Off Her Game (10 page)

***

Big booming explosions filled Val’s ears as she entered his house. Her mind was sure being there was a mistake, but couldn’t bring herself to say anything. In fact, the feeling heightened as soon as they walked in the living room together, and three heads turned toward them.

War sounds from the video game on the large TV filled the awkward silence. Darren’s free hand was warm on the small of her back.

“I have beer!” Darren announced happily, taking the beer to the kitchen. Val followed him, her nerves firing all the way down to her gut as three pairs of eyes followed her to the kitchen. What made her think this was a good idea?

He set the beer on the counter and turned to her. “You want a beer?”

“Uh, no,” she shook her head. “I should see if I can't call someone.”

His hand covered hers, forcing her to look up at him. “You could stay a bit. Relax some.”

“I need to get my car fixed.” She groaned. “I can’t even imagine how much that’s going to cost.”

“Please stay a while?” Her pulse pounded through her body as she gazed up at him. His dark eyes were so sincere.

“You have company.”

“They're just playing video games.”

“I'm just gonna go make some calls, and see if I can't get someone to go look at the car for me.” A booming explosion from the other room cut her off, followed by a roar of laughter from the other room.

Darren frowned as he glanced back at the room. She smiled, trying to put him at ease. “Is there someplace quiet I can go?”

“Bedroom upstairs.” He grinned.

She shook her head. “I was thinking somewhere down here.”

“Office,” he said and pointed the opposite way of the guys. “Through that doorway and around the corner.”

He pulled out a beer and held it up for her.

She smiled lightly, but shook her head. “Thanks.” Alcohol so near to Darren was bound to have bad consequences. Ones that might feel really frigging good.

She walked down to the office and shut the door behind her. This room was so much better than the hotel had been. Sure, it was a ritzy place, but this house... It made her wonder what it had been like before the renovation.

She’d never been at his house before. They’d spent the majority of their time together at his hotel room, but now that he was home again, that wasn’t an option. She didn’t feel right about this, about making it this intimate. This was his home, and it was a place she didn’t belong.

Val picked up the landline, but remembered that Nick was out on a date with Jen tonight. She hung up. Who was she going to call? She didn’t really have a lot of friends. None of her family lived in Fort Glasgow. Most of them were in Dallas.

She really needed to get more friends.

“Val.”

She turned around slowly, her hand with the phone lowering to her side. Darren stood in the doorway, his massive frame blocking the entire opening. Her ass hit the desk as she took a step backward.

“Did you get anyone?”

She shook her head. “No. I don't really know a lot of people.” Blood rushed through her ears as he pushed off the door frame and approached her.

“You could stay here, you know. I know a mechanic that could help you in the morning.” His cologne wafted into her nostrils, turning her legs into jelly. He stopped inches from her, and far too close. The scent of him invaded her personal space. “Unless... you're afraid to stay here. Are you afraid of me, Valerie Chase?”

“No.” Tremors seeped into her voice.

He placed his palms on the desk, on either side of her. “I think you may be.”

“No.” Her voice was a little stronger.

“I've been thinking a lot about you, Val,” he whispered, inches from her lips. She closed her eyes, which turned out to be a worse idea. Everything about him overwhelmed her. The warmth of his body, the soft scent of his cologne. The world vanished in light of him.

Then his lips touched hers. Her common sense told her that this was a monumentally bad idea, that men didn't fit into her plan; that she couldn't afford to be involved with someone whom she'd have to leave when she moved away.

Too good. He felt way too good.

“I thought about you,” he said against her mouth. “ All through pre-season. I was playing like shit, because I couldn't get a hold of you.” His arms left the desk, and slid along her hips, up to her waist. “Coach was pissed at me.”

“Darren...” she whispered, glancing back toward the open door. Someone could walk in at any moment. His lips softly caressed hers, coaxing her back to life. She found herself leaning forward, wanting more of his affections.

His hands slid under her hoodie, up her ribcage to the underside of her breasts, where he ran his thumb along her bra. Without thinking, she arched toward him, and one of his palms surrounded her breast.

