19
My phone”s alarm rouses me from slumber. Groggily, I lift my eyelids and find Caleb lying beside me. He props his head on a bent arm, watching me.
“Good morning,” I say with a smile, attempting to maneuver over him to reach my phone and turn off the alarm. Yet Caleb seizes me the moment I”m upon him, quickly maneuvering onto his back and seating me astride.
I can feel his boner between my legs.
“Yes,” he answers with a grin on his lips. “Indeed, it is a good morning.”
He grabs my bare breasts with both hands, leans forward and bites my left nipple. A sweet pain runs from my nipple, which erects immediately, down to my thighs. Even though we had sex all night long, I would do nothing else but start the next round.
But I can”t do that because of work.
“You just can”t get enough,” I murmur and tease him by rubbing my already wet pussy on his erect cock. “What do you expect, with a woman like you?” he growls, grabs my butt and greedily places my pussy over the tip of his cock. Shit, now I have to watch out; otherwise I won”t leave this apartment unfucked. And I know it won”t be over with just a morning quickie. So, I lean forward to him and tease him with my breast floating above him, just as expected, his grip around my butt loosens as he tries to grab my breasts. I promptly seize the moment and slide off of him. Before he realizes what’s happening, I get out of bed and dart a smug glance at him.
“I”m sorry, my dear, but I have to go to work,” I purr, skillfully evading his arm that tries to pull me back.
“Now? To work? But it”s only half past seven.”
“Yes, but before that I have to go home and take a shower.”
“You can also shower here,” he says, watching me as I gather my clothes, leaning on his arm for support. “I promise you; I will wash you very thoroughly.”
“Tempting offer. I”ll consider it.” And I mean it. Just the thought of Caleb and me in the shower... our naked, soapy bodies. His hands, exploring and caressing every inch of my body just like last night. A shiver of pleasure runs through me. I have to hold back from climbing into bed with him. “Now I need to get a taxi before I”m late.” With these words, I pick up my black dress from the floor. When Caleb sees it, he sits up abruptly.
“Wait, you want to get into a taxi wearing that?” I look from my dress to Caleb.
“Of course, why not? I did the same last night.”
“That”s out of the question.” In one fluid motion, he”s on his feet, pulling out one of his Devil”s sports suits from the closet. Then he takes me home on his racing bike. The ride is almost as sexy as our morning play. The motorcycle is designed in a way that I”m almost on him. My upper body and breasts are pressed firmly against his back, igniting my libido. I have no idea if he feels the same way, but it really gets me going. Just the scent of his leather jacket drives me wild. As he drops me off in front of our apartment building, I bid him farewell with a kiss infused with my desire. This forces a throaty groan from Caleb, pulling me closer to him. My lips are swollen when he finally releases me and swings back onto his bike. I look into his eyes, seeing raw desire shimmering within them, before he dons his helmet, the dark visor separating our gazes.
Then he starts his engine, letting it roar, and rides away. I stand by the road like an enamored teenager, watching him disappear. It”s only when my phone, signaling its low battery, jolts me back to reality that I realize I should hurry. So, I rush up to our apartment, shower, and hastily get ready for work. Just as I”m searching for the car keys, I hear the apartment door. Odd, Dad”s first treatment isn”t until eleven, I think, making my way to the hallway. There, I spot my father, attempting to quietly lock the door. What”s with all this secrecy?
“Dad?” I say, making him jump.
“Heavens, Emma, you startled me.”
“What”s going on with you? Where were you so early in the morning?” And then it hits me like a ton of bricks; he”s just now coming home. Shit, now I notice how worn out he looks. His shirt is buttoned wrong, and his hair is tousled. And do I smell a woman”s perfume on him? No, please, not this. A sharp pain shoots through my chest.
“Dad,” I whisper, unbelievably taking a step back.
“I, well, I was with Bill. He and I...”
“Stop that, don”t lie to me.” He sighs and looks at me with exhaustion in his dull eyes. “You were with another woman; I can smell her perfume.”
