21 comments/ 73521 views/ 50 favorites The Ice, The Game, The Touch By: MugsyB I first wrote and submitted this story on-line back at the beginning of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2009. Since then, I've revised and tweaked it into this version. It's the same story though, with the same 'mystery' man (see if you can figure out who it is!) Once again, I know nothing about what hockey players do in their down time or how they are in real life. This is all make believe. Happy Reading! M. ;) *** Winter snow flying meant Amelia fled south. She usually headed right for the southern tip of Florida, but since the winter had started so mildly this year, she decided to take her time, touring along the East Coast. She started by flying from her hometown of Winnipeg to Fredericton, in New Brunswick. She joined a bus tour there that would take her down through Maine and straight on to New York. From there she'd probably travel by train south to Washington D.C. The weather along the coast could be just as vicious as Winnipeg's at times but it didn't seem to happen as quickly. Somehow, she didn't mind the weather so much when she was traveling, seeing the sites and writing wherever and whenever she chose to. Her sole companion on these southern trips was her laptop and she was content. So what if she'd had to leave her husband of five years in order to find contentment? Even if that 'contentment' wasn't quite what she thought she'd be feeling at nearly thirty years of age. She definitely hadn't thought she'd be alone while feeling it. Being alone wasn't really a concern either. She just enjoyed the time she had to herself; time to write, to read and just to be quiet at times. Then there were times when her libido would rear it's head and make it absolutely impossible to think of anything else. Times like those, she wished she was in her hometown where she had at least had a couple men she could call to help with her... needs. For now, it was a dull sensation in the back of her mind as she watched the landscape of Maine rush past outside the bus window. In a short while she'd be into New Hampshire. She was tossing around the idea of just catching a flight straight to New York from there. At least in that big city she could distract herself from her sudden thoughts of loneliness. Is it even loneliness? she wondered and sighed, turning her face away from the rainy landscape outside the bus. Maybe I'm just tired of traveling. She often thought about just settling down in one of the many places she loved to visit. Somewhere far enough away from Winnipeg that she wouldn't be constantly reminded of her failed marriage. Then she became frustrated that she still let that episode in her life dictate so much of what she did now. "Stop it, Amelia," she muttered to herself. She pushed it out of her mind and tried not to let it cloud the trip she was on now. The eighty-three year old woman next to her jerked in her sleep and started snoring against Amelia's shoulder. Grimacing, Amelia edged herself away from the older woman and sighed, trying to get comfortable. *** It was a hard game. By the time it ended, he never wanted to see or touch his skates again. Then as soon as he walked away from the arena, he longed to get back on the ice and figure out what he'd done wrong and how to improve it. The entire time he was away from the ice he thought about the ice. The entire time he was on the ice, he thought about the game and how to win. The other guys on the team razzed him about how his mind was constantly on hockey, especially when he woke up on the bus or on the plane shouting something about passing or shooting the puck. He didn't care what anyone thought. He lived hockey and it was OK. Except for the times he was feeling lusty. He cringed as they sat in waiting area of the airport and glanced around to see if anyone was looking in his direction. His cheeks flushed and he berated himself silently for even thinking something like that. Men like him didn't think of sex in terms like 'lusty.' Besides the guys harassing him about him talking in his sleep, they also harassed him about his constant reading. What they didn't know was that he read books and magazines in an endless effort to keep his mind from wandering aimlessly. It would lead him to think about women. He couldn't afford those kinds of distractions. Not when this was the year. This was the year the team was going to make it to the playoffs and the finals. In less than ten months, he'd be hoisting the Stanley Cup over his head as the fans screamed in excitement. Maybe he was selfish to think of it that way, but he honestly didn't care. He shifted in the tiny uncomfortable airport seat and adjusted the magazine in his hand. At the moment he wasn't reading but it kept his mind occupied. He seemed to need it since his mind was currently wandering off on lusty thoughts. He kicked himself mentally and slapped the magazine down on his lip with a frustrated sigh. The player sitting across from him glanced up and quirked an eyebrow at him. "You all right Sean?" he asked with a smirk. "I'm fine," Sean replied, not meeting the other man's eyes. Chuckling, his teammate shifted in his seat. "At least you didn't yell at me to pass you the puck," he commented, turning his attention back to the newspaper he was holding. "Bite me, Flower," Sean snapped and stood up. He needed to go for a walk. Yes, that would help. A walk around the strangely quiet airport would clear his mind. Oh wow, she's cute, he thought after a minute as he passed by a petite brunette. He slowed his pace and turned casually to watch as she strolled by. Then he spotted the child running after her, crying for his mother. As Sean looked on, the woman turned and held a hand out, a patient smile on her face, as the child hurried to catch up. Thumb in mouth, the boy clutched her hand and trailed after her as she continued through the airport. Sighing, Sean shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and turned to keep strolling. He spotted more good-looking women, some alone, some with husbands or boyfriends and while he felt that familiar twinge, he didn't feel drawn to them. It always seemed to be this way. He'd feel the physical urges and seek out a woman only to feel like something was always missing. He'd enjoy himself, that was certain, and the women were generally pleased to be with a professional hockey player. However, after the first few hook-ups of that sort, he didn't find it so enthralling as he once had. He hated to admit it to himself, mostly because it was such a cliche, but he truly wanted to find someone who didn't think of him as a hockey player first. He also knew what a contradiction that was, since his entire life revolved around the game. Maybe that's why, he thought. I've been focusing so much on the game so that I don't have to think about women. Then he thought, Great, something else for the guys to give me a hard time about. With a heavy sigh, he turned and started to make his way back to the waiting area outside the team's departure gate. *** New York was windy and kind of cloudy but Amelia was content to sit in the Starbucks and watching the people walk by on the street outside. She smiled as a particularly ornery teenager argued with her mother over something. The teenager effectively ended the conversation by walking away and the mother shook her head, throwing her hands up in the air before