IMPACT: A Secret Baby Sports Romance

by Vivian Lux

  Chapter Nineteen

  Candace

  “What do you like?” Ian asked me, stroking my thigh.

  I rolled over, arching into him. “I like pretty much everything you’ve been doing,” I purred, as contended as a cat.

  He shook his head. “So far, everything we’ve been doing is about what I want,” he protested.

  “Maybe I want what you want,” I said. “Maybe that’s why we work so well together.”

  He shook his head again. “Candy girl, I’m a hockey player, so I’m part of a team. That’s not how teams work. It’s all about give and take. You are doing all of the giving, and I’m doing all of the taking. I want to know what you want, so I can give to you.”

  I looked at him, a strange sort of panic settling around my chest. “This sounds stupid. But, no one’s ever asked me that before.”

  “You don’t know what you’re into?”

  I shook my head. “Is that pathetic?”

  He growled against my neck. “It’s not pathetic, it’s exciting. This means we’re going to find out together. But you have to tell me the truth. You can’t just tell me something because you think it’s what I want to hear. Don’t be nice, Candace. Take what you want.” He lifted me to my feet to stand before him.

  I looked up at him, this huge, mountain of a man, bearded and brawny, the exact opposite of Prince Charming…and my knees went fucking weak.

  Who was I?

  He looked down at me like he wanted to ask the very same question. Then he wound his fist around my ponytail, and yanked my head back.

  I yelped as he assaulted my mouth with his, kissing me roughly, brutally, his tongue sweeping over mine, owning every inch of my mouth in a way that left me breathless and trembling.

  “Did you like that?” he growled against my lips.

  “Yes,” I moaned, exhaling shakily.

  He reached down, touching between my legs. “I’ll say you did,” he growled, sliding his thick finger over the slickness that greeted him there. I moved my hips, pressing into him, already needing him again.

  He took his finger away and I whined a little, shimmying with frustration.

  Then he put his big hand on my shoulder and pressed downward, forcing me to my knees, my hair still wrapped around his fists, pinning me to him. I was suddenly face to face with that massive, thick cock.

  “Open your mouth,” he told me.

  I grinned up at him and did what he said.

  He yanked me forward, and thrust himself inside of my mouth. My lips stretched wide, painfully so. I choked as he stole my breath, feeling like I was going to gag.

  Then he yanked my head backwards again. “Did you like that?” he growled.

  I coughed. “Yes,” I gasped.

  “No, you didn’t. Stop being nice and tell me the truth.”

  I shook my head slightly. “No, I didn’t really like that.”

  He knelt down so that we were face to face, nose to nose. “No, fucking tell me.”

  I glared into those dark eyes. “I really didn’t like that, Ian. Please don’t do it again.”

  He shook his slightly, still not satisfied. “Still too polite. Stop being nice, Candace. Take what you want.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “You’re starting to seriously piss me off.”

  He nodded a little. “Good, that’s good. Take what you want. Tell me, really give it to me.”

  I placed both of my hands against his chest and gave him a little shove. He barely moved, but it felt good. “Don’t do that again, asshole.”

  He grinned in triumph. “That’s right, that’s right. Now tell me to go fuck myself.”

  I lifted both middle fingers, shocked and strangely delighted. “Go fuck yourself, dipshit.”

  He widened his eyes in shock. “Holy shit, that was the sexiest thing I think I’ve ever seen.”

  I giggled. “I don’t think I have ever flipped anyone off in my life!” I said.

  “I told you, Candace. You’re ruining me. Now it’s my turn to ruin you.”

  “I don’t think it counts as ruining me if I like it.”

  He wrapped his hand around my ponytail again, crushing my mouth against his. I arched into him, smashing my breasts into his chest, feeling the all-over ache that consumed me whenever I was in the same room with him…on the same street…in the same city…country…planet.

  I wasn’t sure how I was ever going to not need him. I wasn’t sure of anything anymore, except that I wanted him.

