Spinning to the Goal (Desert Ice Hockey #4)

Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ZOMA

H oly shit, I’d won my free skate with Ace watching. This might be the best day ever. I walked through the tunnel and into the locker room with Nova beside me.

“If you weren’t already twenty-four, I’d say you had a shot at the Olympic team this year with how well you just skated.” She bumped me with her shoulder. “You landed all those jumps and barely wavered at all.”

“I know.” With a shrug of my shoulders, my heart soared. So many good things were happening. Who ever thought moving to Arizona would be this good of a decision?

After we made it to our stalls, my phone buzzed in my duffel. Could it be Ace, or would it be Mom? I unzipped it and pulled my phone out of the inside pocket.

Ace

You looked great. I watched with Myles and Tyler. Do you have time for a call before my game?

I tapped my screen. I could probably call him when I got on the bus.

Zoma

Sure, give me fifteen minutes.

Ace

I’ll be waiting…

After boarding the bus, I picked a seat toward the back and ducked in. I didn’t want to be disturbed while I had my call with Ace. I glanced at Nova. Was she going to try and follow me?

With her eyes narrowing, Nova twisted her lips and walked toward me. “Why are you way back there?”

“I wanted some privacy so I could call Ace. I want to catch him while he’s free.” I fished my cell phone out of my backpack. She’d understand, right?

“Yeah, okay.” She slid into a seat next to Britany.

Good. As the bus started up, I FaceTimed Ace. It rang once, his stunning face came into view, and my heart skipped. “Hey, gorgeous.”

“Hey, babe.” He was sitting with his back against white pillows and a tufted cream headboard. He must be in his hotel room still. “How are you feeling after the big win?”

“Fantastic. I haven’t skated that well in a long time.” My chest swelled. Knowing he’d been watching me had given me extra focus. And here I’d thought it would make me crazy nervous. But knowing he was there, backing me, had somehow given me extra confidence. Only Nova had done that for me in the past.

“I love watching you skate. You should know that.” As his gaze ripped away, his cheeks pinked, and he focused back on me. “It’s sexy as hell, and, uh…” A small smirk teased his lips. “I don’t know, like I said before, it gives me the feels.”

My heart bloomed with warmth. Hearing him say that gave me the feels, apparently. “Yeah? That’s nice to hear, Ace.” Thank God Nova wasn’t sitting beside me right now. I’d be teased for the rest of my life.

“I’ll be watching your game tonight. Probably from my phone while we’re on the road, but I won’t miss it.” I sank into my seat. Would I still be watching his games next season? I winced. I had to stop thinking about it. We had today, and who knew what would happen next year?

“I’m glad to hear it.” He raked his teeth over his lower lip. “Too bad you won’t have my sweater on.” His tongue poked out the corner of his mouth for a beat. “But I can’t say I didn’t like the way your competition outfit looked on you.”

“Yeah? I can wear it for you at home if you want.” I bit the knuckle of my index finger. Was I really talking like this on the bus? But damn if he didn’t give me all sorts of wicked ideas.

“I’d like that.” He shifted on the bed. “Speaking of outfits, are we going to have time for shopping this week for Halloween?”

“When are you free?” I flicked my gaze to my coach, sitting up front with some of the girls, chatting. She’d let me in on a costume place that was full of old theater outfits and more risqué items. “I know of a place in Scottsdale that has some cool things.”

“Yeah? How about Wednesday afternoon? I can pick you up after my last class.” He arched a brow. “You don’t have any afternoon classes that day, right?”

“Correct.” He remembered my schedule. I thought through my week as the bus took a turn, pushing my body to the side of my chair. “But I have another paper due on Thursday, so depending on how far I get?—”

“Don’t worry. I’ll have you home early.” He chewed his lower lip. “I just want to spend some time with you. I don’t care what we’re doing.”

He always said all the right things. I peeked around me for a beat and focused on him. “Pick me up at two?”

“Works for me.” He smiled into the phone. “Can’t wait to see you.” He held the phone closer. “Have a safe ride home and text me when you get in, so I know you made it all right.”

“I will. I’ll talk to you later.” I kissed the phone.

With a chuckle, he said, “Talk to you later, babe.” He pressed his lips to the screen and the call ended.

