Chapter 23
Deliberation
~~Drakos~~
I haven’t felt nerves like this since my rookie season.
This is it. Win and advance, lose and start my summer vacation.
I glance around the locker room at all the serious faces. I like what I see and select some appropriate music for the upcoming battle, blasting it to the rafters as I always do.
The music calms my nerves somewhat, and I lean back, close my eyes, and visualize…
Aria.
My eyelids pop open.
What the fuck?
I’m visualizing Aria?
I mean, she looks fantastic in my imagination, but she’d look even better in my bed.
Okay, that’s enough.
Now is not the time to be thinking about Aria.
Hockey and only hockey needs to be my focus.
I close my eyes again and concentrate on feeling the ice under my blades, hearing the swish-swish as I move across the ice, and seeing the puck sailing toward the net, while the lamp lights.
An hour later I’m on the ice waiting for the puck drop.
I wonder if Noah and Aria are watching. Here I go again, losing my focus.
Pissed at myself, I force my full attention on the game.
Once the puck’s in play, I forget about all else.
The intensity is off the charts, and opposing players are brutal with their hits.
We step up as a team and give back what they’re giving us.
They draw blood first, and we go into the first intermission down zero to one.
I circle the room, slapping guys on the back and shouting words of encouragement. “We can do this. We’ve got this. Don’t let up. Be relentless.”
As I gaze into the battle-weary eyes of my teammates, I see a fire burning there that no amount of exhaustion can destroy. We go back out there for the second period, and it’s a grind, neither team giving up a score.
Late into the third period, Colorado still leads by one. Their goalie is hot, and he’s letting nothing through. Talk about a brick wall. Roman isn’t any slouch either. He’s only given up one goal, and that wasn’t necessarily his fault.
We’re running out of time. I study the faces around me.
Each one reflects how I feel. We can’t let this game slip through our fingers.
We have five minutes to score twice. Of course, there’s overtime, but as gassed as we all are, we’d be better off to avoid extra minutes.
Colorado is just as exhausted as we are.
Everyone’s running on fumes, digging deep, and finding another level we didn’t know we had.
The third line takes the ice with three minutes left. Camden steals the puck while Colorado is still changing lines and races down the ice. I leap to my feet with every one of my teammates on the bench. We yell at him to shoot the puck.
“Shoot the fucking puck!” I’m shouting at the top of my lungs.
Their defenders are strides behind him. The only person standing between him and the net is the goalie.
Camden doesn’t hesitate or slow down. He barrels toward the net and does an almost impossible change of direction, leaving the goalie leaning the wrong way. He shoots, and he scores.
Pandemonium erupts on the bench. The Icehawks faithful in the stands are surprisingly loud. We’re tied.
The clock ticks down. Neither side gives an inch. While we’re playing hard, we’re also careful to avoid a penalty, which could mean certain death for our playoff run.
I leap over the boards onto the ice for my shift. It’s my line’s last chance to take this one in regulation. Every inch of my body feels as if it weighs ten times more than it did when the game started. I can’t give in to exhaustion. I have to fight hard and forget about my body’s complaints.
I move down the ice with my linemates. Colorado has the puck.
Kirby and Wild are on it. I’m there, too, attempting to steal the puck without tripping the guy.
He whirls away from me and shoots. It bounces harmlessly off Kirby’s shoulder and straight to Dash.
I pivot and streak toward the other end, hoping for a stretch pass.
I get one. It’s a perfect pass, and lands right on the curve of my stick.
Despite my distance from the net, I turn and shoot in one fluid movement.
The puck rockets through the air, and I follow it in for a possible rebound.
A second later the lamp lights, the game ends, and we advance to the next round of the playoffs.
Our plane lands in Portland about twelve thirty at night. The flight had been boisterous despite our exhaustion, though we were pretty quiet during the last hour.
Once we land, Kirby heads home, but I’m too restless to go to bed. It’s not all that late. The single guys are heading to a club and invite me along. I don’t commit but let them know they might see me there.
