Power Pucking Play (Chicago Blades)

21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Gio

T he hot water cascades over my shoulders, easing the tension I didn't even realize I was carrying. As steam fills the bathroom, my mind drifts to the events of the past twenty-four hours.

Lexi Brookes, the bane of my existence turned...what? Girlfriend? Lover? The woman who's turned my world upside down in the best possible way?

A grin spreads across my face as I remember the way she looked last night. And this morning.

All flushed cheeks and mussed hair.

The way she gasped my name, the feel of her skin against mine.

It's enough to make the strongest man forget about everything else.

Playoffs. Press. The whole damn world.

The bathroom door creaks open, pulling me from my reverie.

"Gio?" Lexi's voice is tight, strained in a way that immediately puts me on edge.

"Yeah, baby," I call back. "Come to join me after all?"

There's a pause, and I can practically hear the thoughts run. When she speaks again, her voice is closer. "I...we need to talk. There's something…"

But whatever she was about to say is lost as I pull back the shower curtain, reaching for her. "Talk later," I murmur, drawing her into the shower, sheet and all.

She yelps, dropping the thin white sheet she'd been clutching, a mix of surprise and laughter bubbling from her throat. "Gio! What are you…the sheet is going to get all wet!"

I grin, pressing her against the cool tile as I fling the fabric out of the glass-enclosed space with a wet slap. "Well, that's easily fixed, isn't it?"

For a moment, I see the worry in her eyes, the tension in her shoulders. But then something shifts, like she's made a decision, and suddenly she's kissing me with a fervor that takes my breath away.

As the water beats down on us, turning her blonde hair dark gold, I marvel at her. At this wild, passionate woman who has captured my icy heart and soul. Who has somehow managed to make me feel something beyond the ice and the game.

I hold her close, my hands sliding down her back, committing every curve, every dip of her delectable body to memory.

I kiss her harder before reaching down and hooking my hands under her thighs. I lift her and she sighs against my lips, wrapping her legs around my waist.

I press her up against the wall and she gasps, arching into me. I can feel her heat, even through the steam and water.

I'm lost in the sensation of Lexi's warmth surrounding me as I enter her, a perfect blend of heat and moisture that draws me deeper.

Her breathy sighs. The way she grips my shoulders.

It all feels incredible.

But nothing feels as incredible as her pussy.

I feel her—feel it—pulsating in time with the rhythm we create. With every stroke of my hard cock. With every swivel of my ready hips.

And just like that, we're lost in each other.

The worries of the outside world fade away, replaced by the slide of wet skin, the taste of water and desire, the sound of breathless moans echoing off tile walls.

It's different from last night.

Faster. More urgent.

It's like we're both trying to prove something. To each other, to ourselves, I'm not sure.

But as Lexi arches against me, her nails digging into my shoulders, I decide I don't really care about the why.

I'm too focused on the here and now. Too focused on thrusting into Lexi with everything I've got. Too focused on how the water splashing around us is drowned out by the symphony of her moans and my hushed whispers.

"You feel that, Lex? How perfectly you take me?" I murmur against her ear, feeling her shudder in response. With each movement, her gasps grow louder, urging me to go deeper, harder.

"I love how you wrap around me," I continue, my voice rough and low, "like you were made for this, made for me."

Her nails dig into my shoulders, and that delightful bite of pain pushes me to go harder. Lexi's breathing turns ragged, and I know she's close—her moans cresting into a sweet crescendo of pleasure.

"Come for me, beautiful," I coax, pounding into her with an unyielding rhythm.

And then she breaks, her climax washing over her like a tidal wave, her body clenching and trembling against mine. I hold her tight, soaking in every second, every sensation of that exquisite moment as she screams my name.

She moans against my lips as I come inside her, her fingers tangling in my wet hair. And I know that this is where I belong. In this moment with this woman who has become everything to me.

The water eventually runs cold, but we don't care. We stay wrapped up in each other until our skin shrivels and the bathroom is filled with steam.

As I drop her to her feet, Lexi shivers in my arms, and I reach behind her to shut off the shower.

"Well," I say, unable to keep the smugness out of my voice, "that was the best shower I've ever taken."

She smacks my chest lightly, but I don't miss the way her lips twitch, fighting a smile. "Oh yeah? I'm sure a famous pro hockey player like you has taken plenty of...steamy showers."

I gaze down at her, the mirth gone from my grin. Suddenly, everything feels serious as I reach for a towel, wrapping it around her. "None like that, sweetheart. Only with you."

She looks up at me, hazel eyes glazing, and I kiss her wet forehead.

"C'mere," I beckon. I gently dry her off, making sure to pay extra attention to her soft curves, eliciting a contented sigh from her. As I finish up, I hand her a fluffy robe and help her put it on.

