#carolina hurricanes imagine

[misshoneyimhome]

Can you please whenever you can write Husband!Freddie with those prompts: “Can you help me with my tie?” / “Can you zip up my dress for me?” and Late night sex / Lazy morning sex? I love you writing and Huband Freddie A is a DREAMMMM 😍😍😍

Oh, thank you, babe! And absolutely ❤️ Freddie is truly a dream, and there's no better moment to honour his very existence than now 💓🥹

I wasn't entirely sure if you meant the trope husband!Freddie though, but considering the prompts, I thought it would be fitting for the occasion 😉 I hope you'll enjoy it!

Tropes & warnings; established relationship, Husband!Freddie, mention of pregnancy; Smut 18+, oral sex (m receiving), unprotected sex (p in v), fingering, more unprotected sex, cum inside;

Word count; 4.2K

Taglist; @couldawouldashoulda50 @findapenny @justwanderingbutneverlost

-

“Can you help me with my tie?” I Freddie Andersen 🖋️⚡️🌺

 "FREDDIE! FREDDIE! FREDDIE!"

As the shouts of his name echoed from the tv speakers, a surge of pride and excitement washed over you. Each chant seemed to carry the weight of the entire arena, as if the smaller group of fans' enthusiasm propelled the Carolina Hurricanes to victory all on its own. With heavy breaths, you watched as your husband battled fiercely against the formidable Florida Panthers in game five of the playoffs. Where eventually they managed to triumph with a 4-2 victory on enemy turf - and it wasn't just any win; it was a step continuing into the second round of the playoffs.

Even from the comfort of your living room sofa, you could feel the electric yet chaotic atmosphere of the Amerant Bank arena. The energy of the crowd seemed to seep through the screen, mingling with the adrenaline coursing through Freddie's veins on the ice. And as the final buzzer sounded, signalling the Hurricanes' win, you couldn't help but smile. Pride swelled within you as you pictured Freddie's jubilant expression amid the post-game celebrations. And despite the late hour, you did your best to stay awake, eager to welcome him home and share in his joy.

However, as the high slowly wore off, weariness started to pull at your eyelids as you relaxed on the sofa, the softness of the cushions tempting you into a sleepy state. You battled against the urge to give in to slumber, holding on to the excitement of Freddie's homecoming. Yet, as the post-game interviews flashed across the screen, you had to give in.

-

Frederik Andersen was perhaps everything you could have ever wished for in a husband. From the moment he set foot in Raleigh, his presence seemed to enchant you, gradually entwining itself into the very fabric of your heart. Despite the initial uncertainty and the winding path it took for both of you to acknowledge your feelings, the bond that flourished between you surpassed all expectations.

During the early months of your friendship, you found yourself spellbound by Freddie’s calm demeanour and mysterious aura. There was an irresistible allure to the serious gaze and the steadfast focus he brought to every aspect of his life.

Yet, while the spark of attraction ignited within you almost instantly, it took time for Frederik to realise the depth of his own feelings. So, for months you simply circled each other, navigating the delicate balance of friendship. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, there were subtle hints of mutual affection that lingered in the air – fleeting glances, lingering touches, and unspoken gestures that spoke volumes.

And it was a moment of bravery, spurred by a surge of confidence, that pushed you to take the first step. With trembling hands and a racing heart, you gathered the courage to invite Freddie for a coffee, hoping to bridge the gap between friendship and something more. Though initially completely oblivious of your intentions, a nudge from Jarvy had Freddie realise the true nature of your invitation.

So, in a whirlwind of emotions, the unspoken desires that had hovered between you finally came to life. Confessions were shared, hearts laid bare, and in that moment, the invisible bonds that connected you tightened into an unbreakable tie, each day drawing you closer together.

And just two years flew by in a blur of happiness and contentment, until one unforgettable day when Freddie took your hand and asked for your forever.

-

Upon entering the cosy warmth of home, Freddie was greeted by the soft buzz of the TV and its gentle glow casting shadows across the room, before his weary eyes spotted you sprawled on the roomy sofa, wearing nothing but his favourite number 31 jersey. And he couldn’t suppress a smile spreading across his face as he approached, feeling a rush of affection seeing you peacefully asleep.

Though tempted to wake you and celebrate tonight’s win together, Freddie resisted, knowing you deserved undisturbed rest after supporting him through the highs and lows of the season.

Yet, as he roamed the familiar corners of your home, he couldn't resist pulling you into his arms, embracing your smaller frame as you stirred from sleep.

"Freddie," your voice, thick with sleep, reached his ears as you blinked awake, greeted by your husband leaning over you.

"Hello, skat," he murmured softly, a gentle smile on his lips as he met your gaze. "Didn't mean to wake you... I just wanted to take you to bed."

"Mmm," you hummed, letting him effortlessly lift you from the sofa, your arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. His warmth enveloped you, a sense of safety washing over you as he held you close.

"You can always wake me up, Freddie," you whispered softly, planting a tender kiss on his lips, a shy smile gracing your face.

"I know, but it's late... so let's head to bed," he simply replied, slowly carrying you up the stairs to your shared bedroom. Then carefully, he settled you onto the mattress, his movements gentle as his gaze lingered on you, tucking you in snugly.

Yet, you couldn’t help but smile as your eyes followed his towering figure moving around the bed, slowly peeling off his shirt. And you had to bite your lower lip, as you admired his fair chest in the subdued room lighting.

With every motion, you felt your heart rate gradually increasing as he discarded more clothing, and suddenly, you felt anything but tired, especially with your handsome husband now only in his boxers. You were irresistibly drawn to him, your mouth watering and your eyes glinting with desire. Even though he’d only been away for a few days, it felt like a long deprivation, and he was the first feast on the menu.

So, as he joined you on the bed, you eagerly leaned in and pulled him into a fervent kiss.

Freddie chuckled softly during the kiss at your sudden change in demeanour, pulling back slightly to offer you a wry smile, making an effort to keep his composure.

“Min skat, it’s late… and you’re tired…” he whispered softly, his thumb gently caressing your lower lip.

You took a deep breath, meeting his gaze with a flirtatious look, as your eyes were brimming with nothing but desire for your partner. “Not anymore…” you murmured, shaking your head gently.

Time didn’t matter now. Your husband was back home, his team had progressed to the second round of the playoffs, and he’d performed brilliantly. Nedless to say, he deserved nothing less than to be honoured.

So, instead of giving in to sleep, you leaned in for another kiss. And this time, it was more passionate and intense than before. Your hand cupped his bearded cheek as you drew closer, your tongue pressing against his lips, seeking entrance, which he eagerly granted.

It was no secret that Freddie had missed your touch as well. With his focus on the playoffs and his commitment to training, sex hadn’t exactly been a priority in recent weeks. So, when the opportunity for intimate celebration presented itself, he wasn’t about to refuse.

Then as your fingers tangled in his ginger locks, pulling him nearer, he instinctively intensified the kiss, deepening it further, creating friction as your saliva mingled and your tongues engaged in a sensual dance.

He craved you so badly. And with each passing moment, the kiss grew messier and more fervent, his heartbeat quickening and blood rushing to his groin. To him, you were exquisite. Your body seemed perfectly crafted for his, and he found himself unable to resist once your skin met his. You were his weakness. Under your touch, he, a goaltender, would lose all his focus and control.

The room seemed to ignite with heat as your hands began to explore each other. With newfound vigour, you took the lead and positioned yourself to straddle Freddie – though it took some effort due to his broad hips. Tonight, however, you didn’t mind. As you settled with a knee on either side of him, he leaned back slightly, your lips still locked as his hands found your buttocks.

And it didn’t take long before you felt his slowly growing hardness pressing against your core, only the fabric of your underwear and his boxers standing in the way.

Then with slow, sensual movements, you moved your lips away from his, trailing down his bearded jawline, descending to his strong neck, across his exposed throat as he tilted his head back slightly. And continuing southward, you tenderly traced his collarbone, alternating between kisses and gentle nips with your teeth, before moving down his chest, and continuing your descent, your mouth lingering on his skin.

With each kiss, each delicate nip, Freddie’s breathing became more erratic as he watched you through his lashes, feeling himself growing harder with each touch.

And finally, you slowly inched your way past his belly button, and reached the waistband of his boxers.

“Mmm, skat, you don’t have to…” Freddie muttered, his breath catching as he knew your intentions. However, his protest fell on deaf ears, even to himself. He yearned for your touch, and the prospect of your mouth on him was nothing short of a fantasy.

So, as you simply smirked up at him, slipping your fingers under the elastic band of his boxers and pulling them down to release his hardened shaft, he swallowed hard in anticipation. Freddie offered some assistance, kicking off his boxers, then you took hold of his length, stroking it gently before leaning in and sensually licking from bottom to top.

“Oh, yes… fuck…”

You couldn’t help but smirk as you noticed his eyes blink a few times, waiting for your next move. Yet tonight wasn’t about teasing. Tonight was about giving your husband what he’d earned. So, without hesitation, you wrapped your lips around his tip, coating it with saliva before slowly taking more of him into your mouth, his hand finding your hair swiftly, as he guided you.

Freddie was rather large, no doubt about that. So, he never quite fit completely inside your mouth. However, as you took him further down your throat, gently moving your head up and down in sensual motions, you used a hand to cover the rest of his length. Giving head to your well-endowed ginger husband wasn’t the easiest task, but you couldn’t help but feel satisfaction as you heard his moans growing louder and more uncontrolled with each motion.

And as you maintained a steady rhythm with your warm mouth around his sensitive cock, Freddie felt himself slowly approaching a deeply desired climax. Which you sensed it as his fingers lightly tugged on your locks.

“Mmm, yes, it feels so good, baby… love your mouth…”

His words mixed with deep breaths and husky moans made your core pool. And though you wanted nothing more than to finish him off then and there, you also longed to feel him inside you.

So, when sensing his thigh muscles tense beneath you, you slowly released his member from your mouth, gasping for air as your eyes locked with his. There was no need for words; Freddie understood your next move instinctively.

Moving away from his body with gentle grace, you discarded your own underwear, leaving on the jersey before returning to straddle his broad hips, where his hands naturally found your hips for support once more. Then with delicate movements, you let your folds glide against his hard cock, teasing your clit as you steadied your hands on his chest.

Driven by mutual desire, you then guided the tip of Freddie’s cock to your entrance and, almost effortlessly, sank down onto him, allowing him to fill you up completely.

“Oh, Freddie,” you moaned as he stretched you. Despite being accustomed to his size over time, your body surrendered to the desperate need for him, melting into him almost instantly. And upon regaining control of your breaths, you began to move your hips slowly, allowing his shaft to glide in and out of your slick core.

Freddie too was overwhelmed by the incredible sensations as your tightness enveloped him, knowing he wouldn’t last long tonight. You felt utterly amazing, pressing your hands against his chest to establish a steady rhythm, your harmonious moans filling the room as the heat between you intensified.

You had missed the sensation of Freddie’s body against yours. And as he sat up, his lips crashing onto yours in a hungry kiss, his hands slipped under the jersey and swiftly discarded it across the room before returning to the kiss.

You kept your hips in motion, gradually increasing the pace as your fingers once again found his fiery hair, pulling him closer into the passionate kiss. And breathing was almost forgotten amidst the kisses, as you briefly pulled apart to catch your breath before diving back into a fervent embrace.

It was hot. Feeling his chest against your breasts, you rode him with all the energy you could muster, his thumb finding your clit to gently circle. The pleasure was intense, your orgasm building as you pressed against him, while his thick member stimulated your walls and teased your sensitive spot inside. It was almost too much. Overwhelmed, your mind clouded, and your lungs begged for air.

And Freddie sensed your urgency as his finger worked its magic, his hips instinctively meeting yours in rhythm. And it wasn’t long before you reached the brink of orgasm, your hips moving rapidly against his finger as the climax washed over you, causing you to arch your back, close your eyes, and release a loud cry of pleasure, with his name slipping off your lips.

It was the high you’d been craving for days, if not weeks. And finally, you reached it.

Then slowly calming from your high, you took deep breaths before reconnecting your lips in a tender kiss. However, when you pulled apart again, Freddie changed position. Sensing his own climax approaching, he leaned forward and pushed you down into the mattress, hovering over you in missionary, before setting his own pace.

His motions were as desperate as yours had been, and though he tried to keep it romantic with soft kisses, it quickly grew too intense and rapid. Covered in sweat, your bodies moved together as he thrusted into you, his cock buried deep as he pounded harder and faster.

Your moans filled the room as pleasure coursed through your body once more, while your fingers dug into his shoulders as he overstimulated you with every pound.

“Oh, fuck…” Freddie grunted deeply, signalling his imminent release.

And with a few more forceful thrusts, he propelled himself over the edge, emptying himself as he filled you up with his release, reaching climax.

Both of you needed a moment to come back down to earth, ensnared in a blissful haze as you caught your breath. And when you finally managed to breathe again, you flashed him a satisfied smile.

“Congratulations on the amazing win, Freddie,” you chuckled lightly, still a little breathless, and your husband couldn’t help but chuckle as well, feeling the exhilaration from the incredible intimacy you’d shared.

-

As morning crept in, you felt Freddie's body close to yours, the sunlight trickling in through the curtains.

The tingling sensation from the events of the night still lingered, yet a new desire stirred within you as you sensed Freddie's morning wood against your lower back, snug in his boxers. And a smile naturally spread across your face, while wrapped in his sturdy arms, you slowly awakened, turning in his embrace to meet his peaceful expression.

With gentle caresses, you traced the contours of his handsome face, adorned with ginger freckles, as he too gradually roused from sleep.

"Morning," his deep, husky voice murmured, his eyes still closed.

"Morning, baby. How did you sleep?" Your voice matched his in softness and crispiness.

"Mmm, slept like a log, min skat," he replied softly. "With you by my side and after last night, I couldn't ask for more..."

A light chuckle escaped you, and a mischievous urge to tease suddenly took hold.

"Wait, what went down last night?" you playfully quizzed, causing Freddie to open his eyes and raise an eyebrow.

"Oh, so you've forgotten?" he teased back.

"Hmm... maybe," you replied, feigning innocence.

"Well then," Freddie leaned over you, enveloping you completely with his larger frame, his face hovering close to yours. "I guess I'll have to remind you then..." he said with a seductive tone.

It was the epitome of a lazy morning kiss—half sleepy, half passionate, as your lips moved languidly, yet the desire between you both was palpable.

Your fingers eagerly tangled in Freddie's hair as the kiss intensified, and soon, any remaining barriers of clothing between your bodies were discarded.

In the gentle morning light, Freddie's skin seemed to glow as he explored your mouth with his own, his hardness evident and eager to be satisfied once more. Yet he took his time, savouring the sensation of your skin against his, allowing your mouths to move in perfect harmony as you delved deeper into the sensuality of the moment.

Then, with a gentle shift, Freddie slid his right leg between yours, his thigh making contact with your core, instantly revealing your moist readiness for him.

"Mmm, fuck, skat," he murmured against your lips, echoing your moans as you felt his strong muscles against your sensitive flesh. “So wet already…” 

A smirk played on your lips as you couldn't deny the craving for more. Despite both of you feeling a bit weary from staying up late due to Freddie's late return after the game, you found yourself getting turned on by the early morning touches.

And adjusting his leg, Freddie then slid his arm between your bodies, his middle finger delving into your heat while he kept his lips locked with yours.

"Mmm, Freddie," you moaned as he alternated between teasing your entrance and circling your sensitive clit. And then a louder gasp, mixed with a moan, escaped you as he effortlessly slid two fingers inside.

With gentle strokes, he massaged your inner walls, ensuring to prepare you with care for what was to come. Though the goal wasn't to bring you to climax yet, the sensation of his thick digits stirred pleasurable feelings within you.

And as you tilted your head back against the pillow and watched him through your lower lashes, soft moans escaped your lips. Then Freddie gently withdrew his fingers, lining up his erect member instead, and with deliberate slowness, he pushed himself inside you.

It was a lazy rhythm as he then gently rocked his hips, while exchanging sloppy kisses. Your hands roamed from his hair to his shoulders, then to his neck, pulling him closer.

It was a moment of pure romance, not as eager and fiery as the night before. This was simply two bodies connecting in a slow, steady pace, each stimulating the other towards pleasure. Amidst tender kisses, soft moans escaped you both, indicating the gradual ascent towards climax.

The room felt stiflingly warm, sweat glistening on your bodies as you moved together, intensified by the sunlight streaming in. And it only urged you to hasten towards release. Slowly, Freddie increased his rhythm, his hips pressing a little harder against you as he thrust in and out, propelling you closer to the edge.

Your breaths grew heavier with each internal caress, your mind enveloped in a blissful haze with every motion. "Yes, Freddie... I'm getting close... I'm - I'm going to come," you whispered amidst your moans.

And that only spurred Freddie on even more, his movements becoming quicker. Sensing the tightening grip of your walls around him, he drove himself harder and faster, his fingers gripping the sheets beneath you as you tugged on his hair, your faces pressed close, sharing deep breaths.

Then with a final flurry of rapid thrusts, Freddie brought you to the pinnacle of pleasure. With a loud cry, you squeezed your eyes shut and moaned out his name, the intensity overwhelming your senses as ecstasy consumed your mind. And as your muscles tightened around his sensitive member, it triggered his own release, letting out a deep grunt, as Freddie spilled his seed into your depths, the sensation washing over him.

While the climaxes may not have matched the intensity of the night before, they were still nothing short of amazing. And as you both gasped for air in the aftermath, smiles adorned your faces as you exchanged tender kisses. Freddie then gently disentangled himself from you and suggested a shower to properly wake up and prepare for the day, though the only plans involved lounging on the sofa with a bad movie.

-

About two months had passed since the fifth game of the playoffs, and now you found yourself bustling around your home, preparing for a significant event; the wedding of some of your closest friends.

Although the Canes had put on a stellar performance, their journey unfortunately came to an end when the Tampa Bay Lightning emerged victorious during the fourth game of the Eastern Conference Final. Freddie, naturally, was devastated, having poured his heart and soul into every moment on the ice, but it just hadn’t been enough.

However, today wasn't about hockey. It was about witnessing two people pledge their love in front of their loved ones—a day filled with joy and romance.

The only worry weighing on your mind was that you hadn't been feeling quite right in the past few weeks, causing Freddie to fret.

"Skat, are you sure you're up for going to a wedding? I don't want you to go if you feel sick..." he expressed his concern while putting on his shirt.

"Freddie, honey, I'm fine, I promise!" You did your best to reassure him with a sweet smile.

"I just don't want you to feel like you have to go... I can go alone," he persisted.

However, there was no need for concern. Just two days ago, you had discovered the reason behind your recent unease, despite not being ill. Yet you hadn't found the right moment to share the news with Freddie, especially since it wasn't exactly part of the plans, he had envisioned for the two of you, particularly with your upcoming trip to Italy.

"Fred... I'm really okay," you reassured him, offering another smile. "But I promise, if I start feeling unwell, I'll let you know."

Freddie was always attentive when it came to your health, but he also knew he had to trust your word as you stood before him in nothing but your undergarments, flashing him a reassuring smile.

So, with a sigh, he nodded in agreement. "Alright... but can you help me with my tie then?"

And of course, you could. Despite knowing that Freddie was more than capable of tying his own tie, considering he wore suits several days a week during the season, it was a task he knew you enjoyed assisting him with. You had even practiced a few more creative knots than just the classic, just for fun.

As you stood there in the middle of the room, with only the soft hum of the outside world, you couldn't help but smile as you savoured the calm moment with the man you loved with all your heart, your husband and soulmate. Then turning to take hold of your dress and gently slipped it on, you decided it was about time to tell him the reason behind your recent behaviour.

Standing in front of the mirror, your eyes meeting Freddie's reflection behind you, you voiced your thoughts sweetly. "Can you zip up my dress for me?" you asked, another soft smile gracing your lips.

"Of course, min skat," Freddie simply replied, coming to stand behind you, his hands finding the zipper, and delicately guiding the fabric to envelop your figure. "Hmm, it's a nice dress, baby—haven't seen you wear this in a while..." he murmured, admiring how it beautifully hugged your body.

"Well..." you began softly. "I just wanted to wear it one more time before... before it won't fit me anymore."

Your eyes searched for Freddie's in the mirror.

