tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45237759076235978602024-02-08T09:33:40.368-08:00Heart of GoldAndy devises her own economic stimulus package with a mystery hockey player.juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-51350303648341163602010-11-09T21:18:00.000-08:002010-11-09T21:19:04.200-08:00New StoryTime for a new story. This started as a one shot after Sidney Crosby had a fight on 11/3 and turned into the start of a new story. No telling how long it will go. For now, it's definitely NC-17. Hope you'll like it!<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://lovethewayyoulie87.blogspot.com/">Love the Way You Lie</a></b><br />
____juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-73833076639844056292010-11-03T19:57:00.000-07:002010-11-03T20:09:20.976-07:00Chapter 10 [The End]<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike made grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch, like they were 10 years old. They sat next to each other at the island in the kitchen, legs touching under the counter. Andy insisted he cut the sandwiches diagonally because it made them taste better. He looked at her from the corner of his eye, pulling the crust off her bread. She was beautiful, wonderful and now she was his, really his. He felt like shouting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“So, Crosby couldn’t seal the deal?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Andy’s face went white as a sheet. “Actually it was me. Sidney was ready to go and I had a panic attack…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Ready to go?” Mike pushed back from the island a little, ready to do something, anything. “What does that mean? What did he do?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Nothing! No clothes came off or anything. But if I had been willing, we would have completed the business transaction.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“You kissed him.”<br />
<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Yes, there was kissing.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Ew! Andy! Those giant lips? And he touched you. Whatever you were wearing, burn it and I’ll get you a new one. Crosby…,” he grumbled. “I called you at like 1 AM. Where were you?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“After I bailed on the sleepover, we went to a club and met his friends.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Teammates. You went partying with the Penguins. We may have to break up already.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Andy slapped a hand on the counter top. “Mike! Sidney was amazing. He could have pushed the subject and then I would have slept with him. He paid for it, right? Didn’t exactly get his money’s worth when I went cold turkey. If he’d been insistent, I would have had to do it. Then we’d really have a problem.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Yeah, I bet I would be too grossed out to touch you.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“And I bet he’s incredible in bed,” Andy said, then ducked before Mike could grab her in a headlock. She ran around the island, Mike going the other way. Andy grabbed half of Mike’s sandwich as she passed and ate it, across the counter, faking left to right like she was going to bolt.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“You are disgusting. I’m going to kick his ass tomorrow.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Andy got serious. “Mike. He doesn’t know it’s you. He knows there’s someone – he could tell by the way I was acting. And he knows it’s someone from your team. But you and me, we’re a secret until you tell everyone.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Or until Crosby tells them something.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Andy finished the sandwich. “Well, yeah. Or I could call him now.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike caught her around the left side and smothered her face with kisses. “I will tell the whole world… if you delete his number.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">____</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">They parked where instructed and Andy gave her name at will call. The attendant sent them to another door where another attendant checked her name and asked them to wait. A third person fetched them and wound down a series of hallways into the bowels of the Verizon Center to a brightly painted waiting room with couches. Food was laid out on the tables and TVs were on, like it was waiting for a party.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">As Mike came in a minute later, his breath caught in his throat. Andy was wearing his number again. She’d even pulled her hair forward over her shoulders so GREEN was clearly visible. Her smile was wider, more real and her eyes lit up when she saw him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">She is mine</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">, he thought. It had been in his head endlessly as they spent the entire day before moving Andy’s stuff into his condo. They hadn’t wasted a moment. They loaded the Escalade three times and cleared out almost all the stuff she’d need to take with her. Everything else would go to Goodwill the next day. <i>She is mine and I am hers.</i> The idea of it was concrete, but seeing her here, in the most public of places, with his friends and teammates a room away, made it real in a brand new way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Hey!” he managed to get out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Woah</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">, Andy thought as he hugged her in close. He wore black warm up pants and a long-sleeved gray Under Armor shirt that hugged his upper body like plastic wrap. His hair was undone, perfectly naturally messed up. She tried not to wonder what he was wearing under the pants. She failed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“I missed you.” he kissed her quickly on the lips.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Jello!</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> Andy had known this would happen – seeing him here, behind the scenes – this was Mike’s real life and Andy had to figure out where she would fit in.<i> </i>Vivian gave Mike a hug as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Nice shirt,” he rolled the bottom hem of Andy's shirt in his fingers, near her stomach. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“This old thing?!” she laughed. “I’ve had it forever.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Vivian busied herself fixing a snack so they could have a little pseudo-privacy. Mike only had a few minutes before he was due back in the locker room to get ready for the pre-game skate. He made sure he knew where they were sitting.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Good luck,” Andy said quietly, their faces close.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Feels that way,” he playfully hugged tighter around her waist. His lips were soft, his light kiss hopeful.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Hey there!” a voice boomed from behind them. “What is going on in here?” They broke apart to find Brooks Laich smiling hugely, like he’d just caught two people making out. Which he had. He raised his eyebrows at Mike.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Brooks, this is Andy. Andy, Brooks Laich,” he said. Mike’s arm was still around her, a little possessively but she liked it. It made her feel like something worthy of being shown off.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Andy, it’s nice to meet you. I was looking for Mikey. If I’d realized he was kissing someone so beautiful, I never would have interrupted.” He introduced himself to Vivian then reminded Mike they were due in the room pretty much now.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“I’ve gotta go,” he pulled her back in as he heard Brooks leave. He was definitely on edge, but it felt good, like adrenaline in his veins, firing him up for the game. He was going to play hard: she’d be watching. “I can’t wait for you to meet everyone later. They’re going to be so jealous.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Good luck, Mike. And be nice to Sidney,” she whispered into his ear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">____</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike hurried, hoping to catch Brooks in the hall. No luck, and Laich was nowhere to be seen in the locker room. He started suiting up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Who the fuck was that?” Brooks called loudly as he came through the door, carrying freshly-sharpened skates.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Half the heads in the room turned. “Who was who?” Eric Fehr asked.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Greenie was making out with some hot piece in the wives’ room. Tall brunette in boots wearing a beat up #52 t-shirt that looked like she’d been sleeping in it since high school. Not bad, Mikey.” Brooks slapped Mike on the shoulder as he went to his stall. “You’ve been holding out on us!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“She’s…” Mike started.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“She was here the other night right, standing by the glass? Did you pick up a puckbunny, Mikey?” Brooks kept going.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“What are you talking about?” Alex came into the room after a pre-game TV interview. He was looking at Mike like he already knew the answer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Mike’s got a girl here,” Eric teased.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Her name is Andy and… she is my girlfriend. Sorry you haven’t met her before.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A chorus of whistles, shouts and lewd comments rained down on his along with a few pieces of tossed equipment. Mike smiled – the guys would love her. Just not the way they might have before, he’d made sure of that. She was his, now. <i>Thank God.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Girlfriend? She was in the paper, picture with Crosby.” Overchkin said with a skeptical look on his face. “You only go out with her?” <i>You mean she only goes out with me,</i> Mike knew exactly what he was asking.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Yeah. She’s just friends with him. And she’s moving in with me.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Alex shrugged. There were a million beautiful girls in Overchkin’s orbit, and he’d only wanted Andy because Mike did. Because he could have her, because it was his choice. Alex needed to be in charge.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Better play good, Mikey, sign big contract. Sid make a lot of money and girls are expensive,” Alex gave him a smart-assed, gap-toothed smile as he let it go.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Fuck you, Ovi,” Mike said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">____</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Andy’s cell phone buzzed as they were on their way to the seats.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Sidney: White knight reporting for duty.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Andy: All fixed. I owe you one.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Sidney: Come say hello.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">She squeezed up to the glass near the bench, climbing over a few Penguins fans. The team took the ice in their white uniforms to a chorus of appreciation for the visiting team. Sidney was first out and Andy watched them loop around the ice at speed. Jordan saw her and nudged Max at the blue line. Max waved openly like a dork, making half the fans on her side of the ice squeal out loud. Sidney saw the commotion and found Andy’s face. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">As the drill went on, Sidney’s place in the lineup brought him closer and closer. Finally he was right in front of her, smiling. She wanted to hug him for everything he’d done. He stepped over the curb and through the open door onto the bench. The entire crowd moved with him, following their hero toward the walkway to the locker room. At the edge of the glass, he looked up at her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Beautiful</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">. And she was, but in a way he hadn’t seen before. It could only mean one thing. <i>She’s out of reach.</i> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Hey,” he said, aware that hundreds of people were watching.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Hi. I’d say have a good game, but…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Man, they are everywhere! </span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">she almost laughed. <i>Couldn’t find one good guy before this, now they’re coming out of the woodwork.</i> Sidney looked at her like he was trying to decide if she was really okay, or just covering.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“But you don’t want me making your boyfriend look bad.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” she said primly, a tiny grin on her lips.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Sidney looked at her shirt slowly, then back to her face. He’d made her come to the railing so he could be sure to see the back as she went up the steps. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Nice shirt,” he said. Her mouth fell open slightly as she realized what she’d done. Sidney made a teasing face and went back to the ice. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Andy laughed her way to the Capitals side of the rink. She stood a few rows off the glass watching them drill and stretch. Mike didn’t look for her, and she didn’t need him to. He’d be looking at her all the time now.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">____</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The whistle blew the play dead as Nuevirth absorbed a shot. Mike rounded behind the net, slowing as Crosby circled past. According to Andy, he didn’t know which of the Capitals she was seeing but it didn’t feel that way – Sidney had been glaring at him the first few shifts. The puck dropped, was taken out wide by the Pens and Crosby positioned his sizeable backside right in the goalie’s face. He chopped and angled, bordering on goaltender interference the way he kept backing into the crease. Neuvy slapped at Sid’s legs, Crosby just elbowed back in. Letang shot from the point, the puck rattled around and the net was knocked off. Shoving ensued, the teams coming together.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Fuck off,” Mike growled, cross-checking the number on Sid’s back, pushing him away from the goal. All around them, players grappled with each other. Crosby got right in his face. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Of course it’s you,” Sidney said with plenty of disgust, his meaning obvious. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike wanted to pick a fight. This guy had touched Andy, had kissed her. <i>His</i> Andy. He shouldered into Crosby, pressing him into the knot of players behind. “When you’re jerking off alone, remember she’s with me.” Someone closed in behind, pushing them together. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Guess I should have fucked her then, shown her how much better it could be.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike got a glove up, giving Sidney a rough face wash while the refs tried to separate the guys around them. “I will break your face, you piece of shit.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Crosby roared right back. “No fucking way you’re good enough for her.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike bit back the vitriol he wanted to unleash, resisted the urge to shove the end of his stick into that mouth that had been on Andy’s skin. “I will be,” he said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“You’d better be, because she owes me one,” Sidney sneered.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike felt a hand pulling his shoulder, tugging him away from the fight. “I’ll remember that when we’re spending your money decorating our house.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">____</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Andy waited in the stands until someone came for her and Vivian. She didn’t want to sit around with the wives and girlfriends before she’d even met anyone, before Mike had a chance to tell people about her. Whatever he would tell them. Finally a security guard led them down near the locker room, where Mike was waiting in the hall.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">He was smiling sheepishly, hair styled and gelled like he was on his way to prom. Andy guessed he’d done some TV interviews. The Capitals had won a hard fought game, he had everything to be happy about, but that wasn’t it and she knew. <i>I can’t blame the guy</i>, she thought.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“I didn’t fight him,” Mike said, shoulders rolling up. Andy just rolled her eyes. “Ready?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Okay,” Andy said. She was nervous, very nervous and grateful when Mike wrapped her hand in his big one before he opened the locker room door. The media was gone and nearly everyone was showered and fully dressed. Brooks saw her first and came stomping over.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Andy!” He gave her a big hug, like they’d been friends forever. She would never know if Mike had asked him to do that, because soon she was being introduced to a line of people. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Good thing I already know all your names!” she laughed. Little Michael Nuevirth blushed when she congratulated him on scoring points for her fantasy team. The last person to come over was Alex. He was smirking like he knew their secret, but he seemed less predatory than before. His eyes never left her face.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Andy, you make Mike a lucky guy,” he said. “Probably you can do better than him.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike watched carefully, knowing Ovechkin would get his digs in before leaving them alone. <i>Not too far, buddy</i>, he was thinking.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Nah, I think I did pretty well.” Andy squeezed Mike’s hand. Other women started trickling in, their men introducing Andy and Andy introducing Vivian. Someone called for drinks, someone else shouted a suggestion and everyone headed for the door. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike leaned into Andy’s side. “Take you out before I take you home?” he asked. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“This time, I’m taking you home,” she said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">____</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">EPILOGUE: THE WINTER CLASSIC</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Got enough layers on there?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Fuckyoumike!” Vivian yelled, voice muffled by her scarf. They were in the lobby of the hotel, team about to board the bus for the football stadium. It was about three degrees outside and Vivian was dressed for it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Andy came up behind her, lifting her arms out to the side. “I can’t put my arms down!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Put your arms down when you get to school!” Mike said on cue, quoting <i>A Christmas Story</i>. Vivian tugged the wrap away from her face.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“How many black guys play in the NHL, Mike? Five? That’s because it’s freezing and we are not stupid. If I would die outside, then I don’t go outside. Basketball, now there is a civilized sport.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike reached over and pulled the scarf back across her face. Her mitten-encased hands couldn’t grip to stop him so she trundled outside, sweating inside under her gear. Andy laughed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“You on the other hand, look beautiful,” he said, wrapping her arms around her. She wore a red and white ski jacket he’d bought her for Christmas, a white hat with a Capitals logo and white gloves. “Like a Capitals cheerleader.” Andy jumped up and down, miming a cheer but really just rubbing herself against him scandalously. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“I love you,” he said. <i>Like crazy.</i> It had not even been two months, but their life together had fallen into place with only a few hiccups expected of a new couple. He had never thought that coming home to someone, whether at the end of a day or the end of a road trip, could feel so good. Every time he pulled up to the condo and saw the light on his heart did a little flip.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“I love you too,” Andy said. <i>And I owe you</i>, she still knew. Maybe she really owed it to luck, but she preferred to think that Mike had saved her before anything really bad could happen. She knew that she’d saved him too, at least a little, and that made her proud. Her new job as a consultant for a micro-lending finance company gave her just enough flexibility to pay down her loans and never miss a Capitals home game.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Kick ass out there,” she whispered, lips grazing the soft skin just beneath his earlobe.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">He looked at her from the corner of his eye. “Anyone’s ass in particular?” he smiled. Andy scowled and he crushed her into a hug, tipping her side to side while she shrieked for help. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">____</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">All it took was one shift, the first shift on pristine ice unlike anything Mike had ever seen. They skated on a mirror, right through clouds of their own breath. Even beneath the hat inside his helmet, Mike’s ears pricked against the cold.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“How’s Andy?” Sidney asked, skating by.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Completely in love with me,” Mike said honestly. <i>Thank God.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Should I beat you for a goal then? Remind her what she’s missing?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mike smiled at the difference he felt from the last time he and Sidney had this conversation. He’d been scared, angry and moving a hundred miles an hour toward he didn’t know what. Anything that hopefully involved Andy. Now they were solid, they were happy. He was happy because of her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Bring it on, Sid. The only thing Andy's missing right now is being warm in my bed.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">____</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><i>A/N: You guys are awesome! I had no idea there were so many other Mike Green fans. And thanks to those of you stuck it out even if you hate Mike - I hope you still enjoyed the story! Thanks for all your comments, they really make writing so much more fun. New story coming soon!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><i>____ </i></span></div>juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-4536467118511858052010-11-02T21:24:00.000-07:002010-11-02T21:40:46.381-07:00Chapter 9Mike had turned his phone off because he didn’t trust himself. Then he lay awake for two hours looking at it. If it was on and didn’t ring, he’d never sleep knowing she hadn’t called. If it was off, it wouldn’t register the missed call if she did. Mostly he was afraid of answering it in the middle of the night, half-asleep, and telling her everything. Right after she got home from someone else’s bed. Or she wouldn’t call at all, having stayed the night with whoever had full pockets. The equations for misery were endless.<br />
<br />
He imagined that his sheets smelled like her, the one she’d wrapped around her body and dropped in the kitchen. He should have had sex with her then, team rules be damned, if it was going to be his last chance to be with her. Eventually he tossed and turned himself into a fitful nap.<br />
____<br />
<br />
Andy called two more times, not caring that it was the middle of the night. She thought about driving there, but couldn’t – not in this dress, someone else’s hands still on her skin. <i>Not just someone else</i>, she reminded herself. She knew Mike would hate Sidney, she wondered if it would be more because of the logo on his jersey or her kiss on his lips.<br />
