Monday, May 10, 2010

Chapter 24: Another Chance at Destiny?

I meant to post this last night. I apologize! I must've been in awe of Vancouver* Yeah Vancouver!
Let's Go Pens!!!

“Well, you look no worse for wear,” Amanda said as Mel walked up to the table. She’d had to pry herself from Sid’s arms this morning to shower… again… That man should come with a frickin’ warning label! Not like I’d pay attention to it anyway. Her thoughts were cut short when she sat down too hard in the chair, wincing as her butt hit the wooden surface.

“Maybe it’s only in places we can’t see,” Erin suggested.

Mel shot both of them a look that meant ‘hey-shut-up-about-it’ but came out more of a ‘hey-don’t-be-jealous’ kind of way. Vero was sitting there, confusion and curiosity all over her face.

“What am I missing here? Something happened last night? You didn’t hurt yourself again did you? Marc told me all about the backyard incident. I’m sorry, but I believe we laughed quite a bit over it.”

“No V, I didn’t hurt myself. It just has to do with Sid. It’s nothing,” Mel replied. There had never been a night in her life that she’d had that compared to what they’d done.

“Oh my god, did he beat you?!”

“Shhhh… no he didn’t beat me! What on earth would give you that idea?!”

“Well, you sat down very gingerly, you say you don’t want to talk about it, and you look exhausted. Still…”

“What? Still what?”

“You look very satisfied…”

Mel watched her friend. Vero was staring at her with her nose scrunched up, like she was mentally trying to form her conclusions. Then her eyes widened and she squealed, which caused Amanda to choke on her water. Then as Erin tapped Amanda on the back, an ice cube shot out over the table and skipped into a plate of spaghetti one table away. The little old lady sitting there threw a hand to her throat like it was a damn spider or something and Mel couldn’t help the laughter that came out.

She was still sitting there, tears in her eyes and a stitch in her side from the heaving giggles, when the waitress came over to ask if everyone was alright and if they needed any assistance. Erin calmly replied that they were fine, and perhaps the woman beside them would like a new plate of food. Mel found her composure long enough to tell the woman to put it on her bill as well.

“Okay,” Mel said, wiping her eyes with her hands, “now that the little freak out is over… did you figure something out V?” Vero looked around the table and then leaned in, beckoning the rest of them to do the same. It was like some sort of secret meeting and Mel giggled again. Vero glared at her though and Mel held up her hands in defense. Then V started whispering.

“You let him take out his frustrations on you, no?”

“Exactly.”

“Ooooooh, I have been there before. I’m surprised to can even walk right now. I think I lay in bed for hours before I could stand! But it was glorious!”

“And it was even better the way we did it,” Mel said with a wink. Then she remembered that V had no idea what she was talking about. “We… ummm… you remember my birthday party, the gag gift from Max…”

“Mon dieu! You did not! You did! Ahhh, tell me all about it! Well, not all of it please, but just… what was it like??”

The next twenty minutes were spent answering questions from all three of her friends and finally they put an end to what Mel figured must be like a post-game interview when the food arrived. While waiting for dessert they made plans for a party after Game 6. None of them wanted to consider the fact that it could be a going away party, well, unless it was meant as a ‘Good luck in Detroit’-type of going away party.

Mel spent Sunday night at her mom’s and tried, unsuccessfully at first, to get her to come up to Mario’s on Monday afternoon.

“I’ll be in the way, and I don’t want to ruin any pre-game rituals or anything like that,” she’d told Mel with a wave of her hands.

“Mom, seriously… they want you to come up. I wouldn’t have invited you if I didn’t have the full support of everyone else. That meaning Sid, Mario, Nathalie, Trina and Troy. C’mon… it’ll be fun!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! Please, you haven’t come to a game since Geno’s hattie. This is going to be the last home game until next season. Period. They’ll be flying out for Detroit tomorrow night, hopefully, and Sid’s getting me a ticket to fly out the next morning like the rest of the girls if we’re victorious. So you absolutely HAVE to come!”

She watched her mom think it over for what seemed like an eternity. Then she started smiling.

“Oh fine, if I must,” she told Mel in mock annoyance. “I have one condition though.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“I’m going to buy a jersey and I want it signed before the game starts.”

“Okay… I’m pretty sure Sid would have an extra one that you could just wear. That’s what I do!”

“I don’t want Sid’s jersey… I want Staal’s.”

“Staal’s… Jordan?? But, I’m dating Sid…”

“Well, I know that. But after being forced to sit there and watch those guys skate around and everything… I’ve decided that he’s my favorite. No offense to your boyfriend, I just like the blonde giant.”

Mel started laughing and promised her mom that a signed jersey would be no problem. They both packed up a small overnight bag and were headed up to Sewickley in no time. They were half way there when her mom looked around the inside of her car.

“Why don’t you just get a place in Pittsburgh? You look like you live in your car. There are more clothes in here than in your closet. And I’m guessing that you’ve got your own area at Sid’s.”

“Well, just a drawer and a portion of the closet. And space in the bathroom. Nothing big or anything. Besides, I can’t afford to live in Pittsburgh right now mom. Erin’s talking about moving in with Geno though. She’s going to quit her job here and go back to school, but not as a student. Something about teaching people to be a chef. Can you believe that? I mean, that is flippin’ awesome!”

“So go back to school as well. You’ve been talking about it for months. That would get you the money to get an apartment while you took classes. Or look into what it would take to get your certificate so you could teach. I’m sure that the schools are always looking for people. See what it would take.”

“What if it all fails again though? What if I fail?”

“You have never failed at anything in your life.”

“I couldn’t make it work with either one of my roommates mom. Both times it ended badly. I barely talk to Rachel anymore.”

“Yes, well, she was a stick in the mud. You need someone lively as your roommate. Someone who can keep up with you, but doesn’t mind your independent nature. You need someone like one of the guys. They would be perfect. Why don’t you move in with Sid?”

“Way too early for that!”

“But you just said that Erin is moving in with Geno.”

MAY be moving in with him. And their relationship is different.”

“What about Amanda? What has she been doing with Brooks?”

“I’m pretty sure they started living together last week.”

“So what’s stopping you?”

“He’s not ready.”

“How can you know that?”

