Hockey Is My Boyfriend: Part Three (25 page)

“Thank you, Kelly. For being so real.”

He left, and I leaned against the closed door. Jimmy was different; he was so sweet and affectionate—just like he used to be. Could there be a chance?

“
O
h my God
,” I declared. “This place is absolutely crazy.”

Maddy Wilson nodded. She was the girlfriend of defenceman Ian MacEwan and also my guide to all things Blackhawks. This was my second game in Chicago, and I couldn’t help but get buzzed on the energy level.

She explained, “It’s always noisy here, but with the playoffs everything’s multiplied ten times. It’s been years since we were in the playoffs and even longer since we’ve won a round. Everyone is going nuts.”

I nodded. The whole crowd was wearing red jerseys. Except me, of course, and Maddy had only a Hawks ball cap on. Maddy was so nice and not at all what I had expected in a hockey girlfriend. She was from B.C. and had played collegiate sports too, and we had so much in common.

“Where are James’s parents tonight?” she asked me.

“Oh, his mom is a teacher, and she didn’t want to take a whole week off. They went home after the last game, and then we’ll meet them in Vancouver on the weekend.” The series was 2-1 in favour of the Canucks, so there would be more games in Vancouver. How many more remained to be seen.

“Hey y’all.”

I looked up at this completely stunning woman. She had thick blonde hair, violet eyes, and perfect skin. She was exactly what I thought hockey girlfriends would look like.

“Oh hi, Cherie,” Maddy said. “This is Kelly Tanaka.”

“Hi, Cherie. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, the pleasure’s all mine.” She smiled, but she was looking me over with laser eyes. “So, this is our baby captain’s new girlfriend? He certainly doesn’t have a type, does he?”

“Not sure what you’re talking about,” I told her. “But Jimmy and I are friends—that’s it.” He had been true to his word. I had flown in two days ago, and I had my own bedroom. With his parents there, nothing had happened—not even a good night kiss. But now that they were gone it might be a different story. There was no denying our underlying sexual tension.

“Cherie, chill out,” Maddy warned, but Cherie perched on the side of my seat.

“Do you have any opinions on fundraising activities?” she wondered.

“Um, they’re a good thing?” I replied. “What’s going on?”

Maddy answered, “Can I explain why Cherie—who is normally a sweetheart—is being so weird? She had a run-in with James’s previous girlfriend. Astrid Dahl wanted to run all the Blackhawk’s wives events because she was the captain’s girlfriend.”

“Acid, I called her,” Cherie declared with a giggle. “Also Barbie Dahl and many worse things. When he turfed her, I broke open a bottle of champagne.”

“Did you even know about her, Kelly?” Maddy asked, worried that I might be upset.

“No. But it’s no big deal. As I said, we’re not really dating.” Yet, I added in my head.

Cherie finally gave me a genuine smile. “I can see you’re the opposite of Ass-turd, and that’s all good. But I don’t know why y’all are denying you’re James’s girlfriend. He’s been talking about you non-stop.”

Maddy interrupted. I had explained everything to her already, and she knew I didn’t like to be pressured about the state of my relationship. “Kelly has a horrible secret.”

“Oh, do tell,” said Cherie.

Maddy pretended to whisper behind her hand. “She’s cheering for the Canucks.”

Cherie’s eyes went wide. “Why that’s treasonous. And if you’re such a fan, how come you’re not wearing a jersey?”

“Because I don’t have a death wish,” I replied.

Maddy laughed. “I don’t think the fans here are that scary. They’re excitable, but not violent.”

“I don’t mean the fans—it’s Jimmy. He’s already so indignant.”

“As he should be,” Cherie said. “After all, he’s paying for your tickets and everything.”

“Don’t worry,” I laughed. “He’s been playing his best to try to convert me. Besides, it shows I’m a loyal person.” I figured it was a good thing that I wasn’t a bandwagon-fan. I tried to cheer for both teams last game, but that was a confusing disaster. But I could see that the more I got to know and like everyone here, the harder it would be not to root for them.

The Blackhawks won the game in overtime, and Jimmy was so excited afterwards. The Canucks had a one-goal lead, but a five-minute span at the end of the game and then in overtime had seen the Blackhawks roar back. We went out for dinner with some of his friends, and Jimmy was happy about that too. He was talking non-stop as we drove home.

