Wildcat

by Rebecca Jenshak

  “You’re something, Scarlett.” His arms go around my waist under the water. I don’t have to ask if that’s a compliment. I can see it on his face. I didn’t even know how much I needed someone to look at me like that until now.

  Weeks of worrying about dropping out of college and disappointing my parents, of thinking I made a mistake leaving London and not giving Rhyse another chance, and more than anything, feeling like I’m royally screwing up my life, but the way Leo stares at me, every decision feels exactly right. At least for tonight.

  His mouth dips to my collarbone while his hands skim over my ribs, thumbs brushing against my breasts. “Beautiful.”

  While his mouth explores me, I glide my hands over his chest and stomach.

  “Personal trainer?”

  “Hmm?” His mouth skims over the top of my bra.

  “Your job. It was a guess based on your incredible body.”

  Long fingers slide under the straps and pull them down off my shoulders. Then he pulls my bra down until my boobs spill out.

  “Model?” I ask through a groan as he covers my nipple with his lips.

  He laughs. “I am not photogenic, so no.”

  “Oh right, the driver’s license. It can’t be that bad.”

  He moves to the other nipple then looks up at me with water droplets hanging on his eyelashes. “It’s that bad.”

  I wrap my legs around his hips. “It isn’t possible. Your cheekbones and jawline are a photographer’s dream.”

  Yeah, I’m not buying it. If I had my camera, I’d prove it to him. Also, not going to lie, I’d love to capture the way his hair spikes up all over, water dripping off his amazing muscles and the glint in his eye that’s playful and hot. And this back yard, and this pool.

  “Male stripper?” I unclasp my bra and toss it on the patio.

  “If you’d seen me dance, you’d already know the answer to that one.” He captures my mouth again, and there’s more urgency this time. Leo holds me against his chest. His dick is hard underneath me, and the breeze is cool on my wet skin, causing me to shiver.

  I’m lost in his kisses and the feel of his hard body pressing into mine, only partially aware he’s walking us out of the pool and toward the hot tub.

  “Better?” he asks as we sink into the warm water.

  Nodding, I tangle myself around him. My back hits the edge as he pins me against it, hands framing my face as he kisses me hard and deep.

  I could kiss this guy for days. His hands span my waist and lift me onto the edge. My panties basically melt off as he hooks his thumbs under the wet material. They’re tossed to the side, and he slides those big palms down my legs, stopping at my knees and pushing them open.

  The way he stares at my pussy makes me shiver for an entirely different reason.

  “Tell me if you get too cold, okay, gorgeous?”

  And then he puts that beautiful mouth on me, and I fall back onto the patio. The way his tongue and lips work me over keeps the chill at bay. His shoulders push my legs farther apart, and he hooks an arm around one, lifting me slightly.

  “Porn star?” I ask through a gasp.

  A rough chuckle vibrates against my clit. I reach out and grip his forearm as the orgasm builds. He dives back in, kissing and licking, inserting a finger, and then a second. Nothing has ever felt this good. I come hard and go limp underneath him.

  Water drops onto my chest and face as he leans over me. I open my eyes. “Porn star, right? I can pay in badly made drinks and horrible life advice.”

  He silences my rambling with a kiss and pulls me back into the warm water. My body reacts like I didn’t just have the best orgasm of my life. I need more of him. More of this. I kiss him and grind over his hard length. When we’re both panting, we get out of the hot tub and move to the outdoor couch. The night air nips at my skin, but I’m burning on the inside.

  Wow, he’s hot. This is hot, and so not at all how I pictured my night going. Zero complaints here.

  He pushes his boxer briefs down, and his long dick points up. I need another word for wow because it’s the only thought floating around in my head and it does not adequately capture this feeling.

  His body covers mine, and we go back to making out. Leo doesn’t seem to be in any hurry, even as I arch into him, eliminating every centimeter of space between us.

