Thin Ice

by April Cronin

  Upstairs the four bedrooms were turned into a guest room, a workout room, a home office slash library, and a media room. Donovan, of course, having to have room for all his big screen TV's and vending machines.

  The tour complete, they headed outside to join the rest of the team and their family members on the lanai, that was, of course, complete with an outdoor kitchen, a large resort style pool, and an over-sized fenced yard. Donovan said they had a fire pit out back as well, planned on roasting some smores a little later on.

  It was the perfect atmosphere in which to relax and forget about all his troubles for a while. And with Harmony at his side, forget he did.

  The evening was more than wonderful, seeing all of his friends, introducing Harmony to all his teammates and their significant others, he couldn't have planned for things to go better than they had. Everyone loved Harmony, she was the belle of the ball so to speak. Regaling the ladies with the story of how they met, listening as Abby gushed about Dean and how he had romanced her, and Lacy going on about Donovan's persistence up until she finally gave in and fell in love.

  And they were the perfect women to help Peter in his conquest. Abby had had to decide between a man she had known for years, and a man she had just met. She hadn't known whether or not she could trust Dean and his lifestyle, or if for that matter, if she could trust herself, after all, she was leaving one relationship for another.

  But in the end, she'd chosen Dean, and they had married this past March, were actually set to take a cruise for their honeymoon in a couple of days. They were also expecting a child! Lucky guy, Peter had thought to himself.

  And then there was Donovan. He and Lacy had had nothing short of a rough start, what with the accident that had brought him into the ER and put him directly in Lacy's path. But Lacy was a skeptic if ever there was one. She'd had a pretty tough childhood, her parent’s relationship falling apart before her eyes as she found out her father, a truck driver had had an entire second family stashed away in another state.

  Despite that, she'd still managed to put herself out there, having her heart ripped out yet again by a cheating boyfriend in high school. One that took cheating to whole new levels as he slept his way through most of the female population.

  It was no wonder that it had taken Donovan several attempts just to get Lacy to go out with him, how he had managed to earn her trust and win her heart still amazed Peter. But he had, they'd bought a house together, and had taken tonight to announce that they were getting married next year, sometime in the spring.

  “How'd you manage that one Donny?” Dean had asked.

  “Yeah, I thought she was allergic to matrimony!” Andre joked.

  Lacy sneered, “ha ha, very funny guys...”

  There were congratulations all around.

  Then Dean asked, “so I hear you've taken a new job too?”

  Donovan looped his arm around Lacy at that point, they exchanged smiles and she looked back toward the group as Donovan took the liberty of answering for her. “Yup, she's giving her resignation at the hospital in a couple of weeks. You're looking at the newest member of the Slashers medical team!” He beamed.

  “Welcome to the team.” Dean told her, holding his beer in up and tipping it towards her, “congratulations!” with another round of cheers, the sounds of clinking glasses echoed in the backyard.

  Yeah, it was a great night for everyone, and Peter was thrilled to be a part of it. Being around his teammates, and sharing in their individual joys, was exactly what he needed to help him clear his mind. And thankfully, no one had come out and asked him at any point about what was going on. Either they didn't know, or they respected him enough not to ruin his evening.

  As Harmony was eventually sucked into the fray, the women carting her off to talk to her about god only knew what, she gave Peter a soft smile, looking over her shoulder as Lacy and Abby, who were becoming fast friends, pulled her into their confidences, and into the house.

  Dean approached him then.

  “I heard what happened.” He said, putting a steady hand on Peter's shoulder. “How are you holding up Pete?”

  Peter nodded, “I am okay.” Though he wasn't. Not by a long shot.

  He didn't want to ruin this night for anybody though, especially Dean or Donovan in all their happiness as their lives moved forward, their families growing.

  Dean wasn't buying it though. “I can't imagine what I would do if this had happened to me,” he said, looking off in the distance. “You'll let me know if there's anything I can do for you, right?” He turned and looked at Peter, his hand on his shoulder again, his green eyes gentle but serious.

  “You can go and be happy with family,” Peter said, his tone belying the pain he felt.

  Snorting, Dean dropped his hand from Peter's shoulder, and shook his head, “why did it have to be you Peter? Why did she have to set her cap for you?”

  Peter shrugged, and before either of them could say something more, Harmony's laughter was heard from across the way. Both men looked in the direction of the commotion, Harmony was headed their way, Abby and Lacy behind her, still holding her attention as the three of them carried on, probably talking about the men, but really it was anyone's guess.

  Dean noticed the way Peter's eyes, usually so cold and colorless seemed to heat and darken as he caught site of Harmony, he wondered if Peter had told her about what was going on. But figured he probably hadn't. Then he sent up a silent little prayer for his friend. Peter was going to need all the luck in the universe to come out of this one unscathed.

  He'd seen men before, men not nearly as pure in heart as Peter, go through similar situations, and not one of them were the same afterward. Damn it all to hell. When this got out, and he didn't delude himself into thinking it wouldn't, Peter was going to be destroyed. Dean could only ask that God showed mercy on him, and help him pick up the pieces quickly.