“If he was ready for something that serious… When Sid and I move in together, it’ll be our own place, and I’ll have a ring on my finger. It won’t happen before that.”

“Old-fashioned?”

“God no… if that were the case, we wouldn’t be having se… umm… living together is just something that he won’t take lightly. And neither will I.”

“Have you two talked about it?”

“Once. I told him that he has to be the one to make that move. Everything happened so fast in our relationship. We needed to keep it somewhat grounded. Moving in together would’ve been a bad idea. Neither of us is ready for that kind of commitment yet.”

“Well, then I still suggest that you move up there. You’re never here anyway,” her mom said with a laugh.

“Oh god Mom, I’m sorry!” Mel tried to apologize for realizing that she was ignoring the one person who had been there for her like no one else. But her mom just laughed again and promised that she wasn’t hurt by anything that had happened. In fact, she was glad.

“You don’t want me living at home?”

“I know you’re unhappy about it. And I don’t blame you… you’ve been on your own now; you love the taste of freedom. Just… look into the different options. Give it some thought. I’m not saying you have to move out tomorrow!”

“What about you though? I don’t… I don’t want you to think I’m abandoning you.”

“It’s Pittsburgh Melany, it’s not like Sid’s being traded to L.A. or Anaheim or something.”

“GAH! Don’t even kid like that!”

“Like they would ever get rid of that boy… I’m just saying, I’m fine hun.”

They rode the rest of the way in silence, just listening to the radio. And Mel started thinking up ways to make this possibility a reality. The schooling or job part wasn’t going to be hard. Colleges were always taking in new people & there were tons of job opportunities in Pittsburgh. The living arrangements, that was going to be the kicker.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Ahhh!!!!!!!!”

Sid was pretty sure that Staalsy’s yell could be heard all the way in Thunder Bay and, like everyone else, he stood waiting to tap gloves with him in celebration. They needed this, the first goal in the game. They’d had it before, but this night… it was different. They needed the lead, and they needed to keep it. No backing down, no mercy. Even if they couldn’t ring up the goals like Detroit had the other night, they just needed the win.

The rest of the period was uneventful however. No penalties, no more goals, nothing more than a few words exchanged against the boards or in front of the net after the whistles blew. It wasn’t enough. They needed another goal. Even then though, a two goal lead wouldn’t really mean much in a game like this. Sid wanted this game so badly it made him ache inside.

Going into the dressing room at the end of the second period they were clinging to the lead and praying that they could get a goal in the beginning of the third and keep up the momentum. He was sitting in his stall contemplating life in general when Billy plopped down next to him.

“How’s that girl of yours doing lately Dooly? Haven’t heard you complaining or worrying like you’d been before. In fact, there seems to be a little pep in your step ever since we got home from Detroit. What’s your secret?”

Sid stared down at the ground, his face beet red. There was no way he was going to tell anyone what had happened between he and Mel at the hotel. It was the most liberating and exhilarating experience of his life. She was amazing. She truly was. She had held him all night long, keeping him as close to her as possible. After what he’d put her through, he had seriously expected her to sleep in the other bedroom of the suite. But she’d curled on top of him and promptly slept like a baby.

The next morning they’d made love once more before showering. Then he drove her to lunch with her friends. She’d hopped out of his car with a chaste kiss on the lips, totally different from the passionate lip locks they’d shared the night before. And he hadn’t seen her for more than two minutes alone since then.

She had refused to sleep with him last night, even under the guise of just sleeping. He couldn’t blame her in the end though. He would’ve ravaged her body no matter what, and he knew that she would’ve given in. She knew that too. So he settled for a heated kiss this morning, stolen by the refrigerator when she had opened it to get more orange juice for the table. He’d followed her, knowing there would be no one else there to interrupt him.

Mel had giggled as he’d cornered her in the open fridge, pressing her lips to his as she tried to grab for the carafe of juice. Thank god she hadn’t actually attempted to hold it while he kissed her. The thing would’ve fallen to the floor and made a complete mess. Stopping the kiss as quickly as he’d started, he made his way back to the table before her. As she sat down Mario had started chuckling.

“What’s so funny,” Nathalie asked Mario.

“Ummm, Melany… I thought you were bringing in more juice.”

“I… I was, wasn’t I… damn you Crosby.” The last part had been mumbled almost under her breath but he knew her mom had heard because she started laughing. Which started a chain reaction until everyone was smiling and or chuckling.

Sid blinked as a tape ball smacked him in the forehead. Billy had that toothless grin on his face.

“What?”

“Oh nothin’, just trying to talk to you. Someone seemed a little out of it though. I was asking you how Melany was.”

“Good. She’s good.”

“So, you two planning on something serious? Moving in together, getting married, poppin’ out a kid.”

“Wh-what?! No! Why the third degree old man?”

“Old man my ass… anyway, you just had that look of bliss on your face when I mentioned her. so it seemed valid.”

“It’s too soon for any of that.”

“You’re in love with her.”

“Yes. And she’s in love with me. But we aren’t ready for that.”

“Geno’s going to ask Red to move in with him after the Finals are over.”

“Really?? Well… that’s good. They’re great together.”

“Have you even considered the possibility?”

“We talked about it… once. It’s not the right time for us. We both agreed on it.”

“Don’t you think it’s a little trying for her though. Constantly driving up and back.”

“She hasn’t really left all that much since we met.”

“So, why not just move in together? I mean, if you practically are now…”

“I’m so not asking her to move in with me at Mario’s.”

“Move out.”

“No.”

“Why?” He looked at Billy. No matter how he chose the next words, it would either make him sound stupidly superstitious, or just stupid. Either way, Billy was going to laugh. “C’mon kid, what’s in that head?” Might as well tell him both reasons.

“First,” Sid looked around to see if anyone was paying them any attention. “I’m scared. I don’t know how well I’d do on my own. Second, I’ve lived at Mario’s since I came to Pittsburgh. I’ve got my routine’s all down for game days and… and I sound like a fucking whack job…”

“I was scared when I first got my own place. And you are a superstitious little fuck… Let me ask you this, what happens when we move into the new arena after next season?”

“I’m doomed,” he said with a smile.

“Maybe… maybe you should look into moving after next season then. New arena, new living quarters.”

