Page 67 of Home Ice

CHAPTER 44

I LIKE THINKING OF YOU AS MY GIRLFRIEND

BRANT

The last month has been amazing. Possibly the most amazing time of my life, other than when I was drafted into the league. Nothing will ever top that. But this is definitely second.

Six of the last eight games have been on the road, so that means I haven't been able to get nearly as much alone time with Lily as I'd like. And thanks to practically living in hotels, it means there definitely hasn't been time to do what I want to her. But that hasn't stopped me from thinking about her when I'm alone in my hotel bed at night with my cock in my hand.

I wish it was as simple as bringing her to my room. Other players can do that with women they don't even know, but I can't do it with one that we all know. One that literally every person in the organization loves. Relationships were so much easier when I was young and didn't have to practically schedule romantic time in advance. Back then, my life was just about hockey and hanging out with the boys. This wouldn't have bothered me nearly as much.

But tonight is different. After weeks of her being afraid to leave her hotel room in case one of the real front office bosses would find out about us, she's finally agreed to come out.

Before he came to the Sting, Poppy played for Minnesota. He told us about a little dive bar in a working class area of St. Paul where he and Zachary would go when they were dating. Poppy wasn't out yet, so they still had to hide their relationship from the press. Apparently, this bar isn't the kind of place where anyone would expect to find a professional athlete. And he guarantees no exec would be caught dead there.

When we pull up to the bar, I see why. It's a plain two-story building. The siding is at least three different shades of grey where pieces have been replaced over the years. Not even the small yellow sign above the door gives a clue that this is a bar. "Johnny's, Est. 1984." It's supposed to be illuminated, but either the lights are burned out or someone didn't care enough to turn them on. Based on the look of the warped wood front door that belongs on a home, not a business, it could be either. A person couldn't find a more nondescript bar if they tried. It's perfect.

I watch as the guys pull up out front and then head into the bar. A couple of them give me questioning looks when they see the place, but I just lift my shoulders. It's not what we're used to, that's for sure. A few minutes after the last of the players get here, a taxi pulls up. Lily didn't want to be seen leaving with us, and she didn't want to take one of the luxury ride shares that we all used. I tried arguing with her. I even told her I'd have my ride share pick her up around the corner so we could ride together, but she refused. When she gets out of the taxi and I see the dress she's wearing, I wish I would have insisted.

It's a second skin on her. A burgundy-colored second skin that shows every inch of that amazing body, every curve of those breasts, and even the small flare of her hips. My cock is hard as soon as I see her, and if I don't adjust myself, I'm going to have a hard time getting up the three steps into the building. My gaze automatically moves to the bottom of her dress. It wouldn't take much to slide it up. I know exactly where my fingers would have gone if we rode together. Fuck, we would have never even made it to the bar. I would have made the driver take us back to the hotel. I wouldn't give a damn if some vice-president of operations saw us.

"Hey, I made it." She extends her hands, holding open her unbuttoned jacket to show me even more of that dress. "You don't like it? You're not saying anything. I knew it was too much. It's December in Minnesota. It's stupid to wear a dress this short. I don't know why I packed it. Should I change? Should I just head back?"

I cross the space between us and kiss her. I run my hand between her jacket and her dress, down to the curve of her ass. I'm probably messing up her lipstick, and I'm definitely putting on a show for the driver who hasn't pulled away yet. But if I don't touch her, I'm going to die. Right here in front of an anonymous bar in an anonymous neighborhood of St. Paul. "You're definitely overdressed. Let's go back to the hotel so we can take care that little problem."

She slides a hand down to my pants. "That doesn't feel like a little problem. I would love to take care of it, though. When we get back?"

I don't know how it's possible, but even more blood pumps into my dick. "Deal." I grip her ass so hard I'm surprised she doesn't yelp. Then I press myself into her. I want her to know exactly what she's going to get when we get back to the hotel later. "We'll stay here for a bit. A few minutes. And this time we're taking the same car back to the hotel, and you'll be lucky if I don't fucking carry you over my shoulder to my room."

"Brant." Even here in the middle of a town where no one knows us, she still looks around like someone might have overheard. "You know we can't do that at the hotel. There are too many people who might see. When we get back to Salt Lake, though, this is mine." She grinds against me, and I have to bite back my groan.

"Back home? Not back at the hotel?"

She presses a quick kiss to my lips and then takes my hand. "You know how I feel about road trips. Back home. Now, do you need me to walk in front of you, so no one sees that, um, enormous problem of yours?" She doesn't give me a chance to answer before she pulls me through the door.

The inside of the building matches the outside. There's a long bar on one side of the room. On the other, there are several tall tables. In the rear, there's a pool table that at first glance looks as old as the two gray-haired men playing a game on it. The boys are all sitting around a few tables that they've pushed together.

"She's actually here!" Princeling springs to his feet and wraps her in a friendly hug that makes me a little jealous. "And damn girl, that dress. I hope Brant knows how lucky he is, because… hell."

"Trust me. I know." I take the seat beside him, pulling Lily onto my lap as I sit.

Lily giggles, and the sound makes me want to do things I can't in the middle of a bar. "Thanks Sammy." She lifts her legs over mine and slips her arms around my waist. I have to shift her on my lap so I don't accidentally spear her. I don't want there to be anything accidental about it when it happens.

Everyone else already has their drinks, so I look around to catch the attention of the server, but I don't see anyone working except the bartender. "You have to go up." Poppy leans forward so I can hear him over the 80s music playing over the bar's speakers. "No table service."

"Oh." I glance toward Lily's ass on my lap. The dress, which is almost too short when she's standing, is practically indecent now. It would be so easy to slide a finger between her legs. No one would even notice, unless she gave it away. But I would make sure she couldn't hide it.

"I'll get it," Poppy slides off his stool. I nod to him and smile at Zachary. Spouses and partners stay home most of the season, but Zachary always comes to a few road games. Since he's from a little town outside St. Paul, he and Poppy use these trips to see family. The reminder makes my heart stop for a beat. I've been too afraid to talk to Lily about the holidays. "What do you two want?" Poppy asks.

"Something with whiskey," Lily answers. "Whiskey sours. Make his strong so he'll ravish me." She flares the last words the way a 1940s Hollywood actress would. The guys all erupt in a chorus of oohs.

"You're the one who doesn't want me to ravish you," I whisper to remind her.

"Not at the hotel. But there's probably a bathroom here."

I pull her tighter so she can feel just how much I want to take her now. When her eyes widen, I know what she's feeling between the cheeks of her ass. "Our first time is not going to be in the bathroom of Johnny's. It's going to be in a place where I can show you just how special you are to me."

"Well, I wish you would show me soon."

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