"Oh, hi," she says. "I…thought maybe you had changed your mind about hiring me."
"That fact that I have not called you sooner is just proof how badly I need the assistance. We will start to travel soon, and I really need you to help me get organized. Could we meet for coffee?"
When we do meet up at the coffee shop the next morning, I don't show up empty-handed. I've brought a substantial pile of bills and papers in a large file box. When I sit it in front of her, she raises her eyebrows. "What’s this?"
"This is a box of bills and contracts and other miscellaneous life papers."
"And you want me to organize it?"
"Organize it. Help me set up recurring online payments. Read through and tell me anything that needs attention or discussion. I’m going to give you the key to my mailbox and I want you to manage it all."
"Okay, I can do that. Why the sudden focus on this?"
"I am trying to move all of my financial investments to Talia’s firm as you know. Her apartment was ransacked after my current investment managers in Russia got word that I would be transferring my funds.”
“Oh my God, no. Is she okay?”
“Yes, thankfully she wasn’t hurt. But she was spooked. Apparently, they did not want to lose me as a customer."
"That’s quite an excessive reaction."
“And they were taking a very large cut for a very long time. Unauthorized cuts.”
"Ahh…that's not good."
"I have been too trusting for too long. The dyslexia makes it harder for me, of course, and so I need people who can watch my back. Talia is doing that for my financial investments. Can you do this for my daily life?"
"Yes, I can."
"Good. Can you work with Talia to see how we can best manage getting you paid, and how she recommends managing bill payments and such?"
"I can but, Boris?"
"Yes?"
"I don’t mean to overstep, but…"
"Just ask me whatever you were going to say."
"There are resources out there that could help you with your dyslexia. Would you like me to research some things for you?"
I sit back in my chair and run my hands through my hair. "I have managed for a very long time."
"And, per your own acknowledgment, you have been ripped off for a long time too. I really don’t want to make you uncomfortable. It’s just that it seems like you might feel more…in control…if you could manage it. A bit."
I think for a moment, then agree to let her do some research. Ally takes my box of papers and my mailbox key and heads off, with a promise to check in tomorrow.
* * *
Practice is brutal, made up of two solid hours of drill work. We’re not far out from our first preseason games and we’re running like a machine. I feel much better about the way we play together in practice—I just hope it translates when the pressure is on in a regular game.
We head from the ice to the gym for strength and conditioning. I put in an hour on the treadmill, followed by a one-hour CrossFit-designed circuit. I’m literally dripping with sweat when I realize I have a PT appointment with Pam. A quick shower first is a must. Pam will thank me for not coming to her stinking of sweat.
She has me working on some range of motion for my shoulder when she casually slips in a question about how things went with Talia.
"No go," I say. "We both sort of stepped back and realized we should keep our relationship professional. There are a lot of things going on and it seemed like dating would be a definite complication."
"But do you like each other?"
"Yes, I like her very much."
"Then the 'keep it professional' excuse is baloney," she says, making little quote marks with her fingers in the air.
"How is it baloney?"
"Look, I work here, and Georg works here. Scarlett works here and Viktor works here. Evan's wife, Holly, used to work here doing Scarlett's job before she had her second kid. We all make it work, even though there can be professional crossover. She’s your investment agent and you trust her with your wealth. Why wouldn’t you trust that she can be an adult about trying a relationship?"
"I do trust her. Look, she told me she once had an affair with a married client. She did not know he was married at the time, but she was very hurt by the experience. She moved here to avoid being embarrassed by it and to start over. She does not want to make the same mistake twice."
"Are you married?"
"What? No."
"Then what’s the problem? It’s not the same thing."
"I already told you she doesn't want to cross lines between her business and personal life. She is building her career here and she doesn't want to have a reputation."
"Did she say that? She doesn’t want to have a reputation?" Pam’s arms are folded beneath her breasts and she wears a look that makes me think she’s calling bullshit.
"No, she did not say those exact words. She said she doesn’t want to be humiliated again, and that she couldn’t take the risk of things being 'icky and complicated,' I say, making the little finger quotes like Pam did a minute ago.
"Okay." She motions for me to lie down and starts the massage portion of the session. "So, I get she’s gun-shy and I get that you want to respect her wishes, but I also know when you find someone good, you should hold on tight to that person. I think you two can work it out, I really do, Boris."
I don’t say anything in response. In fact, I am quiet for the remainder of the therapy session.
But I hope against hope Pam is right, because I want more with Talia. Now, whenever Pam compares the relationships I’ve seen my friends in, all I can see is Talia. Her wacky sense of humor, her bravery against adversity, her honesty even when it’s hard, and her heart. Fuck, her heart. I want that in my life…daily. And I can see it…but how do I get it?
* * *
"Vlad," I say through the phone. "It’s Boris."
"The Ice Dragon!" he yells. "How good to hear from you."
"My new investment manager’s house got broken into. A note was left, warning her not to take my accounts." Vlad better be the good guy in this, as I’ve trusted him for years, too. Perhaps, time will tell, but I refuse to sound weak to him about this. About Talia.
