by Cari Quinn
Finally, the man strolled into the room. “Morning.”
“Morning,” they mumbled as one.
“Okay, boys. I think we’ve got this face-off thing worked out. We watched more game video last night and went through various scenarios, and here’s what we came up with. There will be a specific guy whose job it will be to get puck control right after the face-off and fire it at the net. We’re going to try the same set play on every face-off we can. I’m guessing that’ll mess with their heads pretty good. They’ll figure we’ll try it once, maybe twice, and then abandon it. I doubt any of them will know why we’re doing it, either.” He went to the whiteboard and wrote scenarios and assignments.
This whole hypothesis about the goaltender might mean something, or it could mean nothing. Sarah, Doug, the coaching staff and the team leaders were of the same mind; it did mean something. Statistically speaking, it was happening too often to not be significant.
As Jon continued to draw on the board, the guys perked up. Jon was assigning some to take the shot, including Sebastian. The guys were starting to yammer to each other about how and when they should shoot.
Jon whirled around. “Quiet! I want everyone involved in this process to study this board. Hell, I want everybody to study the board whether you’re involved or not. Learn it, know it, live it, and play the system.” It was a mantra he’d preached all season. “Come see me if you have questions.”
The guys nodded, leaning forward in their chairs to study the formations. Some had their eyes closed, seemingly visualizing themselves in the situation in an attempt to make the strategy more instinctual and less about trying to remember a sequence of steps. Sebastian studied the board for a while and then ran his hands over his face, exhaling loudly. He stood up to leave and Sarah followed him into the hallway.
She worried about him more every day and his current appearance didn’t allay her fears. “Hey.” He looked atrocious, with his scraggly beard and sunken eyes, not to mention the large bruise on his cheek courtesy of a high stick a few games ago.
He gave her a weak smile. “Hey.”
Sarah frowned. “You’re scaring me. Are you sleeping all right?” She took a step toward him, running her hand down the side of his face before resting it on his shoulder. Sarah tried not to be demonstrative at the rink or freak him out by touching him too much, but she couldn’t help herself. “How’s your back?”
Sebastian sighed. “The same. It’s not going to get better until we stop playing.”
“But there’s something else bothering you. I can tell.”
“I never realized how much pressure would be on me. I mean, I am a rookie. Usually rookies get little ice time in the playoffs. The way Jon’s got those diagrams drawn, I’m responsible for getting that shot off if I’m on the ice. It is a lot to think about.” He leaned against the wall and eyed Sarah. “And as far as sleep goes, there are two problems. One, my back hurts every time I move, and two,” his gaze became wary, “you’re not there.”
Sarah’s mouth fell open. He wanted to sleep with her? He hadn’t mentioned nightmares lately—maybe they were gone. Hers finally were. Did he want to get back together? She was so afraid to let her heart hope. A tear escaped and she swiped at it, but Sebastian uttered a curse and straightened.
“I didn’t say that to make you cry, mon coeur. Come on.” He turned them both in the opposite direction from the locker room.
He called me “mon coeur.” He hasn’t called me that in forever. Her chest threatened to burst from happiness. “Where are we going?”
“We’re going to find an empty room. One that is not your office. That place has been far too busy for us to have any privacy there,” he said as his arm slid around her waist, and she marveled at how good and natural it was for Sebastian to hold her again.
It had been too long.
He opened the door to an auxiliary training room that was now used for storage, checked to make sure the door wouldn’t lock them in, and then pulled her inside.
Sarah had no idea what his plans were for this little liaison, but being close to him was having its usual effect. Her breath quickened and her body heated as she drank in his scent.
Sebastian picked her up and placed her on a counter. He stared into her eyes for a moment, his gaze smoldering. Sarah shuddered with need. After Sarah lived and died a thousand times, he moved in, taking her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss.
He hadn’t kissed her like this since before the attack, and she’d been holding back for a long time, afraid to make a move herself. She opened to him, and Sebastian groaned and drew closer, continuing his sly, flirting torment. She hitched her legs over his hips, hooking her ankles together at the base of his spine, aligning her body with his. They melded together, both of their hearts thumping.
Sebastian finally broke the kiss and pulled away. He was panting and Sarah’s head was spinning, her skin hot and her body crying out for him. He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, I had to.”
“I wanted you to. That wasn’t obvious? Why are you apologizing for kissing me?”
“Because I’ve been trying to deal with all this stuff from the auction and the playoffs and also figure out what I wanted from you. I didn’t intend to ravage you. I just wanted a private place where we could talk for a minute. But now, mon trésor, every piece of my body is dying to make love to you.” He shrugged, frowning. “I haven’t felt that way in a long time. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. But ma belle, Sarah, when you touched me back there in the hallway… I guess I just snapped. My body hurts, both from playing hockey, and now from wanting you, but you know what hurts the most?”
He took her hand, drawing it to his heavily-muscled chest. His bright green eyes were shining with emotion. “My heart, Sarah. My heart hurts. This is supposed to be the best time of my life, living my dream, and it doesn’t mean anything because I don’t have you. Not really.”
You do have me because I love you.
