PUCK (A BAD BOY HOCKEY ROMANCE) (5 page)

“Come on, baby,” Puck says, gently pressing his lips to mine.

The sound of his voice calling me ‘baby’ takes this situation to a whole other level. How did I go from step sister, to employee, to ‘baby’ so quickly and why is it turning me on so much? He can’t do this - not yet. I’m not ready, but I have no time to think. Puck’s tongue is gently parting my lips while I’m trying to decide what to say. It’s too late.

My mouth opens to his and our tongues entwine as we have our first kiss. Puck rests his hand on my cheek and runs it back over my hair, gently pulling me closer, deepening our kiss. This kiss is far from innocent. I can almost read his mind as we continue to move our mouths together. Our tongues move in rhythm like we’ve kissed a thousand times.

I lean up to get closer, and in one swift movement, Puck wraps his arms under my thighs and picks me up out of the chair. My legs wrap around him and I giggle softly into his mouth. Without any effort, he moves over to the kitchen island and sits me on top, never releasing his mouth from mine.

Puck kisses me harder, his tongue entering deeper into my mouth. I grasp the bottom of his shirt and pull it over his head, running my hands back down his bare chest. I feel his lips curl up into a smile against mine as I slide my hands around his shoulders, then run my fingers up into his hair and pull him closer to me again.

He uses one hand to expertly unbutton my top and slide it back off my shoulders. The white lacy bra I’m wearing can’t hide my nipples which are totally erect and poking through the fabric. A soft moan escapes Pucks’s throat and he firmly cups my breasts in his hands. His touch is strong but gentle and I immediately melt in his hands. He tweaks my nipple with his thumb as he continues to caress me.

Our tongues are moving together, faster now, both wanting more. I reach down and undo the button on his pants. When I reach down to the zipper, I feel how hard he is. I pull the zipper down, releasing his erection from his suit pants. I look down and a sly smile crosses my lips. Even behind the confines of his boxer briefs, I can tell he is extremely well endowed - even more than in my fantasies.

Puck places his hands on my waist and gently pulls me off the counter. He unbuttons my pants now, nudging them off my hips so they fall down to the floor. He pulls his face back from mine and moves his eyes down the length of my body.

“Dam, you are so fucking beautiful, baby,” Puck says approvingly.

He sets his hands on my shoulders and slowly moves them down, following the curve of my body. When he gets to my hips, he slides his fingers over the lace of my thong and down into my crease. I know he can feel how wet I am even over the material.

I clutch my hand around his shaft, feeling every inch of him through his soft boxer briefs. Puck clutches my ass with both hands, pulling me into him. His groin is pressing into me, but it’s not enough. I want him inside me.

This is the moment I dreamed about as a teenager, when I thought I was in love with Puck. As that thought comes to my mind, I’m suddenly reminded of why we never kissed before, why we never touched each other, and why I’m here now. The heat coursing through my body starts to cool. Fuck. I wish my brain would get out of my heart’s way.

I slowly pull myself away and place my hands back on his shoulders, kissing Puck on the lips, “We can’t,” I whisper, not wanting to hear my own words.

Puck looks at me, longingly, not understanding but knowing what is coming. I notice the tight bulge barely contained in his boxers again and quickly question myself as to what I really want. I’m just not sure.

“Dani,” Puck says without a hint of pleading or pressure, “I have wanted you for so long. When are you going to believe me?” he asks, his tone more serious, “I know you feel the same. I know you feel what I feel right now.”

“I do feel it,” I answer quietly, accidentally glancing back down to where his boxers are all but bursting at the seems, “I just don’t know. There’s so much to think about. Our past,” I trail off.

“That’s exactly it -
the past.
It’s behind us. We are here. Now. And this,” he moves his hand back and forth from me to him, “this is real. You can’t deny it.”

