Chapter 22 #2
I turn around, the air shifting in her absence in an apartment she has only inhabited for less than an hour. Or is that me who’s shifted? I retrieve my drink and finish the small pour when my phone buzzes with a message from Ray, letting me know Summer is on her way and confirming the pickup time.
It doesn’t take me long to get ready: a shower and shave, getting dressed, and then time to hang out, waiting until I can see her again.
When the car finally pulls up to the curb outside the shop, I get out, straighten my jacket, button the front, and wait outside the door. Those earlier nerves are back. I stare at my shoes, seeing a spot that was missed when shining. The door opens, and I look up.
“Oh shit,” I whisper.
The black dress fits like a custom-tailored glove around her torso and chest. The skirt flares out from her hips, with the fabric longer in the back than in the front.
Her shoes give her a good four inches from her usual height.
The red lips are showstoppers, but it’s her eyes I can’t stop staring at.
Brighter than I’ve ever seen. She slightly leans on her ankle, her face scrunching. “Do I look okay?”
“Breathtaking.” I close the gap, wanting to kiss her so badly but not wanting to ruin her makeup. Her neck is bare, so I kiss her there and then her exposed shoulder. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Sunshine.”
“Really?”
I don’t know how a woman as gorgeous as she is could question any man’s attraction to her.
“You’re stunning, baby.” With her hair pulled up and fastened at the back, I’m given the full view to admire the way her cheeks blush for me.
Holding my arm out, I ask, “You ready to be seen on the arm of the baddest boy in hockey?”
Hooking her arm around mine, we return to the car. “You’re no boy, baby. You’re allll man.”
“God, I love you for that.” The words come out before I can think twice.
Her feet stop just short of climbing into the car.
I see her chest rise and her lips part to release a breath.
Will ignoring it make it better or worse?
The woman makes me laugh more than anyone.
It was said in jest. She understands that. Fuck.
Ducking her head, she slides into the back of the vehicle. After shutting the door behind me, I take her hand and hold it between both of mine. “You really do look beautiful, Summer.”
“You look handsome.” The little tension that tried to seep between us doesn’t develop into more, and she says, “I had the best time. We drank champagne and had cheese and berries. One guy was doing my hair while another woman was putting on my makeup. I’ve seen it in the movies but was never treated so special.
Thank you, again. Oh . . .” She pushes her ears forward.
“I got your present. You didn’t have to give me anything. ”
The diamonds are impressive—one in each ear. I’m thinking Ray is working overtime for that bonus this year. “I’m glad you like them.”
She looks out the window, then back at me. “What are we going to say?”
“Doesn’t matter because anything I say will be twisted online before we get back to the penthouse tonight. So I don’t want to script ourselves. Let’s have fun without the pressure. How does that sound?”
Latching onto my arm again, she pulls herself closer, sliding across the leather seat. “Sounds like a perfect night.”
We’re hurried out of the car on arrival and shuffled down a short red carpet to take photos. In a flurry of chaos, managers and agents, celebrities and their entourages surround us. Summer presses against me and whispers, “Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t.” I keep Summer close, holding her hand and anchoring her at my side when we’re guided to the press.
The flashes are blinding, and I hear my name shouted in ten different directions. The reporter upfront asks, “Everyone wants to know. Are you retiring, Daniel?”
“No. Why would I retire when I’m at the top of my game? Gretzky was three years older than I was when he retired. Gordie Howe was fifty-two.”
The microphone is pulled back, and the reporter says, “You’re not a Gretzky.”
When the microphone is shoved back in my face, I’m about to take it to shove it up his—
“You’re right,” Summer says, stepping out to give herself some room, though holding tight to my hand.
“He’s Daniel “The Maverick of Hockey” Sutton.
Seven-time MVP, which is two shy of Gretzky.
He had the highest contract for the longest term in history.
Between his power play goals, hat tricks, and assists to saves, you’re looking at a future hall of famer, and you should learn to speak to him with the respect he’s earned. ”
Oh shit . . .
The press line falls silent, prompting others on the red carpet to look around to see what happened. She slinks against me again, and whispers, “Did I break them?”
The hurricane of questions hits hard and fast.
“What’s your name?”
I take this one. “This is Summer, my girlfriend.”
“How long have you been dating?”
Laughing, she glances at me quickly and then leans in to answer, “Since we met.”
“Hey Summer, are you a fan of hockey?”
Summer replies, “I’m a fan of Daniel’s.”
A lady wrangles us, sending us in the direction of the party, and tells them, “That’s all, folks.”
While we’re walking, I say, “I’m a fan of yours, too. The biggest.” I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss it. “If we wanted people talking, that should do it.”
