Chapter 12

MAC

"Did you get more furniture?" my agent, Andrea, asked me as she looked around my living room.

"I thought I'd get this place fully furnished."

"Huh."

A tall woman in her midfifties, Andrea Sterling gave off an air of "just try to fuck with me" that often intimidated people. When I'd first met her five years ago, she'd taken one look at me and said that she didn't sign hockey players because they were too much of a pain. I'd somehow convinced her otherwise.

And up until the last few months, I'd kept up that end of my bargain. When she'd found out about the rumor going around about me sleeping with a married woman, she'd given me an earful, to say the least.

Andrea opened my fridge and then gasped. "Cole Mackenzie! Do you have ingredients in here?"

Now, I was embarrassed. "I can cook," I protested.

That elicited a laugh. "Since when? Didn't you nearly burn down a hotel trying to make Easy Mac one time?"

I growled under my breath. "That was years ago."

"Try six months ago." Andrea chortled, shaking her head. She shut my fridge, but not before snagging a can of sparkling water. "And La Croix? Who's the lucky girl? And please don't tell me she's married, or I'm going to murder you for real this time."

I wasn't about to tell Andrea about Elodie, and most definitely not about the contract. The contract that had yet to be signed even though it'd been a week since I'd flown Elodie and her best friend Hannah to Denver for the game. I'd been so sure that Elodie would sign it, but she'd gone radio silent since we'd seen each other last. I'd gone out of town for another game and then for a photo shoot on location. We'd texted a few times, but I could tell that Elodie was keeping her distance. I just couldn't figure out why. I hoped like hell she wasn't having second thoughts.

"Mmm, so it is a woman." Andrea sat down at my dining room table with a smile. "Is she the one who was in the VIP box at the Blades game?"

Shit. I should've known she'd be onto that.

I scowled. "How did you know about that?"

"Darling boy, I know everything ." When I just kept glaring, she shrugged. "You know Hugh. He's got a big mouth."

Hugh was one of her assistants who followed the team to away games on occasion. He also loved to gossip, which I was fairly certain was the reason Andrea had hired him in the first place.

"There might be a woman," I hedged.

"Is she single?"

"Yes, Andrea, she's single." Thank God she got rid of her boyfriend, at least.

"Excellent. You dating a nice, unmarried lady would do wonders for your image."

"And last time I checked, you weren't my publicist."

Andrea waved a hand. "Your image and reputation go hand-in-hand with my ability to get you all that nice money you're earning."

I couldn't argue with her there. Andrea was a total shark when it came to her clients. The Blades had tried to lowball me when I'd first been about to sign on, and she'd gone to bat for me with a ruthlessness that I'd never seen any woman display.

Growing up in rural Idaho, women like my mom tended to be softer and less direct. Mom had once described being a preacher's wife as being the neck that swiveled the head of the family back and forth. Your dad just thinks he's in charge , she'd said more than once after Dad had huffed and puffed about something.

Andrea, though—she didn't use honey to attract flies. She chased those flies down and smashed them with her fist.

"You do seem preoccupied," Andrea said, studying me. "Which means you must really like this woman."

I groaned. "Give it a rest, will you?"

"I hear frustration in your tone. I'm guessing that means she's giving you the runaround? Oh, I like her already."

To my relief, the doorbell rang, interrupting this line of inquiry. When I opened the door to find none other than Elodie on my doorstep, my brain short-circuited.

"What are you doing here?" That was the first thing that came out of my mouth. Fucking hell, Mackenzie .

Elodie's smile wilted. "Um, I thought we should talk . . ."

Her gaze moved over my shoulder, and I realized that Andrea was behind me now.

"Mac, introduce me to your friend," Andrea said in that annoying, sly tone she had. I could also hear the grin in her voice. Meanwhile, Elodie looked like she wanted to bolt.

"I'm so sorry. You have company," Elodie said hurriedly. "I should've called first. Or texted."

Elodie was about to turn tail and run, but I caught her by the arm before she could.

"Elodie, this is my agent, Andrea. Andrea, this is Elodie. She's a friend," I said.

Andrea shook Elodie's hand, Elodie looking like a deer in headlights.

"Lovely to meet you," said Andrea. "Mac, I'll email you later. Have fun cooking ."

When I shut the door behind Andrea, Elodie's brows dipped. "Cooking? Are you making something?"

I sighed. "Don't ask. Come on in."

I could tell that Elodie was looking around and noticing the changes. After teasing me about living in a total bachelor pad, I realized she was right. And there was zero reason I hadn't finished furnishing the house. It wasn't a priority, but I wanted Elodie to know I'd listened to her. And I also wanted her to feel at home here.

Laying it on kinda strong, my dude , I thought to myself. Though I pushed the thought aside.

"You've been busy," Elodie finally said, her hands on her hips.