“I’m not, but you weren’t the one who was hurt - it was me,” I say, void of almost all the passion from our encounter already, “you had a laugh and moved on. I was the one who was teased and talked about for years after. Years!” I say louder. This is the first time I’ve brought it up since high school.

Puck stands up straight again. He looks helpless for the first time. His guard is down and I can see he is hurt.

“Fuck, Dani,” he says, running his hand back through his hair, “I hated myself for that - for a long time. I’ve wanted to apologize and make it up to you, but you never let me.” He leans against the counter next to me, “of course that’s no excuse. I should have made things right from day one.”

Hearing Puck admit he was wrong is nothing new, but the look of defeat on his face, the pain I am seeing for the first time, is melting my heart.

“Yes, you should have.”

“You know how it was back then. I was ‘the shit’. Everyone loved me and I played into that - how could I not?” he admits frankly, “I was so popular, half the girls in school wanted to be with me. Then our parents fall in love and you and are put under the same roof.” Puck rests his elbows down on the counter top and relaxes his posture, like a huge weight is being lifted from his shoulders as he continues to speak, “this hot little teenager with a crush on me is sleeping in the next room.”

I can’t help but grin when he refers to me as ‘hot’. Puck never said anything nice about me back then.

“I was such a ‘tough guy’ when I was younger, but on the inside, I was weak. I loved the attention - I got off on it,” he stops speaking and sniggers almost to himself, “I guess I still do,” he stiffens when he starts talking about the past again, “when my friends would talk about you, I got jealous. I wanted you for myself and I needed them to know you were mine. So one day when they were teasing me about how I could have any girl, except for the one sleeping in the room next to me, I made up the story. I told them that you snuck into my room one night when I was sleeping, crawled under the covers, took off your clothes, and seduced me,” Puck says, explaining for the first time how the rumors about me began.

“But, why?” I ask with tears in my eyes. I’ve waited so long to hear this.

“I couldn’t help it,” Puck continues, “it’s just the way boys are. Maybe that was my fantasy and I wanted to pretend it came true,” he shrugs, “by the time I saw the damage being done, it was too late.”

“Didn’t you realize how much that would hurt me? I was so young.”

“No. I figured they would high five me and forget about it,” he looks down at his lap.

“Unfortunately, they didn’t,” I reply sadly, “no one forgot about it.”

“I know. And I can apologize a million times but it won’t change a thing.”

“No. It won’t,” I say, looking up at him again, “I wish you would have spoken up back then. It would have changed everything.”

“Of course it would, and I should have,” he admits, “but that would have made
me
the liar. My reputation would have been ruined. As stupid as it was, I was too afraid to risk that.”

“Do you have any idea what I went through?” I ask, upset again, “I spent years being laughed at, called a slut, made fun of,” I close my eyes to stop myself and take a breath, “not only was I a slut, but I fucked my
step
brother
. Do you know what that sounds like? What it feels like? You got to leave. I was left there to defend myself. To try to explain that
you
were the liar - but who would believe that? Puck? The guy who gets all the girls? Why would he have to make that up?”

I feel a tear roll down my cheek. I’m dredging up old feelings. Talking about the past is never a good idea, but I need this. I need to face my demon so I can move on. I don’t want to carry around this hate anymore - especially with these new feelings surfacing. I don’t want to be confused anymore.

“I never had a boyfriend. I never trusted anyone. Any time a guy wanted to date me, I would just assume it was because he was trying to get laid,” I say out loud for the first time, “it was an awful way to spend my teenage years. I was well into college before I really recovered from it.”

Puck reaches his hand to my cheek and wipes my tears with his thumb. He looks at me, his face full of regret, “I never meant for any of it to happen. I just hope now you understand. It doesn’t make things right - I know that - but I’m not a kid anymore. I’m not that person. I grew up - but I still want you.”

He leans in and kisses me softly on the lips. He doesn’t push me, doesn’t try for more. There are so many unspoken words passing between us. The passion we shared earlier is still hanging over us, but the feelings from our past are also. I can sense that Puck is as relieved as I am to get everything out in the open so we can try to move forward. How can I hate him after seeing how truly sorry he has been all this time?

