Chapter 13

“I’m not here for a booty call.”

“No?” Jodie smiled at him as she closed the door behind him. “Then why are you here?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. It was true. She’d dropped that hint about Zyana going to bed early, and yeah, what had happened this afternoon had been one-sided, but he wasn’t that much of a dick that he’d show up here expecting a blow job or something in return. But he also didn’t want her to think that he was rejecting her implied invitation.

He’d been thinking about that hot encounter the rest of the day…the sounds she’d made, the way her cheeks had gone pink when she came, her eyes hazy. How she’d felt, all soft and wet and Christ, he was getting hard again.

He held up the box of microwave popcorn in one hand and two bottles of beer in the other. “I thought you might need a snack, since you still haven’t been able to shop.”

She looked at the popcorn, then back to him. “Extra buttery.” She took the box and breezed past him into the kitchen. “My fav.”

He took off his boots and crossed the kitchen to slide onto a stool at the island while she opened the box and popped a package into the microwave.

“Guess I won’t be shopping tomorrow either.” She shut the door and tapped a few buttons, then turned to face him. “Sounds like they’ll still be plowing out the streets.”

“Yeah. They’re telling everyone to stay home if you can. Got the message that our game is canceled.”

“That sucks. When do you play next?”

“Sunday. In Calgary. Assuming we can get there.” He lifted another bag onto the counter. “I brought you Cheerios and milk for breakfast.”

She sucked her bottom lip in briefly and then let out a short sigh. “Thank you.”

“If you need anything else, let me know.”

She sighed. “I have a can of spaghetti for lunch.”

“Canned spaghetti? Ugh.”

“I know.” She wrinkled her nose. “Zyana likes it though. Don’t worry, I’ll expand her tastes as she gets older.”

“You don’t have to eat that. I’m sure I can find something better.”

“I’m sure you don’t want us hanging around your house again.”

He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “You keep saying that. Look, I’m sorry if I’ve given you the impression I don’t like you.”

“You said you don’t like people.” She shrugged. “That would include me.”

“I don’t like people in general. But I don’t object to having friends.”

“I know.” Her face softened. “I saw you with your teammates. I can see you like them. And your neighbors. And it appears you don’t hate Zyana, even though you said you don’t like kids.”

“Christ. I really have been grouchy, haven’t I?”

“Yeah.” She moved to take a bowl out of a cupboard and waited for the popcorn to finish popping. Then she emptied it into the bowl. “Have you recovered from all that shoveling?”

He flexed an arm. “No recovery needed. I’m in good shape.”

“Yes, you are.”

He picked up the appreciation in her voice and…he liked it. “Also, I was working off my sexual frustration.”

Her eyes widened, then her eyelids lowered, and the corners of her mouth lifted. “Oh. Did it help?”

He met her eyes. “Not really.”

She held his gaze, and the air crackled around them.

“Actually, my back is a bit sore.” He reached around and rubbed his lumbar spine. “Wish I could have a massage tomorrow, but I’ll have to wait. At least I didn’t die of a heart attack.” He shook his head. “This blizzard has been crazy.”

“We’re lucky.”

She carried the bowl, and he followed with the beers. They settled on the couch, and Jodie picked up the remote to turn on the TV. She paused at a hockey game. “I guess not every game is canceled today.”

“Nope. That game’s in Denver.”

“Want to watch?”

“Sure.”

“You can educate me. Which team is better?”

“Winnipeg.” He picked up some popcorn and began to munch.

“But they’re losing.”

“It’s only the second period.”

“I watched some games with Kendra,” she said. “Zyana absolutely loves hockey.”

“I got that. It’s cute. Maybe she’ll be a hockey player one day.”

“Um…”

“What? There are women’s hockey teams.”

“Yes, there are.” She lifted one shoulder. “I’d just be surprised if she’s very athletic, since I’m not.”

“You look like you’re in good shape,” he said with an exaggerated leer, much more suggestive than her comment about him moments ago.

