by Kristen Echo
“It’s sweet that you’re so thrilled. I’m shitting bricks, and you’re excited. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?” She chewed her lip.
He laughed. “Let’s play one last game of cards before we land. It will take your mind off things.” He raised a brow and stole a kiss before pulling the deck of cards from the seat pocket in front of him.
There was a certain wig she'd packed in her bag that would look great on his head when they landed. She also had a specific destination in mind where he could wear it. “Okay.”
“You know I always win, right? But since we don’t have time for a real game, highest card wins.”
She rolled her eyes and cut the cards. “Winner picks our first stop and wardrobe.” She flipped a ten.
His smile widened. “You’ve got a deal. I have the perfect place in mind.” He flipped his card; a king.
Any other day, the ten would have been enough, but not tonight. “You win,” she said, putting the cards back in the box.
“We both win.” They kissed again as the plane touched down in Montreal.
Once they were seated in the limo, she asked the million-dollar question. “Where are we going and what craziness am I going to have to do tonight?”
“You’ll see, ma belle, and I promise you’ll be happy with my Valentine present.” He took her hands and kissed her palms before tucking her against his side.
“I already love my gifts.” She placed her head against his shoulder, peering at her ring and smiling. “I get to have you, forever.” She placed her hand over her belly. “And a family.” Sylvie closed her eyes for a moment and let it all sink in. A few days ago, she’d thought she’d be arriving alone, destined to be that way for the rest of her life. So much had changed in a tiny amount of time; so many wonderful things.
A short ride later, the limo stopped. “We’re here.” He nudged her shoulder, beaming like he did the day he was drafted.
She looked out the window and saw the small church she’d been going to since she was a little girl. “I don’t… What’s going on?” She asked as he helped her out of the car.
The cold February air greeted her, but she hardly registered the chill because her mother and step-father came barreling out of the church. She hugged her mother. Everyone wore giant smiles and she wondered why they were there.
Martin took her hand, threading their fingers together. “It’s not the fancy outdoor ice castle wedding like we attended earlier, but this is more us. I watched you sit here every Sunday, and fell in love with you more each week. You always wanted a Valentine’s Day wedding, so let me give it to you. Be my Valentine and my wife.”
The tears pooled in her eyes. “What about the public notice? Isn’t there like a twenty-day requirement to publish our notice of marriage? I’d love nothing more than to marry you tonight, but we can’t.”
He scoffed at her response. “Sometimes it pays to be famous and have a father who works in the registrar’s office. The celebrant waived the notice period in our case. I can assure you that this wedding will be legally binding. This is your last chance to object.”
“Oh… we’re seriously doing this. I have no objections at all to marrying you.” She jumped and up and down, and then kissed him. His lips were cool and wet and so inviting, she never wanted to stop.
Someone cleared their throat and she turned to face them. Bruno’s eyes watered when he saw her. “It would be my honor to walk you down the aisle, ma petite. Please, come with me. Your mother has a dress and everything you need.” He shook Martin’s hand before taking hers, leading her into the church.
In a small office in the back, her mother held out the most gorgeous ball-gown she’d ever seen. The white satin sparkled like angel wings and the best part was the fit. It hugged her curves and made her feel like a princess. Getting a plus sized dress on short notice must have been next to impossible. “Where did you find this and how did you know my size?”
“Ton chum; he’s a resourceful guy. Your man knows everything there is to know about you, and he loves every part. I couldn’t pick a better man to marry my only baby. As long as you’re sure he’s the one?”
“He is. I love him so much. Mamma, are we crazy for doing this?” She’d loved Martin her entire life, but this was different. Being impulsive and rushing wasn’t how either of them lived their lives.
“You’d be crazy not to.” Her mother unhooked the train from the bodice and fanned it out. “It’s time. I’ll see you out there.” She kissed her cheeks and walked out of the room.
“You look stunning.” Bruno pulled the veil to cover her face. “Ready?”
She took his hand. “Let’s do this.”
Her teary eyes landed on her long-time friend, her lover, the man she’d spend the rest of her life loving. Martin hadn’t changed out of his tux from earlier, and now she knew why. He’d planned this all along. It’s a good thing she loved him, and that his plans happened to be the best plans ever. He never looked better than he did in that moment. With his hair slicked back, his long lashes fluttered to keep the tears back and his smile was wider than the ocean. He was perfect.
Bruno placed her hand over Martin’s as he gave them his blessing. It meant the world to her to have her family and Martin’s sitting in the pews behind them. They spoke their vows and sealed it with a kiss; not a church kiss. Their lips melted together and their tongues intertwined with the same hard, passion they’re shared since the very first time. The type of kiss that rattled you to the core and left no doubt in her mind they belonged together.
Everyone whistled and cheered, and eventually they broke apart. Martin’s father was the first to congratulate them and he welcomed her into their family. He hugged her close. “You’ve been a member of our family for many years, but I’m happy my son made it official. If you didn’t say yes, we were going to have to go with plan B,” he joked.
