The Penalty Box

by Teagan Kade

  “Slow, I said.”

  That puts an end to it, the conversation turning to the Academy, Peyton drumming up one of his many war stories from the field.

  I eat—eat and think. I told them it was casual, yes, but I get the feeling it could become a whole lot more if I let it. Linnea is unlike any girl I’ve been with before. We could become serious. That could happen, and maybe I want it to.

  The more I play with the idea the more appealing it becomes. Linnea could be the one for me, that commitment unicorn I thought would never exist, but heck, here we are. I decide I need to get to know her—all of her, and not just sexually.

  A sound plan, I tell myself. Question is, can you stick to it?

  CHAPTER SIX

  LINNEA

  Tapping my pen against the paper isn’t getting this essay written any faster. Some have called me the queen of procrastination, but that’s just how I work. I perform when the pressure is on—not a week away from the due date.

  A bing from my cell indicates a new, welcome distraction. I pretzel my legs underneath myself and cradle the phone in anticipation for a text from Nolan, but it’s from my father.

  I read through it quickly. It appears he is summoning me to dinner Monday night, which has about as much chance happening as Northwestern winning the NCAA.

  I delete the text and place the cell down next to my pen, getting off my chair and heading downstairs to where Mom’s busy working her way through all seventeen seasons of Grey’s Anatomy.

  I jump over the lounge, landing next to her with my legs folded. “How’s McDreamy? He floating your boat tonight?”

  She rolls her eyes. “If you’ve come to make fun of one of the finest actors of the twenty-first century, you can move right along, daughter.”

  “I think Dwayne Johnson would like a word with you, mother,” I retort.

  “Dwayne Johnson,” she laughs, “with his shelf of Oscars.”

  I raise a finger. “And mountains of money, but seriously, Mom, when are you going to start dating again?”

  “When all men aren’t selfish, arrogant pricks.”

  I whistle. “All men are not Dad. You could find your McDreamy out there somewhere.”

  “Hon,” she smiles gently. “I’m okay, but it seems like you’ve landed yourself something special. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

  I play ignorant. “Who, me? Dating? No. You must have me confused with your other daughter, Esmeralda.”

  “The one I keep in the cupboard and feed a steady diet of Pop Tarts?”

  “Doesn’t sound so bad to me.”

  I put my feet up on the coffee table, stretching out.

  “Seriously?” says Mom. “Don’t you have homework to do?”

  “I thought Grey’s provided all the life lessons you needed? Didn’t you tell me that once? ‘Always be open to love’? How does that one sound?”

  “How about ‘trust your instincts when it comes to your health’?”

  I pat myself down. “What’s wrong with my health?”

  “Plenty if you don’t get off this sofa and let me watch my show in peace.”

  “Fine,” I relent, swinging off the couch and heading to the kitchen. “But I’m making you a dating profile. It’s time we dusted off those cobwebs and got you laid.”

  “Linnea!”

  And god help me I can’t stop smiling.

  When I arrive back upstairs with my Frankensandwich of mayo, mustard, tomato, baloney and peanut butter, I see another text waiting.

  This one is from Nolan, telling me to meet him downstairs in five minutes.

  Where are we going? I text back.

  I get a winking emoji in return.

  I shrug. “Booty call it is.”

  *

  It’s not a booty call—yet, but it is nice to be out with Nolan.

  We turn down a dirt road heading into the large forest at the south end of town limits.

  “You’re still not going to tell me where we’re going? I’ve seen Dexter. You don’t want to fuck with me, mister.”

  “I’m sure you can handle yourself,” Nolan smiles, turning on the high beams. “But it’s nothing sinister, I promise. I’m saving the Satanic rites for our third date.”

  A short while later I see light through the trees ahead, Nolan parking next to a line of cars in a clearing.

  I hear music, see people dancing ahead, fairy-lights strung through the trees. “Whoa.”

  “Come on,” he says, getting out. “You’re going to love this.”

