Making the Cut--Hockey Sports Romance Read online

  Two of the six women in the stands stood and started yelling vulgarities at Ethan. Ethan ignored them, flashing Vienna a grin and a thumbs up to let her know he was alright before he retook his place at the goal.

  Vienna sat down and settled against the wall again, trying to keep her eyes open as she watched the game below, but she was exhausted. Now that the excitement was over, she was really struggling. She drifted off to sleep without realizing it, the sounds of the hockey sticks slapping each other and the ice lulling her to sleep.

  She awoke with a start when Ethan knelt before her and brushed an unruly tendril of hair out of her face. His hair was damp and he’d already changed into sweats and a t-shirt. He smelled of citrus infused soap and shaving cream.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall to sleep.”

  “It’s okay. You’ve had a really long day.”

  He turned to wave at one of the men walking by and the light hit his jaw at just the right angle to show off his swiftly darkening bruise.

  “Oh my gosh, Ethan, are you alright?”

  “I’m fine. I have a bit of a head ache, but I’ll live.”

  “What if you have a concussion of something?”

  “I don’t,” he said, helping her up and gently pushing her towards the door. “Let’s get you home so you can get some rest.”

  “You need to see a doctor.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You shouldn’t sleep with a concussion.”

  Ethan sighed, opening the door for her and checking that it was locked before he let it fall closed behind her.

  “I’m fine, really.”

  He helped her into the car and got in himself, cranking up the heater and putting it into gear.

  “I’m serious, you need to see a doctor.”

  “You’re worried over nothing. You need rest so you can practice tomorrow.”

  “I’m taking tomorrow off to rest.”

  “Even better.”

  He slid the car to a stop in front of her place and ran around to her door to help her out. He walked her to the door, waiting while she fished the key out of her purse and unlocked it.

  “If you won’t go to the doctor, will you at least come in?”

  “Are you inviting me into your home?”

  “For a little while at least. I’m worried about you.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “What is your mom going to say when you show up looking like that?”

  “Nothing. My parents are out of town for the week and I live in my own place.”

  “You can’t go home. What if you go to sleep and you never wake up?”

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “You can stay here.”

  “Are you trying to get in my pants?” he quipped, laughing softly at his own joke.

  “No, but I couldn’t live with myself if something bad happened to you. You can sleep on the couch. It pulls out to a bed.”

  “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

  “No.”

  “Fine. Let me grab my gym bag out of the car. I have a change of clothes and my toothbrush in there.”

  “Perfect,” she said.

  He returned quickly, throwing his shirt over his head, exposing his perfectly chiseled, smooth chest. He pulled her into his arms for a quick hug and got into the sofa bed in just his sweats.

  Vienna bid him goodnight and left the room before she did something she might regret in the morning.

  What had she gotten herself into?

  Chapter 7

  Vienna awoke the next morning to the smell of sizzling bacon and eggs.

  Ethan was at the stove, bare chested and barefoot, three different pans on the stove and biscuits cooking in the oven.

  He smiled at her when she walked in.

  “Good morning, Sunshine.”

  “How long have you been awake?”

  “Not long. I thought you might enjoy breakfast.”

  Vienna nodded, shuffling in her bare feet across the tile to the coffee maker. Food was good, but first, caffeine.

  She was still wearing her thin, pink nightgown that she usually wore, forgetting to put a robe on to cover herself and the thin fabric. Her nipples pushed against the fabric, but she didn’t care. She was half asleep and she was sure that Ethan had seen nipples before. In fact, she was willing to bet on it. If it bothered him, he could look away.

  Vienna took the first sip, closing her eyes and enjoying the flavor as it flowed over her tongue and warmed her throat.

  “You make excellent coffee,” she said.

  “I’m a good cook too, here you go.”

  He slid a plate across the kitchen table and set down his own plate before turning to the sink and quickly washing the dishes he’d used.

  “You cook and clean. Why hasn’t some lucky woman snatched you up yet?”

  He shrugged, sitting down to join her at the table. His eyes settled on her chest. He smiled when he saw that she’d caught him staring, but he didn’t avert his eyes. Vienna’s skin caught fire beneath his gaze and she suddenly felt very exposed.

  “I guess I’ve been waiting for the right lucky woman to come along.”

  “That sounded a little heavy, even for you. I guess dating hasn’t been that great for you?”

  “It’s had its ups and downs, but mostly it has been a pointless waste of my time and talent.”

  “So you’re talented then?”

  “I’ve been told.”

  “I’ll have to meet these women and see if your story rings true,” she teased.

  “Or you can just find out for yourself.”

  Ethan caught her eye and Vienna blushed. Ethan’s typically light-hearted nature often made it hard to know if he was being serious of not. This time, there was no question. Ethan Hayes was making a pass at her. And Vienna was considering taking him up on the offer.