  The dark sky is starting to lighten with the threat of sunrise when he finally runs inside to get condoms. I’ve had hours to reconsider, but I am so all in. I’m going to let hot Leo fuck me back on my feet. That’s a thing, right? Jade didn’t just make it up? I sure hope so.

  “You’re stunning.” He twirls a strand of my damp hair around his finger. He’s been so quick to hand out compliments and attention, and I am living for all of it.

  I pull him down on top of me and kiss him as he pushes inside. His moan fills my mouth. Several seconds pass where he doesn’t move.

  “Everything okay?”

  “You’re squeezing me so tight.”

  I twist my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. “Maybe you’re just too big.”

  He lifts his head from where it rests on my chest, and a cocky smirk graces his lips. That look makes the walls of my pussy squeeze tighter as I clench around him. My head falls back as my body tingles.

  His hips move at a slow pace, each thrust going deeper and deeper until he’s buried inside of me. Tears prick behind my eyes. I was only partly kidding about him being too big. The way he fills me so completely is like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

  I cry out. I might even chant his name as my second orgasm takes hold of my sanity and shakes it.

  “I could watch you come all day long,” he says as he takes me into his arms and sits with me on his lap. He guides me back onto his cock. The words, I don’t think I can get off again, were on the tip of my tongue, but this new angle has me second-guessing that.

  I lean forward and kiss him as he drives into me, hands caressing my back and then squeezing my ass as the third orgasm rips through me. He follows, and I can’t be sure I don’t get off twice more because it goes on so long I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience. I rest my forehead against his while we catch our breath.

  His eyes lock on mine, and we stare at one another like neither of us can be sure the other is real.

  Best vacation sex ever.

  4

  SHE THINKS I LIVE WITH MY PARENTS

  LEO

  The Uber driver sighs loudly. As if that’s going to hurry me along. I’ve got Scarlett pinned against the back passenger door of his car, kissing her like that isn’t what we’ve been doing for the past three hours. I don’t remember when I’ve had such a good time with a girl. Or with anyone, for that matter. I barely know this chick, but last night was like none other.

  The driver lays on the horn, making Scarlett jump in my arms. I take a step back and glare at him through the window.

  “I should go before he leaves me,” she says, staring up at me with those big brown eyes. Her hair is wavy and still a little damp on the ends. She’s wearing one of my old Boston University sweatshirts over her tank, and it comes down past her shorts. I hook my finger in the neck of it and pull her back to me.

  “Oh right.” She makes a move like she’s going to take it off.

  “Nah, keep it. Looks better on you.”

  She opens the car door, and I hold it as she slides into the back seat.

  “Thanks for last night, hot Leo,” she says as I shut her inside. The car pulls out of my driveway, and I look up to see Ash standing in his driveway across the street with a smile so big I might be tempted to regret getting caught walking a girl out, if it hadn’t meant I got a few more minutes with Scarlett.

  He crosses the street, pulling a long-sleeved T-shirt over his head. “Looks like you had a much better night than I did. Are we running this morning before we hit the road?” He does a scan of my bare chest and jeans.

  “Give me five minutes.”

 
For the first three miles, Ash interrogates me while simultaneously giving me shit. I offer few details, which just makes it worse. Ash is my best friend, he knows me better than anyone, so it isn’t that I don’t want to tell him. I’m just not sure I can put it into words. I had my share of one-night stands back in the day, but they’ve never been like that. And I’m not just referring to the sex that was off the charts amazing. It was like I’d known her forever.

  “I knew I should have gone out with you last night,” he says. “God, I passed out on the couch with my hand down my pants. When are you going to see her again?”

  “It hasn’t even been an hour. I think I’ll wait until, I don’t know, at least lunchtime to hit her up.”

  He cocks a skeptical brow. “I know you. You wouldn’t have brought her home unless you really like her.”

  I don’t bother denying it. I’m not big on random hookups anymore. Been there. Done that. Have the cringe-worthy photos splashed on social media and tabloids to prove it. I made plenty of bad decisions my first year in the league. Since then, I’ve dated infrequently and no one more than a few months at a time. Dating is always hard, but it’s almost impossible at the beginning of a season.

