Finding the Forward, Part One (HockeyVerse)

Chapter Nineteen

Grif

T he whirr of my electric beard trimmer echoed off the walls of my bathroom as I carefully groomed my beard. I wanted to be neat and pretty for my date with Verity tonight.

And what would happen after.

Excitement overwhelmed me and I kept doing random dances in my bathroom.

“Hey, good looking. You lucky asshole. When do I get a date with Verity?” Dean leaned in the doorway and eyed me like I was one of Verity’s cupcakes, which she kept putting in my locker.

How she got in, I wasn’t sure. But then the Maimer’s knowing our code wouldn’t surprise me.

“When you can promise to not lick her in public,” I laughed, thinking of yesterday when we sat in the stands with her, and she’d had a box of donuts.

“She had powdered sugar on her nose.” Dean made an empty gesture with his hands as if it explained everything. “I mean, what else do I do?” He frowned a little, scent souring.

I pulled him to me. “You really like her, don’t you?”

Unlike me, Dean had never really been into girls. We’d shared a few over the years, but he always just played along.

“Yeah.” He leaned his head on me. “It’s not just because she’s an alpha. It’s all of her. I look at her and feel dizzy and I just want to present for her and let her have her way with me.”

Yeah, he had it bad.

I kissed my sweet husband, smoothing his hair. “She makes me feel dizzy, too. You’ll get that date eventually. She likes you, too.”

We swayed in the bathroom, slow-dancing.

“Good. Because I like her so much that I don’t know what to do with myself. I look forward to hearing all about tonight.” Dean kissed me long and deep, then left with a wink.

As I finished getting ready, my phone buzzed. I checked it, expecting it to be Verity.

It wasn’t a message. It was an alert.

More specifically, an alert I’d set up four years ago letting me know when a particular house went up for sale in Boston.

I didn’t even look at the listing; I just called my business manager. She was someone AJ had introduced me to years ago to keep me from doing stupid shit with my money when he wasn’t around.

“It’s Grif McGraff,” I told her as I copied the listing and sent it to her.

“Hi, Grif. What can I help you with? Going to buy Dean another boat? Or are you naming a bathroom after him?” She laughed.

We got a little silly with our holiday gifts. It was AJ we’d named a bathroom after.

“I want to buy him a house. I sent you the listing. The house is for sale. The one we walked past every day as kids. I promised to buy it for him one day when we were pro hockey players.” Giddiness consumed me. It was for sale. After all these years.

Sadness struck me. That meant the friendly couple that lived there had either passed or became too old to live alone.

As kids, we’d made up so many stories about the people who lived in the fairytale house. Talked about the life we’d live in it. How we’d decorate it. We’d eventually gotten to know them.

“I don’t care what condition it’s in.” I looked at the listing as we talked. It was a little run-down. The price seemed a little high for the size and condition, but nothing I couldn’t afford.

“Do you want me to get the price down?” she asked.

“No. I don’t care if we have to go over asking. I want it. It will be the best present ever.” I could see his face now when I gave it to him on Christmas morning.

“I’ll see what I can do and keep in touch. Do you want this to be anonymous?” she asked.

“It depends. The couple that lived there might remember Griffey and Dean. I want the sellers to know we’re going to love that house so much. Thank you.” I ended the call.

Whistling a little tune, I finished dressing. Entering the kitchen, I spied a giant flower arrangement on the counter.

“Dean, I asked you to buy her a bouquet, not the centerpiece for a wedding.” I teased. While it was beautiful, full of roses, eucalyptus, baby’s breath, and lavender, it was ridiculous.

“She’ll love them, promise.” Dean put his arms around my waist, rubbing his scent all over me. This wasn’t territorial. No, he was leaving Verity a message of a different kind.

My horny omega husband came on strong sometimes, but Verity needed some of that. What we had was so easy, and I wanted the same for them.

Just like I wanted AJ to meet her, but he was so busy. Like tonight. He had something with his family. AJ had been a little weird lately. But as soon as we got the pack contract, AJ and I could get serious and that would fix a lot between us.

“Who died?” AJ came in the front door, in one of his fancy suits, eying the flowers. A frown twitched on his lips. Sunglasses sat in his hair like usual.

While he always looked nice in a suit, I preferred him in sweats.

“Grif has a date. ” Dean’s voice went sing-song, arms still around me.

AJ scowled. “You’re still seeing her?”

I flinched at his ferocity. “She’s kind and a good person, Pepperjack. Which you’d know if you’d met her.”

It was a little ridiculous that they still hadn't met.

“I understand wanting to find her. You’ve been playing great. But she’s a power-up. Why are you encouraging her? She’s probably using you.” He walked to the fridge and got out a beer.

“No, she’s not. Also, she would never.” I shook my head, unable to fathom that situation.

Dean shook his head. “Jonas checked her out. She’s nice. Maybe if you’d meet her, you’d understand.”