I walk to the parking area and contemplate my options. On a whim, I whip out my phone and text Aria.
Me: Are you still up?
There’s a long pause. I lean against my car and wait. I’m not certain why I reached out to her of all people, but she’s the only woman who came to mind, which is odd since I have plenty of options for a late-night booty call. Is that what I’m looking for? A booty call?
Well, yeah, that’s definitely part of it.
My phone beeps, and I fumble to pull it out my pocket, almost dropping it.
Aria: I am now.
Me: Good, I’m coming over.
Aria: Did I say you could come over?
I break into a grin. I can always depend on her to give me shit about anything.
Me: You know you want to see me.
Aria: Are you delusional?
Me: We have unfinished business.
Aria: You might, but I don’t.
Me: Why don’t I come over, and we’ll discuss this.
Her response isn’t immediate, so once again, I wait. Her silence speaks volumes. If she didn’t want me there, I’d get an instant rejection. I sense she’s battling with herself about what to do. The best thing I can do is show patience. I’ve pushed enough.
After what seems like a lifetime, my phone pings.
Aria: Okay, but only for a little while.
Me: Text your address, and I’ll be on my way.
She does so, and I jump in my car and accelerate out of the parking area.
The drive to Aria’s apartment is short considering the time of night and lack of traffic.
I pull into an empty parking space and waste no time knocking on her door.
She opens the door immediately as if she were standing on the other side waiting for me.
That’s a good sign. She’s wearing a bathrobe, and I’m itching to discover what’s underneath, hopefully nothing.
Aria moves back to let me pass. I enter and follow her into a small living room. It’s neat and tidy except for a few toys scattered about. The place has a comfortable, homey feel to it. I like what she’s done.
“Is Noah asleep?”
“He’s staying the night with the Bang twins.”
“Oh, so we’re alone.” I grin, making my intentions clear, while she avoids eye contact. Her body language tells me almost everything I need to know.
“Good game, but you guys sure know how to make your fans suffer until the very end.”
“Did you suffer?”
“A little.” Her admission makes me smile. She’s a fan, and I know it. “Congrats on the game winner.”
“Couldn’t have done it without my teammates, but since they aren’t here, and I am, how about we celebrate together?”
“I guess we can have a drink.” Aria strolls into the kitchen, pours a glass of wine, and grabs a beer for me. She’s stalling, but I’m confident she’ll see things my way.
“Here.” She hands me the beer. I take a long pull before placing the bottle on an end table. She doesn’t sit on the couch near me but across the room in a big comfy chair.
“Aria, you know what I want, and you want the same thing.”
“That’s presumptuous.”
She’s not making this easy, but I’d be disappointed if she was. “My charm is irresistible, as is this face, my body, and most of all my cock.”
She rolls her eyes, but chortles in spite of her disinterested act.
“Why don’t you explain to me what it is you want?” Her eyes burn with mischief unless I’ve completely lost my touch and misreading her.
Is she teasing me?
“Why don’t I show you, and you show me what’s under that bathrobe?
” I suck a breath between my teeth as she rises to her feet.
Her intense gaze meets mine, and a slow, wicked smile crosses her beautiful face.
It takes every ounce of strength I possess to stay seated and let her take the lead.
I want her in the worst way possible, and I’ve been imagining this moment ever since we got together in the club.
How long ago was that? Seems like a lifetime, but it was only a short while ago.
She saunters toward me, hips swaying and her eyes smolder with what I fucking hope is lust. Aria stops just out of arm’s reach. Her bottom lip is full and pouty, and I want that lip between my teeth. But that’s not everything. I want it all, every delectable square inch of silky skin.
My brain freezes as she unties her robe with excruciating deliberation…
I choke on my own tongue as I take in her body with curves in all the right places, ample breasts, and shapely legs. She’s made for pleasure and so am I. She props her hands on her hips and smirks. This little vixen knows I’m hot for her.
I crook my finger. She lifts her chin in an act of defiance, and I chuckle. Aria likes to be in charge but so do I. Tonight I’m getting my way.
