by L. P. Dover
“Go get changed,” he called out.
Behind the rental counter, Aubrey waved. “Hey, Kristen.”
“Hey,” I said, setting my bag on the counter. “You excited about going to the game next week?”
Her eyes brightened. “Oh my God, you have no idea. Kellan is letting me and my dad sit in the luxury box with you.”
“That’s great,” I squealed. “You’ll have a blast. Plus, we can talk about those private skating lessons you’ve been asking about.” I knew that once hockey season was over I’d have time. Soon, I’d be teaching beginner and intermediate figure skating classes on Saturday mornings.
She gasped. “Now I’m even more excited. I can’t wait.”
Kellan pounded on the glass wall to get my attention. He tapped his wrist when I looked at him. “Ticktock, buttercup.” He winked and I flipped him off for good measure.
Aubrey snickered. “Guess you’d better go.”
“Guess so.” I laughed. I hurried to the locker room and changed clothes before pulling out my skates. When I tried them on a few weeks ago, I was shocked to see they still fit. After all these years, the note my mother wrote on the inside of one of them was still there, only slightly faded.
Always follow your dreams. Love, Mom
Her dream was for me to become a professional figure skater. I loved skating, but after I quit when she died, it ruined all chances of me fulfilling that dream. At least now I could help others pursue that goal by teaching them. Once my skates were on, I walked out of the locker room to the hallway; everything was dark.
“What the hell?” There was no sound, only complete silence. I thought for sure I’d hear Kellan skating around. When I turned the corner, I couldn’t see a thing except for the light behind the rental counter and the spotlight shining right in the center of the rink. “Kellan?” I called out. I walked over to the counter to look for Aubrey and she wasn’t there. “Hello? Where is everybody?”
I walked over to the glass and peered out onto the rink. There was something on the ice but I couldn’t tell what it was. Figuring I should take a look, I darted out onto the rink toward the light. The closer I got, the harder my heart thumped. There was a small blue Tiffany box sitting on the ice with a white ribbon around it. Hands shaking, I picked it up and held it.
“This is the part where you open it.” Kellan laughed.
I jerked around and watched him skate toward me. “What is this?” I breathed, holding up the box.
He gently took it from my hands and untied the ribbon. “It’s something I want to give you.” Inside the blue box was a velvet black one, and when he dropped it in his hands, he got down on his knee.
Gasping, I slapped a hand to my mouth. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Taking my hand, Kellan chuckled. “I hope that’s a good thing, buttercup. If not, I’m doing this anyway.” He looked up at me and opened the black box. Tears filled my eyes as I looked at what was inside, a beautiful diamond ring that shimmered in the light.
“Kellan,” I murmured.
“I know this might be fast, and I don’t care how long it takes for us to complete this next step, but I wanted you to know that I’m serious about this, about us. You’ve shown me what real love is like and I want to hold on to it.” He took a deep breath, letting it out slow. “I want you to be my wife, Kristen. You make me want to be a better man, someone who’s deserving of you. And if you let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be that man.”
The tears fell down my face and I dropped to my knees. “You already are that man, Kellan. If anything, I don’t deserve you.” I looked down at the ring and then into his eyes. “So the answer’s yes. I want to take that next step.”
He slipped the ring onto my finger and then took me in his arms, his grip so tight I could barely breathe. He kissed me hard and I melted against him. “I love you so fucking much,” he murmured against my lips.
“And I love you. How about we sneak off into the dark and I show you how much?”
He burst out laughing and we stood. “I don’t think our guests want to see all of that.”
“Guests? What are you talking about?” I circled around but I couldn’t see a single thing until all the lights flicked on. When they did, I gasped. “Holy shit!”
We had an audience and I didn’t even know. Dallas rushed out onto the ice, hooting and hollering. “I guess this means you can’t marry me now,” he shouted.