  If this had happened to him, or Donny, they would've been better equipped to handle it, but Peter, not knowing how these things worked, was going to have a tough time. And that made Dean angry, he could do little more than offer his support at the moment, which also made him feel helpless.

  And if he felt all of this, he could only imagine how Peter was feeling.

  Right about now, as Peter watched Harmony walk towards him, her face alight in laughter, and crinkling at the eyes, eyes that sparkled in the lamplight, all Peter was feeling was an overwhelming urge to snatch her up and whisk her away from here. He desperately wanted to take her someplace more private, and make love to her well into the night.

  But there were beers to drink, people to talk to, and food to eat.

  Hours later, Peter helped Harmony onto the back of his bike, placing the helmet he had bought just for her over her head and strapping it down tight.

  The ride back to his place was peaceful, the starlit night around them, the heady scent of flowers in full bloom. It was quite romantic.

  And when they made it back to Peter's, letting the dog out, and then back in a few moments later, Harmony stood, leaning against one wall in the kitchen, watching as Peter and Sadie danced around each other. There was such love in his eyes as he played her with, and though she knew by the way he had touched her on the ride home, the way his fingers dug into her jean clad flesh, that he had much more on his mind than just playing with the dog, he still made sure Sadie knew she was loved.

  It touched her in a way she couldn't possibly explain. It made her think about what an amazing father Peter would make one day. Of course, once that thought crossed her mind, she could visualize it, almost clearly. She could see herself sitting on the couch, and Peter rolling around on the floor, both of their dogs barking and rough housing as Peter and his child, their child, played together on the floor.

  Their child. Gosh, when had this happened? When had she fallen so helplessly in love with him? When you saw him smile at you back at Donovan's place. Her mind told her. Yes, that was it. She had been talking to Abby and Lacy both when
she told them about Peter's passionate love making.

  She hadn't meant to tell them, it was something only they should share really, but she didn't like the way they talked about Peter. Oh, she knew it was all in good fun. Perhaps they were even trying to goad her on purpose, figure out just how “into” him she was. And it worked. She'd spilled her guts, told them everything. Everything short of her loving him. Which she hadn't figured out, not until that moment anyhow.

  Laughing, she'd walked out the door, searching for Peter, and when their eyes clashed, the smile on his face, the way his gaze darkened, she knew her heart was lost.

  Peter tossed Sadie a treat, and told her to stay once she jumped up on the couch to chew it. Then he crossed the room to Harmony, who straightened away from the wall, going into his arms with an ease of familiarity as he approached.

  His mouth sought hers instantly, his kiss unlike any before. She could feel his need, taste his longing. Had it only been the other day that they had made love for the first time? It felt like an eternity with the way that he was kissing her now. As though she'd been gone forever, and his patience was wearing thin.

  He pulled her further into his arms, Harmony moaned into his mouth, the sound causing him to break away, gasping for air. Peter's body solid against hers, his erection prodding at her desperately. Without warning, he lifted her off her feet, taking the stairs two at a time and barging into the bedroom.

  Laughing, Harmony realized she could get used to this, being seduced and carried away. She felt like a princess, and he her Russian Prince. Her Adonis.

  Peter didn't waste another minute, he had her on the bed and stripped naked in seconds, using one hand to slip on a condom and the other to part her knees and settle himself between her legs.

  The moment he was inside her, Harmony arched her back to meet him, wrapping her legs around him and pulling him deeper. Peter groaned, the feel of her as she surrounded him, enveloping his body and soul, it was almost his undoing. But he wasn't nearly ready enough to give in just now.

  Peter began to move inside her, his thick shaft rubbing in all the right places. His mouth came down upon hers, he drank his fill of her, laid kisses on her face and neck. Nibbled on her ears, suckled at her breasts. His hands roamed her body, then assisted in rotating her legs this way and that. Taking his penetration to new levels, her pleasure to new heights.

  She wondered if it would always be this way. She hoped he'd stick around long enough for her to find out. Riding the waves of pleasure, their senses exploding as the ocean of ecstasy crashed upon them, they came together.

  And Harmony could have sworn their souls had mated as well.

  Chapter 12

  The Fallout

  Harmony woke alone the next morning. The smell of coffee wafting up to greet her. Peter had left the bedroom door open, and the scent of breakfast was near to assaulting her nose as well. She made her way into the bathroom, grabbing her purse off the chair in the corner of the room that she had tossed it on that night, and pulled out her little travel supplies making quick use of them and dressing just as fast.

  Peter was at the stove, he smiled as she came into view. “Morning,” he said, turning back to expertly flip a pancake.

  “Mmm…smells good,” Harmony commented, taking a seat at the breakfast bar.

  Peter slid a cup of coffee in her direction, “Breakfast in a couple of minutes.”

  She nodded, put some cream and sugar in her mug, then taking a sip reached for the paper that sat on the counter. Flipping through the first couple of pages, Harmony thought to herself how wonderful this was. Sitting here with Peter, enjoying coffee and reading the paper as he cooked her breakfast. It was all so... domestic. She smiled, full of love and warmth.

  And then her world crashed down around her.

