The Tao of Hockey (Vancouver Vice #1)

by Melanie Ting

  “Nothing’s for sure. Especially around here.”

  “Well, I guess you could go back to Europe then. I wish I could do that.”

  “You should look into it.” But they had limits on import players, and I wasn’t sure if Foxy was good enough.

  We shook hands, and he took off. I finished up my workout and still had enough time before my meeting for a shower. As the water poured down on me, I thought about Josie. Was she the reason I was feeling so calm? But getting cut would make things that much more difficult for us.

  I got dressed and headed towards the coach’s office. One of last year’s Vice forwards walked out into the hall, looking pissed. He ignored me, and I assumed he had just been cut as well. Were they saving all the bad news for the end? I knocked on the door.

  “Yeah,” Coach Panner barked.

  “It’s me.” I poked my head in. Coaches Panner, Tellier, and Lee were all crammed into the little office. There was one empty chair, and I took it.

  Ian Lee began. He pulled out a sheet and pulled down his glasses. “Eric, you’ve had a good camp. You had the highest scores on the fitness testing. Your play throughout camp was also excellent. I was impressed by your ability to absorb direction and make the adjustments we requested.”

  Coach Panner interrupted. “Let’s stop the love fest right here. We’re all aware that Eric has the tools. Hell, he was a first round draft pick—but that was five years ago. But your biggest issue is between your ears. Once the season starts and the pressure ramps up—can you hack it? We don’t need some fucking prima donna going all psycho and cheap-shotting everyone. Nobody wants that shit in the game.”

  I breathed deeply. He was trying to bait me, but he was right. You couldn’t replicate the real stress of the season in a training camp or preseason games.

  “I’m a different player now. I’ve cleaned up my lifestyle. You can look at last year’s season for proof.”

  “Waltzing your way through a bunch of Euros is not the same as playing with the big boys in the A.” That was the kind of stuff I heard from people who had never been out of North America, so I ignored his insult. Guys in the Swiss League were tough too.

  “But we’re not here to argue. We’re going to offer you a contract—but, and it’s a big but—there’s a morals clause inserted in it. If we think you’re up to your old ways, like boozing, whoring it up, or being a distraction in the room—you are out of here. No second chances, because you’ve already had enough of them.”

  “Okay. Thank you. You don’t have to worry about that stuff anymore, I’m in a better headspace now.”

  Panner rolled his eyes, but the other coaches smiled at me. Maybe they’d had to lobby for me to make the cut. Coach Lee stood up. “Since we’re done here, I’ll get you set up.”

  We both walked down the hallway. He clapped me on the shoulder. “Congratulations, Eric. I didn’t tell you before, but Mike Guildford is a good buddy of mine. He was the one who convinced me we needed to give you a good look.”

  “Thanks a lot, Coach.” His genuine enthusiasm was finally making me felt good. Panner’s backhanded offer had dulled the fact that I was finally here. Not in the NHL, but a big step closer.

  Or was I still worried about screwing up? I couldn’t deny that Panner was right—what would I be like under real pressure? But I had handled last season’s playoffs, and I managed to stay in control.

  “Rob’s bark is worse than his bite,” he assured me. “The guy cares a lot about winning, and he understands that you can help us.” The Vice had one of the lowest goals-for totals in the league last year, so scoring was something they’d be leaning on me for. A lot would depend on who my linemates were, but having Coach Lee in my corner was going to help that.

  “Damn. You’re the last player today, and I’m missing a handbook. I’ll be right back.” Coach Lee disappeared, and I sat on the edge of his desk. I pulled out my phone, and Lance had called twice. I called him back.

  “Hey, Eric. Congratulations—you made it.”

  “Thanks. Feels good.”

  “Okay, my assistant looked over your contract. Everything is standard except two things. The money is league minimum and there’s this wonky morals clause they’ve inserted. I’d like to negotiate on both these issues before you sign.”

  “It’s okay, Lance. I’m ready to sign.”

  “Look, it’s my job as your agent to get you the best possible deal.”

