Goalie Interference (NHL Scorpions) (9 page)

He groaned as he stumbled once on the stairs.

Zoe gasped, the sound of his pain giving her pause. “Are you okay?”

“Shhh, not now.” He continued the trip up the stairs a bit more carefully. He reached her bedroom and placed her in the center of her bed. The way he looked at her, like she was the most precious thing he’d ever laid eyes upon, was Zoe’s undoing. She reached out to him and pulled him down on top of her.

He braced himself on his elbows and simply looked into her eyes. “You know I love you, right? This isn’t just a fling for me. I want it all with you, Zoe.” He was actually trembling with his need to make her understand how much he needed her.

Zoe wrapped her hands in his shirt and pulled him down closer so she could kiss his lips. She started out gently, just nibbling on his bottom lip, but when she felt his hands roaming over her she tried to deepen the kiss.

“No way. Not yet, you little vixen. I’ve waited too long to have you again. I’m going to savor every minute.” He sat up and took off his shirt. His jeans, socks, and shoes followed.

Zoe looked at him, lips parted, eyes shining with desire. She pointed to his briefs—low-rise trunks, her favorite—and licked her lips. “I think you forgot something.” When she reached a hand out to him, he grabbed it and pinned both over her head.

“Nope. Patience, Zoe.” He began slowly unbuttoning her blouse. Each button undone was followed by a kiss—all the way down to the last one. When he licked tiny circles around her belly button, she sucked in a quick breath.

“Vlad, come on.” She was reaching for him again.

“Am I going to have to tie you up, Doctor?” He’d be good with a yes or no; either would be highly satisfying.

“If you don’t get me naked in about two-point-three seconds, yes, you will. I want to feel your skin against mine. Now, take off my clothes!”

“I love your feistiness. I love that you bring that to the bedroom, but for now, how about you just shut up for a while, huh?” He took the decision away from her by putting her mouth to better use.

While he was kissing her, he ran his hand up her leg and under her skirt. She opened for him and he slid his thumb over her, making her squirm, seeking more.

“Yes, Vlad, right there.”

He continued kissing her lips, her neck, the top of her chest, until he got to her breasts. Her breasts weren’t large, but she had beautifully pink nipples. They tightened into pebbles under his tongue. When he sucked hard, she thrust her hips up into him.

“More. I want more.” She started pushing his head down toward her most sensitive spot. Never let it be said that Zoe was shy in the bedroom.

Vlad let out a laugh. “Anything you want, doll.” He relieved her of her skirt and panties, and sat back on his heels to look at her. “You are so amazingly gorgeous.” He didn’t give her time to reply. He was on her almost immediately. He licked her softly, applying just the right amount of pressure. It took no time at all for her to fly apart that first time, clenching around his tongue.

“That’s it, Zoe. Come for me.” He gave her soothing licks, but as soon as she started to come down, he started on her again.

“Oh God, no. It’s too soon.” Zoe tried to wiggle away, but he held her hips firmly. Even though he lightened the pressure of his tongue, he wouldn’t stop completely. It was so intense; she didn’t know if she could handle it.

“Vlad, oh God. Vlad. Yes. Jesus, yes.” She held his head as he kept at her. When he used his teeth on her clit, she came again. Hard. “Yes, fuck, yes. God, don’t stop.” He again licked her until she settled.

She was panting as he moved away from her, sitting back on his heels. “I need to be inside you, Zoe. Now.” He stripped off his briefs and was inside her with one quick thrust. He groaned, long and loud. “Fuck, you’re tight.”

As he began to move, Zoe had a fleeting thought about condoms. She knew he was clean because she was privy to his medical records, and when he bit her earlobe as he moved faster and harder, she forgot about birth control entirely.

“I’m sorry, Zoe. I’m not going to last very long this time. Too. Fucking. Good.”

Zoe ran her tongue up his neck and nipped at him. She widened her legs and grabbed his ass pulling him in tightly each time he thrust. “Just a little bit more, I’m so close.” It was amazing. She’d never come so many times before, in such a short period. Vlad really knew how to work her body. “Yes, that’s it. Please, don’t stop.” It was the most intensity she’d ever experienced, an almost punishing rhythm. “Fuck. Harder. Yes, faster!”

Vlad felt her squeeze around him, and he came hard. It felt like the longest orgasm he’d ever had. He kept pumping into her as she called out his name, but as he slowed his movements, he didn’t withdraw. Putting his forehead to hers, both of them still panting, he asked, “Is this a bad time to ask if you’re taking birth control?”

Zoe laughed. “Yes, this would be a bad time. I am, but I don’t always remember to take my pill. We might want to use condoms next time.”

“You feel incredible, you know that?” Vlad didn’t want to move, but he knew he had to be crushing her. With reluctance, he rolled to the side. He pulled her with him and told her to get some rest. “You’re going to need it. In an hour or so, I’m going to make you scream in the shower. Think you can handle that, Doc?”

The smile on Zoe’s face assured him she was up to the challenge. “I think I can handle anything you give me, Impaler.”

They didn’t make it downstairs until well after dawn the next morning.

As they were sitting at her kitchen counter, Vlad told her his story. He hadn’t talked about any of it through the night, spending all his time loving Zoe. “What am I going to do?”

Wetting her lips, she got ready to tell him exactly what he didn’t want to hear. “Well, I think you know what you need to do.”

He raked a hand through his hair, trying unsuccessfully to keep his cool. “Goddamit Zoe! Don’t fucking psychoanalyze me! Just tell me what to do!” He knew he was out of line, but he didn’t know what to do with all of his pent up anger. Well, he knew
something
that helped, but they had to take a break to recharge at some point.