“Emma, I...”
“No, Dad. I don”t want an apology. I want to finally know what”s going on between Mom and you.” Again, he sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Alright, but not here. Let”s go to the kitchen, I need a coffee.” I nod, leading him through the hallway and sitting at one of the chairs at the dining table. From there, I watch as he fills the kettle and pours himself an instant coffee. In the meantime, Mom”s sad face at Christmas haunts me. The call to Dad - he had his phone off. I remember being puzzled by it, since he”s usually always reachable. Finally, my father joins me. He can”t bring himself to look me in the eyes, keeping his gaze lowered to his coffee cup.
“Your mother and I have a few problems,” he starts eventually. Oh yes, you certainly do, I think bitterly, and I”m pretty sure I know what those problems are. He runs his hand flat over his forehead. “I don”t know how to say it...”
“Just say it straight. I”m a big girl and I”ll handle it.” Handle the fact that you”re cheating on Mom. Although I have to admit, I never would have thought it. Another sigh and then the truth spills out of him.
“Your mother cheated on me with Marco, her tennis instructor. They”ve been having an affair for about ten months.” My lips form a silent ‘O’. I can”t believe what he”s saying.
“But Marco... He”s your friend...”
“He was my tennis partner and friend for years, yes. Then your mother started taking tennis lessons from him and...” He trails off, rubbing the corners of his mouth. “You can imagine the rest.” I can”t believe it! She cheated on Dad, not the other way around! And then she has the audacity to sit in front of me with that mournful expression and whine. I just can”t believe it.
“Your mother was my great love. When I found out what was going on between her and Marco, it broke my heart.” The pain in my father”s voice brings tears to my eyes. I want to get up and hug him, but I want him to finish his story. “I tried to forgive her. Believe me, I tried. But I couldn”t. She left Marco, did everything to make it right again.” He shakes his head, still looking down. “I didn”t know what to do, only that I had to get out of Aberdeen. I couldn”t bear the city with all the lies anymore. So, I called Bill.” His best friend from college, I think, and I can understand him completely. If I had such a problem, Riley would be the first person I”d call too. “I was lucky; just two days before my call, the masseur of his team broke his arm and the Devils needed someone. It was like a fortunate twist of fate.” I think of Caleb, wondering if it was destined for us to come here and meet him. If I”m honest, it feels that way. Even though the reason for us being here is terrible. “You know the rest of the story. I put my company on hold and moved to Portland with the most important thing left in my life: you.”
“Oh, Dad!” I can”t take it anymore, I jump out of my chair and throw my arms around him, crying. “I”m so terribly sorry.” He says nothing, just raises a hand and holds me by the shoulder. I”m his anchor, all he has left, and I had no idea. “I”m here for you, Dad, always,” I promise, sniffling. He nods and rubs his nose with his free hand. I force myself back into my chair but reach across the table and hold his hand tight. Finally, he looks up with reddened eyes. “Bill tried to cheer me up. He took me out and signed me up on a dating app. But it”s not for me. I need to find myself again and process the separation from your mother before I dive into something new.”
“And Mom? How is she dealing with all of this?”
Dad laughs bitterly. “She calls me incessantly, sends me texts, and begs me to come back. I had to turn off my phone because she was harassing me.”
That”s why he was unreachable during the holidays, and she was on the verge of tears. I”ll have to talk to her, explain that there”s no way back to Dad for her. Sometimes a relationship is irreversibly over. Maybe someone should explain that to that psycho girl Jessica.
“Your mother still holds on to the hope that I”ll come back to Aberdeen. But, Emma, that”s the last thing I want. I”m done with this city and its people.” Which ultimately means: We – meaning me, his anchor, and him – will never go back there. That”s okay with me. I can still visit Mom and Riley on weekends if I feel like it. Besides, Portland offers more than one damn good reason to stay here forever.
