Deadlines & Red Lines: Fast Ice Sports Romance

by Stephanie Julian

  He hoped he’d be touching a lot more than her knees tonight. And since she’d agreed to come over, he was optimistic he was going to get what he wanted. Sugar in his bed.

  “Do you know him already?”

  “No. But everything I’ve heard about him is good.”

  “How young is he?”

  “Just turned eighteen.”

  Her lips twitched and he saw laughter lurking in her eyes.

  Frowning slightly, he lowered his sandwich before asking, “What’s so funny?”

  “You say that like you’re ancient.”

  “Some days I feel like it.”

  “You’re only thirty-one.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve traveled a lot of miles between eighteen and thirty-one.”

  Sometimes he felt like he still had a lot of road ahead of him, but then he considered the fact that his best friend had retired from playing at the end of last season. Tank had hung up his skates and was settling into a goalie coach position with the Reading Redtails, the Colonials’ AHL affiliate. So far, he seemed to like it.

  “How long do you think you’ll play?”

  It sounded like such an offhand question, one that didn’t require a lot of thought. But for RJ, it did. Probably because he overthought everything lately.

  “I’ve been thinking about that a lot.”

  Sugar’s head tilted to the side, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. She chewed, swallowed, and set her sandwich on the plate before propping her chin on one hand and looking deeply into his eyes.

  “Sounds like you’re thinking about making a change. Don’t you want to play anymore?”

  “It’s not that. I still love to play.” Mostly. “It’s just…”

  Just what?

  She didn’t say the words, but he clearly saw her question in the arch of her eyebrows.

  “It’s been tough to find the joy I once had in the game.”

  She shrugged, like he wasn’t saying anything she hadn’t heard before. “You’re not a kid anymore. Kids think everything is bright and shiny and fun. Adults realize work is work. You can love what you do and still think it’s a burden. My mom used to say, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s straight-up bullshit. It’s still work. You still have to make sure you’re doing it right. You just need to make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.”

  Damn, she fascinated him. “And what are the right reasons?”

  “You have to please yourself first. You will never make everyone happy, but if you can’t make yourself happy, you will be miserable for damn sure.”

  “You’ve got it all worked out, don’t you?”

  She laughed, covering her mouth with her hand because she’d just taken a bite of food.

  “Oh god. I wish. There are days I wish I hadn’t left the farm. It would’ve been easier, just to stay. My dad offered to pay for college if I stayed home another couple of years. But there was no way in hell I wasn’t leaving. I mean, I didn’t leave right away. My youngest sister was pretty attached to me, so I hung around for a couple years. Worked around town, saved up everything I could, and finally got the hell out.”

  She said that last part so forcefully, he had to wonder if there was more to her story than she was saying. Another guy might’ve avoided the hell out of that conversation, especially if he wanted to get laid. RJ wanted to know everything about her.

  “So did you move to Philly right away?”

  She looked down, breaking the connection between them. Hiding something under the guise of picking up her sandwich.

  “No. I moved in with my boyfriend for a while.”

  Wait. A boyfriend? She’d never mentioned—

  “Until he died.”

  Whoa. Okay. Hadn’t been expecting that.

  “What happened?”

  She looked up and her eyes were sad, her smile bittersweet. “Suicide. He struggled with depression all through high school, but we thought he was doing better after we graduated. He worked on his family’s farm and we talked about moving away. And then one day… He took an entire bottle of his dad’s fentanyl. Then he walked into the pond and let himself drown. His parents still think it was a freak accident. That the amount of fentanyl in his system was too high to be real. I think he deliberately took it by the pond and let himself drown so everyone would think that’s what happened. That maybe they wouldn’t do a tox screen, you know? That maybe he wouldn’t cause his parents so much pain.”

  “Damn, Sugar. I’m sorry. That had to be awful. How old was he?”

  “Nineteen. He would’ve been twenty-three next month.”

  “I’m really sorry.”

  “Thanks.” She nodded, smiling at him. “It seems like forever ago. But sometimes something’ll happen, and I think, ‘I gotta call Bobby. He’d get such a laugh out of this.’ And then I remember.”

  “Is that when you moved to Philly?”

  Another nod. “I’d been looking for apartments we could afford but that’d been based on both of us working and sharing expenses. So instead I rented a room in a basement in South Philly and got a job working for tips at a bar down the street. Two years ago, I walked into The Brig because they had a sign in the window and I never left.”

  Her smile made his heart skip a few beats.

  “Georgie and Janine have a way of doing that to people. You walk in one day because someone says they have the best meatloaf in the city and the next day you’re telling Georgie your deepest secrets.”

  Laughing now, Sugar let her head fall back for a few seconds. “Yeah, she has that effect on people. I’m just glad I found them when I did. I was ready to give up and go home.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  She nodded, her smile disappearing but the warmth in her eyes getting hotter. “Me too.”

  They finished their sandwiches then, keeping the conversation light and away from talk of suicide and accusations of assault. He found himself listening more than talking, which was unusual for him. At least, it had been. Lately, he’d found himself without much to say. Everyone who knew him had noticed and had tried to get him to engage more. Which just made him shut down even more.