Zoe tried to calm him. “I’m not, sweetie. I’m not trying to, anyway. I just don’t see that you have much of a choice. Finish the year and possibly hurt yourself beyond healing, or call it quits for this year and see what the next brings.” Realistically, Zoe knew that if he made the decision to have the surgery soon, his career was over. He was a thirty-eight year old—thirty-nine by the end of the season—goalie, with a contract that expired at the end of the season. She knew he was well aware that there weren’t too many teams looking for a goalie his age coming off a hip surgery.

Vlad’s breath came out in a rush. “Shit, this sucks, Zoe.” His voice broke, and he turned away. She pretended not to notice, and he continued, “I’m not smart like you. I never did well in school. If I’m not a hockey player, what the hell am I? What do I have to contribute? Who am I? Fuck! I just don’t know what to do. Tell me what to do.” The way he stood there with his hands stuffed into his pockets, his head down, not even looking at her, was heartbreaking.

“Vlad, you know I can’t tell you what to do. Only you can decide that. But if you’re asking for my opinion, based on what you told me, I’d play one last big game, give it my all, and then have the surgery. Maybe you could try being a bit nicer to Cage, too. As much as he razzes you, you
are
his mentor. Surely you see that. You’ve had over sixteen years in the NHL, Vlad. That’s pretty damn impressive. Maybe it’s time to start a new chapter in your life.” Zoe didn’t want to mention that she could then be a part of his life if he retired. She didn’t like to think of herself as a consolation prize.

Vlad released a pent up breath, raking his fingers through his hair. “I know you’re right. I guess it’s just going to take some time to get used to. I’ll talk to the coach tomorrow. I really want to play the Halloween game. Then I’ll retire.” Zoe could almost hear Vlad’s teeth grinding in anguish. “I can’t believe I just said that. I’m actually going to retire.” It really would take some getting used to. What the hell would he do all day? “Thanks for listening, Zoe.” Vlad finally gave her a playful smile. “And for the
other
.”

“The other? The
other
?” How dare he call incredible sex with her, ‘other’! Zoe flew at him and almost knocked him off his stool. Laughing, he grabbed her and held her tightly, his breath hitching in his throat. She was the one bright spot in his life at that moment; he never wanted to let her go.

The next morning at practice, Vlad pulled the coach aside in the locker room and asked if he could have a minute of his time before they hit the ice. Talking to Coach DeLeon was even tougher than he imagined. He hardly knew where to start. First, he had to come clean with the fact that he went behind the organization’s back and saw another doctor. Then he had to apologize for not playing at top form when they had lost a couple of their games. Lastly, he had to admit to himself that he’d let his entire team down because of his own pride. It was a hell of a day.

He told him everything. After he heard it, he doubted the coach would let him play again, but he had to try. “I’d really like to play the Halloween game. After that, I’ll call it quits and have the surgery. I give you my word that if I’m not up to playing the whole game, I’ll pull myself out. I won’t let the team suffer for my bad play again.”

Coach DeLeon was still trying to digest everything Vlad had told him. “You know our doctors are going to want to check you out themselves. Will you willingly make yourself available for that?”

“Of course. I’ll do anything you want me to do. I really am sorry, Coach. I guess I was afraid of finding out exactly what I found out. My hip has always bothered me a little. I just thought it was the life of a goalie, you know? I already got copies of all of my records from the medical center.” Vlad took a large file out of his bag and handed it to the coach.

Frustration evident by his tension-filled expression, Coach DeLeon took the file. “Okay, Vlad. I’ll give this to Dr. Vane. Halloween is only a couple of days away. Go suit up and get out there. Practice with the guys for a while and see how you feel. I’ll leave it up to you whether to tell them or not. It’s your decision. If you decide not to, we’ll have a meeting after the Halloween game.”

“You’re going to let me play?” Vlad couldn’t help the feeling of elation that washed over him. Knowing it could be his last game ever would make it the most special game of his life.

“I am, as long as you give me your word, on your honor, that you’ll pull yourself out if you can’t give me one hundred percent.”

“I swear it, Coach. You have my word.” Vlad was humbled by the coach’s support. “Thank you.”

Practice went better than he expected. Before Vlad could enter the locker room afterward, Dr. Vane grabbed him. “Come to the training room with me for a second, would you?”

Vlad followed him down the hallway, wondering how pissed he was that he had gone to the medical center. When they reached the end of the hallway, they turned right and went into the first training room.

Dr. Vane threw the folder down with enough force to spill some of the papers. “Want to explain this? You have one of the best medical teams available to you twenty-four-seven. Not everyone is lucky enough to have that kind of experience and expertise at their beck and call, yet you went to the medical center for a hip issue. Does that sound about right?”

Immediately, Vlad could feel his body tensing up. He tried to remind himself that he did, in fact, go behind their backs. Anyone would be angry about that; however, he was not some errant child to be talked down to.

“Look, Doc. I’ve already apologized to Coach. I’m sure he explained the situation to you. It was nothing personal about the care your team gives us, okay? This isn’t about you. Try to understand that.”

Dr. Vane seemed to back down a bit, slightly cooling off. “Fine, let’s move forward. I’ve reviewed your test results and spoken to Dr. Culp. Unfortunately, I agree with his findings and his course of action. I’m not pleased that you went to him, but I am sorry this is a career-ending situation.” Vlad could tell Dr. Vane was upset; he’d always had an amiable relationship with him. “I can imagine it’s going to be hard to hang up your skates, but you’re actually lucky you caught it in time. You should be able to play hockey again, just not on a professional level. Make sure you do all of the therapy required afterward. You’re young and in good shape, so you should come out of the surgery well enough.”