Power Play (16 page)

Landon's words sliced through the roar of hysterics.

Silence again.

Except choking. The forceful hacking sound came from me, hunched over the table choking on my own tongue or air or the heavy words that escaped Landon's lips. Caroline patted my back a few times as if she could bang out whatever I had lodged in my throat.

But she wouldn't be able to. You can't slap out shock.

Landon winked at me.

I couldn't wink back because imaginary toothpicks were holding my eyelids open. He'd just declared the L-word in front of his macho hockey-playing friends.

“Another man bite the dust,” Gribov broke the silence.

“At least she got rid of your skanks.” Blake raised his beer to Gribov.

He tapped the neck of his bottle to Blake's. “She is useful.”

“Game day tomorrow, boys.” Landon stretched his arms above his head and faked a yawn. “And I think I've embarrassed Gaby enough in public for one night.”

“Now you have,” I agreed, getting up. “Nice to meet you all.”

Landon rose from his chair and offered me his hand, which I took.

“Nice to meet you too, Gaby,” Caroline called. “Get my number from Landon. We can sit together at the games.”

“That would be great. Nice to meet you.”

“Come on, Gaby.” Landon tugged my arm. “I need to get you alone.”

I followed him to the door, but not before I heard Gribov yell: “No rush. She have no mints left!”

“You know you're not going home tonight, right?” Landon unlocked the door to his condo.

“I kinda figured since you brought me here.”

He pulled me in the door and yanked me into his arms. I snuggled into his embrace, reveling in the warmth and security of his strong arms around me. Landon pressed his lips to my hair.

“It's real, Gaby. How I feel about you. I've never come close to feeling this way. You are exactly what I dreamed you would be all these years.”

I leaned away to look at him. “You dreamed I'd be a boring book nerd?”

“Yeah. Boring book nerd who rocks out at concerts and throws mints at hoes like it's rice at a wedding.”

“ ‘Throws mints at hoes like it's rice at a wedding.' That is the best thing I've ever heard you say.”

Landon burst out laughing. “Better than ‘I love you'?”

“I stand corrected. It's the funniest thing I've heard you say, not the best.”

“Is it better than, ‘let's go to bed'?”

“Now I'm singing The Cure in my head.”

“What?”

Had I fallen in love with a man who didn't recognize a reference to a legendary band like The Cure? Good thing I'd been taught forgiveness.

“You need a lesson at Gaby's music school. Geez, boy.”

“Can we play that tonight? You be the teacher, I'll be the—”

“Don't say student!” I interrupted. “That is so freaking wrong.” I tried to pull out of his arms.

Landon tightened his grip and lowered his head to my ear. His lips skimmed the lobe and he whispered, “Principal. I'll be the principal.”

“Is this going to turn into Landon and Gaby Act Out Erotica?”

“You remembered our book club.” Landon's lips found my neck. He licked the skin below my earlobe and drew tiny circles on my neck with his tongue. “Miss Bertucci, I need to speak with you in my office.”

“Are we really doing this?”

“It's a pressing matter.” Tilting his pelvis into mine, Landon showed me just how pressing a matter.

“I have five minutes before my next class,” I teased and spun out of his arms. Without a glance back, I ran toward his room, knowing he'd be right on my tail.

“I'll get you a sub!” Landon called as he chased me to his room.

Though the role-play had started fast and frenzied, Landon immediately slowed it down once we entered his room. He leaned against the closed door, sizing me up like I was an opposing team's goalie and he had a clear breakaway. His eyes scanned every inch of me, from top shelf to five hole.

When I felt the mattress against my calves, I knew I had no more room to back up. A flutter of fear flashed through my body, causing an involuntary shiver. Trapped.

Landon advanced. That solitary footstep made my stomach roll and flip. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment. Composure. Composure.

Landon hesitated, as if he understood.

It's not him, Gaby. It's Landon.

This was my issue. I couldn't let Landon have such a huge weight on his shoulders.

