Page 94 of Power Play

Me

You were quick to tell me it’s not a date, Pipsqueak.

Piper

I don’t want you to think I’m using you outside our bedroom parameters or anything. Behind closed doors, remember?

Me

I didn’t get that impression.

Piper

Okay, good!

Me

Going to take a nap. We’l talk after the game.

Piper

You’re going to play great, Sully! See you out there!

The crowdin Vegas is relentless.

They always are, but with the added buzz of the holiday and pregaming that’s probably lasted all day, they’re even more fired up.

They’ve been screaming nonstop the whole night. Pounding on the glass and trying to break my focus with heckling and boos.

Unfortunately for them, I’m playing my ass off and don’t hear shit. I’ve stopped every shot through two and a half periods, and I’m on track to break the NHL record for most saves in a game.

“You’re on fire tonight,” Maverick says during a media timeout. “Think you can break it?”

“Already told you I don’t care about the record.” I squeeze my water bottle and wipe the sweat from my forehead. My heartrate has never been this high, and if it weren’t for the adrenaline pounding in my ears, I’d be worried. “Just want the win.”

And a hot shower.

And Piper in my bed.

She’s come over a few times since the charity gala. Sometimes it’s only for a few minutes while she’s out running errands, and it’s just enough time for me to press her against the wall and slip three fingers inside of her.

Occasionally she’ll stop by for longer, her knees red from dropping to the ground and sucking me off, not stopping until I finish in her mouth and she swallows me down with a wide smile.

She slept over earlier this week.

It was accidental. We fell asleep during a movie, and I woke her up in the middle of the night to move her to my bed.

I wasn’t going to be a dick and kick her out.

“He’s twelve away,” Riley says, snapping my daydreams in half as he glances at the statistics notebook open on the bench. Coach is an old school guy, preferring to keep track of stats by hand instead of digitally. “Thirteen will make history.”

“Cut it out,” Coach says. “Let him do his job and you all do yours. We’re up by one, but we know how quickly these games can change. Someone can get hot, and that’s all it takes. I need you to lock in. Focus on your man. Richardson, you were late on the last face-off. You gotta move the stick quicker. React. Don’t anticipate.”

“Yes, sir,” Ethan says, showing Coach the respect he deserves.

“Hayes. Number thirty-eight almost slipped past you with a breakaway. Watch your left side.”

Hudson nods, and I know the wheels are turning in his head.

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