Defending Dani

by Kat Mizera

  * * *

  Sergei, Aaron and Kane arrived in Seattle just as the puck dropped for the start of the gold medal game and they listened to it via a satellite feed on Sergei’s phone as the taxi driver navigated traffic. Sergei threw some money at him and they ran through crowds to get to the arena where the game was taking place. Zakk, Toli and a handful of their friends had all arrived earlier and Toli had been texting him updates.

  Dani scored the first goal.

  Dani threw herself in front of a puck, keeping the Russian team from scoring when the U.S. goalie had been out of position.

  Dani assisted on the second goal.

  She was everywhere and he hated that he’d missed half the game, but he’d played in Dallas last night and had been on planes all day today trying to get here. She was worth it, he just hoped he wasn’t too late. His mother had said they spent a little time together last night and she liked her a lot, but that Dani didn’t seem convinced Sergei was coming for her.

  He’d flown in everyone he could think of. Sara, his mother, Niko, Tessa, Rachel and some of Dani’s other girlfriends. He’d even found tickets to the sold-out gold medal game for Kane and Aaron, so they could attend with him since he needed all the moral support he could get.

  “Slow down,” Kane teased as they hurried into the arena.

  “It’s three to one,” Aaron said, looking up at the scoreboard just as the Russian team scored again.

  “Three to two,” Sergei murmured, searching for Dani on the ice.

  “There you are.” Gage approached them with a grin. “Didn’t think you were going to make it. Your girl sure looks good out there.”

  Sergei took a breath. “She does.”

  “Come on, let’s sit. The second period’s almost over, so they’ve got to get through one more.”

  “My brother’s here,” Sergei said. “I need to find him.”

  “Your brother is sitting with Dani’s brother,” Kane nudged him. “You might want to sit with us.”

  Sergei shook his head. “Zakk is going to be my brother-in-law if I have anything to say about it, so we might as well bury the hatchet.”

  “Don’t you think you should bury the hatchet with her before he buries his hatchet in your head?”

  “I’ve got this. You guys will stay after the game, right? You won’t abandon me?”

  Kane and Aaron nodded. “We got your back, man. No worries.”

  “What’s going on after the game?” Gage asked in confusion.

  “He bought a ring,” Kane stage-whispered.

  “And he’s going to propose in front of everyone.”

  Gage raised his eyebrows, glancing down towards the bench. “Well, this trip just got a lot more interesting. Let’s go.”

  * * *

  As the final seconds ticked by, Dani didn’t think about anything except keeping their lead. When the final buzzer sounded she found herself on the bottom of a pile of her teammates. They’d done it, won the gold medal, and the cheering from the crowd roared in her ears.

  Hailey was tugging her to her feet and then they were all hugging again, crowded close together, laughing and crying. Coach Saunders had just come onto the ice and joined them as the crowd continued to yell, now chanting, “U-S-A-U-S-A…”

  Dani spotted her parents and Zakk waving from the area behind the bench and she waved back, a huge smile on her face.

  Everything happened in a blur as they waited for the medal ceremony, listening to the national anthem and then the feeling of the medal around her neck. Tears clouded her vision and for a moment everything was stupidly perfect. It wasn’t until she had a chance to scan the crowds that she remembered Sergei, and his absence nearly sucked the joy right out of her. She managed a big smile for the cameras but inside her heart constricted painfully, disappointment overwhelming her. His mother had said he was coming, but he hadn’t and now—

  “Holy shit, Dani, look…” Hailey breathed in her ear.

  Dani turned and her eyes widened in shock. Was Sergei skating onto the ice in her direction? He had a huge bouquet of roses and Aaron and Kane were behind him, holding armfuls of even more roses.

  “Girl, he’s coming for you.” Hailey was squeezing her arm. “Oh my god, is that Kane?”

  Dani still hadn’t moved, unable to do anything but stare at Sergei in utter shock.

  He skated to a stop in front of her and her teammates backed away. Even the crowd seemed to grow quiet and Dani felt a rush of emotion.