She laughed. “What was plan B?”
“Let’s say shotgun weddings run in the family.” He winked and walked away, allowing Martin’s older sisters to have their turns.
Mr. Thomas patted his son on the back as Sylvie's eyes widened. Had Martin planned to knock her up this entire time? That would explain why he wasn’t shocked or surprised by the news. But there’s no way he could have known she’d miss a pill. She tried to catch his attention, but it honestly didn’t matter. Planned or not, she loved him and their baby. The room was filled with so much love; she didn’t think it could handle any more.
After several minutes of rejoicing, she found her way back to her husband. “It’s time to tell them,” Martin whispered in her ear. He squeezed her hand, placing their joined fingers over her belly.
“I have a feeling your father already knows. Can’t we wait until tomorrow? Or until I’ve seen a doctor. What if this—”
“I’ve never lived my life on what-ifs and neither have you. Our family is growing and that deserves to be celebrated. Before I steal you away to seal this marriage properly, I want our parents to know. Once we leave here tonight, I’m not letting you up for air until we fly back home. It has to be now.”
Her thighs tingled at the promise of pleasure. “You do it. Go ahead and announce the baby.”
They say pregnant woman have a natural glow, but expecting father’s do as well. “Sylvie and I want to thank you all for joining us tonight as we build our future. You all know me, and know I’m shit at speeches. I’m even worse at expressing what’s inside.” He pressed their combined hands over his heart. “I’d rather mop floors or alphabetize the canned goods in my pantry than let people in. But there is nothing I wouldn’t do for this woman, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my family.” He kissed her hand and cleared his throat.
“I love you too,” she mouthed, encouraging him to continue.
“Spit it out already!” Mr. Thomas shouted.
“We’re having a baby. Sylvie’s pregnant,” he blurted and then pandemonium followed.
Everyone’s excitement spi
lled into another round of hugs, kisses and well wishes. Both sets of parents couldn’t wait to hold their first grandbaby. The longer she watched her husband and her family joke around, the more she wanted to celebrate with just the two of them. It took them forever to exit the church and they had a reception planned back at the hotel, her mother had informed them.
“Think they’ll mind if we go to the room first before we meet them for a drink?” Sylvie looked out the rearview mirror of the limo.
“Absolutely. So, let’s make every second we have together count.”
“I was thinking the exact same thing,” she said, sliding her legs over his to straddle his lap. Her finger worked on his tie and shirt, as he lifted the skirt of her dress. “Make love to me.”
Once the dress was around her waist, he unbuckled his pants and pulled out his cock. “With pleasure,” he said, tearing her panties from her skin. One thrust later, and they were married. “I love you!” He said it over and over as they made love.
Those words from his lips would never get old. Joining their bodies and their lives forever, was every dream she’d ever had come true. Friendship had built the foundation for an enduring and everlasting love. She rode him harder than she ever had, chasing her climax and pushing them both to the edge together. Her husband came inside her, as he kissed her deeply. She shimmied against him, drawing the last of his release.
“I love you. Happy Valentine’s Day.” She kissed his lips, drawing the bottom one between her teeth. “You know this one is going to be a tough one to follow, right? You set the bar pretty high.”
He laughed. “Might be an impossible one to top.”
“I dare you.” She nibbled on his ear, knowing her husband would never back down from a challenge. It was his determination that won her heart and it would one day win him the Stanley Cup.
“Challenge accepted.” He sealed their agreement with a kiss.
Extended Epilogue
MARTIN
Over the years, Martin had learned the value of romantic and over-the-top gestures of love. He’d once dismissed the big hoopla about Valentine’s Day. He now enjoyed spending a stupid amount of money on flowers, chocolates and jewelry. Anything that would make his wife smile was money well spent. Sylvie deserved to be pampered, but he didn’t need to wait for the holidays to show his affection.
Expressing his emotions never came easily. There was a time when hockey was all he had. His only love. Covering net and playing in the NHL was his job. It was no longer his only reason for living. Sending her that open ticket was the best decision he’d ever made. That and marrying his best friend. The worse was doubting Sylvie’s wrist shot. His smile would never forget that mistake. But he had so much to smile about thanks to her.
He walked through the front door of their house. An old farmhouse on an acreage just outside the city they’d purchased shortly before the birth of their first baby. He hung his coat in the closet and dropped his bag in the closet designated for his hockey gear.
“I’m home.”
“Cuisine,” Sylvie yelled from the kitchen.
“I hope you’re not trying to bake again. The last batch of cookies were like eating hockey pucks.” He cringed at the memory.
His wife had many skills, but baking was not one of them. As he walked into the bright white kitchen, he spotted Sylvie near the long wooden table. She burped their daughter and cooed at the green-eyed mini version of him.
So far, their clan had taken his dark hair and green eyes. His daughters were gorgeous with round features like Sylvie. Time would tell if they would inherit her smarts too. If their curves resembled their mother’s in any way, he’d be beating the boys off with his hockey stick.