<br />
She left her phone on, listening for the ring in her sleep.<br />
____<br />
<br />
Mike woke up starving, fetched the newspaper off the step and sat down to a bowl of cereal. He’d turn his phone on and face the day when his stomach was full. He got two bites of Cheerios in before he saw the photo.<br />
<br />
<i>The Capital and The Kid – Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby enjoys an evening out in DC, dining last night with a date at Maestro.</i><br />
<br />
Andy was smiling, laughing even. Mike could see her dimples.<br />
____<br />
<br />
“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” Vivian chanted into the ringing phone. Finally, a click followed by a moment of silence.<br />
<br />
“Hello?” Andy mumbled, still asleep.<br />
<br />
“Get up, Andy. Your picture is in the paper.”<br />
<br />
Andy dropped the phone and scrambled out of bed. She wore pajama pants and a tank top, swiped a hoodie off the couch and ran full tilt, barefoot, down to the street. She had the box open, free Examiner newspaper in hand and was back inside the front door before it could close.<br />
<br />
“Oh my God,” she said to no one on the staircase. <br />
____<br />
<br />
Ten minutes later his phone rang. He didn’t want to answer it, didn’t want to even see if it was her calling. It could be Ovechkin, that smug son of a bitch, calling to laugh that someone had beaten him to the punch. <i>Crosby. Of all fucking people.</i><br />
<br />
Andy’s cell was trapped between her ear and shoulder as she pulled on jeans. She dialed again for a t-shirt, then again before quickly pulling on a sweater and replacing the phone. No answer. <br />
____<br />
<br />
<i>Bang bang bang.</i> Mike was sitting on the couch, his living room on the second floor above the entry way. <i>Bang bang bang.</i> His phone beeped.<br />
<br />
<i>Andy: Not leaving. Let me in.</i><br />
<br />
Mike felt empty. It was all so obvious, so crystal-fucking-clear and he had willfully ignored it. If he was hurt or angry it could only be at his own stupidity. If he was betrayed, it was by himself. He’d felt like such a loser that first night in the hotel, as if calling an escort service were rock bottom. Now he knew it could in fact get worse. His socks made no noise on the stairs.<br />
<br />
He opened the door, holding it in his outstretched arm. The logo on his shirt was faded from the careless way boys do their laundry. His hair was a mess, black eye nearly gone and he looked more defeated than ever before. Andy’s heart broke open and spilled inside her chest. <br />
<br />
“Nothing happened,” she said.<br />
<br />
Mike’s expression didn’t change. She could have recited the formula for cold fusion and he would not have cared. Nuclear launch codes, PIN numbers, his high school locker combination – nothing would have surprised him because nothing was true.<br />
<br />
Andy’s jeans were too long, frayed where the heels caught beneath her shoes. She had on flip flops despite the cold and a blue hooded sweatshirt with a bird on the lapel. Her hair was a mess and she wore no makeup – clearly just out of bed. <i>That used to look good to me</i>, he thought acidly. <i>She was most beautiful when she woke up.</i><br />
<br />
“Nothing happened.” And then she burst into tears.<br />
<br />
His shoulders and arms ached to hold her. Between the road trip and a bad night’s sleep, he was desperate for comfort. She had foremost in his mind every moment away from the ice – <i>and a few on the ice</i>, he knew. The end of the trip was the best part because he was coming home.<br />
<br />
Andy stood there freezing and just cried. She had gambled and lost, something bad costing her something good. <i>No, something incredible</i>. She had never deserved it and now it had rightfully slipped from her grasp. <i>Even so, I don’t want him to think I did it. I want him to know that much.</i><br />
<br />
“I couldn’t do it.”<br />
<br />
<i>Pretty little liar</i>, he thought. <br />
<br />
“Call him.” Andy fished her phone out of her pocket. “Call him and ask.”<br />
<br />
“You have his number?” The first words Mike had spoken.<br />
<br />
Andy made a hard face. “He said that any guy who let me do this wasn’t good enough for me. And if that guy wouldn’t stop it, he would.”<br />
<br />
“So he’s your boyfriend now.” Not a question. “Bought and paid for the whole show, eh? You’re off the market to the highest bidder.” It didn’t feel true, even as he said it. Words he didn’t believe just spilled out of him like oil, contaminating everything in their path.<br />
<br />
“Mike,” the tears were back. “He was just being nice because I was a mess. I was like you, that first night. I wanted so much to help you that I would have done anything. It didn’t have to be sex and you knew that. It was in your eyes, you almost sent me home, you would have let me go if I asked. But I wanted to be the one.”<br />
<br />
He had neighbors. He wondered if they could see or hear him, fighting with a call girl at ten in the morning. The urge to scream ‘Sidney Crosby fucked my girlfriend’ passed through his mind – no payoff though, not here. Tomorrow’s game was another story.<br />
<br />
“You’ve got a new one now. The Chosen One. Big step up from me, Andy.”<br />
<br />
“That is not true and you know it. Mister high-and-mighty, you called an escort service too. Same as him. Why you’re so much better than everybody else…” <br />
<br />
Mike put his hands up in surrender. “You’re right. I am an asshole for believing you. I fell for every lie you told me, everything you did, and I am paying the price for it. Your real price tag.” He wanted to punch something, clenching and releasing his fist at one side. “Hooker with a heart of gold, right? Who hasn’t fallen for that one? I bet all your clients are chomping at the bit waiting for the minute I go out of town. A line of guys around the block for you.”<br />
<br />
Andy wanted to punch something too. She wanted to punch Mike. Screaming, throwing things, lying facedown on the lawn until winter came and buried her under snow – they all seemed like viable options. “You think I'm faking this?” <br />
<br />
“Nothing I think about you is right! You are a professional liar and I've been buying it because I want you. I need you. Or at least I need the person I let myself believe you were. I'm the asshole, eh?” he lifted his hands in question. “Because everybody wants you. You are good, Andy. You are <i>so</i> good.”<br />
<br />
“I'm not that good.”<br />
<br />
“Well then more stupid me, because I fell for it.” He looked away from her.<br />
<br />
“It's not a lie, Mike. Everything with you... You know what Sid said last night?”<br />
<br />
He pressed his back to the door. “I'm very sure I don't want to know.”<br />
<br />
“Sid said, ‘Who is he?’ Because he knew I wasn't all there, knew that my mind was somewhere else. He figured out there was someone.”<br />
<br />
“You mean there are a lot of someones.” <br />
<br />
Andy stomped her feet. “Goddamn it Mike, there is no one but you! The night we met was my first night. Until yesterday you were my entire client list.”<br />
<br />
That got his attention. “What?”<br />
<br />
“You’re it. Well, you and Sidney but I didn’t sleep with him so I don’t think he counts. It’s just you.”<br />
<br />
He didn’t even have to think about it. “For such a good liar, that one sucks.”<br />
<br />
Andy met his gaze with a steady stare. He’d never seen her angry, but this was it. This look would scare someone on the ice. “Nothing was fake Mike, and nothing is. Whatever you think you saw, you saw it. Because I don't know how to lie, I don't know how to do this and not let my feelings get involved. You saw the truth and then Sid saw it too. Last night when my phone rang, I ran because I thought it was you.”<br />
<br />
Mike’s rage was collapsing. <i>Lies, lies, lies</i> he wanted to keep saying but there were so many things that this could make true. The way she’d looked at him, made him feel special, told him true stories about herself. She had let him in, he hadn’t imagined that. He had assumed it was a weapon in her arsenal for ensnaring high-paying customers. <i>Could it have been nothing more than one person caring for another?</i> <br />
<br />
“How can I possibly believe you?”<br />
<br />
“Remember Vivian? She works. Got me the interview when I lost my finance job and couldn’t find a new one for six months. Moved, sold my car, everything I could think of. But no work is no work, and unemployment wasn’t cutting it.”<br />
<br />
Somewhere in the universe a little light bulb popped on. <br />
<br />
“Your kitchen table is too big,” he said.<br />
<br />
“What?”<br />
<br />
“Your table is way too big for your kitchen. You said you’d moved – your last place was bigger. That’s why your table doesn’t fit.”<br />
<br />
Andy nodded. Her bottom lip quivered, more tears on their way. This was it, the sad truth about how she’d come to be here, fighting for the heart of someone who had paid for her company. On paper they were both despicable, both users and opportunists. But she didn’t hate him. She loved him.<br />
<br />
“Mike, I…”<br />
<br />
All in one movement he scooped her up and pulled her inside, hauling her up to the second floor. Before they reached the top he was laying them down, feet sticking over the edge of the staircase. He couldn’t kiss her quickly enough, hard enough or deep enough. Andy had no breath left in her lungs. Mike’s mouth was merciless, pleading with hers for more than she could give. Finally, she pulled away.<br />
<br />
“I’m so…”<br />
<br />
“Why didn't you tell me?” he gasped.<br />
<br />
“Tell you I was terrified?” She was really on the verge of crying now. “Tell you that all your money was getting you was some new girl who had no idea what she was doing? People don't pay for inexperience. For all I know, you've hired a hundred girls and I couldn't have you thinking we were ripping you off!”<br />
<br />
“You knew I was a new client.” He held her so tightly she had trouble catching her breath.<br />
<br />
“To us, but we are not the only game in town. And when you travel - Jesus, Mike. I don't know what you guys do on the road,” her head lolled to the side.<br />
<br />
“I don't do anything, not anymore. And I had never called a service before you.”<br />
<br />
“What?” Her hair fell in her face as she straightened.<br />
<br />
He shrugged slightly. “First time for me too, Andy.”<br />
<br />
“Oh my God. You didn't tell me either.”<br />
<br />
He kissed her, hard, feeling the tears on her cheeks against his. He wanted to wrap her up and make all this go away. <i>But we need to do this</i>, he knew. “You couldn't figure out by how messed up I was? I already felt like a loser who you could only pity, I thought you must hate me. I couldn't tell you.”<br />
<br />
“And I couldn't tell you. It would have been like asking you to save me... it's too <i>Miss Saigon</i>. I was in over my head, trying to swim.” She looked like she could use one now, tears rolling. “I was so scared but when we started talking I felt better - like I could do something for you, be someone that you needed. I wanted to rescue you.”<br />
<br />
“I wanted to rescue you – I thought of a hundred ways. When you touched my face and kissed me before you even said hello, when you bagged on Carcillo instead of telling me I was an ass for picking a fight, I think I lost my mind. That was the best and worst night of my life.” His big hand brushed the hair from her face. <i>Do it, do it, this is the moment.</i> <br />
<br />
“Any chance you’re still looking for a rescue?” he asked.<br />
<br />
“Yes,” Andy admitted, pinching her eyes closed to keep from sobbing. Mike kissed her, tears and all, his heart pounding in relief. <br />
<br />
“Then stop doing this. Crosby’s right, that fucking douche. I should have said IT that first night and I don’t care if I have to pay them to…”<br />
<br />
She put two fingers over his lips. “No, I can stop. I’m done.”<br />
<br />
Those words were exactly what he needed to hear. Mike drew a deep breath, feeling the fear drain out of him.<br />
<br />
“I love you, Andy. I am in love with you. I would like the chance to earn you and fight for you. Especially if I get to fight Crosby.”<br />
<br />
“I love you too, Mike. Turns out I needed you as much as you needed me. I wanted to call Madison Square Garden and have them make a PA announcement: Mike Green, please call your escort service and save your girlfriend.”<br />
<br />
“Hmmm, girlfriend. I like that.” He nuzzled into her cheek. “Can I ask why you did it? Andy, I have money….” And lots of it. He’d already earmarked a ton to spend time with her, now it was free again. Whatever she needed, she could have it.<br />
<br />
“No. I will take care of that myself. Your days of paying for my company are over,” she snuggled against him. <br />
<br />
<i>Might as well, you’ve come this far.</i> “Move in with me.”<br />
<br />
“Mike, I….” There was hesitation in her voice.<br />
<br />
“Please. It’ll free up your rent money and I’ve already paid for the condo. Plus… I plan to keep you here anyway. Every night I’m home.” He held the back of her neck, keeping their faces close together. “Andy, I want to be with you as much as I can.”<br />
<br />
She just looked at him for a solid minute. She wanted to, she really, really wanted to. Not paying rent would help, but it was more than that. It made them legitimate, it meant they forgave each other for the circumstances that had brought them together. It was like a fresh start. <br />
<br />
“Bring your books and I’ll read them all,” Mike said.<br />
<br />
“Okay, I will.”<br />
<br />
They lay together, twisted up on the carpet supporting each other's weight and hopes. An easy minute passed as they both took in the reality they had just created.<br />
<br />
Finally Mike whispered, “Andy, what's <i>Miss Saigon</i>?”<br />
<br />
“A play I am never taking you to see.”<br />
<br />
He kissed her, perhaps the sweetest kiss they’d shared because it was the first really honest one. There was relief in it, and playfulness, and something about the kiss just beamed gratitude. That lasted a little while, until Andy curled her body in tightly to Mike’s, pressing her chest into his and pulling his leg up over her hip. <br />
<br />
<i>This is where I belong</i>, she thought as he unzipped her sweatshirt, peeling up the t-shirt underneath and leaving a trail of kisses across her bare stomach.<br />
<br />
<i>This is how it should be</i>, Mike knew with the confidence she had helped him find, the assurance of someone who had gotten what he wanted.<br />
<br />
The soft cup of her bra gave way beneath his fingers as he gently circled her nipple, feeling it stiffen and rise. He primed the other while he body responded in kind. Her mouth continued to ride against his even as she shifted her hips, rolling them into his lap. He finally lifted the cotton layer over her head, lifted the fabric from her breasts and let his mouth tug and pull, kissing deeply over the soft mounds of flesh. Andy arched her back, offering herself to him, relishing in the slow attention of his lips. He slid a hand down her stomach, not bothering to open her pants, and didn’t stop until his fingertip was sliding over her slick entrance. He probed with finger and tongue, matching strokes, winding her up. His thumb found her clit, twitching lightly against the swollen nub as she began pant tiny noises of pleasure.<br />
<br />
Andy’s body felt like a swing, twisted until its chains were tight and high. And she still had her pants on. “Mike, please,” she whispered.<br />
<br />
<i>Anything</i>, he thought. He quickly opened her fly and shucked off her jeans. Her hands were under his waistband, then gloriously firm and warm as they wrapped around his swollen cock. He fought to keep control while she moved slowly, teasing him out to his full length while raking her other fingers lightly through the tangle of hair above. The she guided him toward the heat of her cleft, slowly running the head of his penis over the velvety soft folds of her slick flesh.<br />
<br />
Andy ran her hands over the taut skin of his naked body, reveling in how she’d come to possess something so fine, and how stupid she’d been to almost lose it. Never again, she promised, helping herself to another handful of his perfect form.<br />
<br />
His teeth caught her nipple again, a little less gentle, the tiny cry lost as he buried his erection inside her. Her body gave way like quicksand, sudden and dark, pulling him deeper for as hard as he pushed. He stroked again, another small noise sobbing from between her lips. They quickly found the soft part of his neck and locked on. His hips began to move themselves, questing after the sweet, hot space inside her body and the tight rolling grip it had on his dick. Before long, he was thrusting deeply, driving her into the living room rug with every stroke.<br />
<br />
“Yes,” she let slip. <i>Yes fuck me. Yes love me. Yes I want to stay with you</i>. Her insides felt like melted chocolate, bubbling hotly when he filled every part of her. His smooth, long shaft plumbed her soaking pussy, harder and softer, faster and slower, drawing her pleasure out.<br />
<br />
Andy twisted her hips and writhed down against him. The friction twisted his stomach, a low buzz building in his lower back and thighs. She felt like a lock he could open, his key made to fit. His breathing became more shallow the wetter she got.<br />
<br />
“Mike,” came from her lips. And again. He slid his tongue into her mouth, caught her bottom lip and tugged it away from her teeth. She lifted her head, pulling him into her for another kiss. In his arms, he felt her body shudder.<br />
<br />
She moaned, loudly and without inhibition for the first time. No worries that he’d think she was exaggerating, that working girls are supposed to sell it. It rolled uncontrollably from her body as she neared the edge.<br />
<br />
Mike felt it, her body quaking around him. He was close, so close and he wanted to lose himself in her forever. <i>Her first.</i> When it came, she threw her head back, ultra-sensitive nipples grazing his chest as he rammed himself home, almost splitting her in two, and held her down hard against the base of his cock. She sobbed that noiseless breath that he’d come to love, mouth open and eyes closed as he twisted a hand into her long hair and kissed her exposed neck. Her body rolled and quivered, flashing and pulsing onto his hard-on like electricity.<br />
<br />
“You feel so good,” he growled as she went limp in his arms. His erection was painful, stiff and filled to bursting. Her soft body welcomed him again, spent with pleasure he had provided, and he took the bait. Hips rolling, weight falling, he abandoned all thought as he stroked into her. The heat in his body reached a boil and spilled over.<br />
<br />
“Andy,” he groaned as he came, hot and hard, spurting into her three, four times with a whole body shudder. He could have stayed hard, could have claimed her again immediately if he wasn’t so tired. Collapsing never felt so good as when his head came to rest on her tender breasts.<br />
<br />
She ran her fingers through her hair. Her heart pounded not just from the sex but from an overwhelming sense of relief and luck. So much luck.<br />
<br />
“Thank God for you, Mike. If it had been anyone else that night…” she whispered to the top of his head.<br />
<br />
“I thought I’d lost you. First when you didn’t pick up last night, then when I saw the picture. I thought I’d missed my chance because I was afraid of sounding crazy. Of telling you how I felt when I’d only known you for a couple of days.”<br />
<br />
“I felt it too,” she said quietly, wrapping her arms around him. <br />
<br />
“I will take care of you, I promise.”<br />
<br />
“And I will take care of you. Always,” she whispered.<br />
____juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-27761094228281848822010-10-30T15:37:00.000-07:002010-10-30T15:37:03.499-07:00Chapter 8<i>Is this how a surgeon feels?</i> Andy wondered. She sat in a chair near the window, a selection of local magazines arranged on the low table next to her. A room service menu was open on the desk. <i> Detach yourself emotionally and ignore the beating heart you hold in your hands?</i><br />
____<br />
<br />
Sidney was in the bathroom. That alone made him feel like a fool. <i>I pay for her to come here and fuck me, and I can’t change in front of her?</i> He fixed the collar on his suit, adjusted the cuffs of his jacket. Everyone said he was too nice. <i>Maybe she appreciates it.</i><br />
<br />
He was no sap. Sid fully intended to make good use of his night with the beautiful brunette in the blue party dress. He just didn’t see a reason to be an asshole about it, treat women the way some of his teammates did. <i>Especially the ones you pay for</i>, he thought with a touch of self-righteousness. <i>They probably get treated like crap all the time</i>. A final fix of his hair and he felt ready.<br />
<br />
<i>If she’s smart, she’s looking at the breakfast menu right now.</i><br />
____<br />
<br />
Andy stared out the window. <i>Sidney Crosby. Holy hell. </i> This was not just a booking, not just a client. This was a national security issue, a fucking international relations disaster waiting to happen. <i>Sidney Crosby hires call girl in DC, Canada declares war on US.</i><br />
<br />
He seemed nice. She was so keyed up that anyone less than the Jigsaw killer would probably have been a relief. Sidney had decided he was hungry, but asked her if she wanted to go out to eat. And he meant it. When she agreed, he took his suit – already picked out – into the bathroom to change. <i>That is cute</i>, she thought despite herself.<br />
<br />
“Ready?” he asked. He helped Andy into her coat and led her down the hall.<br />
<br />
<i>He’s shorter than Mike</i>, she thought. <i>Wider too, and deeper.</i> Sidney had a more solid stature, weighty and thick with nothing but muscle. Where Mike seemed skinner from having lost weight over the off season, Sidney seemed compact and coiled. His shoulders were wide and his waist narrow, he walked with easy confidence. He was definitely not the mess Mike had been on their first night.<br />
<br />
<i>Mike</i>, she kept thinking. <i>Mike, Mike, Mike</i>. Sidney stood close to her in the elevator.<br />
<br />
The hotel got them a cab and sent them to whatever restaurant they’d chosen when Sidney called the concierge desk. Andy wondered if they’d had to drop his name to get a table somewhere at 8:30 PM on a Friday night during election season. They pulled up and Andy knew they had: Maestro was considered one of DC’s premiere restaurant experiences.<br />
<br />
“I have never been here,” Andy said, breaking the silence.<br />
<br />
“Me neither. The hotel says it’s good.”<br />
<br />
“Everyone says it’s good.”<br />
<br />
Andy kept her eyes glued to the maitre-d’s back as he let them to their table. She did not want to see if anyone in the dining room recognized Sidney Crosby.<br />
<br />
<i>Yeah, this is perfect</i>, he thought. He was a little uncomfortable hiring a girl, though he’d done it a few times before. It was just too dangerous for him to pick someone up in a bar and trying to actually date someone in Pittsburgh or Nova Scotia was a fucking circus. Sidney had tremendous willpower and drive, he could go without for a long time. When he felt the urge, he could certainly afford to pay for capability and discretion. On those occasions, he liked to at least take the girl out for a nice dinner. And this one was certainly his type – fit and healthy-looking, thick dark hair and not too much makeup. <i>Almost like a real girl</i>, the mean voice in his head said.<br />
<br />
“So I hear you’re a big hockey fan,” he tried. <i>The hockey hooker.</i> That had been his first thought when the answering service had suggested someone named Andrea who was an avid follower of the game. Either it was a convenient lie or this girl was working a real niche market. At the rate his teammates and the other guys hired girls, she probably made more money than half the third-line players.<br />
<br />
“I’m a big Capitals fan,” Andy said. She couldn’t help but tease a little. <i>Sidney Crosby! Oh shut up, slut.</i> She was trying to put her mask on, the let her mouth speak without her brain thinking. “I may have said a few choice things about you in the past.”<br />
<br />
Sidney made a face. “Ouch. You hardly know me.” <i>And now what you know is even worse</i>, he thought. <i>Maybe this hockey thing was a bad idea.</i><br />
<br />
“I will reserve my judgment for now, I promise.” Andy drained her first glass of wine in one gulp. Sidney pretended not to notice.<br />
<br />