"What do you mean?" he inquired softly, but then he noticed your hand resting on your lower abdomen, his eyes widening, and his mouth forming an 'o'. "Wait... babe, are you... I mean, are we?" he stuttered under his breath, a soft smile slowly spreading across his lips.

Turning around to face him, you looked up with a gentle smile and nodded. "Yes, Freddie... I'm pregnant..."

There was a brief moment of anticipation as you awaited his reaction, but it didn't take long before Freddie's eyes lit up like Christmas lights.

"We're going to have a baby!" he exclaimed loudly with pure joy, wrapping his strong arms around your body and lifting you into the air in sheer happiness. And you couldn't help but chuckle as he held you close, your eyes locking in a gaze as you wrapped your arms around his neck.

Laughter and happiness filled the air as you both shared the news of the new chapter that was to form your lives together. And as you shared a tender kiss, with Freddie still holding you, there was nothing else to say but, "I love you so much, Frederik Andersen."

"I love you too, min skat."

#my asks #18+ smut #frederik andersen smut #frederik andersen imagines #carolina hurricanes imagine #nhl hockey smut #freddie x reader #freddie andersen imagine

[sydnikov]

Being Bold || S. Jarvis

Author: Sydney / @sydnikov

Pairing: Seth Jarvis / fem!Reader

Word Count: 7.4k

Summary: Seth has a crush on you. A bad one, and he makes it very obvious throughout the years he’s known you, though you’ve still never taken him seriously because of his immaturity and energetic personality. Much to his chagrin, you keep denying him—until one night, scorned by thoughts of your most recent ex who never knew how to touch you right, you give in to Seth’s advances.

Warnings: 18+ smut, unprotected p in v (birth control usage), oral (f receiving), very slight age gap (reader is 2 years older), alcohol mention, alcoholic consumption, minor mention of violence including blood, cursing

A/N: Wow. This one is something (it’s just smut with a small bit of plot don’t mind my dramatics). Here’s the jarvy debauchery as promised ✨ until the next, thanks for the support as always!

*Minors, you are responsible for your own media consumption. That being said, I will not block you for interacting with this fic or my blog, but always be aware of the content you choose to consume and the consequences it can have.

You’ve only seen Seth Jarvis as a kid.

Well, maybe ‘kid’ is too strong of a word to describe the immaturity gap. You’re only two years older than him, but it’s just that how he acts gives you the impression of a boy.

Not a man, but a boy. And it drives Seth absolutely insane.

He first meets you the year he joins the Hurricanes because you’re friends with the social media director (he later finds out you’re close to Lottie, Jesperi’s girlfriend, as well). He remembers the night vividly, what you were wearing, how soft your hand felt against the calluses on his own. How you looked at him, amusement and softness in the smile you flashed him.

Seth was smitten. Still is, actually, because you’re around more than ever. He sees you everywhere. After games, and even just around Raleigh because you live in the area.

He tries asking you out. Numerous times, but much to his chagrin you always turn him down.

“We just met, Seth.” A week after you first shake his hand.

“Don’t you have a girlfriend?” Well, he did. But, in his defense, he’d just broken up with her after he moved.

“I’m too old for you.” That one hurt, because that’s when he finds out you’re only two years older.

Seth is nothing if not persistent, though. He doesn’t give up even after all the rejections. He’s also pretty sure your reluctance is because you think he’s never touched a woman in his life.

Presumptuous, right? Andrei thinks so when Seth tells him after playing Call of Duty for several hours, but he recounts a conversation you had with Lottie (he still owes her and Jesperi a drink for that, actually) after Seth begged her to slide a good word in.

“You’re not into the mustache?” Lottie had giggled, taking a sip of her martini.

You were drinking a whiskey sour, which he knows because he bought it for you but had Lottie say it was from her. Your face burned red, either because of the alcohol or the question, he doesn’t know.

“No, no,” You laughed. “I like mustaches. And a nice stubble. They feel good on the thighs.”

“So what’s the problem? He’s in love with you, basically.”

“Isn’t he, like, I don’t know… Nineteen?” You had drawled, faking indifference while mixing around the olive in your drink with the little straw it came with.

“He’s twenty-two, babe.” She smirked. “Only two years younger.”

Lottie says she thinks you’re just wary of his immaturity. When he tries defending himself, Jesperi reminds him that he scored a goal the other night, pointed at you behind the glass where you sat with Lottie, and then proceeded to griddy.

Word on the street is that you weren’t impressed.

Nonetheless, Seth can’t change his personality for you, as much as he considers it. He thinks the sun rises and sets on you, but if you truly think you’re too good for him then he does have enough self respect to walk away and get over it.

But… He just doesn’t think that’s the case, here. You only seem reluctant—that’s it.

“You can’t force her to sleep with you, Jarvy.” Andrei tells him, breaking him out of his thoughts. 

“I know.” He groans, his chin falling into his hand. “What do I do, then?” And truly, he’s run out of ideas. He’s played silly, nice, gentleman… What else is there left for him to do, other than give up?

Seth thinks of your radiant smile, then groans to himself because fuck. He really doesn’t want to give up.

“Give her space?” Andrei suggests. “Have you tried, just… Going away?” He frowns for a moment, trying to think of the right words in English. “Not ‘going away’—”

“Space? You think she just needs space?”

“Well, not too much space—”

“Svechy you're a genius.” Seth interrupts, jumping out of his seat with renown vigor. “I’ll buy you a drink for this, remind me!” And then he’s springing up from the couch, grabbing his keys and sprinting out the front door.

Andrei blinks. Once, twice, then shakes his head with a laugh. He feels like he should warn you, then promptly decides this is not something he wants to get in the middle of.

Seth takes his teammate’s advice to heart, and gives you the space he thinks you need to process his zealous pursuit of you. He can tell it catches you off guard because he’s stopped following you around like a lost puppy, along with all of the antics normally associated with his creative flirting.

In fact, it’s such a sudden change from what you’re used to that it freaks you out. Hurts a little bit, too, because did he just wake up one day disgusted by the thought of you?

You tell yourself you’re disturbed because you miss the attention. It’s been a while since you’ve had a guy foam at the mouth for you, after all, so now that it’s gone you’re just going through withdrawals.

It’s more than that, though, and you won’t admit it to yourself but when you spy him chatting it up with other girls your stomach twists in a way that you know screams trouble.

Maybe it’s because you just ended things with your latest boyfriend - a bore of a man who couldn’t make time for you outside of his work - and the vulnerability of being alone yet again is getting to you.

Is Seth really so bad? You think about him sometimes, when you’re alone in your apartment or even right in front of him. You’ve always had a soft spot for him, sure, but nothing more than friendly affection.

You’re questioning this now, when his attention is no longer being directed at you, because you distinctly remember him getting into a fight with some other player on the ice, and that’s the first time you remember thinking man and not boy.

The team it was against escapes you, but you remember someone getting in Sebastian’s space with a raised arm, and then Seth came flying in with a fist to the opposing player’s face and a lot of colorful words. Your jaw had dropped as the referees tore them apart, his hair dripping with sweat and a cut welling with blood dripping down his forehead.

The moment forces you to think that maybe altogether, his energetic personality, a smile that never leaves his face, and the unwavering loyalty for his friends combined isn’t such a bad thing after all. The revelation leaves you shaking and feeling quite awkward when he’s around, or even just being brought up.

“Do you miss Scott?” Lottie asks you one day when you’re out for lunch at Perry’s - a steakhouse near her apartment in North Hills - referring to your aforementioned ex-boyfriend. Even his name is boring.

You laugh a little, unable to not roll your eyes though your ire isn’t directed at her. “No. I knew it wasn’t going to last when I got into it, anyways.”

“It’s been about two weeks since you broke up with him.” She says, a statement rather than a question. The look on her face tells you she’s trying to go somewhere with this. “Has anyone caught your eye lately? You’re too pretty to be single, you know.”

It’s obvious that Lottie is trying to ask if you’ve reconsidered Seth at all. It’s been the talk of your whole friend group, including the guys, that he’s suddenly stopped in his bold pursuit of you, though none of them think it’s because he’s lost interest.

“I don’t know.” You whine, begrudgingly stabbing a piece of potato with your fork. “I mean, he’s… Seth.”

“Seth, who has spent his entire time on the Hurricanes trying to win you over?” She says with a raised brow. “Just because he’s had his fun doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy.”

You don’t have a response to that, so instead you just nod. She is right, as much as you hate to admit it. Seth is a successful professional hockey player in his prime, of course he’s been with his fair share of women and will continue to do so as long as he’s single.

If that was your case you’d certainly be having fun, too.

“If his casualness towards dating really bothers you, you should just talk to him.” Lottie says after a moment. “He’s dying for you to speak to him, I swear it.”

You concede. “I’ll talk to him the next time I see him.”

Fortunately for you, that ‘next time’ doesn’t happen for quite a few more weeks, and when you do finally run into him again it’s when you’re slightly tipsy, drinking at a bar near to PNC Arena after the boys have won a game.

You don’t even take note of his presence at first, in the middle of gossiping with some of your friends who just so happen to know the players.

The gossip? Your ex-boyfriend, Scott, and his inability to make you come.

“I mean, he wasn’t bad or anything.” You say. “He had all the knowledge and stuff, just, like, couldn’t do anything. Y’know?” You’re slurring your words a little bit, but everyone around you nods like you’re making some big, important speech.

“So did you have to fake it?” Someone asks. You can’t even remember how Scott was brought up in the first place.

You giggle; you can’t help it. “Oh my god, yes, sometimes it was so bad I had to say I was cramping just to get him to stop trying.” That sends everyone into boisterous laughter, and in your slight drunkenness you can’t help but join in.

The song changes then, and it must be one everyone knows because it scatters you and the rest of the girls into smaller groups, some running to the dance floor while others wander back to the bar. You stay seated, however, content to watch as you sip your drink.

“Whiskey sour?” That’s when Seth makes his presence known. His voice murmured in your ear catches you off guard, and you jump a little as you turn to face him. “Seth.” You greet, not unkindly. “Yeah, but it’s only my second.”

Just as soon as he appeared, he’s jumping back up from his seat next to you. “I’ll get you a third.” You don’t have time to protest as he disappears, and your affection for this rambunctious man only continues to grow as he bounds back moments later, sliding you your drink with a smug grin.

“Thank you.” You smile, a little shy, a little bashful, as you take your first sip. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Anything for my girl.” Ah, there it is. You’re unable to hide the obvious roll of your eyes, but Seth’s smile doesn’t waver. “Not your girl, Seth. Just got out of a relationship, remember?”

“Oh, yeah.” He says. “Scott, right? Sounds like that was doomed from the start.”

You narrow your eyes, unsure of the knowing tone he’s taken on. “And how would you know?”

“He couldn’t make you come, yeah? What a tool.”

Suddenly, your throat is very dry, and you’re taking a very large sip of whiskey that has you wincing. So… He heard you say that, then. Is it hot in here? You have the sudden urge to fan yourself. Fuck fuck fuck. Seth, of all people, should not be making your thighs clench.

You don’t realize how silent you’ve gotten until he speaks up again. “I could make you, you know.”

That has you choking, and you quickly throw back the rest of your drink to soothe your throat. “What?” When you finally meet Seth’s eyes, he’s still grinning at you, though it’s more carnal. His eyes darken as he responds.

“Come. I could get you to come so hard you wouldn’t be able to walk the next day.”

Your reply is meek, knowing deep down inside you’re fighting a losing battle. “Have you even touched a girl before?” He scoffs, and you know as well as he does that he’s been with his fair share of women. It’s one of the reasons you’re so hesitant to take him seriously.

Seth is undeterred, though, as he slides even closer to you. You stare straight ahead, determined not to meet his eyes even though you’re positive there’s a red flush creeping up your neck as his breath tickles your ear.

He says your name, a low purr that’s almost mocking like he can see right through your bullshit because finally, he’s breaking through to you. “You know I have. None of them are you, though.”

You squirm in your seat as his hand creeps up your shoulders, grasping the back of your neck as he gently turns your head to face him. He squeezes reassuringly, and now you’re melting into his embrace as a gasp falls from your lips.

“I want you. You know that, baby.”

“Seth…”

“Let me show you, please?” Then those warm eyes are bearing into your own, and now you’re getting a glimpse of the boy you first met all over again. This time, though, instead of feeling innocent affection all you feel now is heat.

You were stupid to think the adoration he never hesitates to show for you wouldn’t win you over eventually.

Blinking owlishly, you move one of your hands to grip his arm, looking so dainty against the rugged muscle under his skin, and, well. You cave.

“Okay.”

Seth doesn’t expect you to give in so easily. He freezes, doesn’t move until you gain your wits back and pinch his thigh with a gentle roll of your eyes. “Are you just going to sit there or should I find someone else to entertain me?”

That gets him moving. It’s his turn to look anxious as he runs a hand through his hair, still processing the fact that he didn’t have to convince you more. He wasn’t actually expecting to get this far with you—quite literally, the woman of his dreams.

“Shit, okay.” He laughs, jumping out of his seat and lacing his fingers with yours. “You’re serious, then.”

“Somehow.” You deadpan. Somehow your legs are still clenching and your heart is beating a little too fast to be normal. “Don’t fuck it up.”

He looks to you, a little terrified, and you can’t help but break the irritated front and send him a small smile, squeezing his hand reassuringly even as your words are all snark. Truthfully, you’re also scared, but not of the sex, but rather the developing feelings that might grow deeper afterwards.

You just got out of yet another disappointing relationship. You don’t want whatever this is with Seth to end with the same result.

He does a good job of distracting you from your destructive thoughts, though, as he pulls you out of the bar like two teenagers trying to sneak away from their parents. You suppose it’s not unlike that same feeling because Jesperi catches your eye as you exit the doors, and he sends you such a shit-eating grin it has you ducking your head to avoid his obnoxious stare.

You suppose you do owe him a favor now after all.

For the first time ever, standing outside in the biting cold, Seth kisses you as you’re waiting for an Uber. You being busy trying to look like you’re not about to go hook up, he suddenly grabs you by the waist and smooths his lips against yours so good your toes curl.

“Fuck.” He murmurs into your mouth. “I can’t get enough of you.” His teeth catch your bottom lip, and you unabashedly moan. You run your hands up his chest, around his shoulders, and to the back of his neck where you card your fingers through thick strands of hair, tugging from the roots.

“Seth…” You gasp when he detaches his lips from your own only for him to smooth down your jawline, then down to your neck where he sucks wet kisses into your sensitive skin. “Fuck, we’re in public.” With a hiss, you pull him away from your neck and pointedly ignore the wetness in your panties when he groans at the loss of contact.

He looks at you like a baby getting its favorite toy taken away, and you can’t ignore how his desperation turns you on wildly. It takes everything in you to not let him go back to feasting on your neck.

“When’s the Uber getting here?” You ask after a moment. You’re both panting, tipsy from the taste of each other’s lips as you try to catch your breath.

Seth pulls out his phone, and as you admire the way the light illuminates his face you completely miss the words coming from his mouth.

You flush. “Say that again?” Seth grins wickedly, brings you in by the back of your neck and kisses you, then pulls away too soon for your liking. “The Uber. It’s right here.” He then wraps an arm around your waist, digging his fingers deliciously into your skin, and leads you into the Uber as it arrives right on time.

He rattles off his address to the driver, then settles back into the seats. His arm snakes around your shoulders, and you hum your appreciation as you sink into his chest. You feel him kiss the top of your head in response.

You could fall asleep, if you really wanted to. The sudden switch in mood from carnal desperation to gentle affection would give you whiplash if you weren’t so at ease resting against him like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

The drive passes fairly quickly, and Seth doesn’t stop touching you as you make your way up the elevator to his apartment. His hand sneaks to your ass, giving it a squeeze before you slap his arm away.

“Cameras!” You hiss, though it’s with little mirth as a small smile curves up your lips. Seth merely laughs, slides his hand back down to rest on your lower back. “They don’t care. Now c’mere.”

You make out until you can’t breathe, and as you pull away it’s just in time as the elevator doors open. Your heart rate picks up, and you hide your nerves as he grabs your hand and practically sprints out of the elevator with you.

“We have all night, you know.” You giggle, absentmindedly rubbing your thumb over the top of his hand. Seth groans playfully, but his words strike you as serious even as he masks it with a grin.

“Not long enough, babe.”

You don’t respond, partly because you don’t know how to and partly because he’s just unlocked his door, and you’re too busy taking in his apartment. You’ve been to Andrei’s house numerous times, Jesperi and Lottie's apartment, Jordan’s for his famous house parties… It’s just now that you’re realizing you don’t actually know Seth all that well.

What you do know, though, is that he’s eyeing you like he can’t wait to devour you, and the reminder that you don’t even know his favorite color exits your mind as you sidle up to his chest, grabbing him by the lapels of his suit to drag his lips down to yours.

“Time to impress me, lover boy.” You hum into his mouth, fighting a shiver when he nips at your bottom lip. Seth chuckles, one of his hands sliding down your back to squeeze your ass, the other tugging your hair back to expose your neck.

He kisses your cheek once, twice, mouths at your collarbone with teasing bites that have your eyes fluttering shut, and then it’s like he loses patience as suddenly his hands are picking you up by your thighs and curling your legs around his waist.

You squeak in surprise. “Seth!” You admonish, because of course it turns you on that he’s able to throw you around effortlessly. He seems to have that effect on you.

Seth maneuvers the two of you through his darkened apartment with ease, knowing the route to his bedroom like the back of his hand. Your attempts at distracting him include sucking a bright red hickey on his neck, fully intending it for it to be bright enough that his teammates give him hell for it the next day.

Once he pushes open the door with his foot, he brings you to the foot of his bed and unceremoniously drops you. You scoff with indignation at his manhandling, though you know he knows you like it if the smirk on his face is anything to go by.

A tiger stalking its prey, Seth crawls on top of you and meets your eager lips in another kiss. His hands smooth down the curves of your hips to your thighs, slowly spreading them open. He mumbles something, and you miss it completely.

“Hm?” You run your hands through his hair, enjoying the way the black strands are moussed from your touch. Your shirt is also already halfway up your torso as he helps you tear it off. “I said I’ll wear your marks proudly. My girl.” He coos, flicking open the clasp of your bra and immediately moving down to your chest.

“Fuck.” He groans. “They’re beautiful. You’re beautiful.”  Your laugh quickly turns to a gasp as he sucks your right nipple into his mouth.

Your other nipple is taken by his fore-finger and thumb, rolling the sensitive nub between the calloused pads. Between him sucking on one tit and playing with the other, you’re practically a whimpering mess, trying to simultaneously wiggle out of his grip yet get closer at the same time.

“Seth,” You whine. “I need you.” You’re admitting it openly, foregoing coyness in favor of your own pleasure. Yeah, so what? You like this overgrown puppy of a man, and you really want to fuck him. Pulling his head back by his hair, you eagerly slam your lips back together.

“Need me?” He grins against your lips. “Where do you need me? Gotta be specific, babe, because I can be here,” He emphasizes a quick squeeze to your tit. “Here,” The other hand smooths over your ass. “Or here...” He trails off into a low rumble, parting your eager thighs.

Based on the tortured groan he lets out, you assume he can probably feel the wetness that’s soaked through your jeans. You’re too turned on to be embarrassed, though.

“Damn it, Seth, just touch me.” You hiss, keeping his hand pressed between your thighs while the other is already working open the button of your jeans. “Fucking tease.” You mutter, though it’s light-hearted and he knows it based on his snicker.

He helps you peel off the rest of your jeans, throwing them somewhere behind you. It’ll be fun trying to hunt for those in the morning. When he sees the dainty white lace covering your pussy, he lets out his most needy sound yet.

“Shit.” He breathes. “Wore these for me? So pretty. My pretty baby.” He murmurs as he thumbs the lace, running two fingers over the soaked fabric. If you could see, you’d guarantee his pupils are blown wide.

Your hips rise at the friction, wanting more. And because you’re still hellbent on resisting him, apparently, you roll your eyes, spitting out your next words. “You knew I was coming home with you, didn’t you? Asshole.” Though your words are all snark, your tone screams laughter.

Strangely enough, the banter gets you off more than any dirty talk in the world. It’s familiar, relaxing, and Seth clearly doesn’t mind either as he merely chuckles. “I just know you that well, don't I?” The look on his face offers no room for argument.

And, well, you suppose he isn’t wrong. You are here in his bed at the end of the day, right?