We sit together at the table for a few more minutes before I reluctantly make my way to work. I arrive twenty minutes late to my massage room, where Parker is already waiting for his appointment. I claim to have overslept and am relieved that he doesn”t hold my tardiness against me. As I warm up, the muscles of the winger for the weight room, the conversation with Dad goes through my head again. My heart is heavy with pity, and I decide to suggest to him that we start looking for a proper apartment. This two-room hole provided by the Devils shouldn”t be more than a temporary solution. In a more spacious apartment, my father would surely feel more comfortable and at home. Yes, I think, that”s a good idea. I”ll get a bunch of newspapers today and go through the ads. After Parker, I have two more massages, which I use, among other things, to think about how we”ll deal with Jessica. That issue is much trickier. Just as I”m setting up the table again, my phone chimes. I check and find a text from Caleb.
*You really should have climbed back into bed with me this morning. I miss you, almost forgot your taste. No idea how I”m going to make it through the day...”
Grinning, I reply:
*Maybe by looking forward to the evening already or...
I glance at the massage table behind me and write:
*...You come over and refresh your memory.
Caleb responds promptly:
*Fuck, Emma, you”re driving me crazy!
This response makes me grin even wider. I can vividly imagine Caleb adjusting his pants because they”re getting tight. Then I receive another text from him.
*I”ll take you up on your offer. But first, Parker and I have something to deal with. See you later.
This disappoints me now. I was in the mood for a bit of sexting. The thought of driving him crazy with a few dirty messages is damn tempting.
“Hey, kiddo,” Dad stands in the doorway and looks at me. “I”m going to grab lunch. Do you want to join?” He looks better than he did this morning. That makes me happy.
“Sure, I”m in. How about Mexican?” I suggest, grabbing my handbag.
Lunch with Dad is great. We finally have some time to talk in peace. I tell him about my idea to get a bigger apartment. He”s excited and wants to go through some listings with me later. Then I confess to him that he wasn”t the only one who spent the night away. I believe we should be honest with each other. Surprisingly, he immediately figures out where I stayed. He noticed that Caleb has caught my eye; he knows me well. We don”t mention Mom anymore. It”s best not to poke at wounds that are in the process of healing. Before we head back to work, we agree to spend lunch together regularly. A bit of father-daughter time will be good for us.
Back at the ice rink, I finish my last massage for the day. Then I head home, freshen up, and pack some clothes because I assume I”ll be staying with Caleb again tonight. This time, I want to savor the morning with him. While I tidy up the apartment a bit, I call Riley and tell her about Jessica and her threats. She”s shocked and advises me not to take the situation lightly. She thinks someone crazy enough to bloody their own lips is capable of anything. Unfortunately, she can”t think of a solution for our problem either. When I end the call, I”m just as clueless as before. Let”s see, maybe Caleb has come up with something. I hope so!
I plan to head back to the ice rink at six to watch the guys” training. But just as I”m about to leave the apartment, Mom calls and wants to know where Dad is. Apparently, he”s turned off his phone again. So, I sit down in the kitchen, make myself a tea, and talk to her. She”s shocked when she finds out that I know about her affair. Of course, she immediately tries to explain her side of the story. She felt lonely because Dad was always working, and she longed for someone who loved her. A flimsy excuse, in my opinion. My father clearly loved her, or he wouldn”t still be suffering like a dog today. In my eyes, Mom was simply bored with her housewife life and decided to have an affair. She”s desperate because she lost him, but she brought this upon herself. I have to keep my composure and remind myself that she hasn”t done anything to me. If the woman on the other end of the line wasn”t my mother, I”d give her a piece of my mind without holding back. But in this situation, I force myself to stay calm. I advise her to leave Dad alone and explain that she will never have a chance with him again. She cries and tries over and over to convince me to talk to him on her behalf. But I stand firm. He”s suffered enough, and I definitely won”t put in a good word for her. When her tears finally stop, I encourage her, recommend meeting up with her girlfriends, and suggest finding a job to get back out in the world. That”s all I can do for her at the moment – and all I want to do.