“If I don’t practice, I’ll never get better. Daddy might not like them, but you and your sister love my cooking. Don’t you?”
He closed the distance and captured her lips. The chaste kiss only whet his appetite for more. As he stared at this wife, his heart was full. She was stunning. Her full figure had grown even more beautiful with the birth of both children. His eyes dipped to her large breasts. He loved burrowing deep between her mountains and sucking on the peaks. After a long and grueling training session, he was glad to be home.
“Merde!” She held the baby away from her chest and winced.
He sniffed the air and regretted the decision. His daughter had recently started eating solid food and her diapers were foul. More rotten than a neglected rest-stop washroom after a herd of hockey players left their mark.
“Is our eldest back from her playdate with your mom and Bruno?”
“Not yet. They won’t be back for another hour or two.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Madame Lamont, care to indulge in a quick card game?”
Since they were kids, the pair had enjoyed playing games. Sylvie never failed to rise to the occasion. She was a formidable opponent.
She narrowed her eyes and bumped his shoulder. “I’m not playing to see who will end up changing her.”
He laughed. “Never suggested it.” He toyed with the deck of cards in the pocket of his jeans. The deck was stacked because he had no intention of losing this time. “Let the nanny have the honors of changing her diaper. We pay her for a reason.”
“Fair point. It’s also nap time.”
On cue, their daughter yawned. Her big green eyes met his, and she reached for him.
“Sweet dreams my little one,” he said, kissing the top his baby’s head.
His daughter gifted him with a big toothless grin. Her hand caressed his face. The five o’clock shadow made her giggle. He leaned into her gentle tough, eliciting more laughter. Madeleine’s sweet laugh always made him smile.
“She’ll never sleep if you keep that up.”
“Don’t be jealous. I’ll rub against you soon enough.”
She rolled her eyes. “The longer she stays up the less time we have to play.”
He stepped back and motioned towards the hall. Sylvie smirked and carried Madeleine a foot away from her as she marched down the hall towards the nursery.
“Hurry back, ma belle.”
A rattle and two pacifiers cluttered the table. He placed them in the appropriate bin as he waited for his wife to return. His OCD had relaxed somewhat since the birth of their daughters. Two babies less than a year apart had forced him to pick his battles. He still kept a clean house and labeled everything in the fridge, but the priority shifted from cleanliness to safety. Every plug had a cover, and every handle had a childproof device.
A few minutes later, she flopped next to him on the couch and her hand landed on his lap. There was spit-up on her shoulder and her hair was a mess. She’d never looked sexier.
“What game do you want to play? It’s been a while. After the last time I won, you told me never again.”
The monthlong diaper duty had finally ended. He’d done his job but wasn’t eager for a repeat. He’d learned to set the rules in advance. Sylvie didn’t play fair. Neither would he.
He set the cards on the tabled and waited for her to draw the top card. “I propose a lover’s wager.”
Her eyes widened at the set he’d chosen. The same deck he’d used to propose. “It’s not Valentine’s Day. I thought we—”
“Every day with you is like Valentine’s Day. Full or love.”
Her eyebrow arched. “Cheesy. I love playing with you.” Her hand slid towards his crotch. “Tell me more about the game you have in mind.”
As the heat from her palm connected with his cock, it hardened instantly. Her touch always made him hard. She leaned towards him, kissed the corner of his mouth and rubbed along his erection. The oversized jersey she’d worn slipped off her shoulder, exposing more of her sexy cleavage. Her attempt to distract him was working. The crimson strap from her bra excited him. He knew the treasures hiding beneath her clothing and couldn’t wait pillage.
“Did you wear this outfit to entice me? Because it’s working.”
“I know my best friend w
ell,” she replied as he pulled the white jersey over her head.
“Red is my favorite color,” he growled, staring at her lingerie choice.
“Mine too.”
His lips gazed the lace as he yanked down the cup with his teeth. He kissed her bared breast. “Forget the game. I need you too much.”
“Yes,” she moaned as he licked her nipple. She unzipped his jeans and wrapped her agile hand around his cock. “Je t’aime pour toujours.”
He teased her nipples as she stroked him. The cards were abandoned. The game would have led them on an adventure. A journey that would have to wait. He needed to be inside her.
“You too… Always, ma belle.”
He lifted her skirt and removed her panties. The heat between her legs drove him crazy. The craving was nearly impossible to resist. With her parents visiting and a teething baby, they hadn’t made love in days. His plan to take things slow flew out the window when his fingers slipped along her wet folds. She was already soaked and ready for him.
“I know you don’t take hints well. Stop flirting and make love to me. We have less than an hour. Let’s make the most of it.”
“Your wish is my command,” he said as he aligned at her entrance.
Their lips collided. The love and passion flowed freely. He still wasn’t great at expressing his feelings with words, but he showed Sylvie every day how important she was to him. She was more than his best friend. She was his world. She was his family. Together they were unstoppable.
LUCKY GOAL PUCK BATTLE SERIES BOOK FOUR
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
