Puck Battles: A Complete Sports Romance Series

by Kristen Echo

  Their tongues twisted in greeting. The kiss was aggressive and severe. He kissed her like a man possessed by desire. She loved it. His fingers dug into her ass cheeks and he groaned. A low and gruff declaration of need.

  “I missed you,” she panted as he broke the kiss to lay her down.

  His dark eyes were even more intense than the first time she’d seen him, increasing the craving she had for him. He stood and removed his shirt. The corded muscles of his forearms caught her eye as he worked his belt loose. The metal jingled, and the tines of his zipper lowered. Her mouth watered as she stared at his tanned skin and followed the dark trail of hair down his body.

  “You are what I need.” His muscles flexed as he shed every stitch of clothing.

  She moved to the middle of the bed, making room for him. The sheer outfit contained her breasts, keeping them high and on display. She leaned back, propped on her elbows, thrusting her hard nipples towards him. From the waist down, she was bare. Her legs fell open.

  “I need you too,” she replied.

  The same deep growl she’d heard earlier made another appearance. “My night was not good until I saw you. I thought it impossible for you to be more beautiful than when we met, but… you are my fantasy come to life.”

  “You are too far away,” she added when he didn’t immediately come to her.

  “I need to calm for a moment, so I don’t hurt you. The way you make me feel… seeing your wet pussy begging for me.” He ground his teeth, stepped next to the bed and pumped his cock. “You’ve unleashed an animal.”

  She reached over and ripped open a condom wrapper. He wasn’t the only one with primal urges. Either the lack of sex for the past few years or seeing his glorious body primed and ready caused her to snap into action. An insatiable hunger took over. Waiting wasn’t an option.

  Within seconds, she rolled the latex over his erection and jumped into his arms. “Give it to me,” she commanded as she wrapped her legs around him. Her back hit the wall.

  He thrust inside, and she cried out at the magnitude of his force. “Jill, I’m sorry,” Luka said between her breasts. He chomped down on her nipple and slammed into her again. The flimsy fabric ripped, and he tore it from her body with his teeth.

  One painting by them fell to the ground. The relentless pounding never slowed. She begged him to keep going, and he listened. Her screams for more mingled with his grunts and the room filled with the constant slapping of skin on skin.

  They both took what they needed from each other. No holding back. Jill reveled in the intensity.

  Two orgasms later, he set her down on shaky legs. They stepped over the tattered remains of her nightie and Luka drew them a bath. The warm water soothed some soreness, but she’d be feeling that encounter physically for days. Emotionally, she wasn’t sure she’d ever recover.

  “Did I hurt you?” Luka asked as he slipped a cloth over her nipple. “I may have pushed things too far.”

  The gentleness of his touch surprised her. She looked down at the imprints of his teeth all over her breasts. “I asked for it, and I’d have let you know if I couldn’t handle it,” she answered. “Besides, I like it rough.”

  His shoulders were covered in her claw marks. “We compliment each other.” He left a trail of kisses down her neck.

  She didn’t answer. They took turns washing each other, content not to speak. After the visceral way they’d attacked each other, this calm intimacy was a stark contrast. It was nice. Maybe too nice. As Jill lay there wrapped around Luka, pieces of her heart drifted over to him. The broken pieces that had yet to heal from her failed marriage somehow opened to the possibility of something new.

  “We should get out,” she said, bracing her hands on the side of the tub. “Would you like to spend the night?” The inside of her cheek worried between her teeth, waiting for his answer.

  Luka stood, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her, drawing her to him. “I would like that.”

  She tried to contain her excitement, but it was evident in her smile. They dried and headed towards the bed. He pulled the covers back and let her go in first. The small things like that touched her and it spoke to his character. Luka was a good man. She crawled in and he followed.

  “You mentioned it was a bad night. Care to talk about it?” She leaned on her side and ran her hand over his chest.