“That… Billy that makes total sense!”

“Of course it does. I only tell you things that make sense.”

“I sound crazy. I am crazy. I could move into a new place. I could.”

“No, you couldn’t. But if Melany understands that, and she’s willing to put up with your insanity, then who am I to argue with you.” Billy clapped him on the back and they listened to what Coach had to say before getting ready to head back out for the final period. Do or die tonight, do or die.

Thankfully they didn’t die and Sid jumped over the boards to go over and celebrate not losing the Cup at home for a second year. He skated over to Flower, showing him some love and appreciation for not letting in more than the one goal. He knew the guy would bounce back from the horror of Game 5. Fuck what the media said.

They were all exhausted as they walked into the locker room and Sid felt the pull of tired muscles as he shucked off his uniform. He wanted nothing more than to answer questions, grab a shower, take Mel home and hold her to him as he fell asleep. Coach gave them the morning off, so no practice until afternoon and he wanted to soak up the free time with sleep and… bedroom activities.

But when he came out of the showers he was told that Mel had left with Erin and that he was to meet them at Geno’s house for a small celebration of not losing. Supposedly they had spent part of the day decorating the house for this party. How did they know we were going to win?? He slid on his suit jacket and headed out to his car. His phone vibrated as he hopped inside.

You better get here soon, your teammates are looking pretty appetizing right now baby.

Sid laughed and started making his way to Geno’s, stopping to sign for the group of fans still waiting for him. On the road finally, he dialed her number and waited for her to pick up.

“Hello?”

“Hi.”

“Could you hurry please, I’d very much like to kiss you.”

“Then I will try to get to you as soon as possible,” he said with a smile. They talked about unimportant things while he drove the rest of the way to his teammate’s house. He pulled in the drive and was surprised by what he saw.

There were lights coming from around back and enough cars to suggest that there were more than just a few people there. And when he got out of his car, the music and laughter made him think that it was more like the entire team was there. Sid took the walkway around the house and stared in amazement at what the girls had created.

Three long tables ran parallel to the house and each one was filled with either food or beverages. He noticed that Max was at the third table, pouring shots of god knows what at a makeshift bar, and Staalsy was over by some speakers playing with an iPod, and Tanger was leading something that looked like a dance-off. He was just about to join the group when a pair of hands circled his waist from behind and stared to undo the buttons of his jacket.

“You have too much clothing on,” the voice rasped at his ear and Sid went from feeling elation to being creeped out in a matter of seconds because the voice did not belong to Melany. No, it was distinctly male, and accented. He tried to move away but the hands tightened their hold and lifted him up, spinning him around much to the delight of the crowd that was now paying attention to what was going on.

Sid laughed and threatened Geno with everything he could think of but the Russian just spun him around once more before placing him back on the ground, sans jacket, in front of a very amused Melany.

“Is there something you need to tell me Sidney?”

“I… that is he… I need a damn drink.”

Everyone laughed and Geno slung an arm around his neck as the three of them walked over to Max. In no time at all everyone was feeling a little bit tipsy and dancing along with some random techno music. Not normally one for the ‘rave scene,’ Sid meandered over to change the tune when Dupuis stepped in front of him.

“Don’ touch it.”

“But I wan--”

“Go dance with your woman.”

“Duper, can’t we ju--”

“Go. Enjoy the music.” Damn the man for not letting people change music… it’s not like we’re in the locker room now. Sighing, Sid found Mel on the outskirts of the ‘dance floor’ and pulled her against him. he didn’t like to dance, he didn’t want to dance, but feeling her shake and shimmy against him was worth it.

He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, him behind her with his hands on her hips, but the hard beat of the music trailed off and was replaced by a soft jazz number. Sid grabbed Mel’s hand and turned her toward him, enveloping her in his arms. As they swayed back and forth he leaned down to plant a kiss on her lips. She tasted like oranges because of the coolers she’d been drinking.

“Congratulations on the win tonight,” she told him as he pulled away.

“I didn’t do much.”

“Don’t ever think that. You’re their captain. They wouldn’t have made it this far without you. Just don’t go getting all egotistical on me.”

“Okay, I won’t. I love what you guys did for us. But how did you know we’d win?”

“I told you in the beginning Sidney. I would be there cheering you on in Game 7.”

“Cocky little thing aren’t you,” he said with a smile.

“I am. And you got your second chance. Now don’t screw it up.”

She poked him in the chest as she said the last part and he couldn’t help but smile as he took her face in his hands and kissed her again. She was his everything right now. Yeah, tomorrow he’d start worrying about Detroit. But tonight, tonight he was going to enjoy the night with his friends and girlfriend.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Chapter 23: The Kit

****WARNING****
-- Parental Advisory Warning: Some explicit language.
-- There may be some name-calling and someone tied to the bed… it’s going to get intense… if you don’t want to read about it, I suggest you just skip this chapter.
-- Not being rude, just telling you… I don’t want all this horrible feedback… So, you’ve been warned.

“Are you sure this is going to turn out the way you want it to? He’s not going to… I mean… he won’t, won’t hurt you… right?”

“When you say ‘hurt’, how do you mean?”

“Mel! Don’t let him ever come at you when he’s angry… no one deserves to be a punching bag for their significant other!”

“Erin… it’s not going to be like that. If I thought that any real harm would come to me, I wouldn’t go. But this, this is going to be liberating for both of us. He’ll get the post-game frustration out of his system, and I’ll get crazy, hot sex! It’s not like I’m going to come to lunch tomorrow with bruises all over my body!”

“Well, once he’s got you restrained…”

“Oh for cryin’ out loud! He’d never hurt me!”

“How do you know? I know that we went over this whole ‘you-two-are-in-love’ issue, but do you really know him that well after two months?”

“I do.” Erin put the car in Park and looked at her for a moment. “I trust him Erin. He’ll stop if I’m uncomfortable.”

“And if he’s too far gone with lust or whatever the hell he’ll be feeling?”

“He won’t be.”

“Well…” Mel knew that there would never be any way for her to prove that Sid wouldn’t cause any harm. And she honestly didn’t know that. She could sit here and promise Erin until she was blue in the face, but if his control snapped completely… She thought of the shower fun, and other times. There was still a sense of composure.

