Crashing the Net

by Jami Davenport

  Cooper sucked on her ear lobe as his erection rubbed against her ass. “Why are you in such a hurry to leave?” He rubbed her nipples, tweaking them with his fingers and waking up her libido, even though it should’ve been in a state of exhaustion.

  “I have some errands to run if I’m going to be back here by this evening. It’s almost noon.”

  “We’re lazy asses. I have to be at the SHAC for meetings at two. That gives us enough time to shower and have a quickie.” He bit her earlobe. The minor pain sent a shock of sexual energy through her veins.

  “You’re definitely into water sports.”

  “I’m partial to ice, which is frozen water. We should try it on the ice sometime, all that cold and heat mixed together.”

  She moaned and nodded. “You’re on.”

  He pulled her into his big tiled shower with all the jets and shower heads. She shucked off her panties. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she stood on tiptoes to kiss his proud mouth.

  Cooper turned her around so her back was to him. “Bend over, beautiful. I want to take you from behind and watch my cock pump in and out of that gorgeous pussy of yours.”

  Izzy opened her mouth to protest on principle, but he smacked her ass hard. In fact it fucking hurt, but she liked it. Really, really liked it. Her pussy swelled with renewed interest.

  “Bend over,” he growled. “Or I’ll have to punish you.”

  “No,” she refused, partly to be contrary and partly because his man-in-charge attitude turned her on in a big way.

  He put his hand on her shoulders and bent her over. She struggled against him just to make it more of a challenge for him. He captured her hands behind her back and held them in his strong grip, keeping one big hand free to smack her ass.

  She’d usually been the one in charge in the bedroom, but much to her surprise, she liked him taking charge and exerting his male dominance and superior strength over her. She’d never enjoyed being dominated by another man.

  She wiggled her butt at him. Despite how sore it was, she could feel her juices flowing. Her pussy tingled and begged for something large and hard inside it. He must have spanked her a dozen times before he stopped, and it hurt so good.

  “Are you going to behave?”

  She was tempted to argue but decided to zip her mouth shut. Her ass stung like hell, and she needed him to do the nasty. “Yes, sir,” she said, faking a meek, subservient voice, so unlike her.

  “Good.” He almost sounded disappointed, and she laughed.

  Instead of smacking her again, Cooper slammed his full, hard length balls deep inside her. “Oh. My. Gawd,” she screamed out as he retreated and pounded into her again. And again. And again. He adjusted his angle, hitting her higher on the next several thrusts. Letting go of her hands, he gripped her hips and ramped up his rough thrusts, plunging his dick deep inside her with the force and speed of a well-oiled piston. Pleasure mixed with the pain of an already sore body, and Izzy came fast and hard, leaning her hands against the wall for support.

  “Awwww, shit,” Cooper shouted. He pulled out at the last minute, emptying his seed on her ass and thighs. She felt its warmth as it slid down her legs mixed with the shower water.

  He leaned over her back, holding her tight, his breathing harsh and irregular.

  Finally he straightened and washed the cum from her legs and tender ass.

  They stepped out of the shower together, and Cooper wrapped her in a big towel. He kissed her forehead and rested his cheek against hers.

  When he lifted his head, his eyes were troubled, which surprised her. That was the last thing she expected. What the hell had gone wrong?

  “I’ve never done that before,” he said.

  “Done it doggy style in a shower?”

  “No, I forgot all about a condom. I pulled out just in time.”

  “Oh.” She thought about it for a moment. “I’ve never forgotten to make sure the man was wearing a condom. I don’t have unprotected sex.”

  “Neither do I.” His eyes lit up with desire. “But it’s one hell of a fantasy. I’d love to feel my cock inside you without anything between us, fill your body with my cum. I guess I wanted it so badly, I got carried away.”

  “That’s okay. Really. I did, too.” Because she wanted the same thing, which horrified her. Unprotected sex was the worst idea in the world, and it represented a relationship hurdle she didn’t want to think about.

  “Sorry, it won’t happen again.”

  “No, it won’t.”

  He nodded, but she could see the disappointment in his eyes.