And she did. She loved him. Her breath quickened, but she recognized the reaction for what it was. Excitement, not fear. Now that she believed he might accept her love, she couldn’t wait to tell him.
Sarah started to speak, but he cut her off. “I want more. I need more.”
Before he could say another word, she put her finger to his lips. “I love you.” Her body sang with the truth of that sentiment.
Sebastian’s eyes grew wide. “What?”
“I said, I love you, or in French, je t’aime,” Sarah repeated, smiling. “And I mean it. I need you, I want you, and I love you.”
Sarah swore she could see straight to his soul through his expressive eyes. It was as if a black cloud had lifted. His face lit and his entire demeanor changed. The old Sebastian was back.
She saw the change, but didn’t have time to process it further as Sebastian gave a guttural growl and grabbed her face with both hands. He kissed her, starting out hungrily, possessing her mouth, but then shifted to gentle, sensuous, drugging kisses. He gathered her hair and buried his face in it, inhaling. “I love you, Sarah, mon coeur. Tu es mon amour. Amour de ma vie. Ah, God, you’re the love of my life. I can’t believe this is happening. Say it again.”
Sarah laughed. “I love you.” Now that she’d said it once, it was the most natural thing in the world.
His mood shifted again and his eyes went black with arousal. Pulling her body flush with his, Sebastian ground his erection against her mound. “I need to be inside you. I have to make you mine,” he ground out through clenched teeth. He attacked her neck and sucked at the junction between her it and her shoulder. “Right here, right now.”
Sarah threw her head back, offering herself to him. “Honey, you’ve got a game tonight and you’re exhausted. You need to rest.” It was the last thing she wanted him to do, considering the lust roaring through her veins, but she didn’t want him hurt even worse because they’d done something foolish.
“I am not waiting any longer. I’m going to make love to
you, and I don’t give a damn if I’m playing in five minutes or five hours.” He dragged her off the counter, and then took her hand, leading her to an old training table sitting behind some shelves.
He maneuvered her next to the table and then drew her pants and panties down and off. The light sweater she was wearing and her bra soon followed, leaving her bared to his hungry gaze. Grabbing her leg, he pulled it up so her foot was resting on the table’s surface.
The position stretched Sarah a little more than was comfortable, but she paid no heed to her straining muscles.
Sebastian removed his own clothing with quick, jerky movements, and his erection stood rigid and tall, reaching toward his abdomen. Sarah’s mouth watered, but Sebastian batted her hand away when she reached for him. “I won’t last if you touch me. It’s been too long.”
Then, hands cupped beneath her bottom, he sank inside her and stilled as her body opened to the slippery-hot intrusion. “Si chaud pour moi, so hot.”
When he moved inside her, an intense explosion of raw need and emotion raged as her inner walls tightened around him. It had been so long and she’d almost forgotten how well they fit together. Her release crashed over her like a tall wave into the shore, leaving her breathless.
Gritting his teeth, plainly desperate to keep some semblance of control, he continued to thrust into her as the tremors of her orgasm died down. “I love you,” he told her again as he sped up. “Mon trésor. You’re my treasure, Sarah. You’re mine.” His voice was thick and the passion playing out in his eyes was surreal.
She’d reveled in the pleasure and his love and finally came alive for the first time in her life. This boy, no, this man, he was what she needed. He was hers.
Sebastian mumbled incoherent things to her in both French and English, his raspy whisper tickling her ear. Sarah shivered when he licked the delicate shell of her ear. His hands found her nipples and he rolled each between his thumb and forefinger until they puckered in his grasp. She arched her back as a helpless moan tumbled out.
Taking her lower lip into his mouth, he sucked on it and bit down hard as his body shuddered with one final thrust. She feared the sensation might break her apart when she came again, clinging to him to keep a sense of reality as her inner muscles milked the climax out of him.
As they both started to come down, Sebastian’s mouth slid over hers in a quick, teasing kiss. His eyes twinkled with an energy she hadn’t seen in far too long, but then the color drained from his face.
Does he regret this? Oh God, I’m going to be sick. She gripped the edge of the table and the wood bit into her fingers. “What?”
“We didn’t use a condom.”
“Shhh, it’s okay, honey,” she hastened to reassure him. “I’m on the pill. I started it a few months ago when the stress of everything screwed up my cycle.”
“Oh, God, I didn’t even think about it. I just wanted you so badly. See what you do to me?” Sebastian smirked and Sarah laughed when his adorably sexy dimple appeared for the first time in ages.
Sarah was happier than she’d ever been. She and Sebastian were going to make it.
They set about locating the tangle of clothes on the floor and pulling them on. They’d been gone a long time and the rest of the team was most likely ready to take to the ice for the morning skate.
He laughed as he fell over trying to shove his foot back into his pant leg. “I am going to get in so much trouble if I’m late, and it’ll be all your fault. You’ll owe me. But it was so worth it. Say it again.”
“I love you.” She pushed him toward the door. “Now go before Jon benches you tonight.”
He snorted. “Not likely.”
“You’re still a rookie. Don’t forget that.”
“But now I’m a secret weapon.”