striding after the girl. Shaking her own head, Amelia lifted her mug and sipped her latte. Then she breathed deeply, trying to refocus her attention on the computer screen before her. The words blurred and she sighed before reaching up to close the laptop. Then she just sat back in her seat and resigned herself to some serious people watching. Sometimes all it took was a little distraction to get her head back into whatever story she was working on. Occasionally, the distractions proved to be too much. Like the tall, dark-haired, incredibly built man who walked into the coffee shop. Yes, she thought, unaware that she was holding her breath. He is most definitely distracting. She watched, unabashed as he walked up to the counter and smiled at the young woman working the till. He was tall, probably just under six feet, and his shoulders were nice and wide. Although he was dressed casually, it was far from sloppy; well-fitting jeans and a white button-up shirt. He wore a fitted dark suede jacket and black shoes. His hair was very dark, almost black, and was cut fairly short, though Amelia could see the ends curling just over the collar of his shirt. He looked young, maybe twenty-one or twenty-two, and his broad grin as he accepted his drink at the end of the counter made him look even younger. Amelia felt like a pervert, ogling the younger man so blatantly. She felt even more embarrassed when he turned around and met her gaze. His eyes were a bright hazel color and she was altogether entranced when he smiled at her. Then he took a step towards her and she felt her face heat up. Oh God, is he coming over here? she wondered and was still unable to look away. "Hello," he said as he stopped next to her table. "Hi," she managed to murmur in response. "Is someone sitting here?" he asked, pointing at the empty chair across the table from her. She shook her head mutely. His smile widened. Lord help her, he was incredibly good-looking. "Do you mind if I sit down?" he asked. "It's kind of crowded in here." Amelia lifted an eyebrow at him before tearing her gaze away from his face and glancing around the coffee shop. There were two other patrons sitting across the shop at another table and the three employees behind the counter. That was it. "Of course," Amelia replied. "I would hate to leave you standing there when I have a perfectly good seat right across from me." He nodded in agreement and pulled the seat out so he could sit down. "I'm Sean." He stuck his hand out over the table between them. "Sean Carson." "I'm Amelia Clarke," she replied, shaking his hand and probably enjoying just a little too much the way his larger hand wrapped firmly around her smaller one. It distracted her from his name, which, for some reason, sounded vaguely familiar. "Nice to meet you Amelia," he said, giving her hand the subtlest of squeezes before pulling away. "So what has brought you to this Starbucks today?" "Work," she replied and laid her hand over the laptop sitting on the table. "Oh, am I interrupting?"he asked, looking genuinely concerned. "No, not at all," she assured him with a smile. Could you be any cuter? she added silently. "I was just taking a break." "Good. What do you do that allows you to work in a Starbucks on a Tuesday morning?" "I'm a writer," she replied and was surprised to see his smile falter. All of a sudden, he seemed to withdraw. "A reporter?" he asked, sounding concerned. "No, I write books." "Really? I don't think I'm familiar with your work." She chuckled. "Well, you wouldn't be. I write under a pseudonym." He grinned and didn't say anything. Then he laughed. "You're not going to tell me what that name might be, are you?" She shook her head without speaking. "I can't do anything to convince you?" he asked, leaning forward and looking into her eyes with such an earnest expression on his face that she felt a long forgotten flutter in her chest. Her mouth went dry. "I don't... I don't think we know each other well enough for that," she replied. "I guess we'll just have to sit here until one of us shares enough about themselves to change that, won't we?" He sat back in his chair, sipping his drink. Amelia felt her face heating up again and covered her smile with a hand. Across from her, Sean chuckled as he drank more of his coffee. "All right," she said at length, meeting his gaze again. "I'll start. I don't live here. I'm from Winnipeg and I just travel south for the winter." His dark eyebrows lifted and he grinned. "Most people go a little further south than New York." She laughed and nodded. "I intend to. I'm just taking my time getting there." "Sounds great. It must be nice that your work allows you to travel." "It is. I love the change of scenery." "And people?" "People?" She didn't understand. "Yeah, do you enjoy changing the people in your life around too?" he asked and then cringed. "That... didn't come out the way I meant it." Amelia smiled and waited for him to clarify but she was pretty sure she knew what he meant. Even though she knew he didn't mean to hurt her feelings, his words still stung; mostly because they were true. She did travel to change the people she saw. It was cold, but there it was. "I just meant... you like to travel and meet new people," Sean went on, his youthful face pink in the cheeks. "I do like meeting new people," she agreed. "Even young men who enjoy chatting up old women in coffee shops." Her words drew a laugh from him and she felt her heart patter at the sight of his grin. He looked so much younger when he smiled like that. "You're not an old woman, Amelia," he said. "I'm older than you," she insisted with a smile and raised eyebrows. "No, you can't be older than... twenty-three, twenty-five, tops." Amelia felt her face flush hot at his words and stared into his face, trying to determine if he was teasing her. Instead, his face looked more than earnest. "Well, now I can't tell you how old I really am," she replied quietly, looking away from his handsome face. "Why not?" he asked. "Would it help if I told you how old I am?" Laughing, Amelia shook her head and moved on her seat, swinging her legs out from under the table. She'd been there long enough and if she stayed any longer, she might end up believing that Sean was more interested than he truly was. He watched her for a second and then shot to his feet, a hand reaching towards her. "You're not leaving?" he said. "I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable." "I should get back to my hotel," she replied. "My flight leaves tonight." "Oh, you're not even going to be in New York tomorrow?" His tone sounded almost disappointed to her and she paused in the motions of packing up her laptop to look at him. He flushed under her gaze and smiled shyly. "It was very nice to meet you, Sean," she said honestly. "Maybe we'll run into each other again." He nodded and then a slow grin spread across his face. "Maybe we will." She blinked at the change that came over his face as he spoke. A sly look had replaced the shy one and his eyes were bright, while that grin continued to captivate her. She needed to get the hell out of there. "I should go," she murmured and swept her belongings into her arms. She walked away from the table, calling a brief 'good-bye' over her shoulder. All the way back to the hotel, she couldn't get his smile and his hazel eyes - fringed with all those thick, dark lashes - out of her mind. *** It was a wonder Sean could even lace