“Everyone likes you. And you like them too, right?”

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I? They’re so nice.”

He shook his head. “I guess. It’s just that everything’s great when you’re here. Can you believe the series is tied now? I feel like our game is really coming together.”

“You had a great game,” I told him. “You took that huge hit in the third, but it started the play that ended up in the tying goal. Total leadership move.”

Jimmy turned and grinned at me. “Don’t ever change, Kelly.”

We got back to his beautiful condo. It was spacious and perfectly decorated with three bedrooms, a game room, a high-end kitchen, a living room and den. Jimmy went to get changed, and I looked out at the view. The lights of the city were twinkling and the darkness was water; I think it was Lake Michigan. I shivered a little at the vastness of it all.

“You cold?” Jimmy was behind me, now wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt.

“No. But the view is almost scary all the way up here. There’s a lot of wind around the building.”

“Yeah. When I first moved here, I felt like Chicago was so big that I’d never be comfortable here. But it’s like anything. You adjust. We got to a lot of the same places because we feel comfortable there.” In the reflection of the glass, I saw him reach out to put his hands on my shoulders and then pull back.

I turned around, and he smiled at me. Then he moved towards the kitchen. “Uh, I’m getting some water, do you want anything?”

“No. I’m kinda tired. I think I’ll go to bed now.” I was actually a little nervous being alone with him. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to happen now.

“Already? Okay, I guess I better get to bed soon too.”

“Good night.” I went to my room. There was an ensuite so I washed up and got changed. My pajamas were a t-shirt and animal print shorts, an outfit that April called “grade seven sleepover.”

After I got into bed, there was a quiet tapping on the door.

“Yes?”

Jimmy peeked in. “Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to switch rooms. The room my parents were staying in is bigger, so if you wanted—”

“It’s okay. This room is great, thanks.” This room was way bigger than my own bedroom.

He sidled in and sat down on the corner of my bed. He was wearing sweatpants—only sweatpants—and he looked amazing. There was a dark bruise above his left pectoral muscle that needed medical attention. Maybe a little kissing and making it better?

Bad Kelly. I closed my eyes.

“Um, I was also wondering if you had decided about the job… and everything.” I had met with Billie Eisenger, a consultant who Jimmy had hired to set up his charitable foundation and put a working structure in place. We went over the long-range plans and what my role would be. Everything looked fantastic: the job was challenging, the pay was great, and not surprisingly the schedule would leave me free all summer—just like Jimmy.

The job was perfect. The only question that remained was the rest of the deal. Obviously saying yes to the job meant saying yes to going out with Jimmy again. But had we truly grown enough so that this could work?

“I’d like a little time to think about it,” I told him honestly. I’d been so wrapped up in the playoff game, that I hadn’t thought about anything else tonight.

“Okay.” He smiled, but I could hear the wistful tone in his voice. He leaned over and kissed me on the forehead. “Good night, Kelly.”

Once he left, I turned out the bedside light and lay on my back. What more did I need to decide? I had already said no to Jimmy once, even though I loved him.

One reason I said no was because he had been so arrogant, and now he was acting all sweet and shy—just like he used to be. Was that because I had told him off? Or was that the real Jimmy? I realized that the arrogance was a protective front and, underneath, he was still the same.

The other big reason was that I hadn’t been confident enough to stand up to his will and to the pressures of Chicago. But now that I was here, things weren’t as scary as I had feared. Sure there were politics, but they were going to be tame compared to C2C Sports. There was no doubt that I was tougher and more confident now. I knew what it was like to battle, to get fired, and to pick myself up again.

I was a better person now. And my reward for being a better person was going to be sex!

I knocked on his bedroom door and thought I heard a mumbled “Come in.”

The room was dark and Jimmy already lying in bed. Now it was my turn to sit on the side of his bed.

“Hey.” He raised himself up on his elbow. The sheet fell away and I could see his chest. Even in the semi-darkness I could see the dark bruise again.

“What happened?” I asked, putting my hand lightly on the bruise. I felt his warm flesh and hard muscle.

“Speared in the second period,” he said. “He drove it up under my equipment in the scrum.”

He captured my hand in his own. “So, Kelly—why did you come in?”

I swallowed. Why did I come in?

“Oh yeah. I think I’ve made up my mind.”