  “But I get to tell you when I’m good with a contract, right?” I knew a lot about the Vice organization now. There wasn’t going to be any more money, and I wasn’t going to screw up. I felt good about myself and happy about living in Vancouver and having Josie on my side.

  Lance argued with me, and we finally agreed to him negotiating some performance bonuses. “I’d like to sign everything by tomorrow morning,” I told him. I wanted everything in black and white before Panner changed his mind. And Josie was due back in town tomorrow night, so I wanted to celebrate with her.

  “Done.” He wasn’t completely happy with me, but I figured he would be if I managed to make it to the next stage. Coach Lee had returned with the materials for me.

  “Thanks, Coach. Just talking to my agent.”

  “Well, we’ll get everything done up right. You’ve got two days off, and then we start the season for real. Practices and games are in the schedule. You’ve been here before, so I don’t have to explain how things work, right?”

  I nodded, and we shook hands.

  The next morning, I went back to the facility and signed my contract. My good mood kept growing. Besides, I had another good thing happening today. I drove to the provincial insurance office where I met with Maude, who had been supervising my driving restrictions since I moved to Vancouver.

  “Big day, today,” she said when I got there.

  “Huge,” I agreed.

  She went out to the truck to check the readings. “Looking good. Let’s go back to my office, and I’ll get the paperwork done.”

  She filled out a bunch of forms on her computer and began printing them out. Once I took them to the garage, I could get my interlock removed.

  “Well, Eric, I spoke to you about responsible driving on the first day we met. Driving is a privilege and not a right. Your readings have been perfect, and I’m happy to see that you’ve been taking this so seriously. Are you drinking at all any more?”

  “I only drink if I’m not driving. So, if I know it’s going to be a night out, I arrange for a ride or take a cab.” I shivered thinking about how close I’d come to blowing this accomplishment the night of the bar crawl. But still, I hadn’t actually driven—something in my brain had stopped me.

  “What about drugs?”

  I shook my head. “My trainer warned me they’re going to be cracking down in my sport.”

  “Which is hockey, right? Who do you play for?”

  I grinned, as I replied for the first time. “The Vancouver Vice.”

  19

  Upside Down Cake

  I ran my hand over the dashboard of my truck. Or rather I ran my hands over the place where the interlock system used to be. Nothing. Normal. Four long years later, I was finally free.

  “Yes!” I leaned against the seat and extended my arms in victory. A businessman was walking by at that moment, and he gave me a pitying look. I only laughed. First I made the team, and now my driving supervision was over. The best way to celebrate this would be to take my woman out for dinner. And then sex—lots of incredible sex with Josie. For once, I didn’t have practice, training, or anything tomorrow.

  I started to send a text, but that wasn’t personal enough, so I dialled her up instead.

  “Eric?”

  “Josie baby. My gorgeous, beautiful Josie!”

  She laughed. “Someone’s in a good mood.”

  “How can I not be in a good mood when I’m talking to you? When are you coming back from Victoria?”

  “I’m back already. We wrapped early.”

>   “Because you’re such a professional, right?”

  “What’s gotten into you, Ricky? I’ve never heard you be so—I don’t know—kid-at-Christmas excited.”

  “It’s because I have a ton of good news. Can I come over now? Or should we go out for dinner?”

  “Dude, chill. It’s only four o’clock.”

  “Resistance is futile, as the aliens say. I’m coming right over.”

  “Eric, I literally just walked in. I need to shower and get all the crap off me. I think there’s fake blood on my chest.”

  “This is why I need a key. You could be taking your shower, and I’d join you. I would scrub your back... and your front... and that little place between your legs....”

  She laughed again—that rich throaty sound that I could listen to forever. “Give me thirty minutes. I’ll see you then.” And then hung up before I could bargain her down.

  Still, this gave me time to get organized with snacks and stuff. And I stopped by the liquor store. As I went in, I felt guilty and elated. “Look at me! I’m buying booze and putting it in my vehicle.” No alarms went off. I was going to have to get used to freedom.

