Poke Checking

by Kristen Echo

  His half smile made an appearance, and he squeezed her hand. “I don’t need random sex with strangers. I can get that anytime I want. Trust me when I say it gets old quick. I might regret saying this, but I like you, Caroline. I’d like to take you out on a real date.”

  “Yes!” It came out far louder than intended, reeking of desperation and making him laugh. “I mean… that would be fun. Why would you regret telling me you like me? I like you too, for the record.” She reached for her water and ended up spilling the contents all over the white tablecloth.

  He chuckled at her lack of coordination. This wouldn’t be a onetime event. She was over the moon and bouncing with excitement. He looked relaxed with his arm draped over the chair to his left. “I’ve learned to play my cards slowly. People have to earn my trust. I’m twenty-five but sometimes I feel like I’m fifty with the amount of relationship hell I’ve been through. Games and lies, I’m done with that. How old are you?”

  “I’m twenty-one, so not jailbait in case you were worried. Although you’re a little late to be asking that now.” She sopped up the mess as best she could with her napkin.

  “I saw you at the bar with a drink so I wasn’t concerned. You also don’t have the eyes of a child. They are beautiful and seasoned, not to mention you don’t fuck like a woman with no experience.”

  “Nico!”

  He laughed, and that sound did naughty things to her. “Let’s eat. We can talk more with food in front of us.” He stood up and held out his hand.

  Their fingers intertwined. Caroline could so easily fall in love with him. “One last question before we eat. When you say you’re done with playing games, does that mean you want a relationship? You’re looking for a girlfriend.” She often fell too hard and too fast, which lead to much heartbreak, but love was worth it. One day she’d meet the right guy who would support her dreams and found her quirky sense of humor funny. Nico could be that guy.

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m not into labels, but I wouldn’t be dating anyone else while we’re seeing where this goes. Keep the questions coming, angel.”

  One night of sin wasn’t supposed to turn into dating. As they ate their food and talked about everything under the sun, she liked him more and more. He was hilarious. Caroline hadn’t laughed so hard since… she couldn’t remember, maybe ever. He had so many stories about his friends and the craziness they got into when he wasn’t working. By the time the food got cleared, she was smitten.

  She wanted to call and thank the band for making her play the silly game that introduced her to Nicolas. One kiss wasn’t supposed to turn into meeting the man of her dreams. But the more she learned about him the more she realized he might be the one. As they consumed the last of their coffee, they solidified their plans for a second date, and exchanged numbers. Her legs shook as she watched him punch in his digits into her phone.

  “There you go.” He handed her back the device, and then it rang.

  Caroline checked the display; it was her dad. “Sorry,” she said to Nico before she answered the call. “Hi, Dad, what’s up?”

  “I’m taking Connie and Meagan for brunch at the hotel. I hate that we had a disagreement last night. Rather than driving them home, I set the girls up in a room. Your sister fell asleep instantly. We already ate breakfast, but please join us for a late brunch.”

  “Um, what time?” She looked down at her attire and cringed. Her dad knew she had boyfriends, and she was an adult, but she didn’t flaunt her sexuality in his face.

  “We’re at the restaurant now, but we can wait for you. How long do you think you’ll be?”

  Caroline searched the room but didn’t spot him. She wasn’t ready to introduce Nico. He wasn’t her boyfriend. What was she supposed to call the man she’d spent the wildest and most sensual night of her life with? There had to be an alternative, but hiding under the table wouldn’t work. She spotted a platinum blonde set of curls by the host desk. “I’m closer than you think. I’ve already eaten, but maybe I could stop by and say hello.”

  They said goodbye, and she hung up. Caroline looked at Nico and chewed her lip. It was too soon for introductions. Her father was often in the media and extremely recognizable. She had no idea how to avoid them meeting without coming across as rude.

  “It sounds like you plan to ditch me and that blows. Spend the day with me. I have nowhere I have to be for once, and I’m not ready for our time to end. What do you say?”