Sid had broken through all of her walls, but there was one more to get past when it came to him. She’d seen the shuttered look now and then when he talked about different hockey memories. He never let her see him when he was like this. Tonight was going to be a trial run for whether or not she had everything it took to be with him.

Now I sound like a freakin’ abused woman… I don’t even mean it like that. But this will be Sidney at his worst. If I can handle that, I can handle anything that is thrown our way. She gave Erin one more smile before promising to see her at Johnny Carino’s for lunch with a couple of the girls. They were going to plot. Win or lose, they were throwing a bash after Game 6.

“Okay, I promise you, I’ll call if anything happens. Well, anything bad. Okay?” Erin didn’t look completely convinced but she nodded and then drove off, going over to the usual spot to pick up Geno.

Walking into the parking lot walkway area, Mel noticed that her hands were shaking slightly. She was scared, no, her body was practically humming with excitement. She’d tried the ‘take-me-I’m-yours’ act a couple times, but the guy had backed down in the end and released her before the real fun could start. She didn’t see this happening with Sid.

She hadn’t realized that she was reaching the end of the moving walkway until she tripped and almost fell flat on her face. That would’ve been real good. Show up at lunch with a fat lip and Erin would be calling the authorities. Mel let out a shaky chuckle before composing herself and walking through the sliding glass doors and into the lobby.

Looking around, she noticed that there was no one there. No concierge, no bell hop… no Sid. What the fuck?! She was just about to pull out her cell and call him when she heard a noise to her left. Turning, Mel looked into the bar area. She saw Sid at the counter nursing a shot of something. I could use one of those.

Deciding to go for broke she walked over and took the glass out of his hand, downing it before he had a chance to protest. He stared at the glass in her hand, and then his eyes traveled up her arm and came to rest on her face. What she saw in those eyes made her shiver in anticipation. Desire was practically rolling off of him and she watched his nostrils flare as he caught the scent of the perfume he’d bought her last week.

She watched him slip a twenty onto the bar before getting up, grabbing her hand, and leading her back out to the lobby. From there she followed him down a slight slope to an area with three elevators.

“Baby, are you… are you okay?”

Had it not been for the gentle squeeze of his fingers holding hers, she would’ve thought he hadn’t heard her speak at all. While they waited for the elevator she studied his profile. He had a serious look on his face and she watched his chest rise and fall with each breath he took. They came faster the longer they waited. When at last the elevator doors opened he pulled her inside and punched the top floor while sliding his key into a slot, waiting for the doors to close again.

“Sid, I know you’re upset, but I need you to at least say something so tha--”

His lips crushed hers as he leaned forward. Then he was pushing her back against the padded leather wall. She moaned and her fingers traveled up, fisting in his curls. His tongue swept out, his teeth nipping on her lower lip, and then he was burying his face in her neck. She turned her head to give him better access and noticed her reflection in the mirrored wall. Eyes already hazy with passion, lips swollen from one kiss, cheeks flushed. She was a goner.

She was brought out of her reflection moment when she felt Sid’s hand slide along the waist of her jeans before dipping down the front. She mumbled something about public indecency, to which he chuckled into the flesh at her collarbone. Then those questing fingers moved beneath her underwear and pushed between her moist lips and she let out a strangled moan. He wasted no time, going directly for her clit, his fingers rubbing quickly as Mel tried to spread her legs wider even though they were encase in denim.

Faintly she heard the ding of the elevator and as the doors of the car slid open Sid pulled his hand out, licking his fingers before kissing her again. She moaned as she tasted herself on his lips and then gasped as he lifted her straight up, pulling one leg to silently have her wrap her legs around his waist. Walking them over to grab the key card, he strode out of the car and down a small hallway that had just one door.

He punched the card into the slot, and after she heard a click the door was open and he was carrying her into a giant room. She heard the door slam shut as he took her down a hallway and into a bedroom. He finally set her down on the mattress and then asked for the kit. Taking it out of her bag she handed it to him.

“Unless you brought extra clothes, I would take all of that off while I set this up. Because if you’re still covered when I’m finished, I’ll rip every fucking seam.” Mel’s eyes widened and she started tearing her shirt off. She heard him chuckle and smiled too. It wasn’t that she didn’t have more clothes with her, but she really loved this shirt. She was down to her panties when he turned away from the bed.

“Stop.” She froze, her hands on the elastic lace at her hips.

“But I only ha--”

“Don’t fucking move them.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sid stared at Melany, her fingers itching to pull the lace down her legs. He wondered briefly if she would do it just to get his reaction, but then she moved her hands, letting them fall down by her sides. He’d set up the restraints in no time flat, slipping each one around the legs of the bed since there weren’t posts on this one.

He let his gaze roam up and down her body again, noting the fact that she was visibly shaking. If she was uncomfortable…

“Are you scared?”

“No.”

“You’re shaking,” he said, one eyebrow up, wanting her to be truthful.

“I’m nervous, and horny as hell. It’s a little confusing.”

“Pick a random word.”

“What?” He watched her go from nervous to just plain amused in a second flat. “A word?”

“Yes. Something that, if you said it during anything we do, I’ll know that means you want to stop.”

“I don’t need a word.”

“Please, I don’t want you to think that you have to do anything here tonight. I don’t… once you’re in those cuffs and at my mercy, I may not stop if you say ‘no,’ thinking you’re just playing. I want a word that I can’t confuse with teasing.”

“I trust you not to hu--”

“Melany,” he growled.

“Platypus.”

“Excuse me?”

“Platypus,” she repeated, a smile on her lips. “If you use the word platypus during sex… then I think we have a bit of a problem here.”

Sid smiled briefly, then he told her to get on the bed. He wasn’t sure how he’d managed not to ravish her body already, but he could feel the tension eating away at him. Thank god for the shot I had before the one she stole. I don’t know if I can do this.

Turning, he watched her crawl up to the middle of the bed, splaying her arms and legs for him to wrap in the padded Velcro cuffs. Her ankles were first. He did the first one and looked up at her, asking with his eyes if she was comfortable. He moved around, closing the restraints around each limb. Then he stood at the foot of the bed and began undressing.

“Why didn’t you let me help you with that,” she cooed from the bed.