“You’re damn right, Easton. She’s mine,” Kellan said. Dallas shook his hand and then picked me up in his arms, twirling me around. Braeden and some of the other hockey players congratulated Kellan and carried him around the rink. There were so many people there I didn’t see how they got in without me hearing them. Kellan’s dad and Maggie were there, my friends from Sammy’s, Cole’s parents, and Jason and Aylee.
“How long has he had this planned?” I asked.
Dallas smiled. “Awhile. Everyone was in on it. We tried to get him to do it at the Stanley Cup game, but he didn’t know how you’d feel about being in that kind of spotlight. Plus, it’s a few more months away and he didn’t want to wait that long.”
The guys brought him back and set him down. “He’s a smart man,” said Braeden.
Dallas planted a big kiss on my cheek, exaggerating it for effect. Kellan charged after him, but he skated away just in time. “Just thought I’d give the future bride a kiss. You better be picking me for the best man,” he hollered.
Kellan laughed and pulled me into his arms. “Not if you kiss her again, cocksucker! I swear he’s seriously going to get his ass kicked if he tries that again.”
I giggled. “I’m sure he’ll try. I can’t believe everyone knew about this.”
“It was either this or by ourselves somewhere. I kind of liked the idea of having our friends here.”
I glanced around at them all. “Me, too. Dallas told me he tried to get you to do it at the Stanley Cup.”
Kellan sighed. “I thought about it, but then figured it might not be a good idea. As much as I want to throw our engagement in Mitchell’s face, I know I need to think about you.”
“You don’t think he’ll try something, do you? It’s been three months and he hasn’t even attempted to come down south.” We all wanted to believe it was over, but in the back of my mind, I wondered if it ever would be. The FBI was still following him around, so that gave me peace of mind.
Kellan caressed my cheek and kissed me. “Let’s not worry about that fucker tonight. It’s time to celebrate.” Taking my hand, he pulled me across the ice to where everyone waited to congratulate us. I didn’t want to think about Mitchell anymore.
Chapter 28
Kristen
The energy around the rink made goosebumps fan out all over my skin. In another four months, the Strikers will hopefully be competing for their third Stanley Cup win. There was only one minute left to go and the score was tied three to three.
“I can’t believe he’s interviewing with Physique tonight,” Graham said, keeping his focus on the game.
I looked down at Kellan, who dominated the ice. It was almost like he was a completely different person out there. “I know. He deserves it. We’re meeting Shelby Reynolds at Sammy’s tonight.”
Shelby was the sports journalist for Physique. If she picked you to be in the magazine, that basically meant you were sports royalty. Kellan deserved the recognition for all the hard work he’d put into the team.
Graham had a wide grin on his face. “I might just have to stop by and meet her.”
“You should. If the Strikers win, there’s going to be a big celebration party. Everyone will be there.” I’d reserved the whole restaurant so the team could have it all to themselves. It was a risky move, but I was confident they were going to win.
Aubrey’s father sat down on the other side of Graham and started talking to him while Aubrey sat down beside me, her leg shaking nervously as we watched the referee drop the puck on the ice. “I don’t th
ink I can look,” she gasped.
Everyone was on edge, especially Graham. He looked on as Kellan slammed players left and right into the glass, trying desperately to steal the puck. The other team tried to score and Dallas blocked it, knocking it out of the way with his stick. I held my breath and watched as Maddox stole the puck and shot it over to Kellan. The play was so fast it caught the other players off guard. The clock ticked down and everything moved in slow motion.
“Come on, Kellan,” I murmured. Maddox slammed into the player at Kellan’s back and now he was alone, on a breakaway down the ice. There was no one around to stop him, just Kellan and the goaltender. “Shoot!” I shouted. The goaltender tried to lunge after Kellan, leaving the goal unattended. Kellan darted to the side and took the shot, scoring the final point.
“Yes!” I screamed, jumping out of my seat. The crowd went wild and so did the Strikers as they all skated onto the ice to congratulate Kellan. They hoisted him in the air and he looked straight up at me, waving me down.
