Chapter Nine

Whenever I’m on the ice, I’m laser-focused. Unshakeable. Nothing distracts me from my game.

At least, nothing ever did before.

Now, though, I can’t stop stealing glances at Grace. She’s in the stands, taking video of our practice again. She looks sexy in tight gray slacks and a torso-hugging black sweater. Her hair cascades over her shoulders in soft waves, catching the light every now and then, making it glow like a halo. She's got a professional-looking camera in her hands, lens focused on Carson. I feel a small pang of jealousy that she’s not looking at me.

“Jensen!” Coach suddenly shouts. “Pay attention!”

I blink, realizing I’ve been spacing out as I gaze up at Grace. The next moment, someone slams into me from behind, throwing me off my feet. I hit the ice, hard, and the air is knocked out of my lungs.

Pain blooms in my side, but I'm up and on my feet again in an instant, my heart pounding as adrenaline floods my system. I shake myself off, throwing a glance in the direction of the culprit — one of our rookies who looks sheepish and more than a little worried.

"Sorry!" he hollers over the rest of our team’s laughter.

I give him a curt nod of acknowledgment before skating back into position. My eyes wander back to Grace. She’s watching me now, a crease in her forehead, her lips parted slightly in surprise. I can't help the rush of pleasure that shoots through me at the concern on her face, but then she looks away, focusing back on Carson.

Coach blows his whistle and we launch back into practice. I'm annoyed with myself for losing focus and for letting Grace distract me during my game. Try as I might, I can’t seem to keep my eyes off her, even when I know my focus needs to be on the game.

I manage to get through practice without any further screwups, but all I want to do is get cleaned up and crawl into a hole somewhere. I’m embarrassed that I’ve played so poorly.

As I strip out of my gear, Carson comes up to me and smacks me on the shoulder. “Hey, man, you okay?” he asks. “You took a pretty decent hit out there.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I grumble, embarrassment burning through me. “Off day I guess.”

“Those happen,” he shrugs. “I think I know what could cheer you up. Since we don’t have practice tomorrow, I’m taking Grace out on the town tonight. We’re going to grab some food and drinks at the Checkered Pub. You should join.”

My stomach tightens at the thought, but I’m careful not to let Carson see how eager I am to take him up on his offer. The thought of getting to spend more time with Grace, though, has my blood pumping hard in my veins.

“Grace won’t mind?” I ask.

Carson shakes his head. “Nah, it’ll be great. Come on. You could use a little fun.”

“All right,” I nod. “Sure, I’ll come out with you guys.”

“Great! Meet us at the pub at seven.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Carson turns and heads to the showers, but I don’t follow him. Instead, I get dressed and decide to head home so I can get ready there.

As I drive home, all I can think about is Grace. Her bright blue eyes and her plump pink lips. When she bites that bottom lip, I want to pull it free with my thumb and run my tongue over it. The way she looked concerned when I took the hit on the ice made my heart hammer in my chest. I run a hand through my hair and grit my teeth as my body gets hot and my dick twitches in my pants.

Once home, I turn the shower on so that the water is running hot and fills the bathroom with steam. I step inside and under the warm spray, savoring the feel as the water washes away the sweat and stink from practice. As my muscles start to relax, my mind wanders back to that week I spent with Grace in Miami.

The first night we were together, we’d snuck from the resort down to the beach and ended up having sex in a rocky alcove where no one could see us. She’d been so gorgeous that night… her body so soft and delectable. She felt so good when I sank into her tight, wet heat. Her body wrapped around mine perfectly, fitting against me like she was made for me.

I remember her silk-smooth skin under my fingertips, the salty ocean spray on our bodies, and her long hair tangled between my fingers as I kissed her deeply. That night was so intense. The way her breath hitched each time I moved within her. The sweetness of her moans in my ear as we moved together under the moonlit sky.

Then, there was our moment in a random alleyway, when she’d taken the lead and blown my goddamn mind. The memory is one I can never escape…

The alleyway is dark and narrow, the only light coming from a flickering lamppost at the entrance. Lynn pushes me against the cold brick wall, her eyes sparkling mischievously in the dim light. Without a word, she crashes her lips onto mine, her hands roaming freely over my body.

“What are you doing?” I ask with a low chuckle.

She looks up at me and puts a finger to her lips.

“You can’t make too much noise,” she says. “The people at the restaurant around the corner might hear you.”

Before I figure out what her intentions are, she squats down in front of me and unzips my pants.

“Fuck,” I gasp when she pulls out my cock and gives it a few firm strokes.

Looking up at me, she grins before wrapping her lips around the head and sucking my length into her mouth. Shit, she’s good at this, I think, but at the same time, I can tell she’s not that experienced. I cup the back of her head and guide her as she bobs up and down along my cock.

The world around us fades away as pleasure runs through me. She drags her tongue on the underside of my cock and reaches up to cup my balls. I grip her hair, unable to stop myself, and hold her still while I take over and thrust into her mouth. She gags but looks up at me with a scorching heat in her eyes. Tears slip down her cheeks. Gripping my thighs, she holds me tight as I continue to fuck her mouth.

As water pelts against my body, my mind drifts back and forth between realities and memories. The feeling of her lips pressed against mine, her bare body against the rough rocks. It all feels so vivid that I can almost taste the salt on her lips, feel the texture of her hair in my hands.

My cock is fully erect now. I can’t go to meet Grace and Carson with a raging hard-on, so with a groan, I reach down and grip my dick in my fist. I brace my other hand on the shower wall in front of me as I begin to stroke myself. I think of Grace and sinking into her on that beach in Miami.

Each stroke brings me back to that incredible night, the memory so vivid it's almost as though I'm living it again. The sound of waves crashing against the shore, a soft breeze carrying the scent of sea salt and Grace… her scent, exotic and enticing. The feel of her soft skin under my fingers…

"Damn it," I groan as pleasure spikes through me. My hand moves faster, the sensation mounting with each stroke, echoing the rhythm we had on that beach, under the moonlight…

Closing my eyes, I let my thoughts run wild. I see Grace bent over in front of me, her body silhouetted against the moonlit sky. I imagine burying myself deep within her again...and then suddenly I'm there. With a final stroke, I erupt like a volcano, groaning as sensations of ecstasy engulf my body.

Once the shuddering subsides, I reach for the shower handle and twist it off. Water droplets slide down the tiles and onto the shower floor. The room is filled with silence except for the sound of my heightened breaths.

I stand there for a moment, not nearly as satisfied as I wish I was before stepping out and wrapping a towel around my waist. In front of a mirror now clouded by steam, I start planning how to keep my burgeoning feelings for Grace under wraps tonight so that Carson doesn’t get suspicious of me. There’s no reason to tell my best friend about a past that may no longer matter, even though I hope it still does.

Once ready, I glance at the watch on my wrist; only an hour until seven. As anticipation kicks in, I grab my keys and head out to meet Grace and Carson at the Checkered Pub.