Erik

by Sawyer Bennett

  Well, that’s just a little too vehement in my opinion. He’s protesting interest in her just a little too loudly.

  The woman is still dancing around the yard and now singing at the top of her lungs, wiggling her hips and shaking her ass. She skips and twirls in between pots of plants and we all just watch her in fascination.

  She whirls toward a pot that sits right along the border of the two properties, holds the garden hose over it and gives it a good dousing while she sings, Oh girls just wanna have fun.

  Before she turns to dance away to the next plant, her eyes sweep across Legend’s yard where they catch us gawking at her. She doesn’t even have a moment’s embarrassment and shoots us all a cheeky grin. “Well, hello boys. Sorry if I disturbed you.”

  “Of course, you didn’t,” I call back to her as I stand up from the ground and rip my gloves off. I walk over to the edge of the yard and hold my hand out to her. “I’m Erik Dalhbeck.”

  She gives my hand a hearty shake while water continues to pour all over her yard. She nods at me with recognition. “Premiere defenseman and elite enforcer for the Vengeance. Big fan. Nice to meet you.”

  “You’re a hockey fan,” I say with surprise.

  “Yup,” is all she says before dropping her hose and walking past me toward the other guys. I consider walking over to the spigot and turning it off for her but then change my mind. I don’t want to miss any possible confrontation with Legend.

  The woman walks up to Dax and shakes his hand, calling him by name. “You’re Dax Monahan.”

  She turns to Bishop and does the same. “And you’re Bishop Scott.”

  “And you are?” he asks her in return.

  She slaps her palm to her forehead. “Gosh, I’m a ditz. Sorry. My name’s Pepper. I live next door.”

  “I saw you putting pink flamingos out on Halloween night,” I say as my eyes dart over to Legend who is glaring at his ostentatious neighbor.

  “Just trying to loosen Legend up,” she snorts and throws a thumb at him. “But sadly, that seems to be a failing mission.”

  “You could start by getting rid of all that gaudy trash in your front yard,” Legend sneers.

  Pepper doesn’t seem to take offense. “Sorry. I like it.”

  Legend’s face turns beet red and I wonder if he might stroke out. I’ve never seen him this angry before and it fascinates me. I turn back to Pepper. “So what do you do for a living?”

  “I’m an author,” she says with grin. “I write and illustrate children’s books. You heard of The Grand Adventures of Penelope and Bert?”

  “I have,” Dax says with awe. “I read them to my niece and nephew. You wrote those? They’re always on the bestseller lists.”

  “That’s me,” she says with a wink.

  “They’re hilarious,” Dax tells her. “And the drawings are fantastic.”

  He then mimes what must be a well-known part of the book by tucking his arms in and shaking his butt. Waddle, waddle, peck, peck, all day long.

  He then turns to Legend and says with probably a little too much enthusiasm, “Hey, Legend…you have a bona fide, famous author living next door to you.”

  Legend’s gaze cuts over to Pepper but there’s nothing but contempt in his expression. She merely lifts her chin and stares back at him blandly.

  “And yet I could give two fucks,” Legend says as he glares at her. He then throws his shovel to the ground and heads across the patio, around the pool, and into his house.

  “I feel like I should apologize for his rudeness,” Bishop tells Pepper as she stares at Legend’s back door.

  She turns to look at Bishop and just shrugs. “He’ll get used to me.”

  Pepper is totally hot, and quirky enough that if Blue weren’t in the picture, I’d totally make a play for her. But somehow I seriously doubt all that sexiness and charm is going to have an effect on Legend.

  We chitchat with Pepper for a bit more, and Dax succeeds in getting her number. They make loose plans to get together sometime and then she saunters back into her yard where Mötley Crüe’s “Girls, Girls, Girls” starts playing.

  Chapter 14

  Erik

  Hitching my duffel strap higher on my shoulder, I push open the exit door that leads from the arena to the players’ parking lot. Tacker follows behind me.