up his skates that night. His mind was filled with details from his encounter in Starbucks earlier that day. He didn't often go out or wander from the team when they were in different cities, but they'd all been a little too rambunctious for him to deal with that day. So he'd gone for a walk and ended up at the coffee shop. Where he'd met Amelia. A woman who looked no more than a year or two older than him but who insisted she was much older. He'd never even discovered what her real age was before she'd bolted. And she had bolted. That thought made him cringe. He'd never had a woman run from him. From a young age he'd been a star and everyone knew it, women more than men. "Carson!" the coach yelled at him. "Get your ass in gear!" He nodded and pulled the laces tight before standing up. He yanked the familiar jersey over his head with the white 'C' sewn into the left shoulder and hustled out of the locker room after the other stragglers. The game went well and he rediscovered his focus on the ice. It was all about the game and the ice, and the touch of the puck against his stick. It was the blood thrumming in his veins and the breath rushing from his lungs. His legs burned by the end of the game and his voice was hoarse from hollering at every player. Still, after all that, all he saw when he went to sleep that night was the beautiful blush on Amelia's cheeks and her shy smile. *** Their next stop was Raleigh, North Carolina, and he found himself again walking alone away from the hotel. He had the brief urge to call home just to chat with his mom and dad, but he knew it would worry his mom and he didn't want to do that. So he sucked it up and wandered the streets near the hotel and the RBC Center. Then he spotted a Starbucks, right across the street from where he paused to wait for a cross walk. A smile bloomed on his face and he wallowed for a few seconds in his all too brief memories of Amelia. He'd not seen her since he'd met her, of course, but his dreams had been riddled with images of her and the very explicit things he wanted to do to her. Still grinning like an idiot, he wandered across the road and into the Starbucks. Without meaning to, his eyes scanned the shop and saw no sign of her smiling face. With a sigh, he stood in line and waited patiently for his turn at the till. The girl behind the counter recognized him and, while she didn't say anything, he saw the change come over her. She flushed and averted her eyes, her hand trembling as she handed his change back to him. Although he was surprised she didn't even ask for an autograph, he moved to head for the end of the counter. As he turned, he ran right into the next person in line. "Oh, I'm sorry," he exclaimed, putting his hands out to steady the woman. "It's all right," she replied and their eyes met. "Amelia!" he said, shocked. "Sean," she replied, sounding equally as surprised. "What a surprise." "Yeah, huge surprise," he agreed and then grinned. "I can't believe you're here." She shook her head and laughed. "Neither can I." "Let me buy you a drink," he burst out and whirled around to the counter, saying Amelia's drink was on him. "No, you don't have to do that," she said, waving a hand and blushing that most attractive shade of pink again. "Please, I drove you away last time. The least I can do is buy you a coffee to make up for it." She relented and asked for a latte. Then they both moved down to the end of the counter and waited in awkward silence for their drinks. Sean spotted the laptop case over her shoulder and figured she was here to work again. "Do you mind if I join you?" he asked as they picked up their drinks. "Join me?" she replied, not quite meeting his eyes. Sean grinned. She knew exactly what he meant and was trying to be coy. It was compelling and he wasn't going to just let her walk away without learning more about her; maybe even getting her phone number, too. "Yeah, while you work," he said, indicating her laptop case with one hand. "I was going to just sit and read a newspaper. It would be nice to sit with someone." She met his eyes, looking skeptical. She was gorgeous and the look in her eyes, even hesitant as she was, was enough to send the blood in his body dancing around to a single destination. He shifted from one foot to another, hoping he wasn't too obvious. He was old enough to not be getting hard-ons in public. There was something about Amelia though... her rich, deep auburn hair just sweeping her shoulders and her dark, sparkling green eyes turned him into a raging mound of hormones. She was shorter than him, her head coming to just under his chin, and she was dressed plainly in jeans and a deep teal-colored shirt with some fancy detailing around the collar. All together, she had drawn him right in and he ached to get to know her better. The Ice, The Game, The Touch "I won't disturb you, I promise," he added when she still didn't say anything. She smiled then and his heart jumped within his chest. "All right," she relented. Without another word, she turned and headed to a small table in a corner of the shop. Grabbing a newspaper from the basket, Sean hurried after her, smiling when she looked up at him and she set her laptop on the table. She scowled benignly at him, unable to keep the corners of her mouth from turning up in a smile. Sean grinned at her and sat down, noisily opening the newspaper. He held it up between them, blocking her from view. After a couple minutes, he turned one corner down to glance at her and caught her looking at him. Her eyes darted away as color filled her cheeks. Chuckling, Sean resumed his perusal of the newspaper. Except he wasn't actually reading it. He shifted his position so that he looked like he was still reading the paper but he could also view Amelia from the corner of his eye. The tapping of her fingers over the keys of her laptop was almost hypnotic and she had the most attractive wrinkle between her brows as she wrote. Occasionally, she'd pause and chew on a thumbnail as her eyes scanned what she'd written. Then she'd resume with renewed fervor, typing away like mad. After both their drinks were finished, Sean decided he could take a chance by putting his newspaper down. Amelia's typing had slowed considerably over the past few minutes and he suspected she was ready for a break. "May I interrupt?" he asked quietly and smiled when she glanced up from her screen, an open look on her face. "You pretty much have, haven't you?" she asked wryly. He chuckled and cursed himself for the color rising in his face. "If you're determined to finish what you're working on, I'll leave you alone," he replied. With a sigh, she closed her computer. She reached for her coffee cup and frowned when it came up empty in her hand. "You want another?" he asked, jumping eagerly to his feet. "You don't have to buy me another coffee," she said but he was already gone, hurrying to the counter to order them both another round. When he returned to the table, he found her smiling up at him and gratefully accepting the new latte. As she reached for the cup, her fingers closed over his and he very nearly dropped the hot drink all over her. Still, she smiled and accepted the drink. "So I have to assume since you don't have any research books around you, you must write fiction," Sean said. "You assume correctly," she confirmed. "You still won't tell me what your pen name is?" "Nope," she said and shook her head for emphasis. Then her