As they talked, she relaxed a little. Several glasses of wine helped, but not as much as simply looking at him. <i>Sidney Crosby.</i> So familiar. He was gorgeous, almost intimidatingly so, with full, pink lips and a quick smile. That laugh – almost girlish, definitely a giggle, always surprising – made a few appearances. She was so used to looking at him that she felt like she knew him a little bit. His eyes were more brown than anything she’d ever seen, sometimes gold, sometimes hazel, sometimes almost black in their depth. <br />
<br />
<i>Focus</i>, she told herself during lulls in the conversation. As long as they spoke she could keep her mind in check.<br />
<br />
<i>I’m laughing too much</i>, Sidney thought. He sensed her reticence and tried to overcompensate for it, laughing at his own remarks. She seemed happy to let him carry the conversation. <i>I’m talking too much about myself.</i><br />
<br />
“Andrea, tell me about you.”<br />
<br />
It was easier when he called her that. Easier to stay where she needed to be, behind a wall. She told Sidney about living in DC, visiting her friends in the Carolinas over Labor Day weekend, what food she liked. Without intention, she didn’t tell Sidney anything that she had told Mike. Still they had some things in common and when Andy got more comfortable she found it was nice to make him laugh.<br />
<br />
“… so I’m running through the terminal with my suitcase, knocking pilots and old ladies out of the way, and I get to the flight of stairs. Under and around the back is my gate. The screen is flashing ‘final boarding’ and the gate agent is on the PA saying ‘Last call – passenger Brattle please report to gate 29.’ So I throw my hand up and yell, ‘That’s me!’ The entire waiting area looks up, a hundred people, just as the guy on the mic says, ‘Here comes the bride!’ I ran right past him at full tilt and made my flight!” Andy put her arms down, having told the story with her whole body.<br />
<br />
Sidney laughed so hard he didn’t make any noise. He covered his face with a napkin, beet read and tears in his eyes. A few gasps and he managed to ask, “Whose wedding was it really?”<br />
<br />
“My friend in St. Louis. I totally stole her identity - used her fiancés name, her church, everything. I didn’t start out to lie, but it just snowballed and then it was too late.”<br />
<br />
“That is an amazing story. But don’t tell me anymore or I’ll never get to eat.” Sidney giggled a few more time, chewing his steak. This was getting easier. Her smile was spectacular when she really meant it.<br />
<br />
They passed on dessert. Sidney didn’t eat it and Andy’s nerves were creeping back as the clock ticked on. <i>Sex, it’s just sex</i>, she repeated in her head. Every time he’d firmly gripped his knife she’d gotten a flash of panic. While they waited for the bill, Sidney checked his phone. He made a little face.<br />
<br />
“What?” Andy asked.<br />
<br />
“The Caps just won.”<br />
<br />
Just like that, she fell apart. She bit her lip and forced herself to keep her eyes open, knowing once they closed she would come up crying. Beneath the table her fingers twisted into the end of the white linen tablecloth. “What was the score?”<br />
<br />
Sidney wasn’t sure what he’d seen. A flicker of something, a hint of a feeling. She’d covered it quickly and well. <i>She would, she’s a professional. But still, that’s really worked up about some early-season hockey game</i>.<br />
<br />
“4-2, looks like Ovechkin got two. Backstrom scored, and Green.”<br />
<br />
<i>Kill me, please kill me now</i>, she thought.<br />
<br />
“Andy, you okay?” he asked.<br />
<br />
“Yeah. Thank you, dinner was great.”<br />
____<br />
<br />
Mike hit the speed dial button again. Andy’s phone rang once then went to voicemail. <i>Turned off</i>, he knew. <i>It’s only 10 PM.</i> Still, he picked up a glove from the locker room floor and squeezed it as hard as he could to keep from throwing it.<br />
____<br />
<br />
Sidney slid close to her in the backseat of the cab. She asked the cab driver to take them past the mall and the monuments, sharing little known facts about the city’s famous landmarks. He admired her as much as the scenery – her perfume was something floral and feminine, her hair almost auburn in the dim light. When she put her hand down, he twined his fingers into hers. Andy’s hand lay open beneath his for a few seconds before she curled her fingers around too.<br />
<br />
<i>I’m going to throw up. I’m going to throw up a $200 dinner onto Sidney Crosby in the back of a taxi. He probably has another road game and needs to wear that suit.</i><br />
<br />
He squeezed her hand in a way he hoped was reassuring. She was slipping away a little, the warmth he’d seen while laughing at dinner being replaced by a professional distance that frankly made him feel a little judged. Her skin was soft beneath the pad of his thumb, circling over the back of her hand. <i> Come on back</i>, he urged.<br />
<br />
At the hotel, Andy again avoided any mirrors. She didn’t want to see herself with him, see how they looked together. She imagined they were a beautiful couple – he was stunning enough for both of them. His width and her slender frame, they’d be quite the complimentary pair.<br />
<br />
She draped her jacket over a chair in the room. Sidney found it was impossible not to admire her – long legs in delicate high heels the same bright blue as her mid-thigh strapless dress. Her skin looked silky smooth as she ran the front of one foot down the back of her other calf.<br />
____<br />
<br />
Mike didn’t leave a message. It was nearly midnight. <i>She is… busy.</i> He looked out the window of the plane into the darkness below.<br />
____<br />
<br />
<i>Just get this over with</i>, she thought. <i>It’s the anticipation that’s killing me. Remember before? Once we got started it all came around.</i> She glanced toward Sidney, putting his suit coat on a hanger. <i>He’s fucking hot. He’s nice. Probably a lamb in bed. It’s just sex.</i><br />
<br />
Sidney closed the closet door. Andy heard the sound like a starter’s pistol firing. She didn’t think, just turned and in two steps, her mouth was on his.<br />
<br />
He practically had to catch her she was moving so fast. All at once, every nerve ending in his body fired as her warm, soft lips insisted that he return her kiss. He grabbed, thumbs hooking into her sides and fingers meeting behind the small of her back, his hands easily spanning the width of her body. He slid them down over her ass and pulled in tight.<br />
<br />
A little breath puffed out of her as their bodies fit together. His pillowy lips tasted like wine, dark with a hint of berries and chocolate. His tongue eagerly slipped into her mouth, though it was a moment too long before she reciprocated. It raised a tiny flag in his mind but he kept on kissing, deciding to believe her body instead. His hefty thigh was between hers, riding provocatively higher against the hem of her dress.<br />
<br />
Andy’s body responded without permission. His shoulders were so wide, his chest hard against hers. Strong arms moved her wherever he wanted. Sidney’s legs were like tree trunks and it was impossible not to want to feel his sturdy form holding her up. She shifted her weight against his quad, sliding her own thigh dangerously close to his zipper.<br />
<br />
He kissed her again, hard, and bought his hands to her legs. They slid up bare skin, sneaking beneath her dress and inching it up – each inch then quickly taken by his lower body until his massive, muscular thigh was ready to lift her off the ground.<br />
<br />
<i>If that doesn’t do it….</i> He kissed her again, his tongue sweeping hungrily between her lips. Again, it was an awkward moment before she gave into the kiss.<br />
<br />
<i>Shit</i>, Sidney thought. He spent probably a whole minute standing there, grinding a leg against her panties with his hands feeling the lace stretched across her hips. His mouth was joined to hers, attempting to convince her that she wanted this. She wanted him. He was Sidney fucking Crosby and she was the hockey hooker – what more could there possibly be? <i>Shit.</i><br />
<br />
He tried again, moving his hands from beneath her dress and reaching into her hair. Soft and thick, it smelled like clean laundry on a sunny day. Palms slid down to hold her face. The tension in her neck was palpable beneath the heels of his hands. He almost flinched at the frozen muscles. Her lower body was stuck to his, but the rest of her was wound tight as a spring. She continued to kiss him without tongue, her hands on the flat of his back and not moving.<br />
<br />
<i>Shit.</i> He wanted this. He’d made a purchase and was expecting delivery. More than that, he wanted release and he wanted it from this beautiful, delicious woman in his arms, in his room, whose mind was clearly elsewhere tonight. <i>Shit.</i><br />
<br />
“Andrea,” he whispered, pulling back from her soft mouth.<br />
<br />
Her eyes were screwed shut, lines etched into her brow. She blinked them open slowly as if afraid of what she’d see. Those melted chocolate bottomless pools, a hundred colors swirling together, they looked worried.<br />
<br />
“Who is he?” Sidney said.<br />
<br />
An ice cold flash of adrenaline blasted through Andy’s body, like she’d been caught sneaking away from the scene of a crime carrying a bloody knife. She flinched hard.<br />
<br />
“What? Shhh...” and she leaned back in for a kiss.<br />
<br />
It took an incredible amount of willpower for Sidney to hold her still, keep her from reaching his swollen, kiss-stung lips that were so thirsty for more of her. He might even be impressed with himself someday. For now he just felt resolution – <i>This is who I am. I can make a willing exchange with someone, but I cannot take from another person. Not this girl. Under different circumstances, I could be the one she’s thinking about.</i><br />
<br />
“Who is he?” Sidney repeated. “Who are you so worried about?”<br />
<br />
Andy’s mask cracked. She pinched her lips together between her teeth and tried to step away, but Sidney held her fast. They were still intimately connected from the waist down and he wasn’t letting go until he was sure he had to.<br />
<br />
“Someone,” was the best she could do. Her shoulders dropped, rounding into his body. Instead of pushing her away, Sidney wrapped his arms around her back and stood them both up straight. His big hand, moments ago toying with her panties, stroked over her long wavy hair. They stood there for a few minutes, Sidney just holding her while she hardly breathed.<br />
<br />
“You almost had me fooled,” he said, whispering into her ear. One thumb stroked the base of her neck, where it met her shoulder blade in painful, twisted knots. <br />
<br />
“Sidney…”<br />
<br />
It felt really good when she said his name. Too good. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. They were gray, remarkable really and he remembered thinking earlier they were beautiful. Now they were troubled.<br />
<br />
“… I’m sorry. I can still… if you want we can…”<br />
<br />
Sidney smiled for absolutely no reason other than the debate was over. “Could you? Without hurting yourself, could you really?”<br />
<br />
“No,” came a small voice.<br />
<br />
“Andrea, stop. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m not going to take advantage of you. If you don't want to, we won't.”<br />
<br />
She looked so relieved that he was disgusted with himself for ever having thought he could have her for a price. <i>Dinner and compliments? What the fuck is that compared to making up your own mind about who you take to bed?</i> Part of him hoped to forget that realization or it would be a long dry spell for Sidney Crosby.<br />
<br />
<i>White knight, hero</i>, she thought. He certainly looked the part, staring at her intently like he was trying to read her mind. A shameful, deceitful part of her still wanted him, just physically, but it was shouted down by her heart.<br />
<br />
“I like hanging out with you,” she admitted. “You’re funnier than I expected. I thought you’d be a little boring, really.” She laughed softly.<br />
<br />
“Tonight was certainly not boring,” he said. “Is he your boyfriend?” Andy bit her lip. It made Sid want to kiss her again, the plump pink flesh giving way beneath the gentle pressure of… <i>Stop. Stop it. Down boy. At least I got some new material to jerk off to.</i><br />
<br />
“Kind of.” The image of Mike that came to her mind was not sexual, not even in the heavily charged atmosphere of the room. It was Mike standing at her door, flowers in hand, suit all pressed and eye black from a fight. Smiling like he was shy.<br />
<br />
Sidney led her to the bed and sat her on the edge, reaching for the bottle of water on the nightstand. She sipped as he spoke. “No offense Andrea, but any guy who lets you do this is not good enough for you. If you were mine, it would be over my dead fucking body that you ever wanted for anything. Forget something like this.”<br />
<br />
“This is new. He’s new too. Everything happened all at once and he’s on the…”<br />
<br />
It clicked in Sidney’s head like a safecracker hears the last pin drop into place, revealing a fortune when the door swings open. “Holy shit. He’s a Capital.” Andy put her hand across his mouth. Those voluptuous, sensual lips disappeared beneath her palm. She shook her head silently, he just raised his eyebrows. <br />
<br />
“Now I know all your secrets.” He smiled against her skin.<br />
<br />
“Please, Sidney…”<br />
<br />
“I’m only kidding. You know my secret too. In fact, I’ll tell you another secret, so we’re square.” He reached back into her hair. “This is the first real exchange I’ve had with a beautiful woman in a long time, especially alone in a hotel room. You just became very special to me, Andrea.” <br />
<br />
“Please, I hate that name. Call me Andy.”<br />
<br />
“Andy,” he said, trying it out. “I like that better.”<br />
<br />
Sidney fetched his phone from the desk and made a call. Andy stared at her hands: she had almost done something awful – a self-fulfilling prophecy when you’re an awful person. Maybe she’d looked the way Mike had that first night: desperate for someone to reach into the sea and pull out the drowning man. The phone snapped shut.<br />
<br />
“New plan. Grab your coat.”<br />
<br />
He wouldn’t tell her anything, just retraced their route though the hotel and into a taxi, gave an address and they were off. This time, she held his hand. The cab stopped in front of a nightclub, one smile at the doorman and they were in past the line waiting at the velvet rope. Hand in hand they threaded through the bodies and into a second cavernous room full of dancers. On the left, Sidney nodded his way past another bouncer.<br />
<br />
“Sid!” ten voices all yelled at the same time. Buried beneath drinks and girls and a few more girls for good measure were guys that Andy recognized as members of the Pittsburgh Penguins. She stood behind Crosby’s shoulder, still holding his hand, suddenly feeling very overwhelmed.<br />
<br />
“Who’s your date?” Jordan Staal untangled his lanky body from a chair and stood.<br />
<br />
“This is Andy. She’s got a boyfriend, so be nice to her.”<br />
<br />
“Booooooo!” Max Talbot shouted from beneath at least two blondes and maybe a third pair of legs. “You’re just my type!” She could see that smile got him out of a lot of trouble. <br />
<br />
The other guys introduced themselves, Sidney got a round of drinks and Andy talked with Marc-Andre Fleury. He seemed excited to speak to someone else that wasn’t looking to hook up. If only she could understand his accent over the music. Sidney helped and they stood in a close circle, shouting conversation to each other and laughing. He made her tell the airport story again, which had Flower choking on his drink halfway through. Jordan asked her to dance, then she danced with Sidney to a few songs in a row, just standing close and holding onto each other. After a while, he looked at his watch, then Andy. She nodded slightly and slipped out through the crowd, onto the smoking patio, freezing in a little dress.<br />
<br />
Mike’s phone was off.<br />
____<br />
<br />
An hour later, at last call, sober Sidney rounded his troops into cabs. Max howled when Andy climbed in too, having to sit on Sidney’s lap so the door would close. “After the party it’s the hotel lobby…,” Talbot sang. When they reached the hotel, Jordan and Max both openly propositioned Andy in front of Sidney who just laughed the whole time. Politely declining, Andy sent the boys to bed.<br />
<br />
“It’s hard for me to keep up with them,” Sidney admitted when they were gone. “Being…”<br />
<br />
“Being you,” Andy finished for him. She slid her hand into his and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’m really sorry, Sidney. You don’t seem like the type who does this for fun. You needed something tonight and I couldn’t help you.”<br />
<br />
“Sabotaged by the Capitals,” he rolled his eyes. “I had a great time tonight, Andy. I actually had fun with a girl! And I totally felt you up before, so that was nice too.” She slapped him on the arm. “No, really. I had my hands up your dress.”<br />
<br />
“Sidney!”<br />
<br />
He laughed that high-pitched giggle, making her follow suit. “What color are your underwear? Just tell me that.”<br />
<br />
“They’re leopard print.”<br />
<br />
“Oh man! If I”d known that…” he pulled her into a hug, arms a safe distance above her underwear, and squeezed her in tight. Then he held her face and looked right into her eyes. “Seriously, Andy. Sort this out tomorrow. If whoever this guy is doesn’t step up, call me and I will. I mean it – whatever you need, I will make sure you get it. Promise.”<br />
<br />
She nodded into his hands. “I promise.”<br />
<br />
“I will call that number next time and you better not be available.” <br />
<br />
“Or what?” she sassed.<br />
<br />
“I will let you work it off. Like layaway. You can move to Pittsburgh and wear leopard print every day.” He pressed a long, solid kiss to her lips. “Bye Andy.” He was halfway to the door before the thought crossed his mind. “Uh, Andy?” he called. “See you Sunday?”<br />
<br />
She gave him a sheepish look. “We’re not, uh… public. The team doesn’t know me.”<br />
<br />
“Change that too, or I will.” He pushed open the door feeling better about the night. <br />
_____juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-38818918358166700492010-10-29T21:11:00.000-07:002010-10-29T21:11:35.895-07:00Chapter 7Mike dropped Andy at her door with a kiss and a promise to play well so he’d get a lot of TV time. Andy went right upstairs and opened her laptop. She researched, made phone call, sent emails. By the afternoon, she’d found and applied for 17 completely normal, sex-free jobs.<br />
____<br />
<br />
At ten o’clock that night, Andy’s phone rang. She’d been wondering when he’d call.<br />
<br />
“Mike Green Fan Club, how may I help you?”<br />
<br />
He laughed right through the pounding of his heart, the worry that she would pick up in a noisy bar or restaurant, out on the town, out with a client. Or worse, that she wouldn’t answer at all.<br />
<br />
“Yes, my membership has expired. I’d like to renew.”<br />
<br />
“That will be $52, and you’ll have to get the re-initiation Mohawk. There’s a special if…”<br />
<br />
He cut her off. “I miss you.” <i>What an absolutely ludicrous thing to say to a call girl you have paid for sex three nights in a row. </i><br />
<br />
“I miss you too, Mike. How’s Buffalo?”<br />
<br />
They talked about nothing for a while, cementing Mike’s confidence that Andy was in fact home doing nothing but waiting for him to come back. She wanted to know all about life on the road, so he told her cleaned-up versions of some stories. Brooks came in while he was talking and made a “who is it?” motion. Mike waved him off.<br />
<br />
“It’s curfew and my roommate needs his beauty sleep.”<br />
<br />
“Well don’t cuddle with him or I’ll get really jealous,” Andy said. “Kick ass tomorrow, I’ll be watching.”<br />
<br />
“Yes boss.”<br />
____<br />
<br />
Andy watched the game alone at home, concentrating on every move and every play. Mike was on the ice almost all the time. The Capitals played well again, and got a softball this time as the Buffalo defense had a terrible night. Only Ryan Miller kept it from being a blowout and the Caps won 4-1. <br />
<br />
“We’re leaving for New York now, won’t get in till really late,” Mike said on the phone.<br />
<br />
<i>And you wanted to check up on me</i>, Andy knew. But she was glad – if she couldn’t come right out and tell him that she didn’t work while the team was away, maybe he could figure it out.<br />
<br />
“Nice game tonight. I might make a trade for you in my fantasy league.”<br />
<br />
He put on a cheesy 70’s voice. “I’ll make all your dreams come true, baby.”<br />
<br />
Andy snorted. “Wrong fantasy.”<br />
____<br />
<br />
Two more days passed the same way – Mike called at night, Andy answered at home. Their last game was against the Rangers and they would fly home right after the game. Andy wondered if Mike would call her when he got home or want to come over. He’d be so tired, and they had another game in two days. She considered the logistics of giving him a freebie if only so she could sleep next to him.<br />
<br />
“Hey,” he said, still drowsy from his post-game nap.<br />
<br />
“If you get the chance, and it won’t cost you two minutes, please punch Sean Avery in the face.”<br />
<br />
Mike laughed. “Anything for you. We’re going right to the airport from the arena, but it’s always slow in New York. Probably won’t be home till 1 AM.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, I figured. And a big game Sunday.”<br />
<br />
“Ugh,” Mike was tired thinking about it. It was a nationally televised game, the NHL making a big deal out of a rivalry and pushing for new fans. “I fucking hate those guys.”<br />
<br />
“Well they hate you too, so you’d better get a lot of sleep. Call me tomorrow after you wake up?”<br />
<br />
Mike lay in his hotel room, lonely in an empty bed, having thought of Andy very vigorously before falling asleep. Brooks was skipping his nap, getting some physio. “I really want to see you.” <i>Ask me to come over,</i> he willed. <i>Ask me and I’ll come, who cares how tired I am? Tell me you can’t wait to see me</i>.<br />
<br />
“Me too, but you’ll have to wait. I would like another Capitals victory. And maybe a first star,” she said. It wasn’t easy, she really wanted him to come straight home to her. But they could only break so many rules without risking the game they were trying so hard to improve. “Go home, Mike. See me tomorrow.”<br />
<br />
“Okay, I’ll try to make my car drive itself home.”<br />
____<br />
<br />
Andy was set up to watch the game against the Rangers – pajamas on, popcorn made, lemonade on ice. She was getting a blanket from the closet when her phone rang. Thinking it was awfully close to game time for Mike to be calling, she shoved the armload of linens back onto the shelf and ran for her purse.<br />
<br />
“Hello?” she said without looking at the caller ID.<br />
<br />
“Hello Andy, this is Susanna.”<br />
<br />
<i>Damn</i>, was Andy’s first thought, disappointed not to hear Mike’s voice. “Hi Susanna, how are you?”<br />
<br />
“I’m well dear. We have a booking for you for tonight.”<br />
<br />
“What? Uhh, I’m sorry. I mean, the Caps are on the road. They’re in New York right now, they’re on TV.”<br />
<br />
A ticking sounded in the background, like Susanna was paging through a computer or PDA. “This would be a player from the visiting team. Seems they must be in town early for the game on Sunday. I am very impressed with you so far, Andy, your immediate success here is very promising. This is another new client, I expect you can work your magic again. I trust this won’t be a problem?”<br />
<br />
Andy barely heard herself say yes. She couldn’t hear anything over the blood rushing in her ears. Some words must have formed because Susanna kept talking.<br />
<br />
“Excellent. I’ll text you the hotel information. I don’t have a name for him – that’s what I get for letting Henry speak to the answering service. But I expect as a fan you’ll know him better than I would anyway.”<br />
<br />
“Okay,” Andy whispered, the shock wearing off and fear setting in.<br />
<br />
“One more thing, dear. The rate for this one is higher. Again, no info whatsoever from my husband but this was booked out at an extra $500. That’s $300 more for you. Make it worth your while.”<br />
<br />
Andy stuttered a goodbye and dropped the phone like it had been dipped in acid. She looked toward the TV just in time to see Mike was skate past the camera. <i>Fuck.</i><br />
____<br />
<br />
It seemed cold in the hotel. Andy valet parked her car and zipped her long coat up to her throat. Bare legs were a bad idea in a cold snap, but there wasn’t really an option. It had been the most she could do to fix her hair and put on matching shoes. She’d had to redo her eyeliner three times, never able to stop her hand shaking long enough to make a straight line. The TV had gone off immediately and stayed that way – if she saw Mike’s face or heard his name, there was no telling what she would do. Crossing the lobby, she thought the chills might be her body going into shock.<br />