  I buzzed her condo from the lobby. The marble floor gleamed up at me and once again, I wondered how Josie afforded a place like this. Asking financial questions would be too nosy. Still, I was a million times further ahead than when we first started dating.

  Josie opened the door at my first knock. She was wearing black leggings, a huge sweater, and a black top underneath. Her hair was still a little damp, but her eyes were already rimmed with dark liner and thick lashes. She smiled at me and my face flushed.

  “Hey, beautiful.” I put down the grocery bags and hugged her, lifting her into the air. She giggled and kissed me. Her mouth was warm and tasted like peppermint toothpaste. She thrust her tongue into my mouth, and I sucked on it. Her body wriggled against mine, and I was already getting hard. Even a few days apart and I had missed her so much.

  Finally, I put her down.

  She smoothed out her hair. “You’re probably the one guy in the world who can lift me up like that.”

  “That’s why we’re so good together.” I picked up the bags.

  “What’s in there?”

  “Snacks. Champagne. We’re celebrating.”

  Josie tilted her head but asked no questions. She headed into her kitchen. I followed her, and she stretched up to pull two champagne flutes down from a high cupboard. I watched her excellent ass flexing in her tight leggings, and I couldn’t resist copping a feel.

  “Watch it, buddy. I almost dropped these.” Josie plunked the flutes down on the counter.

  “You can’t flash an ass like that in front of me and expect nothing to happen.”

  She shook her head and laughed. Then she ran her hand over the bottle. “It’s a little warm. Stick it in the freezer for a few minutes to chill down.”

  I bent down and opened the freezer drawer. Inside was a bottle of vodka, a package of frozen berries, and ice cubes. I opened her fridge next. Two lemons and a carton of soymilk.

  “Jesus, Josie. What do you eat?”

  “The beating hearts of guys who nag me,” she said.

  I got out two bowls and portioned out some carrot sticks and hummus. Josie snuck one and crunched on it.

  “Wait, I have something else for you.”

  I reached into the bag and pulled out the box of expensive Swiss chocolate I had ordered online. A teammate from last year assured me they were the best.

  Josie looked at the box and then began to laugh. “I guess I’ll have to eat these by myself.”

  “No, I’m going to eat them too—just to show you how much fun I am.”

  “I was so mean to you. You must be a masochist.”

  She ripped off the wrappings and pulled out a dark truffle. I reached out for one, but she stopped me.

  “Eat this one.” She held it in her lips and raised her face to mine. I wrapped my arms around her and pressed my lips against hers. We kissed hard, our mouths a mess of melting chocolate. My tongue explored her mouth, and I felt her body pushing up against mine.

  Josie’s eyes were half-closed when we finally stopped. I licked a final bit of chocolate off her lower lip.

  “Yummy.”

  “I told you you’d love chocolate.”

  “Not the chocolate.” I put one arm around her and grabbed the carrot snacks with the other. We went out to the living room.

  She sat down on the big sectional, tucking one leg underneath and leaning back. I sat right beside her and put my hand on her thigh. I couldn’t stop touching her.

  “I missed you,” I said.

  She smiled at me. “So, did you want to tell me your good news or wait for the champagne?”

  “Wait.” I pulled her onto my lap, positioning her ass over my expanding cock. Then I reached around and slid my hands down the V of her big sweater. I circled each breast, cupping and squeezing until I felt her nipples begin to harden and peak through the thin fabric. Then I pulled at those hard nibs until I heard Josie moan aloud. I kissed the back of her neck and licked the bumpy bones of her spine. Her short hair meant every delicious part of her was exposed. Josie leaned forward and took her neck out of my kissing range. That pushed her ass harder onto my cock, so I wasn’t complaining. I couldn’t see what she was doing, but I heard the clicks of her phone.

  “Jeez. Are you texting while I’m trying to seduce you?” I’d have to go next level. I moved my hands up the bottom of her sweater and went to get inside her leggings.

  “No. I’m setting the timer. If we leave the champagne in the freezer too long it’s going to explode.” She sounded like she knew this from experience.