I held my phone to my chest and looked out the window at the city street passing us by. Holy hell, I was falling hard for him. It was time I admitted it to myself. Maybe I should stop fighting it.

On Wednesday afternoon, Ace picked me up and we headed into old-town Scottsdale to find our costumes. I hadn’t finished my damn paper and wasn’t looking forward to telling him I’d failed in that regard.

Ace parked his truck, and we both climbed out into the sunny afternoon.

I looked around us, over the mostly two-story masonry buildings all lined up right next to each other along the street and the tile overhang shading the sidewalk. I hadn’t been down here before. It was quaint, and there were shops and restaurants as far as I could see.

Ace met me at the sidewalk, grabbed my hand, and leaned in for a quick kiss on the cheek. “So, where is this place?”

I slid my phone out of my pocket and looked at my map. “Over here.” I pulled him along into the shade and watched the signs over the shop doors. “Oh, there it is.” I pointed at a sign hanging from the overhang, reading Mardi Gras .

“Cool.” Ace opened the door for me and followed me inside.

I scanned around the store, racks of clothing hanging from top to bottom in aisles. There was so much to look at. “I think my coach has come here for skating costumes or, at least, inspiration.”

Ace pulled out a fluffy white shirt on a hanger. “Wow, look at this. I could be a pirate with this on.” He chuckled.

“But you’re going to be a cowboy, remember?” I leaned against his muscled body. They had to have some great Western wear in here.

“Can I help you?” A young woman with greenish dyed hair, cut chin length, stepped toward us with her hands clasped in front of her. “Halloween shopping?”

“Yes, we’re looking for a cowboy outfit.” I squeezed Ace’s hand.

“And a sexy leopard outfit.” With a smirk, Ace glanced at me. “And I mean sexy.” He lifted a brow.

“Ace…” I tapped my forehead on his shoulder, my cheeks heating. At least this woman didn’t look like some old prude or something.

“Sure, I’ll show you to both.” She walked toward the wall at the far end of the store.

I strolled beside Ace. What was I in for here?

She stopped. “We have some of the”—she did air quotes—“ sexier outfits here, and one row over are the cowboy costumes.” With a wide grin, she said, “I’ll leave you two alone to look through things. There are dressing rooms over there if you want to try them on.” She pointed at the end of the row. “And I’ll be at the register if you need me.”

“Thank you.” I watched her nod and walk off. Perfect. She knew when to leave couples alone to explore the costumes.

Ace hauled me to a printed fabric and pulled it off the hanger. “How about this?” He held the printed leotard up to me. “Holy shit, you’d look good in this. Go see if it fits.”

I grabbed it from him and looked it over. The chest was open and there was a tail over the ass. Holy shit, what a find. “How’d you find that so quickly?”

“Good eyes.” He tapped his temple. “Put it on and show me.” He ticked his head toward the dressing room.

“Oh, okay.” I had to make sure it fit, right? I strolled to the end of the aisle, into a dressing room with a curtain for a door, and kicked off my sneakers. As I slid my jeans down my legs, my gaze snagged on Ace, peeking through the edge of the drapery, only the top of his face showing. “Ace. Behave.”

“What? I wanted to see what underwear you had on today.” He wagged his brows.

My dick tingled and plumped. He was going to make this near impossible to do without getting a boner. I shucked my shirt off, stepped into the stretchy fabric, and pulled it up my legs.

“Oh, holy hell,” he said, his voice thick. He glanced away for a beat and came back. “No one’s around. I’m coming in.” Flicking the draperies to the side and slamming them shut behind him, he stood behind me, his thick cock tenting his joggers.

“I don’t even have it all the way on yet.” I shrugged into the top, the thin material outlining my package and the opening over my chest exposing my pecs and abs. Ace was going to lose it. I buttoned the top around my neck. The thing actually fit, but probably because it was so stretchy.

Ace skimmed his hands around my ass and nuzzled into my neck, pressing his solid dick into my crack. “You’re getting this, and on Halloween night? We’re fucking with it.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Covering my mouth with the back of my hand, I chuckled and met his darkened gaze in the mirror. Damn, I did look good in this thing.

Swiping his hand around my hip bone, Ace cupped my balls and fingered the outline of my hardening dick. Nibbling at my neck, he said, “I want you so fucking bad right now.”

As a shiver of pleasure raced up my spine, I whispered, “You have to wait until Halloween.”