  “Congratulations, sweetheart.” Sergei handed her the bouquet.

  She took it without thinking, her eyes falling closed as she held them against her face. The fragrant odor wafted into her nostrils like rose-flavored Epsom salts and jerked her back to reality.

  Kane and Aaron were handing smaller bouquets to each of the other girls and out of the corner of her eye she saw Hailey throw her arms around Kane, but she didn’t have time to see what happened next because Sergei had just dropped to one knee in front of her and was holding something out.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, looking into her eyes. “I was scared, guilty, a million other things that were serious but not really relevant. The truth is, just like you once told me, I’m not broken when I’m with you. I’m a better man, better father, better everything with you in my life. Do you think you can forgive me, Dani?”

  “I…um…” Tears had gathered in her eyes and she took an inadvertent step back. It was too much. So much emotion, too much to process at once, had her struggling to say anything at all.

  “Honey…” He was patiently looking up at her. “Do you still love me?”

  “I…” She looked at him, tears falling unchecked down her face. “You have to say it first.”

  Everything was quiet, as if the entire arena was waiting and watching. Dani was vaguely aware of the silence, the faces of her friends and teammates, of Sergei. So solemn and contrite, his handsome face full of longing and need. He needed her. He’d come for her. It was all she’d been dreaming about for months, but now she was afraid to let herself believe it.

  “I love you, Danielle Cloutier. I want you to be my wife.” Sergei’s voice held no hesitation.

  She burst into tears.

  “Please don’t cry. I’m here. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much. Will you marry me? It would be the greatest honor of my life.” His gaze never wavered even as the crowd began to chant.

  “SAY-YES-SAY-YES-SAY-YES…” The crowd got louder when she hesitated.

  “You want to marry me?” she asked at last.

  “More than anything. If you want the job with the Sidewinders, we can commute for a couple of years and then I’ll retire and move anywhere you want.”

  She swiped at her tears. “Fat chance, mister. You think I’m letting you live in another city with the Veronika’s of the world?”

  “Veronika who?” he chuckled. “There’s been no one but you since the first time I saw you.”

  A thousand responses went through Dani’s mind, but in the end only one word came out of her mouth. “Yes.”

  He slid the ring on her finger and the crowd went wild.

  Sergei slowly got to his feet and Dani threw herself into his arms. His lips found hers and they kissed as if starving, until the crowd started to hoot and holler all over again. Her teammates were cheering too and she pulled away reluctantly, looking up into his gorgeous face.

  “Sergei, are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. Can you give me a couple of years to finish my hockey career? Once I retire, I’ll follow you anywhere you want to go.”

  Her eyes glistened. “Do you believe there’s anything more important than you and Niko?”

  “Not more important,” he said firmly. “But equally important. I won’t have you give up your dreams for me.”

  “Loving you is my dream. You and Niko are the only things that matter. Now that the Olympics is over, I don’t care about the job.”

  “I do.”

&nb
sp; “I know, but we’ll figure it out.”

  “We have to talk about it. I’m serious. I want you to do what makes you happy. We can compromise on where we live, what we—”

  “Stop.” She covered his mouth with her hand. “I’ll find a job in Anchorage.”

  “Only if you want to. I’ve already told Mr. Caldwell I’m going to see if I can get myself traded to the Sidewinders.”

  “I actually have a better solution.” Gage approached them with a grin, his hands in his pockets.

  “Mr. Caldwell.” Sergei seemed surprised to see him.

  “Call me Gage, will you?” Gage said as he turned to Dani. “Dani, would you like to work for the Blizzard?”

  Her eyes widened. “Wh-what?”

  “We don’t currently have an assistant trainer and could use one. If you want it, the job is yours. You don’t have to decide right now—”

  “Yes!” Dani laughed, reaching out to hug him. “I’ve already decided—hell yes! Thank you.”