<br />
The traitorous phone was clutched in her hand. She’d read the room number twenty times but couldn’t remember anything. At the elevator, she refused to look at herself in the mirror, afraid of what she’d see looking back. <i>Mike</i>, she thought over and over.<br />
<br />
She knew this would kill him. They had never said as much but she was past thinking this was just a business arrangement. That had been a comforting delusion in getting her into his room, into his bed. Since then, everything had changed – except this. This deal with the devil. Andy had made her bed, literally, and now there was someone else in it.<br />
____<br />
<br />
<i>Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. Fuck fuck fuck. I knew this would happen. Was I really fooling myself? Hooker rescued by the first guy who calls her? Am I that stupid?</i> Andy berated herself as she tossed underwear from her drawer, littering the floor like a Victoria’s Secret fire sale. <i>How could I let this get away from me? </i>But she didn’t know what “this” was. She’d let control get away, she’d let her imagination get away. And now, she was going to let Mike get away. <i>Fuck.</i><br />
<br />
She should have said no to Susanna. She should have invented an excuse – a cold, a broken leg, the immediate need to have a plate put in her head. She shouldn’t have answered the phone. Andy had changed the scenario a hundred times before her dress was zipped, undoing what she had just done.<br />
<br />
<i>I can’t do this. I have to do this. I am that girl, I’m a whore, a monster. I’m the most worthless thing that someone ever paid for.</i><br />
<br />
In a moment of lucidity, Andy had called Vivian. “Is there any way out of a booking?”<br />
<br />
Vivian sounded concerned, but Andy wasn’t sure how much was friendly and how much was worry about her job. “Not really, babe. Unless the guy has some history – violent, scary, deadbeat. Otherwise, once the agency takes the booking, they have to send a girl. Especially in your case – word gets around those locker rooms that Susanna can’t deliver, she won’t get calls. And you definitely will not get called again.”<br />
<br />
Andy had figured as much.<br />
<br />
“Andy, listen to me. You can do this. You did it a week ago when you didn’t know this other guy. And look how good you were! Everyone panics the first few times, it is perfectly normal. Just get there, put on your little show and I promise that you’ll feel better after a drink. You knew this would happen. Just take a deep breath and remember why you’re doing this. Remember it was okay last time, better than okay! You are going to be fine. Okay? Babe, you gonna be okay?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah,” Andy lied.<br />
____<br />
<br />
She walked slowly down the hallway, the carpet pattern repeating endlessly like she was pacing a tunnel, darkened and narrow, going on forever. The room numbers climbed as she passed, finally reaching a suite at the far corner of the 25th floor.<br />
<br />
<i>Mike I am so sorry</i>, she whispered to no one. Blinking cleared the start of tears from her eyes.<br />
<br />
She hadn’t thought about who it might be. It didn’t really matter. She knew who all the guys were, their rivalry huge not only in terms of fan feeling but marketing efforts as well. The NHL went in for this matchup as often and as big as possible. In a few months, these teams would face off in one of the premiere events of the entire season. Andy knew that it didn’t matter who opened the door. <br />
<br />
She reached up to knock, but the hand came back unbidden and ran fretfully through her hair. On the second time, she got it. Eyes closed.<br />
<br />
<i>Knock, knock, knock.</i><br />
<br />
The noise of the lock being thrown thumped heavily through her stomach: the sound of her prison door closing.<br />
<br />
“Hi,” he said, standing in the doorway. The same position, the same situation she’d been in just a few days before. It felt like the whole world had changed, but that wasn’t his fault. She felt a tiny, infinitesimal bit better when she saw him; a real person. Not the idea of a monster. She was her own worst enemy, not this man in the gray t-shirt and jeans, barefoot on the hotel carpet.<br />
<br />
“Hi Sidney.”<br />
____juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-36093030575668604922010-10-27T21:39:00.000-07:002010-10-27T21:55:40.859-07:00Chapter 6Andy stood close to the wall and looked up and the niches holding bottles of wine. It was a small space but luxuriously done, akin to a display in the front of a fancy wine bar. Like the place they’d been earlier. She rolled a few of the bottles, reading labels though she didn’t know what most of them meant. <br />
<br />
Mike was in the kitchen, two empty glasses on the table and a corkscrew in hand. He watched her as he cut the foil and turned the bottle. A drop of red splashed onto the granite countertop – he couldn’t look at her and pour the wine.<br />
<br />
She put one shoulder against a cabinet and sipped. Mike leaned his back against the edge across from her. They just looked at each other for a long moment.<br />
<br />
He did want to ruin this, didn’t want to shatter the illusion Andy created for him. But he couldn’t shake the look that had crossed her face when Alex leered at her in the restaurant, like she was his for the taking whenever and however he pleased, as long as he made the call. She had looked sick, but more than that angry and humiliated all at the same time. Andy covered it quickly and well – she was a pro. It was killing him, wondering if she’d made that face about him too.<br />
<br />
“Andy, am I making you do something you don’t want to do?”<br />
<br />
The question hung in the air like a guillotine, rope fraying as the blade gleamed deadly sharp. <i> I have to know, no matter what</i>, he told himself. <br />
<br />
“No, Mike.”<br />
<br />
He thought she would tell the obvious lie: <i>you’re not making me do anything</i>. But he was, and he knew it. When he held her, or she smiled, it was easy to forget that she had no choice in the matter. He didn’t want to forget that. He moved to her with authority. He couldn’t change their situation, not right now, but he could do something for her after all she’d done for him. “If you don’t want to stay, I’ll take you home. I won’t tell anyone.” His unspoken words were loud shouting: <i>I’ll still pay you</i>.<br />
<br />
The look on her face was unreadable. “So I’m free to do whatever I want?”<br />
<br />
A shiver of panic ripped down his spine. <i>Damn this trying to be mature, learning to treat people well!</i> But he managed a small nod.<br />
<br />
“I’ll just be in your room then.” She took the wine glass with her.<br />
<br />
She heard footsteps hurrying. He reached her at the open door, pressing her against it and kissing her deeply. <i>I can’t believe he asked</i>. Andy was stunned – she was scared to talk about it and obviously Mike was terrified, but he still asked. From someone else she would have begged for an out like that. From Mike she never wanted to leave, especially now that she knew what was out there waiting.<br />
<br />
Andy began unbuttoning, repeating the ritual she’d performed the night before. The satin of her dress was quick beneath his hands, the zipper offering no resistance. It shushed to the ground in a little parachute of red fabric. He stepped to arm’s length and admired her red strapless bra and matching g-string underwear. She gave him a wink and did a little turn.<br />
<br />
“Hmmmm,” he said, searching for a remark to make but coming up empty. “Gorgeous.”<br />
<br />
“Capitals red,” Andy reached for him.<br />
<br />
<i>Well fuck, that does it</i>, he thought. They tumbled onto the low platform bed before Mike’s clothes were off. Andy giggled as he barrel-rolled them into the center. Their mouths collided as his hands lifted her easily, moving her into position under him. He took his lips to her breast, Andy ran both hands strongly through his hair.<br />
<br />
“Are you allowed to have sex before game nights?” Andy asked, figuring he must because who would pay just to have dinner with her? And there was no stopping now.<br />
<br />
Mike released her skin from between his lips. “No, actually. It’s frowned upon by the coaches.” It wasn’t the sex Mike was paying for. <i>Well, not just the sex.</i> She shimmied, rubbing her thigh along his naked erection in a torturous little twist. The smile on her face was wicked.<br />
<br />
“Don’t let me get you in trouble,” she taunted, twisting again. “Don’t spend all your energy on me.”<br />
<br />
Mike shut her up with a kiss and took her breath away in two places as at once. Feeling her go tense in his arms, her sweet, soft core giving way beneath his pressure he got such a surge of blood to his cock he thought he might faint. <i>So good, she is so good…</i> Mike refused to let the thought finish. Andy held onto his shoulders and closed her eyes. It was warm in the room, warm beneath his body and hormones flooded blissfully through her body.<br />
<br />
<i>Fuck the money, fuck Ovechkin, fuck it all.</i> Andy was right where she wanted to be. <br />
<br />
“Mike,” she breathed. He got harder that the sound of her voice, the desire he heard and the weakness he felt for her. It was easy to lose himself with Andy – there was so much that he wanted. He forgot everything else and the world didn’t seem so heavy anymore.<br />
<br />
They took their time with each other, exploring and learning what they’d caught of a glimpse of before. Andy told herself she was going easy because she didn’t want to tire him out. Really she was enjoying every second if it more than the last.<br />
<br />
A song ran through Andy’s mind: <i>Crash and burn girl. You don’t mind the fall until your face hits the ground.</i><br />
<br />
She lay on top, perfectly aligned and moving her whole body up and down along his. On the way up, her breasts rubbed firmly into his chest. On the way down, her clit pressed against his pelvic bone and rang her body like a doorbell. Their kisses were deep and long, the slightest stubble on his chin rasping against her chin. As he stroked her hair and back, he thought what he’d have missed if he never made that phone call. She went under when he turned. His upper body was a sight to behold as he hovered, pushing on her shins to bend her knees. Catching them with his shoulders, he stroked into her. Mike watched as his cock disappeared inside her body, the friction and heat making his mind swim. He’d have given anything to keep watching her soaking core take him all the way in, but he needed to be near her. This has to be real, he repeated. He had never, ever felt like this. <br />
<br />
She kissed him again, having missed his mouth as her body started to shoot tiny fireworks. <i>I shouldn’t, I can’t…</i> Andy’s body gave up before her mind could.<br />
<br />
“Yesssss,” she moaned loudly, digging her nails into his ass and holding him deep as her body pulsed against his dick. “Oh my god,” her breath caught as her orgasm crashed.<br />
<br />
Mike let go, all at once, of the control he’d been holding since she joked about the color of her underwear. He pounded into her three times and buried his face in her hair. A groan tore from his throat as he came, growling against the soft, fragrant skin of her neck.<br />
<br />
“Andy, you are saving my life,” he panted<br />
<br />
He said it without thinking. Instantly he wanted to take it back: Too much! He waited, breathless, for her reaction. When her cheek moved he knew she was smiling. <br />
<br />
“I think you’re saving mine.”<br />
<br />
<i>Saving me from really becoming what I’ve agreed to be. From my situation. Saving me from myself.</i><br />
<br />
“Will you come to the game tomorrow night?” He had been thinking about asking since the morning. The guys used anything they could think of to break a slump, searched desperately for a good luck charm. And the superstitions – maybe he needed a new one. He would play well with her there, he was sure. He felt better knowing she was near.<br />
<br />
“Of course.” Her eyes lit up.<br />
<br />
<i>I love you</i>, he wanted to say. What he meant was that he didn’t, not yet, but he was very sure that he would. Soon. And if his game turned around he would credit it all to her, like a man clinging to a raft in a storm. Distantly he knew it was not fair to put that on her but he was grasping at straws. She made things different.<br />
<br />
<i>Yes, let me help</i>, Andy thought. She knew that last night, in the hotel, he’d just needed someone to be there for him. The connection between them was like a downed power line, shooting sparks and threatening to set fire to everything it touched. But even without that, he needed someone to lean on. Someone to give him a fresh start. Andy wanted to be that person.<br />
<br />
“I will be really nervous though!” she admitted touching his bruised face for emphasis. He closed his eye under the gentle brush of her fingertip. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”<br />
<br />
He kissed her hand. “I promise.”<br />
____<br />
<br />
The morning came quickly. Mike woke first and watched her sleeping, legs curled and hand tucked beneath her cheek. He poured himself an OJ and waited for Andy to wake up.<br />
<br />
She rolled over in the empty bed, feeling around for Mike but coming up empty. A wicked smirk crossed her face.<br />
<br />
“Morning,” Andy said from the kitchen doorway. She was wrapped in the dark blue sheet from his bed, something she’d always wanted to do. The juice glass nearly slipped from his hand, knocking clumsily to the counter before he fumbled it upright. <i>Guess that worked</i>, she smiled. The sheet trailed behind her, covering some thigh but leaving long legs visible. Her bare feet tapped quietly on the floor tiles as she crossed the room and took the last sip from his cup. “Making me breakfast?”<br />
<br />
Mike nodded stupidly, unable to find his words. <i>Holy hell </i>was the only phrase that came to mind. Long, dark hair was tangled and tossed – perfect porn-star bed-head. Her eye makeup was mostly intact and her lips were moist with the hint of orange juice. Beneath his sweatpants, his body stirred awake.<br />
<br />
He captured her mouth, tasting oranges. Annie smiled and let the sheet fall to the floor. She pressed her naked body to Mike’s sweats and was rewarded with a deep groan.<br />
<br />
“Fuuuuuck Andy! I can’t… last night… oh God.”<br />
<br />
She laughed and stepped away, only wanting to tease without torturing. “I intend to see your best effort on the ice tonight, Mr. Green. I will not be wearing you out before then.” With that, Andy turned and bent over slowly, gracefully right in the middle of the kitchen. She caught the sheet in her fingers and dragged it out of the room behind her swaying hips.<br />
<br />
“You’re killing me!” Mike yelled after her.<br />
____<br />
<br />
“What does a hooker wear to a hockey game?” Andy asked the phone.<br />
<br />
“A price list, baby,” Vivian laughed. “No, seriously. Susanna always says ‘cute and classy’ for casual events – you don’t want to look like those puckbunnies she was making fun of. You can wear something tight, but long sleeves, so skirts, that kind of thing. Just look like you fit in.”<br />
<br />
“I usually wear a double-XL jersey and sneakers,” Andy flicked through hangers.<br />
<br />
“Well, not that fitted in. I’m wearing a sweater and flats. Don’t think I’m their type anyway. But as long as you tell me which color to cheer for, I will learn quickly.”<br />
<br />
“You’re my type, Viv.”<br />
____<br />
<br />
Vivian picked her up at 5:30 PM. True to her word she wore a gray knit sweater with a v-neck that hinted at a lot of available cleavage. The knit was so soft that Andy wanted to touch it – she assumed that was the idea. Jeans and metallic ballet slippers finished off the outfit. Andy wore dark jeans with high black riding boots, chosen because she thought heeled boots were too much for the arena. She didn’t want to fall to her death in the first intermission. On top she wore a long-sleeved, thin white sweater with her #52 t-shirt over it. The girls-cut shirts never fit perfectly, but she figured it was the thought that count.<br />
<br />
Andy gave her name at will call and they took seats in the lower bowl, about ten rows back from the benches and ordered drinks from the section attendant. The arena was only half full and there were a lot of #52s walking around. At least half of them were girls and it seemed a disproportionate number of them were pretty. Very pretty.<br />
<br />
She texted him, not knowing if he checked his phone before games. <i>Awesome seats – thanks! I’m the 4,812th girl wearing #52.</i><br />
<br />
He texted back minutes later:<i> Come down by the glass, I want to see.</i><br />
<br />
Andy: <i>If I can get through the wall of screaming fans.</i><br />
<br />
Mike: <i>I thought you took kickboxing?</i><br />
<br />
Andy: <i>Quick hi, no distractions. Near blue line on bench side.</i><br />
<br />
The crowd went crazy as the Caps took the ice. Vivian pressed in close, anxious to see Mike in person. Andy smiled at her enthusiasm – it was like they were watching a real friend. The team circled quickly, rushing past the glass, before setting up at center ice for a shooting drill. Mike saw her first, he skated over and backed into the glass right in front of them with a boom. His helmet was off but they couldn’t see his face.<br />
<br />
“Woo!” Vivian shouted. Andy blushed and laughed. Mike took a turn in the drill, then came back smiling. He was fifteen feet inside the glass, facing a thousand fans, but there was no question he was looking at her. She gave him a little half-turn, so he could see the number on her back, looking over her shoulder.<br />
<br />
<i>It has never looked so good</i>, he thought.<br />
<br />
Brooks Laich slapped Mike on the calf with his stick. “Fuck Greenie, how come my fans never look like that?!” Then he waved at Andy, making her cover her face. She watched over her fingers as they went about their drill, shooting and skating. They took places for a quick-shot setup and Andy signaled she was going back to her seat and give Mike a cheesy thumbs-up. He tried not to laugh, just nodded.<br />
<br />
Andy watched him take a shot, then stepped back to leave. Turning toward the bench, she locked eyes with the guy standing just inside the glass, looking at her from just a few feet away. He smiled too, gapped teeth and all: Alex Ovechkin.<br />
<br />
She gave him a little wave. Susanna had said that a “very regular client” had referred Mike, so Alex must be a big spender when it came to the organization. Andy didn’t want to sleep with him, but she certainly didn’t want to ruin anything and get herself in trouble. A few rows up she let herself have a little shiver.<br />
____<br />
<br />
The game was tight and the Capitals played well. Really well. But so did the Stars. Mike was all over the ice, speeding up plays and launching slap shots. His teammates seemed on it too – a huge improvement over their last few games. In the second, Dallas got a goal and the Caps answered immediately with a wrist shot on the power play from Laich. Mike got a +1, and Andy and Vivian whooped and hollered along with everyone else. Late in the period, the Stars got one more and took a lead to the intermission. Andy was completely tense – the Capitals play had played well, but she wanted them to win. Needed them to win. She prayed they weren’t in the room losing momentum because they were down a goal. Her fears were relieved during the third, the game even faster than the first two periods. Attempting to stop a 2-1 rush, Mike took a tripping penalty and the Stars scored. Andy’s heart sank. <i>If they have to loose, please please don’t let it be his fault. </i>She sat on her hands to keep from biting her nails.<br />
<br />
<i>Pull it together</i>, Mike told himself. It was just a penalty, just a goal. He was feeling good tonight and if he let the mistake go maybe he could help get it back. <br />
<br />
He didn’t have to. Ovechkin lifted one over Lehtonin’s shoulder through a screen in front, tying the game. The crowd went crazy and Mike breathed a sigh of relief. As he hugged the big Russian he almost forgot about the way he’d looked at Andy.<br />
<br />
With six minutes left in the period, tied 2-2, the Caps got a power play off a delay-of-game call. The Stars’ zone looked like a shooting gallery as Washington pitched shot after shot, catching their own rebounds and denying attempts to clear. The Verizon Center was at Defcon One, the fans feeling that one puck had to drop. Andy and Vivian were on the feet, along with everyone, jumping around like they could tilt the whole arena toward the Stars’ goal.<br />
<br />
Backstrom cued one from the hash marks, tossing it into a pile of bodies at the net. Ovechkin swiped at it, right into the goalies blocker and it bounced back out on a long rebound. Mike was right in the lane – he wound up and fired a laser into the back of the net.<br />
<br />
Andy was on her feet before the puck touched the twine, with 18,000 people right behind her. Mike was buried briefly under a pile of teammates, then skated the length of the bench giving everyone a fist bump. The girls screamed the entire time, and again when the announced called Mike’s name for the scoring sheet. Andy’s heart rate was dangerously high and she sank into her seat, laughing.<br />
<br />
“I’m coming with you every time. This shit is tense!” Vivian yelled.<br />
<br />
The Caps won 3-2 on Mike’s goal. In truth it was no different than 15 other goals he scored every year – maybe not game winners, but usually slap shots on the power play. But this one felt like he’d won something more than a game, like maybe he’d won back some of his confidence.<br />
____<br />
<br />
Alex stood near Mike’s stall in the locker room, as if waiting for him to come out of the shower. “You bring your friend to the game.”<br />
<br />
Mike’s stomach dropped a little – he didn’t think Alex had seen Andy. “She’s a big fan.”<br />
<br />
“Always she wears your number?” <br />
<br />
<i>Is that a question or a challenge?</i> Mike thought.<br />
<br />
“Yeah, she’s had that shirt for years.”<br />
____<br />
<br />
“I thought I was having a heart attack,” Vivian said, taking a sip from a cocktail glass. They were in a bar nearby. Mike was meeting them, after which Vivian would drive herself home. “After I meet him, obviously.”<br />
<br />
Mike: <i>Almost there.</i> Andy watched the door.<br />
<br />
When he did arrive, freshly showered and dressed in a gray suit with a blue shirt, she could have melted off her barstool into a puddle on the floor. He looked lighter. He was smiling, a full smile that he never showed on TV. The bruise around his eye was black as ever but for the first time since they’d met, he looked happy.<br />
<br />
“Game over!” Andy threw her arms around his neck and squeezed all of her excess energy into him. He kissed her cheek, then her lips, then her lips again. He was warm and damp, he’d obviously hurried.<br />
<br />
“I knew you were good luck.” He released her. “And you must be Vivian. I think I heard you screaming.”<br />
<br />
She blushed. “Gotta put on a good show if I’m the only black girl in the whole place!”<br />
<br />
They had a drink, peppering Mike with questions and reliving some of the moments. Andy laughed at the way they carried on like the Caps had just won a playoff series. Vivian reluctantly excused herself after half an hour, leaving Mike and Andy alone at their table.<br />
<br />
“What happened to your shirt?” he rubbed the white cotton of her sweater between his fingers. He’d never seen her in anything but a dress and heels and wondered how someone could look so good in jeans. They hugged her legs like his hands wanted to do, wrapping her up rather tightly. He ran a hand up her thigh, the denim soft beneath his palm. “Not that I mind, of course.”<br />
<br />
“I thought it would be a little much if I wore your number while waiting for you in a bar. Someone might report a stalker,” she bussed his cheek. “I’ll wear it later if you want.”<br />
<br />
Later came sooner, as they finished another round and headed to Mike’s car. It was a black SUV, big and luxurious but definitely less flashy.<br />
<br />
“No Lamborghini tonight?”<br />
<br />
“No high heels, no Lambo,” he teased.<br />
<br />
Andy hauled herself into the Escalade, only briefly computing how much it cost to own both of these cars. Then Mike was next to her and she didn’t care anymore. As he pulled out onto the road, Andy had the impression of riding in a tank.<br />
<br />
“I feel like you’re Secret Service. Maybe I should ride in the back, like I’m the goods.”<br />
<br />
