Page 28 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

For fuck’s sake, this girl makes me feel like a teenager.

“Good morning,” she sing-songs, spinning around me to the fridge. “Tired today?”

“Very. I spent all night in the pool with this beautiful girl.” I smirk and grab the cup she set out next to the coffeemaker, pouring the black coffee inside.

She doesn’t respond to my comment, simply hums, and pulls out a carton of almond milk and begins making a protein smoothie.

“Headed to the gym?”

“Yeah, I didn’t really…sleep well last night, so I woke up when the sun came up and made Alex pancakes before school. Do you work out at the arena with your team?”

I bring the scalding coffee to my lips and take a sip, thankful as fuck for being able to stomach it black because something tells me I’m going to need it today.

“Sometimes. It’s not really like synchronized workouts even though we’re a team. Everyone has different workout routines, some work on conditioning if they don’t get a ton of ice time, but most of us work on strength training. Our schedules look a lot different during in-season training compared to off-season training. But, preseason will be starting soon so I’m trying to prep myself.”

“I see,” she says, pulling out her headphones and putting them in her ear, “I work out at the apartment gym because it’s free, and then I do yoga twice a week. Swim at night when I’m restless.”

“I do yoga, sometimes.”

Her eyes widen. “You do yoga?”

Nodding, I take another sip. “I do. It helps with range of motion and stability. Plus, I like to meditate and ground myself. It’s healing.”

“Okay, well… if you want you could come with me to the gym? Show me those professional hockey player yoga moves?”

I can tell she’s nervous to ask by the way she’s fighting with the blender bottle, and fuck, it’s so damn cute. I’ll never get over how shy she is. I love it. She was worried that it wouldn’t be something I was into, but if anything, it makes her even sexier.

“Sounds good. Give me a second to change?”

She nods. I abandon the coffee, change into a pair of gym shorts and a tank that’s cut down to the waist on the sides, grab my shoes and rejoin her in the kitchen.

“Ready?” She looks up when I enter, and her eyes dip down to the exposed sides of my torso.

I think my new roomie has a thing for my ink, or at least that's the way it seems when her eyes darken and drag down my body, every time I’m shirtless.

We make the quick trip to the gym, and she heads for the treadmill, so I follow behind. I don’t do a ton of cardio, but am willing to hang with her for the day. I’ve got an evening skate tonight. The next thirty minutes are spent running full speed on the treadmill, and I’m not gonna lie it was a workout.

“Holy shit,” I pant, “now that’s a workout, Killer.”

Auden laughs, wiping the sweat from her forehead as we stand there trying to catch our breath. Her chest heaves, and I want to bend down and lick the drop of sweat that’s settled between her tits.

“I’m impressed that you were able to keep up,” she teases, “but…you know that was just thewarm-upright?”

Damn. I didn’t think her workouts were so intense.

“Trying to kill me already?”

She shrugs. “Hey, you’re the professional athlete. I didn’t know a little running would get you so winded. Have problems with stamina?”

Stepping closer, I walk us backward until her back hits the floor-length mirror behind her, and I place my hands on each side of her head.

My eyes zero in on her flushed cheeks and her full lips that constantly remind me of red, plump cherries.

When I dip my head down next to her ear, she sucks in a sharp breath. “How about we find out just how good my stamina is, Killer?”

She swallows, her throat bobbing as she does. The pulse in her neck flutters wildly. Her small hands meet my arms to hold herself upright, and it takes every ounce of restraint I can possibly muster not to kiss her breathless. Instead, I drag my tongue down the length of her neck, grazing the sensitive skin with my teeth, yet never kissing her feverish flesh. She tastes salty and sweet, like the ripest fruit on a forbidden tree. All I want is a bite. One fucking bite, to tide me over. To quell the need inside me, even if just for a moment.

“Give me your words, Auden, say yes. Let me touch you. I’machingto touch you.”

---