by Toni Aleo
Erik took a Sharpie from one girl and started signing jerseys while Piper waited, feeling very uncomfortable. People were staring at her, while others took pictures and then someone yelled out, “Who’s that, Erik?”
Erik smiled as he looked back at her. Pulling her to his side before planting a kiss at her temple, he said, “This is my wife, Piper.”
If Piper thought there was a disruption before it was nothing like now. People started yelling and lights were flashing; everything went crazy. Piper was beginning to feel lightheaded, but thankfully, before she could tell Erik, he grabbed her arm and they began walking away. One woman did grab her, taking a picture of them both—what the hell was that all about? Erik quickly knocked the woman’s camera arm out of their way as they continued to wind through the crowd.
He wrapped his arm around Piper’s shoulders and smiled down at her.
“Crazy, huh?”
“Uh, yeah? Why the hell did she want a picture with me?”
“ ’Cause you are a part of me.”
“I wish I would have dressed a little nicer. I did not expect all this attention. You should have told me,” she said, looking down at her yoga pants and cute Pink! T-shirt hanging off her shoulder.
“I think you look great, no worries,” he said, hugging her tighter. “It’s going to be like this all week. Fans will be everywhere; you are now officially warned.”
Piper nodded. “Fantastic.”
And he wasn’t joking. The hotel was infested with Assassins followers, and it was a little intimidating listening to the girls cry all over Erik. They acted as if their lives would be over if Erik didn’t take a picture with them and give them an autograph. Piper was shocked when one girl started to hysterically cry when Erik announced that Piper was his wife.
On the cab ride to the hotel neither of them mentioned the welcome. After checking in and running into another crowd that had waited for Erik, he did his duty before heading to their room.
Looking over at her, he said, “It is a lot of people. I forget how big a crowd the awards ceremony draws.”
“It’s insane. They know things about you that I didn’t even know.”
Erik’s eyebrow arched. “Like what?”
“I didn’t know you played under Metruis Obtucki in Buffalo. I didn’t even know you lived in Buffalo!”
Erik laughed. “Yeah, Cooper and Alla moved us there so I could play for him. He trained me.”
“It’s just weird that these fans know all that stuff,” she proclaimed as the doors to the elevator opened.
“Oh, you just wait; they’ll know everything about you in a week’s time. I can guarantee you that.”
Piper looked up at him. “How?”
“They’ll google you, so let’s hope there aren’t any naughty pictures of you on the Web.”
“Eeek! I modeled when I was nineteen in New York! I was naked with peas glued to my body!”
“Peas?”
Piper laughed. “It was art.”
Erik shook his head. “You modeled, too?”
“Yeah, I had to make money. I made a thousand bucks for the peas but sometimes I don’t think it was worth it because I swear I was finding peas in spots they shouldn’t have been in.”
Erik closed his eyes, with his hand on his chest as he shook his head. Piper giggled, “What?”
Erik shook his head again as they got off the elevator and walked down the hall. Opening the door with his room key he said, “You don’t want to know what I am thinking right now, but do know that I am impressed by your many talents. Peas included.”
Piper laughed as she followed him into the suite and then suddenly she became very quiet. The corner room was spectacular. It was done in soft browns, and there were only two walls because the other two were glass, giving them a perfect view of the Las Vegas skyline. A king-sized bed sat in the middle of the room, with the living and dining areas off to the sides. Piper had never been in a hotel room so posh.
“Wow.”
“It’s not the room I wanted. Shea beat me to the other one. Ass,” Erik joked as he put their bags on luggage stands. He went to the bar while Piper explored the rest of the suite. It was classy with marble-top counters and a huge marble shower and tub. After the long flight a bath sounded divine so she stripped down as the tub filled with bubble bath and hot water. Looking around the vanity area she found a ponytail holder among the complimentary lotions and shampoos and threw her hair up before submerging her tired body into the bath.
As she lay there in the water, up to her chin, she thought she really shouldn’t help Reese with choreography anymore. Being pregnant and on your feet all day and dancing on top of it all, she found her body was aching in every spot imaginable. She wouldn’t say it was painful, but she sure felt all of her muscles talking to her. She thought maybe this glorious bath was what she needed. With a sigh, she hit the jet button on the tub and as the force of the water hit her sore spots she sat back and smiled.
This was the life.
* * *
The next day was jam-packed with events. It turned out Erik donated money to a lot of good causes, which honestly surprised her. They had already gone to three benefits, at which they were treated like royalty. One was for disadvantaged kids who wanted to play hockey, another was for homeless children, and the last was for abused children. That was the other thing that amazed her: Each of his charities was for kids. When she tried to comment on it, he shrugged his shoulders and said it wasn’t a big deal. But Piper thought otherwise.
They got back to the hotel two hours before they had to leave for the awards, just enough time for a quick nap. Piper fell onto the bed and closed her eyes, letting exhaustion overtake her. Erik chuckled as he fell onto the other side before turning the TV on. She was surprised he had lain down beside her since he had slept on the couch the night before. Instead of analyzing the situation, she cuddled deeper into the sheets; she was too tired to think about it anyway.
