Touch

by Kris Bryant

  “Yes.” That sounds desperate. “I mean, I don’t have anything planned this week except Thursday. I have a date with a hot chick in some hay.”

  She laughs. “Lucky you. How are you doing after everything that’s happened?” For a moment, I think she is talking about the incredible sex we had and just as I’m about to embarrassingly moan out an answer, my brain reminds me that Alison stopped by last night and she probably is referring to her untimely visit.

  “I’m okay. I’m sorry that Alison showed up and ruined what would have been the perfect weekend.” Stone doesn’t deserve this. She deserves somebody who doesn’t have baggage like I do. We really should have waited, but we are already in it. “I’m still cringing about it. I’m sorry you had to see that,” I say.

  “It’s okay. I know your history. I’m just sorry it made you sad last night,” she says.

  And I thought I was masking my emotions well. “I wasn’t sad. I was upset that she ruined my night. Our night.”

  “Saturday was a great night, in case I didn’t say anything before.” Her voice is low and smooth and I cover my face with my hand as I remember that warm voice whispering things in my ear that nobody has ever said to me before. It was erotic and with anybody else, would have made me blush. Stone empowered me. She made me feel sexy and treasured.

  “I loved everything about it. I’m just sorry you didn’t get enough sleep before your game. Match. What’s it called?”

  Stone laughs. “What am I going to do with you? If we’re going to date, you really need to know the sport. We need to have Hockey 101 classes.”

  “I promise to be an excellent student. I mean, since you were such a good patient.”

  “The punishment for not paying attention in my class is severe. Are you sure you want to sign up for that?” Even trying to sound like a disciplinarian, her voice is sexy.

  “Definitely. Put me in the front row, teach.” I like the playful, less brooding side of Stone.

  “Do you want to get together tomorrow night for a little bit? Maybe grab a drink or just hang out? I’d like to show you my place.” She sounds shy and adorable.

  “Are you trying to pick me up?”

  “Is it working? Because if it is, then yes, yes I am,” she says.

  I’ve smiled more in the last forty-eight hours than I have all year, I think. “Then I’m in. Tell me your address and I’ll meet you after work tomorrow if that’s okay.” I write down her address and before I know it, my lunch is over and my next patient is here. “I need to go. I’ll see you later. Have a great practice.” I mentally tell myself to learn as much as I can about hockey and the lingo before tomorrow night.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  I cheat and swing by my house to change and clean up after work. My house is on the way to Stone’s and I think a quick shower and fresh clothes will pep me up. I’m right. By the time I get to Stone’s, I’m only a few minutes late. She lives on the twenty-sixth floor. I’m super excited to see her view.

  “I finally made it,” I say into the intercom after she answers.

  “Who is this? And did you bring treats?”

  “Just myself. That should be enough of a treat.” I can’t believe I just said that. She buzzes me in, and leaves her finger on the buzzer for an extended time to let me know she approves of my answer. Smile.

  “Come in,” she says when she opens the door. She doesn’t move out of my way so my only path is into her arms. I don’t hesitate. She feels warm and perfect. “I’ve missed you.”

  I look up at her. “I’ve missed you, too.”

  She kisses me softly. It’s not a passionate kiss, but one that lets me know she’s telling the truth. “Let me show you around.” She slides her hand down my arms until she is holding my hand and we walk around her place.

  It’s modest in size and surprisingly down to earth. I was expecting lots of cold, stainless steel, and black. Instead, Stone has hardwood floors and warm earth tones. Her sectional couch is dark sage with colorful pillows. I take an instant liking to it. The master bedroom is gorgeous and I can’t wait to sprawl out on her bed. My cheeks heat up just thinking about all of the things I want her to do to me in this room.

  “I love your place. It’s very comforting and welcoming,” I say.

  She beams at me. “Thank you. It’s not much, but it’s not a bad first home.” She pulls back the curtains to show me the view of downtown. “Come out here. This is my favorite part.”