  “So, how long do we have? And how come I can’t find the top of these leggings?”

  Josie laughed. She got off my lap, stood in front of me, and pulled her sweater over her head. “It’s a bodysuit.”

  Whatever it was, it looked great. The black, stretchy fabric clung to her body everywhere—her small waist, her muscular legs, and her slim hips. I had messed with the top enough so that it barely covered her pointy nipples.

  “Christ, you look hot. Do we have time to fuck?”

  She looked over her shoulder. “Twelve minutes. Probably not.”

  “Strip,” I commanded her. I was already taking off my jeans. Josie peeled the tiny straps off her shoulders, and I watched greedily as her tanned skin was revealed bit by bit. First her tits popped out, then her shallow navel, her thong, and her legs. As she bent over to pull the bodysuit off her legs, I yanked down her thong and enjoyed the view of her ass cheeks and her puckered anus. Josie had so many sweet places to put my cock.

  I was naked before her, my clothes tossed over the other side of the couch.

  “I have an idea,” I said. “Can you do a headstand?”

  She laughed. “Yeah, sure.”

  I pulled her down to sit beside me. “Put your head in my lap. No, facing me.”

  She did. I spread my legs and my hard cock bobbled up towards her face. She kissed it.

  “Okay, headstand time.” I picked her up by the waist, and positioned her head between my legs, and waited until she had her hands balanced on each side of my thighs. Her pussy was positioned in front of my face, her thighs resting on my shoulders. I breathed hot on her mound and then kissed it. I pulled out her legs until they were vee’d out and she was wide open to me.

  Josie was strong, but this position was going to be hard for her to maintain. The blood rush to her head would intensify all her sensations, and I could make her come quickly. I put my hands on her ass cheeks and pulled her close to me. I could feel her tits pressing into my stomach, and the warm, wet suction of her mouth on my cock.

  I began by licking along her pussy lips, and then traced the line between her clit and the entrance to her pussy. Back and forth until Josie’s moans began to vibrate on my cock. Then I attacked her little clit, tapping it with the tip of my tongue until it emerged from its
hooded hiding place. I could see all of Josie in the bright light. There were some secrets she couldn’t keep hidden—like everything her body wanted. I alternated between sucking gently on her clit and tongue-fucking her, and I was rewarded by hearing her moan louder. The added vibrations on my rock-hard cock were only a bonus. Making her feel this way, making her lose her detachment and distance, breaking down her walls—that was what I really wanted.

  For long moments, the only sounds in the room were sex: slurping, sucking, moaning, and wetness. Josie’s body was trembling from the exertion of holding her position, while I could have sat back and enjoyed this for hours. She had already climaxed several times and now she was making a nonstop series of grunts and mews as I tongued her relentlessly.

  “Unnnh, nnnnnuhhhh,” Josie said from around my cock. Maybe she was asking me to stop, but she kept her legs tensed and spread wide, like her body wanted more. She tried to move her vulnerable pussy away from my mouth, but with her sweet ass cheeks firmly in my grip that was impossible.

  So, her only option for rest was to suck my cock as hard as she could to make me come. I loved the sensation of her hot little mouth as she tongue-bathed my cock and sucked it deeper and deeper. I could have gotten release at any moment, but I concentrated on enjoying every fantastic feeling.

  I moved one hand to insert a finger inside her. I explored until I found the bumpy raised surface of her g-spot. I tapped that while suctioning her clit and Josie began to scream. The sound was muffled by my cock in her mouth, and the vibrations were incredible. I kept going even as her body began trembling and jerking within its limited range. I was moaning now too. Everything felt so fucking good.

  Despite all the noise we were making, we both heard the tinny ding of the timer. I finally let go and released the pent-up come of three days without sex into Josie’s mouth. I released her body as well, moving her gently into a sideways position to allow the blood to return slowly to her body. She lay there, her head on my lap. Her face was still flushed with colour, her eyes were closed and my come was leaking from the corner of her reddened lips. I wiped it away with a finger. She sighed.