eyes narrowed. His groin tightened. "And I assume since you're here, not in New York, you must also travel for your work." She paused, giving him a considering look. "Either that, or you're stalking me." He laughed and shook his head. "Work. I travel for work." "Well, that's a relief. I think," she added in a murmured voice. Sean blinked and wondered if he'd imagined her words. He shook his head and leaned forward on the table, bringing their faces as close together as he dared. "Do you honestly have no idea who I am?" he asked, genuinely curious. She stared at him, her eyes widening as she shook her head. "You said your name is Sean Carson." "And I travel for... work," he said, putting extra emphasis on the last word. She smiled and leaned even closer to him. "Are you a rock star?" she asked in his same quiet tone. He stifled a groan at the sound of her voice, so low and husky. They sat so close together that he felt her breath stir against his face. Swallowing hard, he shook his head at her question. "Not a rock star," he replied, his voice sounding thick to his own ears. "Hmm," she made a noise of consideration, her bright green eyes flashing over his face. "An underwear model?" A burst of laughter escaped him and he shook his head, delighted that she was even thinking of him in underwear. He crushed his immediate urge to ask her if she wanted him to model underwear. She'd probably bolt again. "Not a model," he told her. "Then I'm stumped." She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "You must be a stalker." He shook his head. "Not a stalker." He eyed her speculatively, wondering if she was teasing him. It had been years since he'd met someone who didn't know who he was, especially someone from Canada. He was torn between annoyance and a feeling of hope. Maybe he'd finally met someone who didn't care what he did for a living. Maybe she was someone who wouldn't play games with him. A beeping sounded from his jacket pocket and he jumped, startled out of his silent contemplation. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone and read the display. It was his alarm going off, letting him know that he had to get to the rink for practice. "I'm afraid it's my turn to leave this time," he said, truly reluctant to leave. "Well, it was great running into you again, Sean, with the mysterious career," Amelia said with a smile. "Thank you for buying my drinks." "Anytime, Amelia," he replied with a smile. A thought occurred to him. "Do you like hockey?" She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm from Winnipeg. It's pretty much written into my DNA." Grinning, he slipped his hand inside his jacket and pulled out the VIP passes the players were given to hand out to family and friends for games. "I'm going to be at the RBC Center tonight. Take this and you can come for the game." Her eyes widened and she grinned. "Really? That sounds great!" she exclaimed, gladly taking the pass from him. "It's been ages since I've seen a live game." "Well, I hope I'll see you there," he said, feeling his heart speed up at the prospect of seeing her again so soon. "Who are they playing tonight anyway?" she asked before he turned to go. He told her the answer nonchalantly and watched her face for her reaction. She was staring at the ticket as he spoke. Then something passed across her face and she blinked, tilting her head back to look up at him. He grinned and walked off with a brief wave. "See you there!" he called over his shoulder. *** Amelia wandered back to her hotel a few hours later, still in a state of shock. She went back and forth between shock and feeling like a complete idiot. He must think she was the dimmest woman in the country. He was Sean Carson. The Sean Carson. Young hockey phenomenon from Canada's east coast. And she'd called him a stalker. She groaned and slapped a hand to her forehead as she let herself back into her hotel room. She threw her purse on the bed and set her laptop case on the desk before sitting down in the chair. She pulled the VIP pass out of her pocket and stared at it. Should I go? she wondered, fingering the lettering on the pass. She shook her head as she tossed the pass onto the desk and wandered over to the window. Feeling like a fool for not knowing immediately who Sean was, she stared out the window and watched the traffic move in the streets below. Growing up she'd lived and breathed hockey, watching game after game with her father and older brother. She'd gone to every one of her brother's games and idolized the stars like the Hulls, Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. As she'd grown into a teenage girl, she'd lost interest; but she'd never stopped enjoying live games. She'd lost track of the players were and couldn't tell anyone who the current hotshots were. Except for Sean Carson. Everyone knew who Sean Carson was. Apparently she just couldn't pick him out of a crowd. Shaking her head, she walked back across the room and into the washroom, deciding that a long shower might clear her head. The lather and steam in the shower did help and she came to a decision easily. Sean was definitely too young for her, that much was apparent. Just not young enough to keep her from going to the game that night. Hey, live hockey was live hockey and a true Canadian girl wasn't going to pass up a VIP pass. *** She tried to remain calm but her heart was pounding hard enough to almost make her throw up. Butterflies had fled her stomach, leaving stampeding rhinos in their place. Still she went, handing over the VIP pass and following as she was shown to a private box. There were others there but none of them even spared her a glance as she wandered in. She scanned the little room before she walked down the few steps to sit out front of the box itself. A short while later, the teams took to the ice and she was on the edge of her seat for the rest of the night. Live hockey was like nothing else. Nothing came close to the sounds of the skates slicing over the ice, the shudder when a player was thrown against the boards, and the thunderous applause with every goal. Amelia was not immune to the draw of the ice and the thrill of the game. Nor was she oblivious to the fact that Sean Carson was truly gifted. He had the skill, the touch and he was absolute magic to watch. At the end of the game, Amelia wasn't even certain who won. All she knew was that she was exhausted and her heart was ready to explode from the excitement. As she rose to leave the box, one of the other guests stopped her with a light hand on her arm. "You're not leaving are you?" the woman asked with a friendly smile. "I was going to," Amelia replied with a puzzled smile of her own. "The game is over." "Yeah, but the players sometimes come up to sign autographs and meet people after the game," the woman explained. "You wouldn't want to miss out on that." Amelia smiled and nodded. "No, I wouldn't want to miss that," she murmured and moved to sit down on one of the bar stools that lined the box opening that faced the ice. She watched as the arena gradually emptied and the Zamboni eased onto the ice. Watching the Zamboni was mesmerizing, and Amelia's mind wandered so far that she didn't hear the voices rise behind her. "Amelia," a deep voice spoke at her elbow a few minutes later, startling her so badly that she tipped sideways off the stool. She would have fallen right off if strong arms hadn't caught her and resettled her. Blushing furiously, Amelia turned her head and grinned before she could stop herself. "Sean," she breathed his name. "Great game." He was grinning at her and his face was flushed from the physical exertion. His hair was damp and curled at the ends but he was wearing a baseball cap that covered most of it. His eyes twinkled at her and she felt herself leaning forward, resting some of her weight in his arms. "I'm so glad you came," he told her, still speaking in a low voice. