Hello all,
Here is the sequel to "Trading Ice." You don't have to have read that one first to enjoy this one, but it is
where the romance started, after all.
Please read, enjoy and comment.
Happy Reading!
M. ;)
***
Even though he spent his life living a dream and doing what he loved, Max's favorite part of the day fast became the time when he left the arena behind. He would skip having a shower at the arena following some games or practices, when he knew Mary would be at home. In spite of her half-hearted protests, she'd join him in the shower every time.
Sometimes he would be too tired to do much besides wash. Other times, they'd merely tease each other and then race stark naked across her apartment to the bed. Still other times, they would make love under the hot spray of water and Max would cradle Mary close as he carried her to bed.
Those were Max's favorite days.
It was one of those days when Mary commented on the amount of time he was spending at her place.
"I mean, the playoffs are starting next week and you spend more time here than at your own house," Mary said. "
Your
house that you
bought
. You've spent barely three nights at home in the past two weeks!"
"Are you complaining?" Max asked as he stroked his palm from her naked hip to her rib cage.
"Not at all," she breathed as he gave her a light squeeze. "But don't you want to get some use out of your house?"
Max pretended to consider, letting his mind run through the possibilities. Then he grinned and leaned close to Mary. "We could go there now. I have almost no furniture, so we'd just be doing this on bare floors."
Mary rolled her eyes and smacked him on the shoulder. "Seriously. You spent all that money on your house and you're hardly ever there. Don't you want to be?"
He shrugged one shoulder and ran his fingertips along her arm. He paused at the crook of her elbow, stroking the soft and sensitive skin there, grinning when goosebumps appeared on her arm. "I'd rather be here, doing this," he told her, and meant it.
She blushed and buried her face in her pillow, drawing a laugh from Max. He still loved how flustered she'd get around him and he loved to watch the color rise in her cheeks. Now that he could look at her naked all he wanted, he loved the way the color would spread down her neck and across her pale chest.
At the moment, she was hiding from him so he couldn't see any of the sweet color, anywhere on her body. Reaching out, he turned her and pressed her onto her back. He smiled down at her and winked. She laughed and shook her head at him. Grinning now, Max relaxed, letting his weight press her into the bed.
"God, you weigh a ton," she complained and laughed at his mock wounded expression.
"I can fix that," he assured her a second later and rolled, hauling her over him as he went.
She sat upright, grinning down at him with a dark look in her eyes that got him excited all over again.
This woman,
he thought in wonder, spreading his fingers over her waist and running his hands up her sides.
She is... she's...
He couldn't complete the thought, but he knew that Mary was everything to him at this moment, as she moved over him. For a long while after, he forgot even what his own name was.
***
Mary whistled as she walked from the train station to Beans & Steam. It was unlike her to whistle but she just couldn't seem to help herself. She couldn't contain her mirth and it was spilling out of her. Her friend and co-worker, Rebecca, looked up as she walked into the coffee shop, giving her a funny look. Mary grinned and waved a hand.
"Good morning!" Mary chirped as she walked behind the counter. "Isn't it an amazing day out there?"
"God, you know I never thought I'd be the one to say this," Rebecca said with a smile. "But you're positivity is starting to worry me."
Mary laughed and gave her friend a light shove before disappearing to tuck her belongings away in the staff room.
"Seriously, Mary," Rebecca continued as Mary returned. "You're kind of freaking me out."
"Am I?" Mary asked, winking at her friend. "Well, you just might have to get used to the new me."
Rebecca rolled her eyes and tossed a wet rag at Mary. "The new you. You've been seeing Max for two weeks."
"Yup," Mary agreed as she caught the rag from Rebecca. She turned to start wiping the counter down. "It's been the best two weeks of my life."
"What happens when the playoffs start? Are you going to cut him off?"
Mary whipped around to stare at her friend. Rebecca was grinning mischievously at her. "Cut him off? Why?"
"Because obviously he can't be distracted when the Flames are trying to win the game, right?"
Now it was Mary's turn to roll her eyes. "OK, one; it's not just one game, it's several, and two; so far, being with me hasn't distracted him, so why would we stop now?" A new thought occurred to her and she grinned at Rebecca. "Besides, most hockey players are pretty superstitious. We can't stop now or it might ruin everything."
Rebecca laughed as Mary moved out from behind the counter to clean the tables.
