CHAPTER 7
LUCY
It wasn't a weird story at all. As a midseason trade, leaving his previous team of twelve years because of staffing disagreements and a strong need to be back home, Sasha felt out of sorts with his new team.
“So why don't we go to the bar and make an appearance? I'm sure if you give a little, they will give a little.” I sipped on my water, even though I don't know how my pants are staying buttoned with all I've eaten in the last few hours.
“It might be easier with you on my arm. They won't be hounding me to take someone home.” He huffed like he couldn't believe he said that in front of me. I thought it was cute.
“Do you dance? I might need to dance off these dumplings.” And the cookies and cream puffs and beer and hot dogs. But there was no way I was saying that out loud.
“I don't. But I can watch.” His face flushed at his own words.
How could someone be so hot and adorable at the same time? Because Sasha Dimitrovic was doing it for me. Checking all my boxes in his damn Goonies T shirt that is stretched just a little too tight against his muscles.
“Get the check.” I looked him straight in the eye to see if he would meet my gaze and he did.
What was I doing? Was I really eye fucking a hockey player?
Yes, yes, I was. Shamelessly. All night. I had been doing it all night like once I got him alone I turned into a siren willing to drown him with my lust just to get to have him. My hesitation was gone, if he was going to show interest I wasn't going to stop mine because of fear.
No one was bothering us. No attention was being drawn to his presence. Maybe his fame and money wouldn't bring the one thing that I couldn't tolerate, an invasion of privacy. My shoulders relaxed at the thought and my mind raced with possibility.
He called over to Maria, who I think I finally won over, and asked for the check.
I watched his Adam's apple bob in his neck and stared at the small patch of hair he missed when cleaning the edge above his beard.
His voice rolled and mumbled in the language like he spoke it at a place deeper in his throat.
It was warm and sinful like caramel drizzled from a spoon. Boy, did I want to lick him.
It occurred to me the half-naked puppy holding pictures of Sasha were probably not the most representative of him in the real world. I should've done my homework. But I was also enjoying the discovery of him first hand, instead of just reading about him.
“Thank you for getting dinner. Can I buy you a beer at the bar?” I didn't want to be to presumptuous and say 'next time'. Because I wasn't sure there would be a next time, this was all just a little crazy.
“No, I'll pay for it and your drink. But I like that you offered.” Sasha pulled on his sweater and held his hand out indicating he was waiting for me to get out of the booth first like a gentleman.
Fucking swoon.
Even in the cold wind the air was warm with electricity. I could feel it surge between us as if we were the ones lighting time square as we left to walk to the bar. I took deep crisp breaths, trying to take in all that was happening.
A hockey stud was wooing me, I repeat, a hockey stud was wooing me. Don't panic, just get laid. Don't panic, just get laid. Don't panic, just get laid! I screamed internally, my body literally shaking with excitement.
“All ready?” His hand smoothed my forearm, down to my wrist and interlocked his fingers with mine.
My stomach dropped to my knees and when our skin touched. All that I ate sunk in my stomach.
Hand holding was better than sex. His skin on mine was the electric jolt I needed to start me up after a long time feeling dead inside. A very long time. The spark that was swirling around us before became fireworks once his warm skin caressed mine.
My feet planted on the pavement. A million and one questions started running through my head. Is he going to kiss me? How many women has he slept with? Dammit, my breath smells like bacon. Is there gum near?
No. My mind cleared out all the chatter and concentrated on his question.
“Ready.” I nodded.
The butterflies in my stomach started to flutter like they were in preparation for transcontinental flight.
I took shallow breaths to settle all the churning their wings caused inside of me.
I had to take a moment, to realize what could potentially be going on.
Was I really being wooed by a hockey star? A nice one? One with all his teeth?
“What do you do Lucy?” He broke my mental ruminations.
“Oh, I'm a carpenter.” I squeaked. Thankful for the respite from my over thinking and internal freak out.
We'd been talking for so long, had we not talked about my profession at all?
That didn't seem like me, usually I couldn't shut up about my job.
“I make furniture. Some replica, some original. Very exciting compared to you.” I nudged him with my elbow.
“Your hands are too soft to be a carpenter.” The bastard rubbed the inside of my palm with his thumb. And, Jesus, did he know how to do it just right. The tempo, the pressure.
