Lucky Goal

by Kristen Echo

  “I love you too,” he said, making her tear up.

  “This thing between us; it’s never going away. I don’t want it to end. I’ve been scared that you won’t fight for me or for us if hard times come. The problem with fear is that it causes people to do reckless things, like making their boyfriends break-up knife fights. You’ve proven yourself over and over.”

  “I’ll keep proving myself to you; until you trust what we share is forever.”

  She blew out a shaky breath. “I do trust you. Seeing you here, fighting for me, it reinforced what I’ve known all along. You’ve got my back no matter what.”

  “Always,” he said, hugging her.

  “I’ve got your back too. I love you so much.” She grabbed his neck and kissed him. Her tongue invaded his mouth.

  He kissed her back. Hard. Pushing her back against the counter. Their bodies pressed together and his cock hardened.

  “I want you right now.” Her fingers fought with the knot on her apron. “Make love to me.”

  “Here?” His eyes widened, eyeing the dingy bathroom.

  She dropped the apron by their feet and unzipped her pants. The tight pants weren’t as easy to remove as she was hoping, but they came off along with her panties, leaving her naked from the waist down. “Now. I don’t want to wait until we get home.” She undid his belt. “Once the cops get here, we won’t be able to leave for hours. I can’t wait that long.”

  Benny closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers. “This is not where I imagined making love for the first time after you’d said those words.”

  “I love you. I don’t need a bed of roses. Just you. All I need is you.” Beth unzipped the fly on his slacks and pushed them over his hips, letting them fall to his ankles.

  He cupped her ass cheeks with both hands, lifting her off the ground. “Wrap your legs around me and hold on.” He set her backside on the counter as she opened her legs and wrapped them around his waist.

  Their lower bodies lined up. She ran her fingers through his curls as he wet the tip of his erection with her arousal. “I love you, Elizabeth,” he moaned as he pushed his cock deep inside.

  “Oh… I love you, Benny,” she responded as he thrust again.

  The edge of the sink dug into her ass, but she didn’t care. Beth pulled his hair and kissed him as he pounded into her. Each thrust broke another brick in the wall she’d been using to keep her distance. He slammed their bodies together until there was nothing left but love.

  Her hand fisted in his hair as she came. She moaned into his mouth as he continued to pump his hips. The orgasm twisted its way through her as every inch of her tightened.

  “I love the way you squeeze me like a vice when you come. Elizabeth, we’re only getting started,” he said as her legs loosened their grip and her body went lax. He pulled out, lifted her off the countertop and turned her to face the mirror. “Hold the counter and look at me in the mirror.”

  She gripped the counter as he pushed back in. His eyes darkened to the color of cognac and she was mesmerized. He ground his pelvis against her ass, filling her completely. “Do you feel how much I love you?”

  She felt every inch. The sound of skin slapping echoed in the small space. He moved faster and faster until she was seconds from another orgasm. He pressed harder, lifting her onto the tips of her toes as he reached her G-spot. “I feel it.” She clenched her muscles. “I love you!”

  The words prompted her release and his. He covered her back with his front as he emptied himself inside her. His heavy breaths heated her neck, blowing her hair to the side of her face. A shroud of happiness dropped over her. Beth finally understood. It didn’t matter what city they were in or what they were doing as long as they were together.

  Unfortunately, they weren’t in the right place to bask in their new love. Benny pulled out and his cream leaked down her leg. He bent over and kissed the bottom of her spine, running his hands over her ass cheeks. “I guess we should clean up and get out there.”

  She reached over and grabbed tissues from the dispenser. She turned on the faucet, wetting them in the sink before handing them to Benny. “Would you mind? I don’t want to deal with the authorities twice in one week while I have sticky thighs.” Beth laughed.

  Benny pulled up his pants and refastened his belt before he took the tissues. “I like when your smooth, perfect skin is sticky with my cum.” He dropped to his knees and cleaned between her legs, following the wet trail with kisses. Her body trembled when he neared her clit, but he was gentle. “You’re all set. Keep in mind, I plan on getting you dirty again. Soon.”

  It was a promise she couldn’t wait to have delivered.

  “I’ll look forward to it.” She straightened her stance. “I’m sorry I made you come out here tonight. We should have been out celebrating your win, not dodging fists and pointy objects.” Beth grabbed more tissue and cleaned the cut on her side.

  The tiny incision had already stopped bleeding. Benny inspected it and kissed above the mark. “I want to be wherever you are. Although, I’d be happy to never set foot in this dump again.” He traced the outline of the cut with his finger. “You’ll need a tetanus shot. It’s better to be safe than sorry. We’ve got a physician I can call instead of waiting around at the hospital. If you’re all right accepting my help.”

  “Fuck. I hate hospitals. Ever since Dad… both blood and hospitals give me the creeps.” She shivered and gripped his chin. “I’m done fighting you.”

  Benny raised an eyebrow. Disbelief written all over his face. “What happened to teaching our kids you do everything on your own?” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

  “We’ll teach our kids to work hard and accept help when it’s offered. You’ve got money and connections. I’d be stupid not to let you help me. Call your doctor. Once we finish giving the police our statements, I want to take you to bed and not let you go until we absolutely have to. I want to tell you I love you a million times and show you exactly how much I appreciate this second chance we’ve been given.”