  She didn’t want him to go either. “I’ll cancel my plans on one condition.” Her only plans were binge watching re-runs with Maddy, who would high five her once she knew the reason for being ditched. A quick text to her dad and she’d be free.

  “I’m not opposed to your type of conditions it seems. Name your price, angel.”

  “Keep the hotel room for another night.” She was glad he wanted to take her out, but at the moment, she wanted to get back in his pants. Caroline had eaten her days worth of calories, and she was ready to burn them off. Nico wasn’t the only one with a dirty mind in their new relationship.

  “Deal.”

  They stood to leave and both of them smiled. “I need to use the ladies room before we head back to the room.”

  “Me, too. We can meet back by the elevator. The food is on me, so don’t argue.” He kissed her cheek, and they headed towards the exit. Luckily her family had already been seated.

  Caroline took a few extra minutes to fix her makeup and run her fingers through her hair. The outfit was a dead giveaway she hadn’t been home, but she had an answer for that if her dad spotted her before she got away. She texted him and apologized for missing brunch. He didn’t respond.

  When she stepped out, she looked around for her family and her heart nearly stopped beating when she saw her father standing next to Nicolas. It sank into her stomach as the two talked. They looked familiar with one another; both smiling and Caroline couldn’t catch her breath. Her father knew everyone in the business world, and she tried not to jump to conclusions, but she had a terrible feeling.

  Nico shook her father’s hand and made his way towards the elevators. She rushed to cut him off.

  With a lump the size of a softball in her throat, she asked her question. “Who were you talking to?” She tried to stay calm, but there was an urgency to her voice. He must have noticed.

  “One of my bosses. He’s a great guy. Are you upset I didn’t introduce you? I would have, but he’s having brunch with his family.”

  No! That was not the answer she wanted to hear. “I’m not upset. What do you mean by one of your bosses?” She prayed he did anything but play hockey.

  “I think it’s great you didn’t recognize me last night. Clearly, you are not a hockey fan. That’s refreshing. It might be the reason I’m going along with your conditions so easily. You don’t understand how many fans try to get into my bed.”

  “What are you talking about?” Her head hurt; the start of a migraine dawning.

  “That man over there owns the NHL team I play for. Having a ton of people to answer to doesn’t bother me. I love being a hockey player. I didn’t purposely try to hide my job from you. But I wanted to make sure you were interested in me, and not my status.”

  Her heart plummeted, and the tears burned the back of her eyes. “I get it. I’m sorry, but I have to use the restroom again.” With fast steps she entered the stall before the waterworks unfolded.

  Dammit. Why did he have to play hockey for her father? Of all the jobs in the world, he had to be in the one profession her father made her promise to stay away from. Mixing business and pleasure wasn’t an option. Caroline’s choices were limited. She either walked out of the restaurant, pretending she hadn’t met the potential love of her life. Or she defied her father and see where things lead between her and Nico.

  Being an adult sucked!

  CHAPTER NINE

  A s she walked to the elevator, Caroline knew what to do. There was only one thing to do. One answer she could live with. Nico
leaned against the wall, and she met his eyes which sparkled with mischief. She had no doubt she was making the right choice.

  “Hey hot stuff, sorry I took so long.” She smiled and hoped her mad dash hadn’t scared him off.

  She would give him today. The odds were good they weren’t meant for each other. Sexual chemistry didn’t translate into marriage material. A few more hours would probably be all she needed to decide he wasn’t the right guy. If by some miracle the day went well, she’d reassess. A secret relationship wasn’t what she wanted. But if Nico turned out to be half the man she thought, then there was no way her father would object.

  They had to get out of there before her father spotted them together. Nico took her hand and his heat soothed her nerves. “Are you feeling okay? You looked like you might be getting sick or something?” He was thoughtful, funny and damn easy on the eyes.

