Thank you for the gift. You understand why I can’t wear it in public just yet but bet your ass I’ll wear it in private for you later, big man. Lots of love, L xxxx
The words from her note are burned into my brain. And they have to be because as Mila pressed the napkin into my hand, she told me with a wink that I’d better eat the evidence when I’ve read it.
Fuck, just the thought of Lana in my jersey is giving me a semi chub even as I haul on my heavy shoulder pads and secure them in place. It’s been a ball busting few days since we were together, and I’m craving her like a fucking addict. And not just the sex stuff, although I have to admit I’ve rubbed my dick more times in the last week than I have since I was a teenager. No, I miss the way she smells like she’s just been baking cookies—all vanilla and sugar and how her hair is so soft it just falls through my fingers.
Jesus, who the fuck am I? I’m waxing lyrical about a woman when I’m usually the one-and-done type of guy. My head is spinning with thoughts of seeing her after the game, and I don’t even notice when Coach barks at me to get my grill on and head out for the game.
“What’s wrong with you, man?” Nate asks as we trudge up the chute, the arena vibrating and thrumming with the sound of the Tampa fans. “You’ve looked like you’re on another planet this whole trip. And you’re constantly looking at your phone.”
“It’s nothing,” I scoff, barging the big defenseman. “Just got some shit going on. Nothing to worry your pretty little head about.”
Nate laughs and barges me back. “Good to know. We need you one hundred percent on your game, man. No distractions.”
We stop in the tunnel and do a few chest bumps and rallying warrior cries to pump ourselves and all the other guys up before taking to the ice. This is the most exciting sport in the world, and I can’t believe that I get to play it for a living. I’m one lucky son of a bitch.
I guess I’m just missing one thing, and she happens to be sitting in this arena right now. I just have to find a way to make her mine without being murdered by her brother.
“A career defining shutout for the Mighty Thor, and we’re definitely on the road to another Cup campaign,” Coach Casey bellows over the sound of rowdy hockey players. He’s standing on top of a cooler, his beer raised high in the air, and I fear he’s going to fall on his ass at any minute. I’ve never seen Coach let loose like this before, and I’m really enjoying it.
We’ve been back at the Landon’s beach house for a few hours now, and the drinks are flowing as the sun sets over the Gulf. Everyone cheers and I get a few cups of ice and beer dumped on my head for good measure.
“I’d also like to thank our hosts for inviting a group of pumped-up goons into their home to help celebrate their daughter’s birthday.” Coach tips his red solo cup toward Lana, who’s standing next to Zac, wrapped up in his arms. “Happy Birthday, Lana. Welcome to the Whalers family. And can I say that you’re a lot prettier than your ugly ass brother?”
That causes everyone to laugh loudly, and Matt gets several jabs in the ribs from our teammates as Coach jumps down from the cooler and shakes Mr. Landon’s hand, thanking him again for allowing most of the Whalers to descend on his house.
It’s been a fantastic day—a win over Tampa and another shutout for me, the sight of Lana up in her suite jumping around like a lunatic at the end of the game, the warm welcome we all received from the Landon’s when he shuttled over to their house for the party. Coach was gracious enough to arrange a bus to get us all here and back to the hotel safely and in time for our flight home first thing in the morning.
The only problem with that plan is: how the hell do I get to spend any alone time with Lana?
At the end of the game, I was hustled into the locker room to change, so I could do press and then had to shower quickly and dress in order to catch the bus to the party. Other than a few fleeting glances, she’s been frustratingly close but out of reach all at the same time.
“Alex, you look big and strong,” Janice Landon says to me, bringing me back from gawping at her daughter. “Would you bring another case of beer down from the kitchen?”
“Of course, Mrs. Landon,” I reply, putting my solo cup down.
“Now, now, none of that,” she tuts. “It’s Ma or Janice. If you bring down the Bud Light, that would be awesome.”
“Sure thing, Janice.” I jog off up the beach and shake the sand off my feet before entering the back of the house through the mud room. Heading up two flights of stairs, I come into the main living area and see the cases of beer stacked up by the kitchen island.
Just as I bend down to pick up a couple of cases, I feel a pair of hands cover my eyes and the lyrical sound of a giggle I know very well. I quickly stand and turn to find Lana standing in front of me wearing just my jersey, her shapely legs completely bare. Fuck, if she’s naked under there I’m likely to die a happy man.
“What are you doing?” I growl, my eyes darting to the stairs, where a member of her family or my team could appear at any moment.
“I’ve been desperate to see you and thank you for the gift,” Lana replies in a slightly breathless voice, tugging the hem of the jersey away from her body so I get a quick flash of lace. I can tell by her eyes that she’s aroused and just the sight of that gives me a hard on.