She really didn’t feel like getting up to get ready, but she knew she had to. She wanted to look perfect. With a grumpy sigh, she sat up and wished she could lie back down.
“What are you about to do?” Erik asked, his eyes on the TV.
“I’m going to start getting ready. I’ve got to curl my hair and do other crap,” she whined.
He shook his head. “I hired the same salon who is doing Elli’s hair and makeup. They won’t be here for an hour, so you could actually go to sleep if you wanted.”
Piper blinked twice and wanted to scream out in delight. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him loudly on the cheek. He froze, but when she whispered “Thank you,” she could feel his face move into a smile as his hand came to rest on her thigh.
“I know you’re tired; take a nap,” he said.
“Thank you, really,” she answered as she cuddled back into the pillows.
“It’s no big deal,” he muttered as he leaned back into the bed. She watched him for a moment. She wanted to cuddle into him, hold his body as she fell asleep, but she was pretty sure she’d crossed the line when she hugged and kissed him.
When he glanced down at her, he raised a brow. “What?”
Piper smiled. “I like the way you look.”
He chuckled as he looked back at the TV. She closed her eyes but when he said, “I like the way you look, too,” her heart kicked up a beat. Only two days into this trip and they were getting more comfortable around each other and also a little flirty. Was it real? Would it last?
She was learning so much more about him, her husband. He had so many different sides to him, and she couldn’t understand why he wanted to hide the good with the bad. She had always thought he had a good side to him, and after today seeing how he interacted with the kids at the charity events, she knew it was true and she wanted him. Badly. But no matter his sweet words, and his flirty smiles, she couldn’t sleep with him; she just couldn’t because she was sure that was all he wanted from her. She had to listen to t
he logical side of her brain. Too bad Piper really didn’t pay much attention to that part.
She was pretty sure that side was what got her in trouble the first time.
* * *
Piper felt like a million bucks.
After being brushed and polished to perfection, she almost didn’t recognize the girl who looked back at her in the mirror. Her hair was done in beautiful curls that were brought to the side so they cascaded down her shoulder. The girls who did her hair and makeup were in heaven when they saw how much hair she had, and boy, did they know how to work with it. Her makeup was dramatic but classy. The dress, though—that was money well spent. It was a heart-stopping, soft peach, strapless fitted minidress that came to the middle of her thighs. A sparking belt of diamonds came under her breast, highlighting her little tummy. Piper paired the dress with a pair of open-toe mint heels, which she had to admit looked amazing.
When she came out of the bathroom to find Erik leaning against the wall watching TV, breathing wasn’t an option. He wore a fitted black suit that hugged every part of his delectable body, and a mint-green bow tie. He had shaved, leaving a five o’clock shadow that drove Piper insane. When he turned and his eyes met hers, she was sure she was going to pass out from lack of oxygen. He smiled appreciatively as he turned off the TV.
“I really like the way you look in that dress,” he said, his eyes caressing her body.
Piper smiled shyly, smoothing down the dress around her belly. “I don’t look superfat?”
Erik shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers. “No, not at all.”
The air was crackling around them, and she felt her resistance to this man quickly going out the window. He was standing there, looking like Mr. Sexy GQ in his suit and it just wasn’t fair. She was pretty sure he was thinking the same thing. They didn’t need to go to the awards, no; they needed to have sex.
Dirty, lusty, fun sex.
Looking up at the ceiling while biting his lip, he asked, “You ready?”
She let out a long, frustrated breath and nodded.
Best to get away from that bed quickly before they did something really dumb.
* * *
Erik stepped out of the limo first and buttoned his coat as he smiled brightly for the cameras. He hated this part of his job, but in a way it was doable this year. It was mostly because of the person he was now helping out of the limo.
Piper.
She looked stunning in a short little dress that made her tan legs scream his name. The dress hugged her in all the right places and when she asked if she was fat, he almost let out a gut-busting laugh. She was nowhere near fat: She was beautiful. Taking his hand, she smiled up at him as the lights flashed around them. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly, before tucking her arm under his. Erik’s heart was beating in triple time and it wasn’t because of all the people staring at them. It was because he was staring at her, and he swore he saw something other than innocence in those light blue eyes of hers.
The ride over to the awards was quiet. Ever since she came out of the bathroom back at the suite, he had a hard-on that wasn’t going away anytime soon. She was gorgeous and he really had no clue how he was supposed to keep his hands off someone so tempting. They were less than two weeks into this, and already he wanted to rip her clothes off? Hell, if he was being honest, he had wanted to rip those clothes off her since the beginning, but that was beside the point.
How was he supposed to make it for three more months?!
With a deep breath, Erik placed his large hand over her small one as he began to lead her down the red carpet. They stopped for pictures, posing for the many cameras while people yelled various comments and questions at them. They mainly wanted to know who she was, and of course, he answered that she was his wife. He made certain to never leave Piper’s side, even when the reporter asked for pictures of just him. He would kindly decline and they’d walk away despite the protest of the reporters.