  It’s quite the set-up out here in the middle of the forest. There’s a makeshift stage with a band playing folky rock, tables and chairs set up around the perimeter, a literal pyramid of kegs by one tree. There’s got to be a two hundred or more people here.

  “How did you find out about this?” I ask Nolan as we walk towards the area where people are dancing and moving to the music.

  “Don’t know if you noticed, but my last name is King,” he replies, speaking loud to be heard over the music. “We know everything that goes on in this town.”

  We find a space in the middle of the crowd, Nolan coming behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist as we sway to the music. It’s like a dream, like I’ve slipped and fallen right into a romance novel. Vi Keeland couldn’t write this shit any better.

  Nolan leaves, returns with what I thought was beer but turns out to be some magic mulled apple concoction that’s got chili and cinnamon and tastes better than anything I’ve put in my mouth to date—the former inclusive.

  Everyone’s enjoying themselves and having a great time. Even the band’s getting into it, boot-stompin’ up there on the stage and belting out song after song with vigor.

  “So, what do you think?” Nolan asks, finding us a table away from the crowd where we can talk without having a shouting match.

  “I think I like this better than that pretentious restaurant of yours. Don’t get me wrong, the food was first class, but I’m a simple girl, Nolan King.”

  “Is that so? Should make anniversaries easy.”

  I raise an eyebrow in surprise and sip on my fourth mulled whatever-it-is, the warm liquid filling my mouth. “We are at that stage already, are we? Planning nuptials and what we’re going to name our second?”

  “Bartholomew.”

  “After the Simpsons character?” I joke.

  “Or Apostle,” he smiles. “Because you better be damn sure he’s going to be an angel.”

  “A King, an angel? How much of that mulled stuff you been drinking?”

  I yawn.

  “You want to head home?” Nolan asks.

  Strip you down and fuck the life out of that gorgeous body, I think, replying “Sure” instead.

  The sexual tension rises on the way home. I have to press my legs together hard to drive it away, but I’m still wet thinking about his hands on me.

  I wait until we’re through the door before pressing him up against it. I lock my mouth to his and he returns the kiss with equal enthusiasm, a hand going to the back of my neck to hold me in position.

  While Nolan’s busy I reach down and start to unbuckle his belt, take down his zipper, and that’s when he stops me.

  I pull back. “Is everything okay?”

  He holds my hand. “We shouldn’t.”

  “Why the hell not?” I laugh. “I don’t know if it was that mulled wine or simply that I’m horny as hell around you, but yes, we definitely should.”

  He lets go and takes my face in his hands, kissing me softer and more intimate.

  His cologne is different tonight—ocean-crisp and inviting. I drink it in, but it only makes my craving worse.

  When he breaks away his eyes cast a spell over me, and I’m pretty sure only hot, sweaty sex is going to satisfy this hunger.

  “I’d like to get to know you in other ways before we…you know…again. We started fast right out of the gate. Now I want to slow it down and explore who Linnea Marsden is.”

  I stand back and ex
hale with my hands on my hips. “Well, that’s a first—super sweet, yes, if a bit irritating, but I get where you’re coming from. You’re sure about this?”

  He nods, looks a bit silly standing there with that giant bulge in his pants.

  I look down to it, eyes wide. “You sure you’re sure?”

  He smirks, pulling me into him and kissing me on the forehead. “I am. It’s a first for me too, don’t worry.”

  “Fine,” I give in, knowing it won’t take me too long to change his mind.

  “How about we go out again Monday night? You up for that?”

  I nod against his chest. “Sounds good.”

  His hand goes to the doorknob. He opens it, pausing for one final kiss. “Until then.”

  “Until then,” I reply, waiting until the door is closed before I slump to the floor with the biggest lady boner of all time.

  I grunt loud and long.

  “You okay down there, honey?”

  Shit. I forgot Mom was home. She normally sleeps through Armageddon.

  I stand, patting myself down and smiling even though I know she can’t see me. “Fine, Mom.”

