Defying Gravity: An Ice Tigers Hockey Novel

by Isabella Cassazza

  “Love you more. Now let’s get up. We want to impress her. You better make a batch of your pancakes with that cream stuff to convince her to put up with our craziness.”

  * * *

  “Can I come in?” I knock on the door to our guest room.

  “Yes,” Danny shouts.

  “Your boyfriend is a sadist,” Lily says with a groan as I open the door.

  I lift an eyebrow. “Are you keeping all the kinky stuff from me, Danny?”

  He chuckles. “Not that I’m aware of. See.” He lifts his hands off Lily’s back. “I’m not using whips and chains on her.”

  “You’re still a sadist if that’s what you call a relaxing massage. To think people actually pay you for that.”

  “They do, and they enjoy what I can do for them. But they’re usually not as tensed up as you. Jesus, Lily, you’re an athlete. You should take better care of your body.”

  “I know. Ryan already suggested I start working with a personal trainer. I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

  “Well great. Then this was our first session.” He pats her back, his tanned skin a stark contrast against her creamy white one. She opens her mouth, but I beat her to it.

  “Don’t even think about saying no to that, Lily. He’s in Danny-mode. You don’t stand a chance.”

  “You’ll need a personal trainer now anyway. You’re in a relationship with an NHL player. You’re expected to spend your days doing yoga, Pilates, and going to the spa—all at Ty’s expense, of course.” Danny pours more oil in his hands, the scent infiltrating my nostrils. I like this oil. It doesn’t smell as sweet as the one used at the training facility.

  “Over my dead body.” She shakes her head, looking at him like he’s lost his mind.

  “You two are hilarious.” I burst out laughing. “But please be nice to Lily, Danny. We need her.”

  “She can take it.” He winks at me. “Now, brace yourself one more time, Lily. I promise you’ll feel better afterward, but I’m not going to lie. This is going to hurt.” He digs his fingers deep into her back muscles.

  Lily grips the edges of the portable massage table she’s lying on, her knuckles clearly visible. She holds her breath, and her muscles twitch as Danny kneads her back with his long fingers. Suddenly she slumps down, her whole body becoming slack.

  “It wasn’t too bad, was it?” Danny rubs more oil on her back. “Now don’t move for a few minutes. Just relax. The oil will help with the soreness.”

  It’s fascinating to see Danny work. He’s entirely in his element, completely in control of everything. I haven’t had the opportunity to witness him work with someone else, and when I’m the one on the table, I can’t see him doing his thing.

  I watch as he strokes her back gently, remembering how his fingers feel on my skin. His hands are strong, and yet he can be so gentle.

  I have to stop thinking about sex while watching my boyfriend giving my fake-girlfriend a massage. Luckily for me, it seems they’re done.

  I clear my throat. “My agent just called. He thinks Lily and I should attend Friday night’s charity event together to put an end to all the speculation.”

  “What’s the charity about?” Lily sits up, clutching a towel to her body.

  “It’s a gala dinner to raise money for a children’s hospital. It’s an annual thing, wasn’t too bad last year. Some of the stories are heartbreaking to listen to, though. But the kids I had the pleasure to meet in person are truly inspiring and so full of life. I try to go to the hospital as often as possible. It’s so rewarding to see their smiles and to think that we can take their minds off their illness for a little while. It puts things into perspective.”

  “What’s the event going to be like?”

  “It’s a dinner with tons of speeches, and we’re seated in between donors to interact with them and get them to donate as much as possible.”

  “You don’t like that kind of event.” Lily is observant. While I consider myself a pro when it comes to hiding my emotions from others, it doesn’t seem to function with her.

  “Ty got groped last time,” Danny, the traitor, says.

  “Groped?”

  “Yeah, groped. Some old ladies couldn’t resist his fine ass.”

  “Oh my God.” Lily puts her hand in front her mouth but then bursts out laughing.

  “Glad to provide your entertainment again.” I try to sound serious but can’t help the grin on my face. From what I know, Lily’s life has been way too serious so far. She should laugh more, even if it is at my expense.