  The point is, I could have just as easily gotten Scarlett’s number and waited to take her out another night when I didn’t have to be up so damn early. I’m going to be tired as shit later, but I can’t find it in me to regret it. Last night, this morning, whenever it was, was awesome. And the thing is, I didn’t want to wait. I haven’t been that excited about spending time with a girl ever.

  “The timing is awful,” I say. “We’ll be gone all weekend, and when we get back, we start camp, then right into practice, media events, then pre-season games...” I trail off as I realize just how true it is. Even if her schedule was wide open, I have no idea when I’ll have a free night to see her again.

  “It’ll always be tricky. Invite her to a game. Oooh, invite her to one of the events Daria’s been trying to get you to attend.” He snaps his fingers like he’s given me a genius idea.

  Daria is my agent, and she would love that idea. She’s always pushing for me to attend more A-list events, where I’m seen schmoozing with other local celebrities. I use that term loosely since it’s mostly athletes and influencers. “I can’t do that.”

  “Why not? That’s a pretty baller date setup if you ask me. Formal attire guarantees she’ll be in a dress and all done up. The dinner and drinks are free, and I’ll even come along to make sure you don’t screw it up.”

  “Yeah, I’ve seen you in action. I know exactly what type of wingman you are. You end up in deep conversation with chicks, talking about great loves and the one that got away.”

  He grins and doesn’t even try to refute it. He’s totally that guy. Ash is likable and easy to talk to, and unexpectedly deep. He has this way about him that people want to open up and tell him their life story. It also means he attracts the emotionally damaged chicks sometimes because they latch on and feel seen or some shit. If I were a psych major instead of a business one, I’m sure I could have a field day dissecting him.

  “She thought I was just some college student,” I say as we get back to our neighborhood.

  “You are.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Are you sure she didn’t recognize you?”

  “Positive.” She guessed just about every occupation except professional athlete. And truth be told, I enjoyed connecting with a chick and my job not being at the forefront.

  “And she still hung out with you?”

  I shove him, sending him jogging off on the shoulder of the road.

  “That’s not the worst part.”

  “Don’t hold out on me,” he says with a grin. He’s enjoying this way too much.

  “She thinks I live with my parents.”

  “What?” He busts up laughing and comes to a halt in my driveway.

  “She assumed, and then I felt weird about correcting her.”

  “Wow, this just gets better and better. Okay, well, what’s the move then? Invite her to lunch at McDonald's? Splurge on a large nugget meal with a couple of apple pies? Damn, actually, that sounds real good about now.”

  I don’t answer. I’m not sure what the move is. I know it’s not that. And after the amazing night we had, where she had no idea that I was a professional hockey player, I don’t want to invite her to some team thing like I’m trying to show off.

  “Okay, not lunch. That’s a weak follow-up to an all-night fuck fest. Besides, you might need the glow of the moon and stars to re-engage her bad decision-making. This girl sounds too good to be true. Hence the need for nightfall. She’s probably already regretting hooking up with you and blocking your number.”

  I flip him off. Even with him busting my balls, my good mood can’t be beat. She liked me. I felt it. And I liked her too. Last night was a damn dream.

  “I’ll figure it out when we get back. I don’t want to bring her to some team event where I can’t give her my full attention.”

  “Yeah, I get it. This is why Talia is perfect. She’s only interested in the hockey stuff, and she’s cool with a last-minute invite. One bird, two stones.”

  “Talia is sleeping with half the league.”

  He shrugs. “When she’s in town, we’re exclusive. It works.”

  “When she’s in town?” I counter. “You say that like she’s an international businesswoman instead of a part-time model who goes from city to city to hit up her many boy toys.”

  Ash laughs lightly like he doesn’t care. Maybe he doesn’t. His relationship with Talia, if we’re even calling it that, makes no sense to me.