My head swiveled to the bed behind me. To the floor, and to Landon.

Landon. Whom I trusted completely. Landon. Who already demonstrated he would never hurt me. Landon. The boy, teenager, man of my dreams.

Instead of thinking, I closed the distance between us, taking three large steps before launching myself into his arms. When Landon caught me, he didn't even stumble back, as if he knew I'd be running into his arms.

Our mouths met. Our tongues tangled. Fast. Feverish. Landon squeezed my backside as he carried me forward and deposited me onto his bed.

While I pulled my tunic over my head, Landon stripped his own shirt off. He'd already shucked his pants to the ground while I fumbled, trying to lift my hips and roll the waistband of my leggings over my butt.

Holy shit he was fast. And naked.

Duh. Landon didn't wear underwear. Did the man even own underwear? I'd never seen them.

Instead of waiting for me to remove my own pants, a buck naked, magnificently muscled Landon Taylor did me the honor. His hands took the place of my hands. When he leaned down and placed his lips on my breast spilling out of my bra, my back arched and my hips lifted, giving him the ideal opportunity to pull my leggings down my thighs and past my knees.

“I love how your body reacts to my touch, Gabriella.”

“Me, too,” I managed to squeak out despite the increased pace of my breath.

Landon pressed his lips against my skin, using the line of lace at the top of my bra as a guide. He slowly made his way across the left breast, and down the valley between before moving to the right. Each kiss sent blissful ripples straight to my toes. His hands remained at my hips, alternating between gripping and relaxing every time his mouth met my skin. Each teasing touch heightened my anticipation of where he'd place his warm mouth next.

The thoughts came despite my comfort with him. What would he do next? What would he decide about my body? It was all about him. Always about him.

Get control, Gaby.

I needed the illusion of control to get over my fear of having been previously forced into this situation. Control would allow me to break through.

Instead of waiting for Landon to decide what happened next, I grabbed the cups of my bra and tugged them down, fully exposing my breasts. I held the fabric under my breasts and forced them up, toward Landon's face. I didn't want to force him. Whether he realized it or not, I wanted him to make the decisions to take me into his mouth.

And he did.

As he rolled his tongue over my nipple, his thumb brushed the smooth skin of my stomach like a slow windshield wiper. I guess my headlights turned on when the wipers were going. Just like in my car.

The thought made me laugh out loud.

Landon took his mouth off me and lifted his eyes to mine. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, but the smile hadn't left my lips.

“It's not cool when someone laughs at me during sex.”

“Just thinking too much.”

“You aren't supposed to be thinking. You're supposed to be feeling.” His right hand glided down my hip and across my upper thigh before settling between my legs. The slight touch of his fingers against my underwear had me arching up against him.

“Feeling yet?” Landon asked. He scooted lower, his face hovering above my stomach. His tongue circled my belly button as his skillful fingers slipped under the cotton fabric.

I gasped as he explored. “Yes.”

Landon's fingers picked up speed, his thumb rubbing me in just the right spot to have my hips bucking off the mattress. He pulled his fingers out and lifted himself completely off the bed, despite a loud groan of protest from me.

It took him only a few seconds to return to his previous position above me. My eyes flashed open when I heard the condom wrapper tear. He held the condom out for me, allowing me to take control of the situation—to give my consent. With a quick glance at him, fully prepared to accept the condom, I grabbed the disc and began rolling it over him. Once I'd finished, I guided him between my legs.

A smile spread across his lips, making his approval of the direction I'd pushed him in obvious. But he stopped at the entrance. Giving me full control.

I lifted my pelvis, taking him in ever so slightly. He grabbed my face, his breath hot and fast against my cheeks. Our eyes met. One last chance to stop before we went any further.

I lifted my head and placed a quick kiss on his lips. Then I put my hand on him and guided him farther inside.

My actions gave Landon the permission he needed to push into me completely.

Quick. Hard.

On my terms.

“Morning, sleepyhead.”

