The CEO's Lucky Charm: A Billionaire Novella (Players Book 6)

by Stella Marie Alden

  On the plane in first class, my legs don’t fit so I don’t try to sleep. Instead, for thirteen hours straight, I rehearse how to convince Sonia to give us, me and her, a chance. I swear, if I can’t, I’ll have to find a priest to give me an exorcism. This is just plain nuts. She’s on my mind every fucking minute of every fucking day.

  Not only that, the more time that goes by, the more I miss her. For God’s sake, we were only together for that one day. How can this be? I haven’t laughed since she left. That has to mean something, eh? What if she doesn’t feel the same? What if she believed what I said in the hotel room?

  Like this, my thoughts spin until I exit the plane and grab a cab to where I’m told she practices on the ice. My heart beats like it did when I was a teen and my hands sweat as I open the rink door.

  Then, I spot her gliding like an angel and gasp. It’s as if time stands still. She’s even more incredibly beautiful than I remember.

  Her new music is rock with a hint of country. Around and around the rink she flies, line dancing as if on a barn floor. When she launches into the air, she twirls, and nails the landing. A huge grin spreads across her face until she spies me.

  Merde. Not exactly the welcome I was hoping for.

  She catches an edge on her next jump and falls.

  This is my fault so I rush out onto the ice. “Are you okay?”

  When she stops twisting on her ass, she glares bullets at me and shouts in Russian, “Of course I’m alright. What’re you doing here, Comrade-Hot-Puck? Run out of pussy?”

  I struggle to find even one of the words that I’d rehearsed all night long but my mind goes blank and with my throat all choked up, it’s tough to talk.

  “Sonia.” I drop to my knees, and clasp her hands, shaking.

  When her eyes meet mine, the centers grow dark, and the little anger lines between her brows soften.

  Fuck, what she does to me. When her lips approach mine, I know God must exist because she’s my salvation. I close the small distance between us, willing myself to slow down. I can’t mess this up. I need her to know what I’m feeling, how lost I am without her.

  Gently I work her mouth, my hands slip to her waist, and pull her to her feet. Soft hands slip to the back of my neck, making chills run up and down my spine.

  It’s good and so right, my cock swells until it hurts.

  “Fuck, I missed you.” My arms wrap around her small body and I spin her around on the ice while the tips of her blades poke at my shins.

  Somewhere in the distance there’s people laughing and clapping. Oh shit, I didn’t even notice. There’s a small audience in the spectator’s seats.

  I wave and shout out in Russian. “She’s not angry!”

  Her eyes are bright, cheeks blushing bright red. “I must have been a very good fuck for you to come all this way.”

  “About that…”

  Her palm touches my cheek. “Thank you for coming but I must finish my practice.”’

  Am I getting the brushoff? Hell no. “I’m not leaving until we talk, Sonia. I don’t get it but I fucking care about you.”

  Sonia’s eyes widen, and she smiles, making stuff inside my stomach churn. Then, a woman, who I figure is her coach skates over and says in Russian. “Give him your number. Get on with it so we can finish here.”

  After she writes it down, I say, “And I want your hotel and room number.”

  The coach raises her eyebrows at me and I don’t give a fuck. I got my Sonia and we’re going to fuck hard and long.

  Sonia nods, blushing, her beautiful almond eyes bright with tears. She skates to the opening in the rink, digs into her bag, and exits with her key.

  “Give me a couple hours, okay?”

  I watch for a while until she makes my cock so hard that I may grab her and take her in the restroom. Thinking that might not be my best option, I grab a cup of coffee from a concession stand.

  When I spy a team of hockey players in one of the other rinks. I tap a guy’s shoulder who I think is the coach and introduce myself. Before you know it, I’m geared up and in a wicked pick-up game. For the first time in weeks, I’m back, and not some asshole pretending to be a professional. Beat up and bruised, I decline their offer for vodka and explain my reason for being in Moscow.

  Laughing with rude words of encouragement, they slap me on the back, find me a cab, and send me off to her hotel. Her room smells like some sweet flower that reminds me of a field I played in as a kid. Wondering what it is, I check out her perfume near the bathroom sink. Unlike me, her stuff is all lined up in a perfect row, clothes put away in drawers.

