Collide: A Hockey Romance

FORTY-EIGHT HOURS ago, I was a much happier man. Summer said she wanted me, and I was seconds away from letting a tear of sheer joy fall before we were interrupted by the guys. If it weren’t for them, I’d have taken her right there on the couch.

When I gave her the choice to find me if she wanted me, this isn’t exactly how I pictured it. Mostly because the only thing I’ve been able to picture this past week is her naked body.

Now I’m waiting for her text to confirm we’re meeting tonight. I’ve taken three breaks since practice started to go to the locker room and check my phone. Coach let it slide, but I’m sure he’s going to ream me for it next time. Plus, the punishment I’m opening myself up to is useless because I’m 0 for 3. Summer hasn’t so much as sent a thumbs up or a simple K to any of my texts.

“Crawford.”

I toss my phone back in my locker, slamming it shut with too much urgency. “Sorry coach, just checking on my grandma.”

“You know, I’ve been a coach for so long, I’ve heard just about everything. Sometimes, I think you kids forget I’ve lived the life of a collegiate athlete, too. Lies don’t interest me.”

I release a resigned breath. “I was waiting for a text.”

“Shower girl.”

Summer would kill me if she knew that’s her nickname. I nod, even though it isn’t a question. Coach is like an all-knowing wizard, and lying to him has never been something I’ve accomplished. Though, I won’t reveal that shower girl is also Summer Preston.

“You gotta get your head on straight, boy. You’re never like this. You’ve been showing up to all the kids’ lessons, you’ve completed your part in Summer’s project, and the team has been playing great. Do you wanna lose your balance for a girl?”

“She’s the reason I’ve been on top of all that. It’s just…different today.” Different because I think I might combust if I don’t have her under me tonight. And on top of me, and on my face. My heart thumps in my chest like I’m going to lose my damn virginity. This girl clearly has my balls in her fist.

A calculating look passes through Coach’s eyes. “Get your ass back on the ice, or I’ll have all of you on bag skates for the rest of the week.” He walks out of the locker room.

The remaining hour of practice flies by, and I manage not to focus on one girl. The time shifts closer to eight, and my phone is still as dry as ever, aside from texts about a party and a few sorority girls letting me know they’ll be there.

“You good, cap?” Kian runs a towel over his hair as he watches me carefully.

“Fine. Just thinking about an exam I have tomorrow.”

“Same. Summer and I have been cramming for psych.”

My head snaps up. “You talked to her?”

“Nope, she’s still pissed at me. But I see her in class.” He scrutinizes me. “Why? You in the doghouse again?”

The proverbial dog house would be an appropriate appraisal if I’d seen her. “Nah, just wondering.”

He nods, slinging his hockey bag over his shoulder. “Are you gonna be at the house for the party?”

This time the party isn’t due to the bet. I put an end to that immediately, and because the guys have been on their best behavior since, I’ll let one or two parties slide before quarterfinals.

“I’ll be out. I’m not trying to be the designated Dad tonight.” I follow the guys out of the locker room and pull Kian aside. “Watch him for me.” I nod toward Dylan who sits in his car.

His drinking is getting out of hand, but since he’s playing at his normal level there isn’t much I can bring up with him. He’s been controlling his anger on the ice, and he doesn’t come to practice hungover anymore, which means our talk helped. I care about being a good captain but being a good friend is more important.

Kian groans. “I don’t babysit for free.”

“You do now.”

He grumbles before shoving his things in the back of the car.

“Aiden, you’re not coming?” Dylan asks, lowering the window.

“Nah, I’ve got something to do.”

“I bet you do.” He winks and my answering middle finger has Kian’s eyes narrowing in suspicion. Summer is adamant that we keep this a secret, so my lips are sealed. I head to my truck, chucking my bag in the back and checking my messages yet again.

“Your truck is easy to spot.”

I startle at the sound of the voice that’s been haunting me for days. Summer leans against the door, arms crossed, and dressed in one of her impractical outfits. The skirt is short, and her sweater is entirely too thin for this weather. But she looks so good I find it hard to swallow. Fuck, even if I wanted to be mad for being ignored all day, I know I wouldn’t deny her a damn thing.

“You didn’t answer my texts.” The words come out accusatory.

“My phone’s been dead since this morning, so I couldn’t tell you that my place isn’t available tonight. I came straight here from my lab. Been waiting for twenty minutes.”

The elation that melts over me from her words excites something in my pants, too. She waited for me. I fail miserably at keeping any grudge towards her, once I see her sincere face.

“Get in. You’re probably freezing.” I unlock the doors, and instead of going to the passenger side, she pulls open the back door and climbs in.

“What are you doing?”

“You ask too many questions.” She smiles seductively, patting the seat beside her. I scan the deserted parking lot before climbing in, too. This isn’t the best place to be alone, considering Coach is a few feet away inside the arena, and we’re near a busy street.

Summer fists my shirt and pulls me toward her, eradicating any concerns of possible onlookers. “Aren’t you going to kiss me, Crawford?”

