Page 82 of Breaking the Pucking Rules (LA Vipers #1)

CASEY

M y cheeks burn and my chest heaves as I bring myself to a stop in the middle of the rink.

I couldn’t sleep.

Memories of Mom were spinning around my head, morphing with how badly I was missing Kodie.

I really need him today. Hell, I needed him last night. Having his voice in my ear was nice. But it wasn’t enough.

In the end, I gave up trying to get any rest. And I knew I wouldn’t cope being confined to my apartment, so I pulled on a pair of leggings, a sports bra, and a hoodie, and after making myself a very strong coffee, I grabbed my skates and my stick and headed here.

My haven.

I felt a little better from the moment I stepped into the building. The cold air filled my nose as I sucked in a deep, calming breath.

The entire place was deserted. Hell, it still is.

Tilting my head to the Jumbotron above me, I close my eyes and just breathe.

The grief, although painful, is more manageable than it once was.

Most days, I don’t recognize it. But this time of year…today.

Fuck, it hurts.

I give myself a few minutes before I grip my stick tighter and take off again after the puck I sent shooting across the ice not so long ago.

When I was a kid, I used to do this for hours. Mom would sit front row and watch me as I took shot after shot into an open goal.

On really good days, Dad would join me and make it a little more challenging.

She never complained. Not once.

She just watched.

A smile pulls at my lips as I think about Sutton. I bet Kodie would do that for her. He must hate that he’s not around enough during the season to do it more.

I’m going to, though. If he allows me.

I’m going to bring her here and just watch her.

Hell, I’ll do one better than that. I’ll get out here with her. For as long as she wants.

Mom hated skating. She hated the feeling of losing control.

I understood, but it was never something that bothered me. I always felt more at home on ice than I did on firm ground.

I keep tight control of the puck as I move toward the open goal, my eyes locked on my target.

I’m vaguely aware of a bang somewhere around the rink, but seeing as no one is booked on here yet, I don’t bother looking over.

When I’m confident I can make the shot, I line up, pull my stick back, and watch it hit the back of the net.

Despite it not meaning anything, adrenaline still races through me. I’m pretty sure it always will when it comes to hockey.

Skating forward, I collect the puck and circle the goal before heading for the other end of the ice.

A shiver runs down my spine as if I’m being watched, but I don’t let it distract me. Instead, I focus on shooting again.

“Yesss,” I whisper-hiss to myself, feeling like a child again as I spin around, only this time, I look up.

I gasp as my eyes collide with a pair I wasn’t expecting to see for hours.

“Oh my god,” I breathe, my stick hitting the ice with a clatter as I stare at the beautiful man standing at the entrance to the ice. “Kodie, what?—”

He moves, and it’s not until he glides toward me that I realize he’s also wearing his skates.

How long has he been watching me?

He doesn’t say a word as he skates closer, and his eyes don’t waver from mine.

The air turns thick between us; my nose begins to itch and my eyes burn.

I don’t want to cry.

I want to feel anything but sadness and grief.

His lips part, and I hold my breath, more than ready for the deep rasp of his voice to flow over me. But his words never come. Instead, he wraps his hand around the back of my neck, dragging me forward until our skates and mouths simultaneously collide.

His scent surrounds me as his lips part and his tongue sweeps into my mouth.

Reaching for him, I twist my fingers in his dress shirt.

He came straight from the airport.

He knew I needed him, and he came.

A sob bubbles up, but he catches it. His free arm bands around my back, pinning me against him as our kiss continues.

We’re right in the middle of the rink. Anyone could see us.

Dad could walk in at any moment.

But I don’t care.

The only person I care about in this moment is Kodie.

My Kodie.

My everything.

“You scared the shit out of me,” he confesses when he finally breaks our kiss, resting his brow against mine as we fight to catch our breaths.

I blink, trying to force my brain into action.

“I came to your apartment. But you weren’t there.”

“I-I’m sorry. ”

“Baby,” he whispers, cupping my cheek tenderly.

I smile up at him, my eyes glassy with the tears I don’t want to shed.

“What do you need?” he asks, studying me closely. “Want to get out of here or?—”

“Want to play with you,” I blurt, cutting him off.

“Well,” he teases. “I’m never one to say no, but I think we might need to find somewhere more private first.”

I laugh, and fuck, does it feel good. Gently slapping his chest, I say, “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“Do I?” he asks, wiggling his brows. “I know how much you like playing with me.”

“Have you got something to change into?”

He looks down at himself as if he’s only just remembering he’s wearing suit slacks and a shirt.

“You okay to keep practicing for ten minutes?”

“Yeah, although I must warn you, that’ll give me an unfair advantage.”

“Hmm…I think I can handle it.”

Bending down, he picks up my forgotten stick and hands it over.