  “Things didn’t go my way. I let a lot of people down, and that doesn’t sit well with me.” He sighed and angled his body onto his side, facing her. “I prefer to do things right every time.”

  “No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. Try not to be so hard on yourself.” She tugged on his beard and giggled, trying to lighten the moment.

  It worked, and he smiled. “Smart woman.” He brushed his lips to hers then worked his way down. “How did I get so lucky?”

  Her giggles turned into moans when his whiskers caressed her inner thighs and his tongue found her slit. She opened wide for him to move between her legs. “I’m the lucky one.”

  She inhaled sharply as he latched onto her clit. The hard pull stole the oxygen from the room. Then he followed with soft licks and gentle kisses. The mix of hard and soft, fast and slow drove her to the brink of madness. “Don’t tease me. I need more,” she huffed, trying to catch her breath and find release.

  “This is why I only date older women,” he said, running the tip of his nose along her entrance. “You are comfortable with your sexuality. Not timid or reserved. You say what you want and don’t push me away when I breathe you in.” Luka inhaled and pressed a kiss to the top of her mound.

  “I can’t imagine anyone pushing you away,” she replied, grabbing the side of his face and grinding her pelvis against his mouth.

  He opened wide, covering her completely and licked deep inside. His tongue prodded her core until she saw stars. Bright white flashes of light danced before her as he sucked the climax from her. Sated and spent, she relaxed into the softness of the sheets.

  His head rested his against her thigh and their eyes met. “We will do this again.” He paused, looked away and then back. “Because, I want you to be more. I’d like more of this; more everything. Does that work for you?” His question, like everything about Luka caught her by surprise.

  “I’m becoming addicted to you. It’s not the sex. Which is… wow, by the way. It’s you. I want to know you. So far, the Slavic accent, the directness of your words and your intensity all intrigue me. I want more too.”

  Most of her life she’d watched her tongue, gauged her words and provided the appropriate response. At this moment, she should have told him it wouldn’t work. That her life was too complicated for more. Instead, she spoke from the heart. She hadn’t meant to fall for this guy, or anyone, but it was happening.

  “Then we are together.” He winked and positioned himself beside her.

  Wrapped in his arms, the rest of the world disappeared. It was just the two of them in a cocoon of bliss. Eventually, reality would sneak in. Relationships took work and lived beyond hotel room walls.

  “We’re together,” she repeated his words. “I’m interested to see where this goes.”

  A sane woman would have taken things slowly and proceeded with caution. With Luka, she didn’t want to hold back. She didn’t want to filter the emotions. What they had was raw, and it thrilled her.

  As he kissed her goodnight, the feelings for him grew. She was in big trouble. Getting involved with a man a decade younger who lived a plane ride away, wouldn’t be easy. She closed her eyes and focused on the positive. After the challenges she’d faced with her ex, the distance and the numbers were no big deal. She smiled and settled into the comfort of a new beginning.

  When she opened her eyes, morning had arrived though the sun continued to hide behind the curtains. The only light came from the bathroom, casting shadows over their bodies. Luka lay on his back with his eyes closed and one hand over her torso. His fingers splayed next to a cluster of stretch marks. Outside those doors, life a
nd responsibilities waited.

  “You went from relaxed to tense,” he said, without moving or opening his eyes. “What is it?”

  “Were you serious last night about us? About starting something real. Because I come with a lot of baggage. More than your average twenty-two-year-old.” She chuckled under her breath, then stopped when the ramifications of their decision slammed into her gut. Life didn’t revolve around her. “I’ve never introduced anyone to my kids. I’ll be honest, they aren’t ready to meet you, or anyone.”

  He turned towards her. “I want you, and you have kids. No big deal. We’ll meet when the time is right. Don’t stress it. Kids love me.”

  “You’re so humble too,” she slapped his arm when he attempted to pull her over.

  He won and succeeded at sliding her on top of him. “I have meetings this morning, but I want you to stay. I’ll only be gone a few hours.”