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to a live hockey game," she replied. "Especially not with seats like these." "Of course not," he said, not moving or taking his arms from where he held her. He had one arm around her waist and the other palm rested against her thigh, just above her knee. "A good Canadian girl would never say 'no' to a hockey game." "I just wish I'd known you'd be playing," she said, hoping she sounded coy and not like the idiot she'd felt like earlier. "I'd have shouted something more imaginative when you got that penalty." He groaned and shook his head. "I'm glad you didn't," he said. "I heard enough from Coach about it after." Amelia laughed and nodded. "I'll bet you did." They fell silent then and just looked at each other. Amelia glanced around the small room after a moment, taking note of the other freshly showered players and the people who'd watched the game from the box. "You must think I'm an idiot," Amelia murmured, unable to keep from saying anything. "Why?" "Because I had no idea who you were," she said and peeked at his face before looking away again. "Everyone knows who you are." "I don't think you're an idiot," he replied. "I thought it was surprising that you didn't recognize me but it didn't matter. If anything, I liked that about you." Laughing, Amelia lifted one hand and pressed a palm to her cheek, feeling the warmth there. "I like a lot about you," he added in a softer voice, making Amelia's entire body heat up to the point that she feared she might explode. "You don't even know me," she replied, her voice trembling. "And you don't know me," he said with a smile. "That's why I asked you to come to the game. I'd like to get to know you better." Sighing, Amelia shook her head. "I'm only in Raleigh for two days." "That's fine," he replied with a shrug and moved closer a second later. "I'm only in Raleigh for tonight." Amelia looked up at his face and smirked. "I understand now," she said. "You want to 'get to know me.'" She said that last with her fingers crooked in the air as quotations. He frowned. "I don't know what you mean." As Amelia looked at him, she wondered if he was telling the truth. Maybe his intentions for asking her here tonight had been honorable. Then she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye and turned her head to look. Another player on Sean's team was standing near the bar with his arms wrapped around a buxom woman. The woman was holding onto the player's arms and grinning up at him as the his hands moved swiftly down her body until he cupped her backside. Flushing, Amelia looked away and jumped to her feet, escaping Sean's grasp at the same time. "I should go," she muttered. "Wait, we've hardly had a chance to talk," Sean said, following as she made her way to the doorway. "Thank you for inviting me to the game," Amelia said, not meeting his eyes. She would have run down the corridor away from him then but his hand closed around her arm, stopping her. "Please, tell me what I've done to upset you, Amelia," he said, his voice low. "You haven't done anything, Sean," Amelia replied in a soft voice. "I just... it's late. I feel... tired. I should go." "When can I see you again?" he asked, not releasing her. "Sean, come on," Amelia stopped pulling away and turned to face him. "We both know what this was going to be and I just can't bring myself to do even that. Neither one of us live here and any chance to get to know each other would be... complicated by our jobs." "You can go wherever you want to work," he replied quickly. "You told me that yourself." "Yes, and you can't. So what? Should I just follow you around like some... groupie? Like a puck bunny?" she asked, frustration creeping into her voice. He pulled back, looking as though she'd slapped him. "I don't think that." Amelia stared up at his stricken face and thought again how young he looked. "I want to go, Sean. Please let me go." He released her but she didn't turn and run off like she'd intended. "Can I at least have your number?" he asked quietly. "I don't have a phone," she replied. He winced and Amelia wondered if he thought she was lying to let him down easy. Feeling bad for that, she stepped forward and laid a gentle hand on his forearm, feeling her heart skip a bit when she felt the hard muscle flex beneath his shirt. She opened her mouth to say something, to apologize, but she didn't get the chance. He pulled her close, dropping his head and kissing her hard on the lips. She was caught by surprise and he took complete advantage of catching her unawares with her mouth open. His tongue slid easily inside her mouth and when he brushed against her tongue, she made a small sound; whether a protest or further invitation, she wasn't sure. His arms tightened around her, drawing their bodies together and Amelia clutched at his shoulders, feeling the ground tilt beneath her feet. His kiss was fierce, his lips firm on hers and his tongue hot and slick in her mouth. His hands on her back were unyielding but soft, his fingers pressing into her and bending her against his body. She kissed him back, loving how he tasted, how his lips moved over hers. She could kiss him all night, and found herself wondering if he had the same intensity in the bedroom that he had on the ice. As suddenly as he'd kissed her, he drew back, allowing them both to catch their breath. They were both breathing hard, which made Amelia feel somewhat better about her own reaction to the kiss. "I want to see you again, Amelia," he told her, his voice deep and husky. "I... I'm..." Amelia stammered and shook her head. "Sean, I don't..." He released her abruptly, stepping back and leaving her feeling strangely lost for a second. "I understand," he said. "Sean, I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just don't think it'd be a good idea." "Because you thought I wanted you as a puck bunny?" he asked with a scowl and they both knew he meant something else with those words. "And I'm too old for you," she added. "You're twenty-one, Sean, and I... I'm..." her voice trailed off and she found herself unable to label just how much older than him she was. "I don't care about that," Sean insisted, reaching for her again. But Amelia wasn't going to be caught off-guard again. She stepped back out of his reach and gave him a small smile. "Thank you for inviting me here tonight, Sean. Good night." With that she turned, hurrying away before he could stop her. If he touched her again or, God help her, kissed her again, she wouldn't be able to walk away. *** The rest of his time on the road felt strange to Sean. He played the game and they won some, lost a few, and he relaxed with the other guys in their downtime. At night, he had the most difficult time getting to sleep and, even when he did get some rest, it was riddled with vivid dreams of Amelia. The last night the team was on the road before heading back to their hometown, he lay awake long after his roommate had