Page 16
Chapter 16
Gemma
I lasted all of five minutes out on the open ice, my nails digging into Sasha’s forearms so hard that I’d no doubt left marks. The idea of crashing down on that cold, hard surface with everyone watching was more humiliating than I could bear. Especially after the spectacle I’d made of myself earlier in the locker room.
The attentive man, practically holding up my entire weight so my feet didn’t slip out from beneath me, guided me over to an area where I could sit. When I assured him that he didn’t need to babysit me and to have fun with his friends, he dropped a kiss on my lips and praised me for trying.
That’s how I found myself relegated to the ranks of the pregnant women watching on from the bench.
I fought the urge to cross myself to ward off that particular condition. Being this close to so many of them, I still wasn’t convinced it wouldn’t rub off on me.
Giggles rang out loud and clear across the ice, and I couldn’t stop the smile that stretched across my face when I saw Sasha chasing after a young boy. His little legs were no match for outrunning—or outskating, in this case—the six-six man, but Sasha made a big show of getting close before pulling back, cursing the child for being too fast.
“Do you like kids?”
My head whipped around to find a brunette woman—non-pregnant—had taken a seat beside me. Her sudden presence caught me so off-guard that it took a minute for my brain to catch up and realize what she’d asked.
“Oh, um.” Images of Bianca and Serafina flashed before my eyes, and I shoved down the pain of leaving them behind in a world that had chewed me up and spit me out. “Yeah, I do.”
The woman offered me a warm smile. “Goose loves kids.” She tilted her head toward the man who’d brought me here, still in hot pursuit of the little boy clad in head-to-toe hockey gear. “He’s got a special connection with my son, Ollie.” She let out a soft laugh. “Couple of years ago, Goose dressed up as Santa to surprise him. Poor thing was terrified, hiding behind the Christmas tree. As soon as Goose changed back into street clothes, Ollie was all over him, back to being his best bud.”
I tracked the pair on the ice. The boy was skating with ease, but he seemed so small.
“How old is he?”
“Just turned four last month.”
“Wow.” I was impressed. “I could barely stand out there, and he’s zipping around like it’s as natural as walking.”
“Around here, they’re on skates the minute they can walk. It’s almost a prerequisite for being a hockey kid,” she remarked. Pointing to another man hunched over what appeared to be a green plastic walker with a tiny head popping over the top, she explained, “My husband, Asher, is over there with our two-year-old daughter, Bailey.”
“I could have used one of those,” I joked.
“The hockey player pushing you around the ice like you weigh nothing or the skating aid?”
“Both.”
Her laughter was genuine, and her blue eyes sparkled. She bumped my shoulder with hers like we’d been friends our whole lives instead of having just met. “I can see why he likes you so much.”
“Oh, we’re not—”
She waved me off. “Been there. Denial is always the first step. It’s overwhelming at first to be at the center of one of these guys’ orbits.”
“No, really. It’s not serious,” I protested.
She stood, balancing on her skates like a pro as she stepped around where I sat toward the open bench door. “It was nice to meet you, Gemma.”
“You too . . .” My words trailed off when I realized I hadn’t gotten her name.
Placing a hand to her chest as she glided backward on the slick surface to remain facing me, she offered, “Tessa.”
With how many people were at this party, I was going to have a hard time keeping all their names straight.
I went back to spectating from the sidelines when a pink-cheeked young woman with dark, curly hair plopped down next to me on the bench with a huff of exhaustion.
Offering her a polite smile, I rubbed sweaty palms over my pant legs as I prepared for yet another encounter with one of Sasha’s friends. I had such an easy rapport with strangers who came into the bar, but for some reason, this felt different, heavier in a way, and it made me nervous.
“Gemma, right?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I’m Dakota, Braxton’s wife.” She sighed. “I wanted to come over here and apologize for earlier.”
“Earlier?” My brows rose.
“Yeah. Braxton was the one who started that whole thing in the locker room. Goose was the intended target, but you got caught in the crossfire.” Holding up her left hand, Dakota wiggled her fingers, flashing the diamond resting there. “This thing means I’m on the hook for anything stupid he does, so I’m sorry if you were embarrassed.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I’m over it already.”
When she stared me down with a doubtful expression, I noticed that unlike Tessa’s and Sasha’s, Dakota’s blue eyes were much darker, like the depths of the ocean.