  She pictured him sitting in a business meeting, seated behind a round table like a captain of industry. They’d talked about many things, but not careers. He probably figured she was a stay at home mom, but she also owned and operated a successful online jewelry store. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

  He pushed hairs away from her eyes and stared into them. “I am all grown, and I love what I do. I make good money, but the most important role a man can have is to be a father. To be part of a family again, is what I want.”

  She almost swallowed her tongue. If he’d reached into her soul, and used her own words, he couldn’t have said anything more perfect. This man rescued puppies and valued family above all else. Jill blinked away the tears that formed.

  “When is your flight?” he asked, glancing towards the clock.

  “I’m booked on the late afternoon flight,” she answered. “So, I can tuck my kids into bed. Being home for them is important to me. I agree with you that family is everything.”

  He nodded in understanding. “Then I’ll hustle. We can make the most of our hours.”

  Their lips met, and their bodies came together. They fit seamlessly. Her eyes drifted shut as they kissed. A foil wrapper ripped open. One shift of her hips and he buried himself inside her. Another swivel added pressure against her clit. More twisting and thrusting ended with one hell of a climax to start the day.

  The rest of the day was every bit as spectacular. After Luka returned from work, they went to the zoo. They both loved animals but neither had any. The date couldn’t have been more fun. Seeing the majestic polar bears swim was the highlight, besides learning more about her boyfriend.

  Luka Pedlanski was an interesting and funny young man who made her laugh. His name seemed oddly familiar, but she couldn’t place it. His perspective on life fascinated her. He saw the wonder in the little things most people overlooked. He had a heart of gold.

  “What was your favorite part of today?” She shuffled her feet and squeezed his hand. She wasn’t looking forward to leaving.

  He smirked. “Seeing the ground hogs roam free and kissing you at every exhibit.”

  “I had a great time. Thank you for… everything,” she giggled as the taxi stopped next to them.

  He hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. “You are an unexpected, pleasant distraction in my crazy life. I don’t know when we’ll be able to see each other next, but we’ll find a way.” He opened the car door for her.

  She nodded against his chest, inhaling his manly scent. “I’ll call you tomorrow and we’ll take it one day at a time.”

  As the cab drove away, her heart felt heavy. It was wrong to get attached to him. The odds of them making something work were slim. She rested her head against the headrest and ran her fingers over her lips. They were swollen and well used. Leonora was going to lose it when she filled her in on this new development. She had so much to tell her best friend, but she planned to keep her relationship a secret from everyone else. At least for now.

  Chapter 7

  “We invited him over,” Rianne stated with a snarkier tone than required.

  Jill set down the tray of veggies and dip before flopping down on the loveseat next to her daughter. “I’m not upset you asked him to join us. I’m just surprised he came. A little warning would have been nice.”

  Terry had arrived ten minutes before the puck dropped. Her plans of snuggling next to the fireplace and chatting with Luka were thwarted by his arrival. It wouldn’t feel right to flirt with her boyfriend while her husband sat in the next room.

  “He’s making an effort. You could too.” Her daughter reached over and grabbed a carrot. “I mean, it wouldn’t kill you to sit next to him.”

  She looked down at the low-cut jersey Rianne had insisted she wear which made sense after their company had arrived. She’d been set up, and she didn’t like it. “Your dad and I aren’t getting back together.”

  Since the day Terry moved out, Rianne and the boys had been harping at her to take him back. They didn’t know about their half-brother or the vasectomy. In their eyes, she was the bad guy for keeping him away. The only reason she kept his secrets was to protect them, but they deserved to know the truth. This was yet another bone of contention she had with their father.

  “Daddy loves you. You said you’ll always love him or were you lying?” She dropped the carrot stick back in the tray and stood. “Don’t you want this family together again?”

  Jill sunk into the cushion and sighed. “It’s complicated. Rianne, I don’t expect or want you to play matchmaker.”

  “Excuse me for trying,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “What are you trying to do?” Terry asked, interrupting the heated mother daughter stare down.

