Ryker (Cold Fury Hockey 4)

Brian turns to Zack and gives him a nod. Zack swallows hard, wipes his hands on his pants, which indicates they're a wet, clammy mess, and turns to Kate. I can tell by the look on her face she has no clue what's going on, but when Zack clears his throat, she realizes with utter clarity that there can only be one reason Zack is the one talking in front of the entire organization.

Poor Zack...his voice comes out almost in a croak, and besides Kate, I may be the only one who understands how monumental this is to Zack. How important the sanctity of marriage is to a man like him, and how Kate is truly his soul mate.

"Kate," he rasps, then gives a cough as he takes her hands in his. "I've been trying to do this forever now, and something always seems to happen. I was going to propose when we went to the Bahamas, but I dropped the damn ring down the bathroom sink right before we left."

Everyone laughs, because no one really knows about his failed attempts other than me. Kate's eyes go wide before crinkling with amusement, and then fill up with warmth and love as she tilts her head to the side as he continues to talk.

"Then that balloon ride," Zack says as his gaze lowers for a moment. "The words marry me had been mown into an old cornfield, but then we got blown off course."

"Oh my God," Kate says with a laugh. "Are you serious?"

Zack looks up and nods at her with a smile. "I wanted to do something big. I didn't want there to be any doubt in your mind how much I want you to be my wife. How much I want you to be Ben's mother...officially, that is."

Kate looks like she's going to melt into a puddle of goo. I slide my eyes over to Gray and I'm stunned to find her watching me. It's a safe enough move, because all eyes are pinned on Zack and Kate. She lowers her face shyly with a subtle smile, then raises it right back up a bit to take another peek. I give her a return smile and then turn my attention back to the main attraction.

Zack drops to one knee. "So Kate...beautiful, adorable Kate...who was put on this earth just for me. Will you be my wife?"

Zack slips his hand into his pocket to grab the ring and Kate appears poised to shout yes. We all wait for it, when suddenly Zack's hand comes out and he says, "Shit! There's a hole in my pocket."

Ben's eyes go round. "Daddy...that's a bad word."

Zack surges up, gives Ben a quick apologetic look, and then starts rummaging in all of his pockets, trying to find the ring. Everyone watches with bated breath and a healthy dose of concern in their eyes.

Not Kate, though...her eyes are twinkling with suppressed laughter.

Ben tugs on his dad's suit jacket, but Zack is so frantically looking for the ring that he ignores him.

"Daddy," Ben says, tugging again.

"Not now, buddy," Zack mutters. "Daddy's in the middle of screwing up this engagement again."

Several people chuckle and Kate's hand comes up to cover her mouth to stop from laughing. But for the panicked look on Zack's face, it would be outright hilarious. My heart starts to really go out for the guy, but then Ben finally turns to Kate because Zack won't look at him. He reaches into the pocket of his little khaki pants that were paired with a light blue button down and navy jacket--fucking adorable actually on the little dude--and pulls the ring out.

He hands it up to Kate. "Here. Dad bought this ring for you because he wants you to marry him."

Zack freezes, one hand stuffed deep in his pants pocket, the other stuffed inside his suit jacket. Kate reaches out a wobbly hand and plucks the ring from Ben's hand, who turns to his dad. "I found it on the living room floor before we left so I kept it for you."

"Jesus," Zack huffs out with relief, and then pulls Ben into a quick hug. "Thanks, buddy."

As Zack takes the ring from Kate and slowly slides it on her finger, I turn my back on them. I don't need to see or hear the rest to know that she's saying yes at this very moment. I'm so happy for them, but I knew this was coming and it was a foregone conclusion in my mind that she'd accept his proposal. While everyone surges forward to congratulate the couple, I head for the bar, where Brannon hired three bartenders to keep the drinks fresh.

After I'm replenished, I move myself off to the edge of the crowd and people watch as the Christmas music starts playing. I'll make my way over to Zack and Kate soon, because I'm ready to leave after this drink.

