13. Liam
13
LIAM
T wo minutes left in the last period . The scoreboard blinks, mocking us with its tie. This game rides on a promising position in the playoffs, and there's no way in hell I’m letting the team down.
“Noah!” I bark, eyes scanning the ice. He’s fast, but their defense is on him like white on rice. I see an opening and take it.
The opposing forward barely registers my presence before I slam him into the boards. The crunch of impact reverberates through my bones, but I barely feel it. The puck wobbles free, spinning like a top on the ice.
“Got it!” Noah shouts, his voice cutting through the chaos.
I send the puck flying in his direction with a sharp flick of my stick. It skims across the ice, smooth as butter, landing right at Noah’s skates.
He doesn’t waste a second. Noah’s always been lightning fast; he snatches the puck and charges down the rink. Their goalie braces himself, eyes wide behind his mask.
“Take the shot!” I roar, adrenaline coursing through me like fire.
Noah doesn’t hesitate. He winds up and unleashes a blistering slap shot that sails past the goalie’s outstretched glove and hits the back of the net with a satisfying clang.
The crowd erupts in a deafening roar. I can feel the vibrations from their cheers as I skate over to Noah, slapping him on the back. “Hell yeah! That’s how you do it!”
Noah grins, breathless but elated. “Thanks man. That pass was perfect.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” I reply, shaking my head. “That shot was pure magic.”
We skate back to our bench amidst a sea of high-fives and shoulder pats from our teammates. Coach Bergman’s face is a mix of relief and pride as he claps us both on the shoulders.
“You two saved our asses out there,” he says gruffly. “Let’s finish this strong.”
The final seconds tick down agonizingly slow as we defend our lead with every ounce of energy we have left. When the buzzer finally sounds, signaling our victory, it feels like a weight lifting off my shoulders.
“Playoffs, baby!” Noah shouts, throwing his arms around me in a bear hug.
I laugh, shoving him playfully away. “Damn right! We did it!”
As we celebrate on the ice, my eyes scan the stands for Olivia. She’s there, notebook clutched to her chest, her face lit up with excitement. Our gazes lock for a brief moment before she starts scribbling furiously again.
I look to my right, and Noah stands just as tall, eyes towards the prize. The prize being Olivia Lutz.
The locker room buzzes with post-victory energy. High-fives, slaps on the ass, and shouts of “Hell yeah!” fill the air. The guys are on a high, and so am I. But duty calls.
“Liam, press conference in five,” Coach Bergman says, clapping me on the shoulder.
I nod, making my way through the throng of jubilant teammates. The adrenaline is still pumping through my veins as I step into the press room. Flashbulbs pop and journalists murmur amongst themselves, waiting for their chance to pounce.
The questions come fast and hard. “Liam, how do you feel about tonight’s win?”
“Feels damn good,” I say with a grin. “The team played their hearts out.”
“What was going through your mind during those last two minutes?”
“Win at all costs,” I reply, leaning into the mic. “Noah’s goal was a game-changer.”
A few more questions about strategy and future games fly my way. I answer them all, keeping my responses short and to the point. My eyes scan the room until they land on Olivia. She’s at the back, notebook ready, her green eyes locked on me.
When the press conference wraps up, I make a beeline for her. “Olivia,” I say, sidling up next to her as she packs up her things.
“Liam, congratulations!!” she replies, looking up with that spark of curiosity I’ve come to admire.
“How about coming back and celebrating with me?” I ask, keeping my voice casual but direct.
Her eyes widen slightly before she recovers. “I uh, I don't know if that's a good idea. I've got an early morning of interviews.”
Her reluctance wears on me. Maybe I'm reading this all wrong.
"Oh come on, I won't keep you out too late. You don't know what kind of hockey intel I'll let slip after a few beers." I joke, hoping she takes the bait.
She shuffles a bit, her eyes glancing over her shoulder looking around. "I guess if it's beneficial to the piece."
We walk together out of the press room, the din of celebration growing louder as we near the locker room.
“Hand me your phone, I'll plug my address into your gps."
"Oh, okay, sure," she says, almost like her nerves are getting the better of her. She hands her phone to me like she's reluctant to let go of her own personal lifeline.
