by Toni Aleo
I watch as he stands by the boards, laughing with Wes and Aiden. Practice has been really successful, which is good since we play the IceCats tomorrow. They’re on one hell of a hot streak, winning seven in a row, but we’re on one too, winning four. We’re just getting started; they’re running out of gas. We have to keep the pressure on the net because the IceCats’ goalie can’t handle people in his way. That’s how we will beat them. Especially on the power play.
I blow my whistle, and my special teams skate toward me, gathering around Jakob and me as I explain how we are going to beat the IceCats’ penalty kill. I have video from the last game they played, and I use it to draw on the screen to show where I want my guys to be. The boys all follow closely and with undivided attention.
“We need to make sure the pressure is there,” Jakob says, pointing at the screen. “Merryweather will play tomorrow, and we all know how it can be to score on him.”
Aiden scoffs. “I can score on him.”
I roll my eyes. “Put your dick back in your girdle, Brooks. This isn’t a cockfight. It’s a game, and we will win.”
Aiden sets me with a look, but I ignore it. The ongoing hate-fest he has with Nico Merryweather is ridiculous. Nico was sleeping with Shelli at one point, but Shelli never cared for him romantically. She only wanted sex, but then Aiden happened. Knowing she was with Nico has always been a thorn in Aiden’s side. It’s actually kind of cute, but because of it, he got into a fight with Nico on the ice last year. Crazy-ass jealous dude. “I can, though.”
“I don’t doubt you. I actually need you to,” I stress, pointing at the screen with my pen. “If we get some traffic here, really pressure him, he’ll have no chance to stop anything. He is weakest right glove. But I do find that five-hole can catch him off guard too. He’s fast, so you have to take every opportunity you can.” I point at Boon with my pen. “We won’t be running an S-formation for this game. People are catching on, and if I know anything about their special teams, they’ve done their research. I want a true 1-3-1. I want you here,” I say, tapping the screen, right in front of Merryweather. “I want you in his way. If he moves, you move, and you fight that defense. Mac, Brooks, I want you on the outside. Pass the puck until the third pass, and then that person shoots. Bring the pressure, bring the intensity, and bring me a goal.”
The boys tap their sticks to the ice, and my gaze meets Boon’s. His eyes lock with mine, and my body vibrates with need. Jesus, he is so sexy. So big on his skates, thick with his gear on, and hell, even without it. He quirks his lips and then winks at me, making it really hard to breathe. When he moves his gaze away, just for a second before bringing it back to mine, he puckers his lips at me. Then he skates away to get ready for the next play we’re going to run. It was a simple little gesture, but it drives me wild.
I hate that we are hiding us. I almost wonder if it’s a bad idea. I know my dad isn’t handling Shelli getting married well, but I’m tired of hiding what I’m feeling for this amazing man. But I guess I’m unsure if my parents will approve, and I think that’s what’s holding me back. This isn’t like Shelli and Aiden. They’ve known each other their whole lives. Dad had a hard time accepting it, but he did.
I don’t know if Boon will get the same treatment, and that terrifies me. Shelli had hidden her relationship with Aiden for a really long time before they were finally found out. I don’t want my parents to discover us; I want to come to them and introduce Boon as my boyfriend. I don’t know when the right opportunity will present itself. I want to believe that after Shelli’s wedding will be a good time. But then, why wait?
Our careers.
Boon is right; we don’t want to bring attention to the fact that we’re together and I’m coaching him. I don’t want the guys to think I favor him, because I don’t. I take pride in the fact that when we’re on the ice, it’s professional. I may lust over him and there may be some flirting, but he doesn’t get different treatment. He gets Coach Adler, and I don’t play. I also don’t want something to happen and we break up, and then my mom thinks she has to fix it for me. She’s a fixer, and I love her for it, but I don’t want any help with this. If Boon and I are meant to be, then we’ll be good. If not, then I’ll deal with it when that time comes. But nothing will keep me from enjoying every single moment I have with him.