“If you haven’t noticed, this group doesn’t have boundaries. It takes some getting used to. If Goose has anything to say about it, you’ll be around long enough to be tossing jabs with the rest of us.”
Desperate to change the conversation to something safer, other than everyone’s perceived notion that Sasha and I were on track to ride off into the sunset, I gestured to the arena. “Which of the little ones is yours?”
I was banking on the fact that most people loved to talk about their kids.
“Oh, oh, no.” Dakota shook her head, curls bouncing. “We’re pretty much the only ones not in the family way yet.”
Her lips twisted to the side, and I tracked her gaze to a raven-haired man holding one of the redheaded babies I recognized as belonging to Jenner. The smile on his face was blinding as he bounced the little one.
“But if my husband had it his way, I’d be pregnant yesterday.”
Blowing out a heavy breath, I muttered, “Yeah. I feel that.”
Too late, I realized my slip. Dakota’s eyes widened, and her mouth popped open.
Trying to cover my tracks, having said too much, I stammered, “I-I mean—”
Shit. Why did I think kids were a safer topic? Should’ve known I always find a way to stick my giant clown feet in my mouth.
“Guess Goose knows what he wants.”
With a group this close, I could only imagine how quickly news would circulate that Sasha had babies on the brain.
I was gearing up to set the record straight—to try and do some damage control—when Dakota held up a hand to cut me off.
“Don’t panic. I’ve got no right to judge. Braxton was talking about starting a family on our first date. Five years later, I’m still not ready, and he’s still not-so-patiently waiting. I’m sure you and Goose will figure out what’s best for the two of you. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
I had done enough damage; I wasn’t about to double down and explain that in the parking lot, we’d agreed to be fuck buddies and nothing more.
“It’s fine.”
Perking up, she bounced on the bench. “You should come out to Pipes sometime with us after a game. Everyone’s either pregnant or has babies at home, and I could use a new friend. Plus, Goose puts on one hell of a show.”
“Show? What kind of—”
A throat cleared, drawing my attention away from Dakota. I found myself looking up, up, up until I reached intense green eyes that had more than just my palms sweating.
My companion stood, poking the man on one of his broad shoulders. “Be nice. I like her.”
He grunted, tilting his head in a clear dismissal.
Dakota whispered under her breath, “Good luck.”
I had a feeling I was gonna need it. The scowl made it clear who I’d come face-to-face with. The one man I’d been warned to steer clear of. The same man whose bark in the locker room nearly had me needing a change of clothing.
Maddox.
Reminding myself that I’d dealt with far scarier and far deadlier men, I sat up straighter, determined to hold my ground.
Extending a hand, I introduced myself. “I’m Gemma. I’m here with Sasha, but I think all of you call him Goose?”
He arched a dark eyebrow as we shook. Yep, that was one hell of a firm handshake.
“Are you?” That voice was deep and gruff and just as terrifying as the last time I’d heard it.
“Excuse me?” Confused, I pulled away, scooching back as far as I could on the bench without falling off.
“Are you with him? Because all I’ve ever seen before today is you screaming at him like you hate him. Now you show up here, and the two of you are making out in my locker room?”
Cue the dry mouth, opening and closing without uttering a word as I tried to formulate a response.
Everyone had been so nice that I’d been lulled into a false sense of security. But Maddox wasn’t about to let me off the hook.
“You’ll forgive me if I’m a little suspicious of the one-eighty you pulled.”
“Su-suspicious?”
Folding both arms over his massive chest, he stared me down. “I don’t take kindly to anyone who tries to take advantage of one of my players.”
My swallow was involuntary at his deadly tone. “I don’t understand. I’m not—”
Gripping the edge of the half-wall separating us, he leaned in menacingly. “You’re a waitress, correct?”
That had me straightening my spine and lifting my chin, refusing to be ashamed of the job that was a symbol of my independence. “That’s right.”
“Well, he recently signed a contract making him the highest-paid goaltender in the league with an eight-figure annual salary. You can see why I would be concerned about your sudden change of heart.”
Shaking my head, I tried to set the record straight. “Oh no, you’ve got it all wrong.”
“Guess it’s up to you to prove that.”
“Tag! You’re on baby duty!” The man I now recognized as Braxton, Dakota’s husband, thrust the chubby cutie he held into Maddox’s arms. “I’m off to skate with my wife. Have fun!”
He tossed me a wink and a grin, mouthing, You’re welcome , before disappearing from view.
