The Trouble with #9

by Piper Rayne

  She works me expertly anyway—twirling, sucking, pulling, tugging. Even her gentle strokes have me on the edge. Before I realize what’s happening, blackness swallows me up as I pump into her mouth and come without warning.

  Afterward, my eyes bug open and I look down at her, but my cock comes out of her mouth with a pop and I watch her swallow, a satisfied smile on her perfect lips. How fucking hot is that?

  I place my hand on her cheek, running my thumb along her soft skin. “You’re amazing.”

  “I just sucked your cock, of course I’m amazing.”

  She tucks me into my pants and climbs into my lap. I hold her close, placing my finger under her chin and turning her face toward me so I can kiss her.

  “Even if you didn’t just blow me, you’d still be amazing.” I place my lips to hers and the taste of me on her tongue undoes me. Makes me want to take her to my place and never let her out because lately a new emotion has risen inside me—the fear that I’ll lose her for some reason.

  “Okay, sweet talker, time for you to go because I have one of your teammates coming in to see me. You know that whole three sessions thing Mr. Gerhardt wants you all to do.” She gives me an unimpressed look.

  “You’d think now that you’re my girlfriend, you’d lie for me.” I hold her to my body, wanting to keep her close.

  “The G-word… that’s a big word.” She gets up off my lap and I groan. I’ve never had it this bad for a woman before.

  “Girlfriend? Aren’t you?”

  She grabs a file folder off the desk and places it over by the chair where she sits during her sessions. “Are you sure?”

  “Kotik, with the feelings running through me for you, you’re lucky I haven’t proposed.”

  She turns toward me and her shoulders fall. I swear she’s tearing up. I love that I’m the first guy to ever make her feel as special as she is. It makes me feel ten feet tall.

  “Maksim…” She bites her lower lip. “That was really sweet.”

  “I mean every word of it. Now stop running away from me.” I walk over to her and bring her into my arms once more. “Tell me you’re my girlfriend.”

  She nods.

  “I need the words.”

  “Yes, I’m your girlfriend. But we can’t tell anyone until I’m not your therapist anymore and I get a chance to talk to Mr. Gerhardt.”

  “Sign off on the third session then.” I raise my eyebrows.

  She’s reluctant and I have no idea why, other than this notion of hers that I need therapy. “I’ll just tell him I’m referring you.”

  “And then I have to talk to whoever that person is. I don’t want to talk to anyone.”

  She goes still in my arms, her hands on my chest. “I really think you should. Losing Armen the way you did—”

  I step away from her. “I’m not talking to someone. End of discussion. I don’t need someone to validate my feelings—or worse, tell me I’m not responsible. It is what it is and I don’t want to relive it all over again only to end exactly where I am.” Even I hear the anger in my tone.

  “Fine. But our relationship remains a secret until I have time to talk to Mr. Gerhardt. With the way the season is going, I say we keep this between us until the season is over. I’m sure he’ll lighten up then.”

  “As always, you have brilliant ideas.” I move in to kiss her and she lets me, but there’s no feeling behind it. I’ll have to make up for my outburst tonight. Maybe with my tongue and some whipped cream.

  “Now you need to go.”

  A knock sounds on the door and I look at her with wide eyes.

  “Just answer it,” she says.

  I walk over and open the door to see Mr. Gerhardt.

  “Big man, how are you?” he asks. “I’m glad to see you’re here. Are you two just finishing up?”

  You’d think the owner would know the practice schedule, but whatever.

  “Yeah, just finished with my third session.” If Paisley won’t lie, I will.

  “Really? So you’re done?” His bushy eyebrows move toward his hairline.

  “Technically, our first session wasn’t much of one, so I’d like one more with you, Maksim,” she says sweetly.

  Damn her.

  “Sure,” I say, inwardly rolling my eyes. Why won’t she let this whole situation with Armen slide? He wasn’t her best friend. It was ages ago and I’ve made my peace with it, know what I have to do. I miss him like hell, and I’ll never let anyone else get hurt on my watch. She needs to let it rest. “I better get going. Nice seeing you, Mr. Gerhardt. Bye, Dr. Pearce.”