“If you had put your hands on me, I never would’ve gotten the cuffs on your body. I want you at my mercy Melany. I want to release all this tension and frustration from tonight. And the best way I know to do that is to sink myself between your legs, feel you milking each drop of cum from my balls and screaming my name as you cum as well.”

“Can I ask you a question then?”

“Fire away,” he said as he crawled up her body, fitting himself against her perfectly, torso to torso, pelvis to pelvis. She didn’t say anything and he looked down to see her eyes closed and her lip between her teeth as she rubbed her breasts against him. “Melany?”

“Right… why, mmmm, why did you feel you needed to tie me up then?”

“Because, right now, you’re the only one who seems pleased with me. And so I want to please you, I want to please you until you can’t stand it, and then I want to please you some more. And in the process, this fucked up day isn’t a totally waste. I can remember this date as one filled with passion instead of dejection.”

“But wh--”

“No more questions dammit. I’m going to remember everything from today, and for once… I’m not going to hold back from you. You want to know how I am after a loss? You’re going to get a firsthand look.” He slid down her body until he face was in line with her pussy and her legs were over his shoulders.”Now, tell me you don’t want me.”

“But I…”

“Tell me!”

“I do… I don’t want you.”

“I’ll make you want me.” And then he dove into her flesh. She was already wet, her juices sweet and sticky on his tongue as he slid the tip up and down her lips before holding her open and sticking his tongue as deep inside as he could.

Sid heard her moan his name, heard her beg him not to do that to her and was fueled by her mock distress. He’d never had a woman actually tell him no when it came to sex and even though he knew it was fake, a part of him almost stopped. But then he looked up at her face as he licked her folds and saw her smile as she told him to stop again.

Knowing that she had promised to use the safe word if she really wanted to stop he wet two fingers with the fluids building between her legs and slipped them inside, slowly fucking her while he continued to tease her clit with his tongue. He’d been going at a steady pace when he felt her start to shake a little beneath him. The muscles in her legs tightened and he could feel her quiver.

“Oh god you fucking bastard. Make me cum, make me cum all over your tongue. Don’t stop, please don’t stop!” after that she humped against him twice and then called out his name as she came. Sid relished in the pleasure he had given her but it wasn’t enough. She’d yelled his name before, he wanted screams. He wanted her to never forget who had given her so much pleasure that she ached the next day.

He left his fingers inside her as she came down from her orgasm before he started to slowly move them in and out again. Sid heard the hitch in her breath, felt her tense up. She wasn’t used to him continuing like this. Normally he was either curling up behind her, or driving his dick inside her. But he didn’t want that. Not yet. The fucking would come later.

“Baby, that was great. You don’t have to do anymore. Let me take care of you now.”

His response to her offer was pulling his fingers out and taking a long, slow lick up her pussy.

“Oh fuck… Sid… not so soon after.”

He laughed lightly and spread her lips, blowing gently over her clit. Her body jerked. Sid tilted his face so that he could look up at her.

“I told you Melany. I’m not stopping until I’m good and ready.” Then he ignored her pleas as his tongue traced figure eights around her clit. She was shaking in no time, begging him to stop before she passed out from the tension. Literally dripping with sweet nectar, Sid decided to end her torture and took that little nub in his mouth, sucking almost forcefully until she was gasping and crying out.

He slipped those two fingers inside once more, twisting them before curling the two digits as he kept them as deep as he could. His lay his tongue flat over the bundle of nerves that was causing all of the noises to come forth and then with a soft nibble first, he sucked it between his lips once more and started fucking her fast with his finger.

“OHMYGOD I’m coming, I’m coming, Jesus… I’m… Oh god… Sidney! Siiiiiddd! Please!” The last word came out as a sob and then, chest heaving, she broke down. Sid felt her muscle go lax and he released her from his mouth as he glanced up to see her choking back sobs as a few tears slid down to her toward her ears. Oh fuck!

He gently pulled his fingers from her warm center, undid the ankle straps and kneeled over her, his hands on her cheeks.

“Melany. Melany, talk to me babe. Are you okay?? Did I hurt you?!”

She didn’t answer him right away and he got concerned that he’s pushed too far. He was just about to rip the wrist cuffs open when she heard her whimper out the word no.

“Mel…”

“Don’t undo them,” she told him, her voice a little stronger now. She was still shaking, but after a hiccup she looked up at him. “Finish it.”

“Are you su--”

“I want to feel the rest of it.”

“What if yo--”

“I know the fucking word Sidney. If I can’t handle it, I will tell you. Now do what you really want and fucking fuck me!”

“You have a dirty mouth when you can’t have our way, did you know that?”

“Yeah, and you seem to have more of a problem with me tied up then when I’m free.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*

Mel knew she probably shouldn’t push him right now. That it probably wasn’t the smartest thing to so. But she wanted him to get it all out of his system. Didn’t want him to still be stewing over tonight’s loss when they were together tomorrow.

“I. Don’t. Want. To. Hurt. You.” He said each word through clenched teeth and she decided to put the final touches on what she figured would make him lose it.

“I’m not going to fucking break. You just got spanked by the defending champs on their home turf. And not only did you not score a goal… No one did! They kept all of you off the goal sheet. Shut you out 5-0. How can you not be pissed about that. Don’t you just want to let all that frustration out? Don’t you want to deal your own bit of punish--”

Sid let out an animalistic roar and flipped her over, her arms crossing above her head as he lifted her hips up. She heard him mutter out a curse of some sort and then he was thrusting inside her. Mel let out a moan as he started rocking against her, his hips smacking against her ass as he slammed himself deep with each thrust.

She didn’t think anything could affect her as much as what he’d done previously with his tongue and fingers, but this… his cock reached deeper than those fingers, and it was thicker… and it was heaven. He could do this all night and, aside from the soreness in rather tender areas, and the fact that he’d need sleep at some point, it sounded like a great idea.

“You like that don’t you, you dirty little slut? You like teasing me until I can’t see straight! IS this what you wanted though, is this what you’ve been thinking about ever since that final whistle blew?”

Mel couldn’t respond to his questions, she was losing her mind with the intensity of the feelings that were coursing through her veins right now. Sid had found the will to slow his pace down and now, every movement was punctuated with a bone-jarring thrust that had her seeing stars.