  “I love that you have a balcony.” I squeeze past her to step out into the cool night. The city looks so beautiful lit up. “I would be out here every night. Hey, I can see the arena from here.” She walks up behind me, places her hands on my shoulders, and pulls me back into her.

  “I eat a lot of my meals out here and read when it’s light out.”

  “It’s a nice space.” I look around. There is a table, two chairs, and a tiny grill. “Perfect really.”

  “Want to take a walk in the neighborhood? See how single people should live?” I jab her in her side until she laughs.

  “The suburbs aren’t all bad,” I say. She looks at me pointedly. “I was in a bad position. It was the only thing I could find on a day’s notice.”

  “I’m just teasing you. I know. It’s a cute house. You’ve done a nice job with it. Are you going to extend your lease or have you even thought about it yet?”

  “No clue really. I need just to take a deep breath because everything is happening so fast,” I say.

  “I know what you mean. Come on. Let’s head downstairs. If you’re hungry, we can pick up some sandwiches and some of the best ice cream on Earth.” In the hallway, Stone grabs my hand after she locks the door. The businesses downstairs include a dry cleaner, a convenience store, a sandwich shop, and a bicycle repair place.

  “Your building is self-sufficient. In case of a zombie apocalypse, I know where to go.” She chuckles.

  “All the buildings down here have businesses in them. Thankfully, I’m high enough where I don’t have to hear them. Sometimes when I’m on the balcony, I hear arguments or celebrations. It’s fun being anonymous.”

  “We definitely hear different things. I hear children playing. And dogs barking. And leaf blowers at the crack of dawn.” I’m almost positive now that I will move downtown after the six month lease is up. It puts me closer to Alison, but also closer to Stone. My decision will have to be made with my head and not my heart. I have time though. Plus, everything is still so new with Stone. There’s still time to back out before either of us becomes heartbroken. “Show me your neighborhood.” A tiny park sits to the side of the condominiums with a walking trail and several fountains. “This is really nice. How long have you lived here?”

  “Almost three years since joining the Gray Wolves. I really like it. I thought about getting a bigger place, but I think it’s the perfect size for just me.” After walking around for almost an hour and seeing Bushnell Arena up close and personal, we stop in an Irish pub for a quick beer and an appetizer.

  “How does your leg feel?” She stands up, hops from one foot to the other, showing me how good she feels. Her smile is beautiful. My heart skips a few beats.

  “I feel great. Truly. All week long I’ve been on the treadmill and doing leg lifts. My muscles might not be as strong as they used to be, but I’m catching up fast.” I nod. She looks great.

  “I want to come to another game. Maybe this weekend?” I ask. She shakes her head.

  “I mean yes, but we’ll be down in Boston this weekend. Home games are more fun anyway. Road games are hard. We keep our heads down and do our job. That’s about all we can do. There are some die-hard fans in the crowd though. I just wouldn’t get the chance to hang out with you. The coach keeps us pretty closely under her wing on the road. We have curfews and no men or women in our room policy.”

  “Shut up. I thought that was fake. You know, only on television.”

  “Nope. A rule. The coach wants you amped and ready to play. Not satisfied an
d slow because you just had sex. Plus, there’s the whole getting a good night’s sleep rule. It shows when you don’t.”

  “I would hate to have anybody dictate when I can have sex or see my girlfriend or wife. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

  “That’s why the home games are so much fun. We see our girlfriends or wives and bring them to the games so they can cheer for us and then have sex with us when we go home,” she says. I almost believe her until she winks at me before emptying her beer.

  “Oh, you.” I laugh with her.

  “Come on. Let’s get sandwiches and relax for a bit. I know you have an early day tomorrow.” We head back to her building and grab hot chicken parmesan sandwiches on the way up to her floor. We stand close together in the elevator and I feel like a couple. She is holding my hand and leaning into me. She bends down and kisses me softly. “Thank you for coming over tonight.” I reach up and touch her face gently. Her skin is soft and smooth except for the strong line on her forehead. I notice a thin scar and smile. I’m almost positive it’s a hockey injury. According to her medical records, all broken bones were from playing hockey. My thumb brushes across her full bottom lip. I lean up to kiss her, but we’re interrupted when the ding of the elevator signals we have arrived at her floor. “We can pick this back up in my place.”