“Well, this has been a fun meeting,” Puck jokes to lighten the mood.

I let out a chuckle. I’m still upset, but not at all the same as I was. I feel like we’ve reached a new level in our relationship, but I’m still unsure where we stand. It’s all still so confusing.

“How about we call it a night?” Puck suggests, “I have an early practice and this is going to be a busy week for both of us.”

I lean over and kiss him on the cheek, “I think that’s a good idea. I have a lot to think about.”

We both pick up our clothing and begin to put everything back on. I feel crushed, as I’m sure Puck does too. I’m hoping that’s better than the possible regret I would have felt if we let it go any further.

I walk over to the table and lean over to pick up my plate and glass.

“Don’t worry about that, Dani,” Puck says, “I’ll clean up. You can get out of here - unless you want to stay?” he offers.

I think he’s kidding, but there is some seriousness behind his suggestion. I’m sure if I said yes, he wouldn’t argue.

“I’m back to ‘Dani’ now?” I tease, “I kind of liked ‘baby’, but I guess the other employees might get jealous.”

“We can keep that our little secret, baby,” he winks at me.

Puck clears the table while I collect my things. We walk through the kitchen and toward the front foyer together without saying a word. He opens the door for me and we stand there, unsure what we are supposed to do now. He takes my face in his hands and gently tilts it up so I am looking at him.

“I will make this right. You know as well as I do now that we are meant to be together. You can’t deny our feelings,” he professes, looking into my eyes.

“I don’t know what to think,” I reply softly, “my heart and my head are in tow very different places right now.”

Puck leans down and kisses me again, gently, lovingly, on the lips, almost as a confirmation that everything he has said tonight is the truth and this is his final apology.

I kiss him back, wrapping my arms over his shoulders, giving into my feelings. I press my tongue between his lips and almost instantly feel him getting hard against me as our mouths move together again. I gently suck on his lip and back away. I have a lot to process tonight, I don’t want to move too fast.

“Good night,” I say, beaming up at him.

“Night, baby,” he winks at me.

I turn and walk to my car. I feel Puck watching me from the door and smile. I open my car door, look back, and give him a little wave. I see him through my rear view mirror as I head down the never-ending driveway. He’s still watching me, not wanting to let me go for the night, but knowing it’s what is best.

As I drive home, I relive the night again in my head. That conversation we shared is all I needed to really move on. Not just hearing his words, but seeing his expressions, knowing Puck means what he says. I’m also pleasantly surprised to know that he had feelings for me when we were younger - that he wasn’t just an asshole. That everything he did, all the teasing, was because he liked me. The rumors were an entire other story, but so many things make sense now.

I continue in thought the whole way home. I fantasize about Puck and I together. How many teenage girls get to have their dreams come true? It may be over a decade later, but I just might get to live out my fantasy with my first crush. This time, when I think about him, I don’t stop myself, and I enjoy every minute of it.

PUCK

It doesn’t matter how cold the water is, a shower isn’t going to wash this away. Having Dani, tasting her, feeling her, holy shit. I almost came in my pants - just like a teenager again! That’s not going to happen though. I have her now. She knows I’m real, she knows I’m sorry, and when I told her I would make it right, I meant it.

I’m going to sweep that woman off her feet. Now that she’s let me in, I’m going to show her there is so much more to me than she knows. If we could make that kind of heat from a little kissing and touching, I can only imagine what we can do with our clothes off. I am imagining - maybe that’s why this cold shower isn’t doing the trick.

I love her. I really do. The more I’m around her, the more I believe that it’s true. We are going to be together - I know that now. Nothing would make me happier. I have everything I could want in life, except for her, and now ‘we’ are almost reality. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.