When I opened my eyes, most of Landon's luxurious black comforter was wrapped around me and I was surrounded by pillows. Landon stood next to the bed, fully dressed, sporting a gash encrusted with dried blood above his right eye and a purple bruise below it. This matched his left eye, which had been hit by a puck when he'd blocked a shot at last night's game.

“What the hell happened to you?” I asked, remembering to keep the comforter clutched against my chest as I sat up.

“I've already seen your boobs, Gabriella.” Landon ignored my question. I knew he was trying to get a rise out of me, but it wouldn't work this time. I trusted Landon with everything.

So I let go.

Landon's smiled faded and his eyes widened. Well, the right eye widened. His left eye seemed frozen in a perpetual squint. Immediately embarrassed by my boldness, I reached for the comforter, but before I could pull it up, Landon tackled me into his magnificent mattress.

“Who are you and what did you do with my sweet little introvert?” He dropped his head to the valley between my exposed breasts and pressed kisses along the sides of each one. I giggled as his hair tickled my neck and chin. “You're a little vixen.”

Landon lifted his head and brought his face to mine, hovering close, almost close enough to kiss him.

I skimmed my fingertips across his eyebrow. “What happened?”

“Nothing. But for the record, it was worth it.”

“Landon Charles.”

“You never told me your brother didn't want you dating hockey players.”

“Excuse me?” I tried to sit up, but Landon wouldn't budge, holding me in place.

“Yeah, Joey jumped me when I stopped at your house to talk to your dad.”

“What?” This time I pressed both hands against his chest and pushed him off me. We both sat up.

“I stopped by your house to talk to your dad this morning.”

“Why? Why would you
ever
do that?”

“He asked me to.”

“Oh.” A summons from Papa couldn't be good. Neither could Joey beating up my boyfriend, though he had warned me he'd do it.

Landon touched the fresh gash above his eye. “Totally worth it.”

Twisting my hands in my lap, I asked, “Am I allowed to ask what Papa wanted to talk to you about?”

Landon picked up one of my hands and laced his fingers through it. “Mostly stuff we've already talked about.”

I nodded but kept my head down, my eyes on our joined hands. Leave it to Papa to talk to Landon about my personal business behind my back. Evidently, he still had no trust in me. Typical Papa. Typical of my entire family.

Landon leaned back and dipped his free hand into his pocket. “He, um, he gave me this to give to you.”

I held out my hand and he dropped a tiny yellow and blue pill into my palm.

Fuck.

“So he told you everything.” I rolled my wrist and watched the pill slide back and forth in my hand.

“I wish you would have.”

“Are you angry with me?”

“No. No, I'm not.” Landon released my hand and put his arm around my shoulder, bringing me close. “It's your business, Gaby. I just thought you trusted me enough to tell me.”

I wiggled out from under his arm and grabbed the comforter. I wrapped it around myself, as if a tangible object could conceal the extra level of embarrassment and shame I had never planned to bare to Landon.

“Telling someone I tried to kill myself isn't about trust.” My feet hit the floor and I jumped off the bed, tugging the comforter with me. “It's about not wanting to reveal all the crazy to a guy you've just started dating.”

“I don't think you're crazy, Gaby. I get it.”

“You had a conversation with my father about my suicide attempt and everything is awesome. He doesn't know anything about it. I can only imagine how he told the story.” I tugged the heavy blanket a few more times, allowing enough of it to follow me to the door. “I bet I came across as a weak little girl who tried to take the easy way out, right?”

Landon stood up. “No, he—”

“I don't care. I don't fucking care.” The pill burned in my fist. A constant reminder of my moment of cowardice. So I threw it at Landon's face. He bobbed, dodging it easily.

Landon glanced behind him, to the spot where the pill landed on the hardwood floor. “Maybe you should swallow that instead of throwing it at me.”

“Fuck. You.” I spun around, dragging the monstrous comforter with me as I trudged down the hall and into the bathroom.