  Still kneeling, he snaked his hand under my ass, and lifted me in the air with one hand. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and let him lower me onto his cock.

  “Oh my God,” I caught my breath as that thick length impaled me. “Oh my God, I sure as fuck like this!”

  Ian wrenched his lips away from my mouth and buried his face between my breasts as he began to move us both. I surrendered to the sensation, lost in the feeling of complete fullness, as he fucked me from below. I clung to him, but still felt like I was flying.

  It felt a lot like falling, actually.

  Falling in love.

  My drafty single window rattled in its frame. Another storm, and a bad one, too by the sound of it. But strangely, I didn’t feel the blast of icy air that usually poured in.

  “You’re like a radiator,” I murmured, snuggling closer.

  Ian sighed and rolled over, throwing his massive arm over me so that I was pinned under its weight.

  My eyes nearly rolled back in my head.

  “I haven’t been this warm since August,” I sighed happily.

  “Are you telling me you’re just using me for my body heat?” Ian growled, his voice raspy with sleep. It was the sexiest thing I had ever heard.

  “Maybe?” I giggled. “Could we stay here forever?”

  “I do have a pretty good career,” he said, leaning in and kissing my shoulder. “But I’d give it up in a heartbeat if it meant I could stay here with you all day.”

  “It would only need to be until winter is over,” I said. “Then you could go.”

  He stood up, yanking the covers with him. I shrieked when the cold air hit my naked body and pulled them back. “I didn’t say you could go now!”

  “I’m hungry.”

  “I’ve got something you could eat, right here.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “I definitely haven’t had my fill of that yet. But I’m talking food, not dessert.”

  “You’re making breakfast?” I asked hopefully.

  “How do you like your eggs?”

  “Olivia would want me to say fertilized.”

  He shot me a shocked look. “Olivia sounds like fun.”

  “She’d eat you alive.”

  “I’m going to eat you alive,” he said, and dove under the covers, headfirst.

  “Weren’t you talking about making breakfast?” I asked, nearly an hour later.

  He tunneled up from under the covers and planted a kiss on my lips. His beard smelled like me. “I got distracted.”

  I stretched upward. “I’ll say you did. And well done, too. Never mind about breakfast anyway, it’s pretty much lunchtime.”

  “All I know how to make is eggs,” he sighed.

  “Then we’ll have brunch?” I suggested.

  “Right now would be a good time for you to offer to feed me,” he complained, sliding his hand up my thigh. “Given how hard I’ve been working.”

  “I told you, I’m not moving from this bed until May.” I nudged him with my foot. “Plus, I think you’d look cute in my frilly apron.

  He got up and padded naked across my bare floor. “How are you not freezing to death?” I gasped. “I mean, not that I mind the view.”

  That was an understatement. Not since the locker room had I seen Ian walking around in all his naked, Greek god splendor. He was a sculpted, chiseled, mountain of a man. His body was a landscape of hills and valleys, ridges and ripples.

  He caught me staring at him and turned, quietly accepting the full brunt of
my gaze.

  “Holy shit,” I whispered. “You’re not allowed to wear clothes anymore.”

  “Might make for some dicey moments on the ice,” he chuckled, opening my tiny fridge and loading his arms up with an array of meats and cheeses.

  “How many people are you planning on feeding?” I asked, eyeing the pile of food he deposited on the counter next to my tiny, shitty stove.

  “I’m a growing boy,” he said. And then, as if to illustrate his point, he turned and stroked his cock, which immediately grew longer and thicker.

  “Come here with that,” I demanded.

  “Aren’t you hungry?”

  I dared to slide my legs out into the freezing room, spreading them wide. “Aren’t you?”

  “You are turning me into the biggest slut,” I complained.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “It’s both a compliment, and a complaint.” My stomach rumbled loudly, and Ian snorted. “See? You’re going to kill me. Woman cannot live on orgasms alone.”

  “It’s your own damn fault. Stop being so sexy.” He reached out and tweaked my nipple.

  “No, you stop.”