  “Just damn fine,” I mutter to myself.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  NOLAN

  Monday night and all is well.

  “Do you each have one of those?” Linnea asks.

  We’re seated in the back booth of the diner. It seemed far more fitting. Linnea clearly approves. She hasn’t stopped smiling since we were seated.

  I open my shirt a little more so she can see the full tattoo. “The crown? Every King male has one. I guess it’s a kind of birthright.”

  She puckers her lips. “I suppose it is kind of sexy, all that ink.”

  I pick up my milkshake, heavy on the malt. “And yet you don’t have a single tattoo or blemish on your body, besides the ear.”

  Linnea pushes the ear in question forward. “Not even earrings.”

  “Because they make you look too feminine?”

  “Because basketball is a contact sport, and some bitch could rip them out on the court.”

  I laugh. “Fair enough.”

  “What you do, though,” she continues, hand gesticulating, “waving your stick around, smashing into everything…ice hockey as more of a collision sport. I’m surprised you have two brain cells to rub together, because boy, the hockey players I’ve met in the past—” she taps the side of her head “—not the sharpest knives in the drawer.”

  “You’re saying you weren’t attracted to my keen intellect?”

  “Pfft,” she whistles. “Compared to your brothers you’re basically Einstein.”

  “You’ve met Titus, right? The guy is basically Einstein.”

  She taps her chin as our burgers arrive. “You mean, the one you told me cracks fart jokes and walks around with his pants off?”

  She has a point. “Touché.”

  “How do you get along with your brothers? I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have siblings, but after me, Mom couldn’t…well…you get the picture. Plumbing problems.”

  I lean back, the vinyl of the seat squeaking in turn. “I’m sorry to hear that, but to answer your question, I suppose it’s fine. I’ve always been a bit of an outsider, I guess. I was never big into the party thing or sleeping through the A to Z of the Academy’s female population. I like to keep a quieter profile than my brothers.”

  “I imagine that’s not too difficult.”

  “You imagine correct.”

  “You weren’t shy in the bedroom.”

  I smile thinking of the tight warmth of her pussy, the way it drew my cock in. “I can let my inner Hulk out when the moment calls for it.”

  “You’re telling me you become a big green monster when you get your dick out, because all I remember is a fine-ass white boy the complete opposite of angry. Don’t even get me started on your cum face. It looked like you were transcending some high spiritual plane.”

  I almost choke on my milkshake, forced to swallow it down before I spray the walls with it. “My cum face? Hate to break it to you, but when you came you looked like a stunned m—”

  I stop because someone’s standing right next to our table. I look left and take in the figure. They’re wearing a black suit with an earpiece and sunglasses—inside, at night, no less. Bodyguard for sure, but for who?

  I don’t have to wait long for the answer.

  A man in a navy suit with a second bodyguard approaches. This second bodyguard pulls him out a chair from a nearby table.

  The man sits, looking between us and then around the diner. “Quaint.”

  “Sorry, who are you?” I ask.

  He looks to Linnea. “Why, didn’t she tell you? I’m Linnea’s father, Rex Marsden, and you are?”

  The smile has disappeared from Linnea’s face. “You should leave,” she tells him.

  I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m going to support Linnea.

  “Maybe you should listen,” I suggest.

  He ignores me, facing Linnea. “You should have come when I asked. You shouldn’t have forced me to come to you.”

  “The lady asked you to leave,” I tell him, ready to move should the situation call for it, but we’re boxed in by the bodyguards. Still, they’d be bold to do anything in here, even if the diner is quiet tonight.

  “There’s a wonderful young man I’d like you to meet, a Harry Brenton,” Rex continues, addressing Linnea. “Come to dinner Wednesday night, meet him for yourself.”

  Linnea crosses her arms. “I’m not meeting anyone. Now, please, leave.”

  “You better—” I start, but a pointed finger from this Rex character cuts me off.