  Yeah, he played hockey and technically might become her employee someday, but he didn’t know that. She wouldn’t hold it against him if things went south. Her father didn’t need to know, and she had no plans to tell him unless they became serious. That most likely wouldn’t happen. She’d known him for less than twenty-four hours.

  “I’m fine; good enough to rock your world.” She smacked his ass playfully before pressing the button for the elevator. “I’m still interested in spending the day together, if you are?” She kept their joined hands in front of her, hidden from the room behind them.

  He stepped closer until their fronts were nearly flush. The sexual energy crackled between them. “I called down to the reception and booked the room for another night as per your request. I’m very much looking forward to having my world rocked, angel, but only if you’re sure you’re up for the challenge.” Nico ran his finger down her cheek, and then he tilted her chin upwards.

  She melted into his touch. Caroline wanted him to kiss her, but not there. Not where her father might see them. “Um, besides making use of that hotel room, what else—”

  “You look nervous, Caroline. I promise I won’t hurt you.” He leaned in; his lips slowly closing the distance. When he said things like that it was hard to remember why they shouldn’t be together.

  The doors opened, and she pushed him inside. Their lips connected as the doors closed. His hands found her ass and lifted her against him. She wrapped her legs and arms around him, deepening the kiss. Hands, tongues, lips, everything was a wild hot mess, and she loved it. Somehow, he pressed their floor and when the doors opened again, he carried her into the room. She didn’t stop kissing him. It would have taken a crane to pull her off him.

  As soon as they entered his room, she was on her feet with her hands pressed against the wall. He lifted her dress over her bare ass and hissed as his fingers slid along her wet folds. “Christ! Had I known you weren’t wearing anything under that short dress there’s no way I would have been able to keep my hands to myself.”

  Two fingers entered her from behind and she rocked against them. “I would have let you touch me under the table,” she teased and he growled. “If you hadn’t sat so far away, I would have taken you in my hand and made you come while you ate your desert.”

  “Fuck, you can’t say things like that.” His pants hit the floor, and he removed his fingers to tear open a condom packet. In the next breath, he entered her.

  “Oh!” She wasn’t surprised that he wasted no time plowing into her, but it surprised her how ready she was for him. “That feels so good, Nico.”

  “Hold on, angel.” He thrust into her like an animal burrowing into its home. Nico was insatiable, and the room filled with their combined gasps and groans. His body covered hers, and he didn’t relent until she screamed his name. Her walls contracted around him, holding him like a vise. The orgasm caught her off guard and her legs buckled. She felt unsteady on her heels, but he kept slamming deeper and deeper.

  “Right there!” He slapped his hand against the wall, and he came so hard it sent another climax cascading over her.

  Once he emptied himself, he slowed his pace and Caroline caught her breath. “I might pass out.”

  He chuckled against her hair. “Sorry, I’m not sure what came over me there.” Nico pulled out and smoothed her dress down before she turned to face him. A sheepish smile greeted her.

  “Don’t apologize. That was hot, but now I need to sit down.” She stumbled over to the bed a few feet away and collapsed onto her back. The view would have been comical if it wasn’t so sexy. Nico had his pants around his ankles and his cock was semi hard as he removed the condom. Caroline licked her lips, knowing at some point she’d take that giant hunk of meat into her mouth.

  Most of her girlfriends bitched about giving head, but she loved it. She liked the power of rendering a man speechless. The connection she got from giving pleasure in that way. The rougher they got and the more into it the better.

  “If you keep looking at me like that we won’t be leaving this room at all and I would like to take you out.” He tossed the used rubber in the trash and pulled up his pants. “Do you need to go home and change or we could grab something from the gift shop downstairs?”

  She looked down at his t-shirt, her dress and the sky-high heels and figured a change of clothes would be a good call. However, she didn’t want to take him home. Her condo had family pictures hung on every wall, and there would be no way to explain things. She wasn’t ready to reveal that yet or ever. “What did you have in mind?”

