16. Chapter Sixteen
We lost and I’m fucking pissed. Boston played dirty, and the refs were dirtier. And my fucking leg’s killin’ me.
Slamming my shit around isn’t making me feel better. Neither is any of these other assholes doing the same thing. We’re all pissed off and none of us want to talk to the media, but it’s a hazard of the job. At least only a couple of us have to.
“Ready, brother?” Kayce asks.
“To get the fuck out of here,” Bram answers for me. Usually he’s an asshole I don’t agree with but in this case, I’m with him.
I slap Kayce on the shoulder and follow Bram out to the press conference with the rest of the team behind me. Coach only wants Kayce and I to go up to the table. Although I don’t know why he trusts the two of us to keep our mouths shut about the game .
My phone vibrates with a thousand texts as it turns on and gets service the closer to the exit I get. Unfortunately, I can’t check them until this bullshit is done.
We take our seats at the table, and the cameras start flashing almost immediately. I look over at Kayce who sits there like a fucking small town golden retriever. That big goofy grin on his face. We couldn’t be more opposite if someone tried to make us that way. I sit with a frown and my arms crossed over my chest, my scowl daring any of these reporters to ask me any fucking thing.
“Thank you all for coming. We’ll start with you, Sir.” The moderator points to a reporter in the front row. He looks young, and not like your typical sports reporter in his jeans and tee, black rimmed glasses sitting low on his nose as he looks at a small notepad.
“I just have one question for Mr. Karlsen.”
I nod for him to ask his question without moving.
“Do you think you lost today because you’re distracted by your new girlfriend?”
The fuck?
“No.”
“No? She’s not the reason you’re distracted and why you weren’t able to score? It’s new, and from what I’ve heard from my sources, you’re pretty distracted lately. Showing up late to practices, missing some altogether. ”
I slam my hands on the table, standing. Where the fuck is this guy getting his information?
Kayce pushes my arm so I sit down again.
“Viktor hasn’t been late or missed any practices. He’s still the epitome of a role model for our rookie players. He manages his private life with grace, and balances it with his responsibilities perfectly. So I don’t know who your source is, but you might want to get a new one.”
“Coach! What’s your take? Is Karlsen the reason for the loss?”
Coach Hamlin looks at me and nods for me to leave the stage as the reporters continue to throw out questions. Cade is the best coach I’ve ever had in hockey. He understands the struggles we face having our entire personal lives laid out for the world to dissect. When he had a career ending injury the media had every theory possible out there, watching his every move. He’s always got our back when the media turns these press conferences to anything other than the game played.
I push past the line of coaching staff and send Joaquin up to take my spot on the stage with Coach. He and Jolie are blissfully happy, let’s see them turn that negative.
Tossing my bag over my shoulder I head directly to the bus that will bring us to the airport for our flight home. I can’t fucking wait .
The first thing I do when I get on the bus is pull open a message from Calliope and I’m knocked on my ass when I open it. Grateful that no one else is around to see it. I open each image and zoom in on all the parts I like. My shit mood dissipates with each image of her sexy fucking body.
I hit her contact and call her immediately.
“Hey, are you okay?” The volume in the background is loud, she must still be out with the girls at The Penalty Shot.
“I’m good now, those photos are…” I bite my bottom lip trying to think of a word that could explain what they are to me.
“I know. She wants to use them for model photos.” I can hear the uncertainty in her voice. It’s something we will talk about later.
“I want you. In that. In my bed. In…” I look at my watch, “Fuck. Five hours.”
“What? I can’t hear you, I’m sorry.” Another game must be on the televisions because the screaming in the bar got louder.
“My bed. Five hours, Skatten Min.”
“Yes, Sir.” She giggles and I hear one of the girls saying she is going to hang up so she stops talking to me.
Thank God the guys start filing into the bus so we can get the fuck out of here. I want to be home and buried deep inside my girl. I fidget in my seat to readjust after those thoughts .
Coach stops at my seat, standing with one hand on the row in front of us.
“Karlsen.”
“Coach. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I got your back. I know you haven’t been distracted. You’re honestly better than you’ve ever been. So whatever that woman is doing for you, lock it down. Keep her around, and protect her from the fucking media piranhas.”
“Will do, Coach.”
He nods and continues to his spot at the front of the bus.