  This I don’t doubt. As a matter of fact, I’m hoping it does. It’s almost eight o’clock. We seem to be rushed all of the time. I’d like to have a full day with her, preferably in bed, but I’m happy with just dinner and resting my head on her shoulder. Dating. It’s everything I remember, only better.

  “Tell me about the orchard and this hayride you’re taking me on,” I say. We sit down on the couch to eat our sandwiches. “Wait a minute, do you have horses on the orchard?” If they do, I didn’t see them during the tour.

  “No, we’ll use the tractor. It’s actually really cute. My parents love doing it. It’s good business for the orchard.”

  “I love your parents’ orchard. It’s great. When you drove me around, I was really impressed with how well it operates and just how adorable it is.”

  She reaches out to play with my fingers. “Actually, my parents, my brother, and I have equal shares of the business. I figure if the hockey thing doesn’t work out for me, I can peddle apples for a living. It’s quite lucrative. Ciders, butters, vinegars, snacks. Just so many options.”

  “I can always bake pies for the business,” I playfully suggest.

  “No.”

  “No? Why not?” I ask.

  She moves closer to me. “Just no. Nobody gets your pie except for me.” She leans to kiss me. I push her back.

  “You did not just say that to me.”

  She laughs and jumps on top of me. “What? That wasn’t sexy? I thought for sure you would like that.”

  “Just call me a broad, too. That’ll get my heart thumping fast in my chest,” I say.

  She’s on her hands and knees over me. I scoot down so I’m directly underneath her. “That’s hot, right? I thought so.”

  I pull her down to me so that her lips are right above mine. “So hot.” She kisses me. What starts out as playful, turns passionate immediately. I need to feel her against me again so I run my hands up her back and moan when she slides her knees and sinks against my center. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I haven’t stopped thinking about you and our night since I woke up Sunday.” She places tiny kisses on my neck, my cheeks, and the corner of my mouth.

  “I’m so sorry our night got ruined.”

  She silences me with another kiss. “It’s okay. We’ll have plenty more nights like that. I promise you.” Her voice is low and almost a whisper. I believe her. “Maybe right now.” We kiss harder. I want this. I want her, I want us. I want to feel the same way I did a few nights ago, wanted and safe.

  “Yes.” That’s the last thing I say for several minutes as she undresses me. I’m dying from her going so slow, but I’m patient because I know I’ll be rewarded. I don’t even care that I’m down to my panties and bra and she’s fully clothed. Between kissing and touching, I’m so ready to come.

  “You’re so soft and lovely. I’ve thought about touching you again and again,” she says. Her mouth leaves mine to kiss and suck all over my body. She pushes my bra up, not bothering to unclasp it. It’s rough and gentle at the same time. I moan and squirm against her, waiting for her mouth to work its way to my nipple. Her teeth scrape my breast, heightening my need. I pull her head into me, begging her to suck hard. She doesn’t disappoint. I moan at the pain that’s so pleasurable, it makes me squirm harder. She silences me by sliding her hands down my panties and slipping inside me. I push into her hand. I need more already. I want more.

  “More.” My vocabulary disappears every time Stone touches me. My brain stops functioning. I only need her touch. She slips another finger inside and my hips jerk. Her fingers move deep and I gyrate my hips against her hand. “Oh, God, Stone.” I moan over and over. She moves her mouth down my body, gently biting as she goes. She doesn’t even make it to my pelvic bone before I cry out as my first orgasm overtakes me.

  “I love that you can come this way,” she says.

  My body’s still rocking with the aftershocks. When her mouth finds my core, I spread shamelessly for her. I’m not even close to being done. I’m so wanton with her and I don’t care. Her mouth is warm and wet and I move against her, finding the perfect rhythm. I miss her warmth when she slips out of me, but love how strong she grips my legs to hold me in place. I push into her harder and she holds me down, her fingers digging into my thighs. I hear moaning and realize it’s coming from both of us. That makes me even more turned on. My second, stronger orgasm rolls over me until I shake.