  “You better watch your tone,” he starts, the façade dropping and the wizard revealed, though all I see is a bitter prick looking out for his own interests. “I know who you are, Nolan King. I know your father and your pack of bastard brothers.”

  I make a fist under the table, but this isn’t the place. I’ve got more restraint than my brothers, know when to rein it in.

  Easy, I caution myself. He’s looking for a rise. Don’t give it to him.

  I tap the tabletop. “Funny,” I tell him, “because I’ve heard nothing about you. You sure you’ve got the right table? Perhaps you can go find some other person’s night to ruin, eh?”

  He gives a low laugh. “You’re nothing,” he says, eyes winter cold. “Nothing but a jock looking for another life to ruin.”

  He looks to Linnea. “You think this guy is going to support you, even stick around? I know his type, Linnea. He’ll fuck you in more ways than one and then take off, leave you high and dry.”

  My patience is waning. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

  “She’s my daughter, asshole, I’ll talk to her how I please.”

  Fuck it. I’m about to get up and start swinging when Cherri, the diner manager, appears, looking to me to gauge the situation. “Everything all right here, Nol?”

  “These gentlemen were just leaving, Cherri.”

  She clues in fast. “You gents better get moving. I’ll call the police if I have to. Precinct’s just across the road.”

  Rex nods once, tapping the table just like I did. “Wednesday night,” he tells Linnea, standing and doing up the top button on his suit jacket. “Don’t be late.”

  I shake my head, cannot believe this arrogance of this guy. “She’s not coming, dipshit. What don’t you understand about that?”

  I see the look of contempt he gives me before smiling to Cherri and dipping his head. “Ma’am,” he says with a click of his tongue, his bodyguards falling into line behind him.

  I wait until they’ve left. “Thanks, Cherri.”

  “Anytime, darlin’.” She winks, darting back to the counter.

  I look over to Linnea. She seems seriously spooked. “You okay?”

  “Can we go?”

  “Sure,” I reply, already standing and collecting the burgers for Cherri to bag up.

  Ev
en when we step outside, I see the way Linnea checks and scans for Rex and his goons. I’m cautious myself, keeping a keen eye on the rear-view as we drive.

  It’s only once we’re safely inside her apartment she relaxes.

  “Mom?” she calls out.

  There’s no answer.

  She braces herself against the kitchen counter. “She must be out. Sorry about my father, by the way, but even calling him that is far more than he deserves.”

  I place the takeaway bags down. “Hey, it’s all good. I just want to look out for you.”

  “You showed impressive restraint back here.”

  “Which I would have happily done away with had you given the signal.

  She sits on a ladder-back stool, legs swinging. “Honestly, he’s not worth it.”

  I move around beside her, taking a seat. “Your father?”

  I can see she’s debating whether or not to tell me. “You can let me in,” I say. “I’m all ears.”

  She nods to herself, scratching her shoulder. She seems unable to look at me directly. “My father’s wealthy, well-connected, but like I said, he’s a terrible person.”

  “You don’t say.”

  A slight smile. “I don’t want to get into the gritty details, but it was bad growing up. He’s got this real power complex, this thing about control that just drags everything in his orbit down. So, my mother and I spent a lot of time lying low, evading him until I was an adult.”

  “Shit, I had no idea.”

  “He found us again six months ago, started popping up unexpectedly. At first it seemed harmless enough, that maybe he’d changed and wanted to be part of my life again, but now he’s pushing me to a life he wants for me, not the life I want for myself.”

  “You don’t seem like the type that scares easily.”

  “If you’d seen what he can do, what I saw growing up… He’s not someone you want to mess with.”

  “Neither am I,” I reply.

  “I don’t want you to get hurt, Nolan.”

  I start to unpack the burgers. “I’ll be fine.” I hand her burger across. “Should we eat?”

  She places the burger down and stares at it. “Honestly, I don’t know why he’s suddenly trying to play father after ignoring me for so long. Mom and I even changed our names when we ran. We settled nearby and he never found us then, but now…”