After dropping the comforter in the hallway and slamming the bathroom door with an appropriate amount of angry flair, I realized that all my clothes were in Landon's bedroom. Thankfully, a discarded outfit lay in a heap on the floor in front of the shower. As I tugged his oversized button-down shirt up one arm, Landon pounded on the door.

“I'm sorry, Gaby. I shouldn't have said that. Will you please come out and talk to me?”

“We don't need to talk. You and Papa already did that. You discussed all the most private parts of my life behind my back. I'm used to it from him, I just didn't think you'd ever join in.” I slid to the floor and leaned against the door.

“Your dad was worried about you, Gaby. And when he told me you'd been skipping your medication—”

“I wasn't skipping, I forgot!” I banged my fist against the door behind me. “I forgot because I usually take it in the morning when it's staring me in the face. But I've been waking up here and I just forgot.”

Which was the absolute truth, despite my previous pill-taking issues. Papa had no right to bring it up with Landon.

Nothing from the other side of the door.

To someone not used to confrontations with anyone except my brothers, a few seconds of silence felt like a lifetime.

Landon knocked again, much softer than before. “I don't think what your dad did was right. I don't think he should have handled it the way he did. Can we talk without this door in the way?”

When I didn't answer immediately, he continued, “I love you so much, Gaby. I've never been so happy. I've never been so proud of who I am since I met you. I don't want to make decisions for you or hinder your dreams. I want to hold your hand and stand by your side. We fit well together. We're separate people, but we're still a team. We're like fucking superheroes together.”

I closed my eyes and allowed his words to swaddle me like a cozy blanket around a newborn. He knew exactly what I needed to hear. Exactly what fears I had.

“Will you please unlock the door?”

“I never locked it.”

Suddenly, the door rammed my back as Landon attempted to enter. I scooted aside to allow him in the room. When I glanced up, the tenderness and strength I'd come to rely on shone in his eyes.

If he ever wanted to run away, now would be his chance. With me sitting on a cold bathroom floor, my arms wrapped around my torso to keep his humongous, dirty shirt closed around my tiny frame. Tears streamed down my cheeks, depositing whatever eye makeup was still left from last night onto the front of the shirt.

Instead, Landon knelt in front of me with his bottom lip caught in his teeth. His eyes flickered. Tenderness replaced by desire.

“I've never wanted to fuck you so badly in my life.” He reached out, placed his hands on my knees, and gently opened my legs.

My breath caught, but I never took my gaze from his. His movements wouldn't have been scandalous in a fully-clothed situation. But in an intimate situation, with nothing but his shirt draped over my naked body, it definitely tipped the scandalous scale.

“I thought you wanted to talk.”

“I did. I do.” Landon shook his head as if shaking out cobwebs. His lips quivered as though holding back a smile. “But you're sitting there, looking so fucking sexy in my roommate's shirt. I'm jealous and amused and turned on all at the same time.”

“What?” I yanked the shirt out and scanned it. His roommate? “What roommate?”

A burst of laughter broke Landon's fake serious expression. “I live with Varenkov. This is his place, actually. He's not here most of the time, obviously. But when he's in town he stays here.”

Aleksandr Varenkov had been called up to play for the Charlotte Aviators last season. Why had he been here now?

“So a complete stranger's dirty shirt is touching my naked body? Gross.” Shrugging and tugging, I peeled the shirt off my shoulder.

“Let me do that.” Landon inched closer, spreading my legs open farther to allow his hips in between. He reached for the shirt but paused before removing it. “Cool?”

“I want you to.”

My heart, which had already sped up with his advancement between my legs, slammed against my rib cage as he stripped the shirt off, leaving nothing covering me. Instinct made me cross my arms over my chest, but that left my lower body completely bare. The overhead bathroom light shone like a spotlight, highlighting every naked inch. “Can you turn off the light?”

“Don't you want to see me? Am I repulsive?” Landon asked. He sat back on his knees and dragged his T-shirt over his head.

“Funny.” My shoulders shook with a silent laugh, though I didn't take my eyes off the hard planes of his chest. “I'm embarrassed.”