“Awww, cat got your tongue baby? I didn’t use the gag that came with the kit. I wanted to hear you when you come. Don’t let me down now. Or am I just not doing a good enough job. Maybe I’m playing too nice for a little whore like you. What do you think?”

“Faster,” was all she could get out before sensory overload took control and she felt herself tensing. Mel was listening to him grunt and groan as he obliged her and started fucking her faster. The way he held her hips kept her from collapsing on the bed but her breasts were swaying against the duvet, the smooth fabric shooting tingles of pleasure down her spine every time her nipple ran along the fabric.

She thought that it would take no time at all to cum since she’d been down that road multiple times already, but the slow burn of desire was building on its own terms. She could feel the spike of passion each time he lunged forward, but it wasn’t giving her the fulfillment that she was craving. Not yet.

“Touch me.”

“I am touching you.”

“Play with me, use me, god… make me fucking come again!”

“So bossy. You’d think that I was the one currently shackled to the bed.”

“Pllleeeaaase… I’m close. So close. I just need,” she stopped short when he brought his palm down against her ass.

“I don’t give a shit what you fucking need. This is not about you right now. I need to see this luscious ass turn red from my hand. I need to feel you milking my cock of all my cum. You need to shut up before I decide to leave you here unsatisfied, still tied to the bed. What do you think of that?”

“I think you fucking talk too much.”

She heard him laugh before he changed his angle, his cock sliding along a sweet spot that had her gasping for air and seeing stars all over again. Then she felt fingers brushing over her clit quickly and Mel couldn’t stop herself. The sensation shot straight into her core and the squeal of excitement left her lips before she could think about it.

“Looks like I found what I was looking for,” she heard him practically whisper. Then he dug into her hips with both hands and let loose a torrent of hard, deep thrusts. Mel screamed in pleasure as she got close to that release that he was building inside her.

Mel hadn’t even realized that she’d been holding her breath until she heard his bellow and felt his grip tighten almost painfully. Letting out the breath she felt the light-headedness kick in couldn’t form the warning words so he would know what to do. With a final thrust she felt his seed fill her up and silently she screamed his name. Then everything went black.

She didn’t see the look of worry come over his face, nor did she hear him asking her if she was okay, before her eyes rolled back into her head and she dropped, face first, into the middle of the mattress.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sweet Jesus, I killed my girlfriend! Sid ripped the Velcro apart and turn Melany over in his arms as he gently called her name. She stirred and looked up at him, swallowing twice before she finally was able to ask him a question.

“We’re gonna do that again sometime, right??”

Sid didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at that moment. And he thought when the nervous giggle escaped that he had chosen laughter. But in an instant she was in his lap, her hands on his face.

“Baby, I’m fine. Look at me… hey, look at me! I’m fine. And you know what? You’re gonna be fine. This series is not over yet. You have the chance to take it to seven. And I believe that you can do it.”

“But the--”

“No buts. Fuck whatever or whoever you were going to talk about. I don’t want to hear it. You go practice tomorrow, and you get ready for Game 6. And then, win or lose, I’ll be right here waiting for you, okay?”

Sid didn’t respond at first. He couldn’t think of the proper words. First she lets him tie her up, then he tries to kill her with an orgasm, and now, instead of worrying about herself, she was consoling him! She was, by far, the most caring person he’d ever met. No one else would’ve been able to deal with this. His own mother had threatened to disown him last year.

“You’re zoning out on me again Crosby. Did you hear what I said?” He took a deep breath and flashed her a cheeky smile, twisting her words around completely.

“You said you’ll be down in the lounge waiting for me after we win Game 6.” He heard her laugh as she leaned forward to kiss away the stray tears that had fallen in that moment of fear. But had the fear been for her, or his fear about losing? He wanted to tell her it was her, but there was a selfish part of him that knew it wouldn’t be completely true. Would she be upset if she knew that?

“That’s what I wanted to hear baby. No more doubting yourself. You’ve got this. Now, no more of this liquid leaking from your eyes because you’re frustrated… let’s go to bed. I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of exhausted.”

“They weren’t tea--”

“They were,” she said with a smile. “I know they were, because I pushed you until you let it all out. Feels good, doesn’t it? Getting it all off your chest?”

“How’d I get so lucky?”

“Your friends told you to show off and you suck more than you think. So your shot went wide, slid at an upwards angle and the--”

“I get it, I get it. Let’s grab a shower. Then I promise to let you sleep for the night.”

Sid gently removed her from his lap and then, when he noticed she was still really shaky, he carried her into the bathroom. They took their time washing one another’s bodies and he felt rejuvenated and refreshed after he turned the spigot off. They dried off and wandered into the bedroom before collapsing together on the giant bed. Melany curled her body on top of his, her legs entwined with his as she rested her cheek on his chest.

When she was like this, all soft and relaxed, he couldn’t keep from staring at her. And right now, she had her eyes closed, one hand tracing lazy swirls over his pec. That soon turned into tweaking his nipple though, and before long he had her on her back, his body covering hers. With her hands free this time though, she was able to rake her nails up his spine, dig them into his ass as he pushed against her.

He didn’t know which was better, when she was at his mercy or when she was free. But either way, she was moving with him and falling apart in his arms. When they were both spent Sid hugged her sweat-soaked body to his and they drifted toward sleep, his arm wrapped securely around her waist, her fingers laced with his. And for the first time this season, he wasn’t thinking about an upcoming game. No, right now, his thoughts were centered around the woman in his arms, and what all he would do to keep her with him.

Chapter 22: Things Are Looking Up, Right?

Just a little fluff before my next chapter... which happens to be a favorite of mine recently. Look for it to be up later tonight!
p.s. I see that I've gotten some more followers, I hope you all are still enjoying the story!

“Ok mon cap-i-tan. Tonight is the night you score us a goal.” Sid glanced up at Max as he typed a text to Mel.

“You think so?”

“Absolument.”

“I hope you’re right. I’m starting to think I can’t score goals or something.” Max just laughed at him, slapping him on the back before wandering over to speak with Jordan about who knows what, girls probably. Sid laughed when Jordan put Max in a headlock before finishing up his message and hitting ‘send’. He waited for the response that he knew would follow. It was always the same. First his message. Have fun watching me skate around. Then came her response. Have fun watching me cheer my head off. Good luck!