  Smiling, I shower, strip, and not having slept for over twenty-four hours, crash.

  Chapter 14

  Sonia

  Kit? Here in Moscow? How is this possible?

  I lift into a camel and glide. For momentum, I kick a toe into the ice, arch with both hands over my head, grab my blade, and spin. When the music changes to a square dance, I circle the rink, line dancing on the ice. Bracing, I picture a perfect triple Axel, and jump. The world spins in slow motion giving me plenty of time to set my left edge, and my arms shoot out in joy at the perfection.

  This is what skating should be. Music, dance, movement, and pure fun. I thought I’d lost it until just this moment. This, Kit has done for me.

  When I finish, my new coach dashes across the ice and hugs me to her breast so tightly I can’t breathe. “You will win. I know it. Go home. Find that hockey player and make sure to get some sleep.”

  “With him, it may not be possible.”

  She winks. “And tell him to be gentle. You need to be able to skate.”

  I take a cab with butterflies in my stomach all the way to my hotel. Not wanting to take the elevator, I dash up three flights of stairs and swipe my card. I fear he changed his mind until I see the bag by the door, and when I find him asleep in my bed, my heart does somersaults.

  He looks younger with all the worry off his face, and I imagine him as a boy. I dawns on me that I know practically nothing about this man. It makes no sense how I crave him more than life itself.

  He must be tired, what with jet lag and all so I let him sleep while I shower. Then, unable to hold back my lust, I slip out of my towel and slide into bed. When I touch the hairs on his chest, a sleepy grin crosses his face and when I scoot close, his eyes go wide and his cock jumps to attention.

  “Sonia.” Both of us naked, he pulls the covers to our toes and stares. “You’re so damn beautiful, I can’t believe dis.”

  I’m so overwhelmed by his beautiful body, I can’t speak. While his calloused palms glide up and down my curves, mine reach to cup his cheeks. Like this, we say hello lying on our sides, caressing every inch of each other, lust growing.

  When he kisses me, it feels so wonderful, I moan, needing to taste more. His lips press hard against mine while his cock grows hard between my legs. When his tongue asks for entrance, I open my mouth wide, my legs doing the same. I suck, he thrusts, and I crawl on top, a leg on either side of his body. My damp clit wets his hard, lower abs and I squirm.

  Immediately, his finger slips between us, rubbing over my slickness. “Fuck, you’re so damn wet, already.”

  He devours me with kisses, wraps my wet hair around his fingers, pulling to hold me in place. Like the first time we made love, we’re on fire. His free hand slides down to my behind and squeezes. When I inhale sharply and shudder, his tongue sinks deep into my mouth, emulating sex and he moans.

  After, I’m flipped onto my back, wrists overhead in one of his hands, trapped between his muscled thighs.

  We exchange a look so hot, my clit swells, begging to be finished off. I arch and spread my legs. “Kit.”

  His nostrils flare, the centers of his eyes wide and dark, his mouth open, breathing hard. “I want you so bad, it hurts, cherie.”

  “Take me,” I say in Russian.

  “I will but not so fast, eh?”

  While I squirm, arms over head, he takes a hard ni
pple into his mouth and sucks. Zings shoot to my core, juices flowing onto the sheets.

  My eyes close and my mouth drops open as his fingers squeeze. Then, his teeth nibble until it almost hurts too much, followed by gentle licks. Back and forth he plays with my breasts as my nub grows to the point of bursting apart.

  Unable to use my hands, I push my knee up to caress his length. This makes him let go and he slides down my body. With thumbs on my inner thighs, he separates my legs, and his mouth finds my drenched pussy.

  His tongue slides alongside where I need him most, frustrating me further until he pushes one finger deep into me.

  I arch up and moan. So damn close. “Kit. Now.”

  He thrusts another finger deep. It’s so hot watching him watching me. Just when I think I can’t swell for him anymore, he blows. Maybe I’ll die from lack of orgasm.