  They dressed, spent some time holding each other and kissing. Finally Izzy forced herself to leave. As much as her body wanted Cooper, she didn’t think she could take more without some recovery time.

  She waved goodbye and drove down his driveway onto the street, glancing in the rear view mirror. He stood on his porch, shirtless, and watching her. Her chest tightened at the oddly domestic sight. Cooper Black did things to her, scary, wonderful things. Things she wasn’t sure she could handle because being in a relationship with a domineering man like him required her to relinquish some of her independence.

  She’d fought too long and hard to be in charge of her own destiny. She’d be damned if she’d give it up to anyone. Even a sexy hockey player with unruly hair and blazing blue eyes.

  The problem was it appeared they were already in a relationship.

  Chapter 12—Hat Trick

  “Where the hell have you been?” Betheni met Izzy at the door, her hands perched on her hips.

  “I’m sorry, I was taking care of Riley.”

  “That’s bullshit, and you know it. Riley would’ve left for school hours ago.” Betheni leaned in and studied her sister. Izzy looked away. “You’ve been fucking Cooper.”

  “Sort of,” Izzy admitted, then laughed at how ludicrous that sounded.

  “With that man, I’ll bet my booty there’s no sort of. I bet he’s all in.” Betheni threw back her head and laughed.

  Izzy rolled her eyes.

  “Besides, it’s about time. I hope being thoroughly fucked improves your bitchy attitude.”

  “How do you know I was thoroughly fucked?”

  “Several reasons. One, you have that dazed, thoroughly fucked look. Two, you’re relaxed instead of wound tight. Three, you’ve been AWOL since last night, and Cooper should’ve gotten home sometime this morning. The way I see it, at least eight hours are unaccounted for. Therefore, you’ve been screwing the man’s brains out and vice versa.

  Izzy saw no reason to continue an argument she’d lose. “Guilty as charged. Now I need to sleep for the next twenty-four hours.” Did she ever. Her entire body ached in a good way. She still felt his presence between her legs, on her cheeks, and on her sore ass. A girl didn’t easily forget a night like that or a man like that, especially when every movement she made brought back memories of a particular sex act. She couldn’t believe she was able to walk upright instead of crawling.

  “He rode you hard, did he?” Betheni narrowed her eyes and looked her up and down, smirking that knowing smirk that drove Izzy mad.

  “Like a Triple-Crown winner.” Izzy managed a tired smile. This filly needed to go back to the barn and crash. Only she was ravenous. It’d been hours since she’d eaten. Betheni followed her to the kitchen as Izzy pillaged the cupboards and refrigerator in search of food.

  “Good luck. We don’t have a thing in this house to eat, unless you want a piece of moldy cheese with ketchup on it.”

  Right now even that sounded good. Izzy found a can of chicken noodle soup and poured it into a pan. She leaned against the counter waiting for it to boil. “Have you heard from Avery?”

  Betheni looked away, chewing on her lower lip and picking at her fingernail polish. Not a good sign.

  “Betheni, have you?”

  “Uh, yes, she came by this morning. That’s why I’ve been trying to call. She’s living in an apartment over the barn.”

  �
�At least she has that.” Izzy felt a small measure of relief her sister had shelter.

  “Uh, there’s one more thing. Emma packed up her stuff and moved out. She’s moving in with Avery.”

  “What?” Izzy’s hands shook with anger at the ultimate betrayal. Sweet, compliant Emma never gave her an ounce of trouble. Of all the sisters, she’d always been the dependable, level-headed one. “Why? Why did she do that?”

  “I don’t know.” Betheni lied the best of any of the sisters, but right now her talent for fabricating appeared to elude her. “She did say she was worried you’d be pissed, and she still wanted to be a party crasher.”

  “Can you talk to Brad? Find out what the situation is? His sister-in-law runs the barn.”

  “Okay, I can, but we’re not much for talking. We’ll just end up in bed together.”

  “You two are such sluts.”

  Betheni grinned. “Isn’t it fun?”

  Izzy rolled her eyes. Like she should be lecturing anyone on sleeping with a guy for fun rather than with an eye to a future with the man. “I have bigger problems than the twins.”