“I’d hate to see you get hurt, Boo-Boo.” With a shake of his head he left the room, beer in hand.

“She’s not going to hurt us.” Anguish filled me. He thought she was using me? That’s why he wouldn’t meet her?

“Change is hard. He might feel threatened by the presence of another alpha. Eventually, they’ll have to settle this.” Dean held me close, purring for me, trying to soothe my nerves.

Territorial alpha bullshit. Okay, I could see that. AJ didn’t understand she wasn’t like the usual female alphas.

Giving Dean a kiss, I left our penthouse and drove to her place, parking in the spot she told me to, then went up to their place. I knocked on the door, clutching the gigantic bouquet.

“It’s open,” a female voice yelled.

Five young Maimers lounged on the couch, eating takeout, and playing video games. Two of them were twins–one dressed in black with goth makeup, the other all cutesy.

“Take that, you asshole,” Mercy yelled, punching buttons on a controller. “Date is here. Quick break?” She eyed the flowers. “What are you compensating for?”

“Having an overzealous omega.” I gazed longingly at the food on the coffee table. Fried chicken. Mashed potatoes. Something deep fried. Biscuits. The smells alone made me drool. “Where did that come from? It looks amazing.”

I could use some chicken that wasn’t baked.

“Team Mom made it for us,” Kaiko, the rookie with the black and pink hair, replied.

“Verity can fry chicken. Oooh.” My belly gurgled. One of my moms made delicious fried chicken. Smelling it always brought back happy memories of summer picnics.

“She’s pretty good at cooking. Can’t grill worth shit, though.” Mercy shoved an entire biscuit in her mouth.

“Was that the do—” Verity stopped short, one hand on the wall of the hall that separated the living room and kitchen from the bedrooms. “Hi, Grif.” A hand smoothed her hair, and a wide grin broke out on her face. One that made me feel adored.

“Hi. You look amazing.” That tight lavender dress hugged her ass, showing just enough cleavage to tantalize. Her feet were bare, toes painted light purple–like her nails. Like always, she looked beautiful, but her makeup and hair were different–definitely an evening look with the pouty lips, and the artful curls coming loose from her updo.

“You two are so dopey.” Mercy rolled her eyes.

“I think they’re sweet,” the only guy of the bunch said. He had a bunch of dinosaur tattoos.

“Have fun, be safe, don’t add to the population, don’t subtract from the population, don’t end up in jail because I’m not bailing your ass out, and be in by curfew, or you’ll be grounded,” Mercy stated, obviously mimicking someone, but I wasn’t sure who.

“That impression was impressive, ” Verity told her.

The goth girl sized me up. “Team Mom has a curfew?”

“She was mimicking one of our parents.” Verity’s eyes fell on the flowers. Her hand went to her heart. “You brought me flowers?”

I held them out, my arm shaking a little. “Dean picked them for you. I hope you like them.”

Please like them. Maybe I should have gotten something less chaotic?

“Thank you. That is the most beautiful bouquet I’ve ever gotten.” Closing the gap between us, she planted a soft kiss on my cheek.

Relief sloshed over me. Okay, good choice then. Something about her touch made me giddy–and horny, as I willed myself to not have a hard-on with all the Maimers present.

The guy whistled as he sat stretched out, sipping a soda.

“If we’re not allowed to date the hockeys, are you not allowed to date the hockeys?” Kaiko asked Verity, grabbing a biscuit off the table.

The guy shook his head. “We don’t want to date the hockeys because we don’t know where they’ve been.”

A couple of them laughed.

“You can date the hockeys, or each other, if you sign the paperwork with HR,” Verity told them as she went to the sink and got down a vase. “HR wasn’t sure if the rules applied to me but said it wouldn’t hurt, so we signed it.”

I had no problem with it. We didn’t need to jeopardize anyone’s career, so we filed it.

Verity put the flowers in a vase, then rejoined me, sitting on a bench by the door as she put on a pair of black flats, then grabbed her wrap, purse, and crutch. “I’ll be back eventually. Don’t burn the house down.”

At my car, I opened the passenger door for her. The sports car was a top-of-the-line, red, and alpha-class. It wasn’t a convertible but had a moonroof.

It also went fast.

“You don’t have a car, do you?” I said as we drove away.

“My brother Hale is borrowing it since I’m not cleared to drive and Mercy’s not old enough. We’re fine taking public transport or ordering cars,” she told me.

Driving age was eighteen, like the drinking age.

“Was that an ambush, or do they always hang out at your place?” I asked, stomach rumbling at the thought of all that delicious food. Soon. The food would be delicious.

It wasn’t fried chicken, though.

“They like to hang out at our place because I cook for them. They’re all really young and miss home cooking. Also, I’d rather them be there than elsewhere,” she replied. “Can I plug in my phone? I made us a playlist.”

