TheEnforcer_Kobo

by Steph

  It changed the angle of penetration, hitting different sensory spots inside that had her groaning and clutching at his arms to steady herself.

  Now he slowed even more, each thrust seeming to take forever and each retreat an eternity until he came back inside.

  Her head fell back on his shoulder as her body gave itself over to him and let him have anything and everything he wanted.

  On his next thrust, he held himself inside as they both breathed so heavily she was sure the neighbors could hear them

  “You were made for me, I swear. Perfect.” His words brushed against her neck as he pulled her hair to one side so he could sink his teeth into her. “Fucking perfect.”

  Shuddering as he bit her again, she dug her fingernails into his arms. “Move, dammit.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to.” He licked at her earlobe then bit it, hard enough for her to wince. “Maybe I want to keep you here all fucking day, coming around my dick.”

  Every passing second made the ache in her pussy stronger. She hadn’t thought she’d be able to come again but he was proving her wrong and now she wanted it. Now.

  “Then you need to actually fuck me.”

  “I’m going to. I just need to—”

  He lifted her, just enough to get her knees off the bed but still keeping his cock inside her. Then he moved them closer to the headboard.

  “Hands on top. Hold tight. Don’t wanna hurt you but now I’m going to fuck you like I need to.”

  She had a split second to suck in much-needed air before she did exactly what he wanted.

  Gripping the top of her sleigh bed’s frame, she braced just in time for his first thrust. Strong enough to move her forward, even as she held herself away.

  God, yes.

  Now he gave her exactly what she wanted and what he needed.

  A hard, rough fuck that wrung them both dry.

  * * * * *

  “Morning skate is optional today, yes? So you don’t have to be to the arena until three for the game.”

  Will gathered up the dishes and walked to the counter to put them in the dishwasher. Jess had made pancakes and eggs and sausage, enough to feed an army. Which was a good thing because he was hungry enough to eat a horse. After the sex last night and more sex this morning, he needed the calories.

  “Yeah, but I told Justin and a few of the other guys I’d meet them this morning. Justin and I want to run a few drills before tonight’s game. But after the game, I don’t have any plans.”

  He hoped to hell to be back here after the game but he didn’t want to push. He had a feeling if he did, he wouldn’t get far. It had to be her decision.

  She remained silent so he continued. “You gonna be busy tonight?”

  Leaning back against the counter in her open kitchen, he let his gaze travel over her.

  Wearing yoga pants and an oversized shirt that fell off her shoulders and was buttery soft to the touch, her hair loose and wavy around her shoulders, she looked sexy as fuck. Like she’d spent the night in bed getting wild, which was pretty much what had happened.

  Sitting at the small breakfast bar dividing the kitchen area from the rest of the living space, she had her chin propped on her hand as she watched him with those soft brown eyes. He couldn’t read her expression, couldn’t tell how she felt about him.

  Which sucked, because he knew how he felt about her.

  Last night had been the best night of his life not spent on the ice. The sex had been amazing but his feelings for her were about more than sex. It’d gone way past sex and into an emotion he’d never experienced, not even with his former fiancé. An emotion that had taken root from the first moment he’d met her.

  He wasn’t ready to put a label on it yet but he knew himself well enough to know he wanted to pursue whatever it was they had.

  Shaking her head and breaking the connection between them, she reached for her mug of hot chocolate and took a sip before answering. “Three groups of fifteen or more and a couple of birthday parties. Nothing huge. Should be an easy day. But you guys’ll have your hands full tonight.”

  “Binghamton’s been on a winning streak and their offense is red hot.”

  “Yeah, their defense has been on fire, too.”

  The conversation that followed was totally unique in his morning-after experience as Jess broke down Binghamton’s stats in a way not even Coach had. It made him adjust his growing erection in his shorts.

  A woman who could talk hockey wasn’t unusual. He’d met several. But a woman who could quote meaningful stats off the top of her head made him want to pledge his undying adoration.