  “St. Patrick’s Day is my new favorite holiday,” Benny exclaimed.

  She smiled. “Why is that? Because you got lucky.” Beth picked up her pants and panties and got dressed.

  Once she finished zipping them, Benny wrapped her in his arms. “That might be part of it. It’s mostly because we’re the luckiest people in the world to have found love once; lost it and found it again. After I tracked you down in this city, I knew it wouldn’t be easy to win you back. It would take a miracle to get you to love me again.”

  Beth hugged him close. “It didn’t take a miracle for me to fall in love with you again.”

  “No. It took a trade, a lot of exercises and the luck of the Irish.”

  Her eyes locked on his. They both smiled before their lips joined again. There was so much love between them. It had grown from the past. Become stronger with the present. And had endless potential in the future.

  EPILOGUE

  T he media ate up the story of the NHL hero and demanded more. Benny Wilder’s face was splashed across newspaper covers and online articles for days. Not only had he saved the team from defeat in a shootout, he’d saved his girlfriend and countless others from knife wielding gang bangers. Beth got a kick out of how exaggerated they reported the facts.

  In the week following her last shift at the pub, things between her and Benny had settled into something special. She couldn’t say their routine was normal because dating a professional hockey player wasn’t living a normal life. It was a balancing act, and they were making it work.

  The seasons had changed and spring had taken the chill away. Love was in the air and all around her. The anxiety she’d carried around for weeks no longer existed. Had she known saying those three tiny words would be so freeing she would have said them a lot sooner.

  When her last class of the day finished, she headed over to Benny’s and used her key to let herself into his condo. The team had an evening hockey game
, and she was meeting up with Carly and Sylvie beforehand for dinner. But that was several hours away.

  Walking through the empty living room, she suspected he might be napping. She stripped, leaving a trail of clothing clothes along the way to the bedroom. Benny was lying in the middle of the bed, snoring. The sheets only covered his lower half. She admired the new four-leaf clover tattoo he’d added under the hockey sticks on his chest. A permanent reminder of how lucky they were to have each other.

  She pulled the sheets down, revealing more of his chiseled naked body. Even at rest his cock was impressive. Beth crawled onto the bed and admired her sleeping boyfriend. She lifted her leg over his hip and snuggled in next to him. Her fingers traced the new ink as she licked along his collarbone.

  He groaned and stirred but didn’t wake. She kissed his neck, working her way towards his lips. The tips of her fingers trailed down his sternum, following the line of hair. She rubbed her mound against his leg. His arm was trapped between and it twitched. She suspected he was awake when his erection grew the closer she came to it. By the time she circled the tip he was fully erect.

  Beth leaned over him and kissed his lips. She licked along the seam and yelped when he twisted, flipping her over and onto her backside underneath him.

  “Hello, Elizabeth.” He kissed her hard, thrusting his cock into her hand.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Wilder. Did you sleep well?” She used her hand to move him between her open legs. She was so wet.

  With a subtle push he was in, but he didn’t penetrate all the way. She opened wider and moved her hands over his ass, coaxing him deeper. He gave her a few inches and then retreated, teasing her.

  “I slept great. There is no better way to wake than being inside you.” He pushed the rest of the way, filling her.

  She moaned, loving the fullness; loving him. He let her adjust before moving again. They kissed, and she circled her hips to match his thrusts. The bed creaked and slammed against the wall from the power of their lovemaking. Within minutes, they were both panting and sweating. He fired into her like a piston and she roared when he rubbed her clit with his fingers. Once he zeroed in on her tight bundle of nerves, there was no holding back. Her climax exploded.

  “I love you,” she said. The phrase rolled off her tongue easily and frequently.

  He adjusted their position and thrust a few more times, drawing out her orgasm before finding his. “I love you too.”

  They both collapsed, wrapped around each other. She listened to his heart beat and smiled. “Do you think we should cancel our session with Brenda tomorrow? I like her and both meetings went well, but—”

  “We should keep the appointment. I like the confidence you’ve gained from those sessions, he said, twirling a lock of her hair around his finger.

  “You think we still need couples therapy. Are you not happy?” She sat up and reached for the sheets to cover herself.

  He sat next to her and took her hand. “I don’t think we need anything except each other. But, I appreciate the value of therapy. A few more sessions won’t hurt our relationship. Do I think we need to see her forever? Hell no. One or two more times, can only give us more ways to strengthen what’s already as close to perfect as it comes.”

  How had she been so lucky? Not only had she found him once, but he’d chased her across North America to be with her again. Their love was infinite.

  “I don’t know about perfect, but that makes sense. We’ll keep the appointment and see her tomorrow before you fly out,” she said, patting his hand.

  “Don’t remind me.” He let go of her hand and flopped back against the mattress. “I am not looking forward to being away from you for three long nights. Are you sure you won’t move in with me?”

  Beth smiled and kissed the side of his mouth. “Not happening. Carly and I are roommates until we graduate. Living on campus is convenient and I can stay here as often as we want.”

