“I haven’t been home in six days. I had to do laundry and I have no clothes at your house. Besides, aren’t you tired of me?”
“Why?” I counter. “Are you tired of me?” I grab my keys, walking out of my loft, and down to my car, opening the door.
“No, but I wasn’t sure.”
“Pack a bag, angel, I’ll be there in fifteen,” I say as I make my way over to her house. “I don’t give a shit if you bring your wet clothes with you. Besides, I want to hear how loud you really yell when I make you come.” I smile as I think back on the times she put a pillow on her face to drown out her moans.
“Fine,” she huffs out. “Twist a girl’s arm.”
And when I pull up to the house she’s sitting on the stoop with a small bag packed. I pick her up and some food, and then on the couch I spread her legs and eat my dessert, listening to her moans echoing through my loft.
We have one home game and then we leave the next day to North Carolina, then right back home for Thanksgiving. I’m on my way in for the home game when Denise finally calls me back.
“Where the hell have you been?” I ask her as soon as I pick up.
“I’ve been going nuts. This gala is going to be the best thing since they put chocolate on pretzels,” she says with so much enthusiasm. “And the Thanksgiving meal is going to be amazing. Karrie is a god send. She has jumped in with both feet, not even batting an eye.”
“That’s great,” I say as I walk down the hall to the dressing room.
“So you and Allison?” she finally asks and I smile as I look at her door that is open, but the light is closed, so I know she isn’t here yet.
“Yeah,” I answer, looking around. “It just happened.”
Denise lets out a laugh. “Maxie, there was so much sexual tension with you two it was off the charts. You’re welcome, by the way.”
“Why is that?” I ask as I see Allison walk down the hall with Matthew behind her. She’s wearing a skirt. She never wears a skirt. This one is tight, with a black button-down and a white blazer.
“Well, if I didn’t invite her that night you would still be walking around with your head up your ass.”
“Well, Shannon there didn’t help, by the way.”
“Yeah, well, it pushed you both, so. Are you still going away for Christmas?” she asks as I look down.
I always stay for Christmas Eve, but Christmas morning I get in my car and drive the five hours to my house.
“Yup, my place the eve. I leave in the morning.”
“Perfect, I’ll arrange everything,” she says as someone calls her in the background. “Okay, I gotta go. See you in two days.” She disconnects and I go into the room, suiting up for the game.
I warm up by working out and then making myself a peanut butter sandwich as Allison walks in, looking around.
“Is Matthew here?” she asks, and I shake my head. I want her to come over and kiss me. I want to drag her in the back and find out exactly what she’s wearing under that skirt. “Okay,” she says, stopping in front of me.
I look up at her as her eyes laugh.
“You seem to have a mark next to your name there.” She points to my bicep that has my name scripture on it, with two hickeys next to it.
“Yeah, forgot about those. What’s with the getup?” I ask her as she looks down.
“I had a staff picture to do. Do you see my garters in this?”
And my eyes glare at her as I grip the knife my hand was holding.
“Have a good game,” she says and sashays out of the kitchen and right before she pulls the door open I say, “Don’t fucking change.”
She looks ahead and nods.
“Not even the shoes,” I say as the door closes behind her and I eat my stuff.
I get on that ice like a bat out of hell. I deke, I push, I smash into the corner as I count down the time till she’s on her back. I wait by the blue line as Matthew passes the puck back to the defenseman, who shoots me the puck landing in the middle of my blade, and cross over to go into the zone. Knowing I don’t have a shot, I pass it back to the defenseman as we start the box, passing back and forth till I slide into the middle as Matthew accepts the pass and shoots it at the net, sliding into the goalie’s legs since I’m standing in front of him as a diversion. He points at me as we skate to the bench to high-five everyone. The rest of the game is the same with our line creating four more scoring chances. I finish the game off with that they call ‘A Gordie Howe’ hat trick, a goal, an assist, and a penalty. I get on the plane, not even looking in the back because Allison is sitting in the front and her skirt is riding high and there is no way in fuck anyone else is sitting next to her. Putting my bag in the overhead, I sit down next to her, and take off my jacket, putting it beside me to cover her legs. She glares at me as I smile at her and bring my phone out. When we get into the hotel, I open my door and see that there is no adjoining door.