“Really?” He sat up and the sheet fell further. I could see the whole side of his body, his concave stomach, and even a little of his hip. I remembered that he slept raw. Remembered? Ha, I had never forgotten that fact.

“Yes. I’d like to take the job—and everything that comes with it.”

He smiled in the dim light. “Everything?”

“Uh huh.”

With perfect coordination, he stretched out and pulled me beside him in the bed.

“So, starting immediately?” he asked. His face loomed close. I put my hand up and felt the familiar planes of his soft skin. There was stubble where his patchy playoff beard was growing.

“Maybe not work, but the benefits package for sure.” I kissed him. His breath was minty. He pressed his lips against mine, gently at first, and then excitedly increasing the pressure. I kissed him back, all the time running my hands over his strong back.

Jimmy groaned. “God, Kelly. I want you so bad. I’m not dreaming, am I?”

“Nope. This is for real.” I pulled off my t-shirt. “You’re already naked, so I better get caught up.”

“Oh yeah.” He cupped my breasts, and sucked each one in turn, over and over until my nipples were hard and tight. The sensation of his hungry mouth on me was incredible. “This body—I think about your body all the time.”

“Mmm, me too. I mean, I think about your body.” I squeezed his arms, feeling his biceps’ definition. Jimmy’s strength was so sexy for me, that sensation of being enveloped in his arms and feeling safe. I placed kisses over his defined chest, pausing to lick his tiny nipples.

“You’re not naked yet,” he grumbled. He yanked down my shorts and pulled my hips towards him. “I remember this ass.” He squeezed it for emphasis.

My body gravitated towards his. I relaxed into that gorgeous skin-to-skin heat as we kissed some more. Jimmy separated my legs and rubbed his thumb against my clit. I moaned and arched my back in response. He explored a little more, inserting one finger into me.

“You’re very wet, Kelly. Another good thing about you I remember.” He kept touching me the whole time, and I couldn’t stop pushing against his hand. I was almost dizzy with need.

“Oh God, let’s do it,” I pleaded. I needed to feel his cock inside me so badly; it was like this hollowness in me. “Are you good to go?”

“I’m healthy, yes.” Jimmy frowned down at me. “Kelly, I want you so bad, but I really, really want this to be good for you. So I think I should do a little more foreplay first.”

“Fuck the foreplay. Let’s just do it.”

He still hesitated, so I reached down and stroked his cock. It was certainly hard enough, so I didn’t get why he was hesitating. I pushed him onto his back and straddled him, parting myself and guiding him inside.

Jimmy groaned. “Feels so good.”

It did. All the tension of not touching each other for the past week was dissolved in the sensation of Jimmy inside me, filling me up and starting the perfect friction of our bodies meeting—completely linked. This was how it was for us: when we made love, all our defences and misunderstandings fell away and we were like one.

I rode him with a smooth rhythm, and he grunted each time I hit bottom. The building sensations were incredible, and I could feel an orgasm building inside me. I clamped down hard and rubbed my clit against his flat stomach, and that was enough to set me off.

“Oh yes,” I hissed as the first wave of orgasm hit me, and my body relaxed a little. Jimmy grabbed me by the waist and moved me off him and onto my back.

“My way now,” he said. He got between my legs and started to tease my clit with the tip of his tongue. Then he started to alternate between sucking hard and licking gently. After having him inside me and then coming once, I was already so stimulated that everything he did was fantastic. I was coming in little spurts, over and over. I was thrashing around so much that he had to hold me down. I didn’t realize how much noise I was making until Jimmy laughed. He moved right up next to me and kissed me on the nose.

“Good thing I didn’t sneak into your room while my parents were here, like I wanted.”

“I guess,” I gasped. It was hard to think of a time that sex like this wouldn’t be welcome.

He kissed me, and I could feel his still hard cock pulsing against my stomach. Jimmy smiled and then grabbed my ankle and pulled my leg up. He slid his cock easily into me. This time the sex was slow and almost gentle. His eyes were wide open, and he was watching my reactions to his slow, methodical fucking.

I was impatient, of course—I wanted to go faster and harder. But I sensed that he wanted things to be gentle and sweet. And considering the lovely orgasm he had just given me, I was willing to do whatever he wanted. Besides, it felt fantastic this way too.

“Oh, Kelly,” he sounded breathless and I thought he was close. “It’s so good.”