fallen asleep, thinking of Amelia. When he'd kissed her after the game in Raleigh, he'd been ready to press her up against the wall that moment. The way she'd responded to his kiss, how she'd practically melted in his arms, it was enough to make him groan out loud and roll over to press his face into the pillow. All he wanted was another chance to kiss her, to hold her close. She had invaded his entire being. She'd been right when she'd said they weren't likely to see each other again. He didn't even know where she'd gone after leaving Raleigh. All he knew was that she was eventually going to end up in Florida. The days wore on and he tried to put her out of his mind. He tried to focus all his attention on the game. Coach and the other players noticed and some commented on his new attitude. For the most part, his sour looks and self-inflicted solitude off the ice kept the others away. It left him free to dwell on Amelia, their brief meetings and that single, passionate kiss they'd shared. In spite of himself, Sean visited every Starbucks he saw; in his hometown and on the road. He told himself that there was no reason to alter his regular habits because of her, but if he was being honest, he would admit that he looked for Amelia in every Starbucks. In four weeks, he didn't see her anywhere. He would have given up all hope except that their next trip away from home took them to Florida for a few days. He knew he shouldn't have any hope of seeing Amelia; Florida was a big state and if he had to guess, he'd say she'd probably be on the beaches at the South tip. Still, on their first morning in Tampa, he wandered away from the hotel and went in search of any Starbucks he could find. He was on his third one and was standing out front of the coffee shop, wondering if he should just give up altogether, when he spotted a familiar dark head within. Without another thought, he hurried inside and turned to face the person he'd viewed from outside. It wasn't Amelia. It was some other nice-looking woman but to Sean, every woman paled in comparison to Amelia. With a sigh, he turned and got into line. Maybe a strong coffee would help to get his mind off of her. Then he smirked and laughed at himself. He'd need something a hell of a lot stronger than coffee to feel better and Coach probably wouldn't appreciate his captain getting loaded in the middle of the day. The Ice, The Game, The Touch Sean moved up to the cashier and ordered his drink from the Starbucks employee. Then he wandered down towards the end of the counter to wait for his coffee. As he stood there, he listened to the light chatter around the coffee shop and glanced up as the door dinged with each opening. After he received his drink, he turned to leave and stopped dead in his tracks. There, just inside the door was Amelia, clutching her laptop case to her side and staring at him with wide eyes. Neither of them moved for several long seconds, and it seemed to Sean that the rest of the customers in the store just faded away. His blood was roaring in his ears and his stomach was in knots. Then her face relaxed into a little smile and Sean felt his heart stutter to life again. He walked over and she was still smiling up at him as he moved closer. Together they carefully moved out of the way of people coming and going through the door. "You know," she was the first to speak, a pretty blush staining her cheeks as she did. "I'm beginning to think you are a stalker." He chuckled and nodded. "I could say the same thing about you, Amelia." "Well, you already know that I'm from Canada and I love hockey." "You know the same about me," he added. They fell silent, just smiling at each other. "So I guess you're here for the game?" she said after a moment and then frowned. "God, I sound like an idiot. Of course you're here for the game. Why else?" Sean grinned. "Are you here for the game, Amelia?" She blushed an even deeper shade of red. It was all Sean could do to keep from pulling her close and kissing every inch of her rosy face. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't aware of the fact that you'd be in town now," she replied. His heart leapt at her words. His eyes flicked from her face to the tables nearby and he set his coffee down on one of the empty ones. When he turned back to look at her, she had a strange expression on her face. Their eyes met and she smiled, making Sean certain about his next move. With his hands free of his drink, he moved closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. She exhaled sharply as he took hold of her and he considered that a good sign. It didn't hurt that she wasn't kneeing him in the crotch either. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you," he confessed. "No?" she replied breathlessly, looking up into his face. "No, and I don't want to stop thinking about you. In fact, I want to think about you more." She laughed and shook her head. "Shouldn't you be at practice or something?" "The game isn't until tomorrow night," he replied. "Are you pretending to not know that much?" "I don't..." she started then stopped and shook her head. "Sean, I-" "I've got my entire afternoon free," he interrupted before she could say anything else. "I could sit with you here while you write or we could go somewhere; go see a movie or something. I just want to spend some time with you, Amelia." She stared at him, her face unreadable. Her eyes shone at him and it gave Sean hope that she wasn't going to reject him outright. Then she smiled. "I don't want to go see a movie," she said. "Then we'll stay here..." he began but she was shaking her head before he could finish. "I don't want to stay here either," she said and readjusted the strap of her laptop case over her shoulder. "Uh... OK," Sean replied, feeling lost. Was this her roundabout way of turning him down? "My hotel is just around the corner," she said. "Your hotel?" Sean echoed, feeling his heart begin to pound furiously in his chest. She couldn't be saying what he thought she was saying, could she? She grinned and Sean's blood began to travel down through his body, making him hard almost instantly. "Unless you have some objection to that, young man?" she said and turned to leave, extricating herself from his arms. "Not at all, ma'am," he replied, darting out of the coffee shop after her. *** When Amelia had set out that morning, she hadn't expected to see Sean, no matter how much she wanted to. Ever since arriving in Tampa, she'd been thinking about Sean, wondering how his games were going since she was refusing to watch him play. After that night in Raleigh, she'd watched one or two of his games, lusted after his body as he rushed around the ice, scoring goals, and she'd decided she shouldn't keep torturing herself. So she'd stopped watching his team play. Then she'd walked into the Starbucks that morning and his familiar outline had been in front of her; broad shoulders, long, well-defined legs, dark hair curling at the back of his head. And a wide grin that she knew was for her alone. In that moment, she was done fighting. She'd decided before either one of them spoke two words that she wanted to invite him back to her hotel room. He grabbed her hand as they hurried along the sidewalk, walking briskly away from the Starbucks. She loved the feeling of his large hand closing around her fingers and she turned her hand in his, sliding their palms together. She shivered as he gave her a firm squeeze and picked up the pace. Laughing, she pulled back on his hand. "My legs are shorter than yours Sean," she reminded him. "I'm nowhere near the same physical condition as you." He turned his head and grinned down at her, making her stomach flip. How could he do that? Look so young and yet so appetizing? "What hotel are you staying in?" he asked. She told him and shrieked in surprise when he reached down to pick her up and sling her over his shoulder. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded around her laughter. "Put me down! People are staring!" She could at least be grateful that they were in Tampa, a city that perhaps didn't care about visiting hockey players.