Kayce takes the seat next to me.
“Fuck dude, what the fuck was that? Who was the reporter?”
“No idea. But I already texted Ken to find out. Who the hell is his source ? I’ve never even been five minutes late to practice and I sure as shit haven’t missed any.” The anger is simmering, and I’m ready to take someone the fuck out for it. “Thanks for having my back.”
“Always man. I owe you for that last press conference where the fucking reporter kept calling me Kasey to get under my fucking skin.”
I chuckle. He’s so sensitive about his name, but won’t tell me why. Just something about high school and his brother. His brother is an absolute asshole. Actually Calliope’s ex reminds me a lot of him .
His brother only likes Kayce when he can brag to his friends that his brother is a pro hockey player and gets them tickets. He’s engaged to the girl that Kayce has been in love with for decades since they met in middle school. And I’m pretty sure his brother is only with her to piss Kayce off.
We both put in our headphones and tune out the world. The rest of the ride and flight are going to be a sullen affair after this loss. I’m sure the next meeting with Coach will be full of bitching about the refs too. Something we know he sees but doesn’t want to talk about because he can’t change it.
It’s two in the morning when I walk through the door but I’m so damn happy to be home.
I drop my bag by the door and practically run to the bedroom. Knowing that Calliope is in my bed and waiting for me has me hard already.
I grin to myself when I find her just as I told her to be. What a good girl.
I immediately strip down to my boxer briefs and slide into bed behind her, pulling her flush to me.
Even in her sleep induced haze she still backs that perfect little ass right into me. Reaching around her I cup one lace covered breast in my palm, leaning down to kiss her neck.
“Good morning, Skatten Min.”
She moans in her sleep, rolling to her back. “Not morning. Still dark,” she mumbles.
I slide my hand from her breast down to rest on her newly popped bump. Pausing my kisses only for a moment to kiss the bump where my liten b?nne is growing.
“I hope you’re being good to your mama, liten b?nne.” I place one more kiss to her bump before going back to her lips.
My hand moves further to slip inside her lace panties, stroking her clit. Fuck.
“You’re so ready for me.” I mumble into her lips.
She lets her knees drop open to give me more access.
“Are you going to do something about it?”
“Skatten Min, are you challenging me?”
“Yes, Sir.”
I throw the covers back, revealing her almost bare body to me. I move to kneel between her thighs, taking in every inch of creamy fair skin that’s available to me.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on.”
Sliding my hands under her, I bring that beautiful pussy to my face, laying her legs over my shoulders. Nipping at her clit through the lace, then running my tongue over the spot to soothe.
“Oh God,” she moans.
I pull the lace to the side with my teeth, darting my tongue out to lick her pussy.
“Mm, so delicious, Skatten Min. I’ve been starved of you for too long. Shall I feast now?”
Her hips buck at the vibrations of my voice.
“Yes.” She pauses. “Yes, Sir.”
“Ah. Good girl. You will be rewarded for remembering.”
My mouth starts its assault on her pussy. Licking, sucking, nipping, until her legs tremble on my shoulders.
“More. Please, more.”
“More what? Tell me what you want, Skatten Min.”
“More. You. Inside me. Fill me up, Viktor.”
I nip at her clit once more. “Come for me first, Skatten Min.”
I run my tongue around her clit and she trembles.
Continuing until her trembling becomes erratic, I know she’s close. I dart my tongue in and out, before murmuring on her clit. “I love you, Skatten Min. Come for me and show me you love me too.”
She does as she’s told, screaming, “I love you. I love you, too Viktor. So fucking much.”
I flip her over so she’s on her hands and knees. I hook her panties with my pinky, pulling them, testing their durability. Slapping her ass cheek, I grasp the lace with both hands and pull, ripping them off her body.
“Oh God, that’s so fucking sexy,” she moans.
I kneel behind her, slamming my cock into her without warning. She screams out in pleasure as I reach around to grasp her breasts slamming into her over and over.
“You love my cock, don’t you, Skatten Min?”
“All of you. I love all of you,” she pants.
“And I love every inch of you.” Pinching her nipples and immediately slapping her ass has her bucking backwards into me, already close to another orgasm.
She pushes up from her elbows to rest on her hands. Pushing her ass back into my hips, taking me harder, deeper.