I palm her face. Beautiful plump lips that have haunted my every thought are so close, my mouth waters. From the moment I walked out of her dorm, I’ve been thinking about her lips. Wondering why I hadn’t claimed them like I did her pussy.

“I’ve been dying to taste these lips,” I whisper before I capture her next breath in my mouth. It’s explosive, a crackling fire that sparks to life. Her soft lips melt into mine, our mouths fusing in a desperate battle. The first glide of her tongue strikes me like a lance of fire. A pulsing sensation caresses my body as I sweep my thumb over the delicate skin of her jawline.

Her kiss is dangerous. Addictive. Part of me is glad I didn’t kiss her until now because if I’d tasted her sooner I wouldn’t have held out so long.

I pull Summer to my lap so she straddles me. The instant rock of her hips makes me voice a tortured groan, and she takes the opportunity to slip her tongue inside my mouth. With every dance of her tongue against mine, a quiet shiver rolls through me and blinding fireworks burst behind my eyes. Summer grinds harder, feeling exactly how turned on I am, and I’m trying every trick in the book to not come fast.

She places my hands high on her hips, allowing me to slide them up to touch the silky skin beneath her shirt. Her whimper vibrates against my skin when I touch the lace of her bra, sending a shudder rocking through me.

Summer pulls back to take a breath, her full lips swollen, and eyes as dark as night.

She’s fucking pretty. Like really pretty. Just being this up close feels like a violent hit to the chest. I can feel this image making a home in every part of my brain.

Soft tendrils frame her face, and when I brush them away, brown eyes glimmer. We’re both breathing hard, and my body feels wound up like a toy as I stare at her parted lips.

Desperate, I pull her shirt up until the lacy white bra that barely covers her heavy tits is on full display. The air grows so thick I feel like I’m suffocating. I fist her hair to pull her back to my lips. She doesn’t miss a beat as she falls into rhythm, sliding her hands down my abs and hooking them around the waistband of my jeans. Her movements are quick, and I’m dying to free myself and sink into her. But for some fucked up reason, even with every ounce of blood in my body rushing to my dick, I want to go slow.

I want to hear her voice, to make her laugh, to make her scream when I slowly bring her to her climax. I want all of it, all night long. But with the pace she’s going, she’s ready to get it over with on the cold leather seats of my truck. We’ve barely spoken a word since we got inside and I have the clawing need to hear her voice, or her insults, anything.

“Did you wear this for me?” I ask as her lips skim the base of my throat, igniting a line of fire, and I absently glide my fingers along the material of her bra.

She pulls back as if trying to figure out why the hell I’m talking. “Yeah, and then I got your name tattooed on my ass.”

I laugh, and she smiles. Instantly, I’m vindicated when her raspy voice turns me on to a new degree. I explore the bare skin of her stomach, as I glide my lips along her neck in open-mouthed kisses.

“Oh my God,” she moans when I nip the area just below her ear. I make note of that reaction for future purposes. When she pulls at my waistband again, the whoosh of car tires against the slick pavement outside distracts me from my intoxication.

It snaps me back to reality, and I hold her hands. “Wait.”

Wait?

My cock stands still, as if telling me how much I’m going to regret this. “I don’t want our first time to be in my truck.”

Her eyes soften, but she blinks, clearing away any vulnerability. “Who cares? It’s not like I was picturing flowers and candles.”

The shitty part is, I would have gotten her those if I wasn’t sure she would throw them back at my face. “You deserve more than a quick fuck in a parking lot.”

Despite the very disrespectful images running through my mind, I would much rather do all those things to her in my room. Or hers. Anything with a bed and four walls.

Her throat bobs and I can’t tell whether her expression is understanding or annoyed. Summer doesn’t look at me as she moves off my lap and fixes her shirt back in place. She doesn’t say anything for a long minute, allowing the tension to grow thick enough to taste.

 “This nice guy act is starting to get annoying.”

Annoyance it is, then.

I sigh. “You can’t be mad because I think we shouldn’t do this in my back seat.”

She finally looks at me, and something frigid settles in the once electric air. “No, I’m not mad. Because unlike you, I’m not letting my emotions get involved in this.” Her laugh isn’t friendly at all. “You seriously have to be the first jock to turn down a girl in his lap.”

Summer throws open the car door and jumps out, slamming it shut behind her. In the cold secluded air of my truck, I mutter a curse and slide out with an uncomfortable erection in my pants.

She’s already halfway across the parking lot before I process what’s happening. How the fuck did this go so wrong?

“Let me drive you home,” I call after her.

“I have legs. Call me when you’re not pretending to be a gentleman.”

Banging my head against my car frame doesn’t help ease the weight of my stupidity. What was I thinking? A girl like Summer doesn’t give an opportunity like this easily, and I let it slip from my fingers in minutes. I seriously need to be evaluated because she’s right. I have to be the first guy to turn down the girl he’s been dreaming about. This could have ended with her peach scent rubbing all over my body, but I know despite everything that I would still make the same decision. She deserves better than the view of the arena and the smell of leather.

I sit in my truck and follow behind her to make sure she gets home safely.

This nice guy shit really is annoying.