  “You’ll simply have to protect him, Lily. Fight off the old ladies.”

  Now I can’t help but crack up too. The thought of this petite person protecting me is hilarious.

  “I’ll do my best.” She catches a tear in the corner of her eye.

  “Good. I don’t want to listen to him complaining endlessly about it again.”

  I take a towel and throw it at him, but he catches it effortlessly.

  “Good thing you’re a hockey player, because your throwing sucks.” He laughs at me. “And you’ll have to fend off the men, Ty, old and young, since you got yourself such a beauty.”

  Lily blushes and clutches the towel tighter to her body

  “Stop flirting with my girlfriend.”

  “She’s all yours.” He lifts his hands in defeat. “But I think she needs some privacy now. Get dressed, Lily, while we prepare lunch. There are still a lot of details to figure out to make your relationship believable.”

  Chapter Seven

  Danny

  I step in the shower and turn on the water. For a few moments, I enjoy the touch of the hot water on my skin, washing away the day’s sweat, while the steady rhythm of raindrops hitting the porcelain surface lulls me.

  I sigh and reach for the shower gel. Our rain shower has to be the best thing ever.

  The past twenty-four hours run through my mind. Yesterday I thought my relationship had come to a dead end, but now I’m full of hope again. All because of a pint-sized woman. All because of Lily.

  I can’t help smiling, thinking of her. She makes it hard not to like her. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside—adorable, selfless, nearly too good to be true. We’re lucky to have found her.

  I never had a female friend—as in friend only. There were hookups and acquaintances aplenty, but I never let them close. With her, it’ll be different. She’ll be our confidante, our shield against the world.

  The future looks bright and exciting with her at our side. It was fun to make up a story about how Lily and Ty met. Neither of them is a party animal, and a meet-cute in a club wouldn’t have been credible. So we came up with the simplest version possible—they ran into each other on Newbury Street, literally. Lily is easy to overlook, and Ty nearly ran her over the first time they met. It’s a cheesy story, but one no one will be able to verify. Newbury Street is way too busy for that.

  I even learned new things about Tyler while he and Lily went through typical things couples know about their significant other. I’d always thought his favorite color was blue, but it turns out he prefers a light gray. I’m not sure what it says about a person to choose gray as a favorite color, but he was sincere about it.

  The other thing I didn’t know is that he can bake. He’s a great cook, but baking is something different. As far as I know, he’s never baked a cake, and making pancakes in a pan isn’t baking, or is it? I’ll ask him to bake me a cake for my birthday. We’ll see how he reacts then. Perhaps he just said it to impress Lily.

  I didn’t lie to Tyler earlier when I told him that I look forward to going with her to the home games, not only because I’ll be able to see Ty play, but also to spend time with her and get to know her better.

  There might be a little problem, though. She’s fucking gorgeous, and I’m attracted to her—sexually. It’s not a big surprise, just a normal reaction for a healthy bisexual man. I couldn’t help but notice how soft her skin felt under my
hands when I touched her during the massage.

  I haven’t been attracted to a woman since Tyler and I became an item, but my attraction to women hasn’t magically disappeared. I just don’t feel the need to act on it. I was a goner the moment Tyler stepped into my treatment room, but before I met him, I exclusively dated women, even though I was attracted to some men.

  Life would be much easier if I were in a relationship with a woman. But I love Ty, and I’d never cheat on him.

  I exhale deeply. I’ll enjoy looking at Lily, but I’m not going to act on my attraction to her. Problem solved.

  As if summoned by my thoughts, Ty puts his hands around me from behind.

  “Hey,” he whispers near my ear, and then his mouth traces a line from my ear down my neck.

  “Hey.” I bend my head to give him easier access.

  “Why didn’t you wake me?” His lips on my skin make me shiver.

  “Didn’t want to disturb you. I thought you could use the sleep after last night. It was an eventful day, and besides, you looked so peaceful.” It’s hard to concentrate when his left hand roams my chest and abdomen like this.

