Las Vegas Sidewinders: Drake (Book 2) (18 page)

“Hey, Erin?” Drake
touched the back of her neck. “This is my friend and roommate, Karl Martensson.
He’s our back-up goalie. Karl, this is Erin and her friend, Kate.”

“Hi, nice to meet you!
You had a great win the other night,” Erin said, extending her hand.

“Thank you.” He nodded,
his voice was deep and gravelly, with just a touch of an accent. “I’ve heard a
lot about you. It’s nice to finally meet you.” He turned to Kate and he
discretely looked her up and down. He reached for her hand and slowly brought
it to his lips. “And you’re Kate.
Very
nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Kate was
blinking rapidly, trying to wrap her mind around the tall hockey god that had
just kissed her hand. The touch of his lips had been like a jolt of
electricity.

“Why don’t you join
us?” Drake suggested lightly.

“Think you can squeeze
in another?” Karl looked around the packed table.

“Absolutely.” Erin
scooted closer to Drake and yanked Kate’s chair closer to hers. On the other
side, Molly moved closer to Dom, who chuckled. A waiter brought another chair
and Karl sat between Molly and Kate, who both flirted outrageously. This was
going to be fun.

Dinner didn’t end until
nearly 11:00 and Erin and Drake finally took their leave. She had an early
morning at work and he had a morning skate, but they still hadn’t talked. After
saying good-bye to everyone and feeling a genuine sense of loss that she might
not ever get to know these people that she’d found she liked a lot, they headed
into the lobby. Kate was going to stay and have a drink with Karl, and Erin
gave her an amused glance.

“So what’s the plan?”
Drake asked. “Did you still want me to come over?”

“Of course.” She handed
her ticket to the valet while Drake went up to his room to get his bag.

They drove home in
relative silence, their hands linked together over the center console. Finally,
she glanced at him. “Are you mad?”

“Mad?” He shook his
head. “What do I have to be mad about?”

“A lot!” She laughed
but there was no humor in it. “My going back to full duty without telling you?
My ex showing up and embarrassing us both in front of your friends? Whatever it
is that’s been bothering you the last few weeks that I’ve been too busy to deal
with?”

He sighed. “You
noticed.”

“I had plastic surgery,
not a lobotomy,” she said lightly. “Of course I noticed. But when there’s a
chance Al Qaeda is going to attack our country, I get a little sidetracked.”

“Is that really
happening?” he asked, looking at her somberly.

“I don’t know,” she
admitted. “There’s stuff—you know, the things I can’t tell you, but yes,
there’s a chance there’s another attack we’ll have to thwart.”

“Thwart how?” he asked
slowly.

“You know how,” she
swallowed.

“In person,” he said
levelly.

“Yes.”

“You personally?”

“This isn’t a
deployment,” she said, looking straight ahead. “This is a mission, a very top
secret, classified mission for a select group of people with special skills.
Technically, I’m probably committing treason just telling you that much. But I
can’t go away with you thinking that I hid something from you or had gone back
to active duty without discussing it with you.”

“Technically you did.”

“Yes, but just a few
days. I literally found out on Friday. You were on the road Saturday and I
worked all weekend, trying to decipher some encrypted messages we got. By
Monday, I figured I could wait one day and just tell you in person. And this is
a very important mission, not me trying to figure out what I want to be when I
grow up. This happened,
is happening
, and it would go against everything
I believe in not to see this through.”

“I understand.” He
slowly traced circles on her hand with his finger. “I don’t like it, but I get
it. I guess the question is, are you going to come back?”

“What?” She turned her
head quickly to look at him. “Of course I’m coming back! What kind of question
is that?”

“The one that’s been on
my mind the last few weeks.”

“What are you talking
about?”

“Erin.” He focused on
the road ahead. “I won’t pretend I can read your mind, but let’s not play
games. Your endgame has always been to get well enough to go back—I just can’t
figure out why. It occurred to me that survivor’s guilt is eating away at you
and you want to go back because maybe this time it will be you.”

“Why is everyone saying
that?!” she demanded. “Kate said the same thing! I don’t want to die!”

“Not consciously, but I
think there is a part of you that wants to go back there to fight that last
battle again.”

Gripping the wheel with
both hands, she pursed her lips, staring straight ahead. He wasn’t right, but
he wasn’t wrong either. She couldn’t quite articulate her feelings about going
back to Afghanistan. Her experience there had taken almost everything from her,
and she somehow had to conquer that, but she didn’t have a death wish.