  Before the door shuts, all I hear is Mr. Gerhardt saying how disappointed he was that she missed the date he set her up on. What the hell is he talking about? Half of me wants to storm in there to demand answers, but I keep my eyes on the door because I can’t demand answers when no one knows I’ve fallen for our team psychologist.

  On the way out to my car, my phone rings and I pick it up, seeing my mom’s number.

  “Mama,” I answer.

  “Maksim?”

  “Yes.” I roll my eyes because of my mood. No doubt she’d smack me if she were here to see.

  “Nadiya is graduating.”

  A small smile tugs the corner of my lips. Normally my mother would speak Russian to me, but she always seems to use English before an impending trip to America. I think she uses me for practice. I climb into my Mercedes and hook her up to the Bluetooth.

  “Maksim?”

  “Yeah, Mama, I’m here. I know Nadiya is graduating.”

  “We got tickets. I send you our itinerary.”

  I nod even though she can’t see me. “Good.”

  “You sound sad.”

  “Nah, I’m good.” I leave the parking lot and head toward my place.

  “Good. Nadiya doesn’t want to come home after school done.”

  “I know.” I’ve talked about it with Nadiya before, but my mom doesn’t need to know that.

  “Maybe you find her good job so she can stay?”

  “She doesn’t want to work for the hockey team, and I’m not even sure I could make that happen anyway.”

  “I was talking to her mother the other day. We have another solution.” I can’t wait to hear this. “You marry her.”

  “What?” I screech, almost swerving off the road.

  “Marry her. She’s good girl. Our families are close. What’s the problem?”

  My hands tighten on the steering wheel. “The problem is I don’t love her.”

  “Love. You kids and your love. You love her. Maybe not in love with her, but she’s Armen’s sister, you love her.”

  Of course I love Nadiya like a sister, but they’re crazy if they think I’m going to marry her.

  “She could stay in country. It’d be big favor to her parents. Make everyone happy. Even Armen up in heaven.”

  “Armen never wanted me near Nadiya. That was clear and I always respected his wishes.”

  “He’d feel different now. You have success. You give her security and anything she want.”

  I release a long breath. “I gotta go, Mama. I’ll call you in a couple days.”

  “Don’t forget to be at the airport.”

  “I will. Bye, Mama.”

  I click off our call and pull over on the side of the road, shoving the car in park. I think she might’ve been serious. What the hell?

  Nashville is a beautiful city. Especially when Maksim is in my hotel bed. So far, only one Fury teammate knows about us and that’s only because he’s Maksim’s roommate on the road.

  This will probably be my last time traveling with the team since almost every player has completed their three sessions. Plus, it’s unlikely the Fury are going to make the playoffs, so their season will be ending soon too. I think a handful of the players will choose to continue meeting with me outside of Mr. Gerhardt’s requirements, but that will be between us, and nothing to do with the Fury.

  “Tonight, after the game, is our sixth date,” he says,
naked in my bed.

  “So tell me, which do you prefer… porn or me before a game?” I lie on top of him, our naked bodies pressed along one another’s.

  “You, of course.”

  I kiss him briefly and slide off him. “Now you can have your nap. I have one more session with Tweetie.”

  “Do you seriously have to go? I nap so much better on your tits.” He leans his head on his hand that’s propped up with his elbow.

  “Sorry, these pillows come with me.” I secure my bra and slide on my panties. “But they’re yours tonight again.”

  “About tonight,” he says. “Some of the guys got wind and want to come, so we’ll have to play it cool.”

  “Okay.” I shrug. It’s not ideal, but it will still be fun.

  We plan to go on one of those moving pubs where people sit on either side and pedal to drive it around downtown.

  “I want everyone to know you’re mine. When are we coming out?”

  I finish putting on my slacks and blouse, then slide my feet into my heels. “I’m done with the team after everyone has their three sessions. Including you.” I tap him on the nose. “So?”

