Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
Again, he calls her his, really?! I viciously bite into my garlic bread and chew it the thirty-two times you are supposed to.
“He definitely has some of their sweet nature.” Baker adds.
Luci stands up. “I’ll go grab his bag.” She picks up all their plates and Baker stands up fussing at her. She maneuvers around him and takes them to the sink. “Baker, I can pick up my plate. Wish you would let me help with the dishes one night.”
“No, Miss Luci, that will not happen. You work hard enough.” He gives her a meaningful look and I wonder if Baker knows her issues.
“Luci, you’re putting me to bed, right?” Cole pleads and I see her eyes dart to me.
“Your daddy might want…”
I cut her off smoothly. “I promised him you would tonight.” Truthfully, Cole asks every night for her to stay later and later. She never turns him down.
She nods and turns to head for the playroom. My eyes follow her until she’s out of sight, only to turn back finding Banning staring at me contemplatively. His lips twitch before he looks away and I wonder what that was about. She comes walking back in with his backpack and another bag. She hugs them both and tells Banning “I’m coming Sunday. You surprised Syd first?”
“I did. She said she’s going to be at your place when you get home tonight.”
“Perfect. Bye guys.” She lifts up and kisses his cheek along with Barrett’s and I want to yank her away from him. I take a slow deep breath as jealousy floods through me in a way I’ve never felt.
Everyone tells him goodbye and I raise a hand, not sorry to see him go.
“Bath time Coco. Want music tonight?” She holds her hand out for him and he skips to her happily nodding his head
I get up and take my plate to the sink, setting it down very deliberately. “You could throw it at the wall, but it’s one of your mother’s favorites.” Baker states mildly. “Banning seems very upstanding and protective.” He eyes me carefully. Yeah of my sweetness…fuck I really need to not think that way.
“I bet Luci could use some help with bath and bedtime tonight.” Becker chimes in with a big s**t eating grin. Jackson and Kingston sit silently laughing at me. I flip all of them off before stalking toward Cole’s room. I step into the bathroom listening to him singing along with her and laughing. “Quick bath Coco. It’s late and you need sleep. You grow while you sleep, did you know that? And as tall as your daddy is, you are going to have to sleep a lot to get that tall.”
“I be as big and strong as daddy.” Cole proclaims, making my heart hitch like always. He loves me so much. I could have lost him…..
“Yep. You want to play hockey too?”
“Yes. Daddy teaching me to skate already.”
“Well, that is exciting. I would probably fall on my tail if I tried to do that.”
Cole giggles. “Luci, you don’t have a tail. You’re silly.”
“Tail is another word for your behind.”
“Ohhhhh….” He says and laughs. “Daddy could teach you to skate. He would like that.” Cole Reed, you perceptive little turkey.
“I’m not sure your daddy would want to do that. Let’s get you out and ready for bed.”
I back out and move into his room, sitting on his bed. They come in and Cole runs into my arms for a hug. He is out almost the minute we tuck him in. He barely stays awake for Luci’s dream instructions about a tank that shoots ice cream scoops. I keep waiting each night for a hockey reference only to suffer disappointment.
I point toward the connecting door to my room, and she nods, licking her lips nervously. Which reminds me of every suggestive thought I’ve had since the carnival about her that I’ve shoved to the far corners of my dirty mind.
I close it behind her and she fidgets a little. I give her some time to settle her nerves, letting me study her. “Luci….” I watch her eyes focus on mine before I continue. “Saturday night there’s a game, and I’d like you to bring him. You’d be in the same spot as before. I’ll get you a hat since Barrett stole yours.” I thumb through the ones in my hat box.
“Could I bring Sydney and our new friend Stormi?” She doesn’t mention Banning, which thrills me.
“I’ll get them tickets too. You made a new friend?”
She nods with a little smile. “She fits in with us.”
I hand over a blue hat with my number on it. Her fingers brush mine, sending my pulse spiking. I gaze down at those innocent brown eyes, giving me pause. What the hell am I doing? This was a bad idea. I shouldn’t be this close to her Bad Idea Easton
“Mouthy, obstinate, prone to danger attempt to provoke her a te i get a narrowed eye look as i continue, jumpy, fidgety 1 bite my tongue on the rest. Sweet to my son, determined, resilient, protective of Goler.
“Are you trying to provoke me on purpose? You need a verbal fight or something for brain stimulation?” She makes this little mouse with her mouth.
“Yes,” I growl at her as i clench my fists to keep my hands off her
“And now you’re growling at me? I am so confused, growing does not count in a grammar war. Where are your usual barbed insults? You’re better at this normally. Did you get hit in the head with a hockey stick or the puck?” She snaps her fingers as her eyes light up. “You got home super early. Another shelf ventilation issue?” And then those brown eyes soften with concern. “I forgot, how’s your shoulder healing?” She moves closer, staring at the one in question.
That’s what does me in. That soft concern of hers after I snip at her. I was hoping my little resilient rabbit would run and be safe from me. One hand reaches for her waist to hold her there while my other moves up to grip the side of her neck. My thumb presses under her chin to push her face up. I lean down, whispering “forgive me sweetness” as I let my lips cover hers. They are so soft and I run the tip of my tongue very slowly across that seam holding me back from my first taste of her. She opens her mouth and I hurry to thrust inside, groaning deep in my throat as I do. I feel her shiver and slide my hand to the small of her back to bring her closer. Her velvet tongue dances with mine as her hand splays over my chest. The heat from her palm has me itching to pull my shirt off to truly feel her touch. I slowly withdraw from that velvet heaven to stare down at her. Her eyes are closed and her lips slightly parted as she takes a long, slow breath. Pink flushed cheeks and swollen lips of the same color, f*****g beautiful. “I named you right. That mouth is definitely sweetness.” I whisper against her lips before I kiss her again. Which is even better than the first one until someone bangs on my bedroom door.
“Easton!” I release her mouth slowly, letting the sound of my mother’s voice permeate the fog I was lost in. Damn her timing. She bangs again and Luci is back to panicked rabbit. I grab the hat from the floor and set it on her head. “Go home sweetness.” I whisper as I open the connecting door quietly and gently push her through.
Luci
Somehow, I managed to keep my wits about me long enough to escape the confines of the Reed residence and make my way home. The lingering taste of Easton’s mint Chapstick still clung to my tingling lips, a bittersweet reminder of the unexpected encounter. With each mile that brought me closer to my apartment, my frustration and anger towards him simmered and bubbled. What was he thinking? I am not just another one of his puck bunnies, a mere distraction in his world.
As I unlocked the door, I reminded myself that I needed to tidy up the clutter in my entryway. The faint sound of Sydney’s laughter drifted through the air, and I could tell she was on the phone with someone. I walked towards her voice, curiosity piqued, just in time to catch her giggling.