  I arch my back, open wide, and pull hard on the hair on the top of his head. “Fuck me.”

  “Look at me, Sonia.” Dark eyes black with need gaze up at me, he licks my liquid from his lips as his thumb slides to my nub. Slowly, he presses where I ache most.

  “Oh shit.” Surges of pleasure crash into me.

  Suddenly, his immense cock is at my entrance. When he stretches me, I buck to grab more bliss. He slides in and out, taking me higher and higher. I never come down.

  “Mine. Understand?” He pulls out, kneels, and throws my ankles over his shoulders. Then he grabs my thighs, renters fully, and I scream, overcome by how good it feels.

  Again and again, hard and fast, I meet his every thrust, my own want growing urgent again.

  When I come, I shout, he shouts, and with a shudder and a groan, goes so deep it hurts.

  “Mine. Dammit.” One more thrust, he groans, and rolls me on top.

  Still connected, my ear on his wet chest, his heart beats as fast as mine. I’d stay like this forever, if I could. Nothing in my life has prepared me for this. My heart is so full, it must be love but I dare not say. Not yet.

  “I think we are very good together, Kit Tufek.”

  He smiles so wide, maybe his face will break open, “Me too, cherie. Me too.”

  After we make love twice more in the bed, and once in the shower, I’m ready to take a break and eat.

  “Eggs, sausage, toast, and coffee for two.” I order in room service.

  He dresses, opens a window, and stares down onto the narrow cobblestone street, lined with shops. “It’s beautiful here.”

  “Da. As long as you have money.” Wrapped in a towel, I lay my head on his back and wrap my arms around his waist.

  “Do you?” He turns and his dark eyes search my face.

  It’s so wonderful to be asked questions, instead of being read by a human lie detector or coerced by Leonid.

  Smiling, I stand behind him, and wrap my arms around his waist. “I’m fine. I have sponsors, a new coach, and soon I will win the gold here in Moscow. That will lead to even more advertising.”

  He turns, his mouth frowning, brows furrowed.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Does that mean you’re staying? Here?”

  “Where else would I live?” My hands cup his cheeks and I wish he would ask me to return to the states with him but I suppose it’s too soon to expect so much.

  “I have to fly back today. Training camp.”

  I pull out my laptop and sit on the bed. “Come. Take out your schedule. You have it with you? What cities will you be in?”

  For the next hours, we compare my competitions to his game schedule, and plan to meet in one month in Chicago.

  At the airport, I hug him so tight and inhale his spicy scent. I want to forget nothing.

  Bag in hand at the gate, his eyes are moist as he kisses me hard. “You and me. Right? No one else.”

  “No one else. You too, da?”

  “Oui, cherie. Only you.”

  I swallow hard over the lump in my throat. “Okay then. Go, now before I start to cry. Skype me when you land.”

  Chapter 15

  Kit

  I sleep soundly for most of the flight home from Moscow, and feel pretty good as I traverse JFK airport and find my limo driver holding up my name on a iPad.

  When I get stuck on I-287, I Skype her. “Hey, cherie. Turn on your camera, I want to see you.”

  She does and I smile. She’s all sweaty with gym noises in the background.

  “I miss you already.” Dammit. I should’ve have told her I loved her again while she was in my arms, screaming out my name.

  Her face turns down. “I miss you, too. We can Skype every day, da?”

  I’ve never wanted a long-distance relationship but then, no one has ever got under my skin like this woman. Right there, I decide to do everything in my power to keep her, forever.

  The paperwork will be a nightmare. Still, my new lawyer is a miracle worker. He’ll figure it out if anyone can.

  I need to know if she wants me. “Are you enjoying being on your own? Being free?”

  She laughs. “For the first time in years I enjoy skating but to be a professional athlete, what freedom is there in that?”

  I laugh with her. “I understand totally. I’ve got just one day left before training and after that, every hour of the day is scheduled for the next ten months.”

  “Except for Chicago.” She looks a bit worried which makes me feel better.

  “Right.”

  Those almond eyes turn sad. “I need to go back before my muscles tighten up.”

  “Bye, cherie. I loved spending time with you.” That’s pretty close to what I wanted to say.