It”s a quarter to eight when I finally manage to end the call. If it were up to Mom, we”d probably still be talking until tomorrow morning. But it”s no use, I can”t help her. She has to face this on her own.”
On the way to the ice rink, I crank up my new favorite song, ”Call Out My Name” by The Weeknd, trying to shift my focus. My friend Mandy, who I”ve made plans with, is already waiting by the main entrance. Being the designated bet overseer”s girlfriend, she has the privilege of joining in on this grand occasion. We hurry into the building and onto the ice, where most of the team has gathered. They are all in their Devils gear, complete with skates and the black training suits adorned with the red devil logo. As far as I know, it’s Toby who has established the tradition of wearing these suits for bet settlements. Caleb and I notice each other at the same time. I can see the tension around his mouth fade away, replaced by a smile that makes my heart flutter. Wow, it’s only now that I realize how much I”d missed him in those few hours.
“You were gone for quite a while,” he remarks as he passes through the heavy door to join me on the player”s bench. Then he pulls me close and kisses me with a passion that sent shivers down to my core. I can”t help but moan into his mouth, my hands finding their way into his locks. In an instant, all the desire that had been simmering within me throughout the day surges back.
“Hey, you two, either get a room or compose yourselves!” Toby interrupts us, arriving with Durand and Parker in tow. I turn to them and burst into laughter. Their penalty attire consists of nothing more than skates and black boxers. Well, at least that’s the case for Durand, because Parker is sporting an additional helmet and a comically looking protective cup over his shorts. With his slender frame, he looks like an oversized pin or a worm with a helmet. It is hilariously absurd. While the two of them skate past us onto the ice, Toby turns to his girlfriend. He greets her with a kiss and takes the golden hockey stick she has brought for him. Then he comes over to us, giving me a wink and patting Caleb on the shoulder.
“Come on, let”s get this started,” he says, rushing out onto the ice.
“See you in a bit,” my forward murmurs, stealing one more kiss before following the Swiss player. As the team forms a half-circle around Toby, Durand, and Parker, I sit down next to Mandy on the bench. We watch with bated breath as the lights dim and a spotlight focuses on the goalie.
“Dear betting enthusiasts, we have gathered here today to witness Ethan Parker and Pascal Durand settle their debt!” Two more spotlights illuminate the two underwear-clad players.
“These two gentlemen believed they could conquer our resilient masseuse, Emma, and they failed miserably!” Toby dramatically points with the end of his golden stick at the losers. “And now...”
He raises a small, shiny object. “I shall determine who goes first using this coin.”
“Isn”t he incredible?” gushes my friend beside me. I have to admit, Toby is doing an excellent job as the bet overseer. We watch as he negotiates with Parker and Durand to decide who calls heads and who calls tails. Then he flicks the coin, catches it, and claps it onto the back of his hand.
“Tails! Parker goes first!” The players cheer and Parker skates up to the upper half of the rink, positioning himself on a red X spray-painted onto the ice.
“I can”t even watch,” Mandy whines. “Can you imagine how much a puck must hurt?”
“No, but I can only assume it”s excruciatingly painful.”
“Parker is seriously stupid for participating in something like this. He”s got no one to blame but himself if he ends up like Toby.”
“Why, what happened to Toby?”
“Don”t you know the story of how he got his Big Ben?” I know many stories about Toby, but not this one.
“I”m telling you, the guy”s a complete idiot. Back when he played for London, he lost a bet, same stakes as Parker. The only difference was, he had to step onto the ice stark naked, no cup, no helmet. And guess what? He took a puck right to the family jewels.”
“Damn! That sounds brutal.”
“Yep. Ever since, he”s been down to one bell - his ‘Big Ben’, as they call it.” It”s not exactly a laughing matter, but I can”t help but crack a smile.
“Once our audience is ready, we can continue!” Toby calls out to us.