Instead of answering her, he addressed the people on the sidewalk who were giving them curious looks. "It's all right," he assured them with a wave of his free hand. "We're engaged! We haven't seen each other in a while." Amelia laughed and continued to bat him weakly on the shoulder until they reached her hotel. He set her down on her feet before they entered but before he released her, he cupped her face in his hands and pulled her close for a kiss. Her insides melted and her knees went weak instantly as his soft lips closed on her mouth. Sighing, she clutched his biceps and opened her mouth. His arms went around her shoulders and hauled her right up against his body. She felt the heat of his erection pressing into her abdomen and shivered at the sensation. She felt such relief knowing that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers, breathing hard. She smiled at him and laughed when his fingers tightened their hold. "I think we should get off the street," he suggested, his voice husky. Amelia had to agree. They calmly separated and she took his hand, leading him into the hotel. They rode the elevator with a family of five up to her floor and she hustled Sean down the hallway to her room, leaving the family in the elevator. As she fumbled in her bag for the key card, Sean closed in behind her, putting his big hands on her hips and drawing her body back against his. She dropped the key. "Oh God," she muttered as she pressed her palms against the door and rested her head on his chest. He lowered his head and nuzzled her neck, sliding his lips from her shoulder to her ear. Drawing her ear lobe between his lips, he sucked on it and she shuddered, her hands closing into fists. "I... I dropped the key," she whispered. He chuckled, the deep sound rumbling from his chest and reverberating throughout her body. "Then I guess you'd better bend over and get it." She laughed breathlessly and shook her head. Sean gripped her by the hips and spun her around, pushing her back against the door and pressing his lips to hers. She moaned into his mouth, savoring the delicious, masculine taste of him. He kissed her hard, with fierce intensity and she was helpless in his arms. After what felt like hours, he drew back and kissed her once more before stepping back so she could lean down to retrieve the key. She scooped it up quickly and turned away from him so she could focus long enough to slide the key into the lock. The little light turned green and she twisted the door handle just as Sean pressed into her from behind. They both tumbled into the room with a few quick, stumbling steps and Sean caught her up in his arms as she dropped her bag on the floor. She surrendered to this desire roaring through her body and wound her arms around his neck, delighting in the feel of his silky dark hair sliding through her fingers. He was kissing her face while his hands roamed over her body, tugging at her clothes. He spun them around and pressed her up against the door. Amelia was more than willing to let him take the lead here and she smiled as he dropped his head to kiss her throat. All the while, his hands worked at her clothes, pulling her light cotton shirt over her head and pausing to take in the sight of her bra-covered breasts. He drew one hand from her back and lifted it to cup one breast in his palm. Amelia felt her heart pounding in her chest and clung to his shoulders as he lowered his head to plant moist kisses all along her collar bone. Then she felt his fingers sliding up one bra strap, slowly pushing until it hung limply along her arm. She shivered again as he did the same to her other strap and he followed the move with a hot kiss to her collar bone. Suddenly she wanted to see him without his shirt. It was only fair, after all. Reaching behind him, she yanked at the bottom of his shirt, pulling it from his pants. Then she moved her hands back around and started fumbling with the buttons on the front. She growled in frustration when another button slipped from her grasp. Laughing, Sean stopped her hands with his. He leaned down to capture her lips with his before leaning back and yanking the shirt off over his head. Amelia sighed at the sight of his broad, smooth chest revealed to her. She dropped her hands to his chest and ran her palms over the muscles as they rippled with each move he made. He just stood there, letting her touch him. She lifted her head and looked into his eyes, dark with desire. As they stared at each other, Amelia lowered her hands over his chest, across his stomach and stopped at the waist of his jeans. She bit her lip as she released the button on his jeans and tried to push them over his hips. With a groan, Sean lifted her up off her feet, holding her against the door. She gasped and tilted her head back as he rained kissed on her lips, her closed eyelids and her neck. She lifted one leg and wrapped it around his hip, bringing his hard length right up against her hot center. They both moaned at the contact. Sean released her hips while she clung to him, and his hands went to the waist of her pants, hurriedly releasing the catch at the top of her zipper. She lowered her feet to the floor as Sean shoved at her pants. He pushed them down over her hips before hooking his fingers in the edges of her panties. She shuddered and shifted to lay her hands over his. His hazel eyes lifted to hers and he grinned, his entire face dissolving into that youthful expression that she adored. Smiling, she placed one palm against his cheek and held her breath as he slid her underwear down her legs. His eyes skipped away from hers and she felt him catch his breath as he saw her exposed. Well, mostly exposed. As though remembering at the same time, he dragged his hands back up to her breasts and pushed up the cups of her bra. Her breasts fell into his waiting hands and she sighed happily when he dropped his head to close his lips around one erect nipple. She brought her hands up and tangled her fingers in his hair, holding him to her. He lifted her off her feet again and this time, she wrapped both her legs around his waist, reveling in the heated weight she felt brush against her wet core. She held him around his broad shoulders as he reached between them, fumbling at his pants. She wanted to reach down and help but she was useless; a weak, overheated mess in his arms. He didn't need her help anyway. Before she could suck in another breath, he drew his erection out of his pants and slid the head of his cock against her wet lips. She jerked her hips against him, panting for air. He responded, driving himself up and inside of her. They groaned together, shuddering in each other's arms. Then Sean drew back and pushed into her again. He cupped her bottom and held