“That’s okay. I’ll wait for you to be ready, but I’m not going anywhere. You might want to resign yourself to my wanting to be around you, not to mention hitting on you. Speaking of which, that suit is a total turn-on.”
“I purposely wore this because it covers me up so much!” Kelly splashed him and swam away.
“Oh no, you don’t!” Keith swam furiously after her, awed that she was able to put such a large distance between them in a few short seconds. When he reached her, he picked her up in his arms, spun her around, and threw her back into the water. She came up sputtering her indignation.
“I can’t believe you did that!” Laughing all the way, she swam back to him and put her arms around his neck. “I’m scared,” she whispered.
“So am I.” In front of everyone at that party, he kissed her. Right there in the water. Not caring if the whole world saw them. Since she didn’t push him away, he took advantage of being in the water where no one could clearly see his hands and ran them over her hips and bottom, squeezing those plump globes in his hands. He truly couldn’t get enough of her. He knew he was falling for her. She was a ruining him for all other women.
Chapter 7
Sunday morning rolled around and with it, some free time for Keith. The Scorpions had an evening home game, so he had a few hours to kill. He was really missing having a critter in the house and decided to go see Kelly at the animal orphanage.
“What are you doing here?” Kelly’s smile lit up the dank hallway as she came out from the back near the kennels.
“I want a critter. I’m not even sure what kind.”
Her smile grew brighter as she continued her walk toward him. “Yeah? We have a critter here that isn’t as popular as the puppies. Care to take a look?”
“Hmm. It’s not some mutant cat or something, is it?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see. Follow me.”
“Gladly.” He could watch her hips swing all day long. No hardship there. Jesus, that ass!
They got to the end of the hallway, and she opened a door to her left. Keith saw that the room was full of a menagerie of animals. There were snakes, turtles, and even frogs. “You have these kind of guys in the shelter? What the hell is wrong with people?”
“Who knows? At least they don’t kill them or put them out in the wild where they wouldn’t be able to care for themselves anymore. I really try not to think about it too much. It makes the job too hard. I want to take them all home.”
“So, which one is my new buddy?”
Kelly walked over to a cage in the corner of the room and came back with a huge ball of black and white fluff. It had really long ears and big feet. “This little girl is Daisy. She was hit by a car and had a broken leg. She’ll make a great pet, but her leg will never heal well enough to make it back in the wild, so after the vet set her leg, they brought her here to be adopted.” She handed Daisy to Keith and studied his reaction. She was not disappointed by it.
“It’s a bunny. Jesus, Kel. I just lost my man card. I’m in love.” He proceeded to give Daisy little bunny kisses as Kelly’s face softened toward him.
“Wow. Yeah, you did, but it works for you. You’ll take her?”
“Try and stop me. But you’re going to have to teach me how to take care of her. I’ve never had a bunny before.”
“Why don’t you take her cage and water bottle for now? There’s food in there, and I’ll stop over on the way home with her medications and instructions for her. Is that okay?”
Keith was so busy murmuring sweet nothings to his new pet that he didn’t hear what Kelly had said. “Huh?”
She had to laugh at his bonding with Daisy. “I’m going to stop over at your house with stuff for Daisy and show you how to care for her, okay?”
“Yeah. Absolutely. When? I have to leave for the rink around four.” It was only noon so he had time.
“I’m almost done here. I’ll be over in about an hour? I want to stop home and shower first.” No way was she going over to his house smelling like wet dog. Even though she wasn’t going to date him or anything, of course.
“Sure. We’ll see you then. Wait—don’t I have to fill out all kinds of paperwork?”
“I think I can vouch for you.”
“Thanks.” He spoke quietly to Daisy as he gently placed her back in her cage. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go home. You’re going to like it there. And I’m going to buy you lots of carrots.”