When Koey appeared at Piper’s side, she smiled and greeted him: “Hey, Koey.”
He gave her a big smile that made Erik a tad uneasy, then said, “Hey, Piper, you look gorgeous tonight.”
Not cool.
Piper, being the sweet person she was, smiled prettily and said, “Thank you.”
Erik cleared his throat, deciding that he didn’t like the way Koey was looking at Piper, or the way she was looking at him, for that matter.
“You have an interview with Alana Richards; she is the fourth interviewer in the press line, the one with red hair,” Koey said, pointing to her. Erik saw the hot redhead Koey was referencing, who was now interviewing Shea and Elli. “You’re after them, so you need to start making your way toward her. You don’t have to stop to see anyone else, but Alana is a must. She’s with the NHL.”
Erik nodded. “No problem.”
“Thanks. Have a nice night, and let’s hope for a win.”
Koey sent them one last grin before heading off the carpet toward the auditorium. Erik took in a deep breath, and then looked down at his gorgeous wife.
“How are you holding up?”
Piper shrugged her shoulders as she smiled. Her lips were shiny and it brought his attention to her sexy mouth. It was one of his favorite things about her, and right now, it was screaming to be kissed. Looking away before he gave in to his desire, he heard her say, “Okay, but my feet hurt.”
He smiled. He hardly ever saw her in heels. She wasn’t like all the other women he used to hang around. She was different.
“Do you want to sit down?”
“No, it’s okay. I can wait.”
“All right, well I think we’re up,” he said as he escorted her toward Alana.
“Elli looks gorgeous,” Piper said, causing him to glance at his boss. Piper was right. Elli did look gorgeous in a long blue gown that had a see-through back.
“She always does.”
“That’s a really sweet thing to say,” she said, not looking at him.
“Ah, it’s the truth,” Erik said, giving her a silly grin as they stopped in front of Ms. Alana Richards.
“Erik, how are you?” Alana asked, shaking hands with him.
He nodded. “Just fine, and you?”
“Good, thank you,” she said as her eyes fell on Piper.
“Alana, this is my wife, Piper,” he said with his arm snaking around Piper’s waist.
Alana’s face brightened as she shook Piper’s hand. “I was wondering if you were, and I have to say, Mrs. Titov, you are simply stunning!”
Piper smiled. “Thank you, you are, too. I love your dress.”
“Thanks! So I see a baby bump! How far along are you?”
Erik watched as Piper smiled sweetly, placing her hands on her stomach, and said, “We are due in September.”
“Aw! How sweet! Do we know what we are having?”
And on they went. For the next ten minutes Erik’s interview was about Piper and the baby. In a way he didn’t mind; he hated answering the same questions, and it was fun to watch Piper smile and gush over baby talk. He played his part as the doting husband, the excited father, smiling and caressing her, but it was hard because the caresses were of the innocent kind. He wanted to do the naughtiest things to Piper, and rubbing her belly sweetly was not one of them. He also felt dirty, like he was leading her on because when she looked at him, he saw her heart.
It made him nervous. Was she falling for him more than she already had? He didn’t want to hurt her. Hell, it was even starting to bother him when she became angry or upset. Shit, he was starting to care about her, too. Things were changing and he had to get his feelings in check before he did something stupid like sleep with her and then fall for her.
He had never loved another woman but he felt like he could love Piper and that freaked him out to the core. He didn’t understand his feelings at all, but the last couple of days he had been feeling things he had never felt before and a lot of it had to do with her. He needed to talk to someone about
it because he was starting to think that maybe he was suffering from a disorder or something, because no girl ever mattered. Period. The end.
But Piper was starting to matter.
Glancing over at her bright, glowing face, he had to smile. She was talking with her hands, talking about the events they had attended that day. He didn’t realize she had been paying such close attention, but she recapped the day better than he even remembered it.
“Will your child play hockey?” Alana asked.
Piper smiled and looked up at Erik. “I think he or she will, because Erik is a damn good player and more than likely our child will want to be like him.”
“That’s for sure. Are you ready to win the Art Ross Award, Erik?”
Erik smiled. “Oh, it’s my turn to talk?” Both women laughed as he gave them a dazzling smile. “Yes, I am. Now if you’ll excuse us, I think my beautiful wife is hungry.”
“This is true! It was so nice meeting you!” Piper said.
Alana smiled as she and Piper hugged. “You, too. Good luck, Erik.”
“Thank you,” he said with a wave as he led Piper away. “You stole my interview.”
“I know! I’m so sorry!”
He laughed as he shook his head. “No big deal. I think you covered all the bases. I’m awesome, my charities are awesome, and I’m going to win.”
Piper nodded. “See! I had your back.”
“Good, now come on, let’s get some food before the ceremony starts.”
“Sounds like a plan to me. I think that turkey leg has my name on it,” she said, leaving his side for the buffet table.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to eat that!” he called out after her.