“It’s not black and
white like that,” she said finally. “It’s more of me taking back something it
took from me.”

“What?”

“I left a piece of
myself in Afghanistan and I have to go back to get it,” she whispered. “I know
that doesn’t make sense, but you need to trust me the way you asked me to trust
you. I practically committed treason tonight by being honest with you—so this
time I’m asking
you
to trust
me
. I need to do this. Because I’m a
Marine and this is my job and what I’ve trained for. Because I love my country
and am proud to protect it. And because I have to set foot on that soil and
find whatever it is I left there.”

“I love you,” he said
after a long silence. “If you want me to wait for you to go over there and do
whatever this is, I don’t have any choice. I was thinking that maybe this thing
between us wasn’t going to work out. I thought tonight would be the end, that I
would say good-bye before I fell totally in love with you, but it’s too late
for that. I
am
in love with you—and even though you make me crazy,
there’s nothing I won’t do for you.”

It didn’t seem like
there was anything else to say. They arrived at her townhouse and slowly made
their way upstairs without talking. Once in her bedroom, he put down his bag
and took off his jacket. She kicked off her shoes and reached for him. Slowly,
she untucked his shirt and began unbuttoning it. She gently ran her hands along
his ripped abs and wide shoulders. She kissed a trail across the broad,
beautiful chest she loved so much, and then leaned up to find his mouth. His
lips found hers urgently, his fingers tangling in her hair. As their tongues
mated, she reached down to unbutton his slacks. She found the zipper and slid
it down, letting the pants follow suit.

“No fair,” he murmured,
pulling down the zipper of her dress. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”

“First I get to enjoy
you,” she whispered against his mouth.

“I thought you didn’t
like to be in charge?” he teased.

“Tonight might be an
exception,” she kissed him once more and then dropped to her knees. She kissed
his stomach and could see his erection through his boxer shorts.

“I’m okay if you don’t
like to do that,” he reached down to lift her chin.

“I know,” she smiled up
at him. “I want to.” She slid his boxers down and ran her hand along his hard
shaft. Why had she never noticed how large he was before?
Because you
weren’t paying attention
, a little voice in her head startled her. For the
first time she realized that she’d been going through the motions with Drake
before tonight. Her body had enjoyed the experience, but her heart and mind had
not been there with her.

A flood of guilt washed
over her and she paused to look up at him.

“You okay?” He reached
down to pull her up again so he could look into her eyes. “You really don’t
have to.”

“I know. I was just
thinking how much time I’ve wasted worrying about…things. I should have
appreciated you more and now I’m going back to Afghanistan—”

“Shh.” He put his
finger over her lips. “It’s all going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.” He
kissed her again, ravaging her mouth with his until her body was on fire with
need. But first, she wanted to show him that she wanted to please him as much
as he’d always pleased her.

This time when she
dropped to her knees, she immediately took him in her hands and slowly ran her
tongue up his shaft. She could feel his intake of breath as she took him in her
mouth. She’d done this on her knees only once before, and whenever she’d
performed oral sex on Clay it had always been over practically before she
started, but tonight she took her time acquainting herself with Drake’s body.
She teased him with her tongue until she felt him spread his legs to brace
himself.

With a smile, she
sucked him deeper into her mouth until she felt him shuddering with pleasure.
She touched the taut sacs beneath and then sucked one into her mouth. He
groaned as she moved from one to the other, licking and tasting as though this
was brand new. She could see the vein in his dick throbbing and she happily
sucked him deep.

“Ah, Erin, I can’t
stand much more…”

“Shh.” She found a
rhythm she could feel he liked and took him deeper until he was almost in her
throat. His hands found their way into her hair and he rocked his hips in tempo
with her mouth until he let out a groan.

“Shit, Erin…” He came
hard, and she swallowed with pleasure, loving the feel of him letting go. He
pulled her up roughly, throwing her on the bed as he ripped at her dress. “Stockings?”
he grumbled.

“It’s cold out,” she
giggled at his tug of frustration. “What’s the matter? No tricks for getting
stockings off the way you do a bra?”

“Can I rip them?” he
growled against her ear.

“Yes.” She laughed with
delight as he tore at the silky cloth and ripped it away from her skin.

When they were both
naked, he covered her body with his, kissing and touching her until she
whimpered with need. His hands were everywhere as he sensed that something had
changed between them. This was a new Erin, sexy and sensual, giving as good as
she got, and loving every minute of it. The woman who had just sucked his dick
was not the same shy, insecure woman who had made him have sex with her while
still fully clothed.