Maddox cradled the child gently, blowing out a breath and looking skyward. “For the love of God.” Without another word to me, he turned, skating away as he bellowed, “Jenner! Come get your kid!”
“Some godfather you are!” Jenner shouted back from across the ice. The cheeky, redheaded man held a baby that, from here, appeared identical to the one in Maddox’s arms.
“He’s just protective of the people he loves.”
The feminine voice startled me, and I levitated off the bench, throwing a hand over my racing heart. “Jesus.”
When I finally recovered, daring to discover who had ambushed me this time, I found Bristol staring down at me, hip propped against the half-wall, one hand resting on her belly, which had grown since the last time I’d seen her.
Sliding down the bench, I made room for her. “Please sit.”
Bristol dropped down beside me, groaning as she placed a palm against her lower back. “I need to ditch the heels soon. Maddox gives me hell every time I ask for a back rub. See? Protective.”
Humming in response, I had a few choice words to describe that man, none of them kind.
She huffed out a laugh. “Don’t get me wrong, he can be a stubborn ass too. I’m not blind to his faults. But he’s as loyal as they come.”
“Look, I know you’re married to the guy, but being accused of being a gold-digging bitch doesn’t sit well with me.”
Her big blue eyes bulged. “He said what ?!” Her voice rose to a pitch only dogs could hear, and I winced.
Jumping to her feet in a flash—damn, she was spry for a pregnant lady—her yell echoed throughout the arena. “MADDOX STERLING!” Every head turned in our direction, including the one belonging to the man in question. “You get your butt over here and apologize! Right! Now!”
Not gonna lie. Watching the color drain from Maddox’s face was extremely satisfying. He shoved the baby he held into the arms of the blonde woman beside Jenner and skated over like the hounds of Hell were chasing him.
“Bristol,” he hedged, tone wary. “Calm down.”
“Calm down.” She scoffed. “Calm down? After you insulted Goose’s girl?! Oh, I don’t think so.”
Maddox extended his hands toward Bristol but thought better of touching her when she shot him a death glare. Sighing, he tried again. “You getting upset isn’t good for the baby.” He gestured to her protruding stomach.
Hands flew to her hips. “You know what’s not good for the baby? Having a father who’s an asshole. Apologize. Now!”
Flustered, he ran both hands through his hair, tugging on the strands. “Babe, I was only trying to look out for Goose. You know how he—”
“No. You don’t get to fit this under the umbrella of looking out for your players, for your friends .”
“Yep,” Maddox agreed. “You’re right.” Peeking at me, he hung his head. “Sorry, Gemma. I was out of line.”
When I opened my mouth to accept his apology, Bristol cut me off. “No. He needs to sit on this one for a bit.” With that, she spun on her heel and rushed down the tunnel that led into the underbelly of the arena.
“Fuck,” Maddox cursed under his breath, taking off after her.
I might’ve felt bad for the guy if he hadn’t been a colossal prick to me only moments ago.
“Look at you, making all kinds of new friends.” I bit back a moan when I turned to find Sasha resting his forearms on the half-wall, face mere inches from mine.
“That was . . . intense.”
He smirked, blue eyes sparkling. “He’s staring down a few days in the doghouse.”
A retort about him having earned that punishment was on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it down.
“Wanna get out of here, beautiful?” Sasha rose to his full height, offering me his hand.
Relieved didn’t begin to cover it. The countless interactions with his friends had left me completely drained.
He let me grip his hand tightly as I wobbled along the rubber mats, balancing on the thin metal skate blades down the hallway that led to the locker room. Dropping onto the bench with a sigh, I was more than happy to let his nimble fingers undo the laces and slide them off my feet.
Wiggling my toes, I let them have a little breathing room while Sasha removed his own skates. Once he was done, I stuffed them into my leather boots, grabbing my coat as I stood.
“This way.” He took me by the hand, helping to navigate the maze of tunnels inside the arena. I could only imagine how easy it would be to get lost down here.
When he peeked over his shoulder before testing the knob on a door, I frowned in confusion. Why weren’t we heading back to the car?
Tugging me inside, he shut the door, turning the bolt on the lock. The room was pitch black, and my breathing accelerated instantly.
“What are we d—”
My words were cut off when a muscular body pinned me to the wall, and a mouth crashed down on mine.
Well, okay then.