  He grinned. “Never have, never will,” he said, with an arrogant toss of his head.

  “Ah yes, Ian Carter and his man-slut reputation.” I said, reaching out to tweak his nose. “I guess we’re both sluts, huh?”

  “Only for you, Candace,” he said ruefully.

  Something about the way he said it made the smile slide from my face.

  “I’m serious,” he said. “I’m pretty much going to guarantee you that I’m going to fuck this up, again and again and again. But I’m in this. All in. From now on, Ian Carter is a reformed man-slut. The only chick I’m fucking is you, Candy.”

  “I’m the only chick you want to fuck?” I repeated.

  “Yup.”

  Prince Charming. The stuff of fairy tales. I stared at him for a moment, then touched his face. “That may be the most romantic thing I have ever heard,” I said, pulling him in for a kiss.

  Chapter Twenty

  Ian

  “Holy. Fuck,” Brad huffed, sitting heavily down on a locker room bench. “Did we do something to piss Coach off?”

  I grinned tiredly. I knew exactly how he was feeling. All around us, the usual locker room banter was quiet, all of us too out of breath, too physically exhausted to engage in the usual fucking around.

  "I'm not tired," Jake piped up from around the corner. Brad rolled his eyes at me, and I hid my smirk behind a cough. "You guys are just getting too old for this gig. You should step aside, let the younger guys take over."

  I clenched and unclenched my fists. Jake had a huge, shit-eating grin on his face, like he thought he was the funniest motherfucker on the planet.

  I will not punch him, I will not punch him.

  Instead I ignored him. “Well, you heard the man,” I said to Brad, feeling no small amount of pride. “This is our chance. We’ve actually got a shot at the Cup.”

  “Because of you,” Brad muttered. But I could tell he was happy.

  Jake, on the other hand, looked fucking offended, like Brad had just ripped a giant fart or something. It vaguely crossed my mind that he hadn't been out with us in months. Frankly, I had forgotten to even bother inviting him.

  He looked at me sourly, and then turned back to his locker, muttering something under his breath that I could tell he wanted me to hear, but I didn't give enough of a shit about to pay attention to.

  Pushy teammates aside, I was happier than I think I'd ever been. This was our year. Taking the Cup, two years in a row? It would be the crowning achievement of my career, the goal I had been working towards since I started skating at that ratty-ass rink in the old neighborhood. Back then I only had dreams. Now, they were about to become reality.

  “Randall's going to keep doing that,” I said. “Working us like dogs. He can sense it better than anyone, how ready we are.”

  Brad shook his head. “Whoever thought being an athlete would be so much damned work?” He rolled his eyes sarcastically. “I don’t even have time to go out these days. With our practice schedule this way, I only have enough energy to stumble home and fall face-first into my bed.”

  I knew what he meant. These past couple weeks, as our training schedule ramped up, I barely had time to see Candace. “Yeah, sucks for you,” I smirked, hiding my yawn behind my elbow. “It doesn’t bother me, at all,” I lied. “I’ve got a date tonight, and I’ve been waiting for this all week.”

  “Yeah right. You’re not tired?” Brad shot back. “Don’t fall asleep mid-fuck. Not that I’d know, but I hear chicks don’t appreciate that much.”

  I heard Jake's smirking laughter from around the bank of lockers, and aimed two middle fingers in his general direction.

  “Not possible,” I said. “Falling asleep when I’ve got her? That’s like, an affront to God or something.”

  “You’re an affront to God,” Brad shot back lamely, still yawning. “See you tomorrow, bright and fucking early. You’d better be looking well-rested, and as fresh as a fucking daisy. “

  “You know it,” I grinned, shaking his hand, then moving in for the back slap. "Goodbye Jacob, you young whippersnapper!" I called out mockingly. "Make sure your mommy tucks you in good and tight tonight!"

  He yelled something foul-mouthed, but I wasn't paying attention anymore. I was headed out to see my girl.