  Sugar didn’t seem to have a problem with him being quiet. And with her, it wasn’t hard to find his voice. He’d half expected awkward pauses and uncomfortable silences. Then again, he should’ve known better, because Sugar had never met a stranger.

  By the time they’d finished eating, he knew she preferred Springsteen to Lennon, watched enough crime shows to get away with murder, and would much rather study than listen to a professor drone away. A few minutes ago, he’d asked her if she’d ever traveled and that had set them off on a fifteen-minute conversation about where they’d like to visit.

  “You’ve actually been to Russia? Was it weird? I’ve never even thought about going there. I mean, I’m sure it’s really cool, but someday I want to go to Greece and Italy. All those ruins and museums and beaches and it’s warm. I mean, it’s warm here too, but I want to see the Mediterranean. It must be so beautiful.”

  “It is. My, ah, well, I spent a couple weeks in Capri last year. My former girlfriend had family there, so we went to visit and do some sightseeing. One of the most amazing places I’ve ever been. And the food is incredible.”

  “Yes! If I ever get there, I will eat myself into a coma, I just know it. Did you have a bad breakup?”

  Since he’d left himself open to the question by bringing up Marisol, he’d expected her question.

  “Not really, no. She stuck around a few days, told everyone she totally believed I was innocent, then bailed for a pro football player.”

  “Whoa. Total bitch.”

  He shrugged. “No. Just…shallow.”

  He’d never allowed himself to say that out loud before. It felt good.

  “Oh, definitely shallow. But also a bitch.”

  His grin widened, which made her shake her head.

  “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn�
�t—”

  “Don’t apologize. It’s nothing my sister hasn’t said a hundred times.”

  “I knew I liked Gabby. And Tara. And the more I get to know Brody, the more I like him.”

  That made him laugh. “Yeah, Brody can take a little time to warm up to.”

  “Oh, I don’t think he’s a dick or anything. I just don’t know him that well and he can come off a little…”

  She bit her lip, her brow furrowed, clearly trying to come up with something to say about his brother that wouldn’t hurt his feelings.

  “Like a dick?” he said.

  Her nose wrinkled as she slid off the stool and grabbed their plates before he had a chance to tell her to leave them.

  “No. And lately, he’s been a lot more open. Probably because of Tara.”

  “Definitely because of Tara. She’s good for him.”

  “Yeah.” She opened the dishwasher and put their plates inside, taking the glasses from his hand and putting them in, as well. As if they’d done this a thousand times. “I think so too. He’s been much easier to talk to lately.”

  “Easier than me?”

  “Sometimes.” She leaned back against the counter, arms crossed over her chest. “Sometimes, you seem really angry.”

  His brows arched in surprise before he could hide it. “What makes you think that?”

  “Because I watch you.” Her shoulders lifted and her gaze didn’t meet his. “I mean, we haven’t known each other long, but I know your brother and Tank are worried about you, so obviously, you’re different than they remember you.”

  He moved closer, until he stood only inches away. Close enough to smell the vanilla scent of her hair. His fingers itched to wrap themselves in the silky strands.

  “Have they told you that?”

  He didn’t know if it was the low tone of his voice or his nearness, but she swallowed hard and straightened a little, as if she’d realized he was much closer than she’d expected. Or maybe she just wanted to be ready…for whatever came next.

  Shaking her head, she wove her hand through her hair to push it back over her shoulder. His mouth watered to taste the bare skin just above her breasts.

  “No, of course not.” Her tone said it was a ridiculous question. “They love you. They’re not going to talk about you to the diner waitress.”

  “Maybe I’m not the same person I was before. Maybe my family just don’t like who I’ve become.”

  “Who do you think you are now?”

  “I think I’m the man who’s trying not to strip you naked right now and fuck you in the kitchen.”

  Her smile was immediate as she reached for his waist and pulled him into her body.

  “I’m sure your bed’s more comfortable than mine. We could—”

  He gripped her by the neck and kissed her hard, crushing his lips against hers until she opened her mouth to his insistent tongue.

  Lust blasted through Sugar, scouring her veins with heat and making her melt against RJ like butter on the grill. Her arms wrapped around his neck, fingers sinking into his hair as she absorbed the feel of all that hard muscle straining against her.

  It was a heady feeling, knowing he wanted her as much as she wanted him. All day, she’d had butterflies in her stomach, hoping to see him. She hadn’t been sure if he’d show up or if, now that they’d slept together, he’d ignore her.

  He definitely wasn’t ignoring her. She had his complete attention, which was both thrilling and a little overwhelming. He kissed her with single-minded focus, coaxing a response that threatened to steal her breath and her ability to think rationally.

  She was pretty sure all brain function was overrated right now, anyway. Especially when his hands slipped to her shoulders and pushed down the straps of her dress. Since they were the only thing holding it in place, the top slid down just enough for her breasts to be bared almost to her nipples. As if he had some sixth sense, he pulled back and looked down.

  “Put your arms down.”

  She’d forgotten she still had them wrapped around his shoulders. Without hesitation, she did what he’d asked, and the dress slid to the floor with a whisper of sound. She hadn’t worn a bra and her panties were little more than two thin cords connecting the pink lace triangle in the front to the sheer panel barely covering her ass in the back.