  “I loved it, too.” Her cheeks turn bright red, smile in place. “Talk soon.”

  Every day we chat for hours. I tell her about escaping Bosnia at twelve, she tells me about losing her mother.

  Because conversation is all I have to keep her, suddenly I have more to say to a woman than ever before. Hell, I talk more than Siri. And every damn time I hang up, it hurts more and all I can do is dream of her as we were in Moscow.

  The first game of the season, I need to punish a player who tripped me as I was about to score. The fucking referee never called it so he must be blind. Either that, or crooked, eh? Whatever. You don’t fuck with me, and get away with it.

  It becomes a huge brawl but they end up with more in the penalty box than us. With that advantage, the Rangers take the lead and win. When I shake hands with the guys on the other team, I shoot them my toothless grin and they do the same. After icing down, like always, I Skype Sonia.

  “What is it?” I’m shocked to see red eyes full of tears and her nose red.

  “Russia extradited my father. He’s in Moscow.”

  Ah fuck. “I’m coming.”

  “Nyet. This week I’m in Stockholm, then in Toronto.”

  “Has he contacted you?”

  “No.”

  “What about Leonid?”

  “He’s still in New York.”

  “Cherie, then why the tears.”

  She sniffs. “I’m not crying. I have a slight cold.”

  “Sonia? This is me, Kit, eh? You don’t have to lie. Look into the camera and tell me what’s wrong.” I know she’s been skating better than she ever has, so it’s not that.

  “I miss you. I miss your body next to mine. The way you smell, the way you make me feel. To Skype is good but it is not you.”

  Ah, fuck. “We knew when we started dis thing, it wouldn’t be easy. You’re not giving up on me, are you?” I hold my breath because for the next few months, I’m booked solid except for three days around Christmas.

  “No. You?”

  “Never. Tell you what. When I get out of the rink, I’ll call you back.

  “Okay.”

  “Kit?”

  “Uh, huh.”

  “I think maybe… maybe I think… I’m in love with you.”

  “I loved you, angel, since the day I first laid eyes on you, in Sochi.” Holy shit. I wasn’t prepared for that but I got quick refl
exes, eh?

  “Nyet. You hated me.”

  I laugh. I’ve been doing a lot of that lately. “Only that you were seventeen. I’ve had wet dreams about you since that day, and still do.”

  She’s smiling now and I think we’ll make it until Christmas.

  After that, every second I have between games and working out, we talk. As she says goodbye, she says, “I love you.”

  Hell yeah, I say it back.

  Chapter 16

  Sonia

  I can’t believe it’s Christmas and I’m back in New York. After passing through customs, I walk down the long hallway. Before I even exit the gated area, Kit jumps the ropes and pulls me into a giant hug.

  I drop my luggage and my eyes sting as I inhale his wonderful masculine scent. All squished against his chest, for the first time in weeks, I’m truly, amazingly happy. When our lips meet, I press hard and close my eyes, needing to commit every feeling, every moment with him to memory.

  Three days is such a short time.

  A few people snap pictures and I could care less. I’m with him and nothing has ever felt better.

  He whispers in my ear. “We should go before I fuck you right here in the airport.”

  “There is a restroom.”

  He laughs. “That’s my girl, but no. I have a suite nearby. Much more comfortable.”

  I was serious. However, he seems determined to get me to a hotel as he grabs the handle of my bag and takes my hand in his.

  He holds on, as if I might disappear, and doesn’t let go, not even while driving.

  “Damn, I missed you, cherie.”

  “Can you drive any faster? There’s a hotel right there, that says vacancy.”

  He laughs. “In this neighborhood? I don’t think so.”

  When he squeezes high up on my thigh, I’m so wet and full of desire, I almost come.

  I move my hand higher on his leg. “Just hurry up, hockey-man.”

  A few more agonizing minutes later, we’re in a parking lot where we first made love. I don’t wait for him to open my door, instead meet him in the front of the car. When he grabs my hand, laughing, we run to the elevator, kissing. Then, I unbutton his jacket and untuck his shirt, craving his skin.