You grumble something that to his ears sounds like ‘shut up’ and then you’re sliding your panties down your thighs, letting him take care of the rest as, like your other clothes, he tosses them somewhere behind him.

If you thought the sight of your covered pussy would get the best reaction from him, it’s nothing compared to the way his entire body freezes at seeing it bare.

You’d had a feeling something big was going to happen after Lottie's sly words, so you took the liberty of shaving everywhere just two nights before. You’re glad for that, as Seth is looking at the heat between your legs like he doesn’t know where to start.

Teasing him in a normal setting about not knowing how to touch a woman is one thing, but making a remark now as anxious anticipation is all over his face just feels wrong.

You do like him, after all—quite a bit, you’re coming to find.

Reaching out your hand, you wait for him to grasp it before you pull him down to hover over your awaiting form. “C’mere, baby.” The pet-name slips without thought, but you can’t make yourself regret it because the way his face lights up is a look you won’t forget any time soon.

He laughs a little as your eyes finally meet, like he can’t believe he’s actually about to fuck you and you’re going to let him. “Tell me how to touch you?” He asks, not a demand but more of a request.

Taking his right hand, you lead him down the length of your body, over your breasts and down your stomach until your hands are resting just below your navel. “You know how to find the clit?” You tease, partly joking and partly serious.

Seth scoffs like the very thought offends him, and the mild dig does its job of making him forget his earlier nervousness.

“Of course I know where the fucking clit is,” He replies, pointer and middle finger already sliding down and gathering the slickness lathered in your lower lips. “Scott is such a dumbass.”

Well, it seems the familiar, cocky Seth is back now.

“...didn’t even realize what a bombshell he had right in front of him.” You miss the first part of his sentence because he did, in fact, find your clit, and unlike your ex, knows exactly how to touch it.

Your mouth opens into an ‘o’, and Seth hums a pleased noise as his fingers work your sensitive clit into a swollen, throbbing mess. Your hips move in time with the flicks of his fingers and you don’t even realize you’re panting until Seth leans forward and licks a stripe all the way from your navel down to your soaked opening.

When you start bucking into his mouth, he grabs your hips and holds them down to the bed, forcing you to take it. You whine, hands finding purchase in his hair as his tongue laps at you like you’re his favorite meal. He dips into your entrance in time with the quick circles he’s drawing over your clit, and oh, suddenly you’re much closer than you thought.

“Tastes so good.” You hear him grunt. “Can’t get enough of you.”

“Seth,” Gasping, you can’t decide if you want to keep him close or shove him away. “Shit. Seth, fuck, I’m close.”

“Yeah? Already?” Your confession only seems to reinvigorate his efforts, and the next thing you know two long fingers are sliding their way into your cunt. “Gonna come for me?”

Quicker than you expect he finds the sensitive wall of flesh inside you, and his fingers curl up against it which sends you keening. Loudly. You slap a hand over your mouth, but Seth quickly tears it away.

“Nobody here but me and you.” He grins, and just to rub it in, presses a hot kiss to your clit. “I wanna hear you scream.”

“What a gentleman.” You manage to squeeze out, and in revenge for your snark he immediately sucks your clit between his lips and rapidly curls his fingers inside you.

Seth watches with hooded eyes as your own squeeze shut, teeth biting into your kiss-swollen lips while your hands tug at his hair. Your thighs are shaking on each side of his head, and suddenly he wants you to come for him like his life depends on it.

“You gonna come?” He asks. Your walls clamp around his fingers and he knows you’re close. “Yeah? Can you come for me? I know you want to.”

Your entire body shakes all while he keeps you tethered to the bed. Your mind, though, is floating, and you can practically see white as his lips don’t stop sucking, his fingers don’t stop curling, and it’s too much but also not enough and you want to shove him away yet demand he never stops touching you.

And your high is right there, you can practically taste it, but your body is wound so tight and you can’t remember the last time you’ve let go that you remain stuck right on the edge.

There are tears leaking from the corners of your eyes as you tug at his hair. Seth meets your eyes, looks a little concerned after reading the desperation on your face, and then understands when a broken moan tumbles past your lips.

Seth, a little shit as always, brings you back to the edge with his words alone. “It’s been so long, hasn’t it?” He slips in a third finger. “Bet you haven’t had anyone make you feel like this. Just me. Hopefully always me.”

“Seth,” You croak. “Please.”

“I’ve got you.” He urges. “Let go for me. You’re right there, I know it. You’re so tight, fuck, there you go.”

His mocking words echo in your mind with the low drawl of his voice, dark eyes staring at you like you’re a feast, and his damn fingers curling just right against your spongy wall.

His free hand suddenly moves, presses down over your lower abdomen, and oh. “Such a good girl.” Seth croons as you fall apart.

It’s the last thing you hear as your vision goes white, and the heat in your body explodes with wave after wave of ecstasy pumping from the tips of your toes all the way to the hair on your head. Your eyes squeeze shut, and you’re pretty sure you’re making some sort of strangled noise as you ride your high that seems to go on forever.

By the time you come back, your legs are still shaking and Seth is still gently stroking your inner walls with careful circles around your clit. He's my gazing up at you with pure, unbridled adoration and the emotion in his eyes makes your heart thump.

You don’t even realize your fingers are still tangled in his hair until you have to let go because they’re cramping, and then Seth finally removes his fingers and slowly crawls back up your body.

You’re still catching your breath when he presses a long, soft kiss to your lips. “How was that?” He questions almost shyly. His need for reassurance might have had a past you rolling your eyes, but right now all you want to do is hold him and thank him for making you feel so good.

Especially after Scott. Asshole.

You shudder, clit still throbbing as you wrap your arms around his heavy shoulders and bring his weight down on top of you. His very hard cock brushes against your hip with the movement, and you’re reminded that he hasn’t had any semblance of relief yet.

“Thank you.” You whisper. It’s definitely weird to thank someone after they eat you out, right? Probably, but you don’t really care.

His lips brush against your cheek in response, heart swelling at the gentle vulnerability you’re showing him. He’s planning on running to the bathroom to get you a towel, but freezes when he feels your hands peeling off the suit he totally forgot he was wearing.

“Babe?” He mumbles, a little confusingly, but all you do is kiss him and that shuts him up. He doesn’t break contact even as he shrugs off the rest of his suit, peeling off his undershirt until he’s more than halfway bare. Your hands carve lines over the hard planes of muscle on his chest, scratching lightly with your nails over his nipples which has him flinching into your mouth. Snickering, you make your way down the rest of his chest, past his waist, under his boxers, and then you’re wrapping your hand around his hot, pulsating dick.

Seth groans, almost collapsing on top of you as you squeeze lightly. It’s a dream come true, him touching you and now you touching him. He wants to close his eyes at the feeling of your gentle strokes, but he insists on keeping them open to watch the enraptured look on your face.

Then your other hand moves, unbuttoning his slacks and sliding them over his hips and that’s when he jerks back to the present. “Sweetheart,” He gasps. “You… You don’t have to.”

You smile at his breathlessness. “You don’t want to fuck me?” You pout, though it quickly turns back into a grin when his eyes widen in panic. Another day you’d blow him, when you aren’t so desperate to get him inside you.

Seth briefly removed himself from on top of you to lean over his bed, rifling through his nightstand drawer. You assume he’s looking for a condom and that his efforts fail when he eventually closes the drawer with a curse.

He looks back to you, all messy hair, swollen lips, and glistening eyes. “I don’t have a condom.” He informs regretfully.

“I’m on the pill, if you’re…” You trail off, unsure. “If you’re okay with that. And I’m clean.”

“Hell yes I’m okay with that.” He breathes. His cock hardens even more at the thought of feeling you raw, if even possible. “I’m clean too.” And then he’s kissing you again, long and slow and deep, and you’re happy to let him take the lead as your brain is still trying to play catch-up from your orgasm.

Seth eventually breaks away only to reattach to your neck, nipping at the skin likely already covered in his marks, hands now making their way back down your body. He playfully flicks your nipple as he does so, grins when you flinch upwards.

“Have I told you how much I love your body?” He says in-between kisses, almost like an afterthought. He’s in the middle of spreading your thighs open, fingers slipping through your leftover wetness and brushing your clit when you respond.

You help in his endeavors, raising your legs to curl over his hips as he situates himself on top of you. “You’ve mentioned it a few times, I think.” You reply, breath hitching when his cock presses against you.

“It’s perfect.” He continues, like he didn’t even hear you. “You’re perfect.” He wraps his hand around his dick, guides the head to your entrance and pushes in. All words escape you, and your head falls back with a moan.

He sinks into you with a pleasurable sound of his own, eyes squeezing shut as your warmth envelops him. Sucking in a breath through his teeth, he thrusts slowly into you, bottoming out. “So tight.” He hisses.

“Oh, fuck,” You whimper, digging your nails into his back. Seth stills, thinking he's hurting you. “Shit, am I—”

“Don’t you dare stop.” You quickly interrupt, crying out when his tip rubs against your sensitive inner walls just right. Seth relaxes at your words, a cocky grin spreading over his face. “Sorry, sorry.” He chuckles, picking up the speed of his thrusts.

Like before when his tongue was in you, it doesn’t take you long before noises are escaping your throat uncontrollably or for your legs to tremble from where they’re wrapped around his waist. The sensations are more because you’re already so sensitive, so strung-up, and so eager for another release that you give up any pretenses of trying to play cool.

Your head lolls back onto the bed, all strength leaving your body as Seth happily does all the work on top. Quick, short pants are coming from his mouth, and his chest is heavy where it presses down against yours. With every thrust his pelvis is rocking into your clit, sending sparks up your body as you clench rhythmically around his cock. It’s burning you from the inside-out in the best way possible, and very quickly you’re already approaching the edge.

You try to express your impending release, but all that’s able to come from your mouth is one long moan. Seth, somehow, knows exactly what that noise means, and is suddenly pulling out. “What the fuck?” You practically shout with indignation, glaring at the man on top of you with squinted eyes.

Ever the comedian, he only laughs at your irritation. “Hold on, bear with me.” His hands grab your waist, then rolls you over onto your stomach. He raises your hips, pushing down on your lower back into an arch, and all previous complaints leave you as he’s unable to help himself and runs his hands over your ass.

You’ll think later on why him being unfazed with your attitude makes your heart warm.

“Spread your legs for me.” He murmurs, tapping at the junction between your thighs. You do as he says, and shiver when his fingers go to part your cunt once you’re open. You can’t see his face, but imagine the look on it to be one of enrapturement. You turn your head finally, pressing your hips down onto his hand where it remains touching you.

Your earlier guess was right; his pupils are blown wide, jaw hung open just a little bit at having this view of you from behind. Meeting his eyes, you stare imploringly.

While the sudden need for him scares you, you don’t shy away. Rather, you meet his desires head-on in the form of pushing your hips back against him when he finally pushes in, smothering a whimper as his body looms over yours.

Neither of you talk in favor of letting your pleasure speak for you. The new position feels more intimate, oddly enough; his chest presses onto you from every angle, and you can feel his breath every time he pants into your ear. At the same time his arms are wrapped around your waist, hands kneading at the flesh of your hips while he thrusts into you from behind.

All too soon you’re reaching your peak just like before, and the buildup feels so sweet because he’s hitting you deeper, unrelenting in his thrusts despite how your arms collapse from underneath you. Seth doesn’t flinch, merely picks you back up and presses a hand to your abdomen to keep you there.

With your arms free, you realize that your clit is feeling neglected, and as you sneak your right hand in-between your legs he’s suddenly beating you to it, slapping your own hand away and replacing it with his own.

When it’s all said and done, you don’t think you’ll ever forget the feeling of his fingers circling your sensitive nub so deliciously. Between his dick rutting into your sweet spot mercilessly and the rough pads of fingers stimulating your clit, your eyes are slamming shut with your mouth opening in a silent scream as for the second time that night, Seth is sending you into release.

He carries you through it with noncommittal praise while you’re lost in white noise and starry vision. The sight of you crumbling beneath him sends sparks throughout his body, and it doesn’t take long between the rhythmic clenching of your cunt and the pleasured sounds falling from your lips for him to flood your insides with his cum.

“Oh, fuck—fuck, fuck, fuck.” Seth loses any semblance of restraint of trying to be gentle, as his last thrusts rattle your frame and have you whimpering by the time he’s done releasing, your overstimulated clit throbbing in time with the slow rocks of your calming bodies. “So good. You did so good, yeah?” Seth is rumbling into your ear, voice hoarse and tired as he carefully slides out of you. Eyes still closed, you flinch at your sensitivity. “Sorry, babe.” He whispers, having to regroup for a moment as his softening cock meets cool air after being buried inside you.

You attempt to speak, but the only sound that leaves your mouth is a groan as your aching limbs stretch. You don’t bother opening your eyes yet, either, perfectly content to lay in your post-orgasmic pleasure and not think about the future.

Seth doesn’t let you wallow for long, however, as he’s suddenly leaning over you again. “Can you turn over? I have a towel, it’s warm.” He asks, back to shy and unsure. Now that you’re not caught up in the throes of sex, he’s not quite sure how you’re going to act. “You also need to go pee.”

Your default moods of snarky and mildly irritated is what he gets. “No.” You grumble, though it’s not mean as you bury your head in his pillow, still flat on your stomach. Having no energy to move, you don’t expect Seth to do anything about it, either.

He raises a brow at your sass, not quite sure if he should be relieved or concerned. Huffing, he makes a grab for your hips. “Guess I’m carrying you to the bathroom, then.”

“Seth!” You shriek as he attempts to manhandle you, a burst of energy fueling your efforts in trying to get away. “You little shit, no, fine, fine!” And Seth wins just like that, as you concede the battle and roll from your stomach onto your back. You glare as he leans over your torso, bringing the towel down to clean up the mess in-between your thighs.

His confidence comes back, little by little, as the banter returns naturally and your dynamic doesn’t change despite indulging in your bodies’ most primal desires. “You’ll thank me in the morning.” He grins when he finishes, sliding off the bed to bring it back to the bathroom. You follow, doing your business so quickly you leave before he’s done with his own.

When he comes back you’re in the same position he left you in, like you never left. “So I’m staying the night, then?” You prompt as he goes to sit next to you, a little teasing, a little serious. Where do you stand with him now?

He shrugs, masking his nervousness. “If you want to.” He sinks his teeth into his lip, eyeing you from where he sits. He can’t tell what you’re thinking, and it slightly unnerves him.

Your mysteriousness is also what captivated him about you in the first place too, though. With that, he realizes he wouldn’t have gotten this far if you hadn’t liked him at least a little bit. Taking a deep breath, he takes the bold route, grabs your hand, and does what he does best:

Be bold.

“I want you to stay though, like, really badly.” He admits, meeting your curious eyes. You suck in a breath at his words, and Seth continues. “You know I like you. A lot. And I think you like me too.”

As if knowing he’s waiting for your reassurance, you reply quietly. “A little presumptuous of you, yeah?”

Seth grins, and you can’t help but wonder how you were able to resist it for so long.

“So… You’ll stay?” He tilts his head, reminding you of a puppy. You go to respond, maybe with another sarcastic reply, and he seems to know this even before you do. “Please?”

And, well, you can’t deny him when he’s looking at you like that; soft, brown eyes full of adoration gazing at you like you’ve hung the stars and the moon. “Okay.” You relent, grinning happily as he mouths something like ‘fuck yeah’ and rolls over next to you.

“Do you want to shower?” He suddenly asks, after you’ve already curled underneath his sheets with your body pressed against his. He makes a nice furnace, and you’re mad at yourself for not indulging in him sooner. “Because I have a big one. It has these jets that spray from different angles, and you can go alone or I can join or—”

“Seth.” You interrupt, poking his chest to get his attention. He gulps at the amused expression on your face. “Stop talking.”

“Okay.”

It’s silent for several minutes, and you’re almost asleep until he speaks up again.

“Can I be your boyfriend now?”

“Oh my god.” You hiss. “If I say yes will you let me go to sleep?”

You can’t see his face but you know for a fact there’s a stupid grin on it. “You know, I think you’re gonna fall in love with me one day.”

“Keep dreaming, babe.” You say.

But you both know he won’t be dreaming for long.

A/N: I like this one a lot tbh. But my lord I didn't realize how repetitive writing smut is so I need to have at least a little plot established before I can just jump into it 😭 regardless, I hope this is everything y’all wanted in terms of me writing for him and more! Please be sure to reblog and comment, thank youuuuu

────────────────────────────────

Taglist: @crazy4aho @poufsouffle21 @diary-of-jj @ayap4paya

Add yourself to my 18- (SFW) Taglist here!

Add yourself to my 18+ (NSFW) Taglist here!

Remember being on my taglist? You likely filled out my 18- (SFW) taglist. If you'd like to be tagged in my upcoming 18+ (NSFW) works, please fill out my 18+ (NSFW) taglist :) thanks so much!

#seth jarvis #seth jarvis imagine #seth jarvis fic #seth jarvis fanfiction #seth jarvis x reader #seth jarvis imagines #carolina hurricanes #carolina hurricanes imagine #carolina hurricanes imagines #carolina hurricanes fic #carolina hurricanes x reader #hurricanes #hurricanes imagine #canes lb #nhl hockey #nhl fanfiction #nhl fic #nhl imagine #nhl imagines #nhl writing #writing #fanfiction #'being bold'

[idontgiveaflyinggrayson69]

Raw

Author: Nat / @idontgiveaflyinggrayson69 & KO / @thirteenisles

Tagging: @smileysvech @pyotrkochetkov @hoesforthecanes @hockeywritingcollection

Relationship: Andrei x Kat

Warning: Smut. Unprotected sex (wrap it up kids). Cum play

Summary: Flashback to the first time Kat and Andrei fuck without a condom.

Word Count: 5.8k

Comments: Tiff and Katie asked for more Kat and Drei, so they get more Kat and Drei! (Also I know we’re all secretly happy sad that the Canes are eliminated so here’s a little something to cheer people up) Hope you guys enjoy!!! 

(c) nat g. 2023 // do not repost, do not claim as your own

March 2022

No matter what, if Andrei wasn’t playing on a Friday or Saturday night and he was home, they always had a movie night. Kat always looked forward to those days, getting Andrei all to herself after a long week of hockey, one of the few days she didn’t have to share him with the city of Raleigh, not that she was complaining, they both loved the city, the fans, and their passion. But it was nice to have him all to herself.

This week they were watching What’s Your Number. Kat picked it out. Andrei wasn’t exactly paying attention but he grasped it was another romcom. How could he pay attention when Kat was in nothing more than a pair of his boxers and one of his Canes shirts he outgrew and it had been over a week since he last felt her sweet pussy around his cock.

They had been on the road and when he tried to sneak out to see Kat in the middle of the night Jordo had walked him back to his room. He tried desperately to convince Jordo to let him go, but there was no negotiating with him. It was the night before a back to back and Jordo didn’t need their star up all night because his girl worked for the team.

But the joke was on Jordo because he was up late anyway sexting Kat all the things he was going to do to her once they got back to Raleigh.

But, because the universe was a cruel being, he strained his groin during the second half of the back to back. It wasn’t bad, just a tweak, but Kat shooed off his every advance since.

“You need rest,” she said.

“I don’t want you to over work yourself,” she said.

“It would be worth it, Kisa,” he said, but she wouldn’t have it.

Which brought them to Friday, spending their night off watching What’s Your Number on her living room couch, more than a week since the last time he had her.

It was a good movie, or good background sound anyway. He saw it out of the corner of his eye as he watched Kat. Her skin was warm as he rested his hand on her knee before dragging it upward, his thumb rubbing soft circles. He was young, wound tight from hockey, and he finally got the girl he had been after since he entered the league, of course every chance he got he was going to try to get some.

She had picked the movie, but it was secondary to him. Everything was always secondary to him. They had been together, officially, for just over a year, but, God, she could never get enough of him. It was crazy how she could go from indifferent toward him to insatiable. But he had truly and irreversibly wiggled his way into her life.

Not that Kat complained as she let her legs part a little more to give him more room, which he greedily accepted as he trailed his hand higher on her thigh till he found the edge of his own boxers.

“Drei,” she whined softly, her voice was like honey. “We’re supposed to be watching the movie.”