  Fuck it. “Can I see you after the game?”

  She didn’t say anything right away but she didn’t look surprised, either. She looked like she was considering her choices, and he had a few seconds to wonder if maybe he needed to get on his knees and do a little begging. Or maybe he’d pull those pants off her, set her on the counter, and lick her pussy like he had last night. She’d liked that. And it wouldn’t be a bad way to continue the morning.

  As the silence dragged on, he noticed a faint blush start to paint her cheeks. Maybe she could read his mind. Or maybe she was having the same dirty thoughts he was.

  Finally, she drew in a deep breath. “Yes. I’ll meet you here.” Her smile made a quick appearance. “I’ll even feed you.”

  “You do that and I’ll make you come at least twice before I have to leave.”

  He added that last bit so she didn’t think he’d expect to stay the night. Besides, the team had practice Monday and he needed to get enough sleep to keep up with the kids. If he stayed with her, which was what he wanted to do, he’d be awake most of the night making her cry out his name.

  Her smile made his heart beat like a Metallica drum line. Christ, he felt like a teenager with a hard-on for the cheerleader. Although he’d never really had a thing for cheerleaders. Too perky, too much work, too high maintenance.

  Which probably explained why he was still single at thirty-three. He hadn’t met a woman yet who wasn’t high maintenance.

  But this one…

  Her head cocked to the side, a smile flirting at the corners of her mouth. “Are you going to bring dessert?”

  She wanted to play. He could do that. “Depends on what you have in mind. I know you like chocolate, but what’s your opinion on strawberries? Bananas? Chocolate-covered strawberries and bananas?”

  Her smile grew. “Why don’t you just bring a jar of hot fudge and whatever…fruit you like and we can find out what we want to dip in the fudge.”

  By the time she’d finished, he was grinning and she had a gleam in her eyes that promised so much more than dinner later tonight.

  Chapter Seven

  “Will, hang on a minute.”

  Turning just before he reached the door to the arena parking lot after the optional practice, Will saw Cary striding up the hall behind him and resisted the urge to grimace.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Can you and I talk for a few minutes?”

  “Sure.”

  Truthfully, he didn’t really want to talk to Cary, at least not right now. He wanted to get back to the apartment and take a nap before the game tonight. He’d had a good practice but he’d mentally switched gears and was in game mode. Like all players, he had a system for game days and hated to be thrown off. Of course, staying with Jess last night had been a huge disruption. But a good one.

  Justin had given him a shit-eating grin when he’d walked into the apartment this morning but he’d been surprisingly silent and hadn’t asked where he’d been. As if he’d already known.

  Which probably should’ve concerned Will but really, the only thing he was thinking about was Jess.

  Cary looked him straight in the eyes. “Novak’s leaving earlier than expected. I’m stepping behind the bench Wednesday night.”

  Well, shit.

  Will held out his hand with a sincere smile. “Congrats, man. Well deserved.”
/>   Cary took his hand, his expression wry, as if he wasn’t quite sure how to take Will’s compliment. “Thanks. Appreciate it. It’s a little more sudden than I thought it was going to be but…I’m ready. Have been for a little while.”

  Will took a closer look at Cary. He’d noticed the guy had seemed a little quieter than normal during practice, but he’d put that down to Cary being Cary. He’d known the guy for years, knew he internalized everything, sometimes to a fault.

  Cary thought Will didn’t internalize enough. Just one of the differences between them.

  “I know you and I haven’t exactly seen eye to eye before so I want us to be on the same page here.”

  That didn’t sound promising and his expression must have shown his thoughts because Cary grimaced.

  “Do we have a problem I don’t know about?” Will asked.

  Cary rubbed a hand through his hair. “No, actually, we don’t. We have some history and I want to put that behind us. You and I are really different players, and years ago I may have been a little, ah, less than flexible about certain things.”