  “You played really great tonight,” he says as we head not to our cars, but to the barricades that separate the lot from the road. There’s always a group of fans that hang out there after the game, wanting autographs and pictures, and we usually oblige when we win. When we lose, we’re usually in too crappy a mood and will head straight to our cars.

  “Thanks,” I reply in a monotone voice. “You too.”

  And he did. Tacker is one of the best players in the league and now that he’s back to full strength physically—mentally, still not sure about that—he’s killing it. He had two goals and an assist tonight in our victory over the Quebec Royals, extending our winning record that’s causing all kinds of buzz in the hockey world since we’re an expansion team.

  “Don’t sound that happy about the win,” he observes as we approach the crowd of fans.

  “Sorry,” I reply with a bit of pep in my tone. “Other things just weighing on my mind right now.”

  Like how Blue is doing. I’m worried about her and that’s definitely a new sensation. Being worried about a woman that has nothing to do with making sure she gets off. We were supposed to go out last night but it didn’t happen. She returned from her trip to Chicago only to have to go straight to the Cresson as Billy was sick with the flu. He was well taken care of by the nursing staff, but he was miserable and wanted Blue, so she went. She’s been there all day today and this evening as well, and I wonder if she’s even taken time for herself to eat. It’s late and I hesitate to call since she could be sleeping.

  “Maybe that will make you feel better,” Tacker says and for a minute I’m not sure what he means. He nods toward the barricades and I turn to look at the throng of fans.

  Standing in the middle with her hands perched on top of the metal fencing with a concrete bottom stands Blue. Her hair is in a ponytail and she has no makeup on. She wears a pair of jeans and T-shirt with running shoes and I think she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. I mean…I’ve always thought she was stunning and gorgeous, but the way she’s looking at me now with a smile just for me and no one else, I know I’ll never see anything that could ever top it.

  I walk straight to her, ignoring the fans that call out my name, thrusting pads of paper and markers over Blue’s shoulders for me to sign. When I reach the barricade, she opens her mouth to say something but I pick her up right under the armpits and lift her over. She goes high, hands to my shoulders and grins down at me. Bending her legs, she makes it easy for me to swing her over and set her on the asphalt before me. I’m vaguely aware of Tacker standing a few feet away signing autographs, and the crowd starts inching his way. It’s clear my attention is diverted elsewhere.

  “Hi,” she says with her head tipped back to look at me.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask, taking one of her hands in mine.

  “Billy’s fever broke and he’s sleeping, so I thought I’d come here to see you. I feel terrible for canceling our date yesterday and missing the game tonight.”

  I respond by bringing my free hand to the back of her head and pulling her to me for a kiss. She has stars in her eyes when I release her and a sweet smile on her face. Someone in the crowd gives a wolf whistle.

  “Want to go meet up with the team at the Sneaky Saguaro?” I ask her.

  She shakes her head. “I thought we could go to your place.”

  The breath in my lungs freezes at the implication, and there is a ton of it in her tone. Soft, husky…needy.

  “We can do that,” I tell her. “
Where’s your car?”

  “I parked a few blocks over,” she replies. “Want to give me your address and I’ll just meet you there?”

  “No way,” I reply as I turn for my car and tug her along. “I’ll bring you back to it tomorrow.”

  “Wait,” she exclaims as she jerks her hand out of mine. I turn to face her, my head cocked curiously. “Your fans. Don’t you need to sign autographs and stuff?”

  My gaze cuts over to them, many looking at me expectantly. I don’t want to. It’s never something I’ve minded doing before. Hell, I’ve enjoyed the interaction, but I definitely don’t have the patience for it right now. But then my eyes land on a little girl of about ten years old and I can see she’s wearing my jersey. She’s looking at me expectantly, and I know that Blue will have to wait.

  * * *

  —

  After shutting and locking my front door, I place my keys on the small foyer table. Blue walks into the massive living room straight ahead, her eyes wide as she takes in the grandeur of my home. It seemed perfect when I bought it but now it seems a little ridiculous for a man that probably uses less than a thousand square feet of it on a regular basis.

