Behind the Net: a grumpy sunshine hockey romance

JAMIE KISSES like he’s mad at me. His mouth moves with urgency, demanding and rough and desperate, like he’s pouring every ounce of frustration back into me.

I love it.

I sigh into him in relief, because his mouth back on mine is like drinking water after a marathon. So necessary, so needed, so fucking good.

He grips my hair, angling my head back and stroking into my mouth. Sparks of pleasure skate over my skin, and his kiss is drugging me. I lightly suck on his tongue, and he groans.

“You’re fucking killing me,” he rasps between kisses. He’s furious, and delight and desire flicker low in my belly, warming me. His stubble is rough against my skin, his lips are practically bruising mine, but I don’t care. I just need more.

He groans again like he’s in pain, leaning his forehead against mine. My hands come to his t-shirt, skimming up and down the hard planes of his chest. God, I want to see him shirtless again, like that night in the kitchen.

“Fuck,” he bites out, glazed eyes flashing. “I need to see it. I need to see you make yourself come on the toy I bought you.”

His lips seek mine, and a heavy ache forms between my legs as he nips my bottom lip. A soft moan slips out of me. The breath whooshes out of my lungs as his hips pin me against the wall and his thick length presses against my stomach.

Kissing Jamie is hotter than anything I’ve ever done with Zach.

His lips move roughly down my neck, and I stand there, heart racing like this is a dream. I’m floating, and we haven’t even done anything yet. He backs away, and I feel his absence immediately.

He opens my bedroom door, glares at me, and points into my room. “Get in there,” he demands.

I shiver. Jamie bossing me around makes me feel untethered and completely unlike myself, and I don’t mind one bit.

Heart pounding, I walk past him into my room. At my bed, I stop and turn. He follows me into the room and crosses his arms over his chest.

“Well?” he asks.

Oh god. My stomach dips, and the horniness I felt moments before wavers. He’s probably slept with a hundred women, and now I have no freaking clue what to do.

He’s going to laugh at me. Just like Zach and his manager laughed at me. I blink rapidly, meeting his gaze, and his expression changes.

“Songbird,” he says, holding my gaze. “Do you want to stop?”

“No, I just—” I cut myself off, glancing at my bedside table. “I don’t know how to do this part.”

His eyes turn soft. He steps forward and threads his fingers into the back of my hair again.

God, that feels good. I close my eyes as he presses his lips to mine. The nerves drain away.

“Take your clothes off and get on the bed.”

He pulls back and looks down at me, and something about him telling me what to do sends heat rushing back to my center.

“Do you understand?”

I nod, dazed.

“Good.” He lets go of my hair, steps back again, and folds his arms.

My pulse picks up again as I pull my sweater off. I reach for the hem of my shirt, and as I pull it up, Jamie’s eyebrow lifts.

“Slower.”

Another twist of heat between my legs. I like this side of him—primal, bossy, demanding, wanting me. I pull my t-shirt off at a criminally slow pace, watching his jaw tick, his eyes simmer with heat, and his fists clench, tucked beneath his arms.

His gaze drops to my bra, a pale pink lacy thing. His tongue taps his upper lip as his eyes linger on my chest, and my nipples prick. I picture that tongue tracing my skin above the bra, and there’s a rush of liquid between my legs.

The way he’s looking at me? It feels good.

His eyes meet mine. “All of it,” he says, tilting his chin at my pants. Another shiver rolls down my spine.

When my jeans are off, he stares at my lace thong like it offends him, but I know the truth. His Adam’s apple bobs as he lets out a long breath, gaze fixed between my legs.

“Are your panties damp?”

I nod.

“Good.” He clenches his eyes closed, jaw ticking while he drags in another breath. “Keep going.”

My blood whooshes in my ears as I reach back to unhook my bra. I can’t believe I’m doing this. I feel like laughing with excitement and nerves, like when I’m on a roller coaster. When I remove my bra, Jamie’s eyes are on my breasts. His nostrils flare, and a thrill of excitement shoots through me.

“Jesus fuck,” he mutters, looking away before his gaze returns to my chest. “Panties, too, Pippa.”

I slip them down. My skin prickles from his gaze between my legs, and he groans and rakes his hand through his hair before tilting his chin behind me.

“On the bed.”