  “Well, happy engagement present.” He winked and turned to go, his eyes resting on Coach Saunders. He didn’t speak until she met his gaze and blinked. “Hello, Laurel.”

  “Hello, Gage.” Coach Saunders nodded curtly and then turned to the team. “All right, ladies, we need to get off the ice. We’ll have to continue the party elsewhere!”

  35

  A few hours later everyone gathered in the Presidential suite Mr. Caldwell had rented. He’d ordered a feast and invited Dani’s entire team, as well as Sergei’s and her friends and families. The team was in high spirits, everyone laughing and indulging in champagne, caviar and other delicacies Dani hadn’t even noticed yet. She was still reeling from Sergei’s epic surprise.

  They’d snuck away to his room where they’d showered and made love twice before digging out clean clothes and heading to the party. There were so many people to talk to, Dani didn’t know whom to respond to first, but Sergei kept his hand wrapped around hers as they chatted with everyone.

  “Check out Kane and Hailey,” Sergei whispered in her ear.

  Dani turned and smiled. Hailey was on Kane’s lap as they shared a bottle of champagne. “They’d make a cute couple.”

  “Not as cute as us.” He kissed her lightly and she smiled.

  “I wish I knew what changed your mind,” she said slowly.

  “Tatiana.”

  “Huh?” She looked at him in surprise.

  “I had a dream where she spoke to me, told me I was an idiot and how she wanted me to be happy. When I woke up I realized the only way I would be happy is with you because you’re my happy.”

  “You’re my happy too.”

  “I’m sorry I had to hurt you before I could figure this out.”

  “It’s okay.” She looped her arms around his neck. “Kiss me, Wayne.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows. “You know, Maryanne…we still have at least twenty positions left from that book you bought me. We’re going to need to work on that.”

  “We’re going to need Niko to stay with your mom then.”

  “That can be arranged.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m going to be on Good Morning America the day after tomorrow and you’re going to be on a road trip.”

  “We have tonight.”

  “Hey, you two, we’re doing a toast.” Toli stuck a champagne flute in each of their hands.

  They toasted gold medals, engagements and new jobs and Dani nearly started to cry again. She’d never been as happy as she was right now. She had a gold medal, the man she loved and a job she’d only ever dreamed of. She even had a little boy that called her mommy, which was something she hadn’t expected to want at this stage of her life, but she did.

  “I want babies,” she whispered against his ear. “Not yet, but in a few years.”

  “Okay.”

  “Say it again,” she said.

  “Okay?”

  “No, silly!” She smacked his arm. “The other thing. You’ve only said it like ten times so far.”

  He smiled. “I love you, Danielle Maryanne Cloutier.”

  “I love you, too, Sergei Wayne Petrov.”

  * * *

  Sergei left the following day since he had to meet up with the Blizzard for their upcoming road trip. Now that the Olympics was over, though, Dani would be able to join him in a week. She and the other members of the team had a handful of promotional appearances to make, but after she and Sergei consulted their calendars they’d decided she would meet up with him in Vancouver and from there they would head home to Anchorage.

  Though it was only eight days since they’d had to separate at the Olympics, they couldn’t wait to be alone together. They practically raced back to his hotel room, all over each other the moment the door closed behind them. Kissing and touching as if it had been a lot more than a week since they’d been together. He tossed his jacket on the nearest chair and began unbuttoning his shirt, watching intently as she stripped and slowly got to her feet. She walked over to him and pushed the shirt off his shoulders, running her hands over his warm, bare skin. He pulled his belt free of the loops, letting it fall from his hands as she worked on his zipper. His pants dropped to the floor and he stepped out of them, taking his boxers with them.

  Now that they were naked, he pulled her in close, tilting his head to kiss her, drinking in her sweet lips. Her mouth opened for him and the second they came together time stood still. There was nothing but the two of them, two hearts, two bodies meeting in a magnetic frenzy of passion. He dug his fingers into her hair, holding her as he kissed her, as if she might slip away at any moment. He was already so hard he could have slid right into her if he had protection.