“You are so fucking beautiful.” He grabbed my hips and pulled me toward him until I lay flat on the cold tile floor. As he knelt between my legs, his hands gripped the outsides of my bare thighs, his long fingers firm, but still. “I'll stop if you say no.”

“I won't say no.” My internal body temperature soared to new heights, being bared completely to him. The cool tile felt fantastic against my overheated skin.

Landon leaned over me, opened the bottom drawer of the bathroom vanity, and extracted a condom. Did everyone keep condoms in the bottom drawer of their vanities? Had I missed that lesson?

“Can we please turn the light off?” I asked again.

“No deal. I need to see every inch of you.” He stopped ripping the condom packet open to trail a finger down the top of my right thigh.

I rolled my eyes to the ceiling and turned my head to the side in embarrassment, not annoyance.

“You're giving me a complex, Gaby.” Landon leaned over and dropped a kiss below my belly button before straightening and gesturing toward his body. “You don't want to see all this in its fluorescent-lit glory?”

Instead of answering, I grabbed the waistband of his shorts and tugged them down. Landon, obviously excited that I took charge, shucked them down to his thighs and leaned onto me, flattening himself over my body. My feet lost their grip on the floor and a gust of air left my lips as his full weight came down. But instead of entering me, like I'd expected, Landon grabbed my waist with his strong hands and rolled onto his back, bringing me with him in one swift motion.

Suddenly the tables had turned. He lay under me and I knelt over him, our bodies completely open and ready for each other.

“You're in charge, Gabriella.” Landon held my hips but kept his grip loose enough to allow me to move.

“I don't—” I began. There was no need to continue, since Landon knew that everything sex-related was a new experience for me.

The blush that began in my face had already spread to my neck and chest, if I trusted the telltale tingle and warmth in those areas. I raised my hands to cover my face, but before I could hide, Landon grabbed them and placed them on his chest.

“Relax. You got this.” Landon winked. Then he grabbed my hips once again and lifted me onto him.

Relaxing is easy when you've done something a million times, but when you're trying something foreign, it is next to impossible. Still, I pressed on—literally—sliding onto Landon slowly. His sharp intake of breath made me pause and clench.

“Are you okay?” I whispered, panicked I might have hurt him somehow. Was he supposed to bend toward me? Should I lean forward so he's more comfortable?

Landon's eyes flashed open. “You feel fucking amazing. Don't stop.”

At his insistence, I started over, placing my hands on his chest and moving again. When I leaned forward, Landon grabbed my head and tilted my ear to his lips.

“Lift all the way off and come back down again.” His voice scratchy, his breath heavy.

He couldn't see my nod because he'd closed his eyes. Following his direction, I lifted myself completely off before sliding on him again. His eyes shot open and his fingers dug into my skin with the contact.

This time, I knew the squeeze meant it felt good for him. I hid my smile behind the veil of hair that had come forward as I leaned over Landon.

Landon lifted a hand to sweep the wavy brown locks out of my face. “I want to see that smile, Gabriella. I want to see how much you like fucking me.”

“How was it?” Landon punctuated his question by kissing my head while tracing figure eights on my back with his fingertips.

“ ‘Like riding a bike' would be a bad analogy because I'd never done this before.”

Landon chuckled but let me continue.

“I just mean it was easy to figure out and, um, enjoy.”

“I knew you'd like it.” Landon smacked my bare bottom.

“Landon!” I lifted my head off his chest.

“I knew you'd like that, too.”

He knew parts of me better than I knew myself. And he could teach me more than I ever dreamed.

“Every time I look at you I'm reminded of how lucky I am to have you in my life.” He brought his hands to my head and massaged my scalp. Then he gathered my hair and swept it to the side, before sliding his hands down my neck and back. He laced his fingers behind and tightened his embrace. “Being with you makes me want to skip practice and kiss every inch of your bare skin.”

When I smiled, my lips brushed the smooth skin of his chest. His heart beat under my ear.