  Will couldn’t help himself. “Are you trying to say you had a stick up your ass about the kind of game I played?

  Cary’s smile was a surprise. “Maybe a little. But you’ve got to admit you played a different game back then. Your game has changed and so have you.”

  He shrugged, conceding the point. “Maybe we’ve both gained a little experience over the years.”

  “I like to think so. I just wanted you to know we aren’t going to have a problem now that I’m behind the bench. You’ve been a good addition to the team. I admit I wasn’t too sure before you got here, but in just three games, you’ve managed to stabilize these kids a little. That fight Friday… You stuck up for our guys. That’s why Coach brought you in. He recognized a hole in our lineup and he knew how to fill it.”

  Which gave Will an opening he hadn’t expected. “About that… Is it true Jess Gardiner had a hand in bringing me in?”

  Cary’s brows raised. “Where’d you hear that?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “No, actually, it doesn’t. Yeah, she did. But you know she’s Doug Gardiner’s daughter, right?”

  Will nodded.

  “Then you know she’s been around the game all her life. She’s like a hockey statistics database. When she threw out your name, my immediate response was, ‘Hell no.’” Cary held up his hands with a grimace. “But then she threw out your stats and surprised everyone. She was absolutely right.”

  “Does she scout for the team?”

  “Not in any official capacity. She’s never come out and said she wanted to be considered for a position as a scout.”

  “Would she be? Considered, I mean.”

  Cary’s gaze narrowed with speculation. “Why are you so interested?”

  Will had never believed in blowing smoke, but he knew Jess didn’t want their relationship to be common knowledge. “Just curious, I guess. If she was smart enough to look at me,” he grinned to let Cary know he wasn’t being a completely self-centered dick, “she must be good at what she does.”

  “She’s amazing at her job but she’s a natural scout. Too bad it’s not what she wants to do or I’d ask the club to hire her in a heartbeat.”

  “Have you ever told her that?”

  Cary nodded. “As a matter of fact, I have.”

  “Out of still more curiosity, what’d she say?”

  Pausing for a moment, Cary gave him another searching glance before his mouth curved into a slight grin. “So there is something going on between the two of you. Damn, I owe Lori money.”

  Okay, maybe keeping their secret was going to be a hell of a lot harder than he’d thought. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Uh-huh.” Shaking his head, Cary’s grin faded. “She laughed and said something like the good-ol’-boys club wasn’t something she wanted to join and then shut me down. She’s smart as hell and she’s not wrong about a lot of things, but if you have any sway with her, please feel free to repeat my offer. Not sure the big club would agree but I trust her judgment implicitly.”

  Will felt the exact same way.

  * * * * *

  Because she only had a few groups to take care of today, Jess was pretty much finished by the end of the second intermission.

  Which meant she could sit and watch the entire third period unless something came up.

  She’d already realized Lori and Bliss weren’t in their usual row, where the wives and girlfriends usually sat. Which meant…

  Yep, there they were. In the ADA section with Bliss’s friend Faith, who used a wheelchair.

  “Hey, Jess. How’ve you been? Haven’t seen you for a while.”

  “Hi, Faith. Good to see you.”

  “Hey, there.” Lori patted the seat beside her. “Are you done for the day?”

  “Pretty much. The guys look good today.”

  From the other side of Faith, Bliss leaned over and smiled but Jess saw the nerves in her eyes. “I’m trying to watch but, oh my god, I cringe every time Binghamton has the puck. And sometimes, I actually have to close my eyes. Don’t tell Shane. I’m such a wuss.”

  While everyone laughed, no one mentioned the “S” word. The score was two-nothing with seventeen minutes to play. If that stayed the same, Shane would have a shutout. But hockey superstition was strong and everyone knew you didn’t even whisper that word until the game was over.

  “Shane already knows you’re a wuss.” Faith paused as the crowd shouted at the referee for a missed call on Lad, who looked like he was having trouble getting to the bench. “But the man still loves you. If I didn’t love you, I’d be all over that hot bod of his.”