“Just give me a bit to get pick up, you know, bachelor pad and all."
She laughs an uncomfortable laugh. Okay, so bachelor pad might not have been the best way to describe it. But it's definitely better than saying let me hide the left over Chinese and jock straps strewn on the coffee table kind of thing.
"I can handle it," she says sweetly. "But I'll give you time to hide the body. See you shortly." She says with a wave as she walks towards the exit.
I barely make it home before Olivia arrives. The apartment’s a mess, but I manage to shove most of the clutter into a closet and spray some air freshener around. When the doorbell rings, I take a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that I swear don’t exist.
Opening the door, I’m greeted by Olivia’s bright smile. “Hey,” she says, her eyes sweeping over me before landing on my face. “Nice place.”
“Thanks,” I reply, stepping aside to let her in. “Make yourself at home.”
She glances around, taking in the minimalist decor. “It’s not what I expected,” she admits, dropping her bag on the couch.
“Yeah? What were you expecting?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“More trophies and posters of yourself,” she teases, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I chuckle. “I get enough of that at the rink. Want a drink?”
“Sure,” she says, settling onto the couch. “Whatever you’re having.”
I head to the kitchen and grab two beers from the fridge. When I return, Olivia’s flipping through one of my old game programs, her fingers tracing over my picture.
“Found some memorabilia after all,” she quips as I hand her a beer.
“Just a little light reading,” I say, sitting beside her. The couch dips under our combined weight, bringing us closer than I anticipated.
She takes a sip of her beer and looks at me over the rim of the bottle. “You played an amazing game tonight.”
I shrug off the compliment. “It was a team effort.”
“Come on, don’t be modest,” she insists, nudging me with her elbow. “That pass to Noah was stellar.”
Her praise warms me more than it should. “Thanks,” I say simply.
There’s a moment of silence that feels heavy with unspoken words.
"There's only one thing that would be the icing on the cake today." I say quietly.
Olivia looks at me, her green eyes wide with curiosity. "Oh? And what’s that?"
I don’t answer with words. Instead, I lean in, closing the distance between us. My hand finds her cheek, my thumb brushing against her skin. She doesn’t pull away, doesn’t even flinch. Her breath hitches, and that’s all the invitation I need.
Our lips meet, and it’s like everything else fades away. The world outside this apartment ceases to exist. It’s just her and me. Her lips are soft and warm, moving against mine in a rhythm that feels natural, inevitable.
She responds eagerly, her hands sliding up to grip my shoulders as if anchoring herself. I deepen the kiss, my other hand tangling in her auburn hair. It’s everything I’ve wanted since the moment our eyes first locked across that crowded press room.
Olivia's fingers dig into my muscles, pulling me closer as she tilts her head to deepen the kiss. Her notebook drops to the floor with a soft thud, forgotten in the heat of the moment.
I pull back slightly, just enough to catch my breath but not enough to break contact completely. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” I admit, my voice rough with emotion.
Her eyes flutter open, dazed but shining with an intensity that mirrors my own feelings. “I think I have an idea,” she whispers before capturing my lips again.
This time it’s even more urgent, more desperate. The pent-up tension between us spills over, fueling our movements. I shift so she’s pressed against the back of the couch, her body fitting perfectly against mine.
My lips find her neck, and I kiss the soft skin there, trailing a path down to her collarbone. Olivia moans softly, her body arching against mine. Her hands grip my shoulders, pulling me closer, and I can feel the heat radiating off her.
“Liam,” she breathes, her voice a mix of desire and uncertainty.
“If you want me to stop,” I murmur against her skin, “you need to tell me now.”
She hesitates for a heartbeat, her breath hitching. “I should tell you no,” she whispers, her fingers tangling in my hair. “But I can’t.”
That’s all I need to hear. I scoop her up from the couch in one swift motion, her legs wrapping around my waist instinctively. She clings to me as I carry her down the hallway toward my bedroom, our lips meeting again in a hungry kiss.