“I’m watching something better,” he hummed, his accent thick before he leaned in and softly kissed the exposed skin of her neck. She smelt like the vanilla bodywash she had been using and he wanted to drown himself in her scent. Kat tilted her head to give him more room and she hummed softly, her eyes fluttering close. “It’s been too long,” he added, even if it hadn’t been, his voice muffled by her skin.  

“Well, that’s not my fault,” she replied. “You’ve been sore from the game.”

“I’m not sore anymore,” he told her and nipped at her jaw before he smoothed it over with his tongue.

She let out a soft moan before she turned towards him and she wrapped her arms around his neck as she straddled his lap, pressing her hips into his. “No? You’re not sore anymore?” She asked and brushed her lips over his, humming as she teased him.

He caught her lips in a proper kiss, shamelessly gripping her ass to pull her closer as he moaned into the kiss. “Not even a little bit.”

She rolled her hips against him. “That’s good,” she hummed before kissing him deeply. He was never going to get enough of her lips and his fingers dug into her ass as he tried to pull her closer. She was his girl. His woman.

Kat could feel it as he hardened beneath her and she continued to grind down on his cock, moaning into his mouth the harder he got. “Sure you’re still watching the movie, sólnyshka?” He teased and his lip twitched up as he slipped the tips of his fingers past the band of her shorts.

“What movie?” She replied with a smirk before she nipped at his bottom lip, and he breathed a laugh before he kissed her again, gently kneading her ass.

Kat was gentle as she gentle dragged her nails down the back of his neck and she giggled when he shivered, but her giggle turned into a breathy moan as he brushed his fingers over her clothed pussy. It was his turn to chuckle as he slowly rubbed her, feeling the heat of her through the shorts, his shorts. “What? Not laughing anymore, sólnyshka?”

“Right there, Drei,” Kat moaned softly, her nails softly digging into his skin.

“Oh, here?” His touch was light and he purposely ignored her clit, wanting her to beg for it. Kat, his Kat, was so strong and assertive and he loved when she told him just how much she wanted him, just how much she needed him.

She kissed him again, rocking her hips against his hand as she tried to move his fingers to where she wanted them most. He bit her lower lip hard enough to make her whine and smirked as he releases it, “tell me where, sólnyshka.”

“Touch my clit, Andrei,” she whined. “Please.”

He hummed as he smirked and leaned back to give himself more room before he slipped his hand into the front of her shorts. He groaned at how wet she was, running his fingers over her slit before he rubbed soft, lazy circles on her clit. “Fuck, you are so wet for me.”

“Only for you, Andrei,” she moaned. He was the only man that could make her feel this good.

“I need to taste you,” he groaned as he circled his finger over her entrance. “Been too long since I’ve had my mouth on your sweet pussy; spent the whole roadie dreaming of your taste, Kisa.”

“Yeah?” She bit her lip, “you know what I want from you?”

“What, Kisa?” He hummed, just barely pressing his finger into her as he ate her alive with his eyes.

She leaned in, brushing her lips against his ear, her voice soft as honey, “I want you to cum inside me tonight.”

He froze and his jaw went slack as his cock throbbed. She didn’t— He had to have heard her wrong. Fuck the thought alone had him squeezing his eyes shut with a moan as he imagined how warm and wet and perfect she would be around his bare cock. “Kat,” his voice was broken. “You’re serious?”

“Very much so,” she whispered and pulled back to look at him, dragging her nails down the back of his neck. “I want to feel you, all of you. I want to feel you cum inside me, want you to fill me up till it leaks out,” her voice was soft as she twirled a piece of his hair between her fingers.

“Jesus Christ, you’re gonna be the death of me,” he mumbled in Russian before he kissed her deeply, tangling his fingers in her hair to pull her closer. “You feel what you do to me, Kisa? Feel how hard you make me?”

“Yes,” she breathed as she rocked against him. “Fuck, yes, I do.”

“Fuck, all I want is to sink into you and fuck you right now, feel your sweet perfect pussy around my cock. But no.” He had to taste her first and he pulled his hand from her shorts and lifted them to her mouth, brushing her wetness over her lips. She wrapped her lips around his fingers, her eyes fluttering shut as she sucked them clean. “Good girl,” he murmured before he kissed her deeply, licking the taste of her off her tongue.

She moaned into the kiss, rolling her hips against his, “take me to bed, Andrei.” He didn’t need to be told twice and he easily stood up, both hands on her ass as he carried her to bed to have his way with her.

“Oh—” Kat gasped when Andrei dropped her on the bed. He looked at her for half a second before he slipped his fingers into the band of her shorts and pulled them down her legs and he groaned when he finally got his eyes on her. It really had been too long.

His shirt was next to go and he tossed it aside before he knelt between her legs and pushed her shirt up. He was never going to get tired of just looking at her, she was so beautiful. His gaze alone makes her shiver in delight. He always made her feel wanted. His touch was gentle as he ran his hand up her calf. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured and kissed just above her knee.

“So are you, Andrei,” she said and she propped her head up a pillow so she could see him better.

He sucked a mark onto her inner thigh and smoothed it over with his tongue before he looked up at her, “you think I’m beautiful?”

“Beautiful, gorgeous, sexy, handsome,” she listed as she ran her fingers through his hair, and he was quick to kiss her inner wrist.

“I don’t deserve you,” he whispered in Russian and kissed her before she could question what he said. Her Russian was getting better, but some things would remain secret, even if she hated his little Russian secrets. “Should I give you another hatty?” He asked against her lips. “Make you nice and wet for my cock?”

“Whatever you want Andrei. I’m yours,” she replied and tried to pull him closer.

“Okay, Kisa,” he kissed her again before he began to trail his lips down her throat to her chest. He knew she didn’t like visible marks, but he left one about her collarbone before he trailed his tongue down her chest and around her nipple. “Fuck your breasts,” he groaned and playfully nipped at the soft flesh.

She let out a loud whine, “oh god.” He was so attentive and made her feel like she was on fire in the best way and when he looked up at her with those dark eyes she literally melted.

“Just me, Kisa,” he smirked and flattened his tongue over her nipple before he blew softly. “You should stop wearing clothes around the apartment.”

“But then I’d never get any work done,” her voice was breathy as she tried to laugh.

“Oh, I think we’d get plenty done,” he smirked and took her nipple between his lips and he used his fingers to give her other equal attention. His hands were so big they completely cover her breasts but he loved it, he loved every inch of her body from the beauty marks on her face, to the freckles on her chest, the dimples in her thighs, and scars on her knees. He loved every part of her. Every part of her was perfect and he was thankful to have any piece of her. He was always going to show her just how much he loved and appreciated her and he sucked gently on her nipple before he switched sides, ensuring they received equal attention.

“Fuck, Drei…” she moaned his name softly. She felt herself get even more wet as he worshipped her breasts.

He moaned against her skin, eyes closed as he focused, grinding his hips into the bed to get a little relief for himself. She made him so hard, she always had. He had been into her since day one, she drove him crazy in the best ways. But now that he had won her over, she felt the same. She couldn’t get enough of Andrei.

Slowly he pulled back and dragged the trip of his tongue down her stomach as he settled between her legs. He’d spend all day and night there if she let him. He blew over her clit and chuckled when she whined, “you are so wet for me.”

“Only for you,” she told him quickly. He was the only one who could get her worked up like this.

“Only me,” he repeated and bit her inner thigh hard enough to mark. His, he thought.

She gasped, but he soothed it over with his tongue before he eyed her pussy, the corner of his lips twitching up. He looked up at her and pursed his lips before he spat on it. She didn’t need it, she was wet enough, but he always loved the sound that left her mouth and the way she flushed when he spat on her pretty little pussy.

It was a half strangled gasp and half moan that left her lips and she arched her back as she reached down to thread her fingers through his hair. “Drei,” she moaned and tried to push his head down.

“Patience, Kisa,” he told her, looking up at her again as he slowly licked up her slit. She tossed her head back as she moaned loudly and she didn’t mean to, but her legs closed around his head as he circled the tip of his tongue around her clit.

It would be an honour to be suffocated by her, he thought, face buried against her pussy. Not a bad way to go at all.

She tugged his hair and reached behind her to grip the pillow, needing something more to hold onto. No one ate pussy like Andrei Svechnikov. No one.

His eyes closed as he focused on her clit and only on her clit, swirling his tongue around her bud as he sucked softly, driving her absolutely crazy before he dipped his head down to fuck her with his tongue, nose buried in her sweet cunt so the only thing he could taste and smell was her. It was obscene the things he could do with his mouth. And moaned against her like she was a meal sent from heaven just for him, enjoying it almost as much as she was.

She ground her hips against him and he only pulled her closer as he tried to bury his tongue deeper in her, his hands gripping her thighs, digging his fingers into her skin. Andrei loved to mark her up, loved to litter her skin with reminders of who made her feel good, who worshipped her body. He wanted everyone to know she was his, that he was hers.

It wasn’t like they weren’t so obviously together. Everyone knew she was his, but he just loved seeing the bruised road map of what he did to her the night before; he loved to retrace his lips over the marks the next day and remind her that he was the only one who could make her feel this good, and that no other man could or would.

Slowly he looked up at her, his brown eyes darker with lust. His cock was aching to be in her, but he wanted her to cum on his tongue first, needed her to cum on his tongue first. She was close, he could feel it as she fluttered around his tongue. “Oh, God, Andrei, please, baby,” she got out between broken moans.

He hummed against her and switched back to focusing on her clit, sucking as he traced the tip of his tongue over the bud just the way she liked. “Oh fuck— oh fuck.” Her moans got louder the closer she got until she came hard, her grip tightening on his hair as she rolled her hips against his mouth, moaning so loud it echoed in the room.

Andrei groaned as he felt her cum against him and he slowed his tongue to draw it out, his eyes closed in concentration. He truly would never get enough of her taste. He could drown in her cum and it wouldn’t be enough. When her grip loosened on his hair, he forced her legs wider and dipped his tongue down to gather her cum and he moaned louder at the sweet taste of her before he focused back on her clit. One wasn’t enough for him. One was never enough for Andrei, he needed at least three or maybe even four. He needed to have her shaking and pussy sensitive from his tongue.

“Jesus, fuck, Andrei,” she moaned and tried to close her legs out of sensitivity, but he was so much stronger than her and he pulled back as he forced her thighs open, a smirk playing on his cum coated lips before he pinched her clit between his fingers, making her squeal. “Oh fuck no— Ah—” was all she managed to get out because she was so sensitive and he knew how easily it would be to make her cum again.

“No?” He repeated and pinched her clit again with a smirk, his tongue darting out to lick over her cum coating his lips.

She gripped the sheets underneath her, so incredibly close and when he did it again, she came with a loud “fuck!”

He swallowed as he watched her and slowly rubbed her clit to draw her high out. “Again? So quickly? Oh, Kisa,” he hummed but he smirked as he watched her with hungry eyes.

Her thighs shook from the intensity of it and she bit her lip and whimpered, “so sensitive.”

“So soon?” He teased. He had only given her two and he knew she was capable of many, many more than that. Kat nodded, her skin flushed, but he wasn’t done with her, not yet, and he continued to softly rub her clit as he looked up at her.

She could feel her high building again from his lazy rubbing of her clit and she whined softly, her hips bucking into his hand. It was good, but she needed him to fuck her, needed him to fill her up.

“Andrei please,” she begged and he laughed against her thigh before he bit it again, leaving another mark in her soft perfect skin.

“Tell me what you need baby? Tell me what you want?” He knew exactly what she was after, but he wanted to hear her say it again.

“For you to fuck me,” she begged, lifting her hips. “I want to feel you.”

“Yeah? Want my cock in your tight little pussy, sólnyshka?” He bit the inside of her other thigh, happy to cover her in reminders of him.

Her voice caught in her throat before she nodded. It was a wonder she once considered herself to be a dominant before he ruined her. “I need your cock,” she told him breathlessly.

“And I need my hatty,” he hummed as he continued to rub her clit. Just as soon as she gave him another. She was so soft and wet under his touch and he quickened his fingers as he laid his other arm over her hips to keep her still.

She came with no warning, tugging his hair as she struggled against the arm over her hips as she clenched around nothing. “Please,” she whined as she rocked her hips up. “Want to feel your thick cock, Drei. Want to feel you cum and fill me up.”

He crawled back up to her, wrapping his hand around her throat, and he smirked as she arched into him, her eyes momentarily fluttering shut. “And you’ll get to feel it, you’ll get to feel all of me,” he told her and pressed his hips to hers as he kissed her deeply.

She moaned loudly into his mouth. It was the most she had ever felt him. He usually pulled back to get a condom, giving her but a moment of his cock resting against her, but not this time. This time it was a promise for what was the come and she hooked her leg around his hip and pulled him closer.

He rutted against her as he controlled the kiss. “Mine, all mine,” he muttered between kisses, his cock easily gliding between her folds.

“All yours,” she agreed and roughly gripped his shoulders, dragging her nails across his skin. “Andrei, please.”

“I got you baby, I got you.” He kissed Kat again before he sat up, wrapping his hand around his cock and he stroked himself a few times before he tapped his cock against her clit. “You ready?”

She nodded and reached down to cover his hand with hers to guide him to her entrance, fluttering at the feeling of his tip against her. He slowly pressed into her, his eyes rolling back as he swore in Russian. It was so much better than using a condom, she was so tight, warm, and wet and fuck—

He really had to think of something, anything, else because he’d cum too soon.

Her leg tightened around his hip and she moaned loudly as she fluttered around him. There was no barrier between them, just them, just him, buried deep inside her. Her nails dug into his shoulder as she tried to pull him closer. Even nothing between them wasn’t enough, she needed him closer.

He gripped her leg and hiked it over his hip to get himself deeper, moaning as she clenched around him and he started thrusting slow and deep, his eyes closed as he focused on the feeling of her alone.

“Yes, God yes,” she cried, her back arching as she closed her eyes. He filled her in the best ways, in the most indescribable ways.

“Fuck.” He could barely think of anything other than how good she felt around him. He muttered in Russian how good and perfect she was. She could only understand bits and pieces, but she opened her eyes and her pussy clenched at the sight of him. Andrei’s chest was flushed, his eyes squeezed shut, and his lips parted as he moaned, completely lost in the feeling of her. It was the hottest thing she had ever seen.

She couldn’t help but pull him closer and kiss him deeply, moaning into his mouth. “Feel so good, Drei,” she told him dreamily. “So fucking good.”

“Kisa, you feel like a fucking dream,” he groaned, kissing her again. He’d never tire of her lips.  

She moaned in agreement and bit at his bottom lip. She loved how absolutely wrecked he is. “You gonna cum for me, Drei? Gonna cum in my pussy?”

“Not until you cum first,” he replied and bit at her bottom lip, watching as it slapped back against her. “I wanna feel you cum around my cock.”

She nodded and trailed her hand down to her clit but before she could touch herself, Andrei knocked her hand away to rub her clit, groaning as she clenched around him. He was so close and he bit his lip to control himself. She needed to cum first. He needed to know the feeling of her cumming on his cock.

“Come on, Kisa. I want you to cum, want to feel your pretty pussy cum around my cock. Want to see the bliss on your face and hear my name rolling off your tongue,” his voice was breathy as he thrusted harder, deeper.

Her nails dug deeper into his shoulders and he knew they’d leave a mark but he didn’t care, he loved it, loved when she got possessive over him enough to mark him. “Don’t stop,” she told him breathlessly. “Don’t fucking stop.”

“I’m not gonna stop, not gonna stop till you’re cumming around my cock and I’m filling you with my cum and—” he cut himself off with a bite of his tongue. For a brief moment he couldn’t help but think and knock you up.

His hips stuttered as he thought it, eyes momentarily dropping down her body. Kat could see it in his eyes and it sent her over the edge, her nails raking down his back as she came hard, her eyes rolling back with a long moan of his name.

Andrei squeezed his eyes shut and his hips stuttered as she clenched around him, her cum dripping down his balls, but he continued to fuck her through her orgasm. She will always cum first. Always.

She could feel her high start to roll into another and she dug her heel into his lower back to try to get him closer. “Fill me up, Drei,” she moaned, her voice breathless in his ear.

He leaned down and kissed her lazily, so close it only took a few more thrusts before his hips stuttered and he filled her up with his cum. He moaned loudly into her mouth and she hungrily swallowed it and she tried to pull him closer as she came again, moaning just as loud as she fluttered around him. She was so warm, so full, so good, he thought, and when he broke the kiss to rest his forehead on her shoulder, his chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath.

Kat was gentle as she rubbed his shoulders. “God,” he groaned as he rested more of his weight on her.

“Feel good?” She laughed softly and gently ran her fingers through his hair.

“So good,” he agreed and he kisses her softly. “You’re so good.”

Kat smiled into the kiss, “you liked it a lot?”

He could only hum. He’d stay in her all night if she let him, but he didn’t want to crush her, so, as much as he didn’t want to, he gently pulled out, both of them wincing at the loss. “I loved it,” he told her.

She frowned at the loss of him and when he rolled onto his back, she rolled with him, pressing herself up against his thigh. “I did too,” she confessed.

“I think we’ll have to do it again… in about… ten minutes,” he grinned cheekily next to her.

“Ten minutes?” She bit her lip and lightly ran her nail down his chest, smirking as his muscles clenched under her touch. “You’re slacking. I thought one of the pros to dating younger was a fast rebound time.”

“Listen woman…” he gripped her chin and made her looks at him. “Your pussy is magic and sometimes it quite literally drains me away so maybe I need a few extra minutes.” Kat scrunched her nose up in disagreement, but it didn’t last long as he slid his hand down in between them, the tips of his fingers brushing her clit. “But that just means I have to pay you more attention in the meantime.”

Kat’s smirk fell as he brushed her clit with the tips of his rough finger. She was really sensitive and his fingers were big and rough and she instinctively rolled onto her back to give him more space, but he wasn’t after her clit. No, he shifted down till he was between her legs and he smirked as he looked up at her. His cum was leaking out of her. “Well we can’t have this…” he said before he scooped their cum on his fingers and pressed it back into her. “Gotta keep this inside you.”

Her breath caught in a gasp and she clenched around his fingers. He didn’t want her to waste his cum. And just when she thought he couldn’t get any hotter he proved her wrong as he licked his lips and he looked up at her, “can’t have it go to waste, right, Kisa?”

“No, we can’t,” she agreed and let her legs fall open more. She bit her lip as she watched him, “I wonder what it tastes like, your cum mixed with mine.”

He hummed and his gaze alone made her shiver. “Guess we have to find out,” he told her and he slowly pulled his fingers out and looked at her as he sucked his fingers clean. He moaned at the taste before he pressed them into her again and pulled them out and held them out to her. “How about you have a taste and be the judge.”

Kat hungrily took his fingers and her eyes closed as she licked them clean with a satisfied moan. “Tastes good right? You and me together?” He asked as he pulled his fingers from her mouth with a lewd pop and kissed her deeply, licking the taste of them from her mouth.

She moaned louder and pulled him flush against her. She could feel he was hardening again and she rolled her hips into his. “Very good,” she agreed.

“Yeah?” He asked as he took himself into his hand.

“So very good,” she repeated, holding his gaze and he guided himself into her again.

“The fucking best,” he agreed, his accent heavy. She moaned loudly, not caring if the neighbours heard through the window he left open. “I could spend the rest of my life buried in your sweet pussy,” he said softly in Russian. “You’re all I want; all I’ve ever wanted.”

He figured all she could pick up was maybe a few words, but he was wrong. She had been learning Russian, lessons stolen she could, and she understood every word he said. “You’re all I want, too,” she repeated back to him between thrusts and pulled him impossibly closer.

They were practically fused together, him buried so deep, and all he could smell was her, sweat and sex. He was more rocking into her than anything else, so close and intimate and she was so close again, so desperate to cum again. He was so deep, hitting her g-spot with every thrust. He was gonna fill her up again, make her cum.

“Drei,” she moaned as she clung to him. “My Drei.”

“Yours, Kisa, I’m yours,” he moaned, so close himself, but she had to cum first.

It only took a few more rock of his hips before she came again, moaning into his neck. It wasn’t as strong as her other highs, but it was still good, so intimate, and it was enough to send Andrei over the edge as well. He spilled into her with a loud moan of her name and filled her up with his cum. It was so good, so warm, and she didn’t think she could go back now that she had fully had him.

He let out a shaky breath and slowly rested his weight against her before he kissed her softly. “I love you so much,” he whispered against his lips.