“If you go back there, I’m coming after you,” he smiled without looking at her.<br />
____<br />
<br />
Andy sat on Mike’s couch, contemplating why there were two televisions. One was stuck to the front of the fireplace, the other was where a TV should be. He brought her a glass of water, sat down and lifted her legs into his lap. He pulled off her boots and rubbed both thumbs into one arch, making sigh with pleasure. He thought of how she’d massaged him, touched him and known just what he needed only two days ago.<br />
<br />
“I feel so much better tonight,” he said. “Thank you, Andy.”<br />
<br />
“You did tonight all by yourself. You guys looked great out there. I was freaking out, of course. Do you have to play 33 minutes a game? I might have irreversible damage to my nervous system.” She held her hand out, shaking exaggeratedly. “And you’re going to do it again on the road.”<br />
<br />
Mike worked on the ball of her foot. “We leave in the morning, back in five days.”<br />
<br />
Andy slid down till she was lying in the couch, sprawled out while Mike rubbed her feet. She knew that he wanted to ask the big question: <i>will you see anyone while I’m gone?</i> She hadn’t told him that she was only meant for NHL players. Now that she knew one, it sounded horrible for him to be aware that she would only be sleeping with his friends, enemies, teammates, people he saw all the time. <i>He shouldn’t know that. </i>Part of it was denial – she hadn’t done anything yet, and if she never said it out loud then it wouldn’t come true.<br />
<br />
“Guess I’m on vacation, then,” she tried, giving him a smile meant to calm his fears.<br />
<br />
<i>Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answers to</i>, he told himself. The Caps’ schedule had been set for months. Whoever handled the bookings might have filled Andy’s next five nights long ago. Honestly he was surprised someone like her had been free three nights in a row, someone who would clearly be in demand by any man in his right mind. Maybe her regular clients were on vacation. <i>Regular clients</i>. It made him want to throw up. But now he was a regular client too.<br />
<br />
“Vacation?” he ventured. Not really a question.<br />
<br />
She nodded. “Plenty of time to watch all your games.”<br />
<br />
They lay around the living room for a while, both thinking about what they couldn’t say. It was hard for Andy to keep Mike in the dark, but she didn’t know enough about the system yet to foresee what might happen next. And she didn’t want to promise him something that would not come true. Mike thought about ways to get Andy out of her business, not really knowing how it worked, and figured that it was not easy. But he had a lot of money and those few years of flash had taught him that money could get away with almost anything.<br />
<br />
His hand cheated up her leg and the rest of him followed until he was laying on top of her, taking up the entire couch. She pretended to struggle beneath him but she was trapped. The game ended when she slowly, lightly ran her tongue over the patch of skin just behind his earlobe. Then her tongue was in his mouth, her hands untucking the back of his dress shirt and reaching underneath. When she brushed bare skin, he broke away. He squatted next to the couch like he was going to scoop her up, but she skittered out of reach.<br />
<br />
“Too heavy, can’t have you getting hurt!” She stood on the couch, spun him around and climbed onto his back. He pretended to bump into everything between the living room and the bed.<br />
<br />
He dumped her on the mattress. She pulled her shirt off, breasts bouncing as she tossed it away and opened her jeans. He stood watching as she rolled them off her hips and kicked them down her legs. With impressive flexibility, she hooked fingers into each sock and removed those too. Andy lay there in matching pink lingerie with black trim and motioned for Mike to undress himself.<br />
<br />
He went slowly through the buttons and draped his shirt over the back of a chair. His t-shirt came next, making sure to flex his abs and biceps as he drew it slowly over his head. The way her eyes lingered on his body made him hard. <i>That is real desire</i>, he told himself for the millionth time. Her eyes were heavy, admiring and there was no mistaking the lust in her gaze. As he reached for his belt, she slid a hand across her stomach.<br />
<br />
<i>Oh God</i>, he thought. Her fingers passed her belly button, waistband and came to a stop right over her crotch, where they pressed into the lace of her panties. She flinched slightly at the first contact, showing him how keyed up she already was. Two fingers reached between her open legs, running over the fabric that barely covered her, before she rolled the tips down into her clit again, her whole body moving with it.<br />
<br />
Mike could barely get his belt off he was so hard. He desperately unzipped without killing himself and had to stretch his shorts way out to get them over his hard-on. The whole pile got kicked away as he made for the bed. Andy kept watching him and touching herself.<br />
<br />
“Such a rush,” she whispered as he put his hand over hers, between her legs. “I wanted to show you what I’m going to do on my vacation.”<br />
<br />
<i>When I’m completely desperate for you and you’re a thousand miles away</i>, she didn’t say. Earth-shattering sex three nights in a row would be a tough act to follow, but Andy knew she'd miss more than that.<br />
<br />
Mike propped himself up on one arm and sat close, watching her slender fingers trace over the thin material. She knew what she liked, and he tried to memorize every move. Before long, the center of the fabric right over her entrance was dark with dampness. He reached for her, but she pushed his hands away. Instead Andy lifted her ass and slid her panties off herself, making every hip movement count, until they were halfway down her thighs. Then she returned her fingers to the scene and swiped around her own juices.<br />
<br />
In the back of his mind, Mike’s inner frat boy made a guest appearance. <i>Fucking hottest thing ever!</i> he shouted. New Mike was inclined to agree. Andy closed her eyes as she slid a single finger into the slick folds of her pussy. Mike was stroking himself absently, hard as a rock but unable to concentrate on anything but the show Andy was putting on. Her finger came out glistening with her juices. With a dirty smile, she reached up and ran it across Mike’s lower lip. His tongue came out in search. She tasted of heaven, of delirium and the weak spot he still felt between his heart and stomach.<br />
<br />
He couldn’t stop himself, couldn’t even try. Mike rolled quickly down to her waist and pulled one of her legs over his head. His lips brushed her creamy inner thigh only barely before his mouth found her peach. <br />
<br />
She giggled at the first swipe of his tongue. “Game over.”<br />
<br />
He mumbled something into her, the vibration and warmth of his breath making her gasp. <i>Holy shit</i>, Andy thought. She’d wanted to give him a little something extra before he left, so he’d know she was thinking about him while he was gone. And she’d been horny as a cat on a hot tin roof, ever since he took the ice at the arena. Hockey players had always turned her on, but she’d never come close to orgasm because one of them scored a goal. If not for Vivian, she would have mauled him at the bar. And in the car… his joke about the backseat had not gone unconsidered.<br />
<br />
He moved his attention to her clit, making her twitch against the duvet. Then he slid a finger inside her, soaking his hand in the process. Another joined it. Andy grabbed at his hair, encouraging him to stay put. Mike was a quick learner. It only took a few minutes before his quick, strong licks and the insistent hardness of his fingers had her trembling inside and out. Somewhere deep inside her, that burn was getting out of control.<br />
<br />
<i>I have to have her</i>, he thought. He had to make her come this way, he wanted to make her come every possible way so she’d never think about another man. Never look at one or let one touch her. He wanted to be the one so badly he was willing to work all night for it.<br />
<br />
“Mike,” she moaned as it built. He went hard and soft, fast and slow, teasing her along. She bucked her hips, grinding onto his circling fingers. He tried every trick in the book – humming, warm and cold air, spelling out his name. Her pussy pulsed around his fingers, body pumping and he knew he was close.<br />
<br />
“Oh god,” Andy whispered. It was right there, so close, it was coming on its own now. He waited as long as he dared, then crooked his fingers slightly forward and rubbed along her inside till he found that slightly raised spot, the hot button. And he pushed.<br />
<br />
Andy’s back arch involuntarily, as if she were hit by lightning. Her eyes squeezed shut. A crash of heat slammed into her body, rippling outward through every finger and toe. Then it came again. Three, four times, she lost count. Stars burst inside her and rained little sparkles into every corner. When it finally broke, she went limp.<br />
<br />
<i>No one has ever done that before. No one.</i> But she couldn’t tell him that because it sounded like exactly what a hooker would say. Instead, she whimpered weekly, turning her head to the side.<br />
<br />
“Okay?” he asked with a smile, brushing hair from her neck.<br />
<br />
“Don’t leeeeaaaaavvvvveeee,” she whined pitifully. He laughed and climbed on top of her.<br />
<br />
“I won’t leave till I’m done with you.” He waited for Andy to open her eyes and smile, then he slipped the tip of his cock into the space sweet space he’d just devastated. “It probably won’t be very long.”<br />
<br />
She laughed out loud at his honestly, a big, surprising laugh. Then she pulled him into a kiss. <i>I love you</i>, she thought, vaguely aware that she’d also lost her mind.<br />
<br />
Mike couldn’t remember the last time he’d had sex with someone while laughing. Not drunk laughter or embarrassed, but that rare kind of sex where you enjoy someone’s company as much as you enjoy their body. <i>Well, almost as much</i>. He made it past a few minutes, but not much longer before the hot core of Andy’s body had him feeling pins and needles. She cried out softly as he drove into her, probing her sweet darkness with the only part of himself that seemed to know where it belonged anymore. When he came, he pressed his mouth to hers to keep from telling her the truth that had almost slipped out a few times now. <i>I love you.</i><br />
____juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-33890865168151700532010-10-25T21:45:00.000-07:002010-10-26T11:28:55.077-07:00Chapter 5“Well done, Andy. Not every girl gets a call back from her first client, and very few for the second night in a row. You seem to be handling this well,” Susanna said.<br />
<br />
“He’s… really nice,” she was glad no one could see her blushing.<br />
<br />
The smile was audible in Susanna’s voice. “I’m sure he is. Now, not to alarm you, but please be mindful that some clients get a little… possessive about their girls. We make exclusive arrangements only in very rare cases. This could be one, we’ll see how it plays out. But if you feel he is getting at all inappropriate….”<br />
<br />
“I will tell you,” Andy cut her off, thinking she would never have to.<br />
____<br />
<br />
Mike’s mind drifted as he was suiting up – he held an elbow pad in one hand and just looked at it, not moving. He wanted to pick the perfect place for dinner, somewhere he would feel at ease with Andy and could show her that he wasn’t a broken down sad sack. A little help, he needed that. He’d gotten that. But he couldn’t have her thinking he was nothing else.<br />
<br />
“You called,” Alex Ovechkin stated like it was a fact.<br />
<br />
Mike knew he’d have to talk about it – Alex had given him the number, with a wink and a nudge. Lots of the guys hired girls at least occasionally, they were locker room banter and war stories. He didn’t think he was better than them. He just didn’t want to talk about Andy that way.<br />
<br />
In the past, Mike had been a player. He’d been with more than his fair share of girls and treated plenty of them like shit. It never bothered him much – flashy with his money and easy with his company, like a young superstar millionaire athlete at the top of his game should be. <i> Right?</i> The only real female friends he had were at home, where he was better behaved during the off-season. <br />
<br />
Then the season ended. Not just ended – it imploded, decomposed, combusted. One year had been a fluke, he’d recovered quickly. A second disgraceful playoff exit in a row had really hit home. Suddenly the top of his game seemed a million miles away. Then over the long, depressing summer, he’d seen one of his closest female friends put through the wringer and kicked to the curb by some guy who didn’t deserve her. Already in a terrible mood, it had registered. <i>That’s me</i>, he’d thought. With that realization and a whole summer to think about how he was handling his life, Mike had resolved that he would do some growing up.<br />
<br />
Now, back in action, the guys were looking for the dirty details like they always used to get.<br />
<br />
“Yeah man, thanks. Really helped,” Mike said.<br />
<br />
“Was she hot?”<br />
<br />
Mike slipped the shoulder pad on. “She was incredible,” he said honestly. <br />
<br />
“Come on man, was she dirty? Fuck your brains out so you can get your head out of your ass?” Alex tapped his stick against Mike’s shin guards. “What her name? Maybe I already know her.”<br />
<br />
Bile rose in the back of Mike’s throat. <i>Totally irrational</i>, he scolded himself, to think that this was <i>his</i> call girl, that she had never been with anyone else. But he really didn’t want to know. “Andy,” he said, hoping she would not at least have given her real name to someone like Alex.<br />
<br />
Alex shook his head. “I know Amanda. And Anna. No Andy. Guess I’ll have to request special next time.” He left with a wink.<br />
<br />
<i>Fuck.</i><br />
____<br />
<br />
Vivian brought two cups to the coffee shop table. “Drinks on me for making me look good, girl! Two nights, first try – maybe they’ll give me a bonus for referring you.” Andy gave a cheers with her hot chocolate and licked at the whipped cream. She knew what was coming.<br />
<br />
“So… how was it?”<br />
<br />
“It was… crazy. It was amazing. And now I’m scared shitless that I’m going to fall in love with him and become a psycho call girl,” Andy admitted.<br />
<br />
“Stop worrying. You will get settled with this job. At first, you can’t stop the feelings – not with the good clients. It’s what you’ve associated with great dates and sex your whole life. Takes time to undo that wiring. Once you get a grip on that, it becomes a little more… clinical. I think that’s why clients often try new girls, they’re looking for someone who still has that rush.”<br />
<br />
Andy sipped her drink. She didn’t want to lose this and she didn’t want to lose him. Her stomach clenched at the thought of being with someone else, or him seeking solace with another girl. She doubled her resolve to help him as best she could.<br />
____<br />
<br />
At 6:59 PM, Andy’s doorbell rang. She ran a hand through her loose hair and straightened her strapless, knee-length red dress. Her heels clicked across the hallway floor.<br />
<br />
“Hi,” Mike said, holding up a small bouquet of white roses. He smiled and resisted the urge to pull on his tie. He’d seen video of himself giving interviews and knew he moved his hands, tongue, mouth too much. <i>Nerves. </i>He kept on smiling.<br />
<br />
She got the distinct impression he’d taken a long time getting ready – his hair was perfectly disheveled, his white shirt open at the throat with no tie under a dark suit. Before taking the flowers from his hand, Andy put her hands on the lapels of his suit jacket, leaned in and kissed his lips softly. He shrank an inch as his spine relaxed. <br />
<br />
“Hi Mike.”<br />
<br />
<i>I probably shouldn’t have him into my house</i>, Andy thought as she held the door open. <i>This is not a date, this is not regular life. Too late.</i><br />
<br />
He followed her into the kitchen. The apartment was small, the furniture mismatched but cozy. Her kitchen table was too big and she squeezed between it and the cabinets searching for a vase.<br />
<br />
“Big table,” he said stupidly as she reached high overhead to bring down a glass carafe. The stretch defined every muscle in her back and lifted her perfect ass level with the counter. He wanted to lay her on it.<br />
<br />
“I used to live in a bigger place,” she said, putting the roses in water. <i>Please don’t ask</i>. She didn’t want to lie, but would not tell the sob story that brought her to this point. Most people would look around at her perfectly adequate apartment and decent things and assume she was a call girl by choice, not necessity. Anyone who could afford brand name breakfast cereal must just be a whore. A young, rich athlete was the last person who would understand.<br />
<br />
He tried to look quickly at everything in her apartment, to explore her life. On the wall in the living room, he moved close to a photo of her striking a pose in front of the Eiffel Tower. <i>That trip to Europe was true</i>, he thought with satisfaction. <i>Not everything is a lie</i>. He helped her into a coat and turned her around.<br />
<br />
“You look stunning,” he said, body already responding to his words. Her long dark hair hung free, the dress was just shy of being too much and it hugged her body like a sports car on a windy road. <br />
<br />
“Very handsome yourself, Mr. Green,” she smiled. “That black eye is the kicker – such a bad boy.” His hands drifted at her sides and his lips brushed her cheek. Outside, she stopped on the curb and laughed. She’d seen it in pictures and on TV, but there was Mike’s white Lamborghini Gallardo in all its low, sleek glory. He stood by the passenger side, holding the door. <br />
<br />
“Wow,” she said. What she thought was the car was worth at least four times what she owed in loans. For about the trunk of that car, she wouldn’t be here at all. Her stomach sank, then again when she saw him smiling.<br />
<br />
“Your chariot,” he swept his hand in a bow.<br />
<br />
<i>Oh Andy</i>, her brain said.<br />
<br />
She was dressed the part. Feeling like a Bond girl, Andy slid into the front seat in her sassy dress and fuck-me shoes and tried not to touch any of the shiny, complicated-looking instruments. Mike pulled carefully into the street, car so silent it felt like it wasn’t even turned on. Andy cooed appreciatively and felt she was in way over her head.<br />
<br />
He took her to The Palm downtown. It was upscale without being too stuffy – he had thought about Maestro or something really exceptional, but those places made him nervous. He was already nervous enough. The Palms was a partner of the Capitals organization and always took good care of the guys. They were seated in a booth toward the back and Mike ordered a bottle of Syrah.<br />
<br />
Andy smiled, “That’s my favorite.”<br />
<br />
<i>There was a half-empty bottle on your kitchen counter</i>, he didn’t say.<br />
<br />
He let her approve the wine. She ordered in good French, so he changed his choice at the last second to avoid stumbling over any words. The waiter eyed her rather greedily and Mike swore he was trying to look down her dress. When he left, Andy made a face that told him she had seen it too. Then she actually ate a roll from the bread basket. His brain mewed weakly.<br />
<br />
Andy watched Mike watching her. The scowl on his face when the waiter flirted was adorably similar to the tough guy look he tried to pass off in his official Caps photo. <i> Still not too confident</i>, she thought as she reached for his hand across the table. He wrapped her fingers in his tightly. <br />
<br />
They ate and talked, and eventually Mike brought up hockey. Tomorrow was a big game so Andy didn’t want to psych him out, but he seemed okay and even mentioned the team’s issues and a few things he wanted to improve on. For desert Andy ordered something chocolate: Mike had two bites, she ate the rest. When they were finished, the maitre-d brought her coat to the table. As he opened the door to the street, people were coming in.<br />
<br />
“Mike!” Alex said, peeling his arm from around a very skinny blond to shake hands. The girl scowled.<br />
<br />
Mike’s hackles rose, <i>fight or flight </i>coming to his mind. But Alex had already moved on. Ignoring the baleful stare of his date, he turned to Andy. “I am Alex,” he said generously, like he was the King introducing himself to a housekeeper. His huge hand lifted hers to his lips. <br />
<br />
Andy smiled tightly. <i>Ew gross, this is who could have called me</i>. She reached for Mike with her free hand and he stepped in, holding tight. She forced herself to smile, not wanting to make a problem for Mike. “I’m Andy, nice to meet you.”<br />
<br />
Alex raised his eyebrows. “Andy. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He gave Mike a meaningful, completely obvious look before letting his eyes roam slowly over Andy from head to toe. “Too bad you are leaving, but maybe we meet again soon.”<br />
<br />
She nearly ran from the restaurant. In her haste, she failed to really look at his date – was she a working girl? Was she one of Susanna’s? Was Alex the client who recommended Mike? <i>Get a grip! </i>It wouldn’t do to have a panic attack at the valet stand. Mike stayed behind her, hand resting on her lower back. When his zillion-dollar car rolled to a stop, she felt a flood of disgust.<br />
<br />
<i>Goddamnshitfuck</i>, Mike thought. Ever since coming back a little more mature from the summer, Mike’s opinion of Alex had changed. He was a great player, they were still friends, still hung out. But Mike had stopped looking at Alex as a role model, the big-man-on-campus he aspired to be. Now some of Alex’s antics seemed sloppy and offensive. Mike still wanted to be a star, but more because it helped the team succeed than so he could get laid and buy shiny toys. To have seen Alex now, with Andy… <i>worst luck ever</i>. Andy stood stock still until the parking attendant opened her door.<br />
<br />
Mike drove around the corner and pulled over in a loading zone. “Andy, I’m sorry. What he said, that he’d heard a lot about you… it’s not how it sounds. I just….”<br />
<br />
“He’s the one who recommended you,” Andy stated the obvious.<br />
<br />
Mike nodded. “He asked your name today. I have to admit, I was really relieved he didn’t know you.”<br />
<br />
“He wouldn’t,” she said, but didn’t stop long enough to elaborate. “I didn’t know that girl with him, I wonder if she’s….” <i>She’s what? A whore? A working girl? Like me?</i><br />
<br />
“She’s Russian. Someone from home, that’s why he didn’t introduce her – she doesn’t speak English.”<br />
<br />
“So he doesn’t call anymore?” <br />
<br />
The tiny note of hope in her voice made Mike want to punch something. But he couldn’t lie to her about this. “He still calls.”<br />
<br />
They sat a moment in silence considering what would happen when Alex called and requested Andy. Because he obviously would. He’d all but asked her “how much?” with the look on his face in the restaurant. And he would be… different that Mike. They both knew that. Alex was competitive enough that he would have called for Andy even if he didn’t like her, just to fuck with Mike. But it didn’t seem liking her would be a problem.<br />
<br />
<i>Be cool, Andy. You knew something like this would eventually happen</i>. Hell, it’s supposed to happen! According to Susanna’s math, the guys would recommend Andy to each other, to other players. Her client list would grow. That was the whole idea. Now it was happening and for the first time since she knocked on Mike’s hotel room door, she wanted to throw up.<br />
<br />
“Well, he’s less scary off the ice,” Andy offered.<br />
<br />
Mike hid his left hand between the door and steering wheel, hoping she couldn’t see where his knuckles were white from gripping so hard. “He’s not a bad guy. Just kind of an attention-whore.” He was trying to shake it off, to keep it from ruining the rest of the evening.<br />
<br />
Andy gave him a deadpan stare. “Says the guy in the white Lamborghini.” Then she cracked a smile. <i>Nervous breakdown some other time</i>, she reminded herself she was still on the clock.<i> Less than a day till Mike’s next game</i>. She lifted her hand to the back of Mike’s neck so he would be sure she was only kidding.<br />
<br />
He took a deep breath. He hadn’t planned on going out after dinner but just now it seemed too awkward to take her home. <i>More time</i>, that’s what they needed. Mike drove them to a wine bar a few miles away. The maitre-d recognized him and showed them to a small, cozy booth in the back. <br />
<br />