  “Jesus, Sugar. You’re going to give me a heart attack. Push those down ’cause if I do it, they’re gonna get ripped.”

  She shivered at the raw need in his voice and wanted to say something, anything, in response. Instead, she lifted her hands to her hips, slid her thumbs into the strings at her sides then wiggled a little until she had them over her hips.

  “You have a thing for watching women undress, don’t you?”

  His gaze snagged hers. “Only you.”

  She flashed hot and was sure her cheeks were summer-sunburn red. He sounded so sincere and so horny at the same time. It was a strange combination that served to melt her heart and her pussy at the same time.

  “Good.”

  She barely heard her own reply, but he obviously did because he grinned and reached for her.

  Cupping her breasts, he played with her nipples, his thumbs and forefingers pinching and rolling while he watched her face. The sensation was so intense, her pussy clenched, an orgasm already within reach. He played with her breasts for what had to be minutes, making her super-sensitive until he leaned forward and kissed her again.

  This time, she thought she’d be ready, but she wasn’t. She barely had enough time to suck in air before she felt his hands slid down to her hips then felt one weave through the hair on her pussy to reach her entrance. Moaning into his mouth, she rose onto her toes when he slid two fingers inside. He worked his fingers high inside her, stroking her until she thought she’d lose her mind. Her body hung on the edge of climax. She needed him to touch her clit, but he purposely kept his distance.

  She tried to pull away to tell him what she wanted. He followed her, bending her back until he wrapped his other arm around her waist to hold her steady. She almost felt like struggling but it certainly wouldn’t be to get away.

  No, she wanted more. Needed more.

  Then she remembered her hands were free. Right now, they were clenched in the t-shirt stretched across his chest. Loosening her grip took some effort but, finally, she released the fabric and shoved her hands into the elastic waistband of his nylon shorts. If she’d been able to look, she’d be sure they hid nothing. She felt the heat of his erection the second her fingers made contact with the fabric. Drawn to it, she wrapped one hand around the shaft and cupped his balls in the other. And was rewarded with his groan.

  In the next second, he slid his fingers free and lifted her off the floor. She had to release him or risk hurting him. They didn’t go far or so she thought. She wasn’t really sure because she was pressing open-mouthed kisses across his chest and neck and jaw, nipping at his chin before nuzzling her nose against his skin.

  Seconds later, he stopped, and she figured he’d taken her to the bedroom, but she opened her eyes and realized—

  “Open the medicine cabinet.”

  She turned her head and did as he’d told her, getting a quick impression of a spacious room with dark walls and marble countertops before fixating on the medicine cabinet. She knew what he wanted her to get and spied the condoms on the top shelf.

  Plucking one from the box, she turned to look back at him but found herself sitting on the bathroom counter. The marble was cool beneath her ass, but RJ was already on his way to his knees.

  Before her brain had time to catch up, he’d spread her thighs with his broad shoulders and put his mouth on her pussy. Her breath caught in her throat and she bowed forward as pure ecstasy raced through her veins. His lips and tongue worked together to bring her orgasm closer and closer but never pushing her over the edge.

  She realized at that moment that she’d never been with a guy who knew how to make a woman beg. She thought she’d had good sex b
efore but… Oh my god. She’d never had sex like this.

  Moaning, she grabbed hold of the edge of the counter with both hands and let her back arch until her shoulders hit the mirror on the wall. With her eyes closed, every sensation was heightened. Every swipe of his tongue against her clit, every time he sucked on her lower lips with his mouth, every time he backed off to nip at the sensitive skin of her thighs with his teeth, she wanted to scream.

  He kept pushing her, kept revving her higher, but he didn’t let her come. She could feel her orgasm simmering, building, curling through her stomach and making everything tight.

  Finally, she grabbed his hair and tugged, hard. She needed his attention, needed him to give her more. Instead, she swore she felt him smile against her pussy and speared his tongue between her lips. It just made her even more aware of how empty she was. How she needed to be filled.

  When she was panting and fairly certain she was going to hyperventilate from delayed gratification, he stood and made her cry out in complete and utter frustration.

  Her eyes flew open to find him yanking his shirt over his head with one hand and pushing his shorts down with the other. He took the condom out of her hand, which she’d forgotten she was holding, ripped it open, and rolled it down his cock.

  “Look at me, Sugar.”

  “I am.”

  Her gaze was glued to the sight of his cock in his hand, as he angled it away from his body and pointed it straight at hers.

  “No, Sugar. Into my eyes.”

  It took an effort, but she tore her attention away from what she wanted and promptly got lost in that navy-blue gaze.

  “Don’t look away. I want to see you when I get inside you.”

  She barely had time to suck in a breath at the sheer eroticism of that statement when he stepped closer, lodging the tip of his cock between her pussy lips. The blunt thickness made her pussy clench tighter in anticipation.

  Waiting was hell. Wanting was a fever in her blood. Because of her position, she couldn’t move, had to wait for him.

  Finally, finally, he did, and it was everything she could have wanted.