  “Nothing. Apparently.” Rianne stuck out her tongue and sat on the easy chair where Terry had been sitting. It left the only empty seat next to her since the boys were passed out on the other couch.

  He didn’t hesitate to take the spot Rianne had vacated. His leg pressed against hers. The heat of his body was unwelcome. She shifted away, but the weight of his body pulled her closer. He must have noticed her attempt to add distance and tossed his arm over her shoulder, squashing her effort.

  “What are you—”

  “Shhhh.” He pressed a finger over her mouth. “The game’s back on,” he said, turning his attention to the wall-mounted television.

  She was about to push him away when she caught her daughter’s smile. Big and beautiful. The first one she’d seen from her all day. As much as she wanted to shove Terry away and tell him to take a hike, she couldn’t. Pushing him away would do more harm than good; so, she sat there, brooding in silence. Her eyes followed the puck as it slid down the ice, bouncing from one stick to another.

  “Who do you think will take the round?” Rianne asked.

  “It looks like Winnipeg came to win. Thomas hasn’t given them an opening all night.” He shook his free hand at the screen when the ref called a penalty.

  “He’s a good goalie, but Kristoff is way better,” Rianne said. “Doesn’t matter who wins, you’ll beat them in the end.”

  If Winnipeg won the game, they’d make the finals and play Terry for the Cup. The outcome of the game mattered little to her, but their victory would give her a reason to visit the prairie province. She’d accompany the children to the games and get to visit Luka. The game took on new meaning. She hadn’t been rooting one way or the other, but now cheered for them to win.

  She had paid little attention to the league since TJ had been born. Three kids and marital issues kept her busy. Only a few names rang a bell. Pedlanski slammed into the boards, missing his opponent. The name rolled around in her head, reminding her of Luka. The last names were similar, but she was sure his had an “O” in it. An uneasy sensation rippled down her spine, but she shook it off. He wasn’t a hockey player, that was impossible.

  In the corner they flashed a picture of the player with his stats. At a quick glance it looked nothing like Luka. The man had long, blond hair and no beard. She breathed a s
igh of relief.

  “I need a refill,” she announced, grabbing her half-full cup of hot chocolate.

  The game captured the attention of her daughter and Terry for the next hour, but Jill couldn’t concentrate on the plays. She made every excuse to leave the room and be away from her ex. Sitting next to him, pretending to be a family was too much. He made it harder by constantly touching her like they were still a happily married couple.

  From the moment she kicked him out, Jill had been avoiding Terry. Loving him unconditionally hadn’t turned off because he’d broken her heart. He looked the same, smelled the same and acted the same. Only it hurt to be around him. Had she been more firm in the early days of their separation, she could have avoided a night like tonight where he thought he had a chance to fix it. He couldn’t. The damage was irreversible.

  Her leg bounced as she sat with her arms folded over her lap, waiting for the clock to wind down. Terry’s hand covered her knee and no amount of shaking untangled her from his grip. In the final seconds, Smith backhanded the puck into the corner. Winnipeg secured a two-point lead and the round three victory.

  “Fuck,” Terry cursed.

  A smile sailed across her lips. It looked like she’d be with Luka again sooner than she expected. “Game over.” Jill clapped her hands, pushed his from her leg and stood.

  “Now we know the team to beat,” Rianne said, stretching her arms high above her head.

  Terry unfolded himself from the couch. “Need a hand putting the boys to bed?”

  She nodded and watched him lift Wayne. That boy was far too big for her to carry. Soon TJ would be too big as well. Her lip jutted out as she picked up her baby. She missed having a newborn snuggled against her chest. Accepting those days were long gone, still pained her. Rianne followed them as they tucked the young ones into their beds.

  Once the bedroom doors closed, father and daughter discussed the game. Listening to the pair breakdown each play reminded her of the way things used to be. They tried to find the weak spots in the other team. Other than a few minor penalties, Winnipeg had played well.