“So popular,” Andy teased as she slid onto the bench. Mike made for the other side of the table, but she patted the space next to her. He just fit, broad shoulders taking up all the space she didn’t. She needed to be near him, physically. It felt like he would protect her.<br />
<br />
He draped an arm behind her and read the menu over her shoulder. “I put a wine room in my condo, and the owner here helped me pick just about everything in it,” Mike explained. On cue the owner himself turned up to say hello and take their order.<br />
<br />
“Okay, <i>now</i> you’re popular,” she turned toward him in the close confines of the booth. He smelled warm and expensive, which was her feeling of this night overall. Wined and dined, Susanna had said that was one of the perks of the job. Not a stranger to nice places, Andy hadn’t expected her financial trouble to make her see everything as a dollar sign. Everything except Mike.<br />
<br />
<i>Why do you do this?</i> he wanted desperately to ask. He’d known her 24 hours and could easily see that she was worth more than whatever her price tag read. He kissed her cheek and earned a shy smile, dimples appearing. He kissed her again.<br />
<br />
Andy let herself forget Ovechkin and money and everything else she was worried about. She could worry about those things after Mike’s game – for now, she just wanted to be here for him. His thick, solid body was warm against her side, no space between them. He was telling a story about the team’s last road trip; she was half-listening and watching the corners of his mouth twitch with a smile.<br />
<br />
When he laughed at the end of the story, she did too without knowing why. Then she kissed him. <i>Can’t help it</i>, she thought, her lips firmly planted on his in the most chaste move she could manage.<br />
<br />
<i>Can’t stop</i>, Mike knew as he fought to keep his mouth closed against her kiss. <br />
<br />
Mike politely declined another round from the owner. Andy found herself happy to see his ostentatious car because it was taking them somewhere they could be alone. She assumed it was a hotel, and looked confused when he turned into a residential part of town.<br />
<br />
“Do you mind if we go to my house?” he asked, suddenly unsure. <i>Too soon? Too personal? Should be conducting our business in a neutral location?</i><br />
<br />
“You just want to show me your wine room,” she smirked. <i>Yes I want to go to your house</i>, she thought. <i>And no this is probably not a good idea</i>. <br />
____juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-51736501167636783742010-10-24T19:49:00.000-07:002010-10-24T19:53:54.345-07:00Chapter 4Andy woke to the unfamiliar sensation of another body wrapped around her. She lay on her side, head resting on a rather large bicep. The matching arm reached around to her stomach, hand flat on her bare skin. Knees notched behind hers, bent at the same angle and their owner breathed slowly and evenly against the base of her neck.<br />
<br />
<i>Don’t panic</i>, she thought. Staying still, it was easy to let her imagination run wild with the fantasy of reality – waking up tangled in him as truth. He exhaled warmly into her hair and shifted in his sleep, notching his arm more tightly around her middle as if dreaming possessively. Warm and snug, Andy pushed common sense from her mind and drifted back to sleep.<br />
<br />
She rolled onto her back, waking him up. He wasn’t used to sleeping next to someone, his body mimicking her position naturally with the physical need to be close to her. She was soft and sultry in his arms, making him wonder how he ever stayed calm enough to fall asleep. Half a lucid thought and he hoped she wouldn’t wake up with his erection poking her in the thigh. He settled into her side, one leg over hers, and tried to slip back into a dream that looked pretty much exactly like his reality right now.<br />
<br />
When he woke again she was still sleeping. Checkout from the hotel was in two hours, thought he would gladly have extended it to stay with her. <i>Is this a second day?</i> he wondered. <i>Or is the morning after considered part of last night?</i> He had the money, that didn’t matter at all. But was she… booked? <i>Is she already spending tonight with someone else?</i><br />
<br />
In the dark of the hotel room he contemplated a series of increasingly desperate scenarios: he would help her get a regular job; he would support her; he would marry her tomorrow and make sure she never had to do this again.<br />
<br />
<i>You’re an asshole</i>, he told himself as he let go of her for the first time, rolling onto his back. <i>She doesn’t want you. She clearly doesn’t need to be rescued by some pathetic fool who could barely hold it together long enough to have the sex he paid for. This girl… this girl.</i> As the magic of the night drained away, the lie he’d willingly believed seemed hugely impossible. <i>I shouldn’t have asked her to stay. If she’d gone, I could have at least kept my illusions.</i> She stirred next to him, snuggling back into his body where he’d put space between them. He closed his eyes, steeling himself against the smooth heat of her body and the scent of her hair. Despite his deepening self-disgust, his penis twitched beneath the sheets as she pulled herself close. <i>Fuck.</i> He hated himself for being so weak.<br />
<br />
“Hi,” she murmured sleepily, lifting her head. Long, silky hair tickled his arm and washed across his chest. She smiled drowsily. Her slightly smudged makeup looked even sexier than the night before, like she’d had a really good time.<br />
<br />
<i>Gray</i>, he knew instantly. <i>Her eyes are gray</i>. And he was right back where he started.<br />
<br />
<i>Jesus</i> was the first thought that came to Andy’s mind. His hair was flat from sleeping on his side. Those soft, full lips she’d tasted so many times were a little dry, like they waited for her kiss. She didn’t need to look beneath her arm or leg for proof that his body was as incredible as she remembered. So enthralled, she nearly missed the look of hesitation that flashed in his eyes.<br />
<br />
<i>No, please. Please don’t say I couldn’t help.</i> Andy brought her hand to his face and once again touched the bruise beneath his eye – it was dark black and blue now, angry and heavy-looking. He closed his eye as she brushed the skin.<br />
<br />
“Does it hurt?” she asked softly.<br />
<br />
He shook his head no. “Is it ugly?”<br />
<br />
Andy waited from him to look at her. “You could never be ugly.”<br />
<br />
<i>God, stop doing that</i>, he wished. <i>Stop being so good at your job</i>. But he was already doing something else. He rolled into her, ignoring the part of his heart that said he was in danger. She latched onto him with arms and legs, no way for either of them to change their minds.<br />
<br />
<i>Give in to me</i>, Andy thought. She kissed him, morning breath and all, and he instantly surrendered. His kiss was heated, passionate but something of last night’s fear had subsided. He ran his hands over her body, naked beneath the sheets, raising chills of anticipation across her skin. Lower down, his rising excitement pulsed persistently against her stomach.<br />
<br />
It was easy this time, or at least easier, to quiet his inner warning system. Maybe she had given him a little confidence after all. He pressed her thighs apart with his knees and touched every part of her he could reach. She moved onto his hand, taking his fingers deeper inside as she whispered encouraging sounds. Then Andy turned her attention to him, stroking his hard-on with a firm hand until he trembled with desire. She slid the tip of his cock over the wetness he’d created.<br />
<br />
<i>Not okay, this is not okay</i>, she thought as she reached for a condom. Andy knew it was wrong to wake up wanting him, but her body had not gotten the message. As he filled the space in her with his hot flesh, she moaned against his neck, “Oh God.”<br />
<br />
Her words calmed his mind while his body rioted. She drew him in, pulled at him, her body practically begging for more. That cannot be fake, he wanted to believe. <i>She can lie, she can sell, but she cannot make this happen by will alone</i>. They moved together, steadily and without the anxious rush of the night before. Andy felt then he’d needed release, needed to control something just a little. This morning, it might be her turn.<br />
<br />
He was surprised when she rolled on top. He was even more surprised when she smiled down at him, long twisted waves of hair draped over her shoulders, reaching her gorgeous, creamy breasts. She spread her long fingers across his flexed abs and shimmied herself around on his cock.<br />
<br />
Andy moaned without even hearing herself. His stomach and thighs where taut beneath her hands and ass. She lifted and dropped, twisted and rolled, using him to pleasure herself. Their eyes stayed locked together, each watching to see if the other’s mask would crack. Judging by the look on his face, he was enjoying her too. She leaned in and swept her nipples over his chest, causing him to grab her sides and lift his hips, driving himself hard into her, lifting her with ease. She kissed him and tugged his bottom lip between hers. Then she moved his hand toward the middle and pressed his thumb into her clit.<br />
<br />
<i>No fucking way</i>, he almost said out loud. She was gorgeous, delicious and everything she did screamed that she wanted him: she kissed him, she climbed on top, now she was going to let him watch as he got her off. When she smiled, dimples appearing, he got even harder.<br />
<br />
<i>This is totally selfish</i>. He was spectacular to look at and even better to feel. He had needed her, been vulnerable before her, all but asked for her help. <i>My help</i>. And soon he would be gone, this incredible man she’d wanted from the sidelines for as long as she could remember. Before he left, Andy was going to get something to remember him by.<br />
<br />
His strong fingers moved surely, circling and varying pressure. She complimented his motion by sliding herself up and down on his dick. It wasn’t long before her orgasm was bouncing like a ping-pong ball, coming so close only for him to lighten his touch and send it away. Then he brought it back. And again. The fifth or sixth time, she got so close she gasped.<br />
<br />
“Stop playing with me!” she squealed. <br />
<br />
“And miss this, are you kidding?” He smiled, wide and genuine, still rolling her clit with his thumb.<br />
<br />
She gave him threatening look and bucked hard onto him. <i>Two can play that game. </i>She bit back a smile – he must feel a little better now. On her next stroke, she dropped her hips as far as they could go and froze, holding down so he stayed bottomed-out inside her.<br />
<br />
“Fuck,” he rolled his head back, exposing his neck. She quickly leaned down and bit the soft flesh. In his mind it was more like <i>Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuckyeeessssssssssss</i>. She was laughing and smiling, she was playing with him and she wanted him to play back. She wanted his personality. He pushed her back to sitting and set to work on her body.<br />
<br />
Andy’s breath caught as he stroked hard, no longer kidding around. He matched strokes with his hands and hips, pumping at her from both sides with increasing force. Every time the shudder produced by his fingers faded, another pulsed from his cock. There was nowhere for her to go and no time to get there. She was coming.<br />
<br />
<i>Make the noise</i>. He remembered what she’d sounded like last night, the mouth-watering, dick-hardening sound of her losing control.<br />
<br />
She gasped sharply, then her body gave out. He picked the high note and strummed her clit as she bounced herself around in his lap. A bolt of warmth struck her stomach and flooded through her lower body. Her mouth fell open as a moan sobbed from her lungs. Andy ground herself around, digging for everything her pleasure had to give as he held on and watched.<br />
<br />
<i>Thank God</i>. She came hard, onto his hand, and his whole body felt electrocuted. When she made the sound he’d been craving, he came too. He pulled her shoulders down, bringing her into his chest and crushing her mouth with his. He came with her wrapped in his arms, pumping three or four times before the tension in his body broke.<br />
<br />
They lay together, not an inch between any part of their bodies, catching their breath. Andy’s heart pounded against his chest, putting the finishing touch on his total satisfaction.<br />
<br />
“Can I see you again?” he blurted out, his brain and mouth failing to communication. A strand of her hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. <br />
<br />
She opened her eyes to find him looking nervous and hopeful. “I would love that.”<br />
<br />
Whew, he almost said. “Do I just call….”<br />
<br />
“Uh,” Andy paused, not actually knowing the answer. “I guess so. Yeah, call.” Then she caught herself. <i>You idiot! Way to make it look like no one ever calls for you again!</i><br />
<br />
He said a silent prayer. <i>Don’t let this make me look crazy</i>. The last thing he needed was everyone thinking he was stalking a call girl. But he didn’t want to wait, not if he didn’t absolutely have to. Just as much, he wanted to know. If she was with him, she couldn’t be with someone else. He lifted onto his elbow, leaning over her. “Are you free tonight?”<br />
<br />
<i>YES!</i> she wanted to yell. She wanted repeat business, wanted to impress Susanna. She didn’t want to risk getting a call from another player. But most of all, she wanted him. There was no point in pretending, as she lay half underneath his perfect body, sharing every breath: she wanted him. Andy steadied herself in time. “Yes, tonight is great.”<br />
____<br />
<br />
They dressed in last night’s clothes, talking easily about nothing. Andy fixed her makeup in preparation for the walk of shame. But he held the hotel room door open for her, put his arm around her waist in the elevator, walked her to her car. <br />
<br />
“Dinner? I could pick you up at 7.”<br />
<br />
“Perfect,” she punched his number into her phone, assigned a name then called him. <br />
<br />
He leaned in and kissed her, lightly, like they were finishing a first date. <i>I guess we are</i>, he thought. “See you tonight.”<br />
<br />
Andy climbed into her car and waved to him through the window. She watched him get smaller as he headed for the valet circle, her body aching slightly at his absence. <i>Tonight</i>, she told herself.<br />
<br />
Two blocks later, her phone buzzed. She knew who it was, knew what it would say. But she giggled anyway at the name on the tiny screen: Mike Green.<br />
____<br />
<br />
<b>Author's Note:</b><br />
<br />
Okay, I know you all REALLY wanted a Penguin. This was a Mike Green story from the very beginning, but once everyone started lobbying for a Pen I came thisclose to changing it. I removed some things that were clearly not Sid (tattoo, etc)... but I couldn't make it work in my mind. I'd already mentioned an NBA team, which Pitt doesn't have, but it was more about the attitude of the story. I guess I don't think Sid stumbles as hard as Mike does sometimes. Plus, I couldn't figure out how to let Sid and Andy be seen together without having to make it a big deal in Pittsburgh. Drinks in the hotel bar and leaving with the same girl the next morning? That's a whole other Sid story. <br />
<br />
As for Max and Kris... Mer is currently having her way with them far more intensely than I ever could: <a href="http://maxandkris.blogspot.com/">Rolling Thunder and Razorblade Kisses</a>. <br />
<br />
I know that no one likes Mike Green except for me, but hopefully you're liking this story enough to keep reading! Plus I know you all hate other people way more than Mike (I'm looking at you, Ovechkin!) and I will do my best to bring you some drama. juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-53355081438669097242010-10-23T17:07:00.001-07:002010-10-23T17:07:25.898-07:00Chapter 3Andy carefully watched his internal debate. She had no doubt what the issue was and no idea what he wanted to do. For her own part, she was a little more ready and willing than she wanted to admit. Straddling him had seemed like a good idea before they were divided by just a tiny slip of lace. Wanting to tempt him without scaring him, she reached down for his hand – the same one she’d held in the bar. Using both of her hands she twined into his fingers and spread his palm wide, then ran her thumbs up the middle together and out over the top. She pressed the soft spot between each finger before tracing the groove up the center again. His hands were the strongest she’d ever felt. After a few more rounds, she brought his palm to her lips and gently kissed the center.<br />
<br />
He couldn’t stop himself. He wanted to – even thought about it for a whole heartbeat. <i>She’s not mine</i>. His brain’s protest drowned in the heavy pull of desire. The hand she held cupped her cheek and drew her into a kiss.<br />
<br />
Andy’s stomach fluttered, like the floor had just dropped away. His lips were soft; she tasted whiskey and longing in a kiss somehow both cautious and overwhelming. Her mind went blank in a spike of desire and she kissed him back.<br />
<br />
<i>Thank God</i>. He wanted her so badly, wanted her to want him; he felt confused and grateful about how she seemed to care for him. It came as a surprise to feel so conflicted – he knew what he was doing when he made the phone call. But then everything about her was surprising.<br />
<br />
“Andrea,” he said her name for the first time as his lips touched her neck. It sounded foreign to her, a persona she needed for protection, a secret identity. One foot slid down the length of his calf, curling around his sculpted muscle. If she closed her eyes and felt only through her body, she didn’t need that shield.<br />
<br />
“Andy,” she said. “You can call me Andy.”<br />
<br />
That suits, he thought. Andrea was the woman he’d expected tonight, Andy was the one who’d arrived: the one who touched his black eye and kissed him without pretense, the one who read science-fiction and made fun of his socks. Around Andy it was okay to be shy, be vulnerable and in pain. Andrea could come and go; it was Andy he was really after.<br />
<br />
“Andy,” he whispered, closing over her mouth again. <br />
<br />
Her body buzzed like a live wire. He was hot to the touch, searing her skin where they made contact. She drew herself in alongside him, her bare leg slipping over top and resting on his thigh. His hand snaked up her back, underneath his t-shirt.<br />
____<br />
<br />
Vivian giggled. Andy blushed like a schoolgirl as her friend forced her to spell out exactly what she wanted to know. “So how do you…,” she smiled in embarrassment and drained the end of the wine bottle into her glass. “How do you get started?”<br />
<br />
Vivian sipped and smiled. “Honey, that part is easy. Maybe an awkward moment or two, but you can just bowl those over. Once you’re horizontal, the rest just happens. It’s not like it’s your first time.”<br />
<br />
<i>I know</i>, Andy told herself. <i>It’s just sex</i>.<br />
<br />
“Don’t worry about that part. Getting there – the talking and flirting and being coy – that’s harder because you have to read the person, gauge what they want when they might not even know themselves. You have to be a little bit psychic, but if you just go slow and observe you’ll do great.”<br />
<br />
“And the rest…,” Andy was still unsure.<br />
<br />
“Don’t expect it to rock your world. Though you may rock theirs.”<br />
____<br />
<br />
<i>Now or never</i>, she thought. Once they were past this point there was no way she could lose him. His kiss had gone from unsure to eager, like he was testing the waters and found them warm. He still lay mostly on his stomach, hiding the next step in this dance. As best she could Andy started to slide underneath him.<br />
<br />
<i>I can’t</i>, he knew. He couldn’t stop, he couldn’t resist, he couldn’t even make a solid argument anymore for why he should not do this. There was no way to tell if she actually wanted him or just wanted to do her job. He would never know if there was anything about him she genuinely liked. He’d never get the chance to do this honestly, to do it right. She was here, now, but she was already gone. He gave in and met her halfway, bringing himself down gingerly. He was so hard it hurt and there was no keeping it secret as it pressed into her thigh. Andy’s leg fit between his and she slowly twisted her hips, just once, feeling him out. <br />
<br />
<i>Wow</i>. Her hands moved over his sides and thighs, the places she hadn’t touched before. Thoughts got sloppy, the walls and fail-safes she’d built crumbled under the weight of his body. She nipped gently at his earlobe, catching it between her lips. He turned into her mouth, tongue exploring as she let him kiss her deeply and returned the favor. Somewhere in a distant corner of her brain an alarm wailed – <i>man overboard!</i> – but she was going down with this ship.<br />
<br />
Andy lifted the hem of her top and he took the hint. The t-shirt felt different in his hands as he peeled it away – like it was something exotic or expensive, something worthy of wrapping such a gift. Slowly it revealed the body he’d seen in the bath; the smooth, taut skin of her stomach, the curve and swell of her chest. She helped pull it over her head and tossed it to the floor. His hands roamed the newly discovered land, fingers soft over the lines that defined her stomach and the round underside of her breast. His lips tasted her nipple, gently sucking and flicking the way she’d done to his ear. Judging by her hands on his neck, she enjoyed his efforts.<br />
<br />
<i>Wouldn’t she though? Wouldn’t she make me feel like I’m the only guy in the world?</i><br />
<br />
Andy was lost in a delusion of delicious warmth and weight. He took his time, exploring every part of her by touch and taste. They still wore their underwear but it was not doing much to keep them apart. She dragged her hand up his thigh and slipped it between their bodies. He hissed softly, taking in a surprised breath.<br />
<br />
<i>Please, please, please</i>, he begged of himself. <i>Don’t go to soon. Don’t ruin this</i>. It took all his willpower not to come at the touch of her hand, at the perfect pressure when she began rolls her fingers over his shorts. So distracted, he forgot to kiss her and when he did, she cheated beneath the waistband and down inside his boxer briefs.<br />
<br />
A small moan escaped her lips as she stroked his shaft for the first time. The tension increased tenfold and Andy wondered if she could finish herself off before they even got started, just in case. <i>Would that make him feel wanted? Or unnecessary?</i> She felt that he wanted her to enjoy this, wanted to please her. How could he not when he wanted her so badly? Her body responded easily, writhing against him in time with the motion of her hand. He bit softly into the top of her shoulder. Forget finishing early, she expected he’d be able to take care of her the old-fashioned way.<br />
<br />
He’d never been so far gone. His hand raced to her hip and followed the lace of her panties toward the cleft between her legs. She arched her back as he grazed her clit, grinding down onto his hand. In return, she squeezed his cock hard. The tip of one finger ran the length of her slit, coming away hot and wet. A tiny sigh of pleasure came from his throat, feeling her as ready as he was. <i>Surely that could not be a lie.</i> He rubbed harder, added another finger, hooked beneath the fabric and helped himself to the soft, slick folds of her sex. She moaned again. <br />
<br />
<i>Holy shit</i>. Andy would have had trouble remembering her name, forget all the complicated reasons that led her to this place. She reached down to cup his balls, earning another small noise. She might come too soon through no effort of her own. With a flick of the wrist she started tugging off his shorts.<br />
<br />
<i>Finally. Fucking hell.</i> It was going to take a lot of control he didn’t have to keep from coming the second he was inside her. Even the thought of being inside her was incredible, his fingers currently buried in the sweetest of spots. He shimmied out of his underwear and pushed them away, then for the first time he lifted his body up and away.<br />
<br />
She lay haphazardly on the duvet, dark hair tossed around her. Fair, creamy skin glowed like she was an apparition, a mirage he dreamed up in desperation. Pink, pert nipples stood at attention, begging for his mouth. Her delicious lips curled into a sly smile as she watched him, watching her.<br />
<br />
“You are incredible,” he said honestly, feeling immense relief just saying it out loud. He had to say something, to let her know he valued her, he cared about more than fucking her and sending her home with a purse full of cash. <i>I bet everyone says that</i>, he thought, but he had to do something. <br />
