My Curvy Puck (Locker Room 1)

- CHAPTER SIX –

Noah

“Y-y-you’re a virgin?” My voice is suddenly husky.

Hazel lowers her shrunken gaze to the floor. My chest is tight. I’m struggling to breathe, and it feels like I’m in the third period of a play-off game and we’re down by two goals. The pressure has just doubled, and it sits firmly on my shoulders.

“Yep. A virgin.” Hazel’s talking to her feet with a distant tone that’s far, far away from the hotel room where we stand.

“Oh, wow…” I whisper.

Hazel takes a step to the side, leaving my grasp and makes her way to sit on the edge of the bed. Her body is limp, almost lifeless, as she remains still with her back hunched.

A shaking feeling fills me.

But does this really matter? I’m feeling things for this girl that I haven’t ever felt before. This is Hazel. So what if she’s a virgin? In fact, even better. No man has ever been there, so I can take her as mine… If she wants, or permits, me to.

Something rises up my stomach and forces my lip to stiffen. My brows crease, and I close the space between us. I kneel on my knees in front of Hazel. Her wet, regret-filled eyes remain stunningly beautiful, and my tiny smile greets her gloomy expression.

“I’m not going to lie…” I hold her hands, gripping them tightly. “This changes everything.”

I see the searing rip tear through her heart. It pains me to watch as Hazel’s chest heaves and she’s holding back the tears that swell her eyes. She doesn’t say anything, but she’s nodding with an acceptance that her secret is a big deal.

“I lost my virginity when I was sixteen…” I begin, and Hazel huffs a snort.

“This isn’t the time to brag…”

“I’m not bragging, sweetheart,” I say, pulling her eyes to mine with a soft smile. I draw a breath, trying to calm myself down. “My first time… It wasn’t special. It’s not something that I think about that often. As a matter of fact, I haven’t even spoken to the girl for years. I don’t know where she lives... Or if she’s happily married with kids and a husband. I know absolutely nothing about her.”

The room is silent, and I feel every deep breath Hazel takes. Her eyes glisten under the yellow hue of the budget light fitting above us and it’s killing me knowing that I’m the one making her feel this way.

I can see this means something to her. But it means something to me, too. I felt it. I’m still feeling it. Christ, that kiss? Wow. I’ve never had a kiss like that.

“The night I had sex for the first time was just a normal night for me…”

Hazel pushes on her knees, impatience forcing her up. “Well, congratulations on years and years of hot, meaningless sex. You must be proud of yourself.” Hazel tries to escape my clutches, but I pull her hands so she crashes back on the bed.

“I’m not proud. That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Then what are you saying, Noah?” Hazel’s voice rises and her eyes change. “Spit it out.”

I grip her hands tightly, they’re soft and smooth and I never want to let them go.

“Hazel…” I whisper and lift her chin with one finger so her eyes meet mine. “I want you... I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything before in my life. But it needs to be special. After what you’ve just told me, that’s the least you deserve.”

I look around the minuscule room. The bed is rock hard, the blankets stained and tattered. There’s paint peeling on the wall and there’s barely enough room to sit down, let alone have sex in here.

“Wh-what do you mean?” Hazel stutters.

“This room… This is no place for a queen like you to blossom her flower for the first time…”

Who the fuck just said that?

The words leave my mouth and I’m as shocked as Hazel at the poetic nature of them. But that’s what this woman does to me. She’s not like the other girls I’ve been with. Hazel does something to me that no one else has ever done.

I look at her and I see a future. I see love and passion. I see… I see the beginnings of a family of my very own.

“Come with me.” I shoot to my feet and, still grasping Hazel’s hands, I snatch her case and steam out of the room.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise. Just relax and…” I turn and stop so suddenly that Hazel’s perfect body crashes into mine and our faces are almost touching. My face is hardened, my eyes serious when I say, “Just trust me.”

Hazel nods. It’s a firm, resounding nod that I know means she trusts me completely. She looks at my lips and choosing not to waste another damned second, I lean forward and press them on hers.

The kiss is deep. The fuse locks our mouths together, and every desire floating inside of me doesn’t want to pull away. But there’s better things to come, and that thought helps me pull away.

“Let’s go.” We force ourselves apart. If only for a moment. “I have a plan.”

****

I scatter the red petals over my bed. I’ve already changed the sheets to the best and softest fabric I’ve got, and the crisp whiteness of the Egyptian cotton makes the roses petals pop. The candles on the bedside tables wave gently, flickering a soft light that matches the scent of velvety smooth vanilla.

“Hmmm…” I grip my chin, deep in thought. “Too cheesy?”

I shake my head.

She’ll love it.

I glance at the clock on my wall. I’ve left Hazel on the sofa in my living room for too long. We’d barely muttered a word on the ride back to my place. I was off in another world, planning everything in my head. And Hazel? I think she was just a nervous wreck. I mean, she was about to lose her virginity to her best friend’s twin brother. If that doesn’t make you nervous, then I don’t know what will.

But I’ve got a plan. I’m going to make this night the best damn night of her life.

And then some.

She’d be halfway done the bottle of wine I cracked for her by now, but maybe that’s not a bad thing?