Sarah laughed. She’d never met anyone like Sebastian. Once again, a surge of happiness that they’d found their way back to each other flowed through her. They exited the room and Sebastian set out at a brisk trot in the direction of the locker room with Sarah hurrying to keep up.
He turned his head and smiled. “So did you find this thing with the face-offs in order to give me an edge because you love me?”
Sarah smacked him hard on the backside outside the locker room. “Get in there.”
“You can’t take it back, you know,” Sebastian answered, his gaze searching her face.
“I don’t want to.” She didn’t know what the future held for them, but was confident they could face whatever came down the pike.
Grinning, Sebastian slipped into the locker room as Sarah headed back to her office. She and Doug were scouting the teams that remained in the playoffs. Assuming the Storm would move on to the next round, they would be ready with intelligence.
Doug was lounging in her guest chair with his feet up on her desk. “Where the hell have you been?” With one look at her, he dropped his feet to the floor, leaning forward. “Spill.”
“I finally told Sebastian I loved him.” She faced the video machine in an attempt to hide her blush. She could try to keep Doug on task, but in all likelihood he would have none of it.
“You did what?” He flew out of the chair and spun her to face him. “I mean, I knew you guys were seeing each other, but… Say that again so I can make sure I heard you right.”
“Geez, that’s what he said. What is it with you men? Are you hard of hearing?”
Despite Sarah’s taunting, Doug’s expression softened and he enveloped her in a warm hug. “Congratulations. Welcome to coupledom. The food’s great, but the beds are lumpy, especially after you have kids who insist on sleeping with you.”
Bursting out laughing, she pulled back to stare at him. “You are so odd.”
“I know.”
Sarah broke the embrace and sat in her chair. “All right, let’s get this done.” She wasn’t surprised when the change of subject didn’t work. Doug was like a dog with a bone when gossip was involved.
“We have plenty of time. He’s going to be busy for the next couple of hours, you know. And with a game today, he won’t have much time for ‘off-ice activities,’ if you know what I mean.” Doug poked her shoulder with his index finger.
Sarah made a face. “Can we keep the conversation away from my sex life, please? It’s been kind of a long day already and I’d like to wrap up in time to run home and take a nap, alone.”
“Fine. But you have to give me some details later.”
“No promises.”
“Meanie.”
“Whatever,” she retorted. “Sit.” It was pretty nice to finally be free to talk about her and Sebastian. Sarah smiled and let out a relieved breath before focusing on the work ahead of them.
Epilogue
The Storm won Game Five on Sebastian’s goal directly from a face-off win, and went on to win the series four games to two. Unfortunately, they ran into a team with far less injuries and, despite a valiant effort, were overpowered in the third round, losing in seven games.
Jon and Keith were impressed with Sebastian’s performance in the playoffs, and advised him to find a permanent residence in Buffalo. Sarah was so proud sometimes she feared her heart couldn’t hold everything in and would burst. She’d never realized one person could fulfill so many needs for her, but Sebastian did, and she cherished him.
Sarah and Sebastian decided to take a whirlwind trip during their time off. They started in Bermuda so Sebastian could relax and recharge, then went to Quebec so Sarah could meet his parents and his family, and then finally came home by way of a lake north of Toronto where Rob had a cabin. It was nice to not have the pressure and raw emotion of the playoffs bearing down on them anymore.
They arrived back in Buffalo in early July and Sebastian began to skate again. Sarah met with Scott, Keith, and Jon, and signed a three-year contract to stay with the Storm. She couldn’t imagine doing anything else. It was her life, her calling, and she heeded it.
The End
About the Author
Cass
andra Carr’s work has been praised by many prominent publishing industry media outlets such as Publisher’s Weekly and Romantic Times. Her books have won several “Best Of” awards. Her novella Unexpected Top was nominated in the E-book Erotic Romance category of RT’s 2013 Reviewers’ Choice Awards. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online.
She thinks the best part of being a writer is how she writes about love and sex while most others struggle with daily commutes, micro-managing bosses and cranky co-workers. Her inspiration comes from everywhere, but she’d particularly like to thank the Buffalo Sabres, the hockey team near and dear to her heart.
Website:
www.booksbycassandracarr.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr
Did you like Should’ve Known Better? To find out more about it or any of the books in my Storm series—including two freebies!—check out this link:
booksbycassandracarr.com/storm.html
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed this novel. As writers, we often wonder about the impact our stories have on readers. One of the only concrete manifestations of this are reviews, and if you enjoyed my story, I’d very much appreciate you taking the time to leave a review—even a few sentences!—on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.
My stories were written for different reasons, but the over-arching motive is that I am a writer who believes in the power of everlasting love, no matter who you are. Love is love.
Authors have a driving need to tell stories of people’s lives. We have to write. Writing gives us a freedom we find nowhere else, and we’re humbled when readers take their time and spend their money to be (hopefully) entertained or touched by something we’ve written.
Sincerely,
Cassandra Carr
An excerpt from Storm book 2, Underneath It All:
Spying Rob, Alaina put a hand over her suddenly racing heart. This was ridiculous. She could not act like a schoolgirl every time she saw the man. Hopefully he wouldn’t notice anything different.
