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RILEY

Sarah: I have a surprise waiting for you.

I s what I open my phone to after practice. We have our last game of the season tomorrow, which happens to be my birthday, and then Mason and Kamryn’s wedding is next week. As upset as I am about us not making the play-offs, I am excited for a vacation with my girl.

Me: Is it something I wished for months ago?

Sarah: You’ll just have to get home and find out.

I put my phone in my duffle and head to the showers. The energy is mixed with the team. Naturally, the veterans are upset that we didn’t make it to the play-offs. As we only have two veterans on the verge of retiring, I can see the upset as I’d want to play one play-off game before retiring my skates. But us younger kids have a lot of game left in us. So for me, I’m not too upset about the season ending tomorrow. Would I like for us to end the season on a win? Of course. A birthday and a win. Who wouldn't want that?

Walking out of the shower stalls with a towel around my waist, it’s eerily quiet as half the team has left. Only me and a couple other players linger in the room. It saves me extra distractions from getting home. When I’m dressed I tap on coaches door in my exit.

“Later, Riley.”

Me: I’ll be home in 10.

Sarah: See you soon.

To say I love presents is an understatement. So I’m not proud that I maybe, sort of, most definitely sped home. Whipping into my parking spot next to Sarah’s white Mercedes, I grab my bag out of the back and quicken my steps to the elevator. I tap my thumb on my thigh the entire ride up and attempt to Hulk the doors open when they stop on my floor.

“Sarah?” I call out when I push through the door to my condo. I drop my bag by the table with the keys and head towards our bedroom which is closed. Maybe for good reason?

I do a quick walkthrough and see nothing else out of sorts. The girls are passed out on the couch and don’t acknowledge my presence. Walking back towards our bedroom, I open the door and stop at the threshold with my hand on the doorknob.

“Holy fuck.”

Standing at the foot of our bed wrapped in a blue bow, one of the many shades of her eyes, is the woman of my dreams. With a matching silk G-string and her hair curled in waves down her back. Her hands are behind her back as if she’s nervous but also wanting to present herself to me like the present she is.

“I know your rule about no sex before your game, but tomorrow is about to be insane and then this next week will be all wedding stuff.”

I close the door and take the five steps to stand in front of her. My hands fall to her bare waist and goosebumps sprout over her skin. Her head tips back and we stare into each other's eyes. Words unspoken pass with the look.

“I can make a pre-game exception,” I say before crushing my lips to hers. My hands travel up her back and into her hair. I fist the handful of hair that I have and tip her head back, deepening the kiss. Her tongue tangles with mine and her hands roam over my body, pulling me closer so no inch of space is left between us.

Sarah abruptly breaks the kiss and backs away from me.

I furrow my brow. “What are you doing?”

“What are you doing? You’re supposed to unwrap your present.”

I invade her space again and my hands go to the ends of the bow she’s in. Slowly, I pull until the bow loops are just strands hanging to the floor. I pull the rest of the fabric loose and watch as she’s bared to me. Her chest heaves and nipples harden to pointed tips. From the cold or my hungry gaze, I’m not sure.

“This is by far the best present I’ve ever had,” I tell her as my hands gravitate back towards her waist. My thumbs brush the underside of her breasts and her ribs expand on an inhale. I cup and push her breasts together and watch her reaction as I lightly circle her nipples. Her chest heaves from the light movement and dip my head to take one into my mouth .

“Riley,” Sarah whimpers when I scrape one with my teeth and tease the other to a pointed tip.

I continue giving her breasts the much needed attention, moving from one to the other until Sarah’s hands fly to my head and pulls on my strands. My hands slide down to the back of her thighs and I pick her up effortlessly. Walking over to the bed, I place her down and crawl up her body. Kissing her thighs and stomach before resting between her legs and returning my attention to her breasts. Her moans, gasps, and stuttered breaths is one of my favorite sounds. Sarah’s legs wrap over mine as I continue to bring her higher and higher.

“Are you gonna come for me, baby? Just like this?” I ask and look up at her head thrown back in pleasure.

“Please,” she sighs out.

“Please what?” I ask and tease her with a twist and tug on her nipple.

“I nee–I need to come.”

“So do it.” I order.

I suck a nipple into my mouth and tug on the other. Not letting up the pressure as I bring her closer and closer to the edge. With a gentle bite, I feel her shuddering beneath me. Looking up, I see her bottom lip tugged between her teeth as she comes. Letting up, I kiss up her body and trail a hand down her body to the scrap of blue covering her. Moving the fabric to the side I’m met with zero resistance as I push a finger into her center. Sarah’s hands lead me up to her mouth and our lips meet in a breathless kiss. My tongue mimics my finger as I move it in and out of her soaked pussy. I add a second finger and Sarah moans into my mouth as I fill her up with my digits.