“I love you more,” she whispered back.

He shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. “Impossible,” he breathed and kissed her again before she could argue. She hummed against his lips. She’d let him have it this time. He certainly loved her longer, but she fell harder.

After a few moments of basking in the afterglow he pulled out, shushing her softly before he got up and headed to the bathroom to start a bath for the two of them to clean them up. “You good baby?” He asked when he came back, stroking her cheek.

“Very good,” she smiled sleepily at him as she leaned into his touch. “But I don’t think we’ll be needing any more condoms.”

He raised his eyebrows as he bent down and easily scooped her up in his arms, “yeah? No more condoms?”

“No more,” she hummed. “I don’t want anything between us anymore.”

He grinned as he sat her down on the edge of the tub. “I can get on board with that,” he said and quickly tested the water to make sure it was warm enough before he gently placed her in the water. He followed a moment later as he settled behind her. “I’ll throw the condoms out later.”

“Or you can just give it to the rookies,” she offered, making him laugh.

“Oh, Kisa, that’s generous. But none of them will be able to fit,” he laughed as he let his hand rest on her stomach.

She laughed with him. “An even better reason to give it to them,” she said as she looked over her shoulder at him. “Tell them they’re too small for you.”

He laughed louder as he nodded. She truly was the one for him. “I’ll toss them out like confetti.”

“You do that, big boy,” she smiled and rested her head back against his shoulder. She hummed when he kissed her cheek and he smiled to himself before he lathered a cloth up with Kat’s vanilla bodywash and began to wash her up. He was gentle as he ran the cloth over her; he was always so gentle, always cherishing her body, thankful for every time she let him touch her.

He started with her arms as he went up to her shoulders before he dipped under her arms and down her chest. He paid special attention to her chest as he washed her, and when he smiled at her whimper, she gave his chest a shove. His laugh made her chest warm and he held the cloth in his hand as he looked at her, so incredible in love with her.

Once they were both clean, he helped her out of the tub and wrapped her in a fluffy towel. They both brushed their teeth before they used the bathroom and Andrei helped Kat to bed, her towel forgotten on the floor in favour of his arms.

She could still feel his cum leaking out of her, but it only made her smile as she snuggled closer, a piece of him still buried inside her.

#andrei svechnikov #andrei svechnikov x oc #andrei svechnikov imagine #andrei svechnikov smut #andrei svechnikov x reader #Carolina Hurricanes #carolina hurricanes imagine #canes imagine #when it gets crisp in the fall story #andrei and kat #mine #hockey #hockey rpf #hockey imagine #hockey smut #nhl #nhl imagine #nhl smut #canes

[hockeybabe]

Playoff Love|| A. Svechnikov

Gif not mine

Pairings: Andrei Svechnikov x gf!reader

Summary: after the canes win their first round game you decide to show your boyfriend how much you love him.

Warnings: oral (f!receiving), fingering, swearing, praise kink Andrei, dirty talk, fluffy ending and starting, and my Google translate.

Word count: 1.1k

Note: I love Andrei so much and I just had to do it for the canes. AND THE LEAFS MADE SECOND ROUND!!!

When your boyfriend clinched the playoffs, you couldn’t be more excited for him and the team. Andrei had a tendency to get really horny every time you wore his jersey, and for the playoffs, he made it his mission to win game five for you. But today was the sixth game, and the Canes were already leading the series 3-2.

The game didn’t start till later, and you couldn’t wait to watch your boyfriend. "Malyshka, I have to go." Andrei says, with his bag of hockey stuff and his suit on. Getting off the bed, you walk up to him. "Well, I’ll be watching every second, and if you win, I’ll show you how much I love you." You say in a teasing tone.

"Don’t try something you know you can’t win." He warns you, grabbing your chin and tilting you up to look at him. You smile at him brightly. "I think it’ll be a win-win if you win. If not only one of us will suffer." You say, moving your eyes down to Andrei’s bulge growing in his pants.

"Fuck Malyshka, you're pushing my limits." Andrei groans in his heavy accent. He kisses you deeply before saying goodbye. You had high hopes for the game for Andrei’s sake, but either way, he was going to fuck you up all night. You still had two hours to spare, so you decided to clean up the apartment you and Andrei live in and pick out your outfit.

Looking through your lingerie drawer, you find a red and black lace pattern one-piece. It drew your attention immediately as it represented the colour of the canes. Placing the piece on your bed, you grab some simple black tights and Andrei’s jersey. When you leave your closet, you grab the clothes and put them on.

You couldn’t deny that you knew what you were doing. The moment you started to flirt with Andrei and tease him, you had a feeling it would end with you on the bed, coming for hours, win or lose. Either way, it had you really excited. Putting on the last piece of clothing, you grab your phone, keys, and wallet, putting them all into your purse. 

You got to the game right before it started. You took your seat right behind the glass of the Canes' net. If the canes won, they’d move on to the second round, and you had a good feeling. As the game went on, it got to the end, and they did it 2-1! Sebastian Aho and Paul Stastny had scored, allowing us to win.

You texted Andrei that his winning prize was at home waiting for him, giving you all the time to strip, leaving you in your lingerie lying on your bed resting on your elbows while arching your back. "Malyshka!" Andrei called out; you could hear his footsteps getting closer and closer.

"Y/n," he says quietly, peeking his head through the barely opened door. Andrei’s eyes widen as he sees you on the bed, feeling his dick strain in his pants. "Wow, this is… fuck Malyshka." He says, flabbergasted. "Big wins equal big surprises." You tell him, biting the bottom of your lip. 

Andrei unbuttons his dress shirt, revealing his abs. He crawls over your body on the bed with his face inches from yours. "Only bad girls wear skimpy lingerie. Are you a bad girl?" He taunts, trailing a finger around the patterns of the material. "I’m a good girl, I promise. I did it for you." You said, pouting your lip ever so slightly. 

"How can I say no to that?" Andrei captures your lips, forcing his tongue into your mouth as he pushes your hips into the mattress. Andrei trails his lips from your lips to your neck and right under your ear. "I bet if I put my hand in between your legs, they’d be soaked because that’s what good girls are. Soaked." He growls, nipping at your ear.

"Andrei." You whine, rocking your hips upwards to create some sort of friction. "How much do you like this piece?" He asks, turning you over so you are on top. Too focused on getting yourself off, you try to wiggle your hips out of his grasp. "Answer me, Malyshka." He demands. "It doesn’t mean anything." You shudder as Andrei finally allows you to grind against him.

"Good girl." He praises ripping the lace from the back. You gasp as you feel the cool breeze run over your back, causing goosebumps. Andrei peels off the top half of your piece. "Up." Andrei taps under your thigh as you lift your hips, giving Andrei the opportunity to tear off the rest of your lingerie.

"You have way too many clothes on." You say, reconnecting your lips, taking off his dress shirt, and unbuckling his belt. Andrei leans against the bed frame, grabbing your ass and pulling you closer to his cock. You moan, parting your lips. "You had a good time today?" He asks, rolling you over on your back. "The best." You say smiling. Andrei places teasing kisses down your stomach, using his free hand to play with your tits.

"That’s what I like to hear." Andrei says, running his fingers up and down your slick folds, spreading your wetness. You moan, scratching the back of his head. "That’s it, Malyshka; let me hear you." You moan in response as Andrei adds a digit to your pussy. He pumps in and out at a fast pace while his thumb works on your clit.

"You like that dirty girl." Andrei taunts, adding a second digit, pumping even faster. "That’s it, come on my fingers." He orders. You gasp, clenching around his thick fingers. Andrei’s head moves down your body, placing peppered kisses here and there before going to your pussy and licking you clean. The heels of your feet dig into Andrei’s back as your hands pull at his hair.

Your head falls back as a loud moan escapes you. "Andrei, please," you beg as he continues to give you long strokes with his tongue. "You taste divine Malyshka." Andrei says with a cheeky grin. "Fuck Andrei, I'm going to-" Before you could finish, your second orgasm rolled through, causing your body to go limp.

"Look at you, being such a good girl, coming for me. It’s a good thing we won." Andrei says coming back up to face you, placing a kiss on both of your cheeks. "You’re lucky; I love you." You say to him. "And you’re lucky, I love you, because you should have about two more rounds to make up for my four wins." He says picking you up and taking you to the shower. 

You laugh all the way there because, like you said, "you had a feeling it would end with you on the bed, coming for hours, win or lose." And it was the biggest win of your life. 

#hockey #hockey players #nhl #nhl imagine #hockey imagine #imagine #nhl smut #andrei svechnikov smut #andrei svechnikov #andrei svechnikov imagine #andrei svechnikov x reader #carolina hurricanes #Carolina hurricanes imagine #canes #Carolina #hockey smut #playoffs 2023 #second round #playoffs

[heartsandhischier]

Breaking the ice

andrei svechnikov x female!reader

summary - 1.2k words. Y/N and Andrei are about to make their first public appearance of their faux relationship part 2 of The Pretend Play

author's note - omd I've already outlined this series to a 10 part series... getting a bit too caught up in this Russian man

warnings - none i think

It was the night of Andrei’s crucial playoff game. The chilly evening air did nothing to cool the simmering tension between Andrei and Y/N as they made their way to the bustling arena. It was their first public outing together since the arranging of their faux relationship. Y/N, despite her visible discomfort, wore Andrei's jersey, the number 37 standing out boldly against the fabric, a symbol of her reluctant role in this charade.

In the car, the atmosphere had been thick with their mutual resentment, their conversation peppered with barbed comments and thinly veiled annoyance. "So, how many hours of my life am I sacrificing to the gods of ice tonight?" Y/N had asked with a heavy dose of sarcasm, her eyes rolling so hard Andrei thought they might get stuck that way.

"Hockey games have three periods, each 20 minutes long, but with breaks and potential overtime, who knows? Could be your whole night," Andrei replied dryly, his focus on the road but his mind racing with the implications of their public debut.

"And it's going to be cold, right? I mean, it's an ice rink. Couldn't you play a sport in a more comfortable climate?" Y/N continued, her complaints a verbal manifestation of her reluctance to be part of this spectacle.

"It's not the Arctic, Y/N. You'll survive. Besides, you're wearing my jersey. Consider it a... personal heater," Andrei shot back, the corner of his mouth twitching in what could have been the start of a smile under different circumstances. "You might actually enjoy it if you stopped complaining for a minute."

Y/N huffed, crossing her arms over the jersey that draped loosely over her frame. "Oh, please, like I'm really going to understand anything that's happening. I just don't get why I have to be there if I don't even follow the sport."

"Because you're supposed to be 'the supportive girlfriend,'" Andrei said, emphasizing the last two words with air quotes, his eyes briefly meeting hers before returning to the road. 

The bickering had ebbed as they neared the arena, replaced by a tense silence that spoke volumes of their current state of affairs. They were two individuals tied together by circumstance and necessity, each bearing the weight of their roles with a mix of disdain and resignation.

As they stepped out of the car and into the view of waiting cameras and eager fans, Andrei could feel Y/N stiffen beside him. He offered his arm, a gesture meant for the watching eyes, and after a brief hesitation, she took it, her grip on his arm surprisingly firm.

The flash of cameras and the murmur of the crowd greeted them as they made their way inside, their smiles practiced and their steps measured. "Remember, just smile and wave. Stick to the script, and we'll get through this," Andrei murmured to Y/N, his voice barely audible over the noise.

"Script? I wasn't aware there was a script for pretending to enjoy watching people chase a puck on ice," Y/N whispered back, her voice laced with a mix of humor and bitterness.

As they approached the grand entrance, Andrei leaned in, his voice low but firm. “Hold my hand,” he instructed, a blend of request and command. Y/N’s initial reaction was one of surprise, her brows knitting together in confusion. Yet, his rationale, whispered in a hurried breath – “You wanted me to step up, right? ‘If we’re going to sell this lie?” – prompted a reluctant compliance. With a soft sigh, she placed her hand in his, their fingers intertwining. 

The red carpet that adorned the arena’s entrance was a sea of flashing lights and eager faces, the fans’ excitement mirrored by the curiosity swirling around Andrei and Y/N’s relationship. Despite the turmoil of emotions beneath the surface, they navigated with grace, their smiles carefully curated masks worn for the world to see. 

As they pause for photographs, the press urges them for a display of affection, keen to capture a moment that would headline the next day's gossip columns. Feeling the weight of expectation on her shoulders, Y/N turns to Andrei, whispering a challenge masked as a flirtation. "Let's see if you're as good at hockey as you're at kissing," she says. 

Without a moment’s hesitation, Y/N bridged the gap between them, pressing a kiss to his lips. It was a bold move, surprising Andrei. The cameras flash frantically, capturing the moment from every angle. The kiss, though and part of their act, sends a ripple of excitement through the crowd, and for a moment, blurs the lines between their public facade and private discomfort.

Andrei, caught off guard by Y/N's audacity, can't help but respond to the kiss with a genuine spark of admiration for her boldness. As they part, he looks down at her, a new sense of respect mingling with the complex web of emotions he harbors towards her. The crowd cheers, delighted by the display, and for a fleeting second, Andrei forgets the world watching them.

Following this electrifying prelude, Y/N was ushered to her seat by Andrei's PR manager, ensuring her smooth transition through the still-buzzing crowd. The arena was alive with anticipation, the energy of the fans a pulsating backdrop to the unfolding drama on the ice.

The match was a nail-biter, the Hurricanes and the Flyers locked in a dance of skill, strategy, and sheer will. Andrei's focus was laser-sharp, undeniably influenced by the presence of Y/N in the stand. Her support, whether real or part of their elaborate ruse, fueled his determination.

When Andrei scored, the arena erupted into cheers and applause, a wave of collective joy sweeping through the crowd. Y/N was on her feet, cheering along with the masses, her earlier doubts and pretense of their situation momentarily forgotten in the genuine thrill of the moment. Their eyes met across teh distance, a silent exchange that carried the weight of words and emotions. 

The jumbotron, ever watchful, captured Y/n’s animated reaction, her image filling the screen for all to see. Andrei, glancing up at the replay, was struck by the sight of her genuine smile – a smile he realised he had never truly seen until this moment. The sight of her, so vibrant and unrestrained in her joy, sent an unexpected flutter through his heart, a momentary skip in its rhythm that he couldnt quite comprehend.

As the finals buzzer sounds, signalling a hard-fought victory for the Hurricanes. The atmosphere became electric. Andrei was soon engulfed by his teammates, their shared euphoria palpable in their jubilant celebration. Yet, amidst the chaos of victory, andrei’s thoughts lingered on Y/N. as the team commenced their victory lap, he sought her out in the crowd, their eyes meeting once more. For a moment, it was as if they were the only two people in the arena, her smile is genuine, her applause enthusiastic.

After the game, Andrei finds Y/N waiting for him outside the locker room. The game had transformed the awkwardness of their initial interactions into something more fluid. “You’re pretty good at this thing,” Y/N quipped, her tone light, teasing, yet underscored with a hint of admiration.

Andrei, still riding the wave of adrenaline and unexpected sentimentality, responded with genuine humility. “Thanks for being here,” he said, his voice carrying a warmth and sincerity that reflected his gratitude. 

“Well, it’s not like I had a choice,” her playful retort was met with laughter from them both, a spontaneous moment of unity that felt strangely right.

#andrei svechnikov #andrei svechnikov x reader #andrei svechnikov fic #andrei svechnikov imagine #nhl fanfiction #nhl fanfic #hockey fic #hockey fanfic #canes fanfic #canes fanfiction #carolina hurricanes fanfic #carolina hurricanes fic #carolina hurricanes imagine #andrei svechnikov x y/n

[ilyasorokinn]

andrei “all star” svechnikov , andrei svechnikov

note, finally my all-star fic is here! this year, it was between sid, svech, ilya and petey. i did write a petey blurb, so go check it out. if you want. anyways, i hope you enjoy. another note, this fic is part of the "mr. and mrs. svechnikov" series. check out this masterlist for more. in this fic, theo is around 4 while ana is 3. pair, andrei svechnikov x reader summary, the svechnikovs go to their first all-star game together. warnings, children/kids word count, 2717 words

gif credit to bestie @ryanpulock

(gif not mine)

Andrei, the entire way home, was tying to figure out a clever way to tell you he had been invited to the All-Star games. It came to him as he turned down the street of your house.

He quickly pulled into the dirveway and hooked his phone up to the speakers. He made it to the doorway when he finally pressed play on the song.

"Hey now, you're an all-star, get your game on, go play Hey now, you're a rock star, get the show on, get paid"

He heard you let out a scream when the song first started and laughed, pushing the door open to find you gaping at him from the living room, "What the hell?!"

"I'm an All-Star, baby!" He exclaimed.

"There are so many better ways you could have done that." You tried to slow your beating heart. Even your watch was asking if you were okay due to your elevated heartrate.

"Oh, come on, it was funny." He pointed out.

"We'll get back to that when I'm not about to have a heart attack."

-

After the initial shock, you were excited. You were going on a paid vacation, most expenses were paid for (most) and the climate was set for hot and even hotter so you were excited, to say the least.

Because the Canes were playing till the very last second, you didn't get into Florida until Thursday morning, but you were set to stay until the next Thursday.

The moment you stepped off the plane, there were cameras everywhere, all part of the Canes media or the NHL media. Andrei held Anastaisa's hand and helped her down the stairs, flashing them a professional smile. You stood behind Theo, watching him carefully climb down the stairs behind his sister.

After you got settled into your hotel room, you went with Andrei to media. You weren't normally allowed to be with him, but exceptions were made.

The three of you stood off to the side, watching him and looking around at everyone else who was doing media. Theo ran up and hugged Andrei's leg, looking up at all the reporters nervously. Andrei, not wanting to lose his train of thought, only placed a comforting hand on Theo's head, acknowledging him.

When all the questioning was over, the Canes media wanted to get some shots of him "Is it okay if we ask Theo and Anastasia a question?" One of the media people asked, "We're asking all the kids questions and putting together a little compilation."

Once they were given the okay, the cameras were on Theo and Anastasia. Andrei was crouching next to them as Theo held an iconic tiny microphone for both of them.

"So, Theo, tell us, who are you most excited to see this weekend?" Theo looked around at all the other tables to see who else was at the event.

"Crosby." He answered, "And Ovi, oh, and Marner!" Theo exclaimed happily.

"And what about you, Anastasia?"

Anastasia pondered the question for a second before answering, "Moose and Juice," She stated.

Andrei smiled in response before translating, "Mikko Rantanen and Juuse Saros."

Theo tugged on Andrei's pant leg, grabbing his attention and everyone else's as well, "Can we go swimming now, daddy?" Theo asked.

Everyone laughed, "Yeah, we can go swimming, buddy."

-

Theo had stated that he wanted to walk the carpet with Andrei where all the fans would be and all the paparazzi would be before the Skills competition.

You got him dressed in his best outfit, one which he chose specifically for this situation, "Will people ask for my autograph?" He asked excitedly.

"I don't know, buddy." You tied his shoe as he answered all his questions best you could, "But I do know you're gonna get your picture taken by all those people with cameras."

"Really?" His face lit up.

"Yeah, really." You nodded, a smile finding its way onto your face.

"Like daddy?"

"Just like daddy." You nodded, smoothing down his hair.

When both Andrei and Theo were ready, both you and Anastasia sent them off, with a promise of seeing each other in a couple hours. You got yourself and Anastasia ready before you headed over to the arena.

She was sporting one of the jerseys you had customized with "Little Svech" on the back with the number 37. You waited for Andrei and Theo in the hallway near the locker room.

As more and more players started filing out of the room, her eyes would go wide as they walked past, giving each of them a high-five, even if she didn't know who they were.

"Mommy, you see?" She jumped up and down as she gave Kirill Kaprizov a high-five.

"I did." You nodded, before spotting Andrei and Theo coming out of the locker room, "Look, there's papa and Theo." She whipped around and ran over to greet them.

Andrei was wearing a reverse retro Canes jersey and a hat while Theo wore his matching "Little Svech" jersey.

"Mommy, mommy!" Theo ran over to you the best he could in skates.

"What, what?" You asked.

"I met Breadman and Hughesy," Theo told you excitedly.

"Did you really? Wow."

"We missed Sid and Ovi." He frowned.