I take my phone out and call her right away and she answers almost breathlessly.
“Yes.”
“Where are you?” I ask her, opening my door, and looking down the hallway.
“I’m on the second floor,” she says and I walk to the elevator and press the door. “They were sold out on the fifth, so they stuck me on the second. Two fourteen.”
“I’m coming,” I say, hanging up, and then pressing the button down. It’s taking forever, so I walk to the end and take the stairs down three flights. I knock at her door softly and she opens it.
“Hello there.” She smiles lightly as I wrap my arm around her, drag her to the bed, and find out exactly what she has on under her skirt, as I have her legs draped over my shoulders wearing just the fucking heels and her garter. I spend the night making her scream.
Chapter Twenty-One
Allison
“I’ll be outside in five,” Max gruffs out in the phone.
We got back last night and he was none too pleased when I told him that I was sleeping at my house. He pouted like a two-year-old. I grab a scarf around my neck as I run down the stairs to the front door, putting my black Tory Birch shoes on to complete the outfit, which is black tight jeans and a team T-shirt, with my leather jacket. I grab my purse and phone and walk out the same time that Max arrives. I open the door and see him in jeans and his leather jacket with his Ray-Bans on.
“Morning,” I say, getting in, and putting my seat belt on. “What?”
“I haven’t seen you all night and you don’t even kiss me when you see me?” he says with his back to the door and one hand on the steering wheel while the other rests on the middle console.
“Well,” I say, leaning over, and pecking his lips. “Morning.”
“Seriously?” He whips his glasses off. “Allison.”
“Max,” I counter him as he whips his belt off and leans over, his hands cupping my face as he kisses me, his tongue twirling with mine. He turns his face to the right, bringing my face even closer to his, and he consumes me. He takes what he wants from me, leaving me breathless and achy. “Well then,” I whisper when he leaves my lips, trailing kisses to my chin and cheek, and then biting my earlobe as I groan out.
“Kiss, Allison,” he says, buckling back up, and making his way to the hospital.
We get out of the car and I reach for his hand as he turns his palm toward mine. We walk toward the door and jump when someone honks and I drop his hand as he yanks it away from me. We look toward the beep at my father and mother getting out of their car with Zoe, Zara, and Justin followed by Matthew, Karrie, and their kids, Cooper, Franny, and Vivi. Pulling up is Doug also. We wait for them to walk to us as Max puts his hands in his pockets.
Zoe and Zara run to me and tackle me with hugs and kisses. I miss these nutcases.
“You look like a fucking rock star,” Zara says as Zoe looks at me. “You also look like you’re in love.” And then she puts her finger down her throat. “Groddy.” Then I see the second they get a look at Max because their eyes bulge out. “Who is this?”
Max is about to nod hello when Zoe walks up to him, putting out her hand, so Max shakes hers then she turns and whispers, ““Ohhh, Max.Big hands, big feet. Big—”
I put my hand over her mouth before she finishes that sentence.
Zara meanwhile walks up to him, getting on her tippy toes, and leans in to hug him. The look on his face is priceless and he doesn’t move his hands from his sides. Because growling behind is Cooper carrying Vivi.
“Would you two for once in your life not make my teeth clench during the day?”
They both shrug and walk away holding Franny’s hand.
Cooper comes to me and kisses my cheek. “Happy Thanksgiving, princess,” he says as I lean up, hugging him.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Dad.” And then I see my mom, so I hug her tight. “Hey, Mom.”
She turns to Max and smiles at him, walking to him, and hugging him. He bends down and hugs her also with one hand as Matthew arrives with his arm slung around Karrie.
“Are we not going in?” he asks and Max nods and turns away, walking ahead of us as I walk next to my family.