Luckily, she laughed at that. “Thanks. I should work out more.”

“What about Zyana’s father? What do you know about him?” This was weird.

“I do know that he played a lot of sports. So maybe she will be a hockey player.”

“What else do you know about the, uh, donor?”

“Quite a bit, actually. Age, racial and ethnic origin, health, education, career, some physical traits. I wanted dark eyes and hair, thinking there’d be a better chance that Zyana would look like me then, but looks aren’t predictable. And not the most important thing either. I also wanted to know about intelligence, sense of humor, and talents…like playing sports or a musical instrument.”

“Wow. That’s…intense.”

“It’s a big decision. You get to listen to interviews with them, read an essay they write, even see their baby pictures. I’ve heard of some women who take years to make a decision about the right donor. I was having a hard time, so I called in help.”

He lifted an eyebrow.

“Kendra.” She smiled. “She was very helpful. She knew it was important but she was able to be more objective.”

He shook his head slowly. “I still don’t know whether you’re crazy or brave to do that. I keep thinking of buddies who’ve had pregnancy scares and freak out…because, man, that’s a life changer.”

“But you also know people who are having babies by choice…there were three pregnant women at Max’s birthday party.”

“True. And I don’t know whether they’re crazy or brave either.”

She shook her head. “I hope you don’t say that to them.”

“Sure I do.”

“Curmudgeon.”

“They know me.” He picked up more popcorn and shrugged. “They know I’m kidding.”

“Huh.”

He watched the game on TV, now into the third period. “Wow, Luciano is on a tear tonight. He’s banging anything that moves.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how they sounded. He turned and met Jodie’s eyes. She was grinning. “Really.”

He couldn’t stop his own smile. “That sounded bad, huh?”

“It sounded hilarious.”

Now that his mind was in the gutter, of course he was thinking about banging Jodie. Jesus. He rubbed a hand across his forehead and turned back to the game, trying to distract himself from the heat pooling in his groin.

Winnipeg scored a goal, tying up the game, and he nodded. “See? Can’t count them out.”

“I missed it. This game moves so fast.”

“That’s why it’s the best sport in the world. You can watch the replay, though.”

“I took skating lessons when I was a kid,” Jodie said musingly, sliding deeper down into the couch cushions. “I was never that good. It’s amazing how you all can do what you do on those sharp blades.”

“We’re good.”

“And modest.”

He smiled, but kept his focus on the TV. “Just being honest.”

Denver skated in on the Winnipeg net with the puck, and the tender made a huge save. “Wow. Nice play. Barnett makes it look so easy, he just goes down on his knees and swallows it up.”

The air vibrated, and he glanced at Jodie to see her trying hard not to laugh. “You dirty birdie.”

Now she laughed out loud. “Come on! You’re doing that on purpose.”

“No, I’m not.” Looking into her dancing eyes, he felt a sharp tug of lust…attraction…and he bent his head to kiss her.

“Mmm.” She kissed him back, her mouth soft and warm. His dick lengthened and thickened, arousal buzzing inside him. He wanted her again.

“He scores!”

The announcer’s shout had them drawing apart to look at the TV. “Winnipeg,” he said with satisfaction. “Up by one now.”

“I’m supposed to bow down to your superior knowledge?”

He smirked. “Yeah.”

Her smile beamed, then dimmed a bit with what appeared to be uncertainty. She turned away to watch the game again.

“There goes Jenson.” He gestured.

“The goalie? He’s leaving?”

“Yeah. They can put another player on.”

“That seems incredibly risky.”

“Well, with an extra player they should be able to control the puck, and they’re losing right now anyway, so why not?”

“I guess.”

Colorado dominated the play in the offensive zone, yeah, controlling the puck, getting a few good looks at the Winnipeg net. Beside him, Jodie’s cries of “Oh!” and “Whew!” amused him. “You cheering for Winnipeg?”

She shot him a sheepish glance. “I have no idea. You said they would win.”

