Delayed Call

by Toni Aleo

Kissing her nose, he pulled her along. “So this was my home. I was in this rink more than I was home. Oh! Come here, I’ll show you where Nathan stood.”

  Taking her hand, he pulled her toward the rink, and she couldn’t stop smiling. He was excited, happy, and after seeing Nathan and his mom’s real burial site earlier that morning, she was glad he was so upbeat. It had been hard watching him clean their little plots, making them pristine as he held back his tears. While he was a hard-ass, he had a lot of emotion in that big ole body of his, and she was truly amazed by him. It was like she saw a different layer of him daily, and she swore she was falling for each one. She couldn’t stop herself if she tried.

  When he pushed open the doors to the rink, she was surprised that the lights were on and the ice was surfaced. Before she could ask why, they stopped in front of a chair. On it, though, there was a sign indicating not to sit on it, that it was saved for Nathan. Her heart ached as she looked up at Vaughn, her eyes clouding with tears. “That is the sweetest thing I have ever seen.”

  “He sat there every day. As long as I was out there, he was sitting or standing. He was my biggest fan.”

  He smiled grimly, and she held on to him, kissing his bicep. “You know you were amazing to him, right?”

  “Yeah, I know,” he said quietly, cupping her face. “Thanks, though.”

  As they stood there, the sounds of the rink and the coolness of the air swirling around them, she wanted to make him smile. She wanted him to be happy. Though, she knew this part of him never would be. Kissing him once more, she leaned her chin on his bicep, which made him look down as she whispered, “Is the spot open?”

  His brows pulled together. “What spot?”

  “The spot for your biggest fan?” Her voice was still a whisper as his lip pulled up at the side. “Or is one of your many whores occupying it right now?”

  “Nope, no whores. But the spot is taken.”

  Her heart stopped. “Oh?”

  “Yeah, by my babe,” he said, tapping her nose. “Only you can wear number forty.”

  “Oh, good, I was worried.”

  “No, I mean, if you’re dating me, then you’re basically my biggest fan.”

  She shot him a dull look. “I was trying to be sweet.”

  He nuzzled her nose and smiled. “I know, but you made fun of my nickname.” She beamed as he kissed her softly before taking her hand. “Come on.”

  “Where?”

  “I want to beat you on my ice.”

  “What the hell!” she said, dropping her hand from his as he laughed.

  Throwing up his hands, he yelled, “Why’d you think I brought you here?”

  “No, I’m saying ‘what the hell’ because you’re insane if you think I’d let that happen.”

  He sent her a challenging grin, and they walked together around the rink and into the bench area. But when she only saw sticks and skates, she turned to him quizzically. “Where is the gear?”

  He waggled his brows at her. “We’re playing strip hockey.”

  Her jaw dropped. “Are you insane?”

  “Nope, and let me explain why,” he said, taking his boots off. “One, we both like each other naked. Two, the place is locked down, no one can get in. Three, it will be quick ’cause you’re going to lose.”

  She glared. “One, it’s fucking cold. I’m gonna freeze my balls off.”

  He hollered out, pointing to her. “I knew you had balls!”

  Laughing, she shook her head. “I’m not playing.”

  “What?” he asked, putting on his skates. “Scared you’ll be naked, and I’d do you on the ice?”

  She scoffed. “Not scared ’cause that will happen, but I’m trying to save your legendary cock. Don’t want you to get frostbite.”

  “Put your skates on, then. I’ll worry about my cock.”

  “But I have to worry about it too, I like it a lot.”

  “Put your skates on, crybaby.”

  “I’m not crying.”

  “Wah, wah, wah, I’m cold, and I’m scared my sexy boyfriend is going to beat me.”

  “You’re not sexy,” she said, toeing out of her shoes. “And you’re not going to beat me.”

  She watched as he went out onto the ice, skating around with the ease only he had. There was something extremely sensual about the way he skated. He took such long strides, his body moving as if it was meant to do nothing but skate. As she tried to tie her skates, she couldn’t help but watch him. Though, when she saw the stick he had gotten her, she smiled. “You brought my stick?’

