Hockey Short Stories

The wine slipped down the throat, but she barely registered the flavors. His nearness wreaked havoc on her ability to do basic things like talk or breathe. His scent brought back so many erotic memories. The feel of his large frame pressing her into the mattress as he pushed his way inside. Her breath hitched. Benny seemed to delight in her response. He leaned in closer until she thought her heart might actually beat right out of her chest. Stupid heart.
She planted her nose in the glass and inhaled, hoping to drown him out. It worked. “Um… You boys go sit down while I make dinner.” At least she’d be able to hide in the kitchen; away from him.
“I was kidding earlier about you cooking. Lasagna’s in the fridge. The only thing left to do is toss

They needed a neutral topic. Hockey would work. “Where did Martin and Sylvie disappear to last night? I saw them at the ceremony but not at the reception.”
The team’s goalie had been flirting with her for months, not that she’d ever acted on his advances. He looked like a model with hair like Elvis, but she’d had enough of goalies to last a lifetime. They were different from other hockey players. Carried more on their shoulders than they should and they oozed confidence. It was part of their appeal. Martin’s friend Sylvie had a similar confidence that she envied. One day she’d love to look in the mirror and not wish there was someone else staring back. She took another sip. Soon she’d need a

I’ll spend the rest of my life loving Elizabeth.”
Her head felt ready to explode. Her heart and body soaked in his words and swooned. How dare he spew his lies to Joe. “Whoever this Elizabeth is, I hope she keeps her distance. You look like another player to me.”
“Ouch! Dude, you’ve rubbed my girl the wrong way. I’ve never seen your claws come out. It’s kinda sexy,” Joe slid closer to her. “Want me to kick him out so we can get naked?”
She burst out laughing. Partly because his proposition was so out of left field and because if she didn’t laugh she’d be crying. “Kick him out if you want, but I’m not getting naked with anyone.” Beth stared at Benny as she delivered those words.
“I’d rather stay and get to know everyone. Believe it or not, I’m not here to cause problems.”
They switched topics and hockey dominated for the next hour. Defensives strategies wasn’t a topic she could add much to, but she sat back and watched the men banter. If she wasn’t trying hard to ignore and hate Benny she’d have to admit to having a good time. The pins and needles had subsided, though she wasn’t able to relax fully. Once Meagan arrived the conversation flowed more easily, but the sexual tension in the room