"Not really. I paid lots of other people to do this for me."

She laughed. "Okay, well, whoever you hired did a good job." Her eyes sparkled. "Now you've upgraded from a frat bro's dorm room to a bachelor pad."

"Hey, come on now." I pointed at the vase on one of the many side tables. "I have décor now."

"You sure do." Elodie patted my arm.

I covered her hand with mine, and she didn't pull away. All the worry about her not signing the contract disappeared. I could see in her expression she was still interested. Thank fuck for that, because I'd only wanted her more with each day that we'd been apart since Denver.

"I did want to talk to you about something," she murmured.

"I figured. I'm also impressed you remembered where I live. And you got through the security gate..."

"I might've noticed the code you punched in the night we came here. Sixty-nine, sixty-nine wasn't too hard to remember." Her reply was sheepish.

"Well, I'm glad you found it memorable and made use of it."

She nibbled on her bottom lip. "I wanted to ask if we could do something before I signed the contract."

"What's that?"

"I'd like to have sex with you. Just once."

I froze. My entire body going on alert. The hairs on the back of my neck rose in both dismay and anticipation. "Oh really?"

Elodie put some space between us, again, to my dismay. "I just want to see how we are together without signing anything official."

"Take a test drive, you mean?"

"Something like that. I mean, it'd stink if I signed the contract and sex between us sucked, right?"

I shook my head and pulled Elodie to me until we were nose to nose. "There's no way in hell that'd ever fucking happen," I growled.

Her eyes grew wide, her breathing heavy. She smelled like citrus, and it took all my self-control not to haul her upstairs right then and there.

"You're probably right," she whispered.

"I know I'm right." I brushed my thumb along her jawline. "But if this is what I have to do to get you to sign the contract, then I will."

"Okay." She sighed. "Good. Thank you."

I bent and leaned my shoulder into her stomach, bringing her over my shoulder before standing to full height. Elodie let out a squeal, laughing. "Mac!"

"Did you have somewhere else you needed to be?"

She laughed. "No, but I didn't think it'd happen now —"

"Well, then you thought wrong. You can't just walk into my house and tell me you want to fuck me and then expect to traipse your juicy little ass back out the door." I smacked her rear, lighter than I wanted to. "That's not happening."

I slid her down my body and kissed her hard. Elodie responded with an enthusiasm that made my cock harden. So I lifted her again and guided her legs around my waist. Yeah. Right there . Carrying her upstairs to my bedroom was excruciating because it was extra seconds of waiting before I could have her sweet body under mine. To think I was ever upset for even a second about this little proposal of hers. Now, it was like I couldn't get inside her fast enough.

"I'm going to fuck you until you can't even remember your own name." I set her down on her feet at the edge of the bed, tangling my hand in her dark hair. "You're mine, Elodie Andrews. Even if it's just for today."

"Yes. Yes, please." She pulled my head down for another kiss. I didn't have the strength to say no to her. Who fucking could? A gorgeous woman like Elodie, telling a guy she wanted him? Christ himself didn't have that kind of fortitude.

I ran my hands up and down her body, enjoying her soft curves, squeezing her ass and massaging it as I rubbed my tongue alongside hers.

She was panting now. To be desired like this was one of the best aphrodisiacs.

"How much do you want me, baby?" I asked, my voice rough.

"Are you going to make me beg?"

"Fuck yeah, I am." My cock was pressed against her belly. "I want you begging for me to fuck you. Is your pussy wet already?"

Her eyes were glassy as her breath hitched. "Mac."

I guided her onto the bed and crawled on top of her, but I needed her naked first. So I stripped her shirt and jeans off until she was left in only her bra and panties. Seeing her like that just reminded me of the first time we'd met. "I wanted to take you into a back room and fuck you raw that first time I saw you," I admitted, fondling her breasts through the lace of her bra.

"Did you?"

"I thought you could tell."

She shook her head. "I had no idea."

That confession just made me wilder. She was somehow both sweet and sensual without even trying. When I pushed down her bra cups and pinched her nipples, she moaned loudly.

"I can't wait to put clamps on these beauties," I said, unable to break my gaze. Her nipples were a light brown, and they were so erect, so hard and swollen. I sucked one into my mouth until Elodie arched under me. My dick was like steel now, begging to be inside her.

"And then what?" Elodie asked.

I shot her a wicked grin. "I'd start you off easy. Nothing too painful or intense. Just some light clamps. But I'd eat your pussy, barely touching your clit, until you were desperate for more."

She was breathing hard. "But you wouldn't give it to me?"

"No. I'd make you almost come but then back off." I hooked a finger under her panties and pulled them to the side. "You'd be so wet that you'd coat my face."

"You seem very sure of your abilities."

I spread her pussy wide and smiled as I felt how wet she already was. I could feel her beautiful mound throbbing as I dragged a finger through her folds. She shuddered just from that light touch.