Just as I'm taking a sip, I see Gray weaving her way through the partygoers, nodding greetings, accepting pecks on the cheek from others. Her eyes rise to mine and she walks directly toward me.

Hmmm. This is interesting.

Gray does nothing more than come up to stand next to me, her own hand holding a glass of wine. She stands casually while we both watch Zack and Kate with huge, beaming grins on their face. We look just like two ordinary people who are members of the same organization having a polite chat.

"That was quite the proposal," Gray says genially.

I chuckle. "Poor Zack. I didn't think it would ever go right for him."

"I'll admit that my heart was in my throat when he couldn't find the ring," she muses.

I angle my head to take a quick peek at her. "So what are your big Christmas plans, Miss Brannon?"

"Well, seeing as how tomorrow is Christmas Day and Dad has forbidden me from working, I suppose I'll be forced to relax."

I turn back to watch the crowd, take a small sip of my drink. It feels odd to be standing here, making polite small talk. I want to take her in my arms and kiss her under the mistletoe. I want to bring her back to my cold, empty house and fuck her all night in my big king bed.

But none of that is possible because for me, in reality, Gray Brannon is untouchable. I think she may only exist in my fantasy life.

"I'm sure you're missing the girls," Gray says, and she sounds almost desperate to engage me in talk. Two of the hockey wives walk by, giving us smiling nods.

"Yeah," I say, twirling the liquid in my glass with a sardonic smile. "It's amazing how much I've become used to them always being there. It's hard for me to understand how I let Hensley just handle all of their care when we were together."

"I'm sure it's just the way things shook out," Gray says. "We all get comfortable in our roles and it's hard to move out of them."

My head swivels toward her, because while what she says applies to Hensley and me, it suddenly sounds like a dire warning about what may come to be for us. I think given our boundaries, this thing may just "shake out" with Gray and we'll end up settling.

Not ideal at all.

For either one of us.

So I decide to test her. Give her a push.

"Spend Christmas Day with me," I tell her.

I don't ask.

Something flickers deep in Gray's eyes. Interest. Excitement. Fear? "I always spend the morning with my dad. We do breakfast...exchange gifts..."

"Then come over to my house after," I press her. "We'll hang out. Relax."

I lean in just a tad closer to her and murmur. "We'll fuck."

Christ...her eyes flutter closed and it looks like she just orgasmed. When they open back up, they're sizzling. For a brief moment, neither one of us cares who's watching. Who's listening.

She smiles. "Okay. I'll be there around noon."

Chapter 14

Gray

I have no clue why Ryker likes to spend so much time with his mouth between my legs, but I can honestly say it's one of my favorite pastimes. I'm having a hard time concentrating on how much I love having him in my mouth as we try out the classic sixty-nine position for the first time in our budding new...relationship?

His fingers dig into my skin, his mouth moves hard against me, his tongue is ruthless.

All I can do is groan against his cock when I start to come, semi collapsing on top of his body with weakness. But he doesn't stop. He never wants to stop. He keeps at me and I'm so sensitive that I think I might crawl out of my skin.

I pull my mouth from him and weakly swat a hand backward, striking at nothing but air. "Stop," I pant at him. "I can't take any more."

He

chuckles against me, kisses the inside of my thigh, and then with his powerful arms, he lifts me off his face and swivels my body to the side so I'm kneeling on the mattress. He looks at me with a devious grin, while I keep up a slow stroke with my hand on him.

"Want to keep sucking me off or want me to fuck you?" he asks as he puts his hands casually behind his head to stare at me. He looks glorious, lying on the center of his mattress. Ripped chest, rolling abs, long powerful legs stretched out straight with his erection beautifully straining in my hand. His eyes are heavy and sensuous as he waits for my answer.

"Suck you off," I whisper, and I catch a glimpse of his eyes narrowing at me in appreciation as I bend my head back over him.

--

"Merry Christmas," Ryker whispers as he grazes his lips over my temple.

I think he broke my body just now, and I'm pretty sure I put a good hurting on him.

In the best of ways, of course.