  Harmony made a little choking sound as she stared down at the paper in horror.

  “What it is?” Peter asked, coming around the counter to her.

  “What is this Peter?” She demanded, flinching when he tried to touch her.

  Peter looked down at the paper, where her finger pointed to the article in question, and closed his eyes. A sigh escaped him.

  “So it's true?” She accused, standing and pushing away from the counter, backing out of Peter's reach as his hands came towards her. “This is what you've been hiding from me? Isn't it?”

  “Yes. I mean no.” Peter shook his head violently. The smell of burning pancakes reaching them. “Is not true Harmony,” he said, rushing back around the counter and turning off the stove. “I never touch that girl.”

  Harmony was already grabbing for her purse, ready to bolt for the door. Sadie whined from the couch in the living room, obviously sensing the tension between them.

  “It is not true.” he said again, walking around the counter to her once more.

  Harmony backed up a step. “Don't touch me,” she warned.

  Peter stopped, dropping his hands and looking at her with a sullen expression. His eyes pleading, begging her to believe him. “Harmony.”

  She shook her head, “I can't believe this....I…I trusted you!” she spat, taking another step towards the door.

  “Please. Do not go. Let me to explain.” He begged, a hand reaching out as though she were still right in front of him, though she felt more like miles away.

  “Explain? How could you possibly explain this Peter? You lied to me.”

  “I did not lie.” he corrected, his voice hitching up a notch. “I only say I could not tell you. This is a matter for the police.”

  “A matter for the police.” she let his words roll around in her mind for a minute. “Well,” she said, her tone dark and angry. “Looks like the police aren't doing their job are they?”

  Peter was shocked, taken aback by her statement, the coldness of her voice. “You believe this?” He said, reaching for the paper and shaking it in her face. “You would assume this is true? With no even talking to me? No giving me the chance to defend myself?”

  Harmony shook her head, close to tears now. “I don't know what to believe Peter!” she shouted, reaching for the door knob. “Just leave me alone. I need to think.”

  Throwing the paper on the floor, Peter grabbed a hold of the door before she could slam it shut, following her outside.

  Harmony whirled on him then, “I mean it.” she yelled, “stay away from me.”

  Peter stopped, frozen by the heat in her eyes, there was such anger there, and so much pain as well. “Harmony,” he said, his voice a near whisper.

  “No.,” she said sternly, “I can't do this right now. I need time. So please...” her voice dropped, the anger subsided, replaced by what he was sure was a subtle defeated feeling, what he felt himself. “Just give me some time.”

  Peter stood there long after she was gone. He watched her car disappear from view, then shoulders slumped, he walked back inside. Peter threw the food he had been preparing in the garbage, his stomach too twisted in knots to even contemplate eating, and washed the coffee down the drain.

  Then he walked into the living room, snatching up the paper, his anger returning as he sat down on the couch and read through the article. Sadie, crawled over to him, placing her head in his lap and whining until he reached down and put a hand on her head.

  Sighing, he scratched behind the dog’s ears, whispered to her in Russian, telling her all would be okay. But he was lying. He didn't know if anything would ever be okay again.

  Harmony snagged the paper up from her front stoop, storming into the house and slamming the door behind her. She tried to remain angry, hoping to keep her desperation at bay. She felt like she'd taken a blow to the heart, and she was slowly bleeding, waiting for the injury to put her out of her misery.

  “Slashers star Defensemen being investigated for sexual assault.” That's what the headline had read. Her stomach dropped a second time as she re-read it, going into the article below. The writer was vague, didn't give too much detail. Said the sheriff’s department would neith
er confirm or deny, but that a confidential source had come forward, and without naming the girl, or the location of the incident went on to say that the encounter happened one night at a bar, after the young lady had asked for an autograph and had been invited back to the player’s house, only to be accosted in an alleyway.

  It didn't sound like something Peter would do. But with all these different emotions roiling within her, she had a hard time sorting through all of them. The detective's questions coming back to haunt her. How did he seem? Was he dressed weird? She thought back to the night in question, reliving all the details, right down to their passionate almost-love-making on the couch.

  Peter had seemed fine. If he'd had any sort of “encounter” with a fan, she had seen no indication of it. As for how he had been dressed, he'd just taken a shower, his wet hair making that perfectly obvious. But why? Was it as this article had said? Had he needed to shower because he was covered in filth after attacking a young woman in the alley behind some bar?

  She didn't want to believe it. How could she? She'd been with Peter that night, and though beer had most certainly been on his breath, he was far from drunk. And he was gentle with her. Throughout their feverish kissing and fondling of each other, Peter was ever so gentle with her. Wouldn't someone who had just assaulted a girl and gotten caught in the act have been a little rougher? Careless even in her handling?

  Peter hadn't seemed troubled to her in any way though. That's what bugged her the most. She felt like she knew Peter by now. He was a pretty easy going guy, but was absolutely shy around women. She was sure that had been no act. Harmony herself was more prone to going after guys like herself, outgoing and sure of themselves, perhaps bordering on arrogant. It was Peter's accent and his eyes that had caught her attention, and his smile that had sealed the deal.