<br />
<i>Go on</i>, she told herself. <i>You really want to help, tell him the truth</i>. “I’ve had a crush on you for years.”<br />
<br />
He blushed hard in surprise and ducked his head. His heart sang and his erection pulsed angrily, afraid it was being forgotten. <i>That has to be a line, right? That has to be part of what I’m paying for.</i> But desire is a powerful drug, and he really wanted to believe.<br />
<br />
Andy held her breath, unsure if she’d gone too far. <i>They don’t pay to fuck fangirls</i>, Susanna had said. <i>They want something more; something better, smarter, hotter</i>. Andy hoped she hadn’t just ruined what he had come here to find.<br />
<br />
His palms flat on her hips rolled panties down and off her thighs. There was nothing more to be said – he didn’t want to hear anything that might force him to face the reality that he could only feel like this if he was willing to buy it. He reached back and dropped the last scrap of clothing that separated them.<br />
<br />
The sight of him kneeling over her took that breath Andy had been holding, along with all the other air in her lungs. Chiseled and broad, beautiful beyond anything she’d ever seen and still with a small hint of darkness in his eyes, of despair lingering. The bruise on his face was already deeper. He reached for the nightstand, she took the packet from him and tore away the foil. She stroked him, hand very full, before unrolling the condom along his length.<br />
<br />
He waited for it, like bracing for the impact of a big hit you can’t outrun, praying silently that he could get past the beginning, could make his happen. She watched his face; saw him bite his pouty lower lip, saw his eyelashes flutter as her fingers ran down the smooth, thick heft of his cock.<br />
<br />
A string of expletives leapt to his mind. He wanted to cry, to faint, to fuck her hand until his brain exploded. When he felt the condom was all the way on, he took a deep breath and opened his eyes. Her beautiful face, that right dimple still making him want to stare at her for days, looked up at him with a knowing smile. <i>Dear God</i>, he thought as he allowed himself to believe she was looking at him, really him, not a job or a client or a stack of cash. With her hand on his throbbing hard-on and her body promising to fix everything in his world, he let himself go. He chose the lie.<br />
<br />
<i>Forbidden fruit</i>, Andy thought. She had never wanted something so badly. Telling herself she shouldn’t want it only made it worse – she would have gone home with him from a bar, from a game, from the fucking supermarket – but it never would have been like this. The distance between them, filled with money and desperation, disappeared with a sonic boom.<br />
<br />
Andy pulled his shoulders down, signaling <i>GO!</i>, and they got frantic. He prodded her slick entrance twice with the head of his penis, her heat luxurious even through the thin film he wore. That was all he could handle. With a low, fierce moan, he pressed his cock all the way up into her ripe pussy.<br />
<br />
“Yes,” she breathed without thinking. He moved lightly, settling himself inside her, terrified his next move might be his last. It was like breaking open a freshly baked cookie, melted chocolate dripping deliciously: the first bite was always the most dangerous.<br />
<br />
“Andy,” he said as he risked a stroke. She held on to his shoulders, muscles rock hard beneath her hands, and let him set the pace. He was extremely hard and extremely big – the dizzying combination rewiring Andy’s brain. Good thing she’d been wet for hours, since he first opened the door. <br />
<br />
He tried to regain his senses. Being inside her was even better than he’d anticipated, somehow wetter, hotter, tighter than he’d allowed himself to imagine. The blood in his body beat like a drum, pulsing his dick where it was nestled deep into her. With a big breath, he pumped his hips and slowly began to move. She matched his motion as his hands slid under her ass and lifted her closer.<br />
<br />
“Oh God,” she gasped, the angle pushing him down into her with force. She arched her back and ground herself onto him. The temperature in the room had risen a hundred degrees. Andy grabbed his neck and kissed him, hard and long, tongue deep in his mouth as it begged him to do the same to her body.<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>That is a real kiss</i>, he thought triumphantly. It was too late to turn back now, but at least that part of what was happening was real. He felt victorious as he thrust harder. Andy squeaked in pleasure, the sound passing from her mouth to his. He strove for another gorgeous little noise and he got it. With an arm around her back, he lifted and leaned, until he was kneeling and Andy was sitting on his lap, legs around him. He tilted her back just enough to capture a nipple with his mouth and used his arms and legs to bounce her onto him.<br />
<br />
<i>Fucking hell</i>. Andy’s head lolled back as she cupped her breasts and lifted them, offering up to his eager mouth. She pulled her legs in, fitting herself into his lap tightly and taking his strokes as deep as she could. The bicep pressed between her shoulder blades was huge and taut, holding her up easily with heavy confidence. <i>Confidence</i>, she knew. <i>All he needed was a little confidence.</i> Evidently he had found it. His other hand moved across her stomach, tickling her side before raking into the small patch of hair that rubbed against his body.<br />
<br />
He flicked his thumb down and grazed her clit. She pinged like a harp string. He did it again and she gasped, he felt her get wetter as he began to massage the nub insistently. A wordless breath sobbed from her lungs.<br />
<i>Please, please</i>, he begged silently. He wanted to satisfy her, to show her that he wasn’t some weak, pathetic sap. It was bad enough he’d gotten his ass kicked in a fight, called an escort service, almost cried when he asked if she had a boyfriend. He had to do something right for her. The idea of the succulent, incredible woman in his arms feeling sorry for him hurt more than anything that happened on the ice. If he’d been capable of swagger, he’d have wanted to amaze her, make her scream his name and see the face of God and be the best she’d ever had, but he didn’t have that bravado in him now. He just wanted her to make that noise again.<br />
<br />
<i>What am I doing here?</i> she asked herself distantly. <i> I am now officially a hooker and I’m about to come like a fucking supernova for someone I’ve fantasized about forever. Are you a whore after just one? Or does whore imply multiple guys? I honestly don’t care as long as he keeps touch… omigod.</i><br />
<br />
Andy’s body was nearing a full boil. Her hands were in his hair, holding his face close. She gently kissed the black beneath his eye as he massaged her clit on a deep down-stroke. Her mouth fell open, her arousal peaked. “Harder,” she whispered. He listened, driving his rock-hard rod into her soaking pussy and struggling to hold his hand tight against her front. He didn’t have to wait long – five or six strokes later, Andy made another breathless, silent cry.<br />
<br />
<i>Fuck yes</i>, he thought as her body rippled down the length of his dick like it was electrically charged. She writhed in his arms, clutching and pressing as an orgasm beat through her core and passed right to him. When he heard her breath tear away in a quivering shudder, he let go.<br />
<br />
Andy felt his arms lock around her as he groaned in pleasure. Long, slow strokes milked her body as he came hard. He pressed them back, dumping her to the mattress and staying on top, snuggling his cock in as far as it could go and pumping himself dry deep within her. The tension released from his body like a dam breaking – he melted into a puddle of satisfaction and relief.<br />
<br />
She traced her fingers along his hairline, behind his ear and over his neck. His breathing was even and easy for the first time all night. They stayed still so long she thought he might be sleeping, splayed out and still nestled inside her. <i>I could sleep like this</i>, she thought, settling her head back to do just that. She was drowsy in that shadowy, post-orgasm way that keeps anyone from thinking about what they’ve just done or who they’ve done it with. Andy didn’t want anything to happen, not just now, to ruin this.<br />
<br />
He wasn’t asleep. He was inhaling the scent of her body, of her flowered perfume and the smell of her sex – darker, heavier, lusty. Now that she had done her job, he was afraid she’d be done with him. His body felt new, but his head and his heart kept right on stressing. If he didn’t move, didn’t speak, she couldn’t tell him goodbye.<i> Right?</i> <br />
<br />
“Andy,” he mumbled. <i>I said I wouldn’t do this…</i><br />
<br />
“Mmm?” she purred into his ear.<br />
<br />
“Will you stay the night with me?”<br />
<br />
She moved her arm across his back, tying them closer together on the dark sea of the enormous bed. “I’m already sleeping.”<br />
____juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-86522785890961682622010-10-23T11:27:00.000-07:002010-10-23T11:42:09.631-07:00Chapter 2It had been nearly 10 PM when the phone rang. <br />
<br />
“We haven’t worked with him before, but he was referred by a very regular client,” Susanna explained. “If you’re willing to take someone else’s word for it, I think this would be an excellent place for you to start. You’d have to be at the hotel in half an hour.”<br />
<br />
Andy had nearly fainted with relief. <i>At least he’s gorgeous. I won’t have to pretend to be attracted to him. </i>And she’d been watching the game, knew he’d had a rough time of it. She’d agreed to the job, dressed quickly and driven herself into the city.<br />
____<br />
<br />
He’d had a bad few nights. First on the road in Atlanta where they’d lost 5-1, then in Nashville he’d been sore and slow as they squeaked out a 3-2 victory. Tonight he’d been hoping for better at home, but it hadn’t worked out. In the first, he’d taken a stupid retaliatory penalty and they’d given up a goal to Philly’s power play. In the third, when the game was still close, he’d flubbed a pass in his defensive zone that resulted in an ugly turnover and another Flyers goal. The whole game had been sloppy and forced – the fans had even booed. His attempt to redeem himself was half-assed and ended up in a fight with Carcillo. He landed a few punches, but mostly he took them. And it didn’t help – they still lost.<br />
<br />
His teammates had recommended this service in the past, but he’d never called. He’d never actually paid for it before. When he was younger he’d have laughed – why hire a girl when they were throwing themselves at you left and right? Now the idea of someone guaranteed to be hot, smart and capable seemed like heaven. No puckbunnies whose short skirts promised things they couldn’t deliver, whose stories rang around the team like headline news. <br />
<br />
Dejected barely covered the way he felt at the end of tonight’s game. He hadn’t been sleeping, hadn’t been playing well… his head was a mess. He wanted a way to forget and a way to feel good again. It was tough to tell his loudmouthed teammate that he was ready, but luckily his friend understood. A quick, quiet phone call later he was on his way to a downtown hotel.<br />
<br />
Looking at this girl, he knew he’d made the right decision. <br />
<br />
“Want to get a drink downstairs?” he suggested, needing some traction on this slippery slope. Andy nodded. He might be a mind-scramblingly hot way to start her new career but she was still plenty nervous. At the elevator, the brief wait stretched almost into awkward silence before the doors opened. Andy was grateful there were a few people inside, negating the need to talk.<br />
<br />
They sat on high stools near the window, the table so small that sitting across was almost sitting next to each other. Andy rubbed her calves together over the heater blowing warm air from the floorboards.<br />
<br />
“Are you cold?” He asked, moving to take off his suit coat.<br />
<br />
“No, this heat feels nice,” she smiled, having been instructed to let him see as much of her as possible as often as possible. A waitress took their order – he had another of the same, she a glass of wine. When the girl was gone, Andy knew it was time to do her part but she didn’t fear it. In fact, she kind of wanted to do this.<br />
<br />
“Tough game.” Her fingers traced two tiny black buttons just above the cuff of his jacket.<br />
<br />
“Did you watch?” He half-hoped she hadn’t, he was embarrassed. But he wanted her to understand. She nodded, not looking up. He sighed, watching where she nearly touched his bare wrist. <br />
<br />
“Want to talk about something else?” she raised her eyes, which were green or possibly gray. Impossible to tell in the low bar lighting. The dimple on her right cheek was deeper than the left, something about the asymmetry making it hard to look away from her face. The waitress brought their drinks.<br />
<br />
“Get ‘em next time,” she clinked the rim of her glass to his and took a slow sip. The heavy liquid warmed Andy from the inside. Without intention, her fingers slipped under his cuff, grazing the inside of his wrist. A drowsy tingle ran up into her hand.<br />
<br />
He closed his eyes briefly, hoping she wouldn’t see but unable to stop himself. Her touch was like silk on his heated skin, prickling all the way up his arm. <i>Dangerous</i>, he told himself, <i>this is the business of pleasure. Don’t forget she’s not here for you.</i> But she looked so honest.<br />
<br />
“Tell me about your summer,” she prompted. He talked about being home, seeing family, working out a training regimen. He liked to skate a lot in the off-season, and told her about inventing ways to keep himself occupied when the dog days of August seemed to drag forever.<br />
<br />
“What about you?” he asked. <i>I wonder if anything she’ll tell me is true</i>. Did working girls share their private lives with clients? Clients – it made him shiver. She was beautiful and gentle sitting there across the table; he felt like he was on the best first date of his life – she already knew him, she understood. Of course, that was her job. Her fingers traced the inside of his palm.<br />
<br />
“I had some time off from work, so I also invented ways to stay busy. I read a lot, took a hip hop dance class and worked until I was not the lamest white girl in the place. I even learned archery. Did you know there’s a free archery range here? They give you equipment and lessons. It’s from some grant – I don’t think new people ever go, because everyone was so excited to see me.”<br />
<br />
<i>That’s because you’re gorgeous</i>, he thought. And it was more than that – she was confident and friendly, two things he didn’t feel at all. She was a mirror he wanted to step through and find his old self on the other side.<br />
<br />
Andy wasn’t sure she should be telling him all this, but no one ever said what she should talk about. Susanna said to have a personality, and this is the only one she knew. The lines in his palm were shallow beneath her fingers as she fought to concentrate over the feel of his skin. They compared a few movies they had both seen, he told about a trip he’d taken to Europe.<br />
<br />
“I’ve been to Ireland twice,” she said. “Isn’t it amazing? I spent a whole day riding a rickety bike uphill on the Aryn Islands in the rain and loved it. Who does that on vacation?”<br />
<br />
“Where else have you been?” <br />
<br />
Andy couldn’t stop herself. “All over Europe on the train with a backpack one summer. I’m wearing the same outfit in all one thousand pictures. I also spent five months in Southeast Asia – I was supposed to cover a lot of ground, but instead I found a beach I liked and lay there for about three months.”<br />
<br />
<i>If she’s making this up as she goes along, she’s the best liar I’ve ever met</i>. He caught her fingers into his, twining them until they were holding hands across the table.<br />
<br />
<i>Gulp</i>, she swallowed. “What about you?”<br />
<br />
He hadn’t done much traveling, unless cities with hockey teams counted. It was something he always wanted to make time for, and he was proud of himself for having done so over the summer. Now he felt a little outmanned by the girl in the black dress.<br />
<br />
“Not much time, unfortunately, between playing and training. But I’d like to.”<br />
<br />
“When you get the chance, I’ll give you some suggestions,” she said. They both smiled at the insinuation that they’d see each other again, knowing they never would. Her wine glass was empty. “Should we call it a night?”<br />
<br />
He reluctantly let go of her hand to sign the bill. Across the lobby he imagined ways to casually touch her again, to re-establish the physical contact he craved so badly it ached. Next to her he felt awkward, like matching ends of a magnet pushing each other apart. Andy sensed his tension and slid her arm through his, pressing his bicep to the side of her breast. His cologne was warm and expensive; Andy was glad she hadn’t gone for a second glass of wine. She felt loopy enough. Here he was: big and strong and gorgeous, someone she had admired from afar for ages, but he practically bled vulnerability. Everything she did made him react physically – every touch, every look. She’d never felt someone want her so much. His sad smile and the bend of his shoulders made her knees a little weak. They walked slowly down the hall, steps drunk with anticipation.<br />
<br />
<i>It isn’t supposed to be like this, I’m not supposed to enjoy myself</i>, she worried. Andy was a realist, she knew exactly what she was doing. She didn’t expect to feel anything except resolution and necessity. He fumbled slightly with the key in the door. Once she was inside, she rolled her shoulders back and reminded herself that this was business. <i>Don’t get all girly, Andy. He’s paying, you’re taking and this is a business relationship.</i> It would not do at all to fall in love with her first ever client.<br />
<br />
It happened when she saw the bed: her posture changed. She was facing away but he sensed the whole room went still as she put on her mask. <i>No no no</i>, he wanted to cry, <i>I need you</i>. He felt like a kid throwing a tantrum and sheer desperation made him act without thinking.<br />
<br />
He spun her by the hip and caught her lips to his, moving more surely than he had in days, swallowing her gasp of surprise. The soreness disappeared from his upper back as he wrapped one arm around her shoulders, the other hand tight on her hip. He didn’t ask or wait or question, he just kissed her. Hard.<br />
<br />
Andy’s mind rang like a slot machine and her heart rained out a jackpot. The way he’d been looking at her was nothing compared to his kiss. It was fire and pain, surrender and insistence. Before she could remember to close herself off, she was kissing him back.<br />
<br />
<i>Thank God</i>, he thought as she opened her mouth and let him in. He’d known she would eventually, that’s why they both came here. He didn’t want to fight for it. He wanted her the way she had been moments ago, before she was working… <i>Shit. SHIT!</i><br />
<br />
“I’m so sorry,” he broke away, face reddening in shame. <i>I’m acting like I own her, like I can just kiss her and take whatever I want from her. I didn’t even give her a second, just attacked her like… like what? Like I’m paying for it? </i> He sat down heavily on the bed. “Sorry.”<br />
<br />
She dropped to her knees at his side. “What’s the matter? Don’t be sorry.” He looked worse than before, head in his hands with eyes closed. Andy reached up stroked the side of his face, as if brushing his short hair back over his ear. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”<br />
<br />
He tilted his head enough to see her. Her brow was creased as she tried to reason out what had happened. He had a vision of what she’d be like with a little kid: putting a Band Aid on a scraped knee and kissing it better. How genuine, how caring. Somebody’s sister, somebody’s girlfriend. <i>Oh God.</i><br />
<br />
“Do you have a boyfriend?” he asked.<br />
<br />
“No,” she shook her head.<br />
<br />
“Would you tell me if you did?”<br />
<br />
“Probably not. But I don’t have to lie, because I don’t have one. Is that what’s bothering you?”<br />
<br />
He so wanted to tell her the truth. Curl up against her warm body and let her run her fingers through his hair, touch his neck, tell him everything would be fine. It didn’t take much to go down hard in the NHL – a string of bad games, the press in your face and fans wondering what all that money was buying. A slump was a self-fulfilling prophecy, you couldn’t break it till you felt better or feel better till you broke it. And the prospect of a slump loomed large in front of him.<br />
<br />
<i>I’ve never done this before</i>, he wanted to say. <i>I wish I’d met you somewhere else, but you’d probably be asleep already and I’d have snuck out, because I suck at real life too</i>. It would really impress her if he started crying, which he was probably tired enough to do.<br />
<br />
“Hey,” she lifted his chin. “I have an idea. Stay here for a minute.”<br />
<br />
Andy turned the faucet on the huge bathtub, ignoring her brain as it screamed <i>Pretty Woman</i>. She was so close to losing him, and she had no idea what would happen then. She’d never get another chance with Susanna if her first client froze her out before so much as her shoes were off. There was no bubble bath, so she emptied the tiny bottle of shower gel into the water and left it to fill.<br />
<br />
He was still hunched at the end of the mattress, but he looked at her. She held out a hand, bringing him to his feet and moving right into his chest. Her hands slid between his jacket and shoulders, laying the suit coat onto the bed. The already lose tie came off easily. She unbuttoned until she hit his stomach, then untucked his shirt and finished. She carefully touched as little as possible as she slid down his zipper. He stepped out of his shoes and pants, standing before her in boxer briefs and a t-shirt.<br />
<br />
“Nice socks,” she said, looking into his eyes and never even seeing his feet. That got half a smile. She turned and swept her hair over one shoulder. “Unzip me?”<br />
<br />
He did, slowly, and she was glad not to see his face. If he wanted to go slow, or do nothing, that was fine with her. She was going to find a way to help him feel whatever kind of better he was looking for. Andy had a feeling he just needed to start easy.<br />
<br />
He drew the pull down her long back, running out of zipper at the rise of her ass. She shimmied the black dress down her from her shoulders, revealing matching black lace bra and panties. In the privacy of her turned back, he took in every each of her creamy, kissable skin. Carefully, she stepped out of her dress and draped it on top of his coat. He watched unashamedly as she put a foot up on the comforter and undid her complicated-looking shoe in a surprisingly easy motion. When the other was gone, she stood before him in her lingerie.<br />
<br />
“You’re kinda short,” he said stupidly, though it felt good to laugh.<br />
<br />
“You’re kinda slow,” she answered, gesturing to his still mostly-dressed body. Then she walked into the bathroom. <br />
<br />
He shed his shirt, but felt awkward about the shorts. She was already in the tub, the top of her shoulders visible above the soap suds. Her bra and panties hung on the doorknob he pulled shut. <br />
<br />
“Hurry or it will be cold.” She busied herself arranging bubbles and not looking as he dropped his shorts and stepped into the water.<br />
<br />
<i>Shy!</i> Andy thought. As if he needed to be any cuter to make her forget why she came here, what she was doing, the person she had become. Regardless of the fact that she hated a tiny part of herself for doing this, she was more involved in this moment than she had any right to be. <i>Money, money</i>, her mind whispered but she kept shoving it back down.<br />
<br />
The water was blissfully hot and he sank to the floor of the tub between her knees. She guided him backward until he was resting against her chest, her face level with his hair. Full breasts pressed against his shoulders, instantly making his body twitch with arousal. He willed himself to stay calm – she was here all night if he wanted it. <i> If she wants it</i>, he told himself, losing the battle he’d barely begun to fight.<i> If she doesn’t want to stay, I won’t ask her to.</i> Her long, lean legs circled his hips and her feet disappeared below his knees.<br />
<br />
Andy put her arms around his broad, solid shoulders and ran her fingers into his short dark hair, trailing along the hairline at his forehead and ears. He pressed against her palm like a puppy who loves to be petted. With careful deliberation, trying not to seem demanding, he cupped his hands around her calves.<br />