I was staring at his fingers, mid walk in the street. Frozen still, like watching him touch me was going to make me orgasm. I could feel myself tingle with the way he felt me.
Sasha didn't feel like he was holding my hand just to do it, like it was just the next thing you had to do before taking a girl home with you. He touched me in such a way it made me realize how much he wanted to touch me. And my stomach turned all over again.
“I wear gloves and use lots of lotion.” I could hear my voice shake.
“It's right around the corner.” Sasha pointed to the bright lights of the bar. There was a line around the block just to get in.
But we went to the front of the line, the bouncer waving us in, and found his teammates in the back.
They were all dressed in some form of a suit. It was their M.O and I didn't blame them one bit for looking like sexy bait to hook a fish. Hell, I was young and dumb once too and who's to say my date with Sasha will end any differently than theirs will.
“Oh, shit! There he is!”
“I never in my life thought I would see the day.”
“Good to see you man. Glad you made it out.”
Sasha's teammates clapped him on the back and slapped his ass before he introduced me. I was nervous for their reactions. My attire didn't really say club. I could still smell my brother-in-laws aftershave along the neck of his sweater.
“This is Lucy, my date.”
Oh, he called me his date. The sound of it made heat prickle my neck.
“This is the girl?” A young man came over to me and hugged me tightly, kissing me on the cheek.
“Hey, what the fuck, Jonesy?” I saw Sasha playfully slap him away.
“Sorry, I just wanted to kiss the woman who makes you play like you did tonight.” His eyebrows wiggled.
Sasha and I flushed red at the same time and avoided all eye contact.
“I don't think that's me.” I stared at my sneakers. I'm wearing fucking Converse sneakers on my date.
“It might have been you.” Sasha whispered under his breath and the sweet sound made me turn my head to see him blushing.
“Yeah man, we owe her a drink. What will you have, Lucy?” A man with dark glasses and a sharp jaw smiled at me.
“Ginger ale would be great. Thank you.” I needed something to settle my nerves.
“A ginger ale? No, you can't do that. We're at a bar! There is so way I'm getting you ginger ale that's embarrassing. Live a little. ” He smirked.
I don't know if he was trying to be cute, but no one tells me what I can and can't do. I could feel myself get a little red, but I also stared at Sasha, who had a smile on his face. He could tell what I wanted to say before I even opened my mouth.
“Lucy can have whatever she wants.” He grabbed me by the loop on my jeans and pulled me closer to him. It was a threat to his teammate. It was a warning to whoever gave me shit.
I lost my breath. I fucking ate it up. One, he was touching me in a not platonic way.
Oh no, ladies and gentleman, this was not a friendly touch, this was a staking of his claim.
And two, he knew I could take care of myself and yet he didn't make me.
He stepped in. Like a freaking knight in shining cable knit sweater that he was sweating in.
“Alright, ginger ale it is.” The guy sulked off to the bar and moments later brought me a ginger ale.
“Thank you.” I let the chilled glass coat my fiery tongue and watched Sasha's facial expressions go from playful to animal. His eyebrows lowered on his eyes and he looked hungry.
Hungry for me? It had been so long since I felt desired, I almost didn't know how to handle the sensation. This date had turned from flirty to feisty in as long as it took to get a drink.
Using the music as a distraction from my thoughts, I started to sway. I was so amped up around Sasha I needed a release. But I knew the one I wanted I wasn't going to get in a bar full of people.
My body seemed to lean into him a little bit more.
His other hand reached for mine, pulling my body in front of him.
My back pressed against his chest. Was there anything better?
I felt his pounding heart in my shoulder blades.
Thump, thump, thump. A rhythm I felt between my legs, imagining it was the bed knocking against the wall as he was inside me. I was driving myself crazy.
For a moment my breath stopped as I felt his chest rising and lowering behind me. It made the hair on my back of my neck stand up. He was feeling it too.
This was really happening. All that first date swoony shit you read in books. I was analyzing and remembering every touch, every look, so I could live off of it for the rest of my life.
“You want to get closer?” He whispered quietly in my ear, pushing my hair out of the way so his lips grazed my earlobe.
“I don't think we can.” My voice was breathy. His parts were touching all of my parts.
“I meant to the music. I know you wanted to dance.”