Page 75 of Breaking the Pucking Rules (LA Vipers #1)

CASEY

D espite falling asleep in the safety of Kodie’s arms, I already knew I wouldn’t wake in them.

As much as he wanted to stay, he had to be home for Sutton.

I don’t know what time he slipped out. All I know is that when my alarm goes off the next morning and I reach for him, the other side of the bed is cold.

I more than understand his reason for leaving. Hell, I encouraged him to. But it still stings, waking up alone after everything we’ve done and promised each other.

I want him. I want a life with him and Sutton. There is not a single ounce of doubt in my mind.

At Wednesday’s practice, despite advice that she should continue resting, Sutton was at the rink and ready to go.

I want to say I was surprised by her presence and a very exasperated Kathleen, but I wasn’t.

Thankfully, though, Sutton was happy not to train; she just wanted to be with her team, even if she couldn’t join them.

I already knew Sutton was going to make a fantastic professional player one day, but that just solidified it.

She spent the session doing light duties and helping me and Megan. She loved it. Of course she was frustrated not being on the ice, but she didn’t let it hold her back or stop her from getting involved.

The way her little face dropped when our time was up and she had to leave.

..it melted my heart. It didn’t help that Kodie was away on back-to-back road games.

I was feeling his absence just as much as she was.

I entirely understood her lack of desire to go back to a home where he wouldn’t be.

I missed his presence every time I walked into my apartment and he wasn’t there.

He’s only been a handful of times, but that doesn’t mean his absence isn’t palpable.

They lost their first road game before managing to pull off a tight-fought win last night.

Afterwards, I received a beautiful photo of him standing in front of a full-length mirror in only a very tight pair of boxers.

And in return, I sent him a sexy shot of my ass bent over in my usual pair of lucky green panties.

The phone sex that followed was almost as good as having him here in person.

And now that Linc knows, there was no rush to end the call and we ended up chatting for hours afterward.

Unable to stop myself, I glance at the clock in the corner of my monitor for the millionth time today.

Kodie and the team boarded a flight from New York this morning. He’s due back just before school pick-up and hoping to get there in time to make Sutton’s day.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach as I think about how excited she’ll be to see him standing there, waiting for her. I don’t want to consider the fact he won’t make it in time.

The minutes drag on slower than I’ve ever known.

I might not be seeing him until after he’s put Sutton to bed tonight, but that doesn’t stop me from wishing the day would whizz by.

There was a time when work would keep me distracted for hours, but it seems those days are long gone, because I find my attention drifting every few minutes, my mind full of memories of Kodie and hopes for the future.

We’ve got a few hurdles in our way until we might be able to embark on the kind of life I crave with him, but I know it’s within reach.

My heart flutters. I’m not the only one who wants it either.

By some fucking miracle, Kodie seems just as obsessed with me as I am with him.

I don’t know how, or what I did to deserve it, but I’ll take it.

I’m gazing at the wispy white clouds that dance across the bright blue sky on the other side of the window when my cell buzzes on my desk.

Absently, I reach for it, not expecting anything exciting.

55: Make an excuse and meet me in the dressing room.

55: Right.

55: Fucking.

55: Now.

“Oh my god,” I whimper, my hand trembling as I hold my phone.

I look around my office, but despite the explosion of excitement inside me, no one even looks my way.

It’s like they don’t know the world just shifted from beneath my swivel chair.

I shouldn’t go. I have a job to do, and I’m almost at the end of a series of designs that need to be complete and with Bianca by the end of the day.

But…Kodie…

“Fuck it,” I mutter to myself before tucking my cell into my jacket pocket and rushing from the office.

If anyone asks, I had some dodgy fish tacos for lunch. I ate alone in a little place down the street, so no one will know.

I don’t think anyone so much as glances up as I flee the room as if the hounds of hell are snapping at my ankles.

My heart thunders at a million beats per second as I slip into the elevator and jab my finger against the button that will allow me to descend to where Kodie is waiting for me.