Pushing open the door with my shoulder, I kick it shut behind us. The room is dimly lit by the soft glow of a bedside lamp, casting shadows that dance across the walls. It’s an intimate setting, perfect for what’s about to happen.
I lay Olivia gently on the bed, my body following hers down onto the mattress. Her hands roam over my chest, tugging at the hem of my shirt. I pull it off in one fluid motion, tossing it aside without breaking our kiss.
“God, you’re so fucking beautiful,” I mutter against her lips.
She smiles against my mouth, her hands trailing down to the waistband of my jeans. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she teases, but there’s a tremor in her voice that tells me how much she wants this.
I unbutton her blouse with practiced ease, revealing the smooth skin beneath. She shivers as my fingers trace along the edge of her strapless bra before unfastening it in the front. Her breath quickens as I kiss my way down to her breasts.
“Liam,” she gasps, arching into me.
I lift my head to meet her gaze. “You okay?”
She nods quickly, eyes dark with desire. “More than okay.”
Her words spur me on. My hands explore every inch of her perfect breasts, and the slope her hips, as our kisses grow more fervent. The room fills with the sounds of our mingled breaths and soft moans, each touch igniting a fire that blazes hotter with every passing second.
This is more than just physical; it's something deeper, something I've been craving without even realizing it. And judging by Olivia's response, she feels it too.
I sit up, my eyes locked on hers. Reaching for the waistband of her jeans, I pause. "Tell me now, Olivia. Tell me you want this as bad as I do."
A smile curves her lips, something almost sinister and entirely irresistible. "Yes, captain."
That does it. A growl rumbles in my chest as I hurriedly peel her jeans away from her voluptuous thighs, leaving her in a barely-there thong that makes my pulse hammer. “You are fucking perfection,” I murmur, pressing kisses inside her thighs.
Her hands reach for my hair, tangling in the strands as I work my way closer to the center of her heat. “Liam, please” she breathes, her voice trembling with anticipation.
My fingers hook around the thin fabric of her thong, pulling it down slowly, savoring every inch of exposed skin. “You have no idea what you do to me,” I say against her skin, my breath hot.
She lets out a soft moan, her hips lifting slightly to help me remove the last barrier between us. “Show me,” she whispers, and it’s all the encouragement I need.
I trail kisses up her inner thigh, feeling the muscles quiver under my lips. When I finally reach her core, she gasps, arching off the bed as if she can’t stand the wait any longer.
“Patience,” I murmur, running a finger along her slit. “I’m going to take my time with you.”
Her fingers tighten in my hair, pulling me closer. “Please,” she begs softly.
The plea in her voice sends a jolt straight through me. I lower my head and press a kiss to her most sensitive spot before sliding my tongue against her slick folds. Her taste is intoxicating, and I can’t get enough.
“Oh God,” she gasps, hips bucking against me.
I grip her thighs to hold her steady as I work her with my mouth, teasing and tasting until she’s writhing beneath me. Her moans grow louder, filling the room with a symphony of desire that spurs me on.
When she’s right on the edge, trembling and panting my name like a prayer, I pull back just enough to look up at her flushed face. “Ready to come for your captain?” I ask with a wicked grin.
“Yes!” she cries out, hands fisting in the sheets.
I don’t make her wait any longer. With one final flick of my tongue and a well-placed thrust of my fingers inside her tight heat, she shatters around me, crying out in ecstasy.
As she comes down from the high, I crawl up beside her and capture her lips in a searing kiss. The taste of her own pleasure mingles with mine as our tongues dance together.
I stand from the bed, looking down at Olivia sprawled beneath me. "I'm not done with you yet, sweetheart," I say, my voice rough with desire. In one swift motion, I remove my pants and boxers, freeing myself.
Her eyes widen as they focus on my dick. "Jesus Christ, if you ever lose your hockey stick, you can always use that thing."
I can't help but laugh at her comment. "I'm glad it's up to your standards."
I hover over her, positioning myself between her legs. My dick rubs through her wet folds, slick from her climax and the remnants of mine. The sensation sends a jolt through both of us.
"I just needed to feel you before I suit up," I murmur.
Reaching over to the nightstand, I grab a condom and slip it on with practiced ease. I meet her gaze, my intense blue eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation. "Are you ready?"