D
ANI

I
’m
in a new state of mind on my way to work in the morning. This is the first time I am actually looking forward to my work day. I know Puck won’t be there when I arrive, but I feel much better about everything now. I’m not looking for revenge anymore and that alone will make for a much more relaxing work day.

Years of jaded feelings and resentment are almost becoming just a memory. I can try and move forward now. If I let go of so much hatred, who knows what will happen with Puck and I? I actually see the possibility of a future for us together for the first time since I was just a girl daydreaming. He may in fact be the real deal - the whole package. Fame, fortune, looks, love.
Love
. Could he really love me?

I walk into the house full of confidence. Less than a week left before the big event and just about everything is in place. I’m sure the guests are going to love my menu and I know Puck will be talking me up every time he sees someone take a bite.

Steven is in the kitchen already when I get there. He’s holding a huge cup with some fancy concoction from one of the local coffee houses. It’s still early and apparently he’s been going for a while now.

“How are you, Dani?” he asks, only half paying attention, “how did your meeting go last night?”

I was stunned for a moment, thinking he might know what happened, but then I remembered he’s the one who planned the whole thing. I’m sure he is only making conversation and doesn’t think anything other than business was discussed.

“Pretty good. We are all on the same page and ready for the big night,” I reply cheerily. Puck and I didn’t go over too many details last night, but he liked the menu and I know Steven stays on top of everything else.

Steven looks up at me, sensing the happy tone in my voice, “you look different. What’s up?”

I look down at myself, “nothing.” Maybe I’m just glowing from the inside since last night.

“Well, whatever it is, keep it up,” he replies, absent-mindedly reading through his planner and answering me, “it’s going to be busy here the next few days. We’re expecting several deliveries and people will be coming and going,” he informs me, “everything has been arranged already, but you know how to reach me if you need anything.”

Steven grabs his keys with one finger and tries to steady everything in his hands, including his coffee.

“Want some help?” I offer, putting my own things down.

“No, thanks. This is nothing compared to what I juggle on a daily basis. It’s why I get paid the big bucks,” he answers sarcastically and walks out the kitchen door.

I go about my daily routine - make a pot of coffee, get breakfast started, check my list to see what I need to prepare early to be ready for lunch and dinner. I greet the other employees as they each come in and make a plate of breakfast. We don’t sit down together for breakfast often and no one seems to mind. I silently wonder what each of them would think if they knew what Puck and I were doing in the kitchen last night.

The morning goes by fairly quickly and I find myself looking at the clock often, wondering when Puck will be back home. Every time I hear the door open I feel a pang of excitement that it’s him, but so far, it’s only been the staff or deliveries.

Just as I’m getting ready to set out lunch, I hear the door again. I hope for a minute that it’s Puck, but then I hear the sound of high heels walking through the foyer and I know it’s not him. Seconds later, the heels make their way into the kitchen. When I turn to look, I see they are attached to a stunning woman.

“Hey, hon, is Preston around?” she asks me.

I’m caught off guard. No one calls Puck ‘Preston’, not even his mother. I glance up and down at the stranger in my kitchen. She is tall with perfectly teased long, blond curls and large, blue eyes. Her black pencil skirt and blazer say she means business, but the low cut white blouse and cleavage say otherwise. I immediately dislike her.

“I’m sorry, hon, I’m looking for Mr. Tanner - Puck,” she explains further, assuming I don’t know Puck’s real name which makes me like her even less.

“Yes. I know who you are referring to. I’m just not used to Puck being called ‘Preston’,” I reply coldly.

She sniggers, “I’m sure. Not many people are. I don’t do nicknames, it’s kind of childish.”

Every time this woman opens her mouth, I like her less.

“You must be the new cook Puck hired. I heard a lot about you, Danielle, is it?” she asks.

I sense a snide tone but I can’t tell if it’s directed at me or just her natural demeanor.

“It’s ‘Dani’. I’m Puck’s
chef
,” I emphasize the word so she knows I caught her attempt to belittle me since I’m pretty sure that’s what she is trying to do, “Can I help you?”