  “Peaceful, hm.” He presses his hard dick against my back, making me squirm. “I’m definitely not peaceful anymore.” His fingers trail from my abdomen down to my dick, but barely touch me. I try to lift my hips into his hand, but he immediately takes his hand away.

  “So impatient,” he growls against my ear. “Need something?”

  “Ty.” Hell yes I do, but I’m unable to phrase a sentence.

  “What do you want?” He nibbles on my earlobe, and I try to lift my hips again, talking with my body instead of words, but he doesn’t give me the friction I desperately need.

  “Tell me, Danny. Tell me what you want.”

  You. I want you, you big oaf. That’s why I’m putting up with all this shit.

  “Touch me.” I try to rub my ass against his dick, but he pulls away.

  “And then?” He turns my head and kisses me lightly on my lips.

  “Fuck me.” I stare directly in his eyes.

  “Your wish is my command.” His mouth drops to mine, and he kisses me deeply, his tongue caressing mine as if to reacquaint them again. When he pulls away, his eyes are ablaze with lust.

  “Put your hands on the wall.” His voice is low and husky.

  I shudder in anticipation. We haven’t played with each other like this for a while. It’s not often that Ty asks for my complete submission, but whenever he does, I’m in for a treat.

  He reaches around me for the shower gel, not yet touching me. I hear a squishing sound, and then one gel-covered hand goes on my chest while he places the other one on my stomach. My dick goes from a semi to a hard-on in seconds. When he massages me with the gel in slow, lazy circles, I try to rub my ass against his erection, but he pulls away again.

  “Don’t move or I’ll stop.” He bites my neck.

  It’s not an easy task, but I manage to get my body under control. As much as I love these games, I need more right now, but he isn’t giving me what I want.

  Only when I’m holding myself entirely still in his arms does he start his slow, circular movements again, moving up and down my chest and my abdomen, the motion expanding each time until he reaches my shoulders. He bends forward and presses his hard body against me, his dick rubbing where I want it most.

  “Like that?” I can feel his grin as he sucks on my neck.

  “Ty.” I’m incapable of speech at this point.

  I lower my gaze as he reaches around and takes my erection in his hands, stroking it in a slow and steady rhythm that makes me want to pump my hips into his hand. He’s driving me crazy with his slow motions. I lift my hips, and he takes his hands away.

  When I manage to hold still again, I’m rewarded with his hands on my balls.

  “What do you want now?” He pumps my dick with one hand while massaging my balls with the other. I’m in heaven, but it’s not enough.

  “Fuck me.” I sound desperate even to my own ears.

  “Like this?” He pushes two fingers inside me without any preparation.

  Pleasure and pain explode in my head as he pumps his big fingers so far inside me, they hit my prostate and black spots dance in front of my eyes. I’m used to my ass being penetrated, but Ty usually makes sure to loosen me up before he slides inside. This raw roughness is new. It’s overwhelming, and I’m drowning in sensation, but I still want more.

  “Give me your dick.” I sway against him.

  Everything happens fast. Without saying a word, he pulls his fingers out and pushes his dick inside me, granting me only a few seconds to adjust to his thick shaft before he pumps in and out of me in a steady rhythm. I lose control over my body; if it weren’t for Ty’s tight grip on my body, I’d be in a heap on the floor.

  I’m overpowered by the sensation of his skin sliding against mine. There’s nothing between us, and I couldn’t bear it if there were. My toes curl, and I see stars every time he hits my prostate.

  I fly higher and higher, and my balls become so tight, it’s painful. I can’t hold back anymore and push my ass against him in frantic movements, fucking his pulsating dick until my orgasm washes over me. Hot spurts of cum erupt out of me, and my insides feel like they’ve been rolled into sheets.

  My knees buckle, and I slump against Tyler. Through a haze, I hear him swear while his hands dig into my hips and hot seed floods me. Ty collapses, pressing me against the wall, both of us still shuddering from our earth-shattering climaxes.