  “Oh, yeah? Cooper getting to you, is he?”

  Well, there was that. “No, it’s just fun with Cooper. Just sex, sex, and more sex. My problem is Riley. Aunt Barb is gone for good. She isn’t coming back, and until I find a replacement, I’m now a nanny.”

  Betheni laughed so hard, she bent over, holding her sides, as her entire body shook.

  “I don’t think it’s that funny,” Izzy huffed, not in a mood to see the humor of the situation.

  “Sorry.” Betheni straightened and rubbed her eyes.

  Izzy opened her purse and pulled out some cash. “At least I have money now for the rent.”

  “Oh, that. I, uh, have one other thing to tell you.”

  “What?” Izzy rubbed her hands over her face. She wasn’t going to like this, she just knew it.

  “Well, speaking of Brad, he’s offered to let me stay in the studio apartment over his garage. I told the landlord we’re moving. Since we were such good renters, he’s giving us until tomorrow to be out, and he won’t charge us.”

  It was a conspiracy. Izzy dropped down onto the old sagging couch and put her head in her hands. “You’re deserting me too?”

  “No, not really. You can move there with me. It’s free, and it’ll allow me to get back on my feet.”

  “The two of us in a studio? One bed, right? One bathroom?”

  “It has a hide-a-bed.”

  Izzy shook her head. “No, if something happens between you and Brad, we’d be out on our asses. Not to mention we’d kill each other being in that close proximity without even walls between us.”

  “Okay. Then stay with Cooper for now. Everything is falling into place as it should.” Betheni perked up, as if she had it all figured out.

  “I can’t stay with Cooper.” Izzy rubbed her eyes, feeling a headache coming on. Moving in with Cooper was the last thing she would do. Talk about giving up her independence—that’d be the final nail in that coffin.

  “Sure you can. Most nannies live in the house with the children.” Betheni covered her mouth with her hand in an obvious attempt to stifle her amusement.

  “I am not a nanny.” Izzy glared at her, beyond irritated.

  Betheni shrugged. “Don’t be such a stubborn bitch. If you don’t want to stay with Cooper, pay the rent or move in with me.”

  “I can’t afford this place on my own.” Izzy couldn’t believe this was happening to her. She couldn’t live with Betheni in a one-room studio. One of them would have to die.

  And Izzy didn’t want it to be her.

  She’d already become too indebted to Cooper, as it was. She would not move into his house, even if he was okay with it. At least, she’d be staying at Cooper’s when he went on road trips.

  Betheni glanced at her watch and threw on a jacket. “Hey, I have to go. I’m meeting Brad for lunch. Get packed. Brad’s helping us move stuff out tonight.” Betheni breezed out the door.

  Izzy didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she did know that her control over the situation teetered on a dangerous precipice. Not only had her sisters mutinied, but they’d left her homeless for all intents and purposes. She’d never have done this to them. They were growing up and away from her, while she still wanted to be the big sister who took care of everything for them. Only they didn’t want that. They’d changed. She hadn’t.

  Izzy sat down to eat her soup, but finally poured it down the garbage disposal without eating a bit of it.

  Her choices dwindled with every breath she took. Despite the money Cooper had advanced her, she couldn’t afford this apartment on her own.

  All those old feelings of helplessness from her teen years flooded back. Her life was spiraling out of control, and nothing she did worked to bring it back into her tight clutches. And what started the spiral happened to be the same thing that started it every damn time.

  Her parents. The people who were supposed to love her, protect her, nurture her. Yeah, right. Not her parents.

  She put her head in her hands and did something she rarely did. She cried. She cried until snot ran out her nose, her sobs turned to hiccups, and her makeup made her look like a member of KISS.

  Such an incredible night had turned to shit in a matter of minutes.

  Gathering her wits, Izzy wiped her eyes and nose and started packing. Not sure where the hell she was going but knowing she had to go somewhere.

  Her body voted for Cooper’s house. Her head told her to put up with Betheni, and her heart held its tongue.