My legs tremble as I move down the hallway to the dressing room.

Thankfully, after disappearing inside the elevator car, I haven’t seen a single person.

I guess that’s what happens when the entire team and every member of staff they need have just traveled back from two road games.

They’ve all gone home to their homes and families.

But Kodie came for you…

Despite being in this building every day, it’s been years since I’ve been this close to the players.

When I was a kid, I’d often walk into the dressing room with Dad.

Hell, I remember celebrating a couple of wins with the team when my sitter had to leave.

I also remember Dad ripping them all a new one about their behavior while I was in the room.

Not that they needed reminding; they were a great group of guys, many of whom were fathers themselves, and they were always respectful to me.

Just like I know our team would be now if Sutton were there.

But this time, when I press my palms against the door to slip inside, there is no noise, no boisterous players, no loud music.

It’s silent. It still smells like sweaty boys, but after a lifetime of being surrounded by that scent, it doesn’t really bother me.

I step inside, my eyes scanning the stalls for my man.

My breath catches when I find him sitting in his stall, resting forward with his elbows on his knees and his dark eyes locked on me.

“Y-you’re early,” I stutter, my voice barely audible as my temperature rises.

Fuck, I missed him. It might have only been a few days, but it’s been like losing a limb.

There’s a part of me that hopes it’ll get easier, but at the same time, there’s another part that wishes it won’t.

I always want to feel this incredible high when he returns.

It’s addictive, just like the man before me.

“Surprise,” he rasps, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips.

“But…” I blink, watching as he stands to his full height and begins stalking closer.

“I can go, if you want,” he offers, his eyes darting toward the door for the briefest moment.

“Hell no,” I state. The second he’s in touching distance, I reach out, twist my fingers in his shirt, and drag him closer. Or at least, I try. I don’t stand a chance at moving his giant frame.

Thankfully, he takes pity on me and takes the final step, closing the space between us. His hand wraps around the back of my neck and he tugs. I stumble forward until I’m pressed up against the hard length of his body.

“Missed you so fucking much, Trouble.”

And then his mouth is on mine, our hands are everywhere, and getting closer to him is the only thing I can think about.

He lifts me off my feet, carrying me somewhere. I’m too focused on getting more to care about where we’re going. To care about anything.

My back presses against a wall, and the next thing I know, my panties are being dragged to the side and his fingers are pushing inside me.

“Fuck,” he groans, finding me wet and ready. “Thank fuck you didn’t wear pants today.”

“Please,” I whimper, my head falling back against the wall as I stare at him with hooded eyes.

“Fuck,” he repeats as he holds me up with one hand while tearing at his pants with the other.

He hasn’t even gotten changed; he came straight here from the airplane.

He needed me that badly.

“Oh god, yes,” I gasp as he drags his cock across my pussy, notching at my entrance.

“This is going to be fast. Later, I’ll take my time and do it properly.”

And with that, he thrusts forward, simultaneously dropping me so he fills me to the max, hitting me so deep it makes my eyes cross.

“Yesss,” I hiss as he sets a punishing pace.

His lips meet mine, our kiss wild and frantic as we take what we need from each other.

In only seconds, the first tingles of my release awaken.

His grip on my ass tightens until I have no doubt I’ll have his fingertips bruised onto my skin tomorrow. Bring it on. I’ll happily walk around every day for the rest of my life with a Kodie brand on my skin.

I whimper as he squeezes my breast through my blouse before his hand slips upward until he’s collaring my throat.

Heat races to my pussy at his possessive touch, and it only gets worse when his grip tightens a little.

“Give it to me, Casey. Come all over my dick. Show me how much you missed me.”

One more roll of his hips and I’m done for.

My release slams into me. My lips part and a scream rips up my throat, but a beat before it passes my lips, Kodie slaps his hand over my mouth, smothering the noise.

As I clamp down on his dick, riding out my release, he stills before a guttural groan rumbles deep in his throat and he spills inside me.