Gasping, Aubrey grabbed my arm. “He wants you down there.” Graham glanced over at me and I could tell he was waiting to see what I did. Kellan told me he’d asked him why I never wanted to be in the media. The good thing was that I didn’t have to hide anymore.
I took off out of the box and through the crowd. There were so many people I never thought I’d get there in time. The other team exited the ice, cameras flashing to capture their defeat. Kellan spotted me by the door and the look on his face was the happiest I’d ever seen him. He charged over and picked me up in his arms.
“We fucking did it!” he hollered.
I couldn’t help but laugh as he swung me around in his arms. When he sat me down, I saw spots from all the flashing lights. One of the sports reporters broke through the crowd, followed by a camera guy, and waved at Kellan. She had long blond hair and a wide smile to go with her pretty face.
“Kellan, over here.” Kellan smiled at her and put his arm around my waist as she approached. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Same to you. How’ve you been?” Kellan asked.
She shrugged and then hugged him. “Can’t complain. I see you’re finally letting us get a good look at your girlfriend. There’s been lots of talk.”
Kellan laughed. “I’m sure there has.” He smiled at me and then nodded toward the reporter. “Kristen, this is Madison Bennett, one of the best sports journalists in the country.”
“I wish,” she said, “but it’s great to finally meet you.” Grinning broadly, she shook my hand, and then her gaze caught the diamond on my left hand. “Oh my God, so it is true?” she gasped, her gaze darting back and forth between us. “Rumors have been going around but no one knew for sure.”
Only our close friends and the hockey team knew about our engagement. I was surprised it hadn’t leaked out a lot sooner. Kellan chuckled and held up my hand. “As you can see, she said yes.”
“That is so sweet. I wish all the guys were like you.” Her smile slightly faded, but then she turned and snapped her fingers at the camera man to get him ready. “You know the drill, Kellan.”
I had no clue what was going on, but then realized she wanted an interview. My breath hitched when I saw the light on the camera turn on.
“Relax,” Kellan murmured in my ear. Plastering on a smile, I looked at Madison and tried not to look at the camera.
“Good evening, I’m Madison Bennett, coming to you live with an exclusive interview with Kellan Carter.” She stepped back and stood beside Kellan. “So how does it feel to be undefeated so far this season?” she asked.
Kellan chuckled. “Pretty damn good. We played hard and never lost focus. I’m really proud of my team tonight.”
“And I know your fans are proud of you. You’re not thinking of retiring yet, are you?”
He shook his head. “I’m in it for the long run. As long as I can keep pushing a puck, I’ll be on that ice.”
“Well, on behalf of Sports News, I want to congratulate you and your team.” She looked back at the camera. “But it also looks like more congratulations are in order. Sorry, ladies, but the rumors are true. Hockey’s number-one bachelor is officially taken.” The cameraman turned to me and my heart raced. I smiled quickly and then hid my face out of embarrassment. “Thank you for tuning in, and we’ll see you next time.”
I breathed a sigh of relief when the camera shut off. There were fans all around and I could feel the heat in my cheeks. “Oh my God, I must’ve looked like a complete idiot,” I said.
Madison waved me off. “You did great.” Her smile faded when her gaze met something across the room. I followed her line of sight and it wasn’t just something…it was someone. Dallas Easton, to be exact. He looked at her, and for a brief second, there was a connection, but it was gone so fast I didn’t know if I imagined it. “Are you guys celebrating tonight?” she asked Kellan.
He nodded. “At Sammy’s. You should come.”
“I can’t, I have other plans,” she said, even though I didn’t believe her. “Kristen, it was a pleasure to officially meet you. I’m sure we’ll see each other around.” She patted Kellan on the shoulder as she passed. “Have fun tonight.”
“Thanks,” he called out after her.
Other reporters came up to Kellan and asked him questions while I stood there beside him. Kellan was amazing on camera, always ready with an answer. If it was me in the spotlight, I would’ve stood there like a gaping fish. Once all of that was done, we started back toward the locker room.