He’s still fully clothed, and I’m bare-ass naked. This is either the most intimidating thing I’ve experienced, or the hottest. Or both. I can hear my pulse in my ears as I settle onto my duvet, leaning back into the pillows. My thighs press together, and there’s a dull ache between them. My nipples pinch, my skin goosebumps, and a thought strikes me.

What if I can’t come?

Worry spikes in my mind. It’d be so awkward. Tension forms in my chest and I chew my lip, looking up as Jamie looms over me, still crossing his arms.

He opens my bedside drawer, and when he sees the toy, he pauses before picking it up. His eyes are dark, lit only by the lamp on my bedside table, and another thrill arcs through me, landing at my center.

He hands me the toy before straightening up, waiting. He’s so tall, so fucking broad, and he seems too big for my bedroom.

“Like this?” I breathe, heart pounding. He’s just going to stand over me like that?

He nods. “Mhm. Exactly like this, songbird.”

I’m nervous, but I don’t want to stop. Him watching me like this, not touching me even though I know he wants to—I’m going to be thinking about this for a long time.

My gaze is locked on his as I click the toy on. Its whirring noise fills the quiet bedroom, and his eyes darken.

“What are you waiting for?”

“Bossy,” I whisper, and the corner of his mouth twitches.

I press the toy to my clit and my eyes fall closed.

Oh my god.

My thigh muscles tighten. The suction against my clit is perfect, better than anything I’ve ever felt. Well… I remember kissing Jamie moments before. That was a close contender.

Jamie kissing me between my legs might be the best thing I’ve ever felt, if it’s anything like this.

I sigh, head tipping back, and I can feel his eyes on me. Oh my god, this is so hot, with him standing over me, glaring down at me with that furious look on his face. I never thought I’d be into this.

I sneak a peek at him. Yep. Furious. Absolutely furious. Heat builds around the base of my spine, and I moan and close my eyes again.

“Keep your eyes open,” he demands.

I do as he says, gazing up at him. He looks so mad, but when my eyes drop to his pants, his erection strains against the fabric.

My clit aches, a dull throb of heat and pleasure, and I whimper.

“Are you close?” he asks, and I jerk a nod.

He arches a brow, looking down at me like he hates me, but there’s a soft affection in his eyes. “Are you going to say my name when you come?”

Another pulse of heat between my legs. I’m soaking wet. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Wrong.” His jaw tightens. “You’ll say it. Without a doubt.”

His confidence makes me huff with quiet laughter. My toes curl at the waves of pleasure radiating from my clit as the toy sucks, and I picture Jamie’s mouth there, his eyes burning as he looks up at me.

Oh. That’s good. He rakes his hand through his hair, messing it up. It looks so hot like that. I want to touch his hair so badly.

“Fuck,” he mutters again, gritting his teeth. “You’re so fucking hot, Pippa. Can’t wait to see you come for me.”

I nod in desperation, gripping my duvet with my free hand. The heat and pressure build, and pleasure is surging through my body.

Zach pops into my head. I flinch, pushing the image away, but I can’t. I picture us in bed, him getting impatient with me.

I’m full-body cringing, and the ache between my legs fades.

No. No, no, no. Not now. I had this. I close my eyes, chasing that feeling from a second ago.

Jamie’s voice is low, brow furrowed. “What’s going on?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

Embarrassment, shame, and regret whirlpool inside me. This was a huge fucking mistake. I can’t believe I thought I could go from sexually broken to basically having an orgasm on display.

Who the fuck do I think I am?

My face is going red, and suddenly, I’m too naked, too exposed. I lift the toy away; it isn’t doing anything, anyway. My legs snap together.

“This isn’t working.” My voice is wobbly. I close my eyes and pull my legs in. I just want to hide. God. How am I ever going to face him again? “I’m sorry. It’s taking too long and I’m cold and—” I shake my head. “Sorry.”

I’m humiliated. This is going to make things awkward between us.

Jamie sits beside me on the bed, watching my face. His jaw still clenches but his eyes are watchful, and maybe a little worried.

“I’m sorry,” I say again.

“Stop apologizing.” He reaches to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear, and my heart tugs with the intimacy of it.

I really wanted to do this. It felt fun and sexy and dangerous.

“You’re too in your head.” His eyes search mine.

“I don’t know how to get out,” I admit.

His gaze drops to my mouth, and his eyes darken again. He drags a breath in and lets it out slow. “I have an idea.”