“They are winning.” Then one of the Winnipeg players got the puck and shot it down the ice…right into the Colorado empty net.

“Yeah!” Jodie pumped a fist into the air. “Okay, you were right. But so was I.”

“How so?”

“That empty net was dangerous.”

She was dangerous…making him smile this much. He felt…happy. It was a weird feeling. Okay, he’d been happy…winning games, scoring goals, laughing with the guys…even working on his house or refinishing furniture he felt a sense of contentment and satisfaction…but this was different. A sort of fizzing, bubbling feeling. Okay, that made it sound like he had food poisoning. He sighed.

“What?”

He glanced at her. “Nothing.”

“Okay. Well, the game’s over. You said you wanted a massage. Lay down.”

“Huh?”

She motioned to the couch. “Lay down. On your front. I’ll massage your back. I’m not a trained massage therapist like you’re probably used to, but it might feel good.”

Oh hell yeah, he was certain it would feel good, probably better than any massage Tony had ever given him. “Maybe it’s my front that hurts.”

She arched an eyebrow, lips lifting in a wicked little smile. “Nice try. You said your back was sore.”

“Damn.” He turned and stretched out on the sectional, stacking his hands beneath his chin.

“Don’t worry.” She settled her hands on his back and smoothed them down over his T-shirt. “I may get around to your front, if my hands don’t get too tired.”

He groaned. “Let’s hope they don’t.”

“Well, if they do…” She dug her thumbs into his paraspinal muscles, and he let out another moan. “I can always use my mouth.”

“Fuck,” he muttered, banging his forehead on his hands. “Now my front really hurts.” He wasn’t lying. His dick had hardened with painful intensity.

She gave a low laugh and moved her hands up and down his spine, pressing into tight muscles. She might not be a professional, but she was pretty good at finding the knots. He closed his eyes and relaxed into her touch, as much as he could with a raging hard-on. Pleasure slid through him, heating his blood, tightening his groin, every nerve ending tingling.

She moved up to his shoulder blades, finding the tension beneath them, then on to his shoulders. She molded his muscles as if measuring them. “You have big muscles,” she murmured.

“I have one very big muscle,” he muttered.

She choked out a little laugh. “Okay, turn over.”

He slowly rolled to his back and stared at her where she perched on the edge beside his hip. “Are you as turned on as I am?”

Her gaze drifted down over his chest and abs to the bulge behind his jeans. She blinked rapidly a few times then reached a hand out. “Um…maybe…”

His body tensed and then pleasure torched him as she palmed him through his jeans. She gave a firm rub then a squeeze. “Jesus,” he groaned, closing his eyes, exquisite pain streaking through him.

“You’re pretty turned on,” she said in egregious understatement. She bit her lip, rubbing him again. “And…um, large.”

“Come here.” He reached for her and easily lifted her so that she was on top of him, stretched out, the soft juncture of her thighs pressed to his hard-on. He liked these leggings she wore; they were soft and stretchy and almost not there.

She gave a little gasp as he lifted her but didn’t resist, rubbing herself against him in a way that made his blood heat. His skin prickled everywhere as he cupped the back of her head and drew it down for a kiss. A long, lush, wet kiss that went on and on…and on.

“You’re a good kisser,” she said breathlessly, a long time later.

They were both breathing hard, and heat burned over his skin. Her soft tits against his chest were making him crazy, not to mention the way she was rubbing her mound against him as if she was trying to make herself come. That was hot as hell. “So are you.” He bit softly at her bottom lip, then licked it.

She moaned. “You didn’t let me finish my massage.”

“I had to taste you.” He kissed her again. “As sweet as I remember.”

She wriggled her way down his body, inflaming every nerve ending as her curves dragged over his straining dick. Anticipation tightened his muscles.

She lifted the hem of his T-shirt and pressed her lips to his belly just above his low-rise jeans.

“Jesus.”