  Her head lifts back and she takes in a large painting over the fireplace. Some modern piece of art that came with the house, as did the furnishings. While Legend enjoys making his house his own with remodeling and such, my house became my own the minute I assumed the mortgage payment. The contents don’t say anything about me really.

  “Would you like a drink?” I ask her as I saunter into the living room and head over to a small wet bar set among the custom built-ins to the side of fireplace.

  “No,” she replies softly.

  “Want to sit outside for a bit? I can start the firepit up and we could—”

  “Did you get condoms?” Blue blurts out and my eyebrows shoot straight up.

  “Yeah,” I reply softly. “But I don’t expect—”

  “Maybe a tour of your bedroom,” she suggests, cheeks turning slightly pink. Blue trying to come on to me is goddamn cute as hell and my body responds by going tight all over.

  In two strides, I’m standing in front of her, hands on her shoulders. I bend my head down, putting my face close to hers. “Say it, Blue.”

  “Say what?” she whispers.

  My voice is rough, my throat clogged with raw need. “Tell me you want me to fuck you tonight.”

  “Oh God, Erik,” she replies with a nervous laugh.

  Slowly, I bring one hand to the side of her neck, curling my fingers around the back. I let my gaze move over her face for a moment before locking my eyes back onto hers. “I know I sure as hell want to fuck you. Now say it back to me.”

  Blue licks her lips and my groin tightens. Her voice is feathery soft. “I want you to fuck me, Erik.”

  I didn’t need her permission but I did require her to need it. That was enough for me and my mouth slams down on hers in a brutal kiss of possession. I’ve been fantasizing about this moment since I first saw Blue on the team plane several weeks ago. I’d been dreaming about it every night since she rode my leg to an orgasm. I’d been jacking off to the memories of her sucking my cock and how soft she was under my mouth when I ate her sweet pussy.

  Blue’s hands curl over my shoulders, clasp behind my neck, and she launches herself up into my arms. Her legs wrap around my waist and her fingers dive into my hair, holding me tight so she can kiss the fuck out of me. With my hands supporting her under her ass, I turn back to the foyer and easily climb the staircase to the second floor where my master suite is. The entire journey upward our tongues tangle in an erotic dance.

  I enter the bedroom and regretfully let Blue slide to floor. Her body rubs over my erection as she does and pure lust ignites within me. It makes me frantic and takes away every bit of slow seduction I could give her. I start ripping at her clothes and she at mine. We take moments in between the falling garments to kiss again and again.

  When we’re both naked and crazed, I pick her up and place her facedown on my mattress. She starts to rise up to her hands and knees but I push her back down again.

  “Spread your legs,” I tell her and she complies without any hesitation.

  Bending over, I put my mouth to her lower back and brush a gentle kiss across it. Blue shivers in response and it makes me smile. Placing a hand on her ass, I drag my tongue over her skin and then give a tiny bite to one rounded globe. Blue groans, and then groans louder when I slide my hand in between her legs and start to finger her.

  She’s drenched and slippery, easily letting me push two fingers in deep.

  “Oh, wow…Erik,” she moans spreading her legs wider. I want more so I scissor my fingers apart and she cries out, “Yes.”

  My free hand goes to my cock, which is stiff and aching. I stroke myself slowly while my fingers work Blue from behind. She’s so responsive that within a few moments, she’s a squirming mess and the fact that she needs me for relief feels damn fucking good.

  Withdrawing my hand, I flip Blue over so she’s looking up at me with glazed eyes. Her breasts are heavy with puckered nipples. I lean over and take one in my mouth, laving at it softly so she can calm down just a bit. I underestimate, however, how sensitive her breasts are as she starts undulating again.

  “Erik…please,” she begs me, and it’s more than I can take at this moment. I’ve wanted her so badly these last few weeks that I’ve got no fucking restraint whatsoever.