  Ethan cleared her plate when she finished, washing and drying them both and wiping everything down. She sipped her second cup of coffee while he worked, enjoying the sight of him, bare chested and barefoot in her kitchen. A girl could get used to this sight every day.

  She followed Ethan into the living room, not at all shocked to see that he’d stowed the pull out bed and straightened the room

  “I think I need a roommate.”

  “Did you have anyone in mind,” he asked, pulling her down to sit beside him on the sofa.

  “I didn’t even think about it until just now,” she winked at him.

  Her smile faded when the light caught his jaw.

  “Oh, your jaw looks awful. Does it hurt?”

  She reached out and cupped his cheek, gently stroking the bruise. He winced.

  “It hurts when you do that.”

  “Sorry.”

  She pulled her hand away.

  “I didn’t say stop. I like it when you put your hands on me.”

  His grin was sheepish, the suggestion clear in his tones.

  “Don’t you think it’s a little fast?”

  “Do you? It doesn’t really matter what anyone thinks but you in this case. It’s not like I’m going to run and tell my hockey buddies that you slept with me. Give me a little credit.”

  Vienna considered it for a moment.

  “I guess I don’t. I mean we have known each other most of our lives.”

  “You totally stole my line.”

  “I did. I don’t know I just-”

  Ethan leaned forward, capturing her mouth and cutting off her train of thought. She leaned into him, slowly opening herself more and more to him. He pulled her into his arms and against him. She inhaled the scent of him, eyes falling closed as she gave herself over to the moment.

  When he finally pulled away, he was smiling at her.

  “You overthink things,” he teased.

  “Of course I do. That’s what makes me a good competitor and I-”

  He kissed her again, pulling her onto his lap and putting his arms beneath her. He stood while he kissed
her, never breaking the contact while he walked down the hall.

  She broke the kiss, her eyes searching his.

  “Are we really doing this?”

  “We are.”

  He kissed her again before she could change her mind.

  Chapter 8

  Ethan set Vienna on the bed gently, sliding her gown over her head and dropping it onto the floor. She was completely naked, and Ethan arched an eyebrow in surprise.

  “If I’d known you were sitting across from me with no panties that entire time, we never would have made it to the bed.”

  “I’ll remember that for next time,” she said, pulling him down for a deep kiss.

  He broke away, trailing tender kisses down her throat and over her shoulders. She gasped softly when he kissed the gentle slope of her breast, teasing her with a soft brush of his lips right above her nipple. She arched her back into him, her body moving of its own free will.

  “Patience my dear. We have all day.”

  She groaned in frustration, but she was at his mercy and he wasn’t about to be hurried. He took his time, moving on to other parts of her body. Every time he came close to one of her hotspots, he adjusted his course, leaving her aching for more.

  She threaded her fingers through his hair when he moved up her belly again, just inches from her breast. She guided him, unashamed as she tugged his hair to move him closer to her erect nipple. He kissed just below it, blowing his hot breath across the tiny nub, causing it to harden even more.

  “Do you want me to kiss it?”

  “Please,” she breathed out, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “How bad do you want it?”

  “Bad.”

  She was struggling now. Trying to hold onto her sanity, but his leisurely approach was destroying her. She hadn’t realized how much she’d wanted to feel him inside of her until she was beneath him. Now that he was that close, she needed him. Now.

  Ethan chuckled, lips encircling her nipple. He sucked, softly at first then increasing the pressure as she writhed beneath him. He hummed while he did it, the sensation almost too much for her.

  She threw her head back, wrapping her legs around him and pulling him ever closer. He abandoned the first nipple, cupping her other breast in his hand and roughly pulling that nipple into his mouth and tugging. The difference set her on fire. Gentle was good, but Vienna was so aroused that she wasn’t going to be able to tolerate gentle much longer. She wanted him now, and she didn’t want him to be gentle.

  Her legs were wrapped around his hips, just above his loose knit pants. Slowly, she pushed down, working his pants down while he continued his torturous attentions, alternating between one nipple and the other.

  “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing,” he said, with her nipple caught in his teeth while he spoke.

  His free hand went beneath her, gliding down her body and over her tight ass. His hand explored until he found her center, dipping his fingers into the folds and working her into a frenzy.

  Vienna arched her back, her hands pulling at the sheets beneath her as he expertly worked her body to the brink of orgasm and pulled away.

  “I can’t take much more of this,” she choked out.

  “Is that a challenge?” he asked, his teeth still raking over her nipple when he spoke.

  His voice was maddeningly calm, though she could feel his erection pushing against the fabric that pressed against her leg.

  How was he so calm when she felt like she was going to fly apart at any moment?

  “No. Ethan, just please,” she stuttered.

  He smiled, pulling away and gazing down at her.

  “Suit yourself.”

  He slipped his pants off, hovering over her on his knees for a moment, drinking in the sight of her naked and wanting beneath him. Her eyes traveled down his chiseled body and settled on his erection. She bit her lip and moved her hips against him. She was ready.