“Sure, hon, I’m Amanda Adams, I work for the PR firm that represents Preston.”

“Right,” I answer, “he’s not here right now. Was he expecting you?” I need to know how well she and Puck know each other.

“No, he’s not. I need to go over a couple of things with him so I figured I would pop in,” she replies arrogantly, “he usually doesn’t mind when I come by unannounced.”

She is clearly hinting that she is here for more than a business meeting. I should know - I had one with Puck last night. The euphoric feeling I’ve been enjoying all morning disappears. I’ve been played. It didn’t take much for Puck to convince me I was the only one for him. Now, not even twelve hours later, here comes another woman who obviously knows Puck very well. Their relationship is beyond professional and she is not trying to hide it.

“Well, Ms. Adams, he’s not here now. I can let him know you stopped by,” I reply.

I don’t offer her the option of waiting around for Puck. I want her to get out of my kitchen as soon as possible. Every second she stands here, I feel my blood pressure rising.

“That’s okay, hon,” she smirks.

Call me ‘hon’ one more time, bitch, I dare you.

I can’t believe how territorial I feel at the moment. One night with Puck and I’m trying to claim him as mine. Apparently I made a mistake, but I still need this woman to leave.

“I’ll let him know myself. I have his number.”

Of course you do.

“How are things coming along for the fundraiser?” Amanda asks, trying to make conversation.

“Everything seems to be going very well,” I answer shortly.

“That’s great to hear. This is a huge event and I know Preston expects everything to be perfect,” Amanda explains, “I know you’re new, but I’m sure you’ve gathered how important this night is to him, and how it effects his reputation, which makes it just as important to me and my firm.”

“Believe it or not, I’ve known Puck for a long time,” I say, asserting my place in his life, even though I’m not sure what that is right now, “I understand the importance of this night and the impact on his ‘reputation’ and I plan on doing everything I can to exceed expectations.”

I can’t hide the smug look on my face. Two can play at this game.

“Happy to hear you are here to help,” Amanda says, “how do you know Puck?”

She’s not asking to make conversation this time, she sounds curious.

“Well…it’s a long story,” I say vaguely.

It
is
a long story but not knowing what the story is will make it much more intriguing and hopefully intimidating.

“I’m sure it is, hon.” she replies, sounding like her snide self, “great to meet you. I’ll let myself out.”

Oh yes, you will.

Neither of us say anything else. We don’t make an attempt to shake hands or anything remotely professional. Both of us acted like a couple of jealous girls instead of highly paid business women. I’m somewhat ashamed of myself but I still don’t like her one bit.

I really want to know the nature of her relationship with Puck. Is she just some slutty looking girl the PR firm hires to maintain client relations or is she something more? What kind of professional drops by a client’s home without an appointment?

I’m not going to mention her to Puck at all. I’ll wait and see if he says anything. Maybe Steven will have some insight, but I will have to be cautious about how I ask. Puck is my boss, not my boyfriend, which means it’s not my business. We had one kiss and now I know for sure that I have to be careful. Who knows how many other women there are?

----------

T
he rest
of the day drags on. Even as I’m cleaning up from staff dinner, Puck still isn’t back. I make a couple of leftover meals to reheat and leave them in the refrigerator. Steven never came back today either. I assume they are off having meetings and making things happen, but I’m disappointed none the less. I was more hoping to see Steven so I can get some information on Amanda Adams. I’m not ready to see Puck anyway. I’m unsure where we stand again.

I spend the night making more spreadsheets for the party. I have to be sure every single detail is in place. Regardless of my feelings for Puck, this event has to perfect. I might even be offered other jobs because of it. Then I will have a reason to get out of this situation that I shouldn’t have gotten myself into in the first place.

I finish up my paperwork and my list for tomorrow. I have a lot to get done in the next couple of days for the fundraiser, so I’m keeping the house meals simple. I get ready for bed but when I try to sleep, I’m restless. My mind is turning over all kinds of scenarios and replaying my dinner with Puck last night.