Already hard again, he
pushed her thighs apart, his fingers finding her warm, wet core. She shuddered
with pleasure, the fingers of one hand threading through his hair while the
others explored the taut muscles of his backside. Her body came alive when he touched
her, and she arched against him, aching for him to be inside of her.

“Drake, please,” she
breathed against him.

“What do you want?” he
paused, poised to thrust himself inside of her.

“You,” she clutched his
shoulders urgently. “Please. Inside me.”

“Like this?” He went
slowly, enjoying how tight she was.

“Oh yes.” Eyes closed
and head thrown back, she tried to pull him closer.

He had been waiting
months to really fuck her like he wanted to, but he’d been worried it would be
too intense for her. He was positive she was ready for that kind of intensity
now and he pounded into her tight, hot sheath. Her hips slammed up against his,
one long leg wrapped around his waist. Burying himself to the hilt, he pulled
her legs up over his shoulders and adjusted his angle, causing her to cry out.
“Drake!” She moved with him as he thrust harder and deeper, until they were
both covered in sweat.

She whimpered something
and he paused.

“Say it again,” he
whispered gruffly, meeting her eyes.

“I love you,” she
breathed against his mouth, feeling herself spilling over the edge as he thrust
deep again. “I love you more than I ever thought I could—Oh! Drake!” Her cry
cut through his haze of pleasure and he followed her over the edge. They
collapsed, bodies slick with sweat and sex. She wrapped her arms around him,
burying her face in his shoulder.

“I love you,” she
repeated softly in the darkness. “Please wait for me to come home.”

“Take me with you,” he
said hoarsely.

“What?” she turned her
face up to his.

“Marry me. As soon as
we can get a license. Then when you go back there, you’ll take my name with
you. You’ll be Captain Erin Riser.” His beautiful amber eyes found hers.

“Yes.” She didn’t even
hesitate. “Yes!”

The alarm went off far
too early the next morning, after a long night of lovemaking, but today would
be a busy day so they had to get moving. While Drake showered, Erin headed
downstairs to get on the computer and make coffee. Kate’s bedroom door was
still open, her bed not slept in. Pausing, Erin reached for her phone and sent
her a text.

Are you okay? We have
to talk!!!

She tucked her phone in
the pocket of her robe and made coffee, then settled down at the computer. It
only took a few minutes to realize they would have to get married in Virginia.
There was a three-day waiting period in Washington, D.C. and they didn’t have
three days. It was already Wednesday and she had to be on a plane Saturday
morning. She found several places in Fairfax where they could get a license
right away and then printed out the addresses.

Drake came down the
stairs wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt. She grinned at him. “Looks like we’re
getting married in Virginia.”

“Okay.” He leaned over
to brush his lips across hers.

“Drake?”

“Hmm?” He glanced at
the change in her voice.

“Is Karl a good guy?”

“Huh? Yeah. A really
good guy—my best friend.”

“Yeah, but a good guy
for Kate?” She paused. “She didn’t come home last night and I think… Well,
she’s an adult, but she’s been hurt a lot because of her weight. The last thing
she needs is a pity fuck from some horny hockey player.”

“Well, I don’t know
what happened after we left, but he knew about her weight before they met. I
showed him pictures from Christmas and when I was here last time, and he said
she was beautiful. He’s been through a few supermodel types, and he’s done with
that. He wants a real woman, not some plastic arm piece.”

“I hope so, because
she’s taken very good care of me the last two years, and I will kick his ass
into the middle of next week if he’s unkind.”

“I don’t think so,”
Drake shook his head. “That’s not to say he’s above a one-night stand or that
they simply didn’t click once they met. But anything that happened last night
would have been consensual, and he wouldn’t be a jerk about it. Knowing she’s
my girlfriend’s best friend put her in a different category than your typical
one-night stand. If he didn’t truly want to be with her, he would’ve made an
excuse before they ever got anywhere near sex.”

“Okay.” She flashed him
a smile. “I’m taking a quick shower and then we need to get going. We’ve got a
million things to do.”

“Yes, we do.”