  “Shane is a—”

  She gasped as Will skated onto the ice and immediately got checked hard into the boards as he went after the puck.

  The crowd started to yell and berate the refs but she couldn’t take her eyes off Will. He was slow to respond, slightly bent at the waist as if he’d had the wind knocked out of him.

  She wasn’t aware she was on her feet until Will finally started to move again and she sank back into her seat.

  And found three women staring at her with knowing grins on their faces.

  Busted.

  “So…” Lori smirked. “Someone’s been keeping secrets.”

  Jess bit her tongue, thought about her response, and settled for, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Which she knew wouldn’t fly.

  “Uh-huh. You know you’re not fooling anyone, right?”

  Jess slid Lori a quick glance, fighting the urge to stick out her tongue, which would prove exactly what Lori thought she knew.

  “I don’t know why you think you need to keep it a secret.” Lori leaned over and knocked her shoulder against Jess’s. “It’s not like you’re breaking any laws.”

  “I still don’t know what you’re talking about.” Then, because she couldn’t help herself, she asked, “But out of curiosity, what, exactly, did you hear?”

  Lori’s smile spread. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. Hockey players gossip like little old ladies. Cary came home this afternoon and told me. Said Justin mentioned that Will hadn’t come home last night and that the guy had been here less than a week and was already dating the untouchable Miss Jess. They’re all in awe, by the way. Most of the kids already think he’s the next best thing to replaceable blades.”

  “Come on, Jess. Spill.” Faith leaned over, wrapping her arm around Lori’s shoulder. “Some of us haven’t seen a naked male body in longer than we care to admit. And that one looks like he’s all sorts of fine.”

  Dammit, what the hell did she say to that? On one hand, she wanted to spill everything, tell them just how fine he was. On the other… Fuck it.

  Leaning over so she didn’t have to raise her voice, she said, “He’s amazing. He’s quiet but he’s funny and, oh my god, he’s just so…”

  She
shook her head.

  “Hot?” Faith said.

  “Sweet?” Bliss.

  “Fuckable?”

  That last was from Lori, who waggled her eyebrows and grinned as Faith and Bliss laughed and Jess closed her eyes and shook her head.

  “Oh, come on.” Lori knocked her shoulder against Jess’s. “We’re happy for you. I’ve been worried that you’ve been all work and no play lately. I know it’s tough during the season because you’re always busy but you need to make time for yourself.”

  Jess heard the genuine affection in Lori’s voice and flashed her friend a quick smile. “It’s just new.”

  Which it was. But…it didn’t feel new. It felt right. More right than any other relationship. And as much as she didn’t want to get involved with a hockey player, she wanted Will. She wanted to try with Will.

  “And…” Lori prompted.

  Jess opened her mouth to speak but the crowd began to cheer and her gaze immediately sought out Will. Who was in the middle of an unruly gathering in the Redtails’ defensive zone.

  A Redtails player lay on the ice behind him as he shoved bodies out of the way. Lad knelt on the ice over their downed man.

  “Oh, no.” Lori leaned forward in her seat, almost as if she was going to rush out on to the ice. “That’s Jake.”

  Jess’s heart gave a painful lurch. She hated to see any player laid out on the ice, but Jake was one of those guys who was a favorite of the team and the fans.

  Several long seconds passed as the Binghamton players retreated to their bench and the Redtails trainer shuffled out onto the ice. Kneeling down next to Jake, he leaned over and spoke in Jake’s ear. Jake hadn’t moved since going down and she knew the trainer was asking how bad it was.

  And when the trainer looked up into the stands to where the team doctor usually sat, she knew it might be really bad.

  “Dammit, that was a bad hit.” The anger in Lori’s voice didn’t surprise Jess. She would’ve said the same. “And no penalty. That guy better watch his back next shift. Someone’s gonna take him out.”