Chapter 26
FLIP
I’m lying on my hotel bed in Colorado, the most recent of Tally’s book recs lying next to me.
It’s open to one of her dogeared sections—it was a particularly descriptive spicy scene—which I’ve read several times.
And now I’m fisting my cock in one hand, and my phone in the other, watching the video Tally sent at my request. She’s wearing a pair of shorts that barely cover the swell of her perfect, biteable ass, strong legs on display, and a strappy athletic bra that I want to take off with my fucking teeth.
I stroke roughly, the strains of the song I danced to for her vibrating through my hand.
The way she moves, the slow roll of her hips, the flip of her ponytail, how her eyes stay on the camera as she spins around the chair—it all pushes me closer to the edge.
I groan as she moves to lie on her stomach, perky ass pressing up, chest brushing the floor.
She grins impishly and winks, then she spins, lying on her back, undulating, hands sliding down her chest and over her stomach, easing along the inside of her thighs.
I increase my pace, fucking my hand like a man possessed.
I’ve watched this video half a dozen times since she sent it, and the best part is coming.
Tally moves to her knees, legs spread wide, her body rolls as she seems to levitate, landing on her feet.
She kicks a leg in the air, balancing on one foot, arm wrapped around the other leg, ankle by her ear as she does the splits standing.
She falls forward and I rub my thumb over the crown, wishing for her hand, for her fingers, for her soft, wet pussy, and she hits the floor with grace.
Stroke up. She moves to her back again. Stroke down.
She plants her feet on the floor, runs her hands down her thighs, eyes on the camera as her hips pop up, legs spreading wide again.
One hand slides up her stomach, the other brushes her cheek as she fucks the air, head thrown back in mock ecstasy.
I can easily envision myself between her parted thighs, coming on her stomach as the orgasm slams through me.
I let the video start again as I work to calm my breathing.
She was close to breaking me at the dance studio.
She knew it, too. And I appreciate the way she backed off.
But watching her dance for only me and the way she moves?
It’s a lethal combination for my hormones.
So I asked for a video to take with me on this away series.
She sent it right before she went to class so I can’t even call her to thank her.
The video pales in comparison to the real thing, but at least it takes the edge off.
I’ve only been in Denver for two hours and I already hate being away from her.
I can’t smell her lotion or shampoo, I can’t drive to her apartment to surprise her with breakfast, or lunch.
I can’t hug her, kiss her, fight the urge to give in to the raging chemistry between us.
When Tristan messages to say they’re on their way to my room, I roll off the bed and head for the bathroom to clean myself up. I take my phone with me, deleting private messages on my professional account as I absently wipe cum off my stomach.
My DMs are full of messages from random women—sometimes Hemi and Hammer will go in and delete them for me when they have time, but they’re currently knee deep in gala preparations—our yearly Terror fundraiser, supporting local programs and community outreach—so I’ve been doing it myself.
The last thing I want is for Tally to see messages from women offering me sex when we’ve barely made it off the bench.
I finish up in the bathroom, pull a shirt over my head, and flip the safety so the guys can let themselves in. Tristan raps once and pokes his head in before he enters, followed by Quinn, Ash, and Connor.
“Kellan going through the motions?” Goalies are their own breed, and Kellan, like Roman, has his own pregame routine.
“You know it.” Quinn glances at the open book on the bed. “Whatcha reading?”
“Tally recommended it. It’s the second in the series. It’s good so far.” Although I’ve been jumping around, reading her favorite passages.
Connor looks over Quinn’s shoulder. “Mildred loves that series.”
He never calls her Dred, like the rest of us. Always Mildred, darling, or little menace. The last is particularly hilarious, because there is nothing menacing about Dred.
“Doesn’t she usually read domestic thrillers?” I ask.
“Depends on her mood. She’ll read just about anything.” A faint smile tugs at his mouth. “We read a lot of romance together.”
“Like she reads a chapter then you read a chapter?” Quinn asks.
Connor smirks. “When it’s dual POV, she reads the heroine’s chapters and I read the hero’s.”
Connor is an interesting guy.
Tristan tips his head. “Huh.”