her against him as he thrust again. And again. Amelia turned her head as she pressed a palm to his cheek, drawing their mouths together. His tongue stroked hers in time with his body stroking her below and she drew him in, meeting his thrusting tongue and body with her own. It was a heady feeling, having this strong, virile young man pounding his body into her. He pushed again and again, holding her up with his arms and his entire body. She ran her hands through his hair and over his shoulders, shivering as she felt the muscles bunching and sliding beneath the smooth skin. It was the most erotic moment she'd ever experienced. Then her orgasm rushed through her body, making her toss her head back against the door and cry out loud. Her nails dug into his shoulders and he grunted, still driving into her with the same force. A minute later, she felt his body tensing around hers and he was seeking her lips again. She sighed at the silky feeling of his tongue tangling with hers and held him close when she felt him convulse. It was several more minutes before either of them moved and when Sean set her back on her feet, Amelia didn't think she had strength to stand on her own. She needn't have worried; Sean scooped her into his arms and carried her into the room, laying her down on the king-sized bed. He bent over her, kissing her tenderly and stroking her flushed cheek with his fingertips. Then he pulled back and smiled down at her, his hazel eyes looking sleepy. She smiled back and grimaced when she felt her bra digging uncomfortably into her skin. Laughing, Sean tried to help her but he couldn't manage to work the clasp. "It's too small," he muttered as he succeeded only in snapping it against her back twice. "Here," Amelia said and pulled it off over her head. She tossed it to the floor and reached for Sean again. "Now I think you need to catch up in the nudity department." He happily obliged, shedding his pants and underwear before burrowing under the covers. He drew her close to his body and held her there, kissing her face all over until she drifted off to sleep. *** While he hadn't started the day well, Sean certainly never expected to end up in a hotel room, with the woman who'd been haunting his every thought, naked and cuddled against him. His body reacted instantly as he recalled the very fast, very hot sex they'd had less than an hour before against the door. He swallowed and pressed a light kiss to her forehead instead of hauling her under him to repeat the entire process again. God, she was gorgeous. Her face was still flushed high in her cheeks and he wanted to lick every bit of her. That first time had been over way too fast. He cringed inwardly, wondering what she thought of him for that. He could do better; he knew he could. The thought had him tightening his arms around her, silently willing her to wake up so he could prove it to her. She murmured something and rolled against him, her silken thigh brushing against his hardening cock and he bit back a groan. Her dark lashes fluttered open and he smiled into her cloudy emerald eyes. "Oh no, how long was I asleep?" she asked, her voice husky. "Not long," he assured her, dropping a kiss onto her lips that he intended to keep brief. But she slipped her hand behind his head and trapped him there, kissing her, her tongue sliding so lazily, so sweetly against his. He relented, reaching under her and pushing his palm down her back until he was stroking the gentle curve of her perfect ass. He felt her smile against his lips and pulled back enough so that he could look into her face again. "Did you sleep?" she asked after pressing another light kiss to his lips. He shook his head. "No. I just like feeling you here in my arms." She groaned and lifted a hand to cover her face. He chuckled and tugged gently at her arm until she looked at him again, a fresh blush on her pretty face. "Don't tell me you're shy now? Not after what we just did?" She laughed and moved her hand from her face to swat him on the shoulder. "I can't believe we just did that." "No? It's all I've been able to think about since I met you," he confessed. Laughing again, she shifted in his arms, propping herself up. "Of course it was. You're twenty-one years old! And a hockey player to boot." He frowned. "What does that have to do with it?" "Oh come on, Sean," she said. "You guys aren't exactly known for having innocent relationships with women you meet on the road." "Well, those are mostly rumors," he replied, feeling some of his desire fade at her words. They stung him and he didn't like how that felt. "Anyway, I'm not like that." She studied his face quietly for a moment, a tentative smile on her lips. "I'm sorry, Sean. I didn't mean that you do this sort of thing in every city." "What did you mean?" he asked, wondering if his tone was too sharp. "I just meant that..." she started but stopped and shook her head, moving away from him. "I think this might have been a mistake," she said then as she rose to her feet, leaving him alone in the bed. Her words took a second to sink in but he sat bolt upright in bed a second later, staring at her. "What? You thought this was a mistake?" "Yes," she replied, not looking at him. Sean scowled and tossed the bed covers back as he got to his feet. "Then why the hell did you bring me here?" She did face him then, giving him a lost look and he immediately felt like an ass for snapping at her. "I like you, Sean," she replied quietly. "But you're still too young and I'm too old. That's why this was a mistake. Oh, and not to mention that you're an international celebrity." God, how he hated that label. "I'm a hockey player," he grumbled and began to gather his clothes. "I don't care about how old you are, even if you refuse to tell me your age." Amelia said nothing as he hurriedly dressed himself. When he looked over at her again, she'd donned a hotel robe and was watching him with an unreadable expression on her face. "Would you like to come to the game tomorrow night?" he asked. She bit her lip and looked away. Sean's heart sank. "I don't think that would be a good idea, Sean." "I thought you lived for hockey," he tried again, smiling half-heartedly. "You're a true Canadian girl and grew up with it." "I do love hockey and I know you do, which is why you need to focus," she answered, turning away and pacing across the hotel room. "I'm no good for you, Sean. I'm just an older woman with a hell of a lot of baggage." Frowning, Sean walked over to her and grabbed her shoulders. "I don't care how old you are," he repeated. "I may be younger than you but I'm man enough to know what I want. I want you; I have since I first met you. That's why I don't regret a single moment we shared here." With that, he let her go and stalked to the hotel room door. He stopped just short of leaving and fished something out of his jacket pocket. Turning back into the room, he dropped the VIP pass on the desk and gave her one more searching look before leaving her alone in the room. *** The next twenty-four hours were pure torture for Sean. After leaving Amelia, he returned to the hotel where the team was staying. His teammates razzed him about where he'd been for the past few hours and he endured it with a smile, trying not to let them see how their good-natured speculation cut at him. Later that night, he even went for drinks with some of the guys and shouted at the football game being shown on the big screens.