"Thank you," she whispers, wrapping her arms around me.

I hold her close, feeling the warmth of our bodies radiating through the plush fabric. "Always."

We stand there for a moment, just holding each other, before reality comes diving back in. We have to get dressed.

I have a game. She has a job. Both we need to save.

By the time we're back in the bedroom, I'm already reaching for my game-day suit. Lexi pulls on her clothes, and I can't help but watch as the fabric hugs her curves in all the right places.

"You know," I say, smiling as my gaze glues to her ass. "After the game tonight, we can make a night of it."

"Make a night of what?" Lexi asks, turning to face me with a raised eyebrow.

I shrug. "Celebrating our win."

"You haven't even played the game yet."

I pull on my suit jacket. "A minor detail."

Lexi laughs and shakes her head. "And what would this night consist of?"

"Me. You. Pineapple pizza and a showing of Goodfellas ."

"Pineapple pizza? Really?"

I nod, giving her my best puppy-dog eyes. "Please?"

She rolls her eyes but smiles. "Fine, but only because you're cute when you beg."

I grin triumphantly. "I can beg all night if that means I get to spend it with you." I close the distance between us, pulling her into a kiss, and my thoughts wander. "So, what was it you wanted to talk about earlier? Before I so rudely interrupted you."

Lexi freezes, as my fingers play in her hair. "I...it's nothing. Don't worry about it."

"Doesn't seem like nothing. Come on, Brookes. You can tell me anything."

I press my lips to hers one more time.

She takes a deep breath, and I can see her steeling herself for something. "Gio, there's...there's an article. About us."

I frown. "What kind of article?"

"The kind with pictures," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "From Seattle. We're not...I mean, it's not explicit or anything, but..."

"But it's enough," I finish for her, my mind racing. "Shit. Lexi, I'm so sorry. I know you wanted to keep this under wraps, and now..."

She shakes her head, cutting me off. "It's not your fault. If anything, it's mine. I should have been more careful, more professional. God, Gio, my boss is going to kill me. The network has strict rules about fraternizing with subjects, and I've just broken every single one of them."

I watch as she paces the room, her earlier calm evaporating with every step.

Part of me wants to pull her close, to tell her we'll figure it out together.

But another part—the part that's been burned before, that's always waiting for the other shoe to drop—understands why she's freaking out. We're both risking a lot by being together.

And I sure as shit haven't even told my own sister that I'm sleeping with her best friend. She'd kill me. And then resurrect me just so she can kill me again.

The trade talks, our careers, even our relationships...they're all on the line.

"Your boss," I say slowly, a thought occurring to me. "He doesn't know about the article yet?"

Lexi stops pacing, looking at me warily. "I'm not sure. Why?"

"Hey," I say, reaching for her hand. "We'll figure this out. We'll talk to your boss, explain everything. Maybe we can spin it in a positive light."

She looks at me skeptically. "You really think that's possible? That the news station won't just see me as another fawning jersey-chaser who can’t keep her hands out of the cookie jar?”

I take a deep breath and cup her face in my hands. “I’d make a joke about my pants being the cookie jar, but I’m seeing that it’s not the time or place.” I smile, wiping my thumbs across the unshed tears beneath her lower lashes. “As far as what that station or anyone else says, who gives a shit, Lex? You know what this is. This is real. You. Me. Us. And if that means we have to face some consequences together, then so be it."

"Says the millionaire whose bosses don’t care if he’s boinking the woman reporter," she mutters, but I see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

“Hey, hey, hey. Don’t do that. Don’t act like you’re just some hookup that’ll be treated like fodder. You matter. More than the money. More than the Blades’ bullshit right now. You matter more than anything, Lexi. Know that.” And it's true. For the first time in my life, someone else's happiness means more to me than my own.

Except...

Lex has a look on her face—the kind of look she gets when she's about to say something that will make me want to punch a wall.

"What is it, Brookes?" I question, bracing myself for whatever is coming.

She takes a deep breath. "I don't know. It's just...this is all happening so fast. Yesterday we were barely speaking, and now we're what? A couple? Star-crossed lovers? I just...I need some time to think." She nods, but I can see the walls going up behind her eyes.

I swallow. "Right. Of course. We both need time to...process." I glance at the clock, suddenly desperate for an escape. "I should go. Need to make a good impression before the game. Coach will have my ass if I'm late."

"Sure," Lexi says, and the distance in her voice kills me. "Go. We'll...we'll talk later."

I grab my gear bag, hesitating at the door. I should say something. Tell her how I feel, that we'll figure this out together. But the words stick in my throat.

"Later," I manage to choke out, and I'm gone before she can say anything else.