* * * *
Keith had just gotten Daisy situated after moving his furniture around so that he had a good spot for Daisy in the living room. He wanted her cage up high enough and close enough to the window that she would have something to look at. He’d also stopped at the pet store and bought a huge, round, indoor pen so that he could let her run around a bit in the house while he was home and not have to worry about her chewing on electrical cords. That was where Kelly found them when she knocked on Keith’s door.
“Come in!”
“Oh my God. Aren’t you two cute?” Kelly looked at the sight that greeted her and felt her heart constrict a bit. Keith was actually sitting in the pen, feeding carrots to Daisy.
“Well, hell. I already lost my man card, right? Besides, she likes me in here with her.” He stood up carefully and climbed out of the pen. “Do you think she likes that or is it stupid?”
“Not stupid at all. I’m sure she loves to have some room to run around.” Kelly walked over and gave him the remaining antibiotics for Daisy. “She’s only on them to prevent any infection from the surgery to fix her leg. Other than that, she’s fine. And I brought some food and some chews for her. Here are instructions about getting her teeth filed and recommended vet visits.”
“Thanks, Kelly.” He took the stuff from her and placed it all on the table. He closed his eyes as her scent enveloped him. She smelled so fresh. It was a spring day kind of scent, mixed with her own uniqueness. “You smell great.”
“Thanks. It’s just my soap, I guess. I just got out of the shower a little while ago.”
They stood there staring at each other, heat in their eyes. The only sound came from Daisy, who was munching on a carrot. Keith took one step as Kelly did the same.
“What are we doing, Keith?”
“I don’t know, Kel, I just know it’s beyond my control.” He took the remaining step and drew her body up against his.
“What is this? This chemistry between us? I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“I think it’s just that. Chemistry.” Keith put one hand on the side of her face. “If you don’t leave now, sweetheart, I’m going to make love to you.”
She tried, she really tried to leave. What came out of her mouth totally contradicted what her brain was saying. “God help me, I’m not going anywhere.” Kelly’s hands slid through his hair, tugging him down to her parted lips. It was like an explosion of lust. There was no gentle kissing. Not this time. It was fire and brimstone.
His hands were everywhere. Lips and teeth were rough against her mouth, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. “Jesus, Keith.”
None too gently, as he was too far gone, he fisted his hand in her hair, baring her neck for the onslaught of his kisses. He licked and nipped her neck until she cried uncle.
“Oh God. No more. Please, Keith I need to feel you inside me.” She clawed at his shirt as he lifted her in his arms. Sparing one glance for Daisy to make sure she was safe in her pen, he strode down the hallway to his bedroom.
Even as she was tearing at his clothes, she said, “This doesn’t change anything. I still don’t want a relationship.”
“Uh-huh.” He was too busy fighting with the button on her jeans to pay much attention to her words. “Fuck, I can’t get these undone.”
Abruptly, Kelly laughed and Keith joined her. “Let’s slow down a little.” Kelly led by example, stepping back and calmly unbuttoning her jeans. When she looked back up, Keith was standing there wearing only his boxer briefs, which were most impressively bulgi
ng. “Or not.”
“Come here. Let me finish that for you.” Keith pulled her over to him by her belt loop and finished what she started. When he had her stripped down to her matching pink lace bra and panties, he had trouble catching his breath. “You’re beautiful, Kelly.”
“No, I’m not, but thank you.”
“You’re wrong. You are beautiful.” He caressed her arms, moving around to her back, and down past her bottom to the tops of her thighs. With each touch on her skin, his cock twitched. Slowly, he slanted his lips over hers. She willingly opened for him and his tongue swept inside, absorbing the exquisite taste that was uniquely her.
He led her over to the bed, never breaking contact. “I’m going to take the rest of these barriers off of you now. First this…” He slowly removed her bra, kissing each nipple, pleased as they hardened under his lips. “Then these.”
He took more time removing her panties. Using his teeth, he gently scraped her skin on the way down and kissed his way up, pausing at her thighs. “Open for me, Kel.”
She spread her legs just a fraction of an inch.