  “Scarlett was different.”

  “I can see that, Romeo. You haven’t stopped grinning. Well, if you’re serious about this chick, then yeah, your timing is awful.”

  “Gee, thanks. In the future, I’ll try to randomly bump into the hottest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on at a more convenient time.”

  “Hottest girl you’ve ever laid eyes on, huh?” He makes a face to show his surprise.

  “Definitely. She was a dream. Too good to be true.”

  “Damn. I knew I should have met up with you last night.”

  By the time we get on the road for our guys trip, staying up all night is starting to catch up with me, but I’ve got big afternoon plans that include napping the entire ride up to Ash’s lake house and then chilling on the boat with a beer in my hand.

  Jack, Declan, Ash, and I go every year just before camp, and this year, we invited two rookies: Tyler and Maverick. It’s a chill weekend away from the arena where we have a chance to hang out and let loose before the season starts.

  We take two vehicles and, unfortunately, I picked the wrong one to ride up in. Ash is at the wheel, and I’m riding shotgun. Johnny Maverick, a rookie straight out of college, is yapping a mile a minute from the middle seat in the back of Ash’s truck. Maverick is a cool dude—funny, high-energy, and as a teammate, he’s going to be a blast to play with, but right now, when all I want is the lull of the tires rolling down the road, I’m wishing he’d gone with the other guys.

  Two hours later, we pull into the driveway of Ash’s place behind Jack, Dec, and Ty. The house sits just off the lake, has a great back yard for playing washers, grilling, and drinking, and the inside is big enough for all of us guys to have our own room. Not that we’ll spend a lot of time in them this weekend.

  I’ve barely dropped my things in one of the rooms when Jack appears in the doorway with a basket. He holds it out toward me, and I can see the other phones he has already collected.

  “Seriously?”

  He smirks but doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t need to. Jack is huge on disconnecting. I think it’s the only way he stays sane.

  “Can I just send a text first?”I ask, thinking of Scarlett. I bring up her contact on my phone. Fuck, what do I even say? It isn’t like I can see her this weekend or next week. We get back Sunday night, and camp starts ea
rly Monday and goes all day, all week long.

  The beginning of the season is brutal, but I enjoy the onslaught of hockey each year. Unfortunately, it also means that I’m looking at an entire week before I can see Scarlett again.

  Last night was fun. Work is crazy right now. Call you soon.

  It isn’t the greatest text ever composed, but it’ll do for now. I toss my phone in the basket. I’ll follow up next week after camp is over when I have more than two hours I can devote solely to her.

  5

  ALTERNATE CAPTAIN

  LEO

  I’m in the locker room, pulling on my shoes, every muscle in my body screaming, when Jack stops in front of my stall. It’s the last day of camp, and contented exhaustion flows through me. What a fucking week.

  “Coach and Blythe want to see us before we head out,” my captain says.

  I groan but get to my feet and follow him. Blythe, the head of marketing for the Wildcats, is the first one I see. She’s holding onto a game jersey, and dread washes over me at the thought of another press conference. It feels like the worse I do in interviews, the more they shove at me like they’re trying to fix it. I think this might be one of those instances where we should let sleeping dogs lie.

  “Lohan.” Coach smiles, stepping next to Blythe. He’s a nice guy—tough but fair. It’s only his second season as head coach, but he’s earned our respect. He’s smart, and he works hard, and he isn’t afraid to switch things up, which is nice. We’re a young team, the youngest in the NHL in fact, so we have a lot of eager and energetic guys ready to jump around and do whatever’s needed.

  “Hey, Coach.” I nod to Blythe. “Not sick of me yet, huh?”

  “Never.” Her smile is genuine. She must really love her job because I have not made it easy.

  Jack runs a towel over his face, watching me like he’s in on whatever’s about to happen.

  I glance between the three of them. Oh shit. What have they signed me up for? What do you get when you cross the coach, the captain, and the VP of marketing? Something that I can’t get out of.