Chapter Twenty-One
ETHAN
Istand ready and wait for the puck to drop.
“You’re like a tampon, only good for one period.” I hear Bennett messing with number two on the opposing team. He’s been at it since the first period. Some rumor about the guy never getting into fights on or off the ice.
The music blares across the speakers, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t slightly muffled on the ice.
“Hey three, don’t wipe out on your way to the bench.” The guy next to me, seventeen, snickers.
The puck drops and I shoulder him as I move into position. “Maybe you should learn some balance,” I call out to him. He slips on the ice. “Why are you trying to swim? This water is frozen.”
He throws down his stick and charges for me. All I can do is smile as I nod to Bennett.
“Two, you trying to take a nap over there or you forget how to skate?” Bennett calls out.
I move my stick and act like I’m going to trip him before skating backwards. “Maybe you should learn how to handle your stick.”
“Your mom wasn’t complaining about my stick last night.” Seventeen jumps up and shoves into me.
The mom jokes don’t get to me anymore. Bennett bumps two into us and all bets are off. The crowd erupts around us, they’re buzzing.
Seventeen’s helmet gets knocked off and I take the opportunity to give him a straight jab to the mouth. His lips trickle blood as he throws his hands up in an attempt to push my own helmet off.
I see two out of the corner of my eye finally laying in to Bennett. I’m going to have to ask him after the game what the final straw was for him to get into it.
More players join in when they see what’s going on and even the refs blowing the whistle doesn’t stop the hands being thrown.
It’s not until I feel myself yanked back by my jersey that I realize how hard I was breathing.
“Enough,” one of the refs yells.
A few other players are separating us now.
“Damn, two, you fold faster than a lawn chair.” I sit down in the penalty box and the door is closed.
Two and seventeen are sharing the box on the other side of the window from me. They ignore me.
Major penalty is called and all three of us end up with five minutes. I chuckle to myself as I make myself comfortable, but keep my eyes on the ice.
A minute and a half left in the game when the door is opened and I’m quick on my feet to help play defense. The score is still four to one, us.
Becker passes to me. I skate around the other team and pass to Bennett. His stick hits the ice, and the puck goes flying. Their goalie bounces it off his gloves and Kole whips around another player and shoots it low. It slips past the goalie and hits the bottom corner of the net.
Cheers erupt and we’re skating towards Kole, practically piling onto one another as we celebrate his score.
We hold it down for the last bit of the game before the final buzzer goes off.
Five to one, making it our third win in a row.
I know everyone is going to be bouncing around and wanting to celebrate, but I just want to get back to the hotel.
It’s the first away game and I’m eager to be alone and video chat with Daisy.
*****
I’m barely stepping onto the front porch when the front door slams open and Daisy runs towards me. I drop my bag and catch her as she jumps into my arms. Her arms wrap around my neck and her lips collide with mine. My arms wrap around her, holding on tight and never wanting to let go.
It’s been four days since the team left to play up in Ohio. Too many fucking days without seeing her in person or having her in my arms. Fuck, I missed her even more than I realized.
I love hockey. I’ve always loved the game, but I love her more. She doesn’t know, at least not from my words. That’s going to change tonight. Tonight, I show her and tell her how much she means to me. I’ve got it all planned out.
When she told me yesterday that her mom extended her trip again, I felt slightly guilty for how happy I was about it.
Her mom may not realize how big of a help she was being for me—being gone.
Before leaving for the away game, it was like we were living in a little bubble.
We’ve got more games coming up, but we don’t have to leave for away ones for another two weeks.
“Hi.” She pulls back and smiles.
I slowly release her, but keep my hand on hers as I grab my bag and we walk inside. It smells good in here, like she’s been baking all day. “It smells good in here, baby.”
“I’m making pancake inspired scones using maple syrup and bacon.” She closes the door behind us and leads me upstairs. “Are you hungry?”
“Not for food.” I practically chase her up the stairs.
We’ve barely entered her room, and I drop my bag to the floor. Our lips collide as we rip each other’s clothes off, only breaking apart to remove shirts. My hand slides to her throat and I back her up to her bed.
“I missed you,” I admit before pressing my lips to hers.
Her legs hit the edge of the mattress and we both fall to the bed.
My arm goes behind her back and I scoot us both farther to the middle.
Her legs part to make room for me. I kiss my way down her body, grab her leg and lift it over my shoulder before diving in.
I lick, then suck at her click and she arches against the mattress.
Her hands move to my head until I suck harder, then she throws them above her head, trying to find something to anchor herself to.
I wrap my arm around her leg and the other I use to hold her still, so she can’t arch herself away from me.
“Fu—” her voice breaks with a squeak and moan.
I continue licking and sucking. Her wetness coats my beard, but I don’t stop. I wait until I bring her to the edge, then pull back.
“Why did you stop?” She groans and props herself up on her elbows.
I smirk and release her leg, then alternate kissing her inner thighs.
Teasing her slightly. Lifting myself up, I kiss and nibble my way back up her body.
She pulls me in for a kiss, not caring that she’s tasting herself on her lips.
Fuck, that’s hot. I grab her leg, lifting it up.
I line myself up and thrust inside of her to the hilt.
She bites down on my lip and whimpers.
I pull back until I’m barely inside of her. Then, lean back and lift her legs, and push back in slowly. My arms wrap around her legs as I pull back, then push back in. My pace picks up until I feel like I’m rutting her like a wild animal.
When I feel myself getting close, I pull out, release her legs, then go back to a more missionary position. My lips press to hers and I push in slowly.