“Don’t tease me. Open for me. I want to taste you.” He looked up and saw the heat in her eyes. She scooted up on the bed and opened herself up to him as he’d asked. “Fuck, you’re beautiful. Incredible.”
Kelly’s legs closed just a bit as Keith continued to stare at her, but he opened her back up again, using his shoulders as he lay down on the bed between her legs.
He tortured her for what seemed like an eternity with kisses, licks, and love bites. When he finally covered her with his mouth, she arched off the bed, calling his name. Hands fisted in the bedspread, she endured his attentions for almost another full minute before she flew apart in a spectacular orgasm. “Oh God. Fuck! Yes. Ah, that’s good.”
When he’d rung the last of her spasms out of her, he climbed up her body and sat on his heels. “Condom?”
The stricken look on her face would have been comical if not for the fact that he thought he might have to kill himself if he was denied entrance to her body. “I don’t have any. You don’t have one?”
“No. Fuck!”
“I’m on the pill.”
“I’m clean.”
They spoke at the same time.
“Thank God,” Keith said a millisecond before he entered her in one quick thrust that had them both clinging to each other. He wanted to be gentle, but she wrapped her legs around him and pumped her hips up against him. It drove him wild. He was in a near frenzy, fucking her and she was begging for more.
“Oh, Jesus. That’s it. Ahh, right there.” He gave her everything he had. Everything she asked for.
“Christ, Kel. I’m can’t—I’m going to…” He slammed into her faster and harder until he could feel her tightening around his cock. “Oh yeah, baby. That’s good.” He couldn’t hold back any longer and came inside of her with such force, he got dizzy from it. He kept pumping his hips until he knew she had come too.
They were both a sweaty mess as they lay there panting for air. “Holy shit, Keith. That was intense.”
“Yeah. Well, we know we have chemistry.”
Chapter 8
Keith was beginning to think he finally had Kelly in a place where they could talk about dating, when the shit hit the fan.
He was taking shots at Vlad during warm-ups when he saw her. Phoebe was in the stands, waving at him. What the fuck is she doing here? He was shocked—and not in a good way. Tansy was with her as well as Vicki. Pretending not to notice her, he turned back to the guys on the ice.
Late in the third period, the Ducks tied the game. The Scorpions still had plenty of time left, with seven minutes on the clock, to tie it up, but Keith was having a hard time keeping his head in the game.
Phoebe was laughing with her friends, having a grand old time waving every time she thought Keith looked her way. He still hadn’t acknowledged her, and honestly didn’t want to.
He’d never mentioned her to Kelly, and he could see that was a potential problem. Things were starting to go well with Kelly; he even thought he was gaining her trust. He certainly didn’t want Phoebe ruining that.
“Hey, Captain, you coming?”
The commercial break was over and he was due out on the ice. “Yeah, right behind you.” He swung his legs over the boards and took his spot at center ice. He won the face-off and shot the puck forward to Marcoux. Marcoux swung his stick around and passed it to Matty Johnson just before he crossed the blue line. Johnson took it in for a shot as Keith went to the net. Not his usual position, but Marcoux and Johnson were passing the puck around so Keith went in. Marcoux slapped it and it rose off the ice about a foot. Keith put his stick out to deflect it, and it sailed into the goal, pulling them ahead with just two minutes to go.
At the end of those two minutes, they were still up a goal and the crowd went wild. They were on a winning streak with five consecutive wins. It was a good start to the season.
* * * *
Kelly had Keith’s keys and told him she’d wait for him by his truck, instead of making him try to find her. As usual there were a bunch of puck bunnies waiting for the guys to come out. It was the one downfall of their arena. The only thing separating the puck bunnies from the players was a barricade that wasn’t much more than a bike rack.
When Keith saw her waiting for him, a smile broke across his face meant only for her. But it quickly died when he heard that familiar voice calling his name. “Keith! Honey, over here.” She pushed her way past the security guard who grabbed her at the last second before she reached Keith. “Let me go. He’s my boyfriend!”
