Body Check

by Deirdre Martin

  Janna shot him a look. “Aye, aye, Captain.”

  “Here we go.”

  Side by side again, they took off skating. Janna was a nervous wreck, only half listening to the small talk Ty was making. Her whole body—cold butt included—was tensed in preparation of his letting go of her. But when it happened, she followed his instructions and just kept moving. Amazingly enough, she found she was skating on her own.

  “You’ve got it!” Ty called.

  I’ve got it, Janna thought excitedly, and promptly fell again. “Don’t help me,” she called out to him. “I want to get up on my own.”

  Shaky, she rose, reaching out to the boards with one hand for support. Ty stood far down ice from her.

  “C’mon,” he coaxed. “Skate to me.”

  Janna shook her head. “You’re too far away.”

  “Give up now and I kick your icy butt. That’s a promise.”

  Sucking in her breath, Janna cursed him and with great determination, pushed off the boards. She nearly fell immediately, but regained her balance and through sheer force of will remained upright, working her way toward him in slow, choppy fashion.

  “That’s it,” he enthused. He clapped, holding out his arms. “C’mon, Blue Eyes. Almost there.”

  Haltingly, Janna skated the final few feet toward him. When she was close enough for him to touch, he guided her into the safety of his arms.

  “I knew you could do it,” he said proudly, enfolding her in an embrace. “I knew . . .”

  He stopped, his gaze gentle as he looked down into her face. Then his mouth was on hers, the kiss sweet and tender, her own lips responding in kind as he drew her in closer, almost as if he wished their bodies could meld together right there on the ice.

  “What do you say we continue our New Year’s Eve celebration back at my apartment?” he whispered in her ear seductively.

  “How about mine?”

  “Why yours?”

  “I’ve got Ring Dings and donuts and Diet Coke.”

  “Well, in that case,” he replied, kissing her nose, “your place it is.”

  CHAPTER 13

  His instinct was to devour, possess. To take what was his and find quick release for the ache building within him. And yet, gazing at her tenderly as she stood beside the sleigh bed in her tiny bedroom lighting a candle, he was overwhelmed with a sense of wanting to know every inch of her. He imagined his mouth lingering on the pearl white skin at the nape of her neck, could almost feel the enticing firmness of her small, sexy breasts as he cupped them in his hands. Such sensations could not, should not, be rushed. And so, despite the hot-blooded voice in his head feverishly urging him on, he determined instead to devour her slowly.

  Candle lit, she turned to him. The flickering light shimmered gold and danced off the blond of her hair, creating an effect almost halolike. Silently, Ty reached out and put his hands on her shoulders, pleased with the mild shiver that ran through her as he slowly slid his hands down the length of her arms, his fingers reaching for hers. Head cocked, she looked as if she might be getting ready to ask him a question. But no; it was more an anticipatory move as she stood on tiptoes and kissed him full on the mouth, the mere taste of her reminding him to take his time.

  There was hunger in her kiss, and urgency. If he followed her lead, they’d be tearing their clothes off and diving for each other within seconds. He had to slow her down, make her see that their coming together would be worth the wait.

  Gently withdrawing his mouth from hers, he kept hold of her hand and sat down on the bed. She did the same. He could hear her breath hitching as he folded her back like an empty dress, a languid, contented smile playing across her beautiful face. Moved, he reached out and caressed the softness of her cheek.

  Holding her gaze, basking in the quiet happiness he saw reflected there, he gently moved on top of her. Janna gave a small purr as he pressed his body against hers. Ty watched as she deliberately arched her hips against his, a challenge. Aroused, he buried his face in the sweetness of her neck and throat, his lips teasing, skimming, never resting. Janna moaned, her body twisting slightly beneath his—restless, tormented. At last she reached for his head, her hands grabbing his hair.

  “Ty,” she whispered. He lifted his head from his teasing to lay eyes upon her again. “I want you so badly.”

  “Soon,” he promised, the ache within him spiking. Sliding down her body, he put his hands to her breasts, touching, caressing, taking his time, making sure he’d memorized the feel of her, the curve of her. Her response told him submission was imminent: Janna’s head fell back as if she were offering him the purity of her throat as a sacrifice.