  “You’re okay?” he asks, slowly pulling out of me. Even in his semi-hard state, it isn’t an easy task. I’m going to be sore tomorrow, but it was worth it.

  “Never better.” I turn around, using the wall at my back as support as my legs still feel like jelly.

  “I wasn’t too rough? I kind of lost it there.” Tyler cups my cheek.

  “I came like a freight train, Ty. Maybe I’ll walk a little funny tomorrow, but it was completely worth it. I can always say it was leg day.” I cup his cheek in return and bend in for a soft kiss.

  He smiles at me, looking as tired as I feel. “I love you.”

  “Love you more.” I steal another kiss. “Now let’s get cleaned up and go to bed.”

  Chapter Eight

  Lily

  I lie in my bed, wrapped in my super-fluffy blanket. It’s warm and cozy, and I haven’t felt as relaxed as I am right now in ages. Danny has magic hands indeed. I hadn’t even realized how tensed up I’d become over the last couple of weeks, wanting so desperately to succeed with Cornado.

  Instead of making that work, I’ve gotten myself a fake boyfriend—a smoking-hot fake boyfriend, and his equally gorgeous boyfriend as a bonus.

  I wonder how long it’ll take me to get used to being around two men who look like models. I’m constantly flushed when I’m around them. I just hope it won’t take too long. Is this how the mares feel when they’re in heat? I kind of understand why they’re grumpy all the time now.

  How can I be attracted to both of them? They’re very different in appearance and character. Where Ty is beautiful in a classical way, with his warm brown eyes, cut jawline, and straight nose, Danny is equally attractive with his green eyes, rugged look, and sexy smile. Where Ty seems composed and grounded, Danny is wild and always has a flicker of mischief in his eyes; it’s hard to resist his boyish charm.

  I’m drawn to both like a moth is drawn to the light—even though it feels more like I’m drawn to a burning flame, doomed to be burned.

  Whenever I close my eyes, I feel Ty’s lips on mine and the kiss replays in my mind, making my body tingle in all the right places.

  But Danny’s hands felt equally good on my body.

  I’m lusting after one man’s lips and another man’s hands? How did I end up here?

  They’re a cute couple, and I’d never get in between them. What they have is special—they’re special. And then there’s me: shy, uncertain, and apparently so starved of h
uman contact that I lust not only after one but two gay men. Two men who I’ll have to spend a lot of time with, one of whom will kiss me, and one will touch me. Two men who are and will be off-limits for me.

  How am I going to survive this? I should have listened to Jess and hooked up casually with someone in the past year.

  Unfortunately, hooking up is not an option anymore, since I’m in a committed fake relationship with the hockey player women practically drool over, the one getting applications for Romkey before his participation was officially confirmed. With the hockey player whose “kissident,” as the tabloids call our kiss, has caused a shitstorm online.

  None of these people know me in person, but I’ve already been deemed unworthy of their god. It’s unbelievable what people write in the anonymity of the internet. Ty warned me not to read any comments online, but I’m curious by nature. I told myself I just wanted a tiny little sneak peek and ended up spending two hours browsing the web.

  I should have listened to Tyler. According to some comments, I’m a gold digger with a nonexistent fashion sense who won’t be able to keep Tyler long term, since he’ll dump me before I know it.

  Well, if that doesn’t boost my confidence.

  If the whole situation doesn’t call for disaster, I’m not sure what else does, but I’ve already given my word, and there’s no way I’m screwing this up. I’m going to survive this, one way or another.

  * * *

  A few days later, standing next to Ty on a red carpet attending the children’s hospital fundraiser event, I’m not so sure if I can go through with playing the fake girlfriend anymore. My knees are wobbly, and I’m holding on to Ty’s arm as if my life depends on it.

  I was pampered and styled by a makeup artist for over three hours this afternoon, and I hardly recognize myself anymore. Tyler even hired a personal shopper, and I don’t want to know the price tag of the evening gown I’m wearing right now.

  “You’re doing great,” Tyler whispers, turning to me. “Just keep smiling. We’re nearly done with the photos and interviews.”