Sliding my hands up her back, I move her hair to one side, gripping her neck with both hands, my thumbs rest at the nape of her neck, and my fingers encircle her throat.
“I’m ready for you to come, come with me, let me fill you up as you pull every last drop from me with that glorious pussy of yours.”
“Yes,” a breathless pause, “Sir. God. Yes, Sir!”
Her screams send the tingles up my spine as my own orgasm spills into her. I tighten my grip on her, pulling her flush to me as close as we can be, pulsing together .
“Fuck, Skatten Min. You’re so fucking perfect.” We both collapse into a sweaty mess on top of each other, panting, trying to catch our breaths.
I will never tire of having her body, having her in my bed when I come home. Having her.
I brush her hair off the side of her face, her eyelids fluttering closed.
“Sleep, Skatten Min.” I pull the covers up over her body, covering her so she can sleep peacefully.
I couldn’t settle once Calliope fell asleep on me. I waited until the sun rose and came out to make her breakfast. She’s been obsessed with french toast covered in strawberries and whipped cream, straying from pancakes.
I’m not above buttering her up with french toast for the gala I’m going to ask her to attend with me. I should have asked her weeks ago but I hate going and forgot about it until Coach reminded me this weekend.
“Mmm, what smells so good?” She walks out into the kitchen wearing my tee from last night.
“I decided to make my liten b?nne’s favorite breakfast, with homemade whipped cream.” I smile, showing her the bowl full of fresh cream and macerating strawberries.
“He is very appreciative.” She holds her hand over her bump.
“He’s also trying to make his appearance known,” I say nodding to her bump.
She giggles, the sweetest sound to ever fill my home. “We probably have to announce soon. I was enjoying our little bubble though.”
“We don’t have to do anything. But I should probably tell my parents before the rumors start. My mamma would be upset if she heard from a US tabloid first. Maybe we could call them this afternoon. I’ll text her.”
“Sure that sounds good. Oh! How late though? I have a surprise for you at noon.” She smiles cheekily.
“About two o’clock our time is when they start to get ready for bed. But they’d wait up if I told them it was important.” I eye her suspiciously.
“Oh perfect. Our gender reveal ultrasound appointment is at noon, we should be done after about a half an hour. I’d love for them to know the gender first, after us of course.” She says so casually like this isn’t a huge deal.
“Gender reveal? We get to find out today what liten b?nne is?” I rush around the side of the island, pulling her into my arms.
“Yup! I thought it would be the perfect welcome home.”
“Last night was pretty perfect too.” I nuzzle into her neck.
“That is the reason we need french toast.” She laughs, pushing me off her .
I get back to work in the kitchen, grilling her french toast to a golden perfection, topping it with just the right amount of strawberries and cream.
As she eats, I send a message to Mamma.
Me: Mamma, video call today at 8:00 before your bedtime?
Mamma: Oh yes! I’d love to see my boy.
Me: How about meeting min elskling?
Mamma: Oh dear boy! You’ve met your soulmate?
Me: Ja, Mamma.
Mamma: I can’t wait. heart emoji
I can hear her now running through the house to tell my father in excitement.
I watch Calliope enjoying her breakfast, the little moans escaping her mouth after each bite.
I gulp down my nerves about asking her to attend the gala with me. I don’t know if she’ll be nervous to attend. There are a lot of big names, sometimes it intimidates me to go .
“Spit it out, mister,” she says, watching my every move.
“I just have a favor, but you can say no if you want to. Don’t feel like you have to say yes.”
She raises a brow and puts another bite in her mouth.
“The Golden Foundation Gala is in a few weeks. I have to go and have a plus one. I was hoping you’d want to come with me?”
“Are you kidding me?” She claps her hands excitedly. “I’ve wanted to go for years! But Joy goes every year.”
“So is that a yes?” I ask to make sure.
“Yes!”
She walks her plate to the sink, muttering to herself about a dress, and her bump, and shoes.
I clasp her hand in mine and pull her to me. “I love you, Skatten Min.”
“I love you, Viktor Karlsen.” She places a kiss to my lips but pulls back too quickly, grabbing her phone off the counter.
I hear her talking to Joy as she walks back to our bedroom. Her excitement has me excited for the event now. I was dreading it earlier, but now with her by my side, I know it’ll be the best one yet.
The lights are dimmed in the homey feeling room.