  “I want it every night. It’s not too soon either. If you combine our dating history we’ve been together for almost two years.”

  She got out of bed and stretched. “If we hadn’t taken that break, we would probably be married already,” she joked.

  “Exactly. I’m glad you see things my way. Move in,” he said, getting out of bed and stalking towards her.

  “I was kidding.” As much as she loved Benny, she didn’t want to rush into any major changes. They had a lifetime to move in, get married and have kids. For now, she wanted to focus on dating, school and hockey.

  “Think about it. That’s all I ask.” He kissed her, sucking her bottom lip between his teeth. “I have to shower, eat and then kick it. Want to join me? I’ll wash your back and you can get mine.”

  She smacked his ass as he turned away. “Tempting. All of it,” she added. “But I’m going to go for a run. Then I’m meeting the girls before we head to the arena. Since we have a positive sighting on Kimber and Jonah, Caroline is hell-bent on hiring an investigator sooner rather than later. We’ll be talking over dinner. I promise, I’ll be in the stands rooting for you when you step onto the ice.” Beth picked up her bra off the floor and searched around the room for other pieces of clothing.

  “I play my best when you’re near. Everything is better with you in my life.” Benny winked, kicked her panties towards her and walked out of the bedroom. His sculpted ass daring her to follow him.

  She couldn’t think of one good reason not to. Beth tossed her bra back on the ground and raced after him. She could run later.

  Can’t get enough of Benjamin and Elizabeth’s story? An extended epilogue is available on my website in the Bonus section: Bonus Extended Epilogue.

  AUTHOR NOTE

  Thank you for reading Lucky Goal Each book in this series has been a blast to write, and I hope you had fun reading it.

  If you didn’t get enough of Benjamin and Elizabeth then head over to my website and check out the bonus content area where you can claim your extended epilogue. It’s exclusively available to members of my mailing list. Subscribe and get access to all the bonus content.

  I would be honored and grateful if you chose to leave a review. I read all my reviews and enjoy getting feedback about my writing. If you want more hockey stories then please leave a review and let me know you love the series and can’t wait for more.

  The Puck Battle Series are written as standalone books that can be read in any order. That said, the characters do make appearances again in the other books. Book Five, Stick Handling is coming out soon. Follow me on Amazon and Facebook so you don’t miss out.

  Being a nanny for the owner of an NHL team has advantages, but working for one of the players, takes it to another level. Cameron’s life is complicated and love doesn’t fit into his hectic schedule. This single dad romance is bound to score.

  Flip the page to find out more in the Puck Battle Series Book Five—Stick Handling.

  SNEAK PEEK

  LUCKY GOAL

  Puck Battle Series Book Four

  Stick Handling is a New Adult Sports Romance and is intended for a mature audience. Follow the NHL team on their pursuit for love and the Stanley Cup.

  A temporary assignment with a lifetime of possibilities.

  Cameron Smith’s a single dad, a professional hockey player and Meagan’s new boss.

  She’s the temporary nanny. Helping him out of a bind ended up turning her life upside down.

  It’s not a bad gig. His daughter is amazing and he’s gorgeous, funny, rich and knows how to handle his stick, on and off the ice. Things move fast in the NHL and in his bedroom. His life is the opposite of predictable and she has no idea where she fits into his world.

  Putting her heart on the line is a risky move, since forces greater than hockey are trying to keep them apart. When the time comes to find her replacement, she’ll get the answers she seeks, only nothing ever goes according to plan.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Kristen Echo is a lover of romance stories. She writes passionate love
stories that are both sexy and dirty. Her books will make you feel more than a little naughty in all the right places.

  She lives in Manitoba, Canada where she spends any free time with her two lovely little girls and the love of her life. When she’s not writing, you can find her contemplating life’s mysteries with her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, or with her nose stuck in a sizzling hot romance.

  The Puck Battle Series is a sports romance series and as mentioned, she’s a Canadian, so of course she loves hockey. The Winnipeg Jets are her home team and will forever hold a special place in her heart. But her true love is football. Sorry, Canadian Football League—she’s a diehard NFL fan. Blue and orange are her colors.

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  Stay connected with Kristen at:

  Website: https://www.echoromance.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkristenecho/

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KristenEcho

  Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/KristenEcho/e/B01KNDM63W/

  Email: kristenecho@echoromance.com

  OTHER BOOKS BY KRISTEN ECHO:

  Standalone book: Deceptive People – A Romantic Suspense Novella

  Puck Battle Series Intro Novella: Player Substitution

  Puck Battle Series Book One: Holiday Face-off

  Puck Battle Series Book Two: Poke Checking

  Puck Battle Series Book Three: Wrist Shot

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Thanks to all my friends and helpful folks in the online writer groups I’ve joined. The indie writing community is full of amazing people who are willing to share their knowledge. This hockey series continues because of all the help and advice I’ve received along the way.

  A special thank you to my street team for your fabulous feedback and for being in my corner. This book took so many twists and turns. If it wasn’t for my hubby and Eryn B. it wouldn’t have turned out this great. I’ll never be able to convey how truly grateful I am.