  Whirling away from her, I crawl across the mattress to my nightstand where I pull the condoms out of the drawer. When I turn back to her, she’s on her knees before me and snatches the foil packet right out of my hand. She rips it open with surprising ease and without waiting for any type of permission, takes my cock in her hand.

  Fuck, that feels good.

  My heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest as I look down at Blue sliding that condom on me. The anticipation of sinking deep inside of her almost too much to bear.

  The minute she rolls it to the base, my hands go to her face and I pull her to me for another meltingly deep kiss. Her palms rest against my chest and I can feel the thump of my heartbeat there.

  I lean into her, pushing her back down onto the bed again, this time coming to rest between her legs which slide open wide for me without asking and rise to my hips. One elbow to the mattress so I can hold most of my weight off Blue, I fist my cock and bring it to her slippery core. My breath hitches as I push in, feeling the snug wrap of her pussy holding me tight.

  “Fuck,” I groan as I take another inch. My forehead drops to hers and I feel Blue’s breath on my face as she starts panting. I hold still for a moment, feeling her hand come to my cheek.

  I lift my head and stare down at her. “How the fuck could I not remember this?”

  Her smile is sweet and understanding. “There was lots of alcohol involved.”

  “But still,” I say with irritation. “I haven’t even come yet and this is the best feeling in the world. How can that be a blank to me?”

  She doesn’t say anything for a moment before she answers, but when she does, it’s a punch to the gut. “Maybe because back then you were only feeling with what was below your waist instead of what’s above it.”

  An awakening sort of feeling sweeps through me, as if I understand all of the mysteries of the universe. My brain processes what she said, or maybe it’s my heart that figures it out, and I know what she says is true. I’ve evolved and this is completely different than what I experienced before with her. I tilt my hips and push the rest of the way into her body.

  Her sigh of pleasure slays me, as if she just welcomed something very important and very needed into her home.

  There’s no holding back and I start to move inside of her. Blue’s body undulates and rocks, causing each thrust I give her to strike deep. Her hands grip tightly to my
shoulders, nails scoring my skin. I get lost in her big brown eyes as we fuck—make love—not sure what it is but it’s something, all right. Something brilliant and humbling all at once.

  Every nerve in my body vibrates, poised to receive whatever pleasure she’ll give me. Every long stroke seems to bind us. I can’t remember anything in my life ever having such a profound impact on me, and it’s terrifying to some degree.

  Reaching down, I hook Blue’s leg in my arm and raise it higher, allowing me to drill down deeper yet. I watch as her eyes glaze over again and her brow furrows. She digs her teeth down into her lip—the one thing I remember with clarity—and the knowledge that maybe we were supposed to wait for this moment strikes at me like a lightning bolt.

  Without warning, Blue’s back arches off the bed, causing her hips to punch up and suck my cock in deeper. She squeezes her eyes shut and cries out an unexpectedly fast orgasm. Her pussy clamps tight and ripples. I pump faster, racing to join her. My balls start to contract and I know this is going to be epic.

  “Look at me, Blue,” I order her as she continues to shake underneath me.

  Her eyes pop open and she focuses on me. I thrust once more, plant myself to the hilt, and start to come. Fragments of light burst in my mind and yet I see past all of it to Blue. She smiles at me while I unload into her the best fucking orgasm I’ve ever had.

  “Jesus,” I mutter as I lower her leg and sink some of my weight down onto her. I feel amazing and dead at the same time. Turning my head, I nuzzle the side of her temple while I get my breathing under control. “You okay?” I ask her.

  “Mmmm,” is all she says and my lips curl into a knowing smile.

  “I’m really sorry I missed your game tonight,” she murmurs and my head pops up in surprise. Of all the things I thought might be said between us after what just happened, that wasn’t it.

  “Don’t,” I rush to assure her. “I’ve got plenty of games for you to go to. Billy was and always will be more important.”