Kailyn
Even after all these years, being in an arena full of thousands of people screaming and cheering is such a surreal experience.
I might not be one of the players on the ice, but being on the bench next to the team makes it feel that much more real.
On my past teams and placements, I was usually the one that stayed in the tunnel, so I never truly got to experience what being on the bench was like until I came to the Blaze.
The whistle is blown as the puck sails across the ice, signaling a stop in play. I look over at Hannah and smile.
I’m glad that we’re together on the bench tonight. After what happened earlier with Eric, I’m grateful she’s by my side.
“We’re running low on tape and gauze, but with only two minutes left on the clock I’m gonna wait to refill it.” Hannah motions to the empty tape roll in her hand with a frown on her face.
“Sounds good to me. Have we really gone through that much tape during this game?”
“No, more like it wasn’t stocked beforehand and was running low when the game started. I guess whoever last had the box didn’t properly stock it.”
Rolling my eyes, I glance over to the tunnel at the culprit, knowing exactly what happened. “It’s not that it wasn’t stocked. More like when a certain someone was bringing it up and happened to crash into me earlier, he didn’t refill it.”
She lets out a sigh of frustration as she looks where my eyes are trained. “He always does this. Notice the station he always works at is fully stocked and set, but if he has his hands in any other area, it’s always left a mess.”
“Yeah, just another thing to add to the list.”
We turn our attention back to the ice as the players set up for face off.
The puck is dropped and both teams battle it, Florida getting the puck and sending it into their zone.
From this angle, it’s easy to lose the puck, especially when it glides past the boards right in front of me that block the ice.
I either turn my attention to the monitors or just watch the players to keep an eye out when I actually have time to pay attention to the game.
All the players are crowded behind the net in Florida’s zone, slamming into each other to gain possession of the puck.
There’s one player from each team battling along the boards right now and three others surrounding them.
After a few seconds, Connor is able to get possession and deke it to his left, causing the Florida defenseman to lose sight of the puck.
It goes gliding across the ice toward Brayden who passes it to Brandon.
Brandon is then able to easily skate past the other team, coming up on the right of the goalie, who moves just a second too early.
This gives him the perfect shot as Brandon shoots the puck over the goalie’s shoulder into the back of the net, lighting up the lamp.
Cheers explode in the arena and all the guys on the ice skate over to Brandon as they celebrate another goal, putting us in the lead at four to one, with forty-five seconds left in the second period.
The goal is replayed on the jumbotrons as the music plays and everyone celebrates. A smile lights up Brandon's face.
Brandon’s always been more reserved, but when he’s on the ice he comes alive.
Growing up, he used to be so outgoing, always hanging out with the guys and Brayden, laughing and smiling.
Until one day his sophomore year, everything changed.
He stopped going out, stopped smiling and laughing out loud, and became more reserved.
He became a shell of himself, choosing not to let people in and keeping everything close to the vest.
He’s put all of his focus into hockey, where he comes alive the most, but outside of the game, he’s still more reserved. Besides family and the guys on the team, he never really goes out, choosing to stay home, or in the hotel room when we’re on the road.
Seeing a smile light up his face, his eyes crinkle in the corners, and true happiness takes over his features, my heart can’t help but be filled with so much happiness for him. It makes me so incredibly proud of him.
The team skates over to the boards for their round of congrats and then the lines are switched, a new set of players out on the ice.
I grab a rag and water bottle, walking behind my brothers on the bench and looking like I have a professional reason to be here. “Great job out there, B. I’m really proud of you.”
“Thanks, little sis.”
Looking around, I realize I don’t care who sees and I reach down to hug him from behind, causing him to lean back into me and smile even more.
“Where’s my love at?” Brayden gets up from his seat, pushing two players over before plopping down on the bench next to Brandon and joining in on the family hug.
“You know I love you, but you aren’t the one that just scored a goal now are you?”
He huffs as he pulls away, and I release both of them. “I assisted him in the goal, that has to account for something. I never get any love.”
“It’s because she loves me more, dumbass,” Brandon teases.
“Oh, it's on.” They start playfully shoving each other and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me that these are my brothers, and I wouldn’t have them any other way.
“Alright enough you two. B, you’re just trying to start shit aren’t you?”
“It’s really not hard when this fucker gets jealous so easily.” Brandon laughs.