"Tell me what you want," I commanded.

She shuddered again. "I don't know."

I lowered myself down her body and lightly licked the top of her pussy, just grazing her clit. "I think you do."

She arched off the bed, then swore under her breath.

"Tell me what you want," I repeated.

She squirmed. "Please touch me."

"Where, Elodie? Where do you want me to touch you?"

I had my hands on her inner thighs, staring at her glistening pussy, but I wasn't touching her again there until she asked me to. She covered her face with her arm.

"My pussy!" she finally yelled. "God, please, Mac."

I laughed darkly. "Your wish is my command, sweetheart."

I fastened my lips on her clit at the same time as I thrust a finger inside her. So hot and beautifully wet. Elodie moaned, her hands clawing at the comforter. She kept arching and moving so much that I had to hold her down just to keep eating her out.

"Damn, woman. Hold still so I can do my job." I chuckled over her pussy before kissing my way up her stomach.

She was practically shaking with her need for me to return my mouth to her clit. I made my way back down, spreading her wider. I decided to tease her for a bit, blowing soft breaths between her legs. She finally grabbed me by the hair as I laughed and returned my mouth to her clit, and I devoured her with even more vigor this time. With each second that passed, more of her arousal covered my face.

Elodie was desperate. I kept sucking her clit until she was on the edge of orgasm, my fingers moving faster and more forcefully. I could feel her about to come when I gave her pussy one last long lick and stood.

Her gaze was unfocused, somewhere far away. "Mac?" she whispered, confused.

"Condom," I growled. "Need one. I need to be inside you now."

I grabbed one from my nightstand, used my teeth to rip open the wrapper, and sheathed myself in record time. Thank God she was wet because I plunged in deep and hard. Elodie gasped in ecstasy.

"Fuck, baby, you're tight." I didn't have the self-control to go slow. Not when Elodie was writhing and moaning with every thrust. She wanted it hard, and I was more than happy to deliver.

Her tits jiggled as I pounded her tight little body until I was balls deep. I could feel my orgasm building, but I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to wait until Elodie came. I kept my eyes on hers, enjoying every look of ecstasy on her face.

I raised Elodie's legs so they hooked over the inside of my elbows. With that angle, I was able to brush her clit with my pelvis with each thrust. I smiled as her eyes rolled back inside her head while her mouth fell open. I bit my lip, nearly drawing blood, to stave off the orgasm that felt ready to burst through me at any given moment.

"Mac—" Elodie dug her nails into my biceps. "Oh my God—"

"You gonna come for me, baby? I can feel your pussy getting tighter around my cock." I leaned down to kiss her. "You wanna come for me?"

She nodded. "I do. I need to."

I lifted her a little higher, angling my hips and plunging even deeper. She screamed, coming undone in long, deep shudders. Her pussy clamped around me, milking my orgasm from my body. I saw stars and might've even blacked out for a moment.

Fuck , that was incredible. So, so damn good . I kissed her for a while, gliding in and out still fully hard, not wanting the moment to end. Elodie sighed happily in my arms. She looked so content, as if she could snuggle up and go to sleep. But that definitely would not happen anytime soon.

Instead, I abruptly flipped her over. Elodie gasped.

I hooked an arm around her waist and hoisted her to her knees. "Up on all fours, sweetheart. We're just getting started."

I woke to the smell of bacon but found my bed empty. I glanced at my phone. 7:00 a.m.

I was about to get up and go find Elodie when she came into my bedroom holding a tray.Atop it were two plates, along with a couple of mugs of coffee, and a glass of orange juice.

"Did you seriously make me breakfast?" I asked, amazed.

"Well, I made us breakfast. I was starving, and since you just restocked your fridge . . ." She shrugged, smiling.

"I'm starving too." I winked. "But I suppose food sounds good, too."

Elodie looked especially gorgeous this morning. Her hair was down and messy, her cheeks rosy. I could see multiple hickeys on her chest and neck, which only made me want to add a few more to her collection. Those tiny bruises were like foreshadowing in the best way.

It didn't help that she was wearing only a tank top and boy shorts either, her nipples hard against the thin fabric of her shirt. My stomach rumbling was the only thing that kept me from tumbling her back into bed a third time. How the hell had I gotten so lucky?

Elodie settled onto the bed next to me, the tray in front of both of us. She'd cooked us eggs and bacon, even going so far as to put a flower in a vase. But I was mostly interested in the folded papers under my plate.

I slipped them out to discover the signed contract. There was what looked like a red wine stain on the corner. Had she been pondering it while buzzed?

"You'd already signed them when you came over?" I asked.

Elodie smiled. "Maybe. Does it matter?" Her smile was infectious.

I pulled her into a hard kiss. "You won't regret this," I vowed.