Garrett (Cold Fury Hockey 2)

"When you're young and have more money than you know what to do with, you sort of buy things," I tell her by way of sheepish explanation. "We didn't have a lot growing up, so I guess I went a little crazy. Plus...I got a really great signing bonus with the Cold Fury."

Olivia releases my hand and walks over to my Italian six-burner gas range with double oven. I think I've used it a grand total of three times in the last year, and that was to cook frozen pizzas. She runs her hand over the shiny silver surface like it's a precious piece of art...which is cool, because, hey...it cost about the same. I lean back against the counter, placing my hands by my hips, and watch her. She fiddles with the knobs, lost in thought.

"Does it make you feel better...buying expensive things?" she asks softly as she turns to run her hand over the gray granite countertops.

"Not really," I answer her truthfully. "Except my parents' house. I paid that off for them. Tried to buy them a new one, actually, but they wouldn't accept. And I've paid my brother and sister's college loans off. That felt awesome."

"So you're not in the game just for the money?" she asks as she turns to walk toward me.

"No. The money's nice, but I'd play for free. Hell...I'd pay to be able to play hockey."

Olivia steps in close with a smile and rests her hands on my hips. I inhale deeply, smelling her light floral perfume and looking at the various colors that play through her long hair.

Reaching up, I tug on the end of one braid...so very happy she kept them in. "What do you feel like eating tonight?"

She presses in closer to me and rests her chin on my chest, looking up at me through fluttering lashes. "Would it be completely slutty if I said I felt like eating you tonight?"

Oh, fuck.

Lust, hot and boiling, courses through me, and I'm pretty confident we won't just be watching movies tonight. "Not slutty at all," I practically croak. "But only if I can reciprocate."

"Mmmm," she says with a breathy moan. "Sounds nice. But we should probably eat some real food, don't you think? Just so we can keep up our stamina?"

I move my hands from the counter to her hips, spreading my fingers wide across her lower back, and pull her in closer. Olivia hisses and jerks backward, and I immediately release her.

"Fuck! Did I just hurt you?" I ask, and reach my hands out helplessly to her.

She gives me a pained smile and gingerly touches the back of her right hip. "No, it's okay. I just banged my hip today. It's fine. Just a little cut."

"Shit, I'm so sorry."

Olivia immediately steps toward me. Taking my hands in her own, she physically wraps my arms around her, placing them just a little higher up on her back. "It's fine, Garrett. Just try to avoid that area tonight."

"Good thing you got lots of other places for me to explore," I tell her with a relieved smile.

"That I do," she says impishly. "Now feed me...I'm starved."

Chapter 10

Olivia

"Oh, God...Garrett...I'm so close," I groan.

So damned close.

While I had every intention of giving Garrett a blow job tonight--because I very much want to eat him all up--he's decided to take control of our evening. After slurping down some lo mein with a chilled bottle of white wine, Garrett decided to bypass our idea of watching a movie and hauled me off to his bedroom. He got no argument from me, because it's what I wanted too...just one more night of all my worries being chased away.

I got flashes and peeks of his house as I hung upside down on his shoulder, because when I say he hauled me off...I mean he literally picked me up and threw me over his shoulder like a caveman. His house is beautiful...full of rough, dark hardwoods and muted throw rugs. His furnishings are traditional but masculine in taupes and browns, with maybe a splash of red here and there. It's clear someone decorated this house for him. I'm expecting maybe a professional interior designer, because Garrett doesn't seem the type to be interested in that stuff.

Garrett surprised me by gently laying me down in the middle of his bed.

"Is your hip all right?" he asked with concern in his eyes.

"It's fine," I assured him, because I didn't want him to worry about it. I wanted his full concentration on other things, and seriously...it doesn't hurt that much. Unless you happen to press a finger right into it, which he inadvertently did in the kitchen.

And as I said...he took control, quickly pulling me out of my clothing and dispatching his own. After getting a condom out of his nightstand drawer, he proceeded to crawl between my legs and bring me to a stunningly fast orgasm with just his tongue. I was amazed at how quickly I peaked, but then again...I'm in a perpetual state of arousal over this man.

