretty sure that knowing wouldn't have stopped Anna, she didn't seem particularly concerned.
"Justus, it's time to go. I'll drive," she said, snagging his keys from the pocket of his jacket.
"No," he swiped and tried to grab the keys from her, but missed and send his beer flying instead.
Eva looked on aghast as the glass seemed to spin in slow motion and then hit the bar. There were shrieks as the amber liquid sloshed out and hit the people gathered nearby. Justus took the brunt of it, with the beer trickling down his hair onto his shirt and jeans.
Spilling the beer sent Eva's PR sensors into overdrive, and she grabbed him and yanked him to his feet. Surprised by her strength he stood and wrested his arm from her grip.
"I'm fine, I'm coming," he yelled.
"Great, do that!" she yelled right back and stormed out of the bar.
Justus grabbed his jacket and followed her catching up to her by his car.
"What? What was that back there?"
"It was me saving you from yourself, that's what that was, and I'll do it again and again if I have to, you're a loose cannon, even if you don't realize it, and I'm here to bolt you to the deck, buddy."
"Buddy, I'm your buddy now? Is that an improvement, because I thought you said I was your work."
"You are my work, Justus, what don't you get about that?"
Eva was at the car now and she spun to face him. Justus braced both his hands above her head on the car door and leaned in to her face. Eva could smell him now, cologne and beer and his own personal scent that she found intoxicating.
"This, this is what I don't get about that," he said as he kissed her. It wasn't gentle like before, it was hungry and impatient and raw, and she was so turned on she could hardly breathe. Still she fought it, pressed her hands against his chest and pushed. And he pushed back, pressing her into the car, his chest to hers. She felt her nipples come alive, hardening to meet him, her pussy tingled as she felt his hardness press against her. She surrendered to it then, kissing him deeply, their tongues intertwined.
"Tell me," he whispered harshly.
"Tell you what?"
"Tell me what you want."
She couldn't reply.
"Tell me," he said again. "Tell me exactly what you want, where you want to be, what you want me to do to you. Because we ARE doing this. We are, but I want to hear you say it."
Her stomach clenched with anxiety and, if she were being honest, excitement.
"I've wanted you since I saw you in the hotel. No, that's not true, I've wanted you since you were 16. And I'm done waiting. I'm going to have you, we're doing this," he said as he captured her lips again.
Eva took a breath as their kiss broke and she looked up into his eyes. Really looked, and she saw him, not the hockey superstar, not the kid she had known, but Justus as he was right now, wanting her.
"I want you to take me home and..."
"Yes," he leaned his head back.
"Fuck me," it was barely a whisper, "I want you to take me home and fuck me."
Justus leaned down and kissed her neck and she heard his groan. He brushed her hair aside, and kissed her gently, down her neck to the tops of her breasts. Then he paused and raised his hand to her breast, palming her nipple.
"Let's go then, you said you were driving."
*******************
Once back at his house Eva parked the SUV and Justus came around to let her out of the driver's side. He handed her down, then pulled her toward him for another kiss. Side by side they walked to the house, arms touching.
As the front door closed behind them Eva paused to look up at him. It seemed in that second as if her whole life had led to this one single moment.
She had butterflies and was finding it difficult to swallow. Was this nerves, excitement, both? She knew that this was a very bad idea. The worst. But at this moment she didn't care. She needed him, wanted him, and here he was.
Justus pulled her close and held her for a moment. He looked down into her eyes and gently kissed her. Their tongues met and he felt the excitement, but he knew she was different. He couldn't just use her and throw her away. The scary thing was, he didn't want to.
Justus ran his hands underneath her shirt, caressing her smooth skin. She was soft and lovely, he liked women of all sizes, but she was his new favorite. Curvy and lush, not skinny. Her breasts were so inviting, he made himself wait as long as he could, there would never be another first time with her.
Eva loved his hands on her skin, it felt like little electric shocks everywhere, and when he finally (what took so long?) ran his palms against her nipples, the sensation was fierce, a direct line to her clit. She nearly lost her footing as her knees gave way for just a second.
His hands moved in gentle circles around her breasts, and after a minute Justus said,"Let's get rid of this," as he reached for the hem of her blouse and lifted it over her head.
Eva felt his hands on her back as he unclasped her bra, and instinctively she raised her hands to cross her arms in front of her.
"No," Justus said as he gently lowered her arms. "I've been dreaming of this, don't cover yourself up."
Eva looked around, they were in the kitchen and it suddenly occurred to her that if she didn't say something soon, they might very well be having sex with her leaned across the butcher block counter.
Her eyes must have lingered there a moment too long because he noticed. "Would you like that? The butcher block?"
"Um..."
"Tell me what you like, Eva. Would you like to do it right here, right now?" he asked as he tightened his fist in her hair and kissed her. "We could do that," he said as he reached down and lifted her up like she was nothing, her legs on either side of him.
With her legs around his waist, he was able to nuzzle her breasts, and she caught her breath as she felt his whiskers lightly scratching at the tops of them. He turned and sat her on the butcher block counter and kneeled before her. Spreading her legs he reached under her skirt.
His hand moved gently up her silky soft thigh and he used his fingertips like a feather, gently brushing as he got closer and closer to her mound.
Forbidden Knight Page 6
