Page 52 of Nodus Tollens
He was unlike any other player out there on the ice. Not that I knew much about the sport, but it was obvious he was the star player. He had to have been when every person in the stands cheered his name. Even with the opposing team only down one, no one around us seemed to be worried about them making a comeback. Even when they had the puck, there was no fear shown from the fans, only anticipation of what defense would come up with to get the puck back in their hands.
Watching Hayes play was slowly becoming a weakness of mine. I had no clue it would have such an effect on me, but the more I observed, the more I didn’t want to look away. He played skillfully and cunningly, moving the puck around with so much finesse that I was beyond impressed with his talent. Early in the game, he scored two goals, and my heart went wild each time. It was as if my heart had already made up its mind that Hayes was someone special, or at least someone worthy of its attention, because every time my eyes captured his, it went galloping. A little more intense each time it happened. He had even skated right past me and Kate multiple times throughout the game and grinned smugly in my direction. Sometimes giving me a short wave and other times winking. He was doing it on purpose, too, to see my reaction, and I gave him one every time. When the buzzer finally went off, signaling what I assumed to be halftime, he quickly glided over to us and tapped his stick against the glass to get my attention before going back to where the rest of his teammates were funneling under the tunnel.
Adrenaline still coursed through my veins, even after the players vacated the ice. My whole body buzzed from the aftershocks of the game, and there was still another half to be played. I could only imagine what else Hayes had up his sleeves in an attempt to impress me. The man was a natural like he was born with a pair of skates on, ready to tear up the ice. So, impressing someone like me who had zero knowledge of the sport wasn’t going to be a hard task at all. He could do a spin, and I’d still be impressed.
“You hungry?” Kate interrupted my train of thought as she dug through her purse.
Hungry for food? No. I couldn’t even think about shoving a hot dog down my throat with all this fiery energy flowing through me. I didn’t want to admit what I was truly hungry for or who, I should say, so instead, I shook my head with a no.
“You sure?” She raised a brow as she pulled out her wallet. “I mean, I wouldn’t be hungry for food either…” She teased with an uncontrolled burst of laughter. Instantly my skin flushed with flashes of Hayes and what was hidden beneath all that hockey gear. I bet sweat covered every square inch of his muscled form, down to those powerful thighs that worked tirelessly to get him around the ice… Jesus, I could only imagine just how firm he’d feel under my hands…
Kate rose to her feet with a chuckle. Dark spirals framed her face as her pink mouth lifted. “You have a little…” She leaned in close, then swiped a finger just below my lip, where I felt a small pool of wetness come off. “Drool.” She showed me the pad of her finger, and with a grin, she pulled away.
“That was not drool.” I tried to defend myself as I attempted to internally cool my cheeks from the warmth forming on each side. “That was just sweat.” I lied nonchalantly as if I wasn’t embarrassed at all. On the inside, I was absolutely mortified. How could I go from wanting to steer clear of someone to imagining what his thighs felt like? It’s not like thighs were something to drool over anyway. I mean, Hayes’ thighs were, without a doubt, more athletic and formed than mine, but it wasn’t like they were on a bodybuilder level. Definitely nothing to get all hot and bothered over unless you moved up a couple inches… then, yeah, that would totally be something to drool over.
Jesus, my lie about sweating was now turning into a reality.
His thighs were immediately booted out of my thoughts and replaced with vivid images of what hung heavy between his legs. I wasn’t a dick expert by any means. I’ve only seen one up close and personal and some in porn, so I concocted the best mixture of them all to create one perfect cock. Just the right amount of length and girth that had my mind racing with thoughts I know I shouldn’t be having. I was a full-blown virgin anyway, in all aspects, and right now, I was acting like a woman in need. Which was totally unlike me. I was perfectly okay with stimulation without the assistance of a man, but suddenly, the idea of Hayes giving a helping hand didn’t sound so terrible. Especially if he could work me like he could that stick.
Jesus, Wren, stop!
Yup, I was definitely drooling now.
Dammit.
“You might want to close your mouth before any more drool falls out.” Kate shuffled past me with a laugh, causing my mouth to quickly close on a gasp.
Oh my god, what is happening to me? I’m slowly turning into one of the girls who is beyond obsessed with the idea of being with a hockey player. I had the fantasizing part down to a T. Now, it was just a matter of time before I became addicted to him and showed up to every one of his games. Stupid Hayes and his charming personality, extremely good looks, and hockey skills made me extra tingly inside. Why was he so irresistible, and why couldn’t I just let him go?
Maybe the answer was something much simpler than I thought. Maybe I was just searching for something more complicated than it was and instead, dismissed the most human response there was. I didn’t want to let him go. As much as I hated to admit it, the idea of letting him slip through my fingers unsettled me immensely. Another girl would get his sweet words. Another girl would get his persistence. Another girl would get a chance to be his whole world, and as selfish as it sounded, I couldn’t let that happen.
A ding coming from my phone pulled me from my deep thoughts, and as I yanked it out of my pocket, I was greeted with an image sent by Hayes. Isn’t he in the middle of a team huddle? You know, normal intermission things like listening to the coach and whatnot? How the hell could he have his phone on him?
I tapped on the notification, and as soon as I did, Haye’s flushed face came into view. Sitting up against a wall, he had major helmet head with his blonde mane in every which direction and the top part slicked back. Grinning from ear to ear, he looked way too good for someone who just played his heart out for twenty minutes straight. Shouldn’t he be completely gassed with sweat pouring down his face? I mean, even the soft dimples in his cheeks were the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.
How? Just…how?
He was too good-looking for such a violent sport, but god, even just from the short time I’ve been watching him, he was meant to play. You could even see the confidence in his smile and even a glimmer in his eyes that had me wanting to melt into the screen with him.
Did I make him smile like that, or was it just the adrenaline from playing?
Either one didn’t make a difference because, soon after, another message came through.
Hayes: I could totally get my ass reamed for having my phone out, but I couldn’t not let you know that you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on. Goddamn, Blue… I have no words for how fucking stunning you look. Just know I’ve been smiling like this the whole game.
There goes my heart again. Stammering like a drum to no beat. How could someone like him even exist? How could there be someone out there, so damn charming and annoying, and yet have the potential of stealing the heart right out of my chest? It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t fair that I was soaking in every bit of him like I couldn’t get enough. I was falling already, perhaps a little too far that I’d never come back up.
And oddly enough, I was becoming okay with that idea.
Maybe Hayes Decker was meant to be my peace in this world I, long ago, stopped living in. Maybe he was a blessing in disguise. The plot twist to my story that would change everything, and I’d be a fool not to embrace it. I didn’t want to miss out. I didn’t want my story to end like this, with so much hate and emptiness. Absolutely not. Maybe I needed love to save me. Maybe I needed Hayes to save me, and I had a feeling he could.
14
HAYES
She came.
Holy shit, she came.