He's outgoing, down to earth, and funny as hell. He exudes a natural charm, and don't forget he's almost too beautiful for words and has the sexiest body I've ever seen on a man. So, yeah...all he has to do is look at me with that heat in his eyes, and I'm already ninety percent there on achieving climax.

After I came down from my bliss, he did nothing more than crawl up between my legs and start kissing me. Gentle, deep kisses that made my pulse flutter and my muscles tense in yearning. His tongue explored every inch of my mouth, my face, my jaw, and my neck. Then he worked his way back down to my breasts until I was panting hard and on the verge of begging him as he licked and bit at my nipples.

And then he was inside me, moving deliciously slow for a while, until I had to remind him to stop being so gentlemanly. He placed a palm on my cheek and said, "I don't want to hurt you."

For a moment, it seemed that those words had a different meaning, because Garrett has always made it clear...he's the type of guy to fuck and run. I know that. I expect no different, and frankly, I'm sort of banking on that. I've got some heavy shit in my life I'm dealing with, and I don't need my heart tied up in a guy that doesn't have the staying power for a normal relationship, much less one where cancer is involved.

But then I realized he was worried about me lying on my back, and the tiny cut on my hip, and I hastily reassured him. "I'm good...I don't even feel it."

He never picked up the pace, though, still moving in and out of me with deep but careful thrusts.

But that just wouldn't do at all. I had demanded he go harder, and although he tried to ignore me at first, my nails in his ass urged him on until he was moving faster and faster within me.

Our mutual groans filled the air as we desperately kissed and clawed at each other, working ourselves up into a frenzy. Then another orgasm welled up inside me.

"So close," I murmur again, jacking my legs up higher and clamping my knees against his ribs.

"Fuck," he gasps as he starts really tunneling into me deep. "Me too."

My back arches off the bed as I start to come, and I bite down on Garrett's shoulder to keep from screaming. He thrusts hard into me one last time, squeezes his eyes shut, and groans long and hard with every muscle in his body tensed up as his orgasm washes over.

He immediately collapses boneless on top of me, but stays there only a second before he's rolling off. He reaches down and pulls the condom off, tossing it on the floor. Gross...what a guy!

Garrett pulls me in c

lose to his body so I'm lying on my left side. He doesn't say a word, but I know he does that to get the pressure off my right hip.

I don't like that, because it causes tender feelings to ignite within me, and feelings are not something I wanted to bring into this mix. I had finally reconciled myself to the fact that I was selfishly taking something from Garrett that I wanted and needed at this time in my life, without even giving him the courtesy of why I was doing it. I mean...I figured, why should I? Garrett was getting something too. In my pants. He wanted that from the get-go, so he really doesn't need to understand my motivations.

I figured we would have a few days of fun, then he would get tired of me and go on his way. Now I can tell you that I could never get tired of what we just did, and I certainly don't ever see myself building up an intolerance to his charm and humor, but I also know that he's not the type to do relationships, and I can't afford for my feelings to get mashed up with someone right now. My heart needs to stay beating strong and true to help get me through this perilous journey I'm on.

Garrett cuddles me close, and I rest my head on his chest. His heart rate is still galloping, but over time it eases back down. My fingers idly stroke the skin over his ribs and his caresses my hip.

"So, as far as candy goes...I'm partial to Snickers," Garrett says out of the blue.

I lift my head to grin at him. "Is this your attempt at pillow talk?"

He shrugs and I lay my head back down on his chest. "Just trying to get to know you better. What's your favorite candy?"

Trying to get to know me better? Why? By my watch, I have probably less than ten hours left before Garrett's interest will wane. He's admittedly avoided relationships and monogamy. I'm sure I'll get the perfunctory kiss on the cheek come morning and the promise of a call that will never come.

"Candy, Olivia," Garrett prods me. "What's your favorite?"

"M&M's...peanut," I say distractedly.

"I like those too," he says quietly. "They're chocolaty and nutty. But then again, so is Snickers, plus it has extra gooey stuff in there."

"You're a dork," I say with a stupid smile on my face that he can't see. I don't want him to see exactly how interesting and funny I find him to be. Instead, I change the subject up a bit, because I have curiosities. "So, what exactly do you do in your preseason practices?"