She showered and
dressed in record time, pulling her hair back in a bun and putting on a little
extra makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes. She would have to drop
Drake off in D.C. and then head back to Virginia to go into the office to talk
to the Colonel while Drake talked to his coach. He would play tonight in
Washington, and then he would have to ask for permission to not travel with the
team tomorrow so they could get married. The tricky part would be getting
permission for Karl to go with him to be his best man, but he didn’t think it
would be a problem. Kate, she knew, was flexible, and she hoped it wouldn’t be
awkward. Usually she would text Erin after a night of hot sex; her silence
today worried Erin more than anything else.

She got downstairs just
as Kate was letting herself into the house.

“Hey!” She looked at
her friend carefully. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Kate glanced
past her at Drake. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” He
looked at the two of them and immediately started up the stairs. “I need to get
my stuff,” he murmured.

“What happened?” Erin
whispered as soon as he was gone.

“Oh my God,” Kate
pressed her forehead against Erin’s. “
Oh my God!
He’s amazing. I’ve
never, ever, had sex like that before.”

“Then why don’t you
look happy?”

“Erin. Look at me! Look
at him. There is no doubt in my mind this was a pity fuck.”

“Drake says no way.”
Erin put her hands on either side of Kate’s face. “Kate. Listen to me. You’re
beautiful. Just because you’re not a size zero doesn’t mean you’re fat or ugly.
Your mother is a bitch—she’s mad that you got out of that house and made a life
for yourself without your dad’s money. She and your dad hate each other but she
refuses to leave the life she’s accustomed to, so she’s miserable and takes it
out on you! Who cares if you have a few extra curves?”

“I care,” Kate sighed,
looking away as tears splashed on her cheeks. “When he undressed me last night
I was so embarrassed… My stomach isn’t flat, my thighs rub together…”

“So?” Erin shook her
head. “Did he
say
anything about your body? Didn’t you say it was the
best sex
ever
?!”

“Yeah, but what if he
was
faking
?” Kate looked miserable.

“That is
not
what a real man does.” Unable to stand what she was saying any longer from
where he’d been inadvertently listening when he realized he’d forgotten his
cell phone, Drake strode the rest of the way back down the stairs and grasped
Kate by the chin. “Look at me. You’re beautiful and sexy, and Karl does not
pity
fuck
. You may not be the love of his life—I have no idea—but he does not
pity fuck. Whatever else is going on, even if it was sex just because it feels
good, I promise you there was no pity involved. Karl has women staked out at
the arena day and night—the last thing he needs to do is have sex with a woman
he doesn’t want. If you never listen to anything else I ever say, listen to
that.”

“Okay.” Kate swiped at
her tears.

Drake hugged her then
and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t ever let a man make you cry over your
weight—especially not one of my friends. Besides, we have news and you need to
start making plans.”

“For what?” Kate
frowned up at him, wiping her face.

“Well…” He glanced at
Erin. “Do you want to tell her or should I?”

“You!” She laughed.

“We’re getting married
tomorrow and you’re going to be our maid of honor.”

“Wh—” Words failed her
as she looked from one to the other. “
For real?!”

“For real!” Erin
giggled and they started hopping up and down, squealing, and dancing around in
a circle.

“Oh my God, oh my God,
oh my God!” Kate bounced on the tips of her toes.

They laughed and
hugged, still dancing in a circle when the doorbell rang. “Who on earth is here
at this time of day?” Erin demanded, going to the door and throwing it open.

Standing there as a
light snow came down, Karl glared across the room at Kate. “
What the fuck
?”
he demanded, ignoring Erin completely.

“Who? Me?” Kate turned
in surprise.

“You left without even
saying good-bye?”

“I, um, uh…” Kate
seemed startled.

Karl strode past Erin,
his lean 6’4” frame hulking over Kate. “I thought we talked about this?”

“About me leaving?”

“About you
not
leaving!” Karl looked furious.

“Well, I just thought
it would be—”

“What? What did you
think that sneaking out this morning would be? Not only did it hurt my
feelings
,
it makes me look like a schmuck to our friends!”

“I hurt your feelings?”
she asked, horrified.

“Well, if we had been
here and
I’d
been the one sneaking out, wouldn’t that have hurt
your
feelings?!”

“Well, of course, but—”

“But what? Guys don’t
have feelings?”

“Of course guys have
feelings but you’re…” Her voice faltered and she swallowed. “Hot.”

“So
hot
guys
don’t have feelings? Do hot girls have feelings?” He folded his arms across his
chest, his blue eyes blazing.

“I’m sorry,” Kate
whispered. “I just thought it would spare us both the awkward morning after
stuff.”