Vlad is quiet for a moment. His jovial tone has disappeared completely when he finally responds. "They are feeling protective of the relationship they have built with you."
"Relationship?" I laugh. "It is not much of a relationship when they have been stealing money from me all these years."
"Now, Boris, those are serious allegations, friend."
"I am not your friend, and it is a fact. They have stolen millions from me over the years. However, I need you to do something for me that only you are qualified to do. Call your fixers on the ground in Las Vegas, or whatever you have to do to make it happen. I want those ublyudki to stay the hell away from Natalia Wentworth. If they want to come at me, fine, but she is just doing what I have asked her to do. I want you to figure out what these guys need to back away and move my money without problems."
“These things are complicated,” Vlad says cryptically, "but I’ll see what I can do. I'll contact Heisenberg and fill him in on the situation. He is in Vegas and coordinates jobs for me from time to time.
"Thank you."
I hang up with him on my way to knock on Talia’s apartment door.
She opens, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts that make her legs look very long. I have to force myself to stop staring and admiring which is no easy feat.
"Hey," she says. "Come on in."
"Did the security system come?" I ask, looking around. Her apartment is back to normal, everything in its place, or at least in whatever place Talia wants it to be in. She’s slept at my apartment the last two nights, waiting until I could get here and install the security system she ordered.
In answer to my question, she points to a box by the door." That’s probably it."
I open the box, pulling out the components for the do-i
t-yourself system, along with the instructions. I stare at the words as they jump all over the page, then turn to find Talia staring at me with a frown on her face.
"Let me read the directions?"
I nod and hand over the paper. She reads the instructions step by step as I complete the tasks, and in just over an hour, we have the whole system installed and working.
"Wow, they say it is a simple install and it really is," I comment.
"Hopefully it works like they say it will," she answers. "Thanks for your help. I bet you’ll be happy to have your bed back tonight."
"It was no bother," I tell her with a shrug. And it wasn’t. Having her in my house…even LuLu…provided something I hadn’t realized I’d been missing. Conversation. Company. "The main box has a camera and works with the Wi-Fi to call for help if someone forces entry. There are sensors on the windows, and there’s a panic button in the bathroom. That should do it."
"Yep. I guess that should do it."
An awkward silence stretches between us. I don’t know what’s going on in Talia’s mind, but my mind is thinking about how much I loved having her in my space. How I wish I could have shared my bed with her.
She clears her throat and says, "I got Ally’s paperwork figured out and her payments set up. I agree with what I think was your concern and wouldn’t give her access to bank account information, even to set up payments. I’d like to suggest that maybe you two sit down together where you log-in and then she can add the auto bill payments, or she can lead you through it? That way she doesn’t see any of your passcodes, you know? It’s not that I don’t trust her, but in light of what we’re dealing with, I just feel like it’s better to be safe than sorry."
I nod. I don’t know Ally well, but I sense that she’s trustworthy. Still, Talia is right. I’ve been burned out of millions of dollars, so I can’t be too careful right now.
She sees my hesitation and says, "We’ll figure out a way to make it all work."
I sense she’s talking about more than finances, but I don’t have a response for her, so I just say, "Ally seems eager to get started, and with all that’s happened, I feel like it’s important to get organized as soon as possible. Thank you for suggesting the help. You were right, I do need it."
She shrugs. "I hope we picked the right person. When I spoke to her the other day, it felt like maybe she was taking too much ownership too quickly. I sense she’s developed a little crush on you."
I let out a noise of disbelief. "Come on."
"No, I can hear it in her voice when she talks about you."
"Talia, she has been nothing but professional with me so far. And you’re the one who wanted me to hire her. I was just trying to make you happy."
"That’s dumb."
"Why is it dumb?" I cross my arms across my chest, annoyed by her suggestion.
"Why would you hire a person, pay money to a person, just to make your financial advisor happy?"
"Because my financial advisor is someone I trust. Because I take her suggestions seriously and appreciate all she’s doing to help me. If she thinks hiring someone to help organize my life will help my financial well-being in the future, then that is what I’ll do."
Talia’s mouth quirks a little at my answer. "Well, your financial advisor only wants what’s best for you." Her tone is flirty and sexy, and I don't think she even realizes it. I have to will my cock not to respond. She has no idea—no fucking idea—how much I want her.
"And your client only wants to make you happy. And for you to be safe," I answer, trying to keep it light when I'm really fighting to stay under control. I can hear it in my own voice, the darkness, the want. I clear my throat, but I can’t look away. "I’ll fire her if you want me to."
"No," she says quickly. "No, you should keep her if you want her."
"I don’t…want her, Talia. I mean, I think she can help me with organization but the only person I really want…is you."
Talia’s chest moves like she’s fighting to keep her breath even. I can see her nipples are hard, pressing against her T-shirt. I have to suppress the groan that nearly escapes when she licks her lips again. Christ.
"Well"—she takes a slow step toward me—"I want to thank you again for your help these last few days. I'd never have gotten through this without you."
A wave of relief rolls over me, glad our conversation has turned away from this tension…or…whatever the fuck this is right now. "You wouldn’t be in this mess if not for me. I owe it to you."