Rubbing over my now solid cock, he said, “How the hell am I supposed to go to The Club with you looking like that? We’re going to have to get off before we go.”

“That can be arranged.” I rocked my hips into his teasing hand, letting his touch blaze inside me. Fuck it. Twisting around, I pressed my lips to his in a searing kiss, grinding my aching dick against him.

Slanting his mouth, he slipped his tongue between my lips and moaned softly, squeezing my ass cheek.

“Everything all right in there?” the young woman called from outside the room.

My eyes popped open. I shoved Ace away and cleared my throat. In a husky voice, I said, “Uh, yeah, everything is great. I think I found what I was looking for.” My gaze locked on Ace. Holy shit, was that statement ever true.

“Okay. I’ll see you out here then.” Her footsteps carried on the air.

“Ace, get out of here.” I attempted to glare at him and pushed him toward the curtain.

“Fine, but this is all your fault. I have no control when it comes to you.” With a wicked grin, he adjusted his still-hard dick and left the little room with a whoosh of the curtain.

I hurried to undress and put my clothes back on. This outfit was quite a find. Now to see what sort of sexy thing we could put Ace into. I stepped out of the dressing room.

With his back turned to me, Ace spoke in a hushed tone on his phone.

I stepped closer and tapped on his shoulder. “Who is it?”

Glancing at me, he winced. “Just a minute, Todd.” He set his phone on mute. “It’s, uh, just my agent.”

As my chest twisted, I blinked. Of course he had an agent already. He was a hot goalie on his way to the NHL. “Yeah? Any prospects?” I forced a smile.

His eyes widened into a blank stare for a moment. “N-no, not, uh, nothing’s concrete just yet.” As he strode away from me, he held the phone to his ear. “I’ll have to call you back. Something came up.” He nodded. “Yeah, talk to you when I get home.” He dropped his cell to his side and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and fingers.

This didn’t look good. Maybe he’d already had a prospect and was turned down? Poor guy. We’d been having such a good time before the phone call. I should try and lift his spirits. I stepped to him and placed my hand on his shoulder. “Hey, let’s go and pick out your costume. I have some ideas.”

He swiveled to me and wrapped me up in a tight hug, burying his face in my neck. “Zoma, I hope you know how much you mean to me.”

Hooking my arms around his waist, I said, “You mean a lot to me too, Ace.” Where was this coming from? “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m great.” Exhaling a long breath, he freed me and straightened. “Sorry, let’s go and find something for me to wear.” He snatched my hand and walked to the end of the aisle.

“And sexy. I happen to have a great idea.” I leaned closer to him as we walked. Whatever had happened, I was going to leave it alone for now. “How much cowboy clothing do you have here in Arizona?” I pulled at some printed black-and-white thick fabric made to look like cowhide. “Like, do you have a hat or boots?”

As a smirk grew over his mouth, he said, “I have both, actually. Don’t usually wear either of them though.”

Lifting the hanger from the rack, I looked over the clothing I’d found. “Look, a set of chaps with a matching vest. Add a nice white Speedo with your hat and boots, and we’ve got a costume.” As I imagined him in the outfit, my skin heated. How would we ever last at the bar?

“Are you serious?” With a chuckle, he looked the clothing over. “Let me see if any of this fits.” He slipped the chaps off the hanger and fastened them over his joggers. “Oh shit. They do.”

Nodding and fixating on the way his generous package showed between the panels of the chaps, I said, “Perfect. Do you have a Speedo?”

His cheeks reddened. “I do.” He grabbed the vest off the hangar and slipped his arms through it. “Damn, this fits too.”

“Looks like we have a costume for you too.” With a giggle, I slapped his ass. Halloween couldn’t come fast enough.

“You know my buddies are going to tease the living shit out of me, right?” He huffed a laugh as he skimmed out of the costume.

“Yeah, and I’ll be teasing you too. But not in the same way.” Covering my mouth with my fingers, I grinned at him. “Let’s get these costumes and get going. I still have a paper to finish.” And wish to hell I didn’t.

“Shit, you do?” He strolled with me toward the register. “I was thinking we’d go grab an early dinner.”

My heart bumped against my ribcage. He wanted to spend more time with me. “Well, I do have to eat, so let’s go get something quick.”