She clasps her other hand around our already secured hands. “Are you mad?”
“No, I’m impressed. You handled them like a pro.”
“It was so rude. How dare he talk to you like that?”
“You don’t take any shit.” Chuckling, I add, “I need to put you on my payroll.”
I twirl her in front of me and back into my arms just after we enter the party. Bringing her in for a kiss, I whisper, “I’ve never been happier than when I’m with you, Summer Sky.”
Her expression softens into one I see often in Mountain Laurel Cove, and a smile embraces her lips. She touches my cheek before she kisses me again. “I’m so happy I feel like I’m floating on cloud nine. But you know what would make me even happier?”
“What is that?”
“Seeing you in all your glory on the ice.” Warm weather isn’t conducive to a cold-weather sport, but I usually practice every day. This summer was just different because I chose to spend time with Roman instead.
She has a way of making me feel worthy of her time and attention. Love one day? I cringe at what I said earlier. Not because it was untrue, but I would never want to tell it as the punchline to a joke. Fuck, what a loser. Maybe this can be my second chance. “I can do that for you sometime.”
The buzz in my pocket makes me smile, but I’m not answering it. I know who it is, but they didn’t care before, so they can go fuck themselves now. “I want a drink and then to show you off to everyone here. How does that sound?”
“Sounds like a good time to me.” God, I love her.
“I can’t believe I met Brad Pitt.” She practically swoons when she says his name for the tenth time tonight. “Did you see him in that F1 movie? He was so good.”
“He’d be great in a hockey movie.” I eye her in the darkened cab of the vehicle.
She’s busy watching the city go by outside, so I continue, “Wonder why he was never in one?” I loosen my tie and unbutton the button pinning my collar together.
“Maybe he can’t skate.” She looks at me like she’s figured me out—her smile remaining small with the slightest upward tip at the corners and brows raised just enough to signify her amusement but not enough to reveal more.
“It really takes some talent to balance on two blades on ice, of all things.”
“Of all things,” she adds like she’s fully invested in this story. Or she’s pulling my leg.
“But to also add in a large stick and perform at top level in a sport—”
“Brad Pitt could never.” I’m not sure what’s so funny, but Summer’s arms are wrapped around her stomach like she’s going to tip over in laughter if she doesn’t hold onto herself.
“That’s what I’m saying.”
She pats my arm. “You’re half his age, so I think it’s safe to say your role in future movies is secure.”
Huh? “That’s not what I was getting at.”
Wrapping an arm over my shoulders, she scoots onto my lap. “What are you getting at?”
“That I’m a jealous son of a bitch.”
She whispers, “There’s no need to be jealous of Brad Pitt. I only got a photo with him.” She kisses my neck. “But you’re the one I’m going home with.”
“Damn right.” The heat of her lips against my skin has me craving to taste her again. I’m already getting hard when her hand rubs over my dick. “I can’t wait to feel you inside me, Daniel.”
Fuck. I look out the window to get an idea of how much longer it’s going to take to get to the apartment.
Two blocks too many. I turn back, capturing her lips with mine and sliding my hand under the fabric of the dress.
It’s not lace or cotton I discover with my fingers.
It’s her sweet little pussy wet for me. “Have you been like this all night?”
Rolling her head to the side, she grins, the little minx. “I have, just waiting for you to touch me.”
“Naughty girl, what am I going to do with you?”
“I have a couple of ideas.”
We don’t waste time when we arrive in the building. I pin her against the elevator, nipping at her jaw and wanting so badly to fuck her right here and now. The door slides open, and we look at each other. “This is it, Sutton.”
“It sure the fuck is, Sunshine.”
I take her hand and spin her to the wall of my apartment, her back pressed against it as I kiss her down her neck and chest before I’m blocked by the dress.
Her tits are trapped in black fabric that fits so tight to her body, I’m thinking they sewed her into it.
“Turn around.” I grab the zipper, but it doesn’t budge.
Her breathing grows jagged, and she asks, “Is it stuck?”
I’d fuck her right here with the dress on. I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t appreciate that, though. At least not for the first time. The second time is still in play.
I tug at the zipper again. “It is.”
My dick is so hard that it hurts being stuffed in these pants. “You have two choices. Take the dress off, or I’ll rip it from your body.”
I want to fuck that open mouth of hers, to come on this fucking dress like that would teach it a lesson. “Please try once more.”
This time, I pull the fabric taut north to south and tug the zipper down. The teeth open wide, and I hear a huge sigh of relief from Summer. We haven’t even made it out of the entryway before I’m pulling it off over her head. She’s left standing in a lace corset and nothing else but her heels.
We’re not making it to the bedroom.