He whispered against her lips, “You're my good luck charm.” He pinched her nipple. Her lips parted on a gasp and his tongue plunged into her mouth. He swallowed the moan that bubbled up in her throat.

“What?”

“Last season, the games I played well were the ones that you told me you watched. But when I couldn't talk to you, I couldn’t focus. I couldn't play well.”

“That's just superstition, Darren. That's not real.” His fingers brushed her cheek, so tangible.

“It's real to me,” he said.

“Stop. Please,” she said. “You have company here. They could come in…”

“I need you,” he said. When he kissed her again, his tongue stroked hers, coaxing a moan from her.

“Someone could come in,” she said. But her body had other ideas, her arms wrapping around his neck.

He glanced back toward the open door, a devilish smile on his face. “That might be fun.” His hands splayed around her waist, rubbing over her hips as well, like he wanted to touch her everywhere at once.

“Oh, shut up!” She chuckled, slapping her hand against his chest. He grabbed her ass and lifted her up, setting her down on the desk, her feet dangling helplessly. Control over the situation was slipping, but her body loved every bit of it. Enough to throw caution out with the week old trash.

He pushed up her hoodie, and pulled it over her head, not even bothering to unzip it. It hit the floor. He pushed up her t-shirt, pulled the cup of her bra down, the fleshy globe spilling out, and took her nipple into his mouth.

She dug her fingernails into his shoulders. Her center clenched with heat and need. The skin around her nipple tightened with the cooler air that hit her overheated body.

She leaned back, giving him more room as he moved to the other breast, exposing it and sucking the same way he'd done the first. She fisted his dark hair, pressing him against her. His talented mouth left her bereft of thought.

“Darren...” He unbuttoned her shorts and ran his fingers along her elastic panty waistline before slipping his fingers into them.

His finger slid along the smooth, slick folds of her pussy, massaging the nerves all bundled in one spot. She moaned and spread her legs, trying to press against his fingers, to get him to stroke the ache growing inside her.

“Damn, Val. You're so wet.” He whispered, reverently lowering her shorts down her legs. The cool air made her shiver and the skin on her arms form goose flesh. “That's such a fucking turn-on.”

His palms smoothed back up her legs. Inside, she was thanking God she remembered to shave that morning. Even so, her skin prickled where he touched. His hot breath on her core nearly had her moaning, but she bit back the urge. She didn’t want to attract the attention of his guests.

She glanced toward the door, which represented a danger that only made her slicker between the legs. Darren's lips touched her hips, gently, and then his warm, hot flesh slid over her clit. She jerked in surprise, even though she'd been watching him touch her.

Fingers pushed into her entrance, filling her with delicious heat. Her chest tightened, her muscles tensed as he worked over her pussy. She'd had boyfriends go down on her before, but this was so different. He was entirely focused on her, building her up to a precipice and yanking her back before she could fall over. He did that so many times she was almost dizzy.

His fingers pumped inside her. She spread her knees further apart, wanting more of what he was giving her. She stifled a cry as his thick fingers flicked the bundle of nerves, her body tensing.

He took it into his mouth, sucking hard. It was enough to send her over that precipice. She cried out, her muscles instantly tensing, all at once with the release that washed over her.

Hot flashes roared through her blood, white seared her vision. Darkness threatened to take her over as her blood rushed through her veins. When her body finally relaxed, she felt limp like overcooked spaghetti, boneless.

Her super sensitive skin prickled as he smoothed his hands over her body, up her back, enveloping her in an embrace. He grinned and leaned in toward her. Their lips touched, gently. Val clung to his arms, trying to stay upright.

“You’re beautiful.” His whispered compliment wrapped her in a blanket of contentment.

Beyond them, male shouts filled the air, accompanied by the sound of explosions and eerie video game music. She couldn't hear what they said, nor did she care at that point. Her mind and her body were singularly focused on the man standing between her legs and the pleasure he’d just brought her.

His dick strained his jeans, the sight of Val’s orgasm burned into his eyes for the rest of his life. He sat down in the chair next to Cody.

“Where's your girl?” Cody asked, his eyes glancing back at the hallway where she'd gone.