<br />
“You have strong legs,” he said, hoping it didn’t sound as lecherous as he felt. She flexed playfully and made the muscles jump in his hands. <i>God I want her</i>, he knew as a zing of pleasure drilled through his body.<br />
<br />
<i>If this doesn’t work, I don’t know what will</i>, she thought. Slowly, she brought her hand to his neck, then shoulder, and traced along his collarbone.<br />
<br />
“I kickbox and I run,” she said conversationally. “Not as effective as ice skating, sadly.”<br />
<br />
“Kickboxing? With real kicking?”<br />
<br />
Her breasts moved beneath him as she laughed, making the blood flow to his lap. “No, just shadowboxing yourself in the mirror. But some of the people don’t even look at themselves, or they’ve never seen an action movie. They can’t punch at all. I, on the other hand,” she said with mock grandeur, “I look like Jason Bourne in there.”<br />
<br />
“I bet you do.” He relaxed a little, letting his head drop back onto her shoulder. Andy took the opportunity to press a single, easy kiss to his temple. “Tell me something else about you.”<br />
<br />
“I used to be a ski racer. In high school. Spent a lot of time freezing my ass off on a mountain.”<br />
<br />
“Sounds like me, I played a lot of pond hockey when I was a kid.”<br />
<br />
Andy ran one hand down over his chest, holding it still in the vicinity of his heart. “Yeah, but you wore pads and sweaters and jackets. I wore a spandex downhill suit.”<br />
<br />
He slid his fingers up and tickled behind her knee. “Maybe I should have been a skier.”<br />
<br />
<i>Relax</i>, she willed him. He might feel just as bad tomorrow night, or the night after, until he and the team played well again. That would come eventually. But for tonight, Andy wanted to take away the pain and frustration she felt in the body she held. With two fingers, she pressed along the tendons at the sides of his neck. He gasped suddenly and she knew she’d found a sore spot, working it in gentle circles before moving behind his ears. He bent his head forward and let her reach the back of his neck and bottom of his skull. She knuckled up onto his scalp and massaged his head. He moaned softly and slid a little lower in the water.<br />
<br />
“That feels so good,” he said. <i>She wants to touch me. Or she wants to get paid</i>. But her healing hands were strong and made his breathing deepen. It certainly felt like she genuinely wanted to ease his pain.<br />
<br />
“Good,” she whispered, working him over before moving to his shoulders. The muscles were so tight she could barely get a grip. “Am I hurting you?”<br />
<br />
He rolled his head from side-to-side. “No. I can barely feel that, really.”<br />
<br />
<i>Okay, next step</i>, Andy knew. She sat up, he sat up with her. Her lips met the spot right between his shoulder blades with a small, wet kiss before she stood. <br />
<br />
He watched in the mirror as she rose to her feet, white puffs of bubbles and water falling off her body. She was as beautiful as he’d expected, maybe more – tall and fit, tiny muscles flexing beneath her skin as she moved. It was a healthy, strong body that was used often and used well. Long dark hair was twisted behind her to stay dry, but the small dark patch of hair between her legs drew his eye. Full breasts swung as she leaned down to rinse herself with handfuls of water. When she reached for a towel, he noticed a small tattoo at the center of her back, well above her waist.<br />
<br />
“What’s your tattoo?”<br />
<br />
She stepped into the towel, covering her front but letting it fall loose down her back, then sat on the edge of the tub. His fingers followed the lines of an intricate, antique-looking compass rose surrounded by tiny flourishes. The N for north pointed halfway between straight up and her right side.<br />
<br />
“Why isn’t north pointing up?” His hand drew itself down her side, sliding beneath the towel along the curve of her body.<br />
<br />
“It points to 42 degrees.”<br />
<br />
“What’s so important about 42?”<br />
<br />
She looked over her shoulder, holding the towel modestly closed over her chest. He was aware of his hand cupping her hip, fitted into the dip of her waist. He looked up at her with a little more life in his eyes. <i>Thank God</i>, she thought. <i>At least I can be of some use.</i><br />
<br />
“42 is the answer to the ultimate question,” she said. He still looked blank.<i> Just as well, I’d definitely fall in love with him if he knew this one.</i> “The ultimate question of life, the universe and everything. It’s from <i>The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy</i>.”<br />
<br />
“Oh,” he looked down, feeling a little stupid. <i>Of course it would be from a book, probably something brilliant and literary that I wouldn’t understand. Of course she’d be well-read and interesting.</i> He took his hand away.<br />
<br />
Andy saw his face fall, all her hard work crumbling. She moved to the floor, sitting outside the tub just as he was sitting inside, their faces almost level over the side of the bath. “It’s the story of the only two humans left when some very boring aliens obliterate Earth to make room for a space highway. They go on a crazy adventure with other aliens in hopes of getting Earth put back the way it was.”<br />
<br />
The look on his face was priceless, like he just woke up in Munchkinland. He slowly raised an eyebrow like it took him a while to translate her words. “What?”<br />
<br />
“It’s hilarious, I promise. I’ll lend it to you.”<br />
<br />
<i>I did it again</i>, she thought. <i>Talking like we’re going to see each other after tonight. Like we’re friends. Like we’re dating, or married, because who else sits naked on the bathroom floor talking about books?</i><br />
<br />
<i>God I love her</i>, his brain spit.<br />
<br />
“Come on, get out of that cold water.” She didn’t stay, not wanting to embarrass him if he still felt shy. One finger hooked her lingerie from the doorknob as she left the room. <br />
<br />
He dried, feeling foolish that she was naked and he was uncomfortable. But he didn’t want to ruin this again, didn’t want to be too forward. Things could easily have gone too far, too fast and he knew she would let it, that she did not come here to keep him under control. He had to do that part himself tonight. His shorts hardly seemed up to the job.<br />
<br />
She was sitting on the bed in her underwear. The fair skin of her long legs stood out on the dark duvet, appearing to go on forever until they disappeared under the hem of his t-shirt. The edge of a towel was between her fingers.<br />
<br />
“Lay down,” she said. He settled onto his stomach and she draped the clean towel over his ass, covering his shorts chastely, and he smelled something like the bubbles from the tub before he felt her hands on his back, slick with warm lotion.<br />
<br />
“You don’t have to…” he mumbled into the pillow.<br />
<br />
She dug her thumbs into the soft tissue of his laterals, just inside his shoulder blades. He hissed - it felt amazing and searing in equal measure. “Do you really want me to stop?” she asked. He just shook his head.<br />
<br />
<i>He is breathtaking</i>. She had to admit it to herself as she worked his back. It was easy to massage someone when you could see every solid, defined muscle in his body. Wide, strong shoulders tapered into a hard, flat waist. He had no reason to be shy – lying sprawled and nearly naked on the expensive comforter, he looked like some very lucky girl’s wet dream. <i>Lucky</i>, she rolled her eyes. <i>Luck did not bring me here.</i><br />
<br />
He tried to focus his breathing on the spot she chose. The trainers taught them all yoga breathing as a form of pain management – imagine breathing into a spot that hurt and see that muscle uncurling, the pain subsiding. Surprisingly, it worked well for a lot of the daily aches and bruises. He followed her hands down his spine, between his ribs and across his shoulders. The lotion grew hot with the friction and helped his body to relax. It was also bringing heat to another part of his body. Focusing breathing on his lap, now uncomfortably pressed to the mattress, was no help.<br />
<br />
Andy went up one side and down the other, across and back again. She was no masseuse, but she’d visited them enough to know what felt good. His tension eased slightly, then a little more. She marveled at the shape and size of him as she let her hands roam freely across his perfect body. The last part was the best, for him. <i>And maybe for me</i>, she let herself smile.<br />
<br />
Unannounced she swung her knee over and straddled his waist, then settled herself down so she was almost sitting on his ass. He groaned quietly. “Am I hurting you?” she bounced playfully, moving the bed with him. His answer was lost in the pillow. Andy placed the heels of her hands at the very base of his spine, just above his pelvis and leaned down. Her weight fell into her arms, pressing him into the mattress.<br />
<br />
He moaned. Rather loudly. It would have made her laugh if she had never known what it felt like to have the tension in your lower back forcibly released, like having the world lifted off your shoulders. She’d always wanted some giant to pick her up and wring her like a towel, cracking and realigning every bone in her body. This technique was the closest she had ever experienced in real life. She did it again.<br />
<br />
“Oh my God,” he said. “That feels amazing.”<br />
<br />
<i>What the hell is she doing to me?</i> His muscles pooled and flowed, all the lactic acid releasing at once and draining away. He’d felt this at a chiropractor, or with a trainer, but never outside a clinical setting and certainly never delivered by a beautiful, half-naked woman on a very large bed. <i>Maybe this is what the guys have been paying for all along</i>, he thought, agreeing it was probably worth it. He lost the yoga breathing battle and felt himself get hard.<br />
<br />
Andy pressed again, earning another deep, guttural sound. It felt powerful to provide so much pleasure. <i>Maybe that’s why girls do this, they get off on getting someone off</i>. Her hands moved an inch lower, one vertebrae, and pushed again. She worked her way down until she reached the towel. What the hell, she shrugged as she pushed it out of the way. His boxer briefs were very fitted, leaving nothing to the imagination as they hugged his perfect ass. The cotton was soft beneath her palms and she gave him a little squeeze for good measure before she…<br />
<br />
“Wait,” he said suddenly, lifting his head from the pillow. She was straddling his back, her legs and crotch warm against his body. Add her hands into the mix and he was hiding complete arousal between himself and the bed. One more push that low on his body and he might have come. “I…”<br />
<br />
Andy reacted quickly, she didn’t need him getting embarrassed again. She slid off and lay by his side on the bed, giving him a minute to decide what he wanted to do. Eventually he lifted his head and turned toward her without rolling off his stomach. <br />
<br />
“That was incredible,” he said. He needed to make a move here, one way or another, because there was no way his erection was going away on its own. Even the slight rub while twisting his shoulders had sent a wave a pleasure through him. Either he would have to get her to finish this, or get her to leave so he could finish it himself. He really didn’t want her to leave.<br />
____juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523775907623597860.post-85793974553830652422010-10-21T21:43:00.000-07:002010-10-21T22:16:46.546-07:00Chapter 1<i>What am I doing here?</i><br />
<br />
A tiny note of panic crept into her inner monologue. She took a few deep breaths and tried to clear her mind, tried to calm down. It was her first night, the nerves were to be expected. Or so she’d been told. They’d also told her to keep her reason in mind: she really needed the money.<br />
<br />
Andy ran her hands over the front of her dress, tugging the hem an inch down her thighs. She knew the problem was all in her head and she’d just have to figure out a way to keep in quiet. The elevator beeped, the doors opened.<br />
<br />
<i>You can do this.</i><br />
<br />
Andy was very practical and had approached her problem a rational way. She’d been laid off from her finance job, along with millions of other people when the market collapsed. Waitressing and temp jobs just hadn’t been enough and any salaried job was snapped up like bait for a shark. Still the interest piled up on her student loans and the simple cost of living was ever high. A smaller apartment had helped, as had selling her car. But it had been six months and Andy was close to desperate.<br />
<br />
<i>Better to do something now.</i><br />
<br />
It was the ‘something’ she wasn’t crazy about. But she was qualified. Twenty-four years old, five foot eight with long, wavy brown hair and the fair skin of her Irish immigrant grandparents. She wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous, but she didn’t need to be. Instead of working, Andy had spent plenty of time at the gym over the last half a year and she looked good, felt good. At least physically.<br />
<br />
She’d been approached by a Vivian, a friend from college. The promise was a lot of money, wining and dining and, for some of the girls, vacations and parties and gifts. The foundation was organization and protection.<br />
<br />
“Think of it this way" have you ever had a one night stand?”<br />
<br />
Andy had, a couple times in college. Nothing memorable, except maybe a funny story or embarrassing morning after.<br />
<br />
“Exactly,” Vivian said. “Did any of those guys pay a thousand dollars for the pleasure of your company?”<br />
<br />
<i>Here goes</i>. Andy knocked on the hotel room door.<br />
____<br />
<br />
Vivian had gotten her an “audition”: a fancy party full of rich guys and working girls, or potential new ones. They were to chat and charm the men into wanting to ‘hire’ them. Whether you got the job depended on how well you did. Andy had been nervous at first, but found the talking and flirting and slightly suggestive double entendres easy. Almost fun. Since she was new, the organizer simply told anyone who requested a date that Andy had already been booked for the evening, but they were welcome to select another girl or another night. If Andy was hired, these men would go in her client file as potentials. At the end of the night, there had been four.<br />
<br />
She was called in the next day to meet with the Henry, the boss. He was an older man, nice-enough looking in an expensive way. He was also married to a former employee who ran the place from behind-the-scenes: she made sure the girls were clean, protected and kept her husband’s hands from reaching into the cookie jar. Her name was Susanna.<br />
<br />
“I heard you talking to a few of the guests about sports last night, Andy. Particularly hockey. Two of those who requested you suggested they take you to a game. Are you a fan?”<br />
<br />
Andy looked at Vivian, hoping she hadn’t done something wrong. “I am. They were interested in the topic and I thought it would be good to have something in common. I’m sorry if I talked too much or…”<br />
<br />
Susanna sushed her with a little hand. “Andy, we want you to have a personality. The clients want that. If you were into stamp collecting, I doubt it would be very profitable. But if hockey is your thing, then go with that. In fact, we have a suggestion.” She looked at Henry. “We” meant that Susanna had already decided and was doing whatever she damn well pleased. Henry nodded as if his consent mattered.<br />
<br />
“We’d like to put you on retainer for athletes only. We’re back in season for the NHL, and we do a fair amount of business from both the home and visiting teams. The NBA brings in more, but the requests are ,” she paused a second and looked at Vivian, “the requests are usually for girls more like Vivian. Occasionally you’d get such a booking. There are other events, tennis and soccer, etc. But I anticipate that in-season you’d be quite popular with our NHL clientele. And it will give you a chance to start slowly and get comfortable.”<br />
<br />
Vivian was five foot four and African-American with a big, loud voice to match her personality. Her body was all ass and tits and she was all fire. She was like a sparkplug and Andy could imagine that NBA guys would adore her.<br />
<br />
“Most of our new business is word of mouth, recommendations from one client to someone we’ve not yet worked with. This is especially true with athletes – locker room talk and all that. It generally does not involve an entire evening date, as they’re in town overnight at best.”<br />
<br />
Andy guessed that made sense, but Susanna hadn’t answered the most obvious question. “If I could… forgive the question but, why do these guys hire someone? Aren’t there plenty of girls who would do it for free?” She cringed because the question sounded so insulting.<br />
<br />
Susanna actually smiled. “Andy, as a fan, have you ever thought about doing it for free? Going home with someone from a game?<br />
<br />
Andy blushed, but she nodded.<br />
<br />
“And you blush. But every woman in the arena is thinking the same thing. You’ve seen the girls standing down front in their little tank tops and skirts? Hoping to be noticed? It’s my favorite at hockey, because it’s goddamn freezing in there and these girls are half-dressed.”<br />
<br />
They laughed – it was true, Andy had often seen it. And she’d always wondered if it ever worked.<br />
____<br />
<br />
He opened the door. One hand held a highball glass half-full of what Andy could smell was whiskey. His tie was pulled loose and the top two buttons of his collar open, revealing the glint of a gold chain where his neck disappeared beneath his shirt. His hair was styled, but it didn’t matter. Soft lips tried to smile but collapsed under the weight of a bad night. <br />
<br />
Under his left eye, a dark circle was forming and it would be black by the morning. Without thinking, without so much as a greeting, Andy reached up and ran her thumb lightly over the bruise on his face.<br />
<br />
“Fucking Carcillo,” she said.<br />
____<br />
<br />
“It’s important that you learn a few things up front Andy,” Susanna continued. “Most, if not all, of our clients could find our services elsewhere for less or for free. These are not unwanted men, sad lonely cases with cats and creased photos of the cheerleader they had a crush on in high school. They’re powerful, intelligent men with business sense and social grace. And what they want is a woman with the same, without having to do the work. Many of them are a little vain, a little arrogant – especially the athletes. They want to come into town and have a sophisticated, interesting date with a beautiful woman. By providing them with a woman who knows the game, who can fawn a little, we make them feel like stars. We deliver and we don’t gossip, that’s where we are a world apart from picking up some fan at the game. The rest is just sex and frankly, that’s the easy part.”<br />
<br />
Andy had wondered about that – they made no secrets about sex being involved, nearly all the time with every client. But she hadn’t been asked about her experience, her preferences or, thank god, asked to audition for that aspect of the job.<br />
<br />
“Anyone can spread her legs, Andy. But not everyone can be seen on the arm of a CEO at a political fundraiser. That’s why they call us ‘escorts’ – it’s more than just a nicer term for ‘hooker.’ You will be a date, a showpiece, an actual person with almost every client, as well as providing sexual release. And you will be expected to perform your job well in both areas. Do you understand?” She looked at Andy expectantly.<br />
<br />
“Yes,” Andy said.<br />
<br />
“Good. Now here’s the important part: money,” Susanna said frankly.<br />
<br />
Andy once again glanced at Vivian, who was smiling. She’d dropped a few numbers when convincing Andy to get this far along in the process. But every girl was different, every job its own consideration.<br />
<br />
“Your rate to begin with will be $1500 a night. $900 of that is yours, plus tip should the client choose to provide one. They almost always do. After two months, depending on the word of mouth your services are generating, the rate will increase to $2000 and your cut will be $1200 plus tip. Any dinners, parties, trips or gifts are yours to keep, but we do ask that you inform us of the approximate amount that clients are spending on you beyond our rate. There may be an opportunity to increase the fee, which would put more cash in your pocket. I’ve always preferred that to food in my stomach.<br />
<br />
“Our business has a legitimate side. One third of what you’re paid here will be by check that reflects ‘consulting’ work you do for our company. With your finance background that’s easy. These earnings are reported and taxed, and work out to an average of $40,000 a year. The other $80,000 or so, plus tips, is all cash. We offer the service of showing you how to divide and hide it, but I’m guessing that you can do that for yourself.”<br />
<br />
Andy smiled. She’d already worked that part out.<br />
<br />
“You can do really well here, Andy. We have girls making over a quarter-million dollars a year in fees alone, and they are often on a yacht in the Mediterranean. So that is our sales pitch. What do you think?”<br />
<br />
Andy twisted her hands in her lap. That was a fortune. She owed just under $40,000 for school, and to be able to pay it off in under a year sounded like a godsend. Somewhere in Florida her mother felt a disturbance in the atmosphere as Andy said, “I’ll do it.”<br />
<br />
“Excellent, Andy. We think you’ll do quite well here. We’ll book you someone we know as your first client, let you start slowly. And, if you don’t mind,” Susanna said in a tone that didn’t care what Andy thought, “we’ll call you Andrea.” She pronounced to “Ahhhhndrea,” like Andy was British royalty.<br />
<br />
“That’s fine,” Andy said.<br />
________________________________________<br />
<br />
“Fucking Carcillo,” she said.<br />
<br />
That got a quick half-smile. She let her hand drop to his shoulder, her fingers at the back of his neck. He looked defeated and beaten, sad and exhausted. Andy had no idea what came over her, it must have been the puppy dog eyes and the slump in his shoulders. A lot of the players were good looking, even great, but he’d always been her favorite. She leaned in and very softly kissed his full lips. He let her, exerting almost no pressure of his own, but he sighed. Then he stepped left and let her into the room.<br />
<br />
<i>Flowers</i>, he thought. <i>She smells like flowers.</i><br />
<br />
Andy had been in this hotel before during her finance days. It was upscale and modern, full of earth tones and textured wallpaper. She knew the bathroom would have a big Jacuzzi tub and the bedroom a king size bed with an even bigger TV. He’d eaten part of a chocolate bar from the amenity stand, leaving the other piece open in a torn wrapper. An empty bottle of water lay on its side on the nightstand. She looked around the room so he would have time to look at her.<br />
<br />
She wore a short black cocktail dress – simple, elegant, sexy but not outrageous. ‘Classy’ was the word Susanna always used. Andy had been required to present her working wardrobe for approval. The only real fun was allowed with shoes, and the only outlawed items were clear plastic six inch heels that Andy never would have worn anyway. Tonight she sported a pair of brand new cage heels with a high ankle wrap and open toes.<br />
<br />
He watched her take off her coat and drape it over the back of a chair. Her long legs were stretched by those heels and seemed to reach the ceiling. The simple silhouette of her dress accentuated the fit, healthy shape of her body and the bare skin of her shoulders practically glowed in the soft light. Dark hair crashed down her back in waves that also framed her face. Even if she hadn’t made a hockey reference, even if she hadn’t lit him up like a pinball machine with the barest hint of a kiss, he’d be half in love with her already.<br />
<br />
<i>Don’t be a fool</i>, he scolded himself. <i>She probably pities you for needing this and hates you for bringing her here.</i><br />
<br />
“I’m Andrea,” she said, turning to face him.<br />
<br />
Her eyes were dark beneath her subtle makeup and her smile seemed so genuine that he could almost let himself believe her. You get what you pay for, he thought. She looked less like a working girl than half the women he’d seen at the game that night.<br />
<br />
“Hi,” he said. She already knew his name.<br />
____juliet falls...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00589480204400462998noreply@blogger.com9