“I wonder if Shilpa would enjoy that,” Ash muses.
Quinn sets the book down. “You ready to go?”
“Sure thing.” I gather my stuff, and we head out.
The hotel is attached to the arena, so we make the short walk to the player entrance.
Photographers snap photos as we head down the hall to the locker room.
I haven’t started reading about myself, which means the media hasn’t gotten wind of my relationship with Tally yet.
As much as I want to be open about dating her, I’m not looking forward to the attention it will bring.
I set those worries aside. Marinating in what-ifs won’t help me on the ice. I block out everything except for hockey and shift into game mode as I suit up.
Tonight we’re playing Colorado. They’re fighting to make the playoffs this season, while we’re currently one of the top ten teams in the league, but we want to maintain our current position in the rankings.
“How you doing?” Connor asks as we warm up.
“Okay.” I move to a chest stretch. “I’m tight here.”
“I wonder why,” Tristan says dryly from my other side.
“I didn’t overdo the workout yesterday,” I argue.
Connor claps me on the shoulder. “Do you miss Tally?”
“Well yeah, I’m a three-hour flight away.”
“That’s why your chest is tight,” Tristan explains.
“Welcome to the obsessed partners club. You’ve earned your first gold star.” Connor grins.
“Is this what I have to look forward to during away games now?” I grumble.
“Phone sex helps,” Tristan offers.
“Dude.” I give him a look.
“He’s not wrong,” Connor jumps in to defend him.
“Still not things I needed to know.”
Warm-up ends before either of them can add to the overshare moment, and the game gets underway. We score a goal in the first period, but Colorado ties it up at the beginning of the second.
The rest of second period we fight for another goal, but Colorado’s goalie is playing tight, and their defensive line is strong.
“I’m going to get dirty so you can make a clean shot.” Grace winks as we take the ice again. He steps into his villain role and needles their defense, taking a right hook to the jaw. I use the distraction to steal the puck and pass it to Palaniappa.
“You two are all over each other’s jocks.” The Colorado player tries to come for Grace again. “You let him fuck your wife, or just you, Grace?”
I get between them before Grace knocks all his teeth out. “You want a piece of me, I’m right here, but leave the wives out of it.”
He shoves me and the refs blow the whistle.
“Dred won’t be happy with you,” I say as Grace and I skate back to the bench.
“I can only hope there are severe consequences.” He smirks, rubbing his jaw.
The dirty move gives us the powerplay advantage we need. Stiles scores a goal with Bright as the assist.
The chippy play escalates in the third period, and I end up bodychecked, giving Colorado another penalty. Then Grace and I score a third goal, kicking Colorado down another spot in the rankings.
The win feels good, but we’re all sore after the game.
I take a long shower, sit in the sauna, and rinse off again.
I plan to avoid the bar—I don’t need photos showing up online, giving Tally a reason to worry, or Vander Zee motive to trade me.
Besides the media is obsessed with my love life.
Any time we go to a bar, there’s speculation; about my relationship with Dred, who I’m secretly dating/fucking, and past hookups love to throw in their two cents.
I want Tally to learn things about me from me, not media conjecture.
I’ve managed to keep my marriage to Fiona under wraps, but I also haven’t had a single girlfriend in that time.
That might not continue once my relationship with Tally is public fodder.
I don’t want people digging into that unhealed wound.
Telling Tally will be hard enough. Being used by the woman I thought I would spend my life with left me in pieces.
My biggest fear is falling in love again, only to have my heart shredded all over.
I tuck the worries away for later and finish getting dressed. Once we’re in our suits, the guys and I walk back to the hotel.
“Why don’t you all come to my room?” Connor isn’t much for the bar scene.
I nod. “Be there in half an hour?”
“Sounds good.” His phone is already at his ear as he steps off the elevator. “I’m okay, darling. No concussion.”
When I reach my room, I swipe the keycard over the sensor and text Tally.
Flip
You around?
Tally
I am! Nice win tonight. That was an intense game.
Flip
Thanks. Can I call you?
Tally
Sure!
I stretch out on my bed and hit the video-call button.