  He looked over at her, a grin playing on his lips. “Yeah, figured you want it.”

  When she looked back at it, her heart skipped a beat when she saw her name written on it like a professional’s.

  B. Soledad.

  It wasn’t that big of a deal to other people, but to her, it was. She had thought it was her dream to play professionally, but that wasn’t her path. Broadcasting was, and she loved it, but her name on that stick was a sweet gesture from her hunky boyfriend. As she stood on her skates, she reached for her stick. “Aw, you even taped it for me?”

  “Yeah, is it okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s great.”

  “It’s how I do mine.”

  “It’s good,” she said, testing the flex before getting on the ice with him. “Now, tell me the rules.”

  He grinned suggestively. “Every goal, the other person strips.”

  “Post?”

  “Crossbar, but from the blue line—”

  She rolled her eyes. “That’s not fair! You have way more power than me.”

  “Let me finish,” he scolded, and she pursed her lips. “I’m at the blue line, you’re in line with the top of the face-off circle.”

  She looked over at the distance from the circle to the goal and nodded her head. “Okay, I go first.”

  “Why do you go first?”

  “I’m a lady, asshole.”

  “’Cause a lady says asshole.”

  She shot him a grin. “She does—and motherfucker. Lots of motherfuckers come out of ladies’ mouths.”

  He chuckled as she took the puck from beneath his stick and moved it to the circle. Warming up, she wiggled her arms, stretching them as she eyed the post. She dropped into a squat and then touched her toes before Vaughn called out. “Okay, Jenny, let’s go.”

  “What? Why am I Jenny?”

  “He stretches like that.”

  “Oh, it’s effective.”

  “Apparently.”

  “Is he coming tomorrow night?”

  “Yeah, and Wren, Wells, and I think the new guy is Alex? Andrew? Austin? I can’t remember.”

  “Shouldn’t you know that?”

  “Eh, I will tomorrow.”

  “And Jensen likes Wren, right?”

  “Yeah, he’s in love with her.”

  She made a face. “What’s wrong with being in love?”

  “Nothing, but he won’t even talk to her.”

  “Maybe he’s taking his time.”

  “Maybe he’s a pansy ass.”

  But it seemed like more than that. His answer didn’t satisfy her in the least. Leaning on her stick, she met his annoyed gaze as he asked, “Are we going to do this? I want to see your boobs.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Answer me this first. So, you aren’t making fun of the fact that he’s in love, it’s that he won’t tell her.”

  He eyed her. “What are you getting at?”

  She shrugged slightly. “Just making sure your playboy side isn’t popping back into place and you’re not trying to say you won’t love someone.”

  Skating toward her, he pointed his stick at her. “Are you trying to ask if I love you?”

  She balked since that’s exactly what she was doing. “No, but I hope you will one day.” Stopping in front of her, he leaned on his stick so that he was face-to-face with her. She wanted to laugh since his stick was the same height as she was, but her eyes were locked with his as she said, “Ju
st asking.”

  “Well, stop asking.”

  “Why?”

  “’Cause when I want to talk about that, I’ll let you know.”

  “So I have to be on your time?”

  “Are we fighting? I don’t want to fight. I want to play and maybe do you somewhere in here. Can we do that?”

  “No, we’re not fighting, you horndog, I just want an answer.”

  “No.”

  “No, what?”

  “No, I’m not making fun of him for being in love. I think love is awesome with the right person. Like Shea and Elli, for example. Have I been in love? Not in a while. Does it scare me? Yes. Will I maybe one day love you? I mean, that would be cool, but I’m not rushing it.”

  “Okay.”

  He eyed her. “Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Good,” he said, standing up, but then he paused. “Wait, do you love me? Already? It’s been like two weeks.”

  She laughed nervously. “No, you nerd, I was just asking.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Fine!” she yelled before whipping back and knocking the shit out of the puck. It was sloppy and she wasn’t aiming, but somehow, she hit the crossbar. Her eyes shot wide as she looked up at him, his jaw hanging open. “Ha! Give me your pants.”

  “It doesn’t work like that, and you didn’t mean to do that.”