  Head reeling, he again chose to feast there, careful as he sunk his teeth into her warm, soft flesh. When she cried out, her naked arousal drove him damn close to the brink, but he was determined not to surrender control, not yet. Rolling off her, he calmly undid the buttons of the velveteen shirt she was wearing, revealing a black lace bra underneath. He saw Janna tense in sweet anticipation of his undoing the clasps at the back and freeing her. But instead, he left the bra on, his mouth closing over the lace covering her right nipple, small sparks of pleasure shooting through him as she gasped.

  “Please, Ty, now,” she begged.

  “Soon,” he repeated gruffly, wondering how much longer he’d be able to hold off. He pulled her so she was sitting upright, sliding her shirt from her shoulders. And then, planting a series of delicate butterfly kisses across her collarbone, he finally unfastened the bra and gently removed it. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured, kissing the cleft between her breasts.

  Tears glistened in Janna’s eyes. “No one’s ever told me that before,” she whispered, sounding as if she were trying to catch hold of her own breath.

  “Then no one’s ever really seen you before.”

  He moved to kiss her breasts, but she stopped him, just for a moment, to take the reins herself. He watched her careful concentration as she tugged off his sweater and the turtleneck beneath. Pleasure pumped through him as he wondered what she might do. Touch him? Kiss him? Lick him? He closed his eyes. A second later, he felt a burning sensation as her palms began stroking his chest, white hot, the need within him driving him over the precipice of reason into passion.

  Grabbing her they fell back on the bed, mouth seeking mouth, flesh seeking flesh, his hands moving faster now, but still not rushing, still taking her in. He was determined to memorize it all: the sweet curve of her ribs, the gentle rocking motion of her hips, the way her skin seemed to rise in temperature beneath his touch. And the taste of her, too, God, yes. Sweet yet salty. The taste of a woman who hungers and is not afraid to show it. The taste alone was enough to drive him headlong into oblivion.

  Lower and lower he explored with both hands and mouth, pausing only to tear away her jeans and panties. Janna’s eyes fluttered closed as her body trembled. Sliding off the bed, Ty knelt on the floor before her. Ankles, calves, knees and shins—how often they were neglected, and how soft hers were. He stroked and kissed them, his lips and fingertips entranced with their silkiness. And then there were her inner thighs—couldn’t forget those. He leaned forward, kissing, nipping, while Janna begged him with her body to go on. And so, not wanting to disappoint, he parted her legs and put his mouth to the slick, wet heat.

  She came all at once, in a flood, her body quivering violently as her voice cried out for release. It was more than his heated blood could take. Rising, he tore off the rest of his clothing and slid deep inside her, both their bodies shuddering with recognition and surprise as she wrapped her legs tight around his waist, the fit exquisite.

  The ocher glow of the candlelight, the musky scent of mutual desire, even the delicacy of the snow that had begun falling outside—all conspired to make his heart soar with the need to complete her, to close the circle. He sought out her hands, and twining fingers, they began moving together slowly, their ease that of lovers who can choose to linger, or jump start the tempo and succumb t
o wild pleasure. Ty let her decide, holding on and on until her frenzied cries of “Now! Now!” let him know his own time had come. Taking a deep breath, he plunged, senses exploding as he finally, joyfully, emptied himself into her.

  She was afraid to drift off to sleep. She was certain that if she did, she would wake up to find herself drooling on the couch, the evening nothing but a dream. She reached out and touched Ty’s hip to reassure herself. He responded by rolling toward her side of the bed, his expression dreamy.

  “Hi,” he whispered sleepily, reaching for her.

  “Hi. Did I wake you?”

  “Nah, I was just dozing.” He lifted his head, peering around the darkened room. “What time is it?”

  “About three.”

  “Mmm.”

  He lay back down, eyes drifting shut once again. Janna wondered if he was a heavy sleeper. She had no way of knowing, since they’d never spent an entire night together.

  “Ty?”

  “Mmm?”