Letting his hand slip away, he leans forward, tucking his face into the crook of my neck as we both fight to catch our breath.

“Needed that,” he pants. “Needed you.”

“Same,” I confess.

For a few seconds, I remain there suspended between the wall and Kodie, blissfully unaware of my surroundings and where I am. But as my eyes flutter open, reality slams back into me.

“Uh…we just fucked in your dressing room.”

When he pulls back, he’s got the cockiest smirk I think I’ve ever seen.

“Kodie,” I chastise with a light slap to his shoulder.

“I’ve been thinking about doing that for weeks.”

My cheeks burn, but I can’t deny that his words don’t light me up inside.

“Anyone could walk in,” I point out.

He shakes his head. “They’ve all gone home. We’re safe.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” I say, wiggling against him until he doesn’t have a choice but to slip free from my body and lower me to the floor.

“Maybe not. But no one did, did they? And fuck, that was hot.”

I tug my damp panties back into place as his cum slips from my body.

Staring up at him, I get lost in his excited eyes.

“Yeah,” I muse. “It was hot.” And I’ve no doubt a fantasy I’ll revisit time and time again over the years.

Lifting his arm, he checks his stupidly expensive watch.

“Shit. I need to go,” he says before tucking himself away and zipping up. “I want to surprise Sutton, too.”

Grabbing my cell, I check the time.

“Fuck. How long have I been down here?” I balk. That was nowhere near as fast as I thought. “I need to go.”

I spin around and take a step toward the door, but that’s as far as I get, because his hot hand wraps around my wrist, halting my escape.

He turns me back around and steps up, cupping my cheeks.

“Don’t eat. I’ll bring dinner with me later.”

“Okay,” I breathe. “I’ll be waiting.”

His eyes flash with desire.

With one final kiss and a swat to my ass, he sends me on my way.

I swear, I don’t suck in a real breath until I’m in the hallway and rushing toward the elevator.

But everything comes crashing down around me when a door opens up ahead and none other than my father steps out. He looks in the opposite direction first, but I don’t have time to react— not that there’s anywhere to hide even if I did. Inevitably, he turns my way.

His eyes widen the second he sees me, and I cringe, wondering what the hell I look like.

Probably similar to if I’d just been ravaged by a wild animal.

You were.

“Casey?”

Despite knowing he’s there, the sound of his voice filling the hallway makes my heart sink into my shoes.

“What are you doing down here?”

His eyes bounce between mine before he gazes over my shoulder.

Please, please don’t choose this moment to walk out of the dressing room. Please.

I need to tell Dad, and I will. Soon.

What I really don’t need is for him to find out like this.

“I…uh…I came down to get a couple of photos for something I’m working on,” I lie, hating myself for doing so. That isn’t how Dad and I work. We’re honest with each other. Always.

Or at least, we were until recently. My lies are stacking up faster than I can control.

His gaze drops lower, his brows pinching. “You don’t have a camera,” he points out.

“Oh. No. I…did it on my phone.”

“Right, okay. Well, I’m not staying. I just wanted to grab something from my office before heading home. Breakfast in the morning?”

I nod. “Yes. Yep. Can’t wait.” That isn’t a lie. But as the words continue to tumble suspiciously from my lips, I start to wonder if it’s a good idea. If he suspects something, he won’t shy away from asking. That isn’t who my father is.

The thought of disappointing him, of going against everything he’s ever told me, cuts deep. But I can’t stop.

Kodie...he’s…he’s a part of me, and there is nothing I can do to stop that. He’s in too deep.

“Great. I’ll pick you up at ten?”

“Sounds great. Enjoy your night,” I say before quickly darting around him toward the elevator that will take me to safety.

“Casey?” he says, forcing me to stop.

“Come here. I’ve missed you.”

He pulls me in for a hug, and I squeeze my eyes closed, praying he can’t smell sex and Kodie on me.

Something tells me that might be wishful thinking.