  He winked at her, clearly amused with her overwhelming desire.

  “You know, I can do this all day.”

  Vienna lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him down onto the bed. She rolled, pinning him beneath her and sliding her sex against his hard length.

  When his head met her opening, she slipped onto him, taking the wide length of him to the hilt. Her head dropped back and she began moving her hips vigorously.

  When she looked down at Ethan, he was smiling wickedly at her. His hands went up, cupping each breast and squeezing roughly. Vienna’s eyes fluttered and she bit her lip. He watched her as she moved, continuing to knead and pull at her supple breasts. One final thrust sent Vienna over the edge and she began to buck and shudder around him.

  Ethan pulled her down, squishing her breasts against his hard chest and wrapping his strong arms around her.

  He dug his heels into the mattress, driving into her over and over until he joined her. She writhed and whimpered in his arms as his orgasm consumed him. She finished before him, but he continued to thrust, squeezing every last drop of pleasure out of her before he fell back, spent, his arms locked around her.

  He was still inside her, the heat of her almost burning his sensitive flesh. He kissed the top of her head, whispering sweet words to her while he cradled her in his arms. In no time, her body relaxed and her breathing was slow and even.

  Still buried within her, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 9

  Vienna’s legs were still a bit sore when she stepped off the ice the next morning. She pushed thoughts of the previous day out of her mind. Her competition was early Saturday morning, which meant today was the last day of practice in Chehalis. Tomorrow was Friday, and today she would be leaving for Seattle shortly after lunch. That would give her most of Friday to get accustomed to the rink in Seattle and plenty of time to rest. She was down to the wire. Her stomach was in knots, but she wasn’t sure all her excitement was over the competition.

  Ethan sat in the stands, cellphone in hand, pulling up the video of each of her programs while she took off her skates and laced her running shoes up.

  “Do you want to watch them now?”

  “No. Let’s go back to my place and eat. I need to pack so I can leave right after lunch.”

  “I’ll meet you over there. I need to grab a few things.”

  Vienna nodded, lost in thought. She walked out of the building, not even noticing when Ethan leaned down to kiss her. He smiled at her back as she walked away. She was in the zone and nothing was going to distract her. He found this side of her amusing. She was so driven and so goal-oriented. It was one of the things he liked most about her.

  Vienna got into her car and drove to her home, leaving the door unlocked behind her so Ethan could let himself in. She’d spent so much of yesterday wrapped in his arms she hadn’t gotten around to packing.

  She put her large duffle bag on the bed, pulling her costumes out. She packed one for each program and two more in case something happened to the first two. She tossed her competition skates into the bag, wrapped in a towel so the brads for her laces didn’t snag on any of her clothes.

  She made a quick sweep of her room and the bathroom, making sure she had everything for her stay in Washington. The competition started on Saturday and ended Sunday afternoon. It was going to be a long weekend, but she was ready.

  If she did well this weekend, she would set her sights on qualifying for the Olympics. She closed her eyes, envisioning that for a moment before she pushed it to the side. One dream at a time. And right now, she was focused on the World Championship. Next week, she would reevaluate and plot her course. Now, she had to stay focused.

  She could smell the food cooking before she realized that Ethan was already there. She was going to miss his cooking while she was gone.

  Vienna lugged her bag into the living room, setting it down by the door and pulling up a chair at the table.

  Ethan had sautéed chicken to go on a beautiful salad he’d already pr
epared and placed on her plate. He brought the sizzling pan over to the table, pushing half the chicken onto her salad and putting the rest on his.

  “This looks delicious, thank you.”

  “My pleasure.”

  They ate in companionable silence, Ethan watching Vienna as she lost herself in thought over and over.

  She looked up and caught him smiling at her.

  “What?”

  “You’re cute when you’re mulling over stuff.”

  “Thanks. I’m just trying to visualize everything. It helps keep me calm before a competition.”

  “Oh. I forgot to bring my phone in.”

  He scooped up her empty plate and set it in the sink with his before racing outside to his car to get his phone.

  When he returned, Vienna furrowed her brows in confusion.

  “What’s in the bag?”

  “My stuff.”

  “For what?”

  “For the weekend.”

  “Which hotel are you staying at?”

  His smile faltered.

  “Whichever one you’re staying at.”

  “What? No you can’t stay with me. My coach won’t like that and I have to focus.”

  “So I can’t share a room with you?”

  “No. The rooms we reserved are for competitors only. Even pairs skaters that are married don’t share a room.”

  “My parents did.”

  “Well that’s different.”

  “So I can’t stay with you? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Of course not. I have to focus and rest. I can’t do that if you’re underfoot.”

  “Is it alright if I come and watch you, or is that too distracting too?”

  “Ethan, I don’t mean it that way. I want you to come to the competition, but the rest of the time, I need my space. I don’t know why you don’t understand.”

  “I understand alright. It’s okay to sleep with me, but you don’t want to be seen in public with someone like me.”