“How do you know Madison?” I asked. “You two seemed to be more than acquainted.” I wasn’t jealous of their exchange, but I hadn’t seen him so friendly with another female until her.
Kellan laughed. “If you’re asking if I fucked her, the answer’s no. A couple years ago, she and Dallas used to be together. She was always around, so I guess we grew kind of close.”
“What happened between them? I saw the way she looked at him.” Knowing Dallas, he probably broke her heart.
Kellan sighed. “Let’s just say, Dallas is an idiot. He messed up and now he’s paying the price. Don’t let him fool you with all the girls he fucks.” Typical guy to mess around with a horde of girls to get over another one. Before we could get to the locker room, Kellan pulled me into a vacant corner. “All right, I think that’s enough talk about them. I have other things on my mind.” He pressed his mouth to mine, opening my lips with his tongue. He started off slow, but then deepened the kiss, biting my lip with a moan. “I’ve wanted to do that all fucking night.”
I giggled. “I’m glad you did. I have to admit, I’m ready for next season. Watching you all angry out there on the ice was kind of hot.”
Kissing his way down my neck, his warm breath made me shiver. “Did it turn you on?”
“You have no idea.” My body clenched just thinking about it. I loved after-game sex. Taking his hand, I slipped it up my skirt so he could feel how wet I was for him. “Does that answer your question?”
“Holy fuck,” he groaned. “I tell you what. I’ll grab my stuff and then we can head straight home. I won’t be able to concentrate until I fuck you senseless.”
“What about your interview?”
He tickled my clit and then slid his hand out. “Don’t worry, we’ll have time. Be out in a second.” He hurried into the locker room and made it out before any of the other guys. “Let’s go.”
—
The tension in the car was enough to drive me crazy. We didn’t have much time before the interview, but I had to have him inside me.
Unbuttoning his jeans, I bit my lip and shoved my hand inside. Wrapping my hand around his bare cock, I moaned when I felt how hard he was for me. His eyes rolled back in his head and he groaned, closing his eyes when I started massaging him.
“Be prepared,” he bit out through clenched teeth. “It’s not going to be slow and easy tonight.”
“Who said I wanted it easy?” I countered. “I’m ready to see what you got, Ca
rter.”
The second he opened his garage door, he skidded to a stop and we went inside. Without another word, Kellan lifted me in his arms and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me into the bedroom. I squealed when he slammed me down onto the mattress and covered me with his body, his hands roughly massaging my breasts.
Groaning, I arched my back and he squeezed harder, pinching my nipples through my shirt. I wanted him inside of me, but when I tried to lower my skirt, Kellan snatched my wrists and pulled my arms up over my head, locking me in place.
He shook his head at me. “No touch. I’m going to be the one to take off your clothes.”
Slowly, he pulled me up by my wrists and lifted my shirt over my head, exposing my black lace bra. The deep rumble of satisfaction in his chest vibrated all the way down to my center, driving me completely insane. He smoothed his hands down over my breasts to my stomach and then to my back, where he unclasped my bra and threw it across the room. His stare was heated and dark with need, primal and raw.
I trembled.
“I’m not scaring you, am I?”
Shaking my head, I glided my hands up his chest to his face and ran my fingers through his soft brown hair. “No,” I breathed, biting my lip. “I’m just ready for that cock of yours.”
A small smile splayed across his lips and it grew larger as he slowly lowered his mouth to my neck. His teeth grazed along my skin, sucking and biting, making me gasp when he bit down too hard. I was going to have marks on my body, but I didn’t care. I fucking loved it. He wanted to mark me. He trailed his lips even lower and I cried out even louder when he closed his lips over my nipple and bit down, sucking as hard as he could.
“Oh, Kellan,” I groaned breathlessly.
As he was sucking and kissing his way along my breasts, he unbuttoned his jeans and slid the zipper down, his cock hard and ready against my thigh. I immediately grabbed ahold of him and squeezed, starting out slow with my pumps, but then doing it harder and faster, enjoying the strangled moan that escaped his lips.