  “Will you stay the rest of the night?”

  “Of course.” He dozily kissed the top of her head.

  “Good.” Janna nestled deeper in his arms. The candle had long since sputtered out, but even so the room seemed cast in a pale silver glow, the result, she thought, of the snow falling outside.

  “I wonder how many inches we’ll wind up getting,” she wondered aloud.

  Ty yawned. “Maybe there’ll be a blizzard.”

  “And then you guys won’t have to fly to Ottawa on Monday.”

  Ty groaned. “I don’t want to think about that.”

  Janna traced a lazy pattern on his chest with her finger. “What do you want to think about?”

  He opened his eyes. “Truth be told? Food. I’m starving.”

  “Me, too,” she confessed with relief. She was glad to know she wasn’t the only one whose stomach was crying out in desperation. She sat up. “What should I make us?”

  “Nothing. It’s three in the morning. I say we have a junk food feast right here in the bedroom. Where are those goodies you lured me here with?”

  “I thought athletes didn’t eat junk food,” Janna teased.

  “This one eats what he damn well pleases. Bring it on.”

  Laughing, Janna rose and slipped on her robe before heading out into the living room. All her goodies were just where she’d left them. She gathered an armful, and returned to Ty, who had sat up and put the bedside light on.

  “Why do I feel like there’s something vaguely decadent about this?” he asked as Janna spread the junk food out on the comforter before rejoining him in bed.

  “Decadent would be smearing a Ring Ding on your chest and licking it off. This is merely fun.”

  “Ah.” He reached for the bag of Doritos and shook some chips into his hand. “Where’s your roommate?” he asked casually.

  It hadn’t crossed Janna’s mind that in bringing him back here the subject of Theresa, and all it entailed, might come up. But now it had.

  “She went out dancing with her brother.” She watched Ty’s eyes for any sign of disapproval, registering relief when she saw none. “She’s staying at her folks tonight.”

  Ty just nodded.

  “I think we need to talk about this—you know, the whole Theresa and Lubov thing.”

  Ty’s expression turned guarded. “Okay.”

  “I was wrong to storm out of your apartment the way I did,” Janna admitted. “I was also wrong to hold you to a double standard.” She sighed deeply as she began unwrapping her Ring Ding. “I think the best way for you and me to deal with the situation is not to discuss it at all, since it’s something we’re never going to see eye to eye on.”

  “You sure you can do that?” Ty questioned.

  “I can try.” She bit into her treat. “Mmm, this is good.”

  “The Coke is warm, though. Oh, well.” He munched away happily on his Doritos.

  “There’s something else I think we should talk about,” Janna continued.

  “Yeah?”

  She hesitated. “Us.”

  Ty looked unfazed. “What about us?”

  Janna suddenly felt shy. “Are we the same us as we were before—you know, casual?”

  Ty shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”

  Janna closed her eyes for a moment so he couldn’t see the disappointment there.

  “Good,” she lied. What else could she do? He didn’t want a relationship. She’d take what she could get, despite her growing feelings for him. She would just have to work at keeping her emotions in check, is all. She opened her eyes. “We’ll have to continue keeping it secret, though. Lou said if he ever found out I was ‘consorting’ with any of the players, he’d fire me on the spot.”

  “It’s better to keep it secret anyway. Like we discussed when we first started, you don’t want Kidco thinking you’re whoring yourself to get what you want PR-wise, and I don’t want them thinking I’m sleeping with you just to get out of doing stuff.”

  “Speaking of which—”

  “Don’t.” His eyes darkened. “You already know my answer.”

  “I wasn’t talking about that.” She finished her Ring Ding. “You really should toe the line a bit more with Corporate. They were very unhappy about you ignoring them at the Christmas party.”

  Ty gave a small snort of displeasure. “Too bad. They can kiss my ass.”

  “It wouldn’t hurt to kiss theirs just once.”

  “Maybe I would if we were in a slump. But we’re twenty-four, twelve and three right now, Janna. Do you have any idea how amazing those stats are? We keep focused, and we will bring the Cup back to New York this year. In the meantime, every game has been sold out, meaning the boys at Kidco get to bask in our reflected glory. We’re nothing more than a way for them to keep their name in front of the public.”