  “I can’t believe how incredible you are.” She crawls up me again, placing tiny, wet kisses until she reaches my mouth. “You’re so beautiful.” Her lips are soft against mine, but demanding, and I yield. I hold her close to me.

  “You make me feel so special,” I manage to say.

  “That’s because you are.”

  I smile against her cheek. “All of your clothes are still on. We should change that.” She leans up and pulls off her sweater. I reach out to touch her stomach, always amazed at her muscle tone. I help her unbutton her jeans. She stills my hands.

  “Let’s go back to the bedroom.” She pulls me flush against her and kisses me all the way down the hall. I’m surprised she doesn’t carry me, but I’m too excited because in about ten seconds, we are going to be rolling around in that giant bed of hers. I look at the clock when we enter her room and am shocked that what happened on the couch took less than fifteen minutes. “Why are you looking at the clock?” she whispers.

  “It’s still so early. I lose all sense of time with you.”

  She kicks off her jeans and slips out of her boxers. She didn’t even bother with a bra today. Stone just gave me fantastic orgasms, but I want more. I can tell she is nowhere near done with me and I gladly fall on the bed with a playful push from her. She is on me in an instant. I welcome her weight between my thighs. She slips a hand between us and resumes fucking me with her beautifully long fingers. I know that I’m being selfish, but I need her. I need this closeness. I move my hips into her, wanting more friction, bucking against her hard body.

  She pushes away from me and as I’m about to ask her what’s wrong, she flips me so I’m on my stomach. She runs her tongue along the back of my thigh and I lift up when her mouth hits the curve of my ass. She spreads me and licks my wetness, her hands gripping the back of my thighs. This position is so decadent that I can barely breathe. She grabs my hips and directs me up so that I’m on my hands and knees. Her fingers massage my pussy and I push back into her, wanting, no, needing more. She kneels behind me and drills into me, hard, fast. I cry out as I come again. My legs shake so bad that I can’t hold myself up. I collapse onto my stomach. Stone holds my quivering legs.

  “Stretch your legs out.” She pulls the comforter
up over me and pulls me into her arms. She nuzzles my neck and strokes my arms until my breathing slows. I turn so that I’m facing her.

  “I don’t even know what to say,” I say. She runs her fingertips across my cheeks and down my nose. She kisses my lips softly. “You’re incredible. Just as fierce and intense in the bedroom as you are out on the ice.”

  “When I know what I want, I go for it. I want you. Simple as that,” she says.

  I feel myself melting from the inside out. “Simple, huh? Did you always know you were going to get me?”

  “If nothing else, I’m definitely persistent.”

  “Without a doubt,” I say.

  She plays with my hair as I stay curled up in her embrace. I’m going to give my body a few minutes to recuperate, plus I like it when she holds me. “I knew I wanted you the moment I saw you.” The honesty in her voice is very touching.

  “You hated me the moment you saw me.”

  “I hated life the moment I saw you. I was sure my career was over. My foot wouldn’t bend. My leg hurt. I was a complete wreck over that,” she says.

  I kiss her cheek softly. “You were brave. The best thing to do is know your limits and work your way up from there. I’m thankful you weren’t as destructive as you could have been. We’ve worked with so many athletes who don’t follow the plan and end up hurt. It’s sad.”

  “I trusted you. Your kind eyes and gentle demeanor. I knew you were going to help me.”

  “It’s because I gave it to you straight, huh?”

  She leans back from me. “What do you mean?”

  “I told you I was assigned to work with you since I’m so good with children and most athletes fall under that category.”

  She laughs and playfully kisses my face. “Truth, Doc. Actually, watching you with your other patients was the best thing that could have happened to me. The kids all were happy even though they had such bad things happen to them. Especially Davis with his prosthetic leg. I can’t even imagine.”

  I don’t tell her that I planned for her to be there during his PT. “It’s not easy, but I like being a part of the healing process. I know that most of the patients are going to be better after working with us. Especially the kids. They’re so much fun and so eager to heal.”