I really wish he’d tell me if he loves me or not. We haven’t spoken of that moment when I asked, and it’s killing me. Maybe I should ask again. Or maybe I should just grow the balls and say it myself. I’m so confident in us, I believe in us, I love us—yet I won’t tell him that. I hate how scared I am of the rejection. I don’t want to be that person who’s scared, but I am. It’s easy to believe in us. But to believe in myself? I struggle. I want to be enough to love, and while he hasn’t given me a reason to think I’m not, I can’t kick the fear that I might not be.
I watch as Boon’s line works their asses off. They are passing and shooting just how I want, and Boon, he’s standing right where I want him. I urge them to make the passes faster, and they pick up the speed. When Aiden shoots, the rebound bounces right in front of Boon, and when he backhands it in, five-hole, I throw up my hands. “Yes!”
The guys all high-five, and I skate toward them, grinning from ear to ear. I smack my hand into Boon’s chest, super excited, rubbing his chest. “Yes! Just like that.”
His eyes widen in surprise, and I realize what I just did. I feel everyone’s gaze on me, so I quickly turn to Mac, smacking him in the chest, doing the same rub. “Great passing.”
I smack Aiden and then wrap my arm around his neck. He’s my future brother-in-law; this is normal, right? “Wonderful shot. You set Hoenes up. I’m so proud of y’all!”
I move my gaze to Boon’s, and he’s fighting back his grin. Wes and Aiden are both looking at me like I’ve lost my mind, so I look away, trying to ignore the butterflies, and gather myself quickly. “Great job, everyone. I feel real good about tomorrow. Bring it in and then hit the showers.”
I back away as the boys all wrap up in a circle before they call out, “What’re we gonna do? Win! Who’re we gonna beat? IceCats! Who are we? Resilient! Who are we? Limitless! Who are we? Winners! Who are we? The Nashville Assassins!”
My dad made up that chant. I love seeing the guys do it. It’s something silly to love, but it reminds me of him. Of his time on this team. He did so much for the Assassins, and even now, though he’s no longer on the team, his legacy still shines. It fills me with such pride that I’m an Adler and I can carry on his legacy. His shoes are huge ones to fill, which I guess is why there are five of us to do so. Shelli is my mom made over, and she’ll run this team with ease. I know Owen and Evan are bound to do big things, but I think it’s gonna be Quinn who blows us all out of the water.
They’re insane, my family, but we have the kind of love that keeps us close—even when we don’t want to be.
When Boon skates by me to get his stick, I come up beside him, laying down my tablet.
“Good save there,” he teases, and I grin.
“I forgot where I was. I’m so stoked with your play.”
“I am pretty badass.”
“That you are.”
His eyes cut to mine. “Great coaching.”
Oh, my heart skips all the beats. I swallow hard. “I have something for you in my office, if you can get away.”
He doesn’t look at me. “Cronuts?”
“Yes, and maybe something more.”
My back hits my office door as Boon’s mouth captures mine.
His body is rock hard against mine. He is still wet from his shower, and he smells like a winter forest. His cock resembles a piece of wood from that forest and presses against my pulsating center in a way I didn’t know I needed. I slide my hands up his arms, his shoulders, cupping his neck as our mouths dance together. The moment he entered my office, I threw myself into his arms. He was just as eager, and our kiss turned really hot, really fast. I needed to feel his lips. I needed his body
against mine, and having him where I want him is perfection. I tear my mouth from his, trailing my lips along his jaw and neck as his fingers cup my neck, hard, so I don’t move.
“Fuck, baby, I’ve missed you.”
I run my teeth along his neck, and against it, I whisper, “I want you so bad.”
I move my hands over his chest, lifting his shirt so I can run my mouth along his bare skin. His skin is soft against my lips, and I almost want to cry at the feel of him against my lips. I’ve never felt this kind of overwhelming sensation before this moment. I must really have missed him. We’ve fallen into such a routine that disrupting it has me way too into my feelings. The softest moan leaves his lips when I rake my teeth down his sternum. I glide my tongue along his stomach before dropping to my knees before him. I look up at him as I pull down his athletic shorts and underwear. He cups my cheek, running his thumb along my jaw as his eyes gaze into mine. I love the brown of his eyes. I love his lashes—fuck, I love him. So much.