  “I did too! That’s my wrister,” she teased, waggling her brows, and he rolled his eyes.

  “You did not. That was all luck,” he yelled, sliding off his jacket and leaving it on the ice as he took a puck out of the bucket that was waiting at the middle.

  “It was not.”

  “Yes, it was.”

  Looking at the goal, he shot but missed. She beamed over at him and laughed. “Not so legendary against your girlfriend.”

  “You messed with my head.”

  “It was all my plan,” she said, shooting and missing the goal completely.

  “Told you it was luck.”

  “Shut up.”

  And on they went. Vaughn missed a few more times, as she hit it once more, his scarf joining the jacket. But then, Vaughn went on a roll. He hit the crossbar six times in a row, and soon, Brie was shivering in only her panties and leggings.

  As she dropped her bra, she shook her head as he laughed and said, “My wrister is basically badass.”

  “Whatever.”

  Still laughing as he drank her in, Vaughn called to her, “I’m surprised you didn’t do the leggings.”

  “I don’t want to take my skates off.”

  Chuckling as she shot, she missed, and her head fell back. But when she heard the ding, she closed her eyes. Glancing over at him as he beamed like a kid in the candy shop, she shook her head. “Can we just say I took my leggings off?”

  “Nope. Go on over there and take them off. I’ll wait.”

  “You’re a jerk.”

  “Want some help?” he called to her as she skated toward the bench.

  She paused and then pointed to him. “Yes, come yank them off.”

  He laughed as she sat on the bench, holding her legs up. “I’m surprised. You haven’t given up.”

  She scoffed. “Please. I’m warming up.”

  He was still chuckling until he yanked her leggings off, then his chuckles died off. Glancing up at him, she watched as his lips curved and he reached for her, picking her up in his arms. “What in the world are you doing?”

  “You,” he answered, holding her gaze. “Think I can handle you in a thong?”

  He pressed his lips against hers as his hands grasped her ass. Breathless, she melted into the kiss but also his warmth. His arms were so warm, and when he placed her feet back into her skates, she almost whimpered. “This naughty thong,” he muttered against her mouth before he yanked it off. The fabric tore as she gasped against his mouth. “You don’t need that.”

  “I don’t?”

  “Nope,” he said, turning her around. Thankfully he had her as she wobbled on her skates. Groaning loudly, he ran his hands down her ass before bending her over the boards. The cold air hit her warm center, and she gasped as he slid his hands between her legs, feeling her wet folds and causing her eyes to drift closed. “I want you. Here.”

  As he slid a finger into her, she whimpered. “I figured.”

  He trailed kisses down her shoulders and back, and she heard his pants drop before he was in her with one hard thrust, taking away any coherent thoughts she might have had. Grasping her hips, he pounded into her, and the sounds of their bodies slapping together echoed through the empty rink, her cries joining with his grunts. He took her breast in his hand, and she cried out as he continued to pound into her, his teeth raking her shoulder as he went deeper, harder with each thrust. She wasn’t sure how this happened, but in a way, she didn’t care one bit. Having sex with Vaughn was probably her favorite thing to do.

  Which might be a little sad, and she might want to reevaluate her hobbies. Later. She’d do that much later.

  His fingers threaded in her hair, yanking her head back, and his mouth covered hers as he swallowed her cries. When he pulled back, his mouth only inches from hers, she gasped, “My hair.”

  “Fuck your hair,” he grunted, slamming into her. “I want people to look at you and then me, and say, wow, she was just done by that dude. And then,” he gasped, his body stilling as he fought for breath, “I want you to look at them and be like, yeah, he did this. He messed up my hair by fucking me against the boards in the Vaughn Johansson Skating Center.”

  “You forgot the home of ‘The Legend’ part.”

  “Damn right, you’re being fucked by a legend.”

  She snorted, her body squeezing his. “I’ll make sure to say that.” Smiling against his mouth as he started to pick up his rhythm, she breathed, “Even if it’s a little old lady.”

  Thrusting hard, he felt his body shake as he grunted hard against her mouth. Sucking in a deep breath, he leaned his nose to hers as he placed a kiss to the side of her mouth. “You tell her you were done by The Legend.”