“Sure.” The idea that she’d created a playlist made a tingly sensation shoot through me. “Growing up, Dean’s house was the hangout spot. They always had the best snacks.”

“Where are we going?” Verity connected her phone and sultry music filled the car.

“Surprise.” Anxiousness shot through me. What if she didn’t like it? Given she was new to the city, I thought a romantic, iconic spot would be ideal.

No, she’d like it. I hope.

She squeezed my knee as calming pheromones filled the car. “I’ll love it. Do you know why? Because you chose it.”

“Thanks. Kitten, please don’t feel you need to de-scent yourself for my comfort. I’m just fine with how you smell.” In this enclosed space, I could smell that she’d tried to tamp it down.

I used de-scenting products, but mine didn’t leave a chemical smell. Dean ordered them special from his mom’s friend that made them.

“Okay. It just makes me uncomfortable sometimes with how strong it is. Can I open the moonroof?” she asked.

“Sure. You can adjust the windows and heat, too.” Anything for her comfort.

She opened the moonroof, then turned up the music. All the other windows stayed rolled up. Her look turned coy as she got a fruit roll out of her purse. The kind kids like Dean might get in their lunches when we were little.

Huh? Was she hungry?

“It’s not too long of a drive.” Well, as long as there weren’t any accidents.

“Can I take the edge off that anxiety, Tiger?” She opened the brightly colored fruit roll with her teeth, slowly unpeeling it with only her mouth.

Fucking shit, that was hot.

“What did you have in mind?” Was she going to feed me the fruit roll?

Her hand brushed over the zipper of my pants. “Oh, just a little fantasy I’ve never gotten to play out.”

My dick strained against my pants.

“I’m all yours, Kitten. Play away.” I was here for all her fantasies.

Every. Single. One.

Slowly, she undid my zipper. Reaching into my pants, she freed my hard cock. It sprung out, ready and wanting.

I moved the seat back a little, curious as to what she was going to do with that fruit roll.

“Ooh, you're so ready for me.” She wiped pre-cum off the tip, then brought her finger to her lips and licked it. “Delicious.”

“Kitten, play, but let’s not wreck the car,” I growled, struggling to keep my eyes on the road and not miss our turn.

“I want to cause you less stress, not more.” Taking the rainbow fruit roll, she wrapped it around my cock.

She rested her head in my lap, then took the tip of my fruity dick in her mouth.

I sucked in a breath. That’s what it was for?

Yes, please.

Shit, that was our turn. Whoops. I took it fast, a car honking at me.

“Fuuuuccck, Kitten,” I groaned as that sweet mouth wrapped around my cock

As I drove, Verity licked and sucked the fruit roll off me like she didn’t have a care in the world. Every delicious sound made it difficult not to pull the car over and have my way with her.

Thank fuck there was traffic, because it took some time for her to get it all off. Nipping and teasing, she’d slow down then speed up again, so I didn’t come before she’d gotten the roll off.

It felt fan-fucking-tastic. Oh, how I loved having her head in my lap as I drove. It made me happy that she was comfortable enough with me to do things like this.

“Are we almost there? You can come when you’re ready. There’s not much left for me to suck off.” She peered at me through her dark lashes.

“You’re okay swallowing, Kitten? There are tissues in the center console,” I gasped as she licked me again, making me almost jump out of my seat.

Yeah, I’d cum in that sweet mouth and give her quite the appetizer.

Belatedly, I worried about the fact she was sucking my dick bare. Not because of infections. We’d had that talk. Because of slick. Betas didn’t slick and if I did, she’d know something wasn’t quite right.

Then again, I hadn’t slicked in years. I didn’t come as much as Dean, either.

“Oh, Tiger, I can’t wait to suck you down.” She took me all the way into her mouth. One hand fondled my balls, as she did this thing with her throat and–

A car honked, and I swerved. Orgasm shook me and I came into that hot little mouth of hers as I tried not to get into a wreck. My body continued to shudder as she sucked me down and I drove us toward the valet parking.

“That was incredible,” I breathed as we reached our destination safely. A little scary, all things considered. Also, I was glad I’d gotten the tinted windows.

She gave my cock another lick. Tucking me back into my briefs, she zipped me up. Right as we pulled up to the valet.

“You’re amazing.” I kissed her, getting the little bit of me left off her face. “You might want to fix your lipstick.”

She fixed her lipstick, and I rolled the window down.

“We’re going to dinner,” I told the valet, scanning the code on his handheld console with my phone.

I got out and went around to her side. Opening her door, I got her crutch and offered her my hand.

“Feel better now, Tiger?” Those shiny lips, which had so recently been around my cock, curved into a smile as she took my arm.

“Much. That was the best use of fruit rolls ever,” I whispered into her ear as I led her into the high rise building in front of us. The restaurant was at the top.

A fruit roll blow job in the car. Dean would be so jealous.

I couldn’t wait to see what the rest of our date was like.