She grins, a mix of mischief and hunger in her expression. "I was born ready."
With that, I slam myself home, filling her completely. Her moan reverberates through the room, a sound that goes straight to my core.
"Fuck, Liam," she gasps, gripping my shoulders as I set a relentless pace.
Our bodies move together in perfect sync, each thrust deeper and more powerful than the last. Her nails dig into my skin, spurring me on. Every breathless moan and whispered plea drives me closer to the edge.
"Goddamn, Olivia," I groan, feeling the tight heat of her around me.
"Don't stop," she pants, her hips meeting mine with equal fervor.
I capture her lips in a searing kiss, swallowing her cries of pleasure. Our tongues tangle as our rhythm intensifies, the bed creaking under our combined weight.
Breaking the kiss, I rest my forehead against hers. "You're incredible," I murmur between ragged breaths.
"So are you," she manages to reply.
The sound of our mingled moans fills the room as we race toward our peak together. The intensity of it all—the heat, the connection—it's overwhelming in the best possible way.
"Come for me," I command softly against her ear.
Her response is immediate; she shatters around me with a cry that echoes through the apartment. The sight and feel of her climax pushes me over the edge too, and I follow suit with a guttural groan.
We collapse together in a tangle of limbs and sweat-slicked skin, breathing hard but content. For a moment, there's nothing but the sound of our heartbeats and the faint hum of city noise outside.
I roll to my side, pulling Olivia against me. She rests her head on my chest, tracing lazy circles on my skin with her fingers.
"That was...wow, some celebration," she says finally.
I chuckle softly. "Yeah. Wow."
We lay there in comfortable silence for a while longer before reality starts to creep back in. But for now, I'm content just holding her close and basking in this unexpected connection we've found.
Olivia shifts beside me, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “I should probably get going,” she murmurs, sitting up and reaching for her discarded clothes.
I watch her for a moment, fighting the urge to ask her to stay. “As much as I want you to stay, that’s probably for the best,” I say, my voice gruff.
She looks at me, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes before she nods. “Yeah, you’re right.”
I get up from the bed and pull on my pants, trying to ignore the pang of regret in my chest. I grab my shirt from the floor and toss it on. Olivia’s already halfway dressed, her movements quick and efficient.
As she buttons up her blouse, I can’t help but admire the way she looks in my room—like she belongs here. Shaking off the thought, I step closer and take her hand.
“Let me walk you to the door,” I say, more a statement than a question.
She gives me a small smile. “Thanks.”
We walk through the dimly lit hallway in silence. The air between us is thick with unspoken words and lingering desire. At the front door, I turn to face her.
“Tonight was... unexpected,” I admit, running a hand through my hair.
Olivia laughs softly. “Yeah, you could say that.”
I hesitate for a moment before leaning in and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Drive safe.”
She looks up at me, those bright green eyes searching mine. “You too, Captain,” she says with a wink.
I watch as she walks out into the night, the door closing behind her with a soft click. For a moment, I just stand there, feeling an odd mix of satisfaction and longing.
Shaking off the thoughts swirling in my head, I head back into my apartment. The bed is still warm from where we lay together, but it feels emptier now. Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I see a missed text from Noah:
"Yo Cap! Late-night gym sesh?"
A wry smile tugs at my lips. I'm too damn giddy to ruin my high by being around sweaty ass guys pumping metal.
“Rain check? I'm calling it a night." I text back before switching off the light and falling to sleep with a smile on my face.
The next morning, I wake up and reality hits me like a slapshot to the face. Olivia's scent still lingers on my sheets, a sweet reminder of last night's passion. But with that memory comes a gut-wrenching realization: I’ve crossed a line.
Staring at the ceiling, I run a hand through my hair. "Fuck," I mutter to myself. My position as team captain is supposed to be above reproach. Sleeping with the journalist covering our playoff run? That's a distraction we can’t afford.
I roll out of bed, my muscles protesting from yesterday’s practice and last night’s activities. As I shower, my mind races. This can’t happen again. I need to put distance between us, focus on the team, and lead us to victory.