“So, Matthew,” Zoe starts, “just so we are clear.” I look at them as they walk backward, facing Matthew and Karrie.
“If Allison can get lifts from your arch enemy, does this mean I can have a crush on him?” She laughs as Zara nods her head and turns to high-five her.
“Girls.” My mother stops walking, making everyone stop, my father putting both hands to his face.
“First of all, he isn’t my arch enemy,” Matthew starts as I look down at my feet and he continues, “and second of all, all he is doing is giving her a lift.”
“So, it’s a go.” Zoe and Zara both clap and then run into the hospital where I see Max get to the elevator and the twins pounce on him, asking him question after question.
When we finally reach Denise’s floor she whelps out, running to us. “You guys, you have to see this,” she says as she pulls Max with her and walks down an empty room at the end of the hall. It’s set up like buffet style, but there are five tables of food and desserts. While four chefs, and I mean chefs, all donning white aprons and high hats walk around checking stuff. I look at Denise, who has tears running down her face as she hugs Max’s waist. She looks over at us and then at Karrie. “I have no words and I don’t think I can thank you enough.”
“It’s nothing,” Karrie says as she smiles. “Now what else can we do?”
“We can go meet the families that have come out today,” Denise says as she leads everyone away from the room and in fifteen minutes, my family has taken over the third floor. Zoe and Zara are busy playing princess with three of the patients, as Justin, Cooper, Franny, and Vivi play Uno with two other patients. Well, at least they try. Justin just lets them do what they want. I take my jacket off, tossing it in the corner with everyone else’s, as I walk down the hall looking for someone, but mostly looking for Max.
Max, Matthew, and Cooper are in the room with a little boy, talking hockey as they sign his autograph book. I walk into the room as he turns to look at Cooper and then at me. “She’s so pretty,” he says, pointing at me. He must be nine years old.
“She is,” Cooper says as Matthew rolls his eyes. “That’s my little girl.”
“My dad says if I want to marry a girl I have to ask her father. Can I marry her?” he asks Cooper, who laughs and says, “Anytime.”
I turn to walk away and Matthew yells, “Why are you wearing a Horton shirt?” He puts his hands on his hips.
“Well, considering we are here for his family, I found it fitting,” I say as Max looks down and then up, smirking.
“Whatever. I’ll let it slide for this one time, but you’re a Grant,” he says as I walk away and when it’s time to eat I make my way to the room and see that my sisters have sat down on each side of Max as he looks up and almost glares at me as I take a seat in front of him. My mother comes to the table and sits as does Cooper. We all wait at the table as the families walk in and take in their Thanksgiving feast. We get up and applaud them all as they stand there with hands over their mouths and shocked expressions. I beam with pride, smiling over at Karrie as she wipes away a tear as Matthew pulls her to him and kisses her head.
We sit down to eat as one of the fathers stands up, “We wanted to.” He dabs his eyes as tears start to form, “I think I speak for all the parents here when I say every day we walk into the hospital and our child is okay it is a thankful day. But what you guys did today,” he shakes his head, “shows us that we have so more to be thankful for.” He raises his glass and says, “Thank you.” We all raise our glasses as we sit down and eat.
As soon as everyone gets up and leaves to go to their rooms, the day no doubt exhausting everyone. We get up and start helping put things away. When everything is back to normal we all get ready to leave, stopping in to say goodbye to Denise.
Stepping out of the elevator, Cooper says to me, “You coming over to our house, baby girl?”
I shake my head. “Nope, gotta date with the BF.” I smile as I walk outside. My mother looks down and smiles.
“Well, why the fuck didn’t he come and meet us today?” Cooper hisses out then looks at Mom. “I don’t like him.”
“Honey,” she says, tapping his arm. “Let it go.”
“You know, don’t you?” He points at her as she shakes her head.
“Well, at least let us drop you off,” Cooper says as the twins run to Max and give him a hug and he awkwardly leans down, tapping their shoulders.