“You’re so incredibly beautiful, Posey.”
I grab ahold of his cock, rubbing the tip of it along my lips. “Is it because I have your cock in my hand?”
He nods. “Yes, all that,” he teases, and I grin before taking him in my mouth. Just the tip, to tease him.
His head falls back into the door as I curve my tongue along the head of his cock. I slip him into my mouth, slowly, almost too slow, and then rake my teeth along his velvety skin as I pull him back out. Boon takes down my ponytail, my hair spills over my shoulders, and then his fingers are tangled in it. He guides my head up and down his cock, my name falling from his lips in desperation. When I take him to the back of my throat, I gag, but I don’t care. He rises up on his tippy toes, his body shaking, and it pleases me endlessly.
I love pleasing him.
I move up and down his cock, using the perfect combination of teeth and sucking, and his fingers gently contract on my scalp. He gathers my hair in his hand, and when I look up at him, he’s watching me intently. His eyes are filled with such fiery passion, and I can’t believe how much I yearn for that look. I know his eyes are only for me. Just me. The confidence from that has me working his cock like I was put on this earth to give him the best blow job of his life.
I cup his balls, fingering them gently as I suck him. He tightens his grip on my hair as he arches into my mouth, the force of it gagging me. I don’t let that derail me; I continue to bestow my pleasure on him. Just as he always pleases me. I grasp his thigh, my fingers biting into his skin, and soon he is fucking my mouth. I suck as he thrusts himself in and out of my mouth, holding my head in place. I squeeze his thighs as he jerks into me, my name leaving his lips in a hiss, and then he explodes. I suck him dry until he pulls out of my mouth with a soft whine.
I fall back on my haunches, watching as he draws in a deep breath, his hand at his gut. He’s so beautifully spent, and it drives me wild. In a strangled voice, he says, “My mom is going to love you.”
I grin. “Wait, am I supposed to give her head too?”
His laughter runs down my spine as I lean toward him, kissing his thigh until his hand captures my jaw and he falls to his knees. His eyes are on fire as he pushes me back onto the floor. A grin tugs at my lips as he pulls my leggings down my legs and off me, taking my shoes and panties with them. The eagerness in his eyes has me dripping with want. He takes my thighs in his thick hands, spreading them wide before dropping his mouth to my pussy. I arch up off the floor, cupping his head in my hands as he runs his tongue up and down the slit of my pussy in such a teasing and unbelievably fantastic way.
He takes his time, savoring me while driving me out of my mind. His tongue is ruthless and unapologetic. He licks everywhere but where I want him to. I arch into his mouth, grinding my pussy against his mouth, needing my release. Against my swollen lips, he whispers, “Patience, lovely.”
“I don’t have patience. I want it.”
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry, but I’m going to cherish the fuck out of this pussy.”
I think I might come just from his words. Again, the torture ensues, and I thrash against the floor as my heart beats so hard, even my eyes are rattling. When he sucks my clit into his mouth, I almost rise completely off the floor. I wrap my legs around his neck, squeezing tightly as he consumes me. He flicks his tongue against my clit over and over again, so fast, so hard, and then I’m lost. My body seizes up, I dig my fingers into his scalp, and my legs squeeze him as I come harder than I think I ever have. When I start to cry out, he covers my mouth with his hand, and I scream into it with no cares in the world. Let us get caught; I want people to know Boon made me scream like that.
Him and that dangerous mouth of his.
My legs go slack, falling over his shoulders, and his lips move along my thighs, my hip bone, before he covers my body with his. I welcome his weight, wrapping my arms and legs around him as we both catch our breath in the middle of my office floor. I close my eyes, nuzzling my face in his neck and inhaling him deeply. He kisses my temple, my hair, as he holds me close. When our breathing returns to normal, Boon moves his face so he can look into my eyes. They’re so serious, so sweet, and everything inside me is screaming those three words.
Just say them.
“Wanna share a cronut?”
My face breaks into a grin. “Yes.”