  I hate that I’ve become a nag on this subject. I’m only being a stickler about it because I really think he would benefit from talking to someone. Clearly, he carries a lot of guilt when it comes to Armen.

  He rolls his eyes. “Fine.”

  “I’m just saying, you’re the one responsible for us coming out. The sooner I finish everyone’s therapy, the sooner I’m not working for the Fury anymore.”

  “And then you’re going back to your private practice permanently.”

  I hope business picks up or that some of the team continues their therapy beyond what Mr. Gerhardt has required of them. Something to keep the business afloat. Who knows? Maybe next year Mr. Gerhardt will request my presence again. “Yep. So you’ll have to hand out your girlfriend’s business cards.”

  “I’ll be like Aiden when he’s chatting up his girlfriend’s skill.”

  “Perfect.” I lean over the bed and kiss him quickly. “Sweet dreams.”

  He places his hand on the back of my neck and holds me to him, deepening the kiss. God, I can’t believe he’s mine sometimes. Almost as though it’s too good to be true.

  Later that night, after the Fury win with a score of two to one, I’m waiting for Maksim and the rest of his teammates to come out of the arena.

  It’s the first time I’ve ever waited out here and noticed how many fans linger around, hoping for an autograph or a picture. And it’s the first time I’ve seen how many of the fans are women. No wonder they have the expression puck bunnies.

  I feel overdressed in my jeans and an off-the-shoulder blouse. They all have their phones in hand, and I watch as they perk up their breasts and adjust their shirts to show a little more cleavage.

  When the door to the building opens, the women murmur to themselves, rising on their tiptoes to get a better view. The deep voices of the team echo into the night air. I wait patiently behind the group, not needing an autograph.

  Tweetie comes out first, fist raised and signs a few signatures. He takes a few selfies with some girls but then climbs into the bus to head back to the hotel. Roadie only waves and hands his bag to the bus driver, stepping into the bus without really stopping. A few of the younger guys get swallowed up in the mass of girls. I’m sure they’ll be emerging with lipstick on their faces.

  Then Ford comes out and stops in front of a group of girls calling his name. He gets pictures with them, and they all hang off him as though they’d welcome an orgy if he made the request.

  Aiden and Maksim walk out together. Aiden stops in front of a boy and his father while Maksim weaves through the crowd with a smile, walking toward me.

  Then a girl calls his name. I hear the Russian accent. He turns away from me and she’s greeted with the same smile he just had for me. The two of them talk, and I’m stricken by how beautiful she is. Long lean legs, blonde hair, perfect makeup. His face grows serious as he talks to her and she looks at the ground—disappointed, I think. Just as he’s about to leave her, she grabs his elbow, thrusts herself at him, and kisses him on the lips.

  My eyes widen, but I pretend my heart isn’t racing, that I don’t want to go over there and rip her off my man. Maksim lightly pushes her away, wiping his face with his forearm. He says something to her in Russian, then walks over to me.

  “She kissed me,” he whispers when he reaches me, but I’m stricken—and mute apparently.

  There are no words for me to say. I can’t believe I saw the man I’m falling for in a kiss with another woman, even if he didn’t kiss her back.

  I nod.

  “Let’s go.” He nods toward the road, drops his bag with the bus driver, and tries to flag down a taxi.

  Aiden and Ford are suddenly at our sides.

  “Shit, Petrov, the way she smacked those lips on you. I can’t believe you turned her down,” Ford says, clasping Maksim’s shoulder.

  Aiden gives me an apologetic look. “Fans overstep all the time.”

  “But since when does Petrov deny them? I thought for sure she’d be coming with us.”

  Ford is Maksim’s good friend. They hang out after games and during the off-season. I think he knows Maksim pretty well, which means that when Maksim told me he didn’t really ever screw the puck bunnies, he lied.

  “Shut up, Ford,” Maksim murmurs.