“What part of,
I’m
not sleeping with you because of Drake
did you not hear last night after I
repeated it 27 times?!”

“I’m sorry,” Kate
repeated. She moved closer to him and put her hands on his chest. “Really. You
just don’t know how many times I’ve been the one to wake up alone.” Her big
brown eyes met his clear blue ones sadly and he finally shook his head.

“Shit.” Karl reached
out and put his arms around her, hugging her tightly. “Those guys were
assholes.”

“Okay,” Erin put on her
coat. “I don’t mean to be rude, but we have to get going. There’s a wedding to
plan and you guys have a game tonight.”

“Whoa—a wedding?” Karl
turned to Drake who gave him a broad grin.

“Tomorrow,” Drake
clarified. “We have to talk to coach.”

“Okay, wait.” Kate held
up a hand. “I’m here and I don’t have anywhere I need to be. Erin, it’s
ridiculous for you to take them to the hotel in D.C. then turn around and head
back to base here in Virginia. Sit down, finish your coffee and we can spend
the extra time making plans. After you leave, I’ll take the guys back to the
hotel and then do whatever you need me to help with.”

“Okay.” Erin took off
her coat again.

“I’m starving,” Karl
said, rummaging in the refrigerator.

“You sound like Eric,”
Erin laughed, following him, her arm linked in Drake’s.

Erin was nearly 15
minutes late after encountering an accident on the highway. She strode into the
office at top speed, tossing her coat and purse on her desk as she hurried to
Colonel Nicoletti’s office. She let out a whoop of delight to find Mark and
Ronnie there already. She bent to kiss each of them on the cheek.

“Hi!” Her cheeks were
red from the cold and excitement.

“You’re late,” Colonel
Nicoletti gave her a hard stare.

“I’m sorry.” She faced
him apologetically. “Drake and I are getting married. Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Ronnie and
Mark gaped at her in unison.

“Well, as soon as we
can do it. I needed to check with you first and find out what our plan is. When
do Liv, Eric and Louie arrive?”

“Tomorrow.” Mark pulled
out a clipboard. “We’ve got a huge checklist of things to get ready for
departure on Saturday.” He looked at her. “Erin…how are you going to do this?”

“I’ve got this,” she
said abruptly. She turned to the Colonel. “Tell me what day would be best for
me to leave for a while during business hours.”

“Tomorrow is fine,” he
said, looking at her carefully. “Are you sure about this, Marine?”

“I’ve never been surer
of anything.” She reached for Mark’s clipboard. “What’s first?”

Mark hesitated briefly.
Finally, left with no choice, he focused on the task before them.

Erin arrived at the
arena at 7:35. Hurrying through the gate for guests of the teams, she took the
elevator up to the section where hopefully Kate would already be waiting with
Molly and Suze. She found them right away and scooted in during a break in
play.

“Sorry I missed the
face-off,” she breathed. “I didn’t even eat lunch today—we were so busy!”

“I hear congratulations
are in order!” Molly gave her a quick hug.

“Thanks!” Erin bit her
lower lip. “I know it’s kind of crazy, but we decided that if I was going
overseas, the only way I could take him with me was if I took his name.”

“You’re really going
overseas?” Suze gazed at her in surprise.

“I can’t talk about
this,” Erin said softly. “Please don’t ask.”

Molly nodded. “What can
we do to help?”

“We’re getting married
tomorrow morning. I’ll take the morning off and we’ll go to a place in Fairfax
and do it. Then I have to go to work. I guess he’ll meet up with the team
tomorrow afternoon. The only question is if Karl and any of the other guys will
be able to come with us.”

“I’m sure Coach will
let Karl go,” Suze said, nodding. “But if not, we’ll be happy to be there with
you guys. What fun is a wedding with no guests?”

Erin couldn’t stop
smiling.

The Sidewinders won 6-0
and everyone was in high spirits as they met up with the guys after the game.
Drake pulled Erin to the side, his fingers entwined with hers.

“So, tomorrow?” He
looked deep into her eyes.

“Tomorrow,” she nodded.

“Coach said Karl, Cody
and Dom can come with me. They’ll meet up with the team tomorrow night in
Philly.” He paused. “And I’m staying here with you.”

“But I’ll be working…”

“Doesn’t matter.” He
shook his head. “I will spend the last two nights with my wife before she ships
off to wherever.” He avoided mentioning any specifics.

“Won’t you get in
trouble?”

“Family emergency,” he
shrugged.