The lack of vision only served to heighten my senses as hands frantically tore at my clothes—shirt pulled over my head, bra unclasped, boots tossed aside, jeans ripped down my legs. Cool air rushed over my heated skin, and my mind slowly caught up with the fact that I was completely naked while Sasha remained fully dressed. At least from what I could tell from my grazing touches.
“Sasha,” I gasped when his fingers teased between my legs.
“I have a confession to make.” His husky voice made me shiver. “I didn’t share all my tricks with you. I kept some for myself.”
With that, he shoved two fingers roughly inside me, curling them. My loud groan echoed throughout the space. That was, until a calloused palm slapped over my mouth.
“You gotta be quiet, baby. No one can know we’re in here.”
Fuck. Why was the idea of getting caught so hot?
“Think you can do that?”
I shook my head; there was no way. The last time we were together, it was a miracle no one had called the cops thinking someone was murdering me with how loud I’d been screaming.
“You’re going to have to try.”
He literally had me gripped by the pussy, entirely at his mercy. If he told me to, I wouldn’t hesitate to get down on my knees and worship him as my god. That’s how badly I needed him. Right here. Right now.
“I’m gonna fuck you quick and dirty in this training room before taking you home and pounding this pussy all night long.”
My whimper was silenced by his hand pressed tight to my lips. If he weren’t holding me up, I’d have been a puddle on the floor.
“Christ,” Sasha hissed hot in my ear. “The way you’re squeezing my fingers has me dying to swap them out for my cock.”
“Please,” I begged, but it came out a muffled mix of sounds.
He chuckled darkly. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
My head bobbed. I desperately needed to be filled, owned, claimed. He stirred a heat in my blood that was intoxicating, and my lust-filled brain demanded more .
Teeth bit down on my earlobe and tugged. My head dropped back to the door with a thud. I wasn’t going to survive. My headstone was going to read: Death By Foreplay .
“It’s a damn shame you can’t stay quiet on your own. I would kill to play with your tits right now.” Those fingers holding me hostage pressed firmly against my inner walls.
The pressure was building from his touch, with me unable to stop it.
I sagged against the door, my sob inaudible.
“I just need you to give me one, Gemma. Or else my cock isn’t gonna fit.”
The reminder of how thick and long he was had me moaning, my hips bucking, chasing the high he offered with skilled fingers.
“Come on, baby,” he coaxed. “I can feel you’re right there. Let go.”
His permission was all I needed to throw me over the edge.
Light burst before my eyes in the pitch-black room, and a cry worked its way up my throat, though it never sounded with his hand tightening over my mouth. Ecstasy burst through every nerve ending, and I clawed at Sasha, not sure if I was trying to pull him closer or force him away. The sensations were overwhelming as my orgasm gripped me in a chokehold, leaving me trembling in his arms.
Tears leaked from my eyes, and my chest heaved, lungs burning as I was unable to take a deep enough breath with my mouth covered.
I was still in a daze, coming down from the heights of pleasure Sasha drove me to without having to try, when he slipped his fingers from inside me, and the sound of a zipper caught my attention. That was the jolt back to reality I needed.
Thrashing, I tried to get his attention, screaming into his palm.
“Shh, baby. Relax. You know I’ll take good care of you.”
When his bare cock grazed my slit and he kicked my legs apart to create more room, I knew I had only one option left. Opening my mouth, I worked my jaw forward enough to clamp down with my teeth.
“Fuck,” Sasha hissed, removing his hand on reflex.
“Condom.” My voice was hoarse, no doubt from my silenced screams.
His chest rumbled so loud that I let out a frightened squeak.
The man clearly had some kind of breeding kink— note to self: fact-check his claim that he doesn’t have an army of baby mamas waiting in the wings —but I wasn’t letting it slide again. I had to protect myself, and the morning-after pill wasn’t a long-term birth control solution.
“I have some at home. We can go—”
The hand was slapped back over my mouth. “You’re out of your goddamn mind if you think I’m using rubbers you bought for another man.” The wetness hitting my face was definitely spit from him snarling those words.
My eyes widened even though I couldn’t see a thing.
Oh shit, he’s angry.
Gearing up to bite him again because it seemed he was intent on ignoring my demand, relief surged through my veins when the sound of a foil wrapper ripping reached my ears.
Fingers dug into my hip, sliding down my thigh until it was hitched over his hip. I gasped when the tip of his cock nudged my entrance.
“I was going to work myself in slowly, give you a minute to adjust, but for that little stunt, I’m gonna shove it in, and you’re gonna take it. Every. Last. Inch.”