  Some of the younger teammates join us on the curb with a group of bunnies. Great, this is going to be a fun night.

  “I think I’m out. Saige would have my ass if pictures got out in the press.” Aiden turns and heads back to the bus. I want to beg him to take me with him.

  “You’re so whipped!” Ford yells after him.

  “And I love it,” Aiden yells back, climbing into the bus.

  Maksim slides between Ford and me.

  “Whoa, I’m with the shrink tonight.” Ford swings his arm over my shoulders.

  Two taxis arrive, and somehow, I end up in the back with Ford and another player while Maksim rides in the front, the rest of our party following in the taxi behind us. I’m not looking forward to this night anymore.

  We end up getting two taverns on wheels. I’m with Ford, Maksim, a rookie, and two bunnies. At least it’s not the Russian bunny. Because of the way it works out, I end up between Ford and the rookie while Maksim is between the puck bunnies. It’s pure hell, even if they aren’t all that handsy and flirtatious. I think maybe they just want to hang out with the team, not get into anybody’s bed.

  As we’re drinking and pedaling, the boys complain about being tired, Maksim more so than the rest.

  “How about we hop off and go back to the hotel?” the one girl says.

  So much for just wanting to hang with the team.

  “Nah. I’m good here.” Maksim eyes me over the table.

  I sip my beer. “When is your baby due?” I ask Ford because I’d rather engage in conversation than watch these two talk up my secret boyfriend.

  Ford balks. “Paisley, we don’t talk about my baby mama with ladies present.”

  I shake my head. “My mistake.”

  I can’t believe this guy is going to be a father.

  He leans in and whispers, “Very soon.”

  I nod. Although the girls were clearly trying to eavesdrop, I don’t think they heard.

  Since Ford is all about scoring with one of the ladies, I leave him and Maksim to talk with the girls and I set my attention on the rookie. His name is Prescott and he goes by Prez. He was just traded in a few months ago and he barely makes it off the bench. He’s originally from North Dakota and has no idea what to do in Florida, so I give him some ideas of places and restaurants to check out.

  By the time the night ends and we make it back to the hotel, I’m barely able to keep my irritation in check. This certainly wasn’t the date I expected.

  I say good night to the group as Ford, Prez, and Maksim walk the girls into
the hotel lounge. In the elevator, all I can do is stare at the numbers as the car continues to rise. I know we’re not supposed to act like a couple in public, but I could do without Maksim actively flirting with someone else.

  As soon as I’m in my hotel room, I strip down and throw my clothes by my suitcase and turn on the water for the shower. I was sweating so badly while pedaling. All I want is to shower and go to bed and not even think about what Maksim is doing.

  I’m just about to go into the bathroom when my hotel room door buzzes and opens. Maksim walks in as though he owns the place.

  “Excuse me?” I grab a towel to cover myself.

  “Why are you covering yourself up?” His eyebrows are raised.

  “Um, because I’m naked.”

  “I’ve seen you naked.”

  “How did you get a key for my room?” I change the subject.

  “I told them I was your boyfriend. Voilà.” He holds up the key card.

  “Well, that makes me feel safe.”

  “Were you disappointed it wasn’t Prez? I could call him right now for you.” He sits on the edge of my bed and takes off his shoes and socks.

  “What? I wasn’t the one all over a bunch of puck bunnies tonight.”

  He looks at me with irritation. “You were talking to him the entire night.”

  “And you were lip-locked with some Russian chick before the night even started.”

  “I pushed her off. I didn’t ask her to do it.”

  I stand in the bathroom doorway, waiting for a better answer.

  “So what? Prez was payback?” He stands and takes off the rest of his clothes, leaving him in only his boxers.

  “What are you talking about? I had a pleasant conversation with the guy while you and Ford chatted up those girls. That’s all. Why don’t you tell me who the Russian really is?”

  He puts his hands on his hips. “She’s someone I’ve seen here before. Her name is Alina.”

  I suspected as much but hoped I was wrong. “You mean someone you hook up with when you come through Nashville?”