"That's okay, I'm sure you'll meet them soon." You reassured. You turned your attention back to Andrei who was smiling so big, and opened your mouth to say something but switched your attention to Theo and Anastasia who were excitedly talking to each other about all the people they met.

"Hey, I have an idea," You grabbed their attention, "Do you guys wanna be with papa out on the ice or do you want to sit with me in the stands?" You knew the answer before you asked the question.

They each latched onto one of Andrei's legs in response, to which both you and Andrei both laughed, "All right, I'll see you both later. Be good." They both nodded, "Listen to the adults in charge." They wrapped their arms around you, "Love you." You kissed their heads.

"Bye, mommy." They each kissed your cheek.

You stood up to meet Andrei. You wrapped your arms around him, "Skate really fast." You told him.

He laughed, "I'll try." He responded, "And don't worry about them, I've got them. Have fun, or as much as you can."

"I'll have two beers in your honor." You pulled your head away, with a smile on your face, so you could look him in the eyes.

"Sounds good." He leaned down and kissed you softly before you both pulled away.

You found your spot rather quickly and took a sip of your beer. From the ice, Anastasia spotted you and waved enthusiastically. You laughed, waving back to her.

"She's cute." The woman sitting next to you commented.

"Thank you." You beamed.

Down on the ice, Theo and Anastasia were having the time of their lives, hanging out with all the other kids and meeting all the other hockey players.

Theo and Anastasia were sitting on the bench, Ilya Sorokin sitting in between them, babysitter. At the same time, Andrei participated in his skill, snacking on ice cream bars as they watched the fastest skaters.

"Ooh." Anastasia winced when Cale Makar tripped and went flying into the boards. She looked up at Ilya, who laughed at her reaction. She giggled in response.

Kevin Fiala skated around the rink, and both Anastasia and Theo enjoyed it, but when they saw their dad step up to the starting line, they jumped up off the bench and started cheering.

"Papa!" They both jumped up and down, garnering the attention of people around them, who simply smiled at the two of them.

They didn't stop once as he skated around the rink. They only stopped when he skated over to where they were. They all looked up at the jumbotron and saw that he was now in first place.

"Wow." Theo gasped, and Andrei smiled proudly.

After Stephenson and Larkin went, Fiala and Andire were announced as the two finalists, "Go fast, papa." Anastasia told her father

"I will." Andrei laughed, kissing each of their heads once again. He skated out to the center of the ice with Fiala.

Andrei wanted to win it, but in the back of his mind, he knew that his 3 biggest supporters would be proud of him regardless of what happened.

Kevin Fiala went first and got 14.114. Andrei lined up behind the line and took a deep breath before he skated as fast as his legs could carry him.

He blocked out the sounds of people cheering and all the eyes on him and just skated. He skated until he made it back to the starting/finish line.

Once the timer stopped, he slowed down and looked up at the big jumbotron to see his time. He couldn't help but smile when he saw the 13.699 in big numbers.

He could practically hear Anastasia and Theo cheering from their seats and jumping up and down. He skated back over to the bench to do the interview but waved over across the bench to Theo and Anastasia whose smiles were almost as big as his.

"Andrei you realize, with Brady looking at you, you just outworked every single guy here with that lap. How do you feel right now?" Kevin, the reporter asked.

"I think I just got lucky, to be honest." He could hear his own voice come through the loudspeakers around the arena, "But I would never expect to win this, and I'm kind of excited."

"You know everybody around the league now is going to look at you as a Speedster. Are you ready for that title?" Kevin asked.

"Ah no, I'm not sure if they're gonna look at that" Andrei chuckled.

"Wow, great job congratulations, your first All-Star Game. You're the fastest skater." Kevin shook his hand.

"Thank you so much. Appreciate it." Andrei nodded.

-

After the tournament and the rest of the challenges, you waited in the tunnel near the locker room with a few of the other partners. You were talking with Johnny Gaudreau's wife while you waited for the rest of your family to come out of the locker room.

When Andrei finally exited the locker room, he was dressed and carrying both sleeping children in his arms. Your heart swooned when Andrei smiled.

He handed Anastasia off to you, "I have to get my bag, but I'll be back." He turned to head back into the locker room, but you grabbed his hand gently to stop him.

He looked confused as he turned around, "I'm proud of you, All-Star." You whispered, leaning up and kissing his cheek.

-

The next day, Anastasia and Theo were up bright and early. Jumping out of their bed and into yours, "Wake up!" They both shouted, jumping up and down.

You groaned, shoving your head under the pillow, "You promised us chocolate chip pancakes last night." Even though your eyes were closed and you couldn't Theo's face,

"Why did we do that again?" You reached over and softly punched Andrei in the shoulder who was in a similar position as you.

"To get them to sleep." He replied, his voice muffled by the pillow.

"Come on, come on!" Theo jumped off the bed and grabbed Andrei's arm, trying to pull him out of bed.

You both eventually pulled yourselves out of bed and got yourselves ready then took Theo and Anastasia down to get breakfast. After breakfast and spending some time at the pool, it was time to get ready for the game.

Andrei got ready a little quicker because he had to be at the arena a little earlier than you had to be, but he helped Theo get ready before he left.

"Goodbye, I love you both." He kissed each of their heads, "Be good for your mom. I'll see you on the ice." He booped Anastasia on the nose, making her giggle.

"And I love you, too." He turned his attention to you, "I'll see you later."

"See you on the ice." You kissed him, hugging him and savoring the feeling of him being there with you, "Love you, too."

-

Theo was sitting next to you chowing down on some popcorn while Anastasia stood on your legs, dancing to the music blasting through the speakers.

"Stormy!" Theo pointed a few rows over to the familiar mascot. That caught the mascot's attention, and he looked up. Theo waved erratically. Stormy finished the interaction he was having and then made his way up to your row.

You were luckily sitting at the end of the row, so Stormy sat down on the steps next to your seats after giving Theo and Anastasia big hugs. Theo and Stormy talked (which was more just Theo talking and Stormy nodding along) while you waited for the first game to start.

Al the set pieces were set up on the ice already so you waited excitedly as Anastasia babbled and danced away. The lights eventually dimmed, and Theo screeched, clamoring into his seat, holding tight to Stormy's hand.

The Central Division was announced first, then Atlantic, then finally Metropolitan, "From the Carolina Hurricanes, Andrei Svechnikov!" Andrei skated out from the big monitors.

Theo stood up in his seat and cheered loudly. Stormy jumped up and down with him, "Look, papa." You laughed, pointing down to the ice. Anastasia followed your finger down to Andrei. She giggled, looking up at you.

-

After all the games and Takchuk was named MVP, Andrei was in media, Theo sitting happily in his lap, "How was your first Al-Star game, Svech?"

"it was great, I had a lot of fun, and getting to bring the kids along is a plus."

"What're you gonna do now that you have a week-long break?"

"We're going to Disney World." He laughed, eliciting a laugh from the reporters in the room.

"I'm sure Theo and Ana are excited."

"So excited." Andrei nodded.

Theo tugged on Andrei's shirt sleeve and Andrei bent down, his ear to Theo's mouth, "Ovi and Sid." He whispered, but his whispering wasn't very quiet.

The reporters chuckled, "We'll go find them later." Andrei whispered back before turning back to the reporters.

"We won't keep you for long, Andrei. Seems like Theo is excited." Andrei nodded appreciatively.

"Thank you." He picked Theo up and exited the room.

The TikTok of the kids answering who they would want to see the most went viral, and in particular, Theo and Anastasia went viral. Most of the comments were saying that now Theo and Anastasia had to meet their favorite players, so the media set it up.

You and Andrei led Theo and Anastasia to the ice where Sid, Ovi, Mikko, and Juuse were waiting to meet their Number one fans, media all around you.

Theo let out a gasp when the rink came into view and he saw Ovi and Sid standing on the ice. Anastasia heard and turned her head to the ice.

"Juice and Moose!" She announced your presence, causing the four players to turn to you. All of you laughed as they skated over to meet you halfway.

Theo, suddenly shy, hid behind Andrei's legs as Sid bent down in front of him, "Hi, Theo."

"Hi." Theo waved shyly.

"I heard you were a big fan." Theo nodded. Ovi produced a puck and handed it to Theo. Theo reached out and took it.

"What do you say?" Andrei whispered down to him.

"Thank you," Theo responded.

"You're very welcome." They both smiled.

Anastasia was just as starstruck as Theo, hiding her face in your neck as Mikko and Juuse stood in front of her. They both smiled as Juuse produced a puck and handed it to her.

"Thank you." She responded.

"You're welcome, Ana." They both smiled, "It was nice to meet you."

She only smiled, clutching the puck to her chest. You smiled down at her, "Wow, Ana. You met Juice and Moose." She beamed. Theo bounced up and down as he flashed you his puck, "Wow, look at that! They both signed it!"

"We have to add it to my collection." He told you.

"We'll do it at home." You brushed a hand through his hair, "Now, come on, Disney World is waiting for us."

-

my taglist: @mitch-slap @kolsmikaelson @ashleymarine @typical-simplelove @rosesvioletshardy @laurenairay @kidlnthedark @bowen-power @lam-ila @catahshart @stars-canucks @drei-mrssvechii @iwantahockeyhimbo @2manytabsopen @nicohischierz @calermakar08 @hamilton160 @Pierrelucduboiis @thescooby-gang @sammysworldddd @mista-svech @paintlavillered @Hyppeln-agnes @samanthasgone @hockeyboysarehot @nicoleloveshockey @thedukes-56-5 @tkachukswife @hockeyunits @sidcrosbyspuck @dumbxblond3 @kaydenissleepy @Yagetintoit @seventieswhore @michellekirby30 @jamieeboulos @Coffeeandteaandflowers @bibella8swan @cuttergauth @boqvistsbabe @sophia-bordeleau @jayda12 @yangofyang @lifeofpriya @beccaiscold

add yourself to my taglist!

#andrei svechnikov imagine #andrei svechnikov imagines #andrei svechnikov x reader #andrei svechnikov fic #andrei svechnikov #nhl imagine #nhl imagines #nhl fic #nhl #hockey imagine #hockey imagines #hockey fic #hockey #carolina hurricanes imagine #carolina hurricanes imagines #carolina hurricanes fic #carolina hurricanes #taylor writes #taylor writes: hockey #mr. and mrs. svechnikov series #mr. and mrs svechnikov #dad!andrei

[misshoneyimhome]

Say My Name, Say My Name I Andrei Svechnikov 🖋️⚡️🌺

Requested? Yes / No

Summary; Based on the Tik Tok trend, calling your boyfriend “husband”

Tropes & warnings; established relationship; Tik Tok trend; fluff, soft smut 18+; unprotected sex (p in v);

Other notes: So, this is my debut writing for Andrei Svechnikov - and can I just… *deep breath* how did nobody warn me about how fucking adorable he is!? I mean, I know he's like five times my size, but all I want to do is squeeze his cute face 😮‍💨 Anyway, onto the main point, this is the first of three TikTok-trends stories; it's just pure fluff with a hint of gentle smut 🌷🐰

I hope you enjoy it 🤍😉

Word count; 1.8K

・✶ ｡ﾟ

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, sunlight poured through the windows of your snug shared flat as you and your boyfriend Andrei Svechnikov settled in for a quiet day. Andrei, engrossed in watching some sports on the telly, lounged comfortably on the sofa while you nestled into the cushions a few feet away. And as you casually scrolled through your phone, you stumbled upon a new TikTok trend that intrigued you – referring to your boyfriend as your husband and capturing his reaction. The idea caught your interest, especially given the closeness and ease of your relationship, which had flourished over the past two years. So, fuelled by curiosity, you couldn't resist pondering how Andrei would react.

You quietly rose from your spot on the couch, pretending to casually need the loo, before returning with your action camera discreetly set to record. Then, with practiced casualness, you asked Andrei if he felt like eating, suggesting ordering takeaway instead of cooking. And thankfully, he agreed, setting the scene for your playful prank.

As you then pretended to dial the number for takeaway, you held the phone to your ear, putting on a convincing act, and with a mischievous grin, you began the charade.

"Hi, yes, I'd like to place an order for delivery, please," you said, your voice tinged with mock formality. "Can I get a pasta salad bowl with chicken, and some garlic bread? Thank you."

You paused for a moment before adding, "Yeah, um, and my husband would like a Caesar salad with some extra chicken."

The first time you slipped in the word "husband," Andrei's brows furrowed in confusion. He tilted his head slightly, as if trying to decipher whether he heard correctly. However, he shrugged it off, attributing it to a potential misunderstanding due to the language barrier or perhaps his own mishearing.

“Mmm, that’s right. Yes, just remember to put the chicken in the salad, 'cause last time you wanted to put it on the side and my husband ended up not getting what he ordered.”

But when you repeated the term, his confusion deepened, and he turned towards you with a quizzical expression. His frown intensified, and he blinked in disbelief.

"Husband?" he muttered; his voice tinged with bafflement. The word hung in the air, stirring a mix of surprise and curiosity within him as he searched your face for an explanation.

You couldn’t deny it was the perfect reaction you’d hoped for. And despite your best efforts to maintain the charade, you couldn't contain your laughter as you observed Andrei's bewildered expression. After pretending to hang up the phone, your giggles bubbled up, eventually erupting into full-blown laughter that filled the room.

Caught in the contagious joy of your amusement, Andrei's own lips twitched into a grin, mirroring your infectious laughter, as he sensed the shift in the atmosphere, and you finally confessed your playful prank, unable to hold back any longer.

"I couldn't resist," you admitted between laughs, your voice filled with affection for your boyfriend. "I saw this TikTok trend and just had to see your reaction. I'm sorry, it was just too funny."

It was a heartfelt moment of shared laughter, with you laughing a little more than him as he was still somewhat baffled. And as the laughter died down, and Andrei's initial confusion turned into amusement, he shook his head with a chuckle, his eyes shining with fondness for you.

"You got me," he said, his tone playful. His amusement lingered, but then, to your surprise, he took your playful prank a step further, and with a pensive expression, he confessed, "You know, I actually don’t think it sounds bad."

His words caught you off guard. You almost choked on your own saliva as you looked at him, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Really?" you asked, curiosity sparked by his unexpected response.

"Yeah," Andrei merely replied, a touch of sincerity in his voice. "I mean, we've been together for over two years now, and... I think maybe one day, maybe soon, it could happen.”

His unexpected response left you both surprised and touched. You hadn't expected such a thoughtful and mature reaction from your just 24-year-old boyfriend, yet his words stirred a mix of emotions within you, ranging from curiosity to warmth.

And as you absorbed his admission, you couldn't help but marvel at the depth of his feelings and the seriousness with which he regarded your relationship. It was a revelation that sparked a torrent of questions and emotions, prompting you to view the future in a fresh perspective.

"Andrei, I... I didn't realise you were thinking about these things," you said softly, your voice infused with a blend of surprise and affection. "I mean, I've thought about it too, but hearing you say it..."

Your words trailed off, unable to fully convey the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirling within you. But Andrei simply smiled, his gaze meeting yours with steadfast sincerity.

"I just love you," he said simply, his words carrying a sense of truth and commitment that enveloped you in warmth and reassurance as he drew nearer to you on the sofa.

“And I love you,” you replied, meeting him in a tender kiss.

You cupped his face, tracing your thumb over his smooth jawline while admiring his beautiful eyes. Andrei was truly a magnificent boyfriend. 

And in that moment, you recognised that perhaps the playful prank had opened a gateway to a deeper level of understanding and connection with him, paving the way for discussions about the future that you hadn't dared to approach before. As you surrendered to seal your newfound intimacy with another lingering kiss, you couldn't help but melt into his touch, feeling utterly devoted to him.

His hands found the back of your neck, gently drawing you closer as the kiss deepened, while his tongue politely sought entrance. Granting his wish, you allowed him to explore your mouth, relishing the taste of him.

And as the kiss slowly grew more intense, your lungs yearned for air. Your fingers sought his hair, while his palms moved to grip your waist, pulling you firmly into his lap. Then breaking the kiss for a brief moment, you caught your breath while straddling him, and with his hands firmly settled on your hips, you felt emboldened to deepen the kiss once more, allowing your bodies to meld together in perfect harmony.

Andrei’s physique was nothing short of impressive. Every defined muscle showcased the hard work he put in as a professional hockey player, and his sturdy arms made it seem effortless to carry you as if you were weightless. And as you subtly pressed your core against his groin, you let your hands delicately glide down to the hem of his shirt, sliding beneath the fabric to explore his toned torso.

Sensing your cues, Andrei shifted slightly, briefly breaking the kiss to remove his t-shirt, unveiling the enticing sight beneath.

“Mmm,” you purred seductively, your eyes feasting on the sight of your boyfriend. And with a playful smirk, you mirrored his actions, revealing your naked chest as you had opted to go braless that day.

Andrei's hands eagerly explored your breasts, teasing them with nips and kisses before reconnecting his lips with yours. As your hands roamed each other's bodies, the kiss grew increasingly fervent and passionate with each passing moment.

It was clear that both of you desired more. Utilising his strength, Andrei effortlessly lifted you in his arms, gently placing you on your back on the sofa, and with a confident smirk, he trailed kisses down your upper body, journeying past your navel to the edge of your loose leggings. Hooking a couple of fingers under the elastic, he smoothly pulled down your leggings along with your dainty knickers, exposing your bare skin.

You let out a gasp as you felt the cool air against your heat, fully immersed in the moment. Meanwhile, Andrei stood to remove his grey sweats and boxers, revealing his semi-erect member.

It was a breathtaking sight. As you admired your boyfriend, you unconsciously licked your lips, while he slowly knelt on the sofa, leaning in to connect your lips once more. The kiss was almost messy as Andrei gently positioned you in a missionary position, yet it felt incredibly romantic as he tenderly traced his fingers along your sensitive folds.

With a soft sigh, you surrendered to his touch, feeling a wave of pleasure as he carefully inserted two fingers into your entrance, stretching your muscles with a few soft pumps before withdrawing them. Andrei sensed your readiness for more, as you gently stroked his length, ensuring he reached full hardness before leaning back and allowing him to hover over you.

Your eyes remained locked as you relaxed your body, taking slow, steady breaths while he positioned the tip of his member at your entrance, and gradually, he eased himself into your warmth.

“Oh yes,” you moaned softly, matching Andrei’s sounds of pleasure as his cock smoothly filled you. It felt as if your bodies were perfectly attuned as he slowly moved in and out of you, gently stimulating your walls and igniting a wave of pleasure within you.

Your hands found their way to his dark blonde locks, holding onto them as Andrei rocked his hips in a steady rhythm. Together, you felt the slow build-up of climax beginning to take shape. The intimacy shared on the sofa was tender and passionate, yet as your desire for each other grew, it intensified into something more urgent and needy.

The soft sound of skin meeting skin filled the room, blending with your moans. The air hung heavy with anticipation as endorphins surged, a result of the deep connection you shared. Beads of sweat began to form on your skin, evidence of the heat generated by your passionate encounter.

“Mmm… Andrei…,” you moaned softly, the telltale sign that your impending climax was drawing near.

Feeling your muscles gently tighten around his sensitive shaft, Andrei sensed his own peak approaching. Increasing the pace slightly, he buried himself deeper, thrusting faster and harder with each movement. Your fingers instinctively gripped the back of his shoulders, your hips lifting to accommodate him as you neared the edge of ecstasy.

“Yes… oh yes…” you moaned, and with a few more thrusts, Andrei propelled you into a rush of pleasure.

It was an exquisite sensation as your mind soared to new heights, causing your walls to clench around your boyfriend’s member, pushing him over the edge as well. And with a deep grunt, Andrei released himself into you.

There was a brief moment of serene silence as you both took a few seconds to catch your breath and regain control. Then, with care not to spill on the furniture, Andrei gently withdrew from your warmth and settled beside you, pulling you close for a tender cuddle.

“So, this is what I get for calling you my husband?” you chuckled softly, revealing in the comfort of being with your man.

“Maybe…” he grinned playfully.

“Hmm,” you murmured softly. “I can’t really complain, can I?” You flashed him a tender smile.

“No, but I don’t complain either,” Andrei replied softly. “But I do think I’m really hungry now.”

And you couldn’t help but laugh at your sweet boyfriend’s words before responding, “Me too.”