Oh God. If he did that, he’d split me in two.
I tried to voice my objections, but the breath was stolen from my lungs when he made good on this promise, his cock forcing inside with a single thrust.
Pain won out over pleasure as I struggled to accommodate his size. The burning stretch became my sole focus, and I wondered if I was going to walk away from this in one piece.
Not likely .
“Fuck. I forgot how tight you are.” Sasha’s words came out strained. “I’m not going to last long.”
Thank God for small favors. My pussy was going to be ripped to shreds from even sixty seconds of this torture.
His hips pulled back before snapping forward again, with such force that my body thumped against the door at my back, and I shrieked—not that anyone could hear it—digging my fingers into his forearm pinned to my chest.
Long strands of his hair brushed against my face, his body jolting as he thrust, each one punctuated by a low grunt.
The tips of his fingers dug into my cheeks, his hold tightening as he rasped, “This is what you wanted, wasn’t it? To be my little fuck doll instead of my girlfriend, right?”
Heat rushed through me at the idea of being used solely for sexual pleasure. It turned me on to the point where the pain faded away, and I was able to relax into the pleasure, the base of his cock rubbing against my clit with each pass in this position.
The dull thud of my body hitting the door repeatedly drowned out my muffled moans.
“I’ll never get enough of this. Of your tight little pussy choking the life out of my cock,” Sasha gritted out, hot in my ear. “Never, do you hear me?
I decided to engage in a little sexual warfare of my own. Pinned this way, there was only one option to do so.
With all my might, I clenched the muscles of my core, delighting in the strangled noise that came from the back of his throat.
“There she is. My little hellcat.” I could have sworn I heard a hint of pride in his rough voice. “Do it again.”
I squeezed again, giving it everything I had. Sasha groaned in response before using his free hand to hold my hip steady as he began to pound into me faster, with no mercy—not that it had been particularly merciful before.
My eyes rolled back into my head as tingles gathered between my thighs, growing stronger with each punishing thrust until suddenly they burst free, extending through my limbs, pleasure washing over me in waves.
“That’s it,” Sasha praised, never slowing his pace. “Let’s see if we can make it a double feature.”
Holy hell. I wouldn’t survive another.
I was completely spent, my body going limp in his hold. I became the fuck doll he described, nothing more than a place to stick his dick to get off.
The banging against the wall grew louder as he pistoned in and out of my pussy like a machine.
“Fuck, I’m gonna come.” His hushed, gravelly voice sent a shiver down my spine.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Thank God there was a hand pressed tight to my mouth because the blood-curdling scream that tore up my throat would have given us away in an instant.
Sasha froze, and I could feel his dick throbbing deep inside me, but I was almost too afraid to breathe for fear of discovery.
“Is someone in there?” A male voice sounded through the door.
There was a beat of silence before the door handle was jiggled, and the person on the other side realized it was locked.
“Okay, now I know you’re in there. This door is never locked.”
Clearing his throat, Sasha replied, “It’s just me. Needed to work something out real quick.”
The man on the other side let out a loud snort. “Yeah, right. You’re not fooling me. Did you forget who you’re talking to?”
“Get the fuck outta here, Slate!” Sasha barked back.
A chuckle sounded through the door. “Someone’s testy. Did I interrupt before you got your rocks off?”
“Hold on, baby.” The words were whispered in my ear a split second before he anchored both hands on my hips, hefting me up so I could loop my legs around his waist.
Holding me steady with one arm, he slammed the other so hard against the door that I jumped. When he rammed into me so forcefully that my teeth rattled, I let out a scream. His grunts and groans grew louder with each slam, echoing throughout the dark room.
“Oh fuck! Sasha!” I cried, another orgasm barreling into me with the force of a freight train.
Sasha finally let go, coming with a roar, pumping into me violently until he emptied himself completely.
“I didn’t need to hear that,” came from the disgusted voice on the other side of the door.
“You asked for it!” Sasha shouted back.
Footsteps faded into the distance. That’s when our private-moment-turned-public finally sank in, and I began to giggle. “Oh my God. Did that just happen?”
He buried his face in the crook of my neck, chest vibrating with his own laughter. “Sorry about that. Had to teach Braxton a lesson.”
Ah, Braxton. Clearly, he was an instigator.
Couldn’t say I was sorry that he’d gotten more than he bargained for after the shit he stirred in the locker room. Some lessons needed to be learned the hard way.