“I’ll be back. Tighten up your shot, though. Really focus on where you want it to land. You were a little sloppy,” he says as he skates backward toward the gate.

“What? There’s nothing sloppy about my shots,” I cry incredulously.

The most incredible smile appears on his face before he steps off the ice.

“You’re perfect, Casey. And that ass in those leggings...” I laugh as he lifts his fist to his mouth and bites down before jogging away.

The second he’s out of sight, I find the puck and do exactly what he just said.

I’ve played against numerous members of the team over the years, but suddenly, I feel the pressure.

I want to impress Kodie. Prove to him that I’m a worthy coach to his daughter. It’s been years since I played properly, and I have no doubt that I’m a little rusty.

Doing as he said, I set up shot after shot, trying to hit my mark every time.

It works. By the time he emerges in his Vipers training gear, I’m feeling all kinds of confident to take him on.

Plus, I like to think I have the upper hand compared to his usual teammates.

I know how to play really dirty.

“I hope you’re ready for this, Watson,” he warns, his game face in place.

“I was born ready, Rivers,” I taunt back as we meet at center ice.

I stare up at him with my heart pounding and excitement fluttering in my stomach.

This is exactly what I need today.

Of course, the sadness is still there, but it isn’t all-consuming in the way it was earlier.

Kodie makes everything better.

Holding the puck out between us, I continue to hold his eyes.

The air crackles with chemistry and competition, and just when I think he’s too distracted by me, I drop the puck.

“Loser,” I shout over my shoulder as I take off, my stick handling almost perfect. Or at least, it is until the second I’m aware of him chasing after me.

Fuck, this is actually quite scary.

As quick as the wind, he shoots around in front of me, stealing the puck almost before I’ve even noticed.

“Asshole,” I cry.

“Never play a player, Watson. I thought you already knew that.”

I give chase, putting my all into catching up with him. But it’s hopeless; he’s too strong and fast for me.

Even during my best years, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

Thankfully, he tones it down a little after his first goal, and we play a much more even match.

He even allows me to score a few points, which is nice of him, considering it really should be a whitewash.

“Oh my god,” I pant as I collide with the wall. My chest is heaving, and I’m soaked with sweat. This is more of a workout than I’ve had in years.

But while I might be battling to catch my breath, I can’t keep the smile off my face. It’s so wide, it makes my cheeks hurt.

“Kodie, oh my god,” I cry as he comes barrelling toward me.

I curl in on myself as if that’ll help make me smaller and lessen the pain of our inevitable collision.

But right at the last second, he stops himself.

His palms land on the plexiglass on either side of my head, his hips pressing my ass into the boards.

“Good game, baby,” he breathes.

I give myself a little mental high five, because despite him being better than me in every possible way, he is actually a little out of breath. I’ll take that.

“Were you able to keep up?” I ask.

“Only just. You’re a beast on the ice.”

“Well, I don’t like to brag, but my father is a professional, don’t you know?” His eyes twinkle with mischief.

“Is that right? I guess that explains it.”

Ducking down, he steals a quick kiss.

I chase his lips when he pulls back again, needing more. But he doesn’t allow it.

“We should go,” he says. “We might not have training today, but that doesn’t mean some of the guys won’t turn up.”

Realization rocks through me, and my eyes jump to the clock on the Jumbotron.

“Shit, is it really that late?”

“Come on, you’re all sweaty. I need to clean you up.”

“Oh yeah, you definitely need to do that,” I eagerly agree before allowing him to tow me off the ice.

This is going to really hurt tomorrow.

“Sit down,” he demands, nodding to the bench the second we step onto firm ground.

I do as I’m told and watch in delight as Kodie drops to his knees and begins unlacing my skates.

“You’re fucking sexy, Casey. But seeing you out there, bossing it? Fuck, baby. Made me so goddamn hard.”

I watch his fingers as he unties my laces. His hands are massive, but he works with skill and precision. I guess he does do this multiple times a day.

“Now you know how I feel during every single one of your games.”

“Every single one?”

“Every. Single. One.”

A groan rumbles deep in his throat before he surges to his feet and sits beside me, working on his own skates.

“Let’s go,” he says after I’ve put mine away. “I’ve got plans for you.”

Side by side, hand in hand, we leave the deserted arena behind.

It was still dark when I arrived in the early hours of the morning. But now the sun is rising, casting a beautiful pink hue across the city I love.

“It’s beautiful out here,” I muse as I follow him to his car.

“Not as beautiful as you.” My heart flutters as he opens his passenger door for me, allowing me to climb in.

He leans in, pinches my chin between his thumb and forefinger, and plants a lingering kiss on my lips.

“I hope you’ve still got some energy, Trouble,” he teases before jogging around to join me.

I was right. Kodie always makes everything better.