  “Why do you think they bought the team in the first place, Ty? It’s all part of a marketing strategy, a way to grab the eighteen-to-thirty-five male demo they’ve been missing. ”

  “Exactly, and that’s all they care about: demos and branding and making sure everyone on the planet knows the name Kidco,” Ty retorted. “Not the players. Not the art of the game. Not the integrity of it. Not—”

  Janna stuffed a tortilla chip in his mouth. “Enough. I get your point. Clearly this is another topic we would do well to avoid whenever possible.”

  “Agreed,” Ty mumbled as he chewed. He gave her a heavy-lidded look. “I kinda liked that,” he murmured.

  “What?”

  “The way you took control and jammed the chip in my mouth. It was kinda sexy.”

  “Really?” A frisson of warmth shuddered through her. “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”

  “I have a better idea. Why don’t we finish eating and continue celebrating the New Year?”

  “A grand idea,” Janna agreed, licking chocolate crumbs from her fingers. “Shall we?”

  The buzzing woke her. Thinking it was the phone, she reached out to answer it. Ty muttered that it was the doorman calling, and her foggy brain was then able to process the need to get out of bed. She staggered to the intercom, bleary-eyed, and pressed the button to speak.

  “Yes, Jimmy?”

  “Uh, sorry to disturb you so early in the morning, Miss MacNeil, but there’s a little boy down here named Wills who says he’s your brother.”

  Janna was instantly, jarringly, awake. “Oh my God. Send him up.”

  She hurried back to the bedroom for her robe, glancing at the bedside clock. Six o’clock in the morning New Year’s Day and Wills was here. A shudder passed through her as her mind raced with all the possible reasons for his appearance. God, please help me to keep calm, she prayed. Please.

  She quietly closed the bedroom door on Ty, who appeared to have fallen back asleep, and waited for her doorbell to ring. When it did, her hands were shaking so badly she had a difficult time undoing all the locks and opening it. But open it she eventually did, to the heart-wrenching sight of her little brot
her, face smeared with tears, standing alone in the hallway.

  “I’m sorry,” he choked, “but I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go.”

  “Don’t be silly.” She pulled him inside and hugged him to her tight, her own tears threatening when Wills began sobbing against her chest.

  “I hate them!” he wailed. “I hate living there!”

  “Sshh, it’s okay, everything is going to be okay.” Still holding on to him, she closed the door and steered the two of them into the living room, onto the couch. With the sleeve of her bathrobe, she wiped his tears away. “Tell me what happened.”

  He hiccuped. “Mom and Dad went out for New Year’s Eve. Mom got totally wasted and when they came home they started to fight. They were breaking plates and shit, I couldn’t sleep. I—”

  He stopped dead. Janna followed his line of sight and turned to see Ty walking towards them, clad only in his jeans. His hair was a tousled mess, and it was clear he was struggling to wake up. Wills was going to want to know what the captain of the New York Blades was doing coming out of his sister’s bedroom. She could worry about that later.

  “It’s okay. You can talk in front of Ty.”

  Hesitant, Wills waited until Ty situated himself on the other side of Janna before continuing. “Mom came up to my room and sat on the end of my bed and wouldn’t shut up.” His breath caught. “She said she’d never loved Dad, and if she hadn’t gotten pregnant with me she would have left years ago and all this other stuff.” He stifled a sob. “Finally she left and I ran downstairs and took some money from her purse and caught a cab to the train station. And here I am.”

  “Oh, honey.” He looked so small sitting there, a lost, scared little boy. “I’m so sorry.” She brushed the hair out of his eyes. “So they don’t know you’re here?”

  “No, and I don’t want you to tell them!”

  “Sweetie, I have to.”

  “They’re probably not even awake,” Wills snorted.

  “Then I’ll wake them up. Why don’t you sit here with Ty, and I’ll go give them a call. When I’m done, I’ll make us all pancakes for breakfast, okay?”