Breaking the kiss, I pull back and pull her underwear off and toss them over my shoulder. I slide back down her body and settle between her legs. The smell of her hits me and it’s unlike anything else. Keeping my eyes on her, I duck down and swipe my tongue through her slit, groaning when the taste of her invades my senses.

“Keep your eyes on me the whole time. I want my present to watch what I do.” I demand before lowering my head back to her and sliding my tongue through her opening. Her pupils dilate and watching them go to a midnight blue the more she gets turned on is a new shade I’m determined to memorize. I pull her closer to me when she tries to back away. My arms wrap around her thighs and I suddenly flip our positions.

“Oh my god,” Sarah cries as I keep the lower half of her body on my face. My tongue spears her pussy and her hips start moving instinctively.

“That’s it. Ride my face baby,” I say and look up as she grabs her breasts forcefully.

Her body sways over my tongue back and forth, chasing her pleasure. When I hit a particularly sensitive spot, she tries to pull away. But I lock her down and flick my tongue over her clit and into her opening.

“Riley,” Sarah gasps as I continue my assault. “I’m close.”

Without answering, my thumb moves to her clit and rubs in circles and my tongue slides into her. I feel her coming before she’s yelling my name and flooding my mouth with her release. I keep up with licking her through her release, her body spasming with the aftershocks and she tries to pull away, but I refuse to let up. She falls forward and cries out as another orgasm hits her.

I slide out from under her and shed my clothes. I gently flip Sarah onto her back and make her watch as I pump my cock that’s harder than steel. Her chest heaves the longer I pleasure myself and her legs close to possibly stave off the pulsing between her legs. Kneeling back on the bed, Sarah slides back to accommodate me and her legs fall open, landing on either side of me. With my hand still fisting my cock, I rub the head through her opening and push in a little, watching as my cock disappears inside of her. I tease the both of us as I pull in and out, over and over before Sarah’s hand covers mine. Our eyes meet and hold as I push and she pulls me inside of her. We both watch as my cock sinks in inch by glorious inch. When I’m full seated, I pull out and slide back in.

I fall forward and my arms fall on either side of Sarah. Her hand comes up and weaves her fingers through my hair. In a breath, our lips meet. This, us, we take it slow. My thrusts and our movements slow down until it’s just us. Falling into each other over and over. I hook one of her legs over my arm and slide deeper until I hear her gasp.

Sarah’s eyes bore into mine and they say everything I’m not. The love and friendship that’s so potent between us bleeds into this very moment.

“I know, baby.”

Her eyes take on a layer of tears as I feel her orgasm crash over her and takes me too. We fall over the edge together in a tangle of limbs, hands in hair, and breathless sighs. I work us both until our orgasms fade. Pulling out, I fall on my side and take her with me. Not wanting to lose this, I keep our mouths fused. Kissing her until she pulls away and places a final kiss on my lips.

“Happy birthday, honey.” She tucks herself under my chin and wraps her arm around my waist.

I kiss her on top of her head and pull her closer. “Thank you, Blue.”

Sweat drips into my eyes and the roar of the crowd is like static from a radio when you’re finally out of range. The puck hits my stick on our drive and I push myself past the defenders blocking me. Noah shouts that he’s open and I find my moment to pass it to him. The defenders quickly change direction and beeline towards Noah who’s in the groove with only the net in his sight.

With the final game of the season being a home game, the fans came out in handfuls. We feed off of their energy as the clock winds down. We’re up by one with thirty seconds left on the play clock. Max comes to Noah’s aid and helps him get a clear path to the net who takes the shot. A collective hush momentarily falls over the stadium as they wait for the buzzer to sound.

You know those moments where every scene is like a stop-motion? No noise, noise. Over and over until the stop-motion is done and it’s just motion. That’s this moment. The crowd goes bonkers in the stands and our celebration isn’t over the top as we still have twenty seconds left to play.

We line up for the final drop, the crowd’s energy is infectious and when the puck drops, the volume in the arena is deafening. Noah gains possession and passes it to one of our enforcers who passes it to Max who drives past a defender and passes the puck to Noah. I flank him as we move down the ice. I look over at Noah and see if he wants to try and score one last goal and he subtly shakes his head. I think Toronto is under the same impression. While they’re playing hard, they’re not playing all out. Some of the defense starts to head to their bench and the locker room. I look up and see the play clock winding down. When it hits zero, the buzzer goes off and the crowd goes mad. Throwing stuffed animals and whatever else they have in their possession onto the ice .