  “Well, you look happy!” Candace smiled at me. She was waiting outside of the practice rink, bundled head to toe, as usual. Only her eyes and lips were visible, but she still was more beautiful than any scantily-clad bimbo I ever paid attention to in the past.

  “How could I not be?” I asked, clamping my hands around her waist and pulling her in for a long, highly inappropriate kiss. My hands wandered underneath her parka, and she squealed and slapped them away.

  “You are as cold as ice, and you’re letting in the wind,” she complained, teeth chattering.

  “Well then, let’s get you someplace warm,” I said, pulling her close to me. We headed to The Grapery, where we were fast becoming regular fixtures.

  “That’s incredible, Ian,” Candace said, setting down her menu once we were there. I had just finished telling her about Coach Randall’s pep talk this afternoon.

  “It is incredible!” I echoed. “Five years ago, this team was a joke, a punch line. We’ve completely turned around our chances, and to actually be in the running for the cup again this year—”

  “Because of you,” Candace interjected.

  I puffed up. Yes, it was definitely because of me. Why not indulge in a little bit of chest thumping? I had the career I wanted, the most incredible girl I could ask for, and everything was coming up Ian. Nice guys finish last, Ian fucking Carter comes in first.

  Candace smiled indulgently, and let me continue bragging, but I noticed that the smile did not reach her eyes.

  “Something on your mind, baby?” I asked. “Shit, sorry, how was work today?”

  She waved her hand. “Work is fine, busy as hell preparing for the launch, but that’s not what I’m thinking about.”

  “Well then?” I asked impatiently. I wanted to go back to talking about the Cup. “What are you thinking about?”

  Her pretty, eminently kissable mouth twisted into a frown. “The playoffs, they're coming on so fast.”

  “Only three more weeks!” I added excitedly.

  “You’re going to be on the road a lot, right?”

  “That's sort of required, yeah,” I said.

  “Huh,” she said, twisting her napkin and turning away.

  “Candy,” I sighed, reaching over and closing her wrist in my fingers. I loved how small and delicate the bones of her wrists were. It was like she was made to fit in my hands. “Are you worried about seeing me?”

  She bit her lip, turned away, then sighed and turned back to look right into my eye. “Yes,” she exhaled exasperatedly. “I am worried about seeing you. A
ren’t you worried about seeing me?”

  I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. She made a small noise. “Have you not thought about this at all?”

  I shifted in my chair. “I mean—playoffs. That’s just kind of how these things go.”

  “How exactly do they go, Ian?” she asked tightly. “I’ve never done this before. Please, enlighten.”

  She was pissed at me, I had no idea why. “We’ll see each other when I’m in town!” I tried to explain.

  “And when is that? Do you give me a schedule? Do I clear my calendar, fit my life around yours?”

  I pulled my hand back. “No, I guess you don’t have to do that—If you don’t want to.”

  “Do you want me to?” she demanded. “What do you want? Where is this going? Are we hanging out, or are we something more?”

  “I think you’re reading into this situation a little bit too much, Candace,” I said tightly. “Hockey is my life, and you know this. Were you listening when I told you we had another shot at the Cup this year? Don’t you know what this means for me? This is my year! This is what I’ve been waiting for my entire life! This is the culmination of everything I’ve ever wanted.”

  “I see,” Candace said shortly.

  Too late, I realized my mistake. “And I want you there, too,” I finished lamely.

  “Will you be there for the launch party?”

  “Of course I will! I’m the one who put the fucking thing together! For you, I might remind you.”

  She nodded indifferently, her lips still pressed together. “And my sister’s engagement party? And her wedding? Will you be there for those? Or are they not a big part of your life and the culmination of everything you’ve ever wanted?”

  “You’re being ridiculous.”

  “Maybe I am, Ian,” she sighed, burying her face in her hands. “It’s just, we haven’t talked about anything real these past few weeks. And you’ve been so busy with practice, we can barely fit in a conversation before you fall asleep.”

  I stifled a yawn that cracked along my jaw. “I do not.”