  “There’s not much open with it being New Year’s Day and all, but the rivers within walking distance. If it’s not too cold, we could go for a walk and they rent skates there sometimes.”

  “You want to show off your mad skating skills. Plus, you’ll get a good laugh since I haven’t been on the ice since I was six. I can’t even skate backwards.” Her parents loved skating. When she turned six, her mother refused to step on the ice. Caroline remembered the panic in her voice when they laced their skates. They were on the ice for less than two minutes before her mother bawled. Seeing her mother cry caused her tears to fall. Her mother blamed the ice for the waterworks. Her father used the words medication and depression, but none of it made sense at the time. She hadn’t set foot on the ice since.

  He sat down next to her on the bed. “I can show you. If you aren’t having a good time, we’ll do something else.” His hand landed on her bare knee and her mind raced with all the naughty possibilities.

  She didn’t fear the ice or making an ass of herself. “Let’s do this, but won’t you get bored? I mean, aren’t you sick of skating since it’s your job and all?” The reminder of his chosen profession only reinforced her determination to get to know him on a deeper level so she could get him out of her system. There had to be something she didn’t like; something to make it easy to walk away.

  “Nah, I’ll never tire of being on the ice. But you’ll freeze with those sexy legs exposed. Let’s grab some gear and start our first official date.” The enthusiasm in his voice was infectious.

  He surprised her by stepping outside the room. A moment later, there was a knock on the door. “Caroline, it’s Nico. I’m here to pick you up for our date.”

  When she opened, he held out a rose. She had no idea where he found it. He probably stole it from the basket by the elevator; still she swooned. One of the cutest and most romantic gestures ever.

  The rest of their day was more of the same. They bought a ridiculously expensive snow suit, but it kept her warm. She didn’t have to play twenty questions anymore since Nico talked freely about his sister and their antics growing up. His love for his family was evident. He'd lived and breathed hockey since he learned to walk. Hearing him describe his passion for his job reminded her of the way she felt about singing. The more time they spent together, laughing and telling stories, the more she liked Nicolas Ivarsson.

  Spending the day together was supposed to prove he wasn’t the guy for her. She wasn’t supposed to fall for him, but that’s what happened. The conversation flowed, and she hu
ng on his every word. Every time he laughed her insides did a happy dance, and he laughed a lot; especially, when she tripped all over her own two feet. She laughed a lot too, and like a true leader, he taught her some moves. By the end of their skate, she had made progress. Skating backwards was out of the question, but she learned to move forward without toppling over.

  Her embarrassment on the ice didn’t ruin the day. He was a nice guy who joined her on her butt more often than not. He soothed the bruises with kisses and hot chocolate. It became clear his entire life revolved around hockey because it took all his time just as music consumed her time. Caroline had never had more fun on a first date. The awkwardness she usually experienced wasn’t there; maybe it was because they’d already had sex and so that pressure didn’t exist. She couldn’t put her finger on the reason for their comfort level. She even told him some of her bad clean jokes while they shared mini donuts and he didn’t roll his eyes.

  As they strolled down the river walkway during sunset, she knew her plan had backfired. Her heart was all in. Caroline had fallen in love with Nico; stupidly head over heels in love. He was so much more than a badass hockey player. When they returned to the hotel after dinner, her cheeks hurt from smiling. The rosy red glow they both had wasn’t from the freezing January weather.

  They stood in the lobby and Caroline debated her next move. They hadn’t made any plans or talked about tomorrow. The day had flown by in the perfect start to a new year.

  “I asked you to spend the day with me, and now it’s evening, but I’m not ready to let you go. Again, I may regret saying this, but I haven’t had that much fun in a long time. You make me laugh Caroline, and you make me hard. It’s a fucking heady combination. Come upstairs with me. Don’t leave yet,” he said.

  She had hoped he wanted her to stay, and she was already in too deep to say no. “Don’t regret telling me how you feel. Are you asking me to spend the night with you?” She removed her gloves and took his hand.