I slap hands with those from Toronto still on the ice and do a victory lap around the ice with Max and Bear on my tail, hyping up the crowd. Final game of the season and while it’s bittersweet, I’m more than ready for a break. We gather on the ice in front of our family, friends, and dedicated fans and sing the fight song that was started decades ago. When the song ends, one of the guys at the entrance opens the door and our family members file onto the ice.

A rush of auburn hair catches my attention and eyes as blue as the sweatshirt she’s wearing. “I’m so proud of you,” Sarah claims before jumping into my waiting arms.

“Thank you, Blue. Nail biting enough for you?”

“I ordered two things of fries, I was so nervous.”

My smile takes over my face as she recounts how the game was from the family box and how she and Mischa squeezed each other's hands so tight they were afraid the circulation would cut off.

“Good game, Riley,” Pops says off to the side. I didn’t even notice them join us on the ice, I was so wrapped in Sarah.

I set Sarah down on the ice and accept Pops’s hug. “Thanks, Pops.” I hug Momma next and slide my arms over her much to her protest.

“Riley Theodore, I love you, but you stink.” Momma emphasizes her point by pushing me off of her.

Sarah and Pops are off to the side and snort. I bring my hand to my chest in mock hurt. “Momma, you wound me.”

“I’m sure your ego will be just fine.”

A sharp whistle sounds from Anderson and pulls our attention that way. “Gotta go.” I turn my attention to Sarah.

“I’ll wait for you by the locker room,” she tells me with a smile .

“And we’ll see you tomorrow,” Pops confirms as we head towards the door.

“Yep. We’ll both be there.” I confirm as we get off the ice. They wave me off and I file with the rest of the team to the locker room where music blasting greets us.

Anderson stands in the center of the room and the music turns off. “Well, this season didn’t end how we all expected. But you all played more as a team this season than last. I’d say practice tomorrow but now you all have four months to be normal people.” He nods towards our captain who huddles in the center.

“This season was a good one. Again, not the way we all hoped it would end. But I’m proud of us.” He finishes his short speech and puts his hand in the middle. We all move forward and place our hand on his. “Blue Jays on three. One, two, Blue Jays.”

“See you tomorrow, Riley,” the guys call out as I sling my bag over my shoulder and head to the hallway.

I send them a wave over my shoulder and push out of the door. Sarah’s smiling face greets me when I’m in the hallway and it’s funny how I look at her and have my entire future with her laid out at my feet. She bounds over to me and wraps her arms around my waist and my arm falls around her shoulders. Together we walk down the hallway and towards the parking lot.

“So what now?” Sarah asks with humor in her voice.

I wave to a couple of the security guards as we step outside. “Food and then sleep.”

“I meant with hockey, ya goofball.”

“I know.” I tell her and kiss the top of her head. “I have a meeting next week with Derek to go over my contract and Tyler to discuss brand promos.”

“I love Tyler. He’s exactly who I would have picked for your publicist.”

When Sarah and I parted ways in terms of our working relationship, I had her and Jeff help me out with finding a new publicist and agent. Tyler was the top recommended publicist and my agent, Clay, is more on top of the ins and outs for my career than I ever thought anyone could be. It’s different from my last team. These guys have my back and don’t try to use me for monetary gain. Plus, Clay is married with two kids and Tyler just moved in with his boyfriend of three years.

“Yeah, him and Clay are great for me.” I tell her and open up the passenger door for her.

Sarah hops up and turns, sitting on the edge of the seat. “I’m proud of you, you know that?”

“I do,” I say and roam my eyes over her heart shaped face. “But it’s nice to hear every once in a while.”

Her smile is soft and she shocks me by pulling me to her by the pocket of my hoodie. Our lips meet in a kiss that’s full of passion and longing. I crowd her on the seat and angle her head to deepen the kiss. Her tongue licks at my bottom lip before I open and her tongue tangles with mine. I slow the kiss down when she whimpers and it’s a reminder that we’re in the parking lot. Although I know she doesn’t mind, judging by our outdoor escapades, but not here.

“Let’s go home and finish what you started,” I say, and peck her on the lips one final time for maneuvering her legs in the truck and shutting the door. Rounding the back, I toss my bag inside and hop in the front seat. Barely waiting for my car to warm up, I peel out of the parking lot with only Sarah and our bedroom on my mind.