  When he opened his eyes, his lips turned up in a grin and she shook her head, sputtering with laughter. “You never cease to amaze me with your cockiness.”

  Still gasping for breath, he kissed the side of her mouth. “And to think, it’s only the beginning.”

  As their mouths joined in a heated tangle, his arms swallowing her against him, she got lost in the kiss. She ignored the cold air and how cocky he was because she knew, at that moment, she loved him. Yeah, it had only been two weeks, and he probably would take forever to fall for her, but she had fallen for him.

  Completely.

  While she knew it to be true, she found that, for the first time since knowing him, she was terrified of her feelings.

  He potentially could never reciprocate her feelings. She wasn’t naïve to that; she knew it could happen. He would run, and she knew he would. But the problem was, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to pick herself up from a heartbreak like that.

  And it would be one hell of a heartbreak.

  “Babe, Jenny is downstairs with Wren, waiting.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. Can you text Wren and ask what she’s wearing?”

  Leaning up on his elbows, he looked down at his girlfriend who was sitting on the floor with clothes all around her. Her hair and makeup were done and she looked gorgeous, but she was naked. “Go like that.”

  “Vaughn!”

  “Fine.” Rolling his eyes, he hit Wren’s number. “Hey, what are you wearing?”

  “I’m not in the mood, Vaughn.”

  “No, really, Brie needs to know.”

  “Oh, hand her the phone.”

  “Babe,” he called, and she looked up as he tossed her the phone.

  “Hey. Oh, so you’re not super dressy? Cool. So jeans are okay? I know it’s just your brother, but I want to look nice. Okay. Cool. Thanks. Yeah, hold on.”
<
br />   Looking back up to him, she tossed his phone back. Bringing it to his ear, he watched as she stood and started to get dressed, her sweet ass wiggling as she slid up a pair of jeans before heading to the bathroom.

  A grin pulled at his lips as he said, “Yeah?”

  “Why is she worried about what to wear?”

  “I don’t know? She’s a girl.”

  “Don’t make her nervous about meeting all of us.”

  “I’m not!”

  “She’s a cool chick.”

  “I know.”

  “Don’t fuck up.”

  “Don’t plan on it.”

  “See you in a few.”

  “I’m just so excited.”

  “Har, har, har,” she said before the line went dead. Leaning back, he laughed as he shook his head, the absurdity of that conversation almost overwhelming. He would never make Brie nervous. Plus, he was pretty sure that girl wouldn’t worry about meeting them anyway. She knew everyone except for Wells and boyfriend guy; it wasn’t that big of a deal. It was a night out for them if nothing else. Them spending time together. Though, he was worried he was spending too much time with her.

  He didn’t want to be the guy he had become when he was with Hazel. He had been pathetic, but he didn’t feel like that with Brie. He didn’t feel like a nuisance or a bother. She enjoyed him, and man, he enjoyed her. More than he could even fathom, and he only hoped she wasn’t getting sick of him.

  When she came out of the bathroom, putting in an earring, he drank in her tight black jeans and big fuzzy white sweater. But when she turned her back to him, sliding her feet into some high black heels, he saw the sweater was backless, with just a tie holding the sides together.

  “You and those backless outfits that drive me wild.”

  She peeked over her shoulder at him. “That’s my plan.”

  “Mmm, come here,” he said, hooking his finger at her.

  “No, you’ll mess my hair up again.”

  “You love it.”

  “That is completely irrelevant.”

  He scoffed. “Come here.”

  “No. Come on, they’re waiting for us.”

  “I don’t care. I want a kiss.”

  “Then come here,” she said, reaching for her wristlet.

  “No, I want you on me as we kiss.”

  She groaned loudly. “You’re so needy,” she teased, crawling onto the bed and on top of him as he slid his hands into her sweater. Kissing her glossed-up lips, he squeezed his eyes shut as their tongues met. His body was still reaping the benefits of their little on-ice action. He loved being on the ice with her, seeing her skate and shoot with all her might. She was so damn hot, and when he had her against those boards, pounding into her with all he had in him, never in his life could he have dreamed up something like that.