They had started doing it one game and he’d scored so they did it every time they played now. He felt the phone buzz in his hand and smiled when he saw the text. Now he could put his phone in his bag and finish getting ready. The guys liked to tease him sometimes about his superstitions but he knew that most of them had at least a few oddities of their own.

Coach went over a couple issues that he felt needed to be addressed, and then they walked onto the runway that lead to the ice. Warm-ups flew by and he skated toward the door and looked up to find Melany in the stands. She was standing between Erin and Amanda and he smiled at her, his new trademark wink sent her way.

They sat in the locker room contemplating all the different little nuances they could do to put a W up tonight and then it was time for the game. Skating back out for the start, he took the ice with his line mates, Brooks and Gonch. They were the five that Disco wanted to start almost every game. He listened to Jimerson belt out the National Anthem and for the first time wished that they were playing a Canadian team so that he could hear his country’s anthem. Oh well, maybe next year.

Thirty-three minutes later they were sitting in the locker room again, all catching their breath from the insanity of the first period. Max had started the scoring and Tanger had gotten the second goal to tie it back up before time had run out. Sid refused to believe that they would come away tonight with anything other than a win.

During the second intermission he was trying to figure out the meaning of life instead of listening to what Billy was suggesting. He couldn’t help it; his mind was a little elsewhere tonight. Not that his play was suffering or anything. He just knew that he had Melany on the brain a little more than hockey. And for once in his life he wasn’t freaking out about that.

The third period saw them getting ahead on the power play. He didn’t score, but he did get an assist so at least he wasn’t completely held off the stat sheet. Max finished them off with an empty netter with less than a minute left and they all skated into a group to celebrate a victory over the Wings. If there was one thing that could make him happy even when he didn’t score, it was celebrating with his team.

He tapped heads with Flower, congratulating him on a victory and smiled when Marc told him not to worry about not scoring. That figured, Flower was probably the only one brave enough to actually say something like that to his face. The rest of the guys might want to tell him that he was freaking out about nothing, but Flower was the only one who could get away with actually saying it aloud. Mainly because of everyone on the team, Flower was probably as hard on himself as Sid was and took about as much heat for not being one hundred per cent. He had to deal with the dozens of questions from the press every time there was a loss, even though they no one on the team blamed Fleur for a loss, Flower would be the first to take the blame.

After a quick shower and a couple mood-changing interviews Sid headed out to the lounge and into Melany’s arms, breathing in the smell of her shampoo and thinking that this series would be okay in the end.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Game 4 was looking a little like Game 3 had. Once again the guys were down 2-1 and this time they were on the penalty kill. Mel was biting her nails as Jordan stole the puck and headed down the ice toward Osgood. C’mon Jordan, c’mon! She watched Ossy go down into his butterfly and then saw the puck hit the back of the net. The breath left her lungs in a whoosh and she was screaming and jumping up and down with Heather, Erin laughing and high-fiving her.

“Amanda is going to be soooo upset that she left for a bathroom break,” she said t o no one in particular. And sure enough Manda came down the steps a moment later mother-effing Staalsy. They all good a good chuckle out of that. Then two minutes later it happened.

Disco put the two-headed monster out to try and make some magic happen. And magic was definitely seen. Sid passed the puck to Geno, Geno passed it back and Sid took the shot, bulging the twine. A beatific look of pure relief washed over his face as he threw his back against the boards and reached for his teammates. Tanger was the first to reach him. You could see the happiness on Kris’s face as he tackled Sid to the ground. The back of his head hit off the ice and he lay there, looking a little dazed, as Tanger and Geno screamed in his face.

Mel didn’t know who helped him up onto his feet again, but she smiled as he skated down to give Flower some love and glanced up at their section. She blew him a kiss like she had before and he caught it, placing it over his heart. Amanda made a gagging motion beside her and they both laughed.

With TK’s goal later in the period they sealed the deal, knowing they were going to be taking the fight back to Detroit for Game 5.

Heading down to the lounge after that win, she swore she could hear them all celebrating in there like they’d just won the friggin’ Cup! Not that she blamed them for it, not one bit. They deserved the win and Mel could only hope that they had it in them to take this all the way. They either needed to win this next one in Detroit and finish it up at the Igloo, or they would need to win Games 6 and 7. Either way they were looking at needing a win at the Joe at least once.

Sid came out and twirled her around a couple times before letting her slide down his body and capturing her lips in a kiss that curled her toes. He promised her a good time that night if she would agree to go out and celebrate for a bit at Diesel.

“Babe, I don’t care what we do tonight. I’m so happy for you!”

“I want to celebrate privately with you though! But everyone’s going out, and I’d hate for them to think that I don’t want to spend more time with them.”

“It’s fine Sid. We haven’t been out to the club with the guys in a while. You all deserve a little break from this insanity.”

“We’re going to beat them Saturday at Joe Louis, and then we’ll come back here and end it at home, like they did last year.”

Mel glanced up and saw the glazed expression, knew that he was going to be thinking about this all night. She touched his cheek, bringing him back to the present.

“Don’t dwell on it Sidney. Let’s go have fun and then go back to your place and have even more fun!”

Sid nodded in agreement and leaned down to whisper in her ear all the things he wanted to do to her. She blushed after the fourth idea and didn’t stop blushing until he had her snug against him after their second round of the night. Max had teased them both, picking them because they spent more of the time at the club just sitting on the couch and not really dancing or drinking. Sid used his torment as an excuse to leave and within five minutes of getting through the side door she was moaning as he filled her with thrust after thrust.

Basking in the glow of two rounds of sweaty post-game sex, Mel lay sprawled out over his body, her cheek against his chest, listening to him breathing heavily.

“We’ll get them on Saturday.”

“I know you will.”

“We have to.”

“Not technically.”

“No… we need that win.” Mel wanted to argue but she knew where that would get her… nowhere.

“Okay Sid. You’ll beat them in Game 5, and finish them off in Game 6.”

“You really believe we can do this, don’t you?” It wasn’t asked like he doubted it, exactly. He asked more like he needed to hear someone else say it. He doesn’t think they can do this.