“Ok this might be a little cold,” the technician says as she squirts a blue gel on Calliope’s stomach.
Our fingers are laced together on the bed by her side. Both our eyes glued to the screen. We haven’t seen liten b?nne since her first ultrasound.
The machine clicks on and a whooshing sound fills the room.
“That's the baby's heartbeat. Nice and strong.” The technician says looking at the screen and moving the wand over the gel.
It looks like there’s an alien on the screen.
“Ok, are we ready to know the gender of Baby Karlsen?”
Calliope and I look at each other. “Yes,” we both answer.
“Ok then.” She moves the wand around to the left, then the right. Pointing to the screen she says, “Ok, here is baby’s bum, and here is baby’s penis. Congratulations! You’re having a boy!”
Tears immediately befall both our eyes.
“You were right, Skatten Min. A little boy!” I lay my forehead on hers.
“I knew it! I can’t wait to meet him.”
The technician prints out photos for us to bring home, handing them to us after a few more minutes of showing us our sweet boy .
Calliope folds the photos and slips them into her purse on the way out of the ultrasound office. I open the door for her, letting her in the truck.
I send Mamma a text that we are on our way home and give her an estimated time for a call.
I can’t wait to tell my parents that they are going to have a grandson.
My mind is already racing about all the things I want to teach him.
Sitting on the couch my nerves are high, or it might be excitement. And that they finally get to meet Calliope.
We sit at the kitchen table with my phone set up in the middle of the table. We sit next to each other, waiting for Mamma and Pappa to answer.
Their faces fill the screen.
“Hallo!” Mamma greets me.
“Hallo, Mamma, Pappa!”
They are waving frantically at us. I don’t get to video chat with them often but I love when I do.
“This is Calliope, Elskan Min.” I kiss her on the cheek.
She beams up at me for introducing her as my soulmate. I grasp her hand on top of the table.
“Hi, it’s so nice to meet you two.”
“Oh! Look at you! You’re so beautiful!” Mamma is on the verge of tears.
Pappa chimes in for her, “Calliope. How wonderful to meet the woman who has captured our son’s heart. We hope to meet you soon in person.”
I smile at Calliope and she nods, pulling the ultrasound pictures off her lap and onto the table out of view of the camera.
“We have something we want to tell you.” I can feel my face stretch because my smile is so big. “You’re going to be a bestemor and bestefar!”
Calliope holds up the photos in front of us for them to see.
“Herregud! Oh my goodness! A baby!” Mamma’s excited voice comes over the speakers.
“And, it’s a little boy. You’re going to have a grandson.”
Mamma is looking on her phone, “I’m looking for tickets right now to come see you!”
Pappa and I chuckle at her excitement.
We let Mamma and Calliope plan a trip together between our schedules. They will be coming in a few months when Calliope has maternity photos scheduled so we can get some family ones at the same time.
I’m so glad that the two most important women in my life seem to get along so well. I knew Mamma would love her.
“Your parents are just amazing. Your father and you are practically the same person.” Calliope turns to me after we’ve hung up the call .
“I’ve heard that a few times.”
“Well, I am so glad they are coming for a visit. I can’t wait to meet them in person.” She kisses me briefly on the cheek. “Now we just need to tell my parents, and Joy. What do you think about doing a barbeque at my parents tonight?”
“Sounds perfect. I just have to go to the stadium for a quick meeting with Coach after that media shit storm. We’re meeting with Ken to see if we can figure out who’s behind it.”
Coach had called Ken on the way home, who was already worrying about it. Sometimes I’m glad for Ken. Unless his wrath is directed at me.
“I’m sorry. I know we didn’t exactly get to talk about it. Is there anything I can do?” She sits in my lap, and I wrap my arms around her.
“No Skatten Min, we’re just going to let Ken handle things in the background. In the meantime we just go about our lives.” I kiss her forehead. “Go call your mom and Joy. I know you’re itching to plan what you’ll wear.”
“Yes, Sir.” She smirks and walks away already on her phone. “Oh, by the way, I love you.”
“I love you too, Skatten Min.” I smile at her back.
I rub my leg, not wanting to point out that she was sitting on the bruise from my blocked shot. I pop a few ibuprofen before heading over to the stadium .
I’m ready to get whatever asshole thinks they can use my relationship against me or my team.