#18+ smut #andrei svechnikov imagine #andrei svechnikov x reader #andrei svechnikov smut #carolina hurricanes imagine #nhl imagine

[sydnikov]

Carry Me Home || S. Aho

Author: Sydney / @sydnikov

Pairing: Sebastian Aho/fem!Reader

Word Count: 5.6k

Summary: Sebastian Aho is frustrated with his team’s loss against the New York Islanders. He takes it out on you in a rather primitive way.

Warnings: 18+ smut smut smut, unprotected p in v (wrap it up kiddos!), oral (f receiving), bits of dom!Sepe, breeding kink if you squint, cursing, angst, not much fluff in this one

A/N: Surprise! My first smut fic. I hate myself. I blame the Hurricanes playing like shit for making me write this. As usual, reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated. Enjoy!! I certainly didn’t (kidding) P.S. Title is from “All The Small Things” by Blink 182

*Minors, you are responsible for your own media consumption. That being said, I will not block you for interacting with this fic or my blog, but always be aware of the content you choose to consume and the consequences it can have.

Sebastian Aho feels fire in his veins. His skin is flushed, hot to the touch, with his hair smoking from sweat-soaked strands boiling into steam. He is a steadily growing inferno, biding his time before unleashing his wrath.

There was no other time in his life he could think of where he had ever felt so frustrated, so angry.

Painful grunts and the sounds of sticks hitting the ice so hard they break echo in his ears, just as the sound of the puck hitting the goal post every time he shot it did, too. In the back of his mind, Sebastian knows that winning takes more than just one player, but yet all he can think is my fault my fault my fault.

He is an alternate captain, after all. It’s his job to help lead his team, to get them the wins they deserve. So ever since the start of this season, why had he been failing to do so?

Sebastian couldn’t dominate the Islanders on his own no matter how much he wanted to… But there is one person he knows he can.

As the Fin aggressively unties his skates, he imagines the strands of your hair tangled in his fingers as the laces get stuck on his glove. As he rips off his undershirt, he imagines doing the same to your bra.

When the reporters ask the same question they do after every game, “What could you have done better?” and pretend not to flinch when he shoots them a glare, he imagines your wide-eyed gaze as he tells you, c’mon, you can take it, yeah?

He kind of wishes he could say the same thing to these fucking reporters as he imagines giving one or two or preferably all of them a black eye—in a different scenario, of course.

Oh, but you are so good to him. He doesn’t deserve you. There is absolutely nothing in this world that can take you away from him, not now and not ever.

The winger speaks to no one except for the coaching staff as he eventually storms out of the locker room, exchanging a few words about practice and something about more line changes before he is finally let go.

Sebastian doesn’t want to think about hockey anymore. He wants to think about you.

Meanwhile, you were planted outside said locker room with a few of the wives and girlfriends, leaning against the wall while you all tried to talk about anything other than the disaster of a game you’d just watched.

It was hard watching the person you love get so upset and disappointed, especially when knowing how much pressure he puts on himself to be a leader of his team. There were many nights laying in bed, his head resting on your chest, that he revealed the bits and pieces of his carefully shielded heart how responsible he feels for his team’s performance.

How every loss chips away at his self-respect, leaving him feeling broken and lost as he struggles to find a way to get his team back on top. He was only one man, yet felt the weight of a thousand suns bearing down on his shoulders, relying on him to score.

And score he tries. Everything he could do he does; he racks up the points, he makes assists, but all his efforts still couldn’t bring them out on top.

You know Sebastian feels worthless, and you aren’t sure how he’s going to express it as you spot him marching up to you.

“Hey,” is your first word to him, spoken softly and carefully before he pulls you into his chest. The first thing you notice is that he feels like a human furnace; the chill you’d become used to after sitting next to an ice rink for over two hours is immediately replaced with warmth, and you can’t help but bury your head into his chest at the feel of it. “I’m sorry, Sepe.”

The pressure he so often feels immediately dissipates at the sound of your voice. Sebastian releases a strained sigh and curls over your body in a protective embrace, his mind racing with millions of words at a million miles per hour but the only ones he can hear are mine mine mine as you look up at him with unbridled affection.

“Kulta,” My honey, he murmurs, wet strands of hair falling over his eyes as he looks down at you. “You’re still here,” he can’t help but say, almost as if he were expecting you to be gone because he didn’t win.

You soften even more if that were possible. “I would never leave you,” you say with conviction, your words meant to be taken innocently yet all Sebastian could think of is the image of you under him as he thrusts into you, making you say the same words over and over again.

“What was that?”

“I can’t—”

“Yes, you can. C’mon, pretty girl, say it for me again,”

His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat. He needs to get you home, immediately.

Lacing his fingers through yours, the Finn presses a heated kiss to your lips, groaning so deep in his chest it has your face flushing a beautiful shade of red which has him thinking truly awful things before the two of you leave the arena.

Sebastian wants nothing more than to take care of you, and thinks briefly that maybe this is a developing unhealthy coping mechanism in the works, but as he opens the car door for you and locks eyes on the way your lips flash him a sweet smile, he can’t find it in himself to care.

You’re just so innocent; it’s in your nature to see the good in everything, to see the good in him despite his less-than holy thoughts. While he doesn’t consider his sex life with you vanilla by any means, he almost feels guilty for all the degrading ways he was thinking of you.

Sebastian was not on top of his game tonight, but he was determined, now, to be on top of you.

Your mind, however, is running rampant in all of the ways you think this night could go, and with Sebastian’s large hand splayed across your thigh as he drives the two of you home, you’re fairly positive in your understanding of what your role is going to be.

It’s funny because you’ve been with him for several years now and he still never fails to get your heart racing. Everything about him has you feeling a certain type of way, especially now as you catch shy peeks of his side profile; clenched jaw, ruffled hair, and blazing eyes…

You can’t help but rub your thighs together, a pleasurable tingle starting low in your belly and spreading warmth throughout the rest of your body as Sebastian gives you a look that spells trouble.

He adjusts the hold he has on your thigh, gripping the flesh just a little bit tighter. “Gonna get you home soon, don’t worry,” he says, almost to himself. It has your eyes widening and your heart beating faster because the tone of his voice is almost feral.

Sebastian is not what you would consider rough in bed. He has his moments, where he uses his strength to flip you over or manhandle you into whatever position he wants, but he’s never been the type to fuck you against a wall or anything of the sorts.

And as dominating as he could sometimes be, his softer side more than made up for it. Sweet but deep kisses to your lips, teeth lovingly nipping marks onto the sides of your breasts, hands roaming all over your body with gentle squeezes and caresses, and a body that seldom ran out of stamina making sure your pleasure always comes before his.

His mouth, however… Sebastian’s mouth is the word ‘dirty’ personified. Sinful lips creating words you’d never want your mother to hear, and a tongue that knew every weak spot on your body to leave you shivering in its wake.

In fact, you couldn’t help but remember the last time his mouth was put to use. Twas the night before, actually, where his body was restless and his solution to getting his energy out was sliding down the length of your body with whispered praises, slipping your panties to the side with his pointer finger, and attaching his lips first thing to your clit—

The sound of your name from the very voice of the man you were just fantasizing about interrupts your thoughts. You quickly turn to find that Sebastian already powered off and exited the vehicle and is holding your door open for you, looking at you with slight concern.

He says your name again when you fail to respond, suddenly starstruck.

Sebastian is just and his arms are so and his lips so full and kissable and him—

The next thing you know, the Finn has wrapped his large hands around your waist and is yanking you out of the car, mouth swooping down to meet your eager lips.

He kisses the life out of you, simultaneously slamming the car door shut so he can press you hard against it. The thought that you have any semblance of control right now slips through your rattled brain not unlike the slickness you can feel dripping down your legs.

He was the epitome of domineering, in no mood to let you think you had any say in what he is going to do to you. Tonight is about him needing a release, and the only way he is going to get it is through you.

Or, rather, by him burying himself so deep inside you you wouldn’t be able to walk for days. The thought has his cock throbbing, unable to resist pressing his hips into the heat between your thighs.

The feeling of his dick against your most sensitive spot has you releasing a breathless whine, and then your kisses become harder against his lips, more desperate.

Sebastian bites at your bottom lip, his own rising into a smirk once he feels rather than hears the resulting gasp catch in your throat. He lets one of his hands rise from the grip he has on your ass to slide carefully around your neck, firmly grasping the front of your throat to bring you closer.

The action has you flat-out whimpering, your hands sinking into the winger’s hair, tugging at the strands so hard he hisses. Now, the Finn is no submissive by any means, but never have you seen him so, so… Dominant.

You decide right then and there that you rather like this side of him.

“Sepe,” you try to speak, but the words catch in your throat again as his kisses move from your lips, past his hand still gripping your throat, and down to the sensitive skin of your collarbone. “—I can’t,”

He hums, your pleas merely background noise as he sucks red marks into your skin. “Can’t what? Gonna have to be more specific, nappula,”

Button. Oh, you are so fucked. Literally. His button. He called you his button. His his his.

Unable to take his slow teasing, you tear him away from your neck to bring him back to your eager lips, a desperate sound crawling up your throat as his hands move to bury themselves in your hair.

“Take me to bed, please,”

Sebastian practically melts at your words. Knowing your desperation, he moves his hands back from your hair down to your thighs, tapping once and then twice where you finally got the memo to jump. He curls your legs over his hips, sliding one hand under your ass with the other pressing supportively against the small of your back.

The five-second walk to the front door has the hand previously holding your back trembling as he fumbles with his keys. Finally opening the door after forcing himself to focus, despite the feeling of your mouth leaving teasing nips and kisses, Sebastian mutters a long string of curses as he hurriedly steps into the house, swiftly kicking the door shut behind him.

“Such a fucking tease,” he rasps into your ear, his free hand grasping onto the back of your neck to bring you back to his lips. He kisses you sensually, reveling in the softness of your body molding perfectly against his. “Bet you’ve been waiting for me all night.”

You nod rapidly in agreement, hands trying to find purchase on the smooth lines of his suit so you could begin tearing it off of him. “I’m always wanting you, Sepe,”

Sebastian hisses another curse, and the next thing you know your back is landing softly on the large mattress that is his bed. He gives you no time to gather your thoughts before he’s climbing on top of you. His calloused hands slip under your shirt to remove it, granting him full access to knead at your tits.

The forward kisses you again, tongue tracing lines across your bottom lip before forcefully pushing his way in. You can feel him everywhere and nowhere all at once, a strangled sound escaping your throat as his hips start grinding into the throbbing heat between your legs.

“Seb,” you try, back arching as his hands skillfully move to unclasp your bra. “Oh fuck, Seb, please,”

The sound of your cries has Sebastian grinning wolfishly, your desperation filling him with a sick sense of pride. “Please what?”

Suddenly, you understand his teammates just a little bit more when they would call him a little shit and other various, foul nicknames in front of you.

Clumsily grabbing one of his hands from where it was still massaging your tit, your legs fall open as you press his palm directly over the material of your pants, almost positive they were wet. “Please just touch me, please—”

Your babbling is interrupted when he begins peppering your face with soothing kisses, apologetically rubbing his thumb over your nipple while the other makes its way under your pants and down to your slit, thoroughly soaked with your arousal.

“This all for me?” he coos as two fingers run through your lips, taking the natural lubricant to rub tight circles over your clit. “You’re soaked, kisu.”

The resulting mewl that escapes you afterwards lives up to the name he just called you. Kitty.

Sebastian watches your reactions with hooded eyes, taking note of the way your breath hitches when he rubs your clit a certain way; he knows the ins and outs of your body by now, but every time you have sex there is still something new to learn, and there is nothing Sebastian is if not eager to learn. He’s particularly fond of the way you arch into him as he sinks two fingers inside you, grinning as you cry out while the calloused pads of his fingertips curl against the spongy wall of nerves nestled near the front of your walls.

With panting breaths and strangled moans, your thighs shake as his thumb finds its way back to your clit and rubs it in circles the same way his fingers are doing inside you. Your stomach feels as if it’s in knots, hands gripping the sheets beneath you so hard they’ve gone numb, and your mind is blissfully blank except for the repetitive thought of more more more.

You echo this sentiment to him, to which he merely picks up the pace in response. It’s almost too much but a good too much, like the peak of your pleasure is just climbing higher and higher, almost impossible to reach but you can feel it right there—

Suddenly, all pleasurable movements stop. You snap your head up, aghast, cheeks flushed with arousal and now irritation because were were so fucking close and now all you’re left with is a disappointed burn between your legs. “Sebastian, what the actual fuck,”

The very man himself licks his lips, looking all too pleased with the way you’re relying on him to help you finish. “Patience,” is all he says, flashing you a shiny smile before skilled hands are sliding the rest of your pants and underwear down your legs. Instinctively your legs try to close at the feel of cold air hitting your pussy, but Sebastian is having none of it as he swiftly pries your thighs back apart.

“Shy?” He teases, stroking your inner thigh before pulling his shirt off his head. You have a reply prepared, but quickly lose your train of thought as his torso is revealed; Sebastian is all hard planes of muscle, golden skin with a light dusting of body hair, and so distinctly male he has you practically drooling as you reach out to trail your hands down his chest.

“You’re beautiful,” you breathe, wrapping your arms around his waist to bring his body down on top of yours. You want, no, need him close to you. While your veins were still full of liquid fire, your nerves so hot that every brush of his skin against yours left you quaking, there is still a certain amount of intimacy that could always be found within your actions towards each other.

A certain intimacy that leads to whispered praises like these; Sebastian flushes, momentarily forgetting the role he vowed to take after the agony that had been wreaking havoc in his mind since his team’s loss. “Kulta,” he says, breath hitching as he presses his lips to your neck to taste the light sheen of sweat covering your skin. He kisses your body like you are his shrine, sworn to you in utter devotion. “Kaunis tyttöni.”

My beautiful girl. Every word from that point onward tumbles past his lips in Finnish, because in what other way can he describe the beauty you encapsulate? You are an angel, after all, his angel, in fact, and his only. With his hands settling on the curves of your waist to further cement his point, he continues his assault on your neck with teeth and tongue all while he grinds his covered dick against your bare pussy.

“Sebastian?”

“Yeah?”

“Fuck me, please,”

And just like that, the indescribable need to claim claim claim takes over his body once more. His eyes darken, the lust swallowing his senses moving him to quickly strip the slacks he wore off his legs, and then he reaches into his boxers to pull out his dick.

You could never get over the sight of his cock, you think momentarily as you stare, mesmerized by the flushed head and leaking tip. He took on more girth than length, and to you it’s nothing less than perfect because Sebastian is the only man who has ever gotten you to the point where you’re unable to walk the next day.

Maybe that speaks more of his knowledge of the female anatomy compared to your exes, but nonetheless you’re grateful.

You bite your lip, one of your hands falling from his back to reach down and take his erection in your hand. Sebastian hisses through his teeth at the feeling of you gripping him, and watches for a moment as you stroke him almost gently.

“I’m going to need you to stop that,” he speaks, a groan following right after before he quickly swats your hand away.

You frown, a slight pout on your lips. “Why?”

“Because I’m going to come in two minutes like a teenager if you keep it up, kisu.”

“Well when you say it like that—”

You’re interrupted by Sebastian slamming your lips back together, your words gone just as quickly as they’d come. Oh, how you could kiss him for ages and never be sick of it. You say this to him, or at least attempt to, before his hand not buried in your hair finds its way back down to your clit and rubs rather roughly.

“Want to taste you,” he mumbles, drunk on the sight of you under him as he lines up his dick with your entrance. “Want to taste you so bad. But I need to be inside you first,”

You try to respond, but then Sebastian is kissing you again right as the head of his cock pushes its way into your cunt. It burns, but a good burn because you would never be used to his size and the feel of him sliding deeper sets all your nerve endings on fire. You’re forced to adjust quickly, and something about him not caring if you’re ready or not has you dripping.

“Oh fuck,” you whine, restless hands weaving through his hair and all over his back, refusing to settle. You didn’t know what to do with yourself, too consumed with how good it felt being stretched to lie still beneath him. “Feels so good, Seb,”

“Yeah?” he huffs into your ear, hot breaths against your skin sending shivers down your spine. “God, you’re perfect,” Sebastian groans, his hips suddenly snapping forward. The angle has him hitting the sweet spot inside you perfectly, your walls clamping down tight around him which sends you both spiraling.

You cry out as he begins moving, the strength behind the force of his thrusts staggering because very rarely did he lose control with you. Sebastian tends to treat you like priceless jewelry, but you’re anything but tonight as his teeth sink into your neck to muffle his moans.

His pubic bone rubs against your clit deliciously every time his hips come down, and you couldn’t help but try and tilt your own upwards to match him. Sebastian clearly appreciates your efforts, hissing something that sounds distinctively like a curse.

Past the ringing in your ears, you can hear him muttering to himself. His eyes are squeezed shut against the rolling tides of pleasure coursing through his body, but his mouth is anything but closed. Then his head is lifting suddenly, hair now slick with sweat hanging over his eyes as he looks down at you.

“I need you to come around me,” he says, voice nothing more than a rasp. “Want to feel you squeezing me.”

“Please,” you interrupt, but he either doesn’t hear your plea or chooses to ignore you.

“Then I’m going to taste you, and when you come I’m going to fuck you again.”

Your head is nodding rapidly at his words because there is zero part of you that ever wants him to stop. It was almost primitive the way he was taking you, and you maybe liked it a little more than you should.

Sebastian picks up the pace, and you find yourself thankful - not for the first time - for his insane amount of stamina. The strength conditioning he goes through on a daily basis makes you wonder how he doesn’t just die, but nonetheless you can’t help but appreciate it.

His hands find their way under your back in the midst of your appreciative thoughts, settled on your lower back just above your ass, when he tilts your hips up and his cock strikes the sensitive, spongy spot inside you head-on. It has you keening loudly, uncontrollably—one of your hands previously gripping the sheets jerkily moves to cover your mouth, your own noises embarrassing you.

He doesn’t notice at first, too busy moving his hips in the same pattern as before because he enjoys the way you grip him like a vice, your body’s way of telling him he’s doing a good job, but when he sees you trying to muffle your noises he instantly grows possessive.

Possessive of you, your noises, because in his feral mind everything about you belongs to him and Sebastian doesn’t want you ever holding yourself back. Your name falls from his lips darkly, “You don’t hide yourself from me,” one of his hands drags yours from your mouth, the other splaying across your lower back to keep your body in the same position.

You try to apologize, but your breath escapes you when his hand slides itself down your body, brushing past one of your nipples, then dipping into your navel where his fingers once again find your swollen clit. He rubs quickly, dick ramming into you even faster than before.

Now more than ever Sebastian wants you to come undone beneath him, and soon he gets his wish as the calloused pads of his fingertips roll your clit in time with one, two, and then on the third thrust your entire body seizes.

Tensing, clenching, shuddering—your eyes flutter as your vision goes white, and you feel nothing except for wave after wave of overwhelming pleasure rushing through you. Vaguely, you feel what you think is Sebastian gently continuing his ministrations on your clit in time with slow thrusts, helping you ride out the waves of your orgasm.

Then your eyes are opening after what feels like hours but had really only been minutes of you going still. You tense again, this time with sensitivity rather than pleasure, and he reads your body perfectly as he slides out of you, removing his fingers from your clit at the same time.

You come to a realization then, “Wait, you didn’t come,” you murmur, and Sebastian has a mischievous sparkle in his eye that makes you think he held himself back on purpose. You’re proven right when he suddenly slides down your body, hands prying your thighs apart before settling on your hips, holding you open like his very own buffet.

He lets out a long sound, like he still can’t believe you’re right here in front of him, and then his mouth is meeting the slick folds of your pussy. The timespan between your first orgasm and him now feasting on you has your mind reeling, blissfully going numb as his warm, wet tongue licks into you.

“Sepe,” you whine, having not yet decided if you could handle another orgasm so close to your last. He parrots your name back, the vibrations from his voice rumbling pleasantly. “You can take it,” he coos, hooded eyes watching your face as his lips now fully latch onto your clit. He sucks, steadily picking up the intensity until your thighs are shaking uncontrollably.

He doesn’t stop, not as your cries grow louder and you subconsciously try squirming away from him. He just holds your hips down, anyways. As his tongue joins the mix, dipping down to flick at your nub suctioned in between his lips, one of his hands moves down to dip two fingers into your folds.

