Victor (Chicago Blaze 3)

“Larry’s been sober for more than ten years, asshole,” I say, looking up at him as I lace up my own skates. “He’s off on maternity leave.”

“Maternity leave?” Knox scoffs. “Does Larry have a uterus I never knew about?”

“Fine then, paternity leave. His wife just had twins.”

Knox rolls his eyes. “Bullshit. Once he saw her push ‘em out, he should’ve come back to work. His assistant equipment manager is a dipshit.”

Trace, said assistant equipment manager, glances over at us from a few feet away.

“Don’t mind Knox,” I say, standing up. “He’s an asshole.”

“Want me to sharpen your skates?” Trace asks Knox.

“There’s no time now. I’ve got shit to do.”

“I can do it fast,” Trace offers.

“Forget it,” Knox clips. “If I play like shit tonight, it’s your fault.”

Trace, who’s fresh out of college, gives Knox a horrified look. Our burly enforcer can scare the piss out of people without even trying.

Things are a little chaotic for the team tonight in the Nashville visitors’ locker room. Anton can’t find a stick to replace the one that he found broken when we got here—another thing Larry normally handles, and Rhett’s feeling the pressure as our new starting goaltender. Nashville has a solid offense, and they also have one of the best enforcers in the league in Nero Landry.

That’s what Knox is really uptight about, not his skates. I’ve been his teammate long enough to know he sweats going up against just one enforcer in the league, and it’s Nero.

Nero’s no fucking joke. He delivered the blow that ended a forward’s career last year, leaving him with a significant brain injury. Knox is a badass in his own right, but if there’s anyone capable of knocking the shit out of him, it’s Nero.

I notice the tension, but I’m untouched by it. I’m on top of the world after spending the evening with Lindy yesterday. Kissing her was like drinking an ice-cold bottle of water after a walk through the desert. I couldn’t get enough. Before, when I got a taste of a woman and wanted more, I could satisfy myself with any of them. But I only want Lindy now, which feels both frustrating and amazing.

What I told her about my mom was only scratching the surface about my past, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her everything. I want to take her on a real date first, and give her a chance to see what it could be like for us.

After that, I’ll have to come clean, and I dread it. But I can’t seem to keep that part of my life buried, and I can’t risk her finding out about it some other way. She needs to hear it from me.

I dreamed about her again last night. There was nothing tame about this one. She was straddled on my lap, my hands wrapped around her ass cheeks as I rocked her up and down on my cock. Her sweet mouth parted as she moaned and gasped her way through our hard, sweaty fuck. Just as we were both coming, my shaft buried completely inside her, I woke up.

I don’t think I’ve ever come so quickly from jerking off. And within an hour, I was feeling the urge again.

All this pent-up sexual energy has actually been good for my game though. I pretty much fly over the wall onto the ice, and I give everything I’ve got every second I play. When I get hit, I hardly even feel it. All I’m thinking about is getting my legs moving as fast as they’ll go so I can work out this frustration.

It pays off. I score the first goal, and Anton follows it quickly with another. Our second line pulls down another goal, and we take the game 3-2. Knox doesn’t get into a single scrape with Nero.

I’m dead tired after the game, so I go back to my room and order room service. While I’m waiting for my food to arrive, I text Lindy.

Me: Hey, you still up?

Lindy: Yes, I’m reading in bed. Great game tonight! That was such a long, hard shot. My dad said your brass balls paid off. LOL

Me: Tell your dad thanks for me. I felt so good playing tonight. I liked knowing you were watching me.

Lindy: Well you just made that sound dirty…

Me: Is that a problem?

Lindy: Not at all. I like dirty stuff.

I smile at my phone screen. God, is she cute.

Me: Well, I’d love to watch you sometime, too.

Lindy: Oh. That sounds fun.

Me: Yeah?

Lindy: Yeah, if you’re willing to teach me what you like…

Oh fuck. I almost come in my pants when I read that. I exhale hard and text her back.

Me: I want us to get to a place where we have phone sex. Badly. But not before our first date. And I can hardly control myself right now, so I need to let you go. I’m gonna eat some room service and go to bed.