"You don’t owe me anything," she says softly, her eyes boring into me as she takes another step closer.
"I do, Talia. I owe you a lot. Especially an apology—"
And then her lips are on mine, shutting me up in the best way possible. A hard, punishing kiss spilling over with heat and passion, maybe even some anger, and tasting of mint and chocolate.
My reaction is to take her cheeks in my hands and kiss her right back. Wild and desperate, a tangle of tongues and scrapes of teeth. There's nothing soft or gentle about it. But it's hot.
Insanely hot. Having Talia against me…to feel and touch and kiss.
Talia
I took a chance and just went for it. I kissed Boris.
He doesn't seem to mind even though he does growl a little when I tug our lips apart. "I’ve wanted to do that for a long time," I say, looking up at him.
"I’ve wanted to do a lot of things for a long time," he answers, his hands traveling from the cheeks of my face to the cheeks of my ass. Umm, yeah. Domineering Boris is super hot. He pulls me hard against him like he can’t get me close enough. "You sleep in my bed and all I want is to join you there," he rasps on a hot breath.
"I would have let you," I tell him as he goes back to kissing me, his lips taking a delectable walk from my mouth to my neck to my ear.
With no effort at all, Boris sweeps me up, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist for balance as he walks us over to the chaise. He lowers me down and then stretches me out, kissing me the whole way. When he finally drags his lips off mine, he just stares. Looking a bit dangerous even, his eyes are dark with passion and hunger. I don't have to wonder for long what he has in mind because his hands go to the waistband of my shorts. He raises an eyebrow at me asking permission. So I help him of course. In a matter of moments, I am divested of both my shorts and my panties. Naked from the waist down, and burning up from the fiery heat of his stare.
Then he falls to his knees, as if he's ready to worship me.
"Let me see you."
My whole body must be blushing at his command. I can't breathe and I can't look him in the eye, but I allow my bent knees to part when I feel his hands nudge gently on the inside of my thighs. I'm totally bared to him and one thing's for certain.
He. Is. Looking.
"May I pleasure you, Talia?"
Yeeeeeeesssss.
Boris
She blushes an even deeper shade of pink but nods slowly several times, her long legs opening up for me even farther in invitation. It’s an invitation I don’t need to be given twice as I meet her pussy with my mouth. Tongue and lips and teeth explore her swollen wet lips and her sweet pink clit. I suck and lick and bite and tease, taking my cues from her moans of pleasure. Her hips pump against me, her hands pulling my hair. I focus for a long time on her clit, enjoying her sounds before slipping two fingers inside her tight, hot cunt.
She cries out at me. "Yes. Yes. Please. Oh God, yes please!"
I pump my two fingers in and out as I suck on her clit, so swollen with desire. I know she’s close and I want her to come. I want her to come on my fingers and my face. I want to taste her as she finds her release.
She’s so close. So close. "Let go, krasotka," I urge. "Let me feel you come. Will you come for me?"
She moans and juts her hips, riding my face and my fingers, a wild animal. I love it. I finger her so hard, suck on her clit so hard…
"Fuck. Yes!” she screams, and I devour her, letting her die the wave until
she finally slows the movement of her hips.
When she stills, I pull my fingers free from the viselike grip of her orgasm, backing away, wiping my face with the back of my hand. Talia looks at me, eyes heavy-lidded and lustful. Her cheeks are red and there are red splotches along the creamy skin of her neck. I lean forward and kiss each red mark until I find her lips, letting her taste herself on me.
We kiss and kiss, and I feel her hands on my pants, unbuttoning, pulling my cock free. It’s so, so hard as she strokes her hand up and down the length. At first, it’s slow, leisurely. But the harder our kisses get, the faster her strokes become. She moves her hand only once, to wet it between her own legs before going back to stroking me again. It’s such a turn-on. My hands move beneath her shirt, pinching at her hard nipples before pulling her shirt over her head, desperate to finally get a glimpse of the perky tits I remember from our first meeting.
I push the thin, lace bra up on her chest, freeing her breasts, and there they are. Perfect and round and just as perky as I imagined them to be. Her dusky pink nipples are taut with want. I kiss each one, my teeth grazing over her nipples with gentle scrapes. Jutting them into my mouth, I can tell she likes the attention I'm giving them.
The wetness of pre-cum dots the tip of my cock. I’m close, but I don’t want to be. Not yet. Talia, however, has other ideas. "I want to see you come," she tells me. "I want to see your face when I make you come. Will you look at me?"
I look up, desperate with need. Wanting her so badly. She’s so beautiful with her hair wild from my hands all in it. Her lips swollen from my plundering kisses. Her skin flushed pink from the orgasm I just pulled from her. And as soon as I look into her blue eyes, I’m gone. Lost. Undone.
I come in her hand like a teenager. She strokes me until I’m empty, then falls forward so our foreheads rest against each one another. For a long time, we just breathe together.
Suddenly, Talia’s shoulders begin to shake, and I’m worried she’s crying, embarrassed by our tryst. But when I peer down at her, trying to meet her eyes, I realize she’s laughing.
Puck Money: A Hockey Love Story Page 14