“But everyone’s here,” I protest weakly as she grabs my hand and pulls me toward the staircase that leads to the next floor. “Baby, we can’t.”
“Oh, don’t be such a scaredy cat,” she taunts, jogging up the stairs ahead of me, giving me an enticing view of the lacy thong she’s wearing under her jersey.
I chuckle darkly and charge up the stairs after her. “You’ve asked for it now, baby.”
When we reach the top of the stairs, Lana pulls me in the direction of what I hope is her room and then shuts the door quietly, flicking the lock. With a quick switch of positions, I’ve got her pinned against the door, devouring her lips and tongue with my own. I’ve been aching to taste her again, and it’s like a tonic to have her sweetness on my tongue again. As we kiss, I push my thigh between her legs, and she immediately starts grinding and rocking her hips, moaning into my mouth.
“Oh god, I want you to fuck me, please Alex,” she groans as I palm one of her juicy ass cheeks and lift her leg up around my waist.
“Anything for the birthday girl.” I laugh, moving my hand between her legs to test her readiness. There really is no need. My fingers come away soaked, and I suck them into my mouth because there really is no time to eat her out like I’m desperate to. Lana’s eyes go wide at my actions, and her breath hitches in her chest.
“Oh wow, you’re so naughty,” she gasps, quickly wiggling out of her panties while I pull a condom from my wallet and undo my belt and zipper.
“If we had time and privacy, I could show you just how naughty I can be, baby,” I reply, rolling the condom onto my throbbing cock, loving the way Lana looks at it and licks her lips. “No time for that, firecracker.”
I laugh as Lana pouts, but the pouting doesn’t last long when I lift her up and press her against the door, urging her to wrap her legs around my waist so I can notch my cock at her dripping entrance.
“This is gonna be hard, fast, and quiet, so hang on.” I push my hips forward, and we both gasp as I sheath myself in her warm pussy. I give her a moment to get used to having me inside her again, then I kiss her gently on the nose and go for it.
Lana’s fingers are laced around the back of neck, her thighs clamped around my waist as I pound her against the door, feeling the fucking thing rattle in its frame.
“Change of location, baby,” I moan, pulling away from the door, still joined. With my pants bunched around my ankles, we stagger over to the bed where we fall in a heap with Lana on top. Immediately, she begins to ride my cock with vigor, thrusting her hips in time with my flexes, and soon I can feel her pussy clamping down, milking an orgasm out of me. As we both come, she presses her fist into her mouth to mask the desperate moans and sighs that she’s making. Watching her come gloriously apart on top of me is almost too much for me to contain, so I turn my head and stuff a handful of her comforter into my mouth to muffle my own cries of pleasure.
“Oh fuck,” Lana moans, flopping down on my chest, nuzzling my bearded chin. “That was the best present ever.”
“I’ll expect a very nice thank you card then.” I laugh, stroking loose hair out of her face. “Perhaps a fruit basket of some kind.”
Lana laughs huskily and swats at my chest. “Fool.”
“I’ve been gone a while now. I should zip up and get back downstairs with the beer before your mom comes looking for me.”
Lana rolls off me and I take care of the condom, quickly washing up in her bathroom and pressing a lingering kiss to her pouty lips.
“I wish you could just stay here with me tonight. It’s not fair,” Lana says in an adorable sulky voice, sitting cross-legged on her bed, looking much younger than her years.
“I know, baby. But we need to play this smart. I don’t want your brother on the rampage just as playoffs are about to begin.” I press another kiss to her lips. “We can tell him once the cup run is over. It’s not ideal, but I think it’s the best play. I’m in this for the long haul. We have time.”
As I pull away, I see the change in Lana’s expression, going from sulky petulance to a huge happy smile that lights up my fucking heart.
“You want us to date properly, like out in the open?” she asks quietly, chewing on her thumbnail.
Oh fuck, she thinks we’re just messing around here. So, I quickly step forward and cup her face in my hands, lifting it so she can see I’m as serious as a fucking heart attack.
“Yes, baby. I want us to date, but we just have to be smart about the timing,” I reply, pressing a reassuring kiss to her lips.
I feel like a dick asking Lana to hide our budding relationship from her family and friends, but it’s the sensible move which will cause the least disruption. I know what it’s like to have teammates distracted during the playoffs—look what happened last season with Cam and Bugs. I’m not blaming our loss on that, but it sure as shit didn’t help that our captain was having baby mama drama.
“I’ll see you out there.” I blow her a kiss, unlock the door, check the coast is clear and slip out of the room and back downstairs, remembering to grab the cases of beer Janice asked for.