Kelly looked at Keith, stricken.
“Kelly, I can explain. It’s not what you think.”
“Wow. Those words have never been uttered by a man before. Thanks a lot, Keith. I really thought you were different.” Before she embarrassed herself by bursting into tears, she turned and fled, taking his truck.
“Kelly, wait!” Realizing he had an audience, he turned around and started walking back to the arena, but Phoebe stopped him.
“Keith! Please. Please, can we talk? I flew all the way across the country to see you.”
He knew he shouldn’t. He knew it was a colossally bad idea, but he turned back around. “I thought you made it pretty clear that you were done with me, Pheebs.”
“I was wrong. I love you and I miss you. Nothing’s the same without you.” Tori snorted in the background, but Phoebe ignored her. “You were right. We can make this work.”
“No, we can’t. I don’t want to.”
“Look. Honey, I know I hurt you. I’m so sorry. Can we at least go back to your place and talk?” She batted her lashes at him. He used to think that was so cute. Now he found it annoying.
“I don’t think so.”
“Okay, I understand. You can’t say I didn’t try. Let me give you a ride home at least. It’s my fault that girl walked off.”
He wasn’t sure if he believed her acceptance, but he sighed and gave in anyway. He just wanted to get home so he could call Kelly. “Fine.”
* * * *
Upon Keith’s standing orders, the doorman knew to let Kelly up whenever she came by. She had cooled down on her drive home and admitted to herself that it really may not have been what it looked like. She could have been an old friend or even an old girlfriend. What right did she have to judge him before he had a chance to explain himself? It was just so hard for her to trust men.
* * * *
“Bathroom’s over there. Be quick.” Keith hated having Phoebe in his home. She had dropped her friends off at their hotel before taking him back to his place. She had also talked him into letting her come up to use his bathroom.
While she was in there, he greeted Daisy, giving her fresh water, food, and a carrot. She snuffled over to him and rubbed her head against his hand in gratitude. He had just latched the gate on her cage when he heard a knock at the door.
Relief lit his face as he saw who was on the other s
ide of the door. He quickly swung it wide open. “Kelly. Oh, sweetheart, I’m so glad you came over. Come in.” Too late, he remembered his unwanted guest.
“Baby?” Keith turned around to see Phoebe standing there in one of his button-down shirts. And nothing else.
“What the fuck are you doing? Phoebe, go get dressed and leave. I told you I don’t want you here. We’re through.” Keith turned back around to do damage control, but Kelly was long gone. He wanted to follow her, but he realized he didn’t know exactly where she lived. Goddammit! What kind of a guy didn’t know where his girl lived? True, she hadn’t allowed him to take her on a real date yet, but still.
He picked up his phone and sent her a text.
Keith: Kelly, come back. She’s gone, I swear.
Kelly: Well, call her back. She can have you.
Keith: I don’t want her. I want you.
Kelly: Who is she?
Keith: She’s the girl I was dating back in Philly. She didn’t want to move out here, and she walked out on me two months before I came out here.
He stared at his phone waiting for her response and got nothing.
Keith: Kelly, where are you?
Keith: I didn’t know she was coming here!
Keith: Kelly!
Keith: Please believe me. Come back. I miss you.
A half an hour must have gone by while he stood there waiting for his phone to beep before he finally gave up. He grabbed the bottle of scotch out of the cabinet, and parked his ass on the couch. After he’d drank a third of it, he didn’t care about anything.
When another knock sounded at the door, he assumed it was Phoebe. “Go away, Phoebe. For the last time, I don’t want you here!” His voice was slurred from the scotch, but he knew she heard him, even though the knocking got louder and more insistent.
He finally got up and walked unsteadily to the door, ready to go to battle with his ex. But to his delight, for the second time that night, it was Kelly who stood on the other side, and all he could do was smile drunkenly at her. “Aww, you came back to me.”
Seduced by the Game Page 48