He reaches up on my desk without letting me go, and he comes back with one in his hand. He holds it to my lips, and I take a bite before he does. We gaze into each other’s eyes with silly grins on our faces, and I can’t take it. I swallow my bite of cronut and then clear my throat as all these emotions go crazy inside me. He leans in, kissing my nose. I fall into his kiss, loving the feeling of his lips against my nose.
When he pulls back, I move my lips up to kiss his as our eyes lock. “Boon.”
“Yeah, lovely?”
I swallow hard, my heart going wild in my chest. Say it. Just say it. “I can’t wait to meet your mom.”
He almost looks disappointed, but surely if that were the case, he would have already said the words. He wouldn’t be waiting for me. But what if he is? Jesus, this is so hard. But apparently it isn’t for him, because he grins, hugging me close as he says, “You’re going to love her.”
I know I will, because I love him.
Be nice if I could tell him that.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Boon
I move my hand down Posey’s bouncing leg.
She’s nervous as hell, and I hate that. Doesn’t she realize my mom is going to love her? How could she not? Posey is mind-blowing. I squeeze her leg, and when she glances over at me, her eyes meeting mine, I smile. She looks absolutely incredible. I’ve never seen her dress in such a chic outfit, but she told me she borrowed everything from Shelli so she’d look really nice for my mom. Over a dark gray strapless jumpsuit that hugs her hips and thighs, she has on a lighter gray coat thingy that hangs open to show the curve of her breasts and all those curves below. I’m a little annoyed I can’t see her ass in that jumpsuit, but I’ll see it later tonight. She has on some sky-high red-bottomed nude heels that make her tall and regal in my opinion. She’s so darn hot. Her hair is down in waves, and her makeup is glittery with glossy lips. I know it’s only gloss because I’ve kissed that stuff off about four times since I’ve been with her.
I love that she went all out for my mom, but I hate that she’s nervous. The whole way to the restaurant, her leg has been bouncing, and she hasn’t spoken hardly at all. That’s unlike her. We have endless conversations, and when we’ve covered everything, we talk about lint. I’m not even kidding. The other night, I looked up at her ceiling, and I was confused by the dust on it. It’s a new place, and there shouldn’t be dust up there. She assumes it’s from the lint trap in her laundry closet, and I agreed. Seriously, it’s the most mundane thing, but we talked about it.
Just to hear each other.
As I gaze into her eyes, I rub my thumb along her thigh. Soon she takes in a deep br
eath, her lips tip up, and I move in, pressing my lips to hers. She leans into the kiss but then pulls away way too early. She reaches for her glass of water as I look across the table at my mom and Wilbur. My mom doesn’t appear as if she’s aged much since the last time I saw her. She’s always been thin, with thick brown hair she wears in a braid along her shoulder and light hazel eyes. She has the laugh lines I swear she got from working in the bar so much. She always had to act like she loved being there, when really, she wanted to be home with me. She wears a nice green blouse and jeans with some boots I got her for Christmas last year.
Wilbur, the new boyfriend…well, he looks as if he belongs in an office surrounded by computers. Such a dork. He’s older than my mom, and he looks every one of his years. He is on the thicker side and has adjusted his belt about six times since we got here. He wears a nice blue blazer and wire-rimmed glasses with thick lenses. His hair is thinning, and to tell the truth, he isn’t who I thought my mom would end up with. But with the way he treats her, he could look like a goblin and I wouldn’t care. He is damn good to my mom, and he treats her like a queen.
So, he’s okay with me.
I watch as my mom’s gaze moves over Posey. She doesn’t seem impressed, which honestly confuses me. I know she doesn’t want what happened with Julia to happen again, but that’s not the case here. Posey is different. I don’t need my mom being all intimidating and shit. Posey is already nervous as it is. “Posey. That’s an unusual name. Are you named after a relative or something?”
Posey licks her lips, looking over to my mom as she places her water glass down. I wish we had some alcohol for this; I think it would calm her down. But with our game tomorrow, neither of us wants to drink. “No, my mom had a Cabbage Patch doll named Posey when she was little. She wanted to name her daughter that, and I was the lucky winner.”