“We”re all set, babe! Let”s get this show on the road!” Mandy signals to her beau. I steal a glance at Caleb. He”s got his sights on Parker. I watch as Durand takes his position on a second red X, about 15 meters in front of the first. Toby, riding alongside him, raises a puck into the air.
“Parker”s punishment is three shots!” he announces, handing Durand three of the rubber pucks and the golden stick. Then he looks towards the tech room. “Larry, let”s go!” Larry, the janitor? In the next moment, a drumroll echoes through the hall. I have to admit, the guys have put some effort into this. Durand raises his stick and winds up as the drum roll crescendos. Then he strikes, with Larry adding a drumbeat for effect. He hits Parker on the shoulder. Parker jerks in pain.
“Fuck! You jerk!” he bellows, rubbing the red spot. Durand”s second shot ricochets off Parker”s helmet. If Parker wasn”t wearing one, he”d probably be in the market for a new set of teeth. The third and final shot is the worst. It connects with Parker”s thigh, clearly injuring him. Mandy and I jump up, alarmed to see blood trickling down his leg.
“It”s okay, don”t worry, just a little cut!” Toby reassures us. Just a little cut? Let’s hope he”s right... “Ladies and gentlemen, I ask for a round of applause for Ethan Parker, who has settled his debt here!” The players clap, Parker rejoins the others, and Durand... He tosses his stick aside and makes a dash for the open door in front of us. He”s trying to escape!
“Durand!” Toby”s voice reverberates through the hall. “Don”t you dare!” The Canadian stops right before the exit. His feverish gaze tells me he”s weighing whether to stay or bolt. Too late, Toby catches up to him. “I”m warning you; you won”t make it as far as you can piss until I drag you back by the balls,” the goalie growls. “A bet”s a bet. That goes for maggots like you too. Now get back here.” He nudges him towards the team. Surprisingly, Durand gives in and returns.
“Let”s carry on. Byers!” The defenseman approaches Toby, who has resumed his original spot between Parker and Durand. He hands Byers a red velvet cushion, on which rests an electric hair trimmer. “Now, onto Durand”s bet: a bald head and shaved eyebrows! Parker!” He hands the giant pin the trimmer, steps aside, and gives a clear view. Mandy and I watch in fascination as Parker revs up the machine and places it against Durand”s forehead. Durand tenses up and clenches his fists in desperation. Then the steady hum transitions into a duller noise, and Durand”s flow is parted right down the middle. We watch, jaws dropping, as Parker systematically strips away the Canadian”s dark locks, leaving him with nothing but mousey eyes. And a - as I notice for the first time - pretty crooked nose. No amount of muscles or tattoos can compensate for that. As soon as the duo exits the stage, the others leave the ice as well.
“What a show!” Mandy praises as her sweetheart, and Caleb, join us on the player”s bench.
“Yeah, right? Those two really pulled it off,” he replies with a grin. “What”s next? Shall we grab a drink together?”
“Sorry, buddy, not tonight,” Caleb answers. When I step up beside him, he wraps an arm around me.
“I understand,” Toby says, grinning broadly. He knows we have other plans. “That”s fine. Baby, more time for us then.” He wiggles his blond brows and playfully swats his girlfriend”s backside before they head off, leaving Caleb to look down at me.
“So, what do you say we head to my place?” His voice carries a dark undertone.
“Absolutely. I just need to grab something from the massage room real quick.” An enticing idea occurred to me earlier today, involving lots of warm oil and our naked bodies.
“Sounds good. I”ll just change my shoes real quick.” He gestures to his training bag at the end of the player”s bench.
“See you in a bit.” I rise on my tiptoes to give him a kiss and hurry downstairs to my massage room. Once there, I search the shelf for a suitable oil and find a natural almond oil. Perfect! Just as I”m about to grab the bottle, I sense I”m no longer alone. I turn around and see Caleb leaning in the doorway, arms crossed. He gives me a look that shoots straight between my legs. Suddenly, he pushes off and comes to me. Then he lifts me into his arms, heads back to the door, closes it, and locks it.