“Me? Jealous? I don’t think so.”
From Brandon’s other side a couple seats down, Maddox looks over and laughs.
“What are you laughing at rookie?!” Brayden shouts.
“Oh, just the fact that you don’t think you get jealous. I may be new, but even I know that’s a lie. It’s quite endearing, honestly.”
Brayden grabs the water bottle from my hand and throws it down the line at Maddox, who dodges it easily.
Just as they’re about to start going at each other, the buzzer sounds, signaling the end of the second period.
The players on the ice start to file off, while the guys on the bench stand up and make their way to the tunnel and back to the locker room.
“I meant what I said, B. I’m really proud of you.
And I’m glad to see you smiling and happy like this.
I’ve missed seeing it.” He must see the look in my eyes, because his gaze becomes a little sad with his eyes casting down.
He pulls me in for a full body hug, and even though he’s sweaty from playing, I wrap my arms fully around him, or as fully as I can with him in his gear.
“I know you worry about me, especially after everything, and I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.
This game is all I need, and I’m truly happy.
That, and our family. That’s all that matters to me.
” He whispers, and I pull back, seeing the look in his eyes.
I can tell he’s still hiding something, tension crowding his shoulders, but not wanting to push him, I nod and let him go.
He follows the rest of the team, and I watch as he files off, high fiving fans as he makes his way down the tunnel.
As the team continues to file off the ice, I catch sight of both Coach Davenport and Coach Johnson towards the end of the benches. Coach Davenport looks over at me and nods, giving a thumbs up or down motion to check in with me. I nod giving him a thumbs up that everything so far has been good.
Eric has left me alone since the game started, which I’m grateful for.
Coach smiles back before following the team down the tunnel, Coach Johnson right behind him.
I turn around to start gathering supplies and cleaning up when a voice startles me out of my thoughts,“You okay?” I look up to see Jake walking toward me instead of down the tunnel.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just got a lot on my mind. How about you?”
“I’m much better now.” The smirk on his face makes me blush and I turn away.
Before I can even blink, he’s grabbing my hand and pulling me down the players tunnel, through the long hallway and to an open door where he ushers me in and then closes the door behind him. He turns to me and walks over, cupping my face in his gloved hands and bringing his lips to mine.
I don’t care that he’s still sweaty and smells musky from being on the ice, I cling onto him and let him take control.
His lips taste like vanilla from his chapstick, and I get lost in the feel of him.
He licks my bottom lip, and I can’t help but submit to his touch, letting him in as he tastes and licks every inch of me.
He pulls his lips from mine, a breathy moan escaping at the loss of contact.
I go to take a step towards him, but he holds his hand up to stop me in my tracks.
He keeps constant eye contact with me as one by one he undoes the velcro of his gloves and tosses them behind his head.
Once his hands are free, his lips find mine again.
He pulls me in closer, his hands sliding down my sides, one hand on my hip and the other sliding under my ass as he lifts me off my feet and pins me to the wall next to the door.
I wrap my legs around him on instinct, but my body freezes, and I’m pulling away from him.
“Don’t. I’m too heavy for you to lift.” I’ve mumbled on instinct before I can stop myself.
His hand that was on my hip reaches out to grasp my chin and forces me to look him right in the eyes.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. Your body is absolutely stunning. I hate that you don’t see yourself the way I see you, but I promise you that you’re not ‘too heavy’ for me.
You were made to fit perfectly into my arms. And that is where you’re staying. ”
He kisses me again, my hands reaching up to his hair and running my fingers through his sweaty locks.
He feels like heaven between my legs, and I get so lost in his lips that all I can think of is him dropping to his knees and using his mouth on other parts of me.
Having him pull my pants down as he nips and sucks at my aching pussy.
I’m so wet for this man, and just his touch alone could have me coming on contact.
He kisses like he can’t get enough, and honestly, neither can I.
Gently, I pull away and look him in the eyes, his forehead falling to mine.
“I haven’t been able to get the image of you in this uniform out of my head. It’s been driving me crazy all night,” he growls, a throaty moan escaping his lips.
I pull him in closer, leaning down to his neck as I place a soft kiss on his pulse point. “So what are you going to do about it, handsome?”
And then, he leans down and his lips crash back onto mine.