He felt her smile as she kissed him again, her tongue coming out to lick over his skin. More heat cascaded through him as her finger began to work at the button of his jeans and then the zipper, opening them. She parted them, shifting still lower, and then soft fingers slid over his hot skin into his boxer briefs. When they closed around his shaft, his head nearly exploded. His balls drew up tight, and his cock jerked in her hand.

“Wow,” she murmured, stroking him.

He swallowed, his throat dry, his voice nonexistent as he made a guttural sound.

He lifted his hips as she eased his jeans and underwear lower to free him, and, sweet baby Jesus, the visual when he looked down over his belly at his dick in her hand…thick and hard, veins prominent, flushed dark, the tip glistening with pre-cum.

He took in the look on Jodie’s face—rapt fascination and hunger. Her tongue swiped over her plump bottom lip as if she was eager to taste him. Again, his dick leaped, anticipating the touch of her mouth.

“Jodie…”

“Mmm.” She stroked him from root to tip. “You know what would make this massage even better?”

“Uh…”

“Lube.” She pushed up onto her knees. “Hang on.”

He watched in disbelief as she slid off the couch and lightly ran upstairs. Still breathing fast, his dick abandoned and balls aching, he closed his eyes.

She returned only seconds later with a bottle that she held up, eyes gleaming. “I’ve been doing research.”

“Jesus. I need to hear about this research. But not now.”

“I checked on Zyana too. She’s sound asleep.” She situated herself back on the couch between his legs, her admiring gaze on his cock. “This is going to be so good.”

He made a small, choked noise watching her open the bottle and squeeze some clear, thick liquid onto her palm. She closed the cap and tossed the bottle to the rug, then rubbed her hands together before taking him in hand again.

Sensation rocketed through his body.

“Oh fuck.” She was right. This was even better…her hands gliding slickly over him. “Tighter, baby…yeah…like that.” She squeezed him as she stroked, curving her hand over the head in a movement that felt so fucking good he almost couldn’t stand it.

He wanted it to last forever, but pressure built at the base of his spine.

She glanced up at him through her eyelashes, lips quirked, curving her palm over the glans and rocking it slowly back and forth.

“Ah, Jesus.” His head dropped back.

She lowered her head and kissed the tip, then slowly drew her tongue up the shaft. He didn’t know if the lube was flavored, but she seemed to be enjoying it, making soft little purrs in her throat as she slowly licked him all over. Then she took him into her mouth and pleasure slammed through his bloodstream.

That pressure built even more. His thighs tensed.

He reached out both hands and slid them into her hair, holding it back off her face so he could watch her. That mouth he loved to look at and think about, that beautiful mouth, was hot and wet and making him lose his goddamn mind. Her tongue swirled and lips glided up and down along with her hand at the base, bringing him up and up. She curved her other hand under his balls and gently cupped them.

His skin prickled everywhere, and his body roared toward that goal, that ultimate pleasure, and then his balls tightened even more and fiery sensation ripped up his spine as he came so hard his vision went dark.

Christ. She’d blinded him, just like the guys had been talking about at the party.

He swallowed the shout of pleasure that rose to his lips, letting out a rough groan instead, then gasped for air as his body pulsed on and on, her mouth still on him, taking everything.

She eased away, licking him tenderly, teasing her fingertips over the sensitive skin of his sack, and he pried his eyes open, praying he wasn’t really blind.

Nope. There she was, perched between his legs, a satisfied smile on her gleaming lips, looking so fucking gorgeous he wanted to grab her and never let her go.

Uh…he gave his head a little shake. “Wow. You know, I think I did go blind for a minute there.”

Her smile deepened. “Oh no.”

“It’s okay. I can see now. Come here.” He lifted lethargic arms.

She tucked him back into his underwear but didn’t do up his fly, and crawled up over his body. He wrapped his arms around her and held on tight as she pressed her face into the side of his neck. He was still catching his breath, his body still buzzing with that intense orgasm.

She felt good in his arms, soft and yet strong, warm and resilient. He was so fucked.