Even more irritating is the fact that visions of Amanda Adams keep popping up in my head. I can’t help wanting to know if she’s been with Puck - if she’s still with him. She sure made it seem like she has. She is gorgeous and has a perfect body. I’m sure he wouldn’t give sleeping with her a second thought.
Preston.
Nick names are childish.
I mock her in my head.

Thank God we stopped before having sex last night - things got intense enough. If I’m getting this crazy after that, I can’t imagine what I would be doing and thinking if we took it any further. The conversation we had, the things he said, it all seemed so genuine. I really believed him - and I still do. But knowing there are still other women in the picture is hard to swallow. If I decide to move forward with Puck is he going to be able to leave these other women behind?

______________

I
arrive
at the house in the morning much less enthusiastic than the day before. I still haven’t seen Puck, and I don’t plan to. I know he has practices and a lot to do to prepare for the event tomorrow.

Although it’s very early when I arrive, the house is bustling with activity. Strange faces are moving about, rearranging things and moving belongings around. I set my things down in the kitchen and the backyard catches my eyes through the window. The tent was delivered yesterday and was being set up while I was here. I guess I was so lost in my own world that I didn’t notice it was done.

I walk around to the patio entrance and step outside. The structure is enormous and way too beautiful to be called a ‘tent’. It’s sitting perfectly centered in the yard before the gardens. The side facing me is open at the moment and there are several people rolling in tables and chairs, half of which are set up already. There are big windows built in to the opposite side and I can see clear through the long expanse of manicured lawn and gardens.

I make my way down the steps to get a closer view. The inside looks just like an elegant catering hall. Even without the tablecloths and decorations completed, it’s still amazing. There are chandeliers hanging from above and lights strung about. There is a dance floor set in the middle of the tables and bars positioned on each end.

I see a smaller tent off to the side and out of the way between this one and the garage. That must be my service kitchen for the event. I start walking that way and as I get closer, I see Steven talking to someone inside the kitchen area.

“Looks like I got here just in time,” I comment as I look around.

The tent is erected and it appears everything we need is inside, but it’s in total disarray.

“You sure did, Dani,” Steven answers turning to face me, “looks like it’s going to be a long day.”

“It doesn’t look too bad,” I reply, not fully convinced myself.

“I’m glad you think so,” he says with wide eyes, “we have a few guys that can move everything. You just need to give them direction.”

“No problem,” I say more confidently, “I have a layout of the equipment drawn in my notes. As long as everything is here, it should be pretty simple.”

“That’s good to hear. I have other issues I need to take care of so I’m glad you have this under control.”

“Of course. I’m a professional,” I answer with a wink.

I see that Steven just drained the last of his coffee while we were talking.

“I have to go get my plans in the kitchen. Can I interest you in a fresh cup of coffee? I have to make some anyway.” I offer.

“Definitely,” Steven agrees, “I’ll come and get it in a few. Just want to check on a couple of things.”

I walk back up towards the house. I keep looking around trying to take it all in. It’s going to be quite a sight when everything is complete. It’s hard to believe that all of this belongs to Puck. He has truly come so far since I first met him. He did always strive to be the best and I guess that tenacity really paid off. Even more admirable is that he is doing so much to give back to the community.

I smile as I look around one more time before walking in the back door. When I make my way through to the kitchen, I feel at ease momentarily. I’ve quickly come to think of this part of the house as my own. I set the coffee maker and hear my phone notify me that I have a text. I usually keep it off while I’m at work, but I must have forgotten today.

I pick it up and see a message from Puck ‘Busy day. Just want you to know I’m thinking about you.’

A warm feeling comes over me. I’m flattered that he’s thinking about me. I grin to myself and read the message again. I decide to wait until later to answer. I don’t want him to think I was waiting for him to reach out. I’m also supposed to be working and technically, he’s still my boss.