  Several hours and a loaded car later, she pulled into Cooper’s driveway.

  * * * *

  Saturday night after the game Cooper toweled off his body as he walked out of the showers into the locker room.

  As tired as he was, his game should’ve been off. But he kicked major ass in this last preseason game and took no prisoners. He was one of the league’s top players, still at the top of his game, not that he gave a shit about statistics, and he’d proven that tonight.

  He only had one thing left to prove. He wanted the Cup. That elusive silver cup which had eluded him while he suffered through the purgatory of his former team and their destructive ownership. The Sockeyes’ organization was everything the Giants hadn’t been. They were committed to winning. In any other city, he’d have been committed to staying, but not Seattle. Never Seattle. He couldn’t stay in this city for reasons that had nothing to with the weather and everything to do with being haunted by the past.

  Cooper shook his head to clear those memories and re-focus on the great game he’d just played. He’d pay for the lack of sleep later, but these last few nights of incredible sex with Izzy had energized him.

  Cedric leaned against the counter as Cooper walked over to get a drink. He held the sports drink to his lips and took several long, hard swallows, just like Izzy had when she’d gone down on him.

  Cedric’s knowing smile brought him back to the locker room. “Who is she?”

  “Izzy,” he answered without thinking.

  “Ya, that would’ve been my guess. I’ve never seen sex put that kind of smile on your face or escalate your game like that.”

  “Yeah, well, most women aren’t Izzy.”

  “Imagine not. I scored a couple puck bunnies. I’d invite you to join me, but I already know the answer.” Cedric combed back his blond hair in the mirror in his locker and grinned at himself. “Damn, but I’m a good looking guy.”

  Cooper put his finger in his mouth and made a gagging sound.

  “What can I say? The ladies love me.” And they did. They adored Cedric with his charming ways and electric personality. Cooper, on the other hand, was the quiet, brooding type, though he could turn on the charm when necessary. But he’d called bullshit on all that stuff long ago, especially when he could get in a woman’s pants without charming them off her. The dark, brooding persona worked as well for him as charming and charismatic wor
ked for Ced.

  “So it didn’t work out between you and Betheni?” Cooper asked.

  A moment of hurt flashed in his friend’s eyes. “Nah, she was just a bootie call, just like I was for her. I hear she’s banging Brad Reynolds.” Again, that hurt in his eyes.

  “No shit?”

  “No shit,” Ced answered.

  “Don’t you ever get tired of it all, Ced?” He leaned against the back of his locker and watched Cedric.

  Cedric’s brows knit together, and he slanted Cooper a wary glance. “Of what?”

  “A different woman every night, a revolving door. Never getting to know one long enough to become comfortable, to make her your best friend.” Cooper had tired of it long before the team had moved to Seattle. Once he’d met Izzy, no other woman held even the slightest interest for him. Hell, they’d burned up the sheets all week since that marathon Wednesday morning.

  Riley hadn’t say anything, but Cooper suspected he’d figured it out. Cooper’s love life was none of the kid’s business anyway.

  “No, never get tired of it, but obviously you are.” Cedric plopped down on the padded bench next to Cooper. “Take it easy, man. You know you’re a sucker for a certain type of woman, and Izzy is that type.”

  “I’ll keep that under consideration.”

  “Seriously. She’s playing with you, and I hate to see you get burned.”

  “Have I been burned once since Carrie?” Cooper pointed out. “I finally learned my lesson after that one.”

  “No, but Izzy’s different. I can tell. Watch your step.”

  Cooper shrugged. Watch his step? Fuck, he’d been doing anything but watching his step. In fact, he’d tripped over her luscious lips, killer body, and dazzling smile and couldn’t get back up.

  “She could ruin you, Coop.”

  “Not a chance. We’re having epic sex so, yeah, I’m seeing a lot of her, but what guy wouldn’t take that to the net?”

  Cedric didn’t say anything.

  “Besides, we’re too much alike. We both have to be in control. We’d kill each other over the long haul, that’s all there is to it.” Cooper was explaining too much, but he couldn’t stop himself. Yet, he sounded like a girl.