The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. The crowd into, and out, of the coffee shop ebbed and flowed like the tide and before she knew it, Mary was rushing down the street to catch the bus to her night class. She was waiting at an intersection, hopping from foot-to-foot in her impatience, when a familiar vehicle rolled to a stop in front of her.
"Hey, sexy," Max's gravelly voice greeted her as the window rolled down.
"Hi there," she replied, ducking her head to look in at him.
"You need a ride somewhere?"
"I don't accept rides from strange men," Mary replied with a grin.
"Well, that's good. I might have to kick some ass if you did."
"Not
my
ass!" she exclaimed with a laugh.
"Of course not. Now get your fine ass in here before I change my mind."
Mary laughed and pulled the door open. She hopped in just as the light changed. Max pulled away from the curb, sliding back into traffic and taking them towards Mount Royal College. It was a familiar route, since he'd been driving her occasionally to her evening classes for longer than they'd been together.
"How was practice this afternoon?" Mary asked.
"The usual," Max replied with a shrug. "Skate, shoot, don't hurt each other by checking the wimps into the boards."
Mary laughed as he said this with a tone meant to imitate his coach. "Are they
all
wimps? I like some of them."
Max lifted his dark brows at her in a serious expression but Mary could see the sparkle in his deep blue eyes. "They aren't always wimps. Just when I check them into the boards."
She punched him in the arm and told him to play nice with his own teammates. He scowled playfully at her and rubbed his arm where she'd hit him.
"I've been their fan for longer than I've known you, mister," she said, wagging a finger at him. "If I find out you've injured them, days before the playoffs begin..."
"You'll what?" Max asked, facing her with a cheeky grin as they reached a red light. "Stop giving me blow jobs until I say I'm sorry?"
Mary's mouth dropped open as a fiery blush spread across her face. Max just winked at her and reached for her hand as the light changed to green.
"Did I embarrass you, Mary?"
She snorted and gave him a look. "Every day, Max. Every day."
"I don't know how you put up with me."
"Believe me, it's a challenge."
"I guess I'm lucky that you love a challenge."
"Maybe you're just plain lucky," Mary replied and smiled at him.
He grinned in response and lifted her hand to his lips. He dropped light kisses on her knuckles that made Mary clamp her legs together to stave off the instant desire that rose up.
They chatted for the rest of the drive across town to the college and too soon, Max was pulling up beside one of the student entrances. Mary turned to him with a smile and he pulled her close, sealing his lips over hers in a demanding and hungry kiss. She moaned and clung to his shoulders, trying to keep her head from turning to complete and utter mush.
At last, Max drew back, kissing her on the nose and then he sat back. "Will I see you later?"
"I'll call you when I'm home," she answered and reached for the door handle.
"No, call me when your class is over. I'll come pick you up."
She laughed at him. "You don't have to do that. I don't mind taking the bus."
"I know. I thought we'd go back to my place after. You're right about not spending any time there."
"Oh yeah? Am I just supposed to go naked tomorrow or wear dirty clothes?" Mary asked with raised eyebrows. "Oh, and I won't be able to brush my teeth or wash my hair, either. You don't mind me that way?"
Max laughed but tugged on her hand until she was forced to face him again. He lifted a hand and cupped her cheek in his warm palm. "I don't mind anything about you. Naked or with clothes on, brushed hair and teeth or smelly breath and tangles."
Mary blushed and looked down. She watched through lowered lashes as Max moved his hand, tilting her chin back up. She met his blue eyes and smiled at him.
"If you want those things, we'll go to your place first and then to mine."
"Don't you have a morning practice?" Mary asked. She desperately wanted to spend all the time with him that she could, but she knew how much playoffs with his new team meant to him.
"I do, but you can still sleep in if you want to."
Her eyes widened. "You'd leave me alone in your house?"
"Sure, why not? Besides, I like knowing that you might be there waiting for me," he said with a grin. "Naked," he added, bringing the color instantly back to Mary's face.
"You're impossible," she muttered, shaking her head and trying to will the heat from her face.
"Challenging," he corrected and leaned forward to give her another kiss.
After several minutes, he released her and she wandered to class in a fog, her mind already leaping to the evening ahead. She was happy to see Max as often as he seemed to want to see her, so she was excited to go to his place. Even though it meant she'd get very little sleep and end up dragging her ass through her shift later the following day.
Oh well,
she thought with a shrug as she settled into her seat in class.