  Shit! He needed to get a condom, but she’d molded her body to his, one hand on his shoulder, the other stroking one of the cheeks of his ass.

  “Baby, I need to get protection…” He tried to pull away but she wasn’t letting go.

  “I’m on the pill now,” she whispered against his mouth, tugging him towards the bed.

  “Okay.” He was surprised but wasn’t thinking about anything except being inside her.

  “I have a surprise for you,” she said, crawling onto the bed on her hands and knees.

  “Yeah?” He came up behind her, running his hand down her back.

  “Look carefully,” she giggled, wiggling her backside.

  Something caught his eye and he looked down. Holy hell. She was wearing a plug. It had a small, shiny red cap on the end and seeing it there adorning her beautiful ass got him even harder, which he wouldn’t have thought possible.

  “Fuck, that’s sexy,” he moaned.

  “I did a little research,” she said in a breathy voice. “So I’ve been wearing it for two weeks, preparing for tonight.”

  “Fuck.” He let out an involuntary growl and yanked her up against him, finding her lips even in this awkward position.

  “You were my first everything else and I wanted this to be with you too.”

  “Jesus, baby.” He didn’t know what to say so he continued to kiss her, rediscovering every inch of her skin, her breasts, the little strip of curls between her legs. His hands traveled back up and he pulled away long enough to run his finger along her lower lip. “I’ve missed you, baby.”

  “Mm, me too.”

  He teased her with his tongue and lips, occasionally using his teeth to nip at that glorious bottom lip he loved.

  “Please,” she whispered. “Pretty please.”

  “Not yet.” This time he took possession of her mouth like he meant it, his fingers fisting her long blond hair, demanding she let him control everything. It was rough, carnal, but oh-so fucking sexy and she didn’t hesitate. They were still in this awkward position, his front pressed against her back, her head turned almost painfully to let him kiss her. It was time to be inside her, but he wanted her worked up, ready for him. Wearing a plug wasn’t enough; he wanted her first anal experience to be far better than the night she’d lost her vaginal virginity.

&n
bsp; “Get on your hands and knees, honey.” He pushed her down, spreading her legs and using it as an opportunity to touch her creamy skin. “So soft, so sexy…” He traced circles around the points of her spine, sliding down to the crease between her ass. He couldn’t decide what he wanted to do first but opted to start with what she knew. There was a bottle of lube and a condom on the bed and he sheathed himself quickly before covering her body with his. He pressed his erection against her tight opening and waited for her to move. She arched back and he pushed inside a little, waiting for her to adjust. Her vagina immediately closed around him, pulling him deeper, and he sank into her in one long, easy thrust. He moved in and out slowly, closing his eyes and listening to the moans and whimpers of pleasure coming from her. He loved this, being inside of her, watching her come alive as he fucked her.

  He reached for the lube and slowly pulled out the plug in her ass, earning a long, low moan for his effort. Quickly pulling her cheeks apart, he squirted a liberal amount of lube along her crease and gently eased a finger inside of her. The plug she’d been wearing was bigger, so there was no resistance, and he moved slowly, letting her adjust.

  “What do you think?” he whispered, pressing his finger deeper and running his other hand over her back.

  “It’s hot,” she whispered back. “I like it.”

  He added another finger and her pussy clenched around him like a little vise of pleasure.

  “Sergei…” She moaned his name, pushing back against him. “Please, I’m ready.”

  “You’re killing me, my sexy little virgin.”

  “Not anymore!” she chortled.

  He pulled out and slicked up his cock with more lube. Pressing the head against the tight puckered hole, he met with resistance this time. His dick a lot bigger than the plug she’d been using, so he increased pressure, moving slowly until the head finally moved past the entrance. She was panting, her breath coming in gasps, and he stopped.

  “Easy, honey. Just relax. Am I hurting you?”

  “N-no…just a little uncomfortable.”

  He pushed a little deeper and she moaned louder, dropping her head so it rested on a pillow.