“She's trying to get a hold of someone for her car.” Darren didn’t let himself look. If he did, it was likely that he’d go back and ravage her some more.

“What's wrong with it?”

“Do I look like a mechanic?” Darren snapped, instantly regretting his tone when Cody flipped him off.

“Fuck you, man. I was just asking.” Cody scowled. “I just meant… I could take a look at it.”

Darren hadn't thought of that and now his skin flushed, embarrassed. Cody's first job had been in a mechanic shop. But if he'd called Cody, he couldn't have had Val come back with him. Not that he'd done it on purpose. He’d forgotten to take his phone.

The right thing to do would be to get Cody to look at it now, but even though Cody was married, he didn't want his friend anywhere near Val. Possession twisted in his gut, wrenching his stomach so hard that he almost ran to the bathroom. He forced himself to remain rooted to the spot. He had no right to be possessive.

“Stop that, dude.”

Darren jerked from his thoughts to find Cody scowling at him. “What?”

“That creepy, caveman stare. You really like this girl?”

Darren blinked. It took him a moment to comprehend exactly what Cody had said.

“I just got a divorce. Like is a strong word.” Like. It was a good word for how he felt.

“Please, that marriage was only a year. And you were separated for five months of it.” Cody shrugged. “I like the bar girl. She's cool people.”

“So glad I have your fucking approval,” Darren growled. He jerked to his feet, plagued by a need to find her. When he turned, Val stood in the doorway, uncertainty wafting from her in soft waves of tension. She had a healthy post-orgasm glow that made her skin shimmer. He met her halfway. The awkward vibe coming off her slapped him in the face. What had just been sexy and warm was now icy to the touch.

“Do you mind if I hang out a while longer?” Her voice was quiet, her eyes nervously casing the room. “Nick's out on a date. No one else is picking up their phone right now.”

“No, that's great! Come, I'll introduce you to the guys.”

He didn’t give her a chance to protest. He took her hand. Gavin and Misha were fighting over who got first player on the game they'd put in. Gavin's Italian temper was making his face redden, but it vanished as he saw Val.

“Val, that monster in the chair over there is Cody. He's a Highlander goalie. Cody, this is Valerie.”

Cody stood, wiping his hand on his jeans before offering it to her.

“Nice to meet you,” Cody smiled at her, his boyish grin lowering the tension in her shoulders. Cody had that nice guy feeling about him. Darren had noticed it before, at team events. He especially had a way with kids. Despite his large size, he had a way of putting them at ease.

He turned to Gavin and Misha, who had temporarily stopped their bickering. He'd figured Gavin would, having been brought up in an Italian household with parents big on protocols and etiquette.

Gavin held out his hand to Val. “Gavin Ferrara.
Tu sei provocante
.”

Darren frowned and tightened his hold on Val's left hand. She glanced at him for a second before she answered Gavin. “Hello. So, you're a hockey player too?”

He nodded. “Yup. Even the rookie here.” Gavin slapped Misha on the back, ignoring the glare he got in return.

“
Idi na xuy husesos
,” Misha muttered.

“That's Misha. He’s Russian. Ignore his rudeness.” Darren pointed to the younger man. Misha didn't offer his hand, instead waving from a safe personal distance. His cheeks were a little redder than normal, the dark stubble on his face standing out from the flushed skin.

Val turned to him. “Can we talk?”

“Yeah, you want a beer?”

“No,” she said, her face stoic. He glanced at her, her eyes shifting around the room, everywhere but at him.

He set his beer down and glanced at the guys, who'd returned their attention to the game on the screen. “I'll be back, guys.”

He headed into the hallway, but Val stopped and shook her head. “Maybe outside?”

He nodded and turned toward the other way, back out the front door to the porch.

***

With summer slowly bleeding off, the temperatures had cooled somewhat. Val followed Darren out to the front porch. Trepidation made her want to hide, and she was so damn exhausted anyway.

She was confused as hell. But the orderly brain inside her head didn't want to continue this—whatever
this
was—without a set plan. Were they dating? Were they fuck buddies? Friends? She needed to know that they were defined. Losing her job had her world on end, but she at least wanted some kind of order where Darren was concerned.