“You’d better get that sweet ass over here right now or—”
“Or what?”
“You’d better get that sweet ass over here right now or-” I attempt to be stern, but I fail miserably.
“Or what?”
“Or I’ll make you pay.”
“Idle threats.” She watches me through lowered lashes. Aria’s toying with me. While I love games, I also love what comes after.
In a move that accentuates my athletic ability, I shoot to my feet, lift her in my arms, and kiss the ever-loving fuck out of her. I’m barely in control of my body. The way she’s devouring my mouth, she’s struggling with the same problem.
I lay her naked body on the couch and strip out of my clothes in world-record time.
Her sultry stare focuses on my dick, which twitches in response.
I straddle her, and she wraps her arms around my neck.
Her mouth and mine resume their primal dance, but they aren’t the only things that’re going to be dancing shortly.
I slide down Aria’s body, kissing a trail to her breasts and sucking each nipple until I draw a gutteral groan from deep inside her. Her hands move downward, and she rakes my back with her fingernails. My reaction is instant and visceral. I nip at her neck.
“Brat,” I declare.
“Arrogant asshole,” she shoots back.
“And you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She doesn’t dispute my claim. My hands and mouth distract as I journey further down her body.
Her legs fall open in an open invitation to do as I wish.
I bend down between her legs, licking and sucking at her more sensitive spots.
Aria writhes underneath me, and I’m grunt with satisfaction.
My tongue probes deeply followed by my fingers.
I’m an expert when it comes to women, and I know how to drive her to the edge.
I do so but pull back before she comes apart.
It’s an erotic torture of the best kind.
She responds with these little whimpering sounds that push the limits of my control.
“You’re going to pay for tormenting me.” Her words don’t scare me. If anything, I’m intrigued.
“I’m counting on it. I’ll pay your price after you pay mine.” I roll off her and pull a condom from my pants on the floor. After opening the packet, I roll it down my very hard dick. I glance in Aria’s direction. She’s licking her lips and gazing at my cock with hunger and desire.
“Come here.” Her sultry smile affects me deep inside.
It’s lust of course, but there’s something else, equally powerful and far scarier.
I refuse to explore those feelings. We’re all about carnal pleasure, and I can’t blur that line between passion and these foreign emotions currently battling for attention.
This is sex. That’s all. Damn good sex but still just sex.
I grab both her legs and swing them over my shoulders. Aria arches her back and does her best to entice me. Her best is more than enough. In my current state of arousal, I’m primed for the main event.
I push into her, while she grips the couch as if she’s trying to ground herself.
Sorry, baby, you’re not going to be able to resist this. I’ll shoot her to the stars and back again. No spaceship necessary.
After a few thrusts, I’m deep inside her tight, hot body, and she’s hungering for more. We’re like a well-oiled machine, working together toward one epic goal--an orgasm with the power to blow the roof off this place.
“Fuck me. Fuck me. Harder. Please. Now” Aria’s a talker. No surprise there. She’s demanding, but I’m not giving in. I’m the boss right now. She’ll come when I say so. I don’t know how I do it, but I manage to hold back longer than I ever thought possible.
I’m reaching the point of no return. judging by how her entire body shudders with passion. she’s right there with me. That sweet release washes over me, like a tsunami of sensations with the power to heal or destroy.
Aria comes and cries out my name, I do the same a second or two later. We cling to each other, in a fog of swirling lights, as we float together in this place that’s not of this earth.
I hold her and bury my face in her silky hair.
All these years, I’ve avoided an emotional connection with women, but I can’t avoid this.
I don’t want to. What we just experienced wasn’t just good sex.
It was beyond that. I have no basis for comparison, but I know being with her far surpasses any other women I’ve had.
Lightning crashes across the night sky outside, hitting me with a hard dose of reality.
I no longer hate Aria. In fact, what I’m feeling right now is new territory for a guy who never commits. I’m not sure what to make of it, but this mind-blowing experience isn’t the exception but the rule when it comes to her.
What we have isn’t just sex. I don’t know what it is.