“Not a chance in hell, Pops,” I say, walking toward Max’s truck. “Besides, Max is driving me home and I have to get my bag.” I then turn around to walk backward. “But I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“Max, if you see this tool, get his license plate number!” Cooper yells while Mom pulls him to their car.
I get in as soon as Max opens the door lock. I don’t even get buckled in before he is taking off, going down the street, and turning randomly into a side street. “What is—” I don’t finish because he’s over the console and his lips are on mine. My hands reach out to touch him.
“Angel,” he says quietly, dusting my lips with kisses, soft kisses, light kisses, perfect kisses. “Your sisters are fucking nuts.” He smiles as he kisses me. “I think one tried to touch my cock with their foot.”
I throw my head back, laughing.
“It’s not funny.”
“They think you’re hot.” I push him away. “Don’t let it go to your head. They are both fighting over Ryder,” I say as he starts the car, making his way to his loft. “I’m so tired I might sleep till four tomorrow.”
“The night is just beginning.”
I look at him as he winks at me.
“Besides I need to show you what I’m most thankful for.” He laughs as he takes me home, shows me exactly what he’s thankful for, and I thank him all night by yelling out his name again and again and fucking again.
When we arrive the next day, he takes off as soon as we walk into the rink. I get a text from my mother telling us they are already there in the shop, so I make my way upstairs. Zara and Zoe are wearing a Horton jersey. I put my head in my hands and laugh.
“Those two are in love.” I hear my mother from the side of me. She stands there as she watches them try on baseball hats. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she says, still looking ahead at the twins, her voice low. “I know we don’t get to choose who we love, but I just want you to be careful.”
“Mom,” I say, “no one said anything about love.”
She cups my cheek. “My beautiful girl, you wouldn’t risk everything you know if you didn’t love him.” Her smile comes out. “His history with the family is a big hurdle that you will have to overcome. You have to just prepare yourself, whose side you will be on. Because”—she shakes her head, looking down—“if you can�
�t stand by his side, wholeheartedly, let him go.”
I swallow as the words rip through me. Let him go. Just the thought hurts me. Not seeing him smile, hurts my heart; it’s an ache that goes deep, an ache that no matter how many times I rub my chest I don’t think it can go away. She sees me rubbing my chest.
“That’s love.” She grabs my shoulders as she pulls me to her and I bask in the security of my mother’s hug. I’ve felt this security with three people in my life—my mother, my brother, and Cooper. And now the same security comes from Max.
I struggle with my thoughts throughout the whole game, the lingering feelings staying there in the back of my head during the whole week leading up to the gala. I’ve been going nuts this whole week, so I haven’t seen Max that much. Till the night of the gala when I’m rushing around my bedroom in my strapless bra and matching panties as I get ready. Max is picking me up in ten minutes and I haven’t put on my dress yet. My hair is tied at the side in a messy side bun with loose, wavy strands falling out. I take the one of a kind dress off the hanger. It’s a beautiful soft pink, fully embroidered. It dips low in the front and comes in at the waist tight and then flairs off with ten layers of crinoline. I step into my dark pink satin high heels as the doorbell rings. I grab my shawl and hold the back of my dress as I walk downstairs to the door, opening it to the back of Max, since he is looking out onto the road. His black tux falls perfectly as he turns around and sees me. He’s beautiful. I know we shouldn’t call a man beautiful, but he is. He looks at me and grins as I turn around and ask him, “Can you zip me?”
He comes in, closing the door as he zips the zipper to the middle of my back, then he leans down and kisses my shoulder. I turn around to face him and I see the circles under his eyes.
“Did you not sleep good last night?” I ask him. With everything going on with getting things ready, we haven’t really been together this last week.
“I know we have to go.” He looks at the limo parked outside. “And I know I’m going to sound like a needy bitch right now, but”—he struggles with his words—“is this it? You’re distant and I know you said it’s because of the gala and the stress but”—he shakes his head—“if you need to end this or just need to walk away…” He swallows and I see his Adam’s apple move. “I get it.”
Something So Irresistible Page 14