Tally’s face appears. “Hey!” I can barely hear her over the background noise. “I didn’t realize you were video calling. Give me a second.” She moves around someone. “Can I use your room for a few minutes?”
A guy says yes.
She weaves through bodies, saying hi and excuse me and I’ll be back. She rushes up a flight of stairs, knocks on a door, then slips inside.
“Where are you?” The anxious jittery feeling makes my spine hot.
“Mac’s. It’s Gage’s birthday, so they’re throwing a party. Half the campus showed up.”
I may or may not have met these guys in the past. “Who are Mac and Gage again?”
“Chase’s friends. They all play for the university team.” She drops into a computer chair. “Mac and Gage live with Brody. We’re at his house.”
“Right. I remember them.” Brody has nice friends. I feel better. “Whose room is that?” I note the Terror poster on the wall featuring me, Tristan, and Dallas.
“Mac’s. He’s Terror obsessed.” She kisses my two-dimensional face on the poster while grinning.
“He’s a good guy?” I can’t see her using his room if he was a douchebag.
“Super good guy,” she confirms. “He and Fee are a thing.”
“Oh yeah? Has Roman met him?”
“It’s only a matter of time. Poor guy.”
On the wall behind her is a whiteboard with a class schedule taped to it.
The age gap is glaringly obvious right now.
When we spend time together, it’s with our Terror friends.
We have mostly civilized dinner parties, we go to the Watering Hole and exclusive clubs.
I’m separate from her university friends.
She can’t invite me to a house party. I’d be mobbed by the Tilton players and flirted with by the girls.
“Is everything okay?” She bites her thumbnail.
“Yeah, kitten. Everything’s good now that I’m looking at your gorgeous face and talking to you.”
She tips her head. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was going to a party tonight.”
“Don’t apologize, I don’t want you to stop living your life when I’m on an away series.”
She spins in the computer chair. “I’d rather be cuddled up next to you than at this party, though.”
“When I get home, we will have a serious snuggle session.” It’s a physical ache to be looking at her, but unable to wrap my arms around her.
“I’m holding you to that.” She rolls her bottom lip between her teeth and whispers, almost too quiet to catch, “I miss you.”
That feels good to hear. “I miss you too.” More than she could know.
She smiles impishly. “Did you like the video I sent you?”
“Oh, fuck me, yeah. I love it. I’ve watched it an unreasonable number of times. I can’t wait to have you dance for me again.”
“When you’re home,” she replies.
“How’s the studio?” I ask.
“Amazing. Obviously I’m getting good use out of it.
” She wraps a tendril of hair around her finger.
“Between last night and today, my troupe has spent four hours rehearsing. We all have solo time, and group time and a whole schedule set up. I already feel so much better about the upcoming showcase.” Noise makes it hard to hear her for a moment.
“I’ll be down in a bit,” she tells someone off-screen.
“You can start this hand without me.” She turns her attention back to me.
“Sorry about that. I usually end up playing cards with Cammie and the gang at these things. What are your plans for the rest of the night?”
“I’m heading up to Connor’s room in a bit.”
“So no bar tonight?” She seems relieved.
“Nah. It’s a HABs gathering.”
She wrinkles her nose. “HABs?”
“Husbands and boyfriends,” I explain. “I made that up, by the way.”
I’m not sure how to interpret her surprise. “Does that mean I’m a WAG?”
“Do you want to be a WAG?” My stomach knots as I wait for her reply. I should have done this before I left for the away series.
“Yeah. Yes. Definitely.”
“Good.” I mirror her smile. “I should let you get back to your friends, but we can talk tomorrow once I’m checked into the next hotel.”
“Okay. I’ll miss you until then.”
“Same. Have a good night, kitten.”
“You too, Phillip.”
She ends the call, and I lie there for a minute. At her age, I was at the club all the time. But I was nursing a broken heart. If I’d been part of the HABs club then, would it have been different?
My phone buzzes on my chest.
I open the message to find a picture of Tally kissing a cartoon figurine of me on the cheek.
Tally
Clearly I’m stealing this from Mac.
Good night kisses.