Sebastian groans at your wet heat enveloping his digits, already greedy for the feeling of you squeezing his dick again. Then he starts thrusting his finger, timing it with the flicks of his tongue, and then you’re coming all over again. “There you go, such a good girl for me,” he praises as your pussy spasms, eagerly lapping up your juices like you’re his favorite meal.

Oh god. You are officially fucked-out. You definitely have a bad case of sex-for-brains. You can’t think beyond the sensitivity of your overwhelmed nether regions, and yet as Sebastian crawls up your body for the third time you can’t help but have your legs fall open to welcome him.

This is new for him, too. Sebastian’s endurance is extraordinary, yes, but he never really let himself use it to his full extent with you. Now, though? He wants to explore the thrill of dominance, of controlling you when everything else in his life slips through his fingers.

Against his will, he thinks of his team for a moment. It’s still too raw of a feeling, he finds, hating the way disappointment and frustration bubbles up inside him. Sebastian swallows roughly, squeezes his eyes shut as if that would help block out the sound of the final buzzer ringing in his ears, and then kisses you to distract himself.

As he lines himself back up with your entrance, you both find that the energized tension between you has cooled significantly. Sebastian is less restless and jerky with his movements, and your desperation has cooled as your legs wrap around his waist. He whimpers into your neck, then, his arms curling under your back to press your bodies even closer together.

Your roles switch, and you whisper sweet and dirty nothings into Sebastian’s ear as his hips roll into you. The head of his cock scratches that delicious part inside of you, and soon your words turn into gasps which are music to his ears. One thrust has you squeezing him particularly hard, and his rhythm stutters. “Fuck, you feel amazing,”

His lips form into an o-shape, and suddenly he finds that his high is coming (hah) much quicker than expected. He expresses such, or thinks he does, because all you do is moan in response when his thrusts pick up speed.

He wants to send you into your third orgasm before letting go himself, and even though Sebastian has been rather selfish tonight, one thing that would never change is that your pleasure would always come before his—no matter what.

“Gonna come for me?” Sebastian teases, lips managing to curl into a brief smirk before you’re squeezing him again, wiping it right off his face. “Yeah? Look so pretty taking my cock, baby,”

“I’m close,”

“I know. Let go for me.”

And let go you do. You seize up, not for the first time tonight, before shuddering with full force in the wake of your third release. Your vision goes white in time with the ringing of your ears as you’re consumed in it, feeling too much but also not enough at the same time because your boyfriend is a force you could never get sick of.

Your walls are squeezing Sebastian like a vice, and it only takes him a few more thrusts as you ride out your orgasm before he’s falling into his own. He groans from deep in his chest, arms shakily moving to rest on either side of your head as he buries his own in your neck.

He sinks his teeth into your shoulder as his dick pulses inside you, pumping you full of his cum while you shudder beneath him. It fills Sebastian with a primal sense of satisfaction, knowing he’s claimed you from the inside out.

You’re his, still repeats itself in his mind on repeat, until both of your bodies are spent and he’s rolling off of you exhaustedly. You’re still panting when he turns to look at you, and without hesitation he pulls you into his chest so you can rest your tired body against his.

It takes you a few minutes until you can muster the energy to move, and when you do it’s to tilt your head up to look up at him. You murmur his name, quietly, lest you disturb the fragile peace the two of you find yourselves in. “Sepe?”

“Mhmm?”

“Do you feel better?” It’s a loaded question, you both know, and he takes a few minutes to think about it.

Sebastian’s body feels better, yes. It’s limp, relaxed, the achy tension long-gone from his muscles. The moment he first sank into you he felt immensely better, actually, now that he thinks about it.

His mind, however, is a completely different story.

Colors of red, orange, and blue flash behind his eyes; the colors of his jersey and the opposing team’s, with the haunting sound of the final buzzer still playing in his memory. He thinks of the anger, of his teammates’ faces as they marched defeatedly into the locker room.

No, he thinks with sudden clarity. No, he doesn’t feel better. Sebastian doesn’t say this though; it probably isn’t the answer you want to hear, considering how you explored a new aspect of your relationship tonight.

You know, though. You always know—Sebastian is your better half, and you can understand him more than your own self sometimes, now being one of those moments.

“I love you,” you say after several minutes of silence. Your declaration - the first of the night, he suddenly realizes - says everything he needs to know, about how you feel for him and that he has your support no matter what.

Sebastian swallows, finding that his throat is parched. Lying naked under the sheets, vulnerable and oh-so-exposed, he lowers his head to kiss you sweetly. You mold together softly, and a low rumble can be felt from his chest as you gently nip at his bottom lip.

He is a man of few words, preferring to show his feelings with actions rather than words and this just happened to be one of those moments. He loves you so much, more than words can describe, his lips say, before they gently part from yours.

You admire him in his full glory before he opens his mouth to speak. His hair is incredibly ruffled, from both your hands and the game he played, his full lips swollen red from your kisses, and his eyes have a light sheen to him that suggest he’s more emotional than letting on.

Sebastian raises a hand to your cheek, large yet gentle palm caressing the soft skin as he gazes at you like you’re precious porcelain. “I love you,”

Your lips break into a small smile, and then you’re curling farther into his chest. You’re far too comfortable to move, figuring aftercare in the bathtub can come later. For now, you’re content; your body is sated, and with his cum dripping down your legs you’ve never felt so full with love.

Sebastian knows he has hell to face tomorrow morning. He knows it, but doesn’t really care. For now, in the peaceful silence of his room with only the gentle sounds of your breaths to keep him company, he chooses to forget.

He’s only one man, after all. He can’t carry his team, but he can carry you.

A/N: This is the first time I've written in present tense, which was actually a lot harder than I thought because I kept using past tense action verbs 💀 it was a fun challenge though!! Hopefully my parents never ask me what exactly it is that I write about because. Uh. Yeah. Once again, please reblog and comment :))

────────────────────────────────

Taglist: @ballsakic @bbbbruins @kapriz0v @girlmeetsamerics @bbnhlqueen7 @iwantahockeyhimbo @sebbyaho @heatherawoowoo @matsbarzal @nillspettersson @teuvomakesmesmile @typical-simplelove @grittysbattinggloves @stars-canucks @nachodaze @besthockeyfics @sidcrosbyspuck @ilyasorokinn @ssebastianaho @sepeteuvo @drei-mrssvechii @tanninetanya @insomniren @hyppeln-agnes @canesqueen @the-jarvy-party @martynecass @yagetintoit @2manytabsopen @huggy-hischier4394 @diary-of-kk @estapa94 @spacesurfing @ellswilliams @pbandj14 @cixrosie @poufsouffle21

Add yourself to my 18- (SFW) Taglist here!

Add yourself to my 18+ (NSFW) Taglist here!

#sebastian aho #sebastian aho imagine #sebastian aho fic #sebastian aho imagines #sebastian aho fanfiction #sebastian aho x reader #carolina hurricanes #carolina hurricanes imagine #carolina hurricanes imagines #canes #canes imagine #canes lb #nhl hockey #nhl fanfiction #nhl fic #nhl imagine #nhl imagines #nhl writing #writing #fanfiction #nhl smut #sebastian aho smut #'carry me home'

[silverstonesainz-archive]

𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞

summary: a resolution where all parties are happy. pairing: sebastian x fem!reader word count: 4.1k warning(s): drinking, mentions of anxiety, poorly translated finnish, very much plotless fluff note: no because i went over this so many times and this is what i ended up. hope this gives these characters the closure you were all looking for. the second part for this is how it ends...

translation: 1. Outo - strange (i meant for it to translate to "weirdo") 2. Istua - sit

⊱ ────── ༺❀༻ ────── ⊰

When it came to moving on, you were not someone who would be considered a pro. However, you like to believe that you were the proactive type. Always taking strides, always trying to find new ways to forget about your aching heart. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, till a whole year had passed since the day you let go of your failed relationship. A year filled with victories and setbacks, all with you best friend right behind you, cheering you on. 

“Still coming to the New Year’s Game, right?” Sebastian asked, eyes never leaving his TV screen as he furiously pressed into his Xbox controller. He never gave you an opportunity to respond, continuing to speak as if he was only talking to himself, “Course you’re coming. You have tickets, I got you tickets, you have to go.”

You shake your head at his little back-n-forth with himself, grabbing two beers in one hand and a bowl of popcorn in the other. “Yes Sepe, I’m going to the game on New Year’s Day.” 

He finally looks up from the TV for a split second as you pass him, finger hitting pause so he can take one beer from your grip. He mumbles a quick thanks before he takes a gulp. You plop next to him, taking a swing of your own drink before placing it on the coffee table. Sebastian swats your thigh lightly before picking up your bottle, putting it on top of a coaster. “There’s a coaster. Outo.” 

“Sorry sorry,” You giggle throwing a singular popcorn at him. He’s quick, catching the snack between his thighs. 

“Messy.”

“Shut up.”

Not much changed between you and Sebastian, even with his feelings looming over the both of you. After your conversation, he set boundaries for himself. A set of dos and don’ts that he needed to follow in order to preserve your friendship. For example: Do share new music with you, don’t make you a playlist of all the songs that remind him of you. 

Do give you hugs when you need them most, don’t give you hugs because of he wants to bury his face in your hair.

Do hold your things when you need help, don’t hold your hand even if they fit so nicely in his own. 

Just a set of rules to be sure he can show you that he respects your wishes to remain friends. But he would be lying to himself if he didn’t say that this past year was probably the hardest year he’s ever had. Sebastian thought that living with his feelings for you would be easier after the day he confessed them to you. But fuck he was drowning. His confession shown you in a different a light, a light that flattered you more and made him fall even further. Sebastian Aho was undoubtedly smitten by you, and there was not a damn thing he could do about it.

So he was a little selfish. Even if your hugs lasted longer than his stupid little rules would allow, he would just hold you tighter instead. Or if you allowed him to rest his hand on the small of your back for longer than a second, he would revel in it. He cherished any and every moment he got to be close to you. Even now, with you sitting next to him munching while he played Call of Duty with Tuevo.  He was about an inch from just about losing it, and he will if you don’t stop feeding him popcorn as he played. He playfully bites your finger and you hit his arm lightly, eliciting a smirk from him. 

It isn’t long until Sepe calls it quits with the game, dying for a third time and Tuevo’s incessant shit talking being his final straw. There were several stern Finnish words shared over the headset, some you recognize as curse words Sebastian had taught you very early on in your friendship. The TV returns to the home screen and Sebastian’s headset on its rightful place in a bin under the coffee table, before he turns to you.

“So Marty is hosting a little New Years party at their house, and he wanted to know if you wanted to come.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. He knows we still hangout you know, knows that you’re the one bringing me four cups of coffee sometimes.” He takes a quick swig of his beer, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.  “He misses you… a lot of the guys do.”

Sebastian’s smile is reassuring, but it doesn’t ease your anxieties like it should. Jordan’s invitation caught you off guard. The last time you spoke to anyone on the team (not including the boy in front of you), was exactly one week before Andrei ended things. You had made your presence sparse at anything Hurricanes related, especially after what happened on opening night. You opted to watch games on the TV and all other events through various snapchat/instagram stories. You were no longer comfortable being around all of them. You felt as if there wasn’t anymore room for you, as if were no longer apart of that group, that life, even if Sebastian insists that it wasn’t true.

“I don’t know Sepe,” Your gaze drops to the bowl of popcorn in your lap, tapping the side of it with your index finger, “I still feel weird. And plus, what about Andrei?”

“What about Andrei?” Sebastian’s face deadpans, only an eyebrow raised as if to remind you that your ex shouldn’t be a factor. “Do you even have plans for New Years?”

Now that you think about it, you didn’t. Most of your friends were either spending it with family, or traveled out of the state in hopes to do something different than normal and quiet North Carolina. There were no other invitations extended to you to go out to bars, and your family wasn’t an option with them being on the complete opposite side of the country. You were bound to ring the New Year alone, and that somehow managed to sounds less appealing than partying with your ex’s friends. You look up at Sebastian, the boy watching you intently as he waits for your answer. 

“Fine, I’ll go. But if you disappear on me, I will leave.” 

Sebastian smiles widely, nodding excitedly, “I won’t. I’ll let Marty know, he’ll be so excited.”

You return the gesture before chugging the very little beer left in your bottle, hoping that it will help the nerves subside. You spend the next two hours watching a movie that Sebastian picked, bodies on opposite sides of the couch. Your feet rests on his lap, and he absentmindedly squeezes your calves gently. The gesture is sweet, calming, and that with the movie makes you forget all the anxieties over the fact that in a week’s time you would see all your old friends. The longer you thought about it, the more excited you became. You missed Jordan, and Tuevo, and Bear, all the wives and girlfriends who made you feel so loved. 

The week leading up to the New Year’s Eve were busy for both you and Sebastian. With him playing games, and you trying to get as much work done before your three day break, there wasn’t much time for you to psych yourself out of going. Then December 31st rolls around, and with only thirty minutes til Sebastian would come to pick you up, those nerves you had forgotten about came back with full force. You felt nauseous, as you changed your outfit for the fifth time because the fourth one didn’t feel appropriate. 

Coming a little early since I had to get some champagne. Be there in 15.

You nearly vomited at the text. Scrambling through the closet, you end up putting on outfit number 3 back on: black leather pants, a white, cowl neck blouse, and black boots. You were putting on your earrings when Sebastian came knocking on your door.  Groaning, you walk over to let him in, your boots loud against your hardwood floor. You yank on the door, barely registering Sebastian smiling widely on the other side. 

“Hi, come in. I’m almost ready I just have to put my other earring on, grab my purse and coat then we can go.”

You are quick to turn on your heel, retreating to your room, and leaving Sebastian in the whirlwind of your presence. In your haste, you don’t notice the color draining from his face, the way his ears turned red, and that his breathing had suddenly become labored. He was stunned. It takes him a moment to process the way you look before he steps into your home, throat dry and body suddenly too warm despite it being 40 degrees outside. The boy makes a beeline for the kitchen to grab himself a glass of water, one that he chugs in record time. 

“Sepe?!”

“Kitchen!”

You walk in with both earrings in, coat over your arm, and a glittering necklace in hand. “Put this on for me? I can’t fucking get the clasp.”

He notices the way your hand shakes, the panic and stress in the tone of your voice. Sebastian watches as you drop your coat onto the counter, eyes angrily trained on the piece of jewelry in between your fingers as you walk over him. A frustrated groan escapes you and you hand the necklace to him. He catches the frown and your furrowed brows before you turn your back to him. Sebastian’s hands grasp the necklace between his fingers before he outstretches his arms over you so he can place the delicate chain around your neck. He easily pulls the clasp with ease, placing one of the chain links into it before locking it. His fingers brush the skin of your neck for a brief moment, causing goosebumps to form on your skin. You curse silently, praying he didn’t notice. But he did. His bottom lip is caught between his teeth before his hands grab your shoulders to turn you around. 

“Feeling okay?”

You look up at him, and  you see the worry etched into his expression. His eyes dart all over you, looking for some sort of answer, just in case your words got caught in your throat like it does when you were nervous. 

“A little scared.” 

Your voice is meek, even a little embarrassed and Sebastian couldn’t help but smile. Nothing he couldn’t fix. “That’s okay. But you’re gonna be alright. There isn’t anything to worry about, we’re gonna have a great night. Okay?”

His hands slide down your arms, rubbing softly, and you let out a breath. “Okay.”

Sebastian grins widely, giving your arms a squeeze. “Good. Now let's go before you change your mind.”

The drive to Jordan’s house was not a quiet one. The both of you argue profusely over directions, which way was the quickest. It was a losing battle for you, given that Sebastian was the driver and it was quite literally his way or the fucking highway. You argued anyways, and thirty minutes later Sebastian was parking in front of the large house. 

“We could’ve gotten here in twenty minutes instead of thirty if you just listened to me Sepe,” You say, taking his hand as he helps you out of the car. 

“Okay y/n, but we’re here now. So shut up.” 

You giggle at his response, bumping shoulders with him. He shakes his head, smile evident on his lips. You look over at him, admiring the way his blue button up complements his skin, the black trousers, dress shoes, and trench coat pulling his whole outfit together. There were already multiple cars parked on the property, and you can hear the music blaring from outside the house. Sebastian turns the knob on the front door, pushing the door open and letting the loud music and incessant chatter out into the world. The house was much fuller than you expected, definitely more people than there are cars here. Seb takes your coat from you, placing it in the closet by the front door.

“Stay close!” Sebastian calls over his shoulder to you. 

You follow him through the house, all the way to the kitchen where familiar faces greet you. Jordan smiles over at Sebastian, but it truly lights up when he sees you. He screeches your name, in typical Jordan fashion, earning stares from multiple guests. He pushes past Seb, engulfing you in a hug and spinning you around. You can’t help the laugh that escapes you as you attempt to hug him back as his arms hold down your own. When he finally does let you down, you are quick to swat him in the chest. 

“You had to be so loud?” 

“I missed you.” Not an answer to your question, and you know you would never actually get one. Jordan is quick to wrap his arm over your shoulder, pulling your smaller frame into him as he drags you over to his wife and all the other boys. 

You spend the next hour drowned in where have you beens and I’m so happy you’re heres, Sebastian always close by and within your eye-line. He idly sipped a beer, always watching and making sure that you were okay. He stayed busy, wanting to give you space to immerse yourself in a crowd that had missed your presence. But ever so often, in the midst of a conversation, he would tune out the room and look at you. He watched the way you spoke, not hearing but knowing how fast you were speaking. You nodded profusely, smile wide as you agree to something some girl was talking to you about. There was a light he hadn’t seen in a long time, fire up within you, and his heart slowed like it was dipped in molasses. Slow and steady, soft as his heart warms at the sight of you.

By the time you had done your rounds, your feet ached. You watch as your best friend dismisses Seth from what ever conversation they were having, body turning towards you as you wobbled over.  Sebastian watches as you fill your empty glass with champagne, noting the discomfort in your face as you shift on your feet. He leans over, pulling up a barstool behind  you.

“Istua.”

You look behind you before smiling at him, “Thank you.”

Sebastian watched you quietly, observing the way you watched the room around you. He couldn’t help but admire you, the elegance about you, even in your simplest of moments. He adored the way you chin rests in your palm, the little pout on left on your lips as you lower your champagne glass. You looked beautiful. You always do, but most especially tonight. 

“How are you feeling now?” 

You turn quickly at the sound of his voice, smiling up at him. “Better. And you?”

“Good. Good, because you are.” 

You grin up at him before lifting your glass to finish the rest of your champagne. He watches the way your lips mold onto the glass, the movement of your throat as the glass empties, and he feels the room rise in temperature. He is finding it harder and harder to stay composed with you, to not reach out and tuck your hair behind your ear, or to press a kiss into your temple. There were a million and one things he wanted to with and for you. But most importantly, he just wants you to be happy. He wants you in his life. So he settles back into his best friend mindset. Or at least tries his best to.

Sebastian coughs, leaning over the counter to grab the bottle of champagne. He doesn’t wait for you to extend your hand to ask for more, gently slipping the glass from your fingers and filling it up. When he looks up to give it back, he notices your cheeks are tinged red. “What?”

You shake your head, taking the glass from him, “Nothing. Just funny that you knew.”

“I’m observant.” He winks and you roll your eyes, taking another sip. “How much have you had tonight?”

“This would be… glass number three?” The question was more for yourself than him. “You?”

“I had one beer, waiting for midnight to have a glass.”

You look at your watch, nodding. “That’s in ten minutes.” Your eyes grow wide, looking back up at Sebastian who has his eyebrows raised at you. “Holy crap. Ten minutes!”

“Yeah,” He laughs. “C’mon, people are gonna start going to the backyard for fireworks, so let’s grab a spot.”

Sebastian goes to grab your coats, and then you both walk to the back patio. There are a few people already standing outside, none of whom you recognize and assume are friends of Courtney. You sip your champagne, looking around at the crowd of people, all mingling, all attached to someone. There is a little wave of sadness that washes over you, memories of the previous year and how that used to be you. Couples, arm and arm, happy that they’re about to enter the new year with someone they love. 

The nerves of feeling out of place wash over you again. You didn’t belong here, it truly no longer felt like your place. 

Sensing your doubt is Sebastian’s sixth sense because as the doubts begin to fill your head, he leans forward, lips hovering over your ear. “What are you thinking about?” 

He watches as you straighten your posture, one arm leaning on the railing to hold you up. You’re taller than usual