“Sidney Patrick Crosby. You stop thinking that right now.”

“What?”

“I don’t ever want you to doubt yourself ever again! You are going to win this series! You are going to make Hossa sorry that he lied to your face and signed with them. Mark my words. You’re going to be lifting that Cup!”

She laughed then as Sid tackled her onto her back and started to ravish her again. They were going to be leaving bright and early the next morning, and she knew that this was her last chance to show him some lovin’ until Saturday night when he got back from Detroit. And by that time he’ll be too exhausted to really want to do much. But he’ll have another win under his belt. Even as she thought the words though, she had this feeling that Saturday night was going to end a little bit differently than he thought.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sid went through the motions of putting everything away as normal. He didn’t know how he was so calm, but deep inside he knew that freaking out wasn’t going to get them anywhere. But what had just happened out on the ice… He blinked back tears of frustration and anger.

They had literally fallen apart. Marc had become a sieve and no one had done much to back him up. Garon had come in and held down the fort, but after a 5-0 lead, it wasn’t like they could mount ,much of a comeback. Well, maybe they could’ve, if they’d managed to stay out of the damn box. That many 10-minute misconducts were just pathetic.

What had been worse though were the jeers of the fans. He’d never let it bother him before, not that he ever really listened. But tonight he hadn’t been able to drown them out. They’d been ruthless. Were their fans that bad? Did they ever say things to the opposing teams like that? Feeling a hand on his shoulder he turned, expecting to see Coach, or his dad, or even Mario. But there, standing in front of him with a wary expression, was Max.

“Are you okay Sid?”

“I’m fine.”

“Mon ami, none of us expected anything like this…”

“I said I’m fine Max. Drop it.”

“Well, you’re standing there, holding your jersey and literally shaking. You obviously aren’t fine.”

“I want to punch something. I want to scream from the rooftops for these fuckers to suck my dick. I want to fire some pucks at the net and most of all I want to ram their smirking faces in the dirt. Happy?!”

Sid looked around, noting that all of the guys were watching them. Now that he had a chance to think about it more, he realized just how frustrated he was with everything. With all of the tension in his body he was fucking time bomb waiting to go off. He needed release. He needed to relax. He needed Melany.

His nostrils flared as he thought about the prospects of getting back to her, plying her body with pleasure to work out the kinks in his body. But he needed rough, hard, sweaty sex. He didn’t want to hurt her, that would kill him, but remembering the red imprint his palm had left on her ass made him almost hiss with need.

He grabbed his phone off the stall and went to go online to book a hotel room when he noticed a text from her.

Come home baby, I’ll be waiting for you in bed. We’ll talk. He didn’t want to talk. He didn’t want to hear her tell him everything would be alright. Neither of them knew if that was true. No, he wanted to feel himself lost inside her, feel her muscles clenching around him as she screamed his name. He wanted her to scratch up his back. He wanted her to beg for it. That was what he needed from her.

As he drove up the hotel at the airport and called, booking the penthouse on the top floor, he just hoped that she would understand what he needed from her tonight.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mel sat in the giant recliner in Brooks’ living room. The Triple Threat, as the boys now called them, had decided to watch the game together. The third period was winding down and it was a sure thing that the Pens had no chance of coming back and winning. She pulled her phone out and sent Sid a quick text so that he’d know that she was there for him.

“They are going to be complete hell to deal with tonight,” Amanda murmured as she stood in the doorway to the kitchen. Erin and Mel nodded their heads, silent. What could they say? What was left to say? They’d done their job with the pep talk earlier that week. They thought that the guys had heard them loud and clear.

Obviously not. They had played like they were a completely different team tonight. Like they knew going in that they couldn’t win.

“What the fuck just happened?” Mel asked quietly. “That was not the team I saw Tuesday and Thursday. This was like last year’s Finals and this year’s winter slump combined!”

“You didn’t even watch last year’s Finals,” Erin said with a slight smile.

“True, but I’ve heard you two talking about it. And I’ve watched the highlight reels. I get it, I think. I mean, I’m pretty on the mark with my assumption, right?” Both of her friends nodded their heads before they all started cleaning up. She heard the final buzzer in the background and just turned the TV off. No sense watching it, nothing good will be on anyway.

Taking a couple plates and glasses into the kitchen, she had just walked back into the living room when the first phone rang. Brooks. She and Erin motioned for Amanda to go find a quiet place to talk while the loaded up the dishwasher and found containers for leftovers. That was almost finished when Erin’s phone went off. Geno. Mel just nodded her head and watched Erin walk down the hall as she answered her cell.

Ten minutes later both of her friends were back and she still hadn’t heard from Sid. He’s just busy with interviews, it doesn’t mean anything. Even as she said the words though, a sliver of hurt pierced a hole in her heart. These were the times when they needed to be there for one another. He needed to trust that she had to try and make things better, even if she didn’t know how.

“I’m sure he just,” Erin’s thought was cut short as Mel’s phone started ringing in her pocket. Thank god.

“Hello?”

“I need you tonight.”

“I know baby. I’ll be waiting for you at Mario’s.”

“No, come to the airport. We’re spending the night at the Hyatt there.”

“Why can’t we just--”

“Because I don’t want to wake anyone in the house up when you’re screaming my name.” She didn’t know if she should be scared by that comment or not, but the only thing that ran up her back was a shiver of desire.

“O-okay.”

“I’d never hurt you.”

“I know that.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. And Melany…”

“Yes,” she practically whispered, his harsh voice turning her legs to jelly.

“Bring the kit, love.” Click.

She shut her phone and looked at her two friends.

“Erin, are you going to the airport?”

Erin didn’t say anything, just nodded her head. She and Amanda were both looking at her, waiting for an explanation. They’d only heard her half of the conversation and she knew they were probably wondering what the hell had been said. She wouldn’t go into detail though. Instead, she’d just tell them what he wanted her to bring. They’d been at the party. They would know what he meant.

“Can you take me with you, please?”

“Yeah, sure. Is everything okay?”

“It will be. Remind me to grab something out of my car before we head out though.”

“Alright… what?” Mel glanced up and smiled at her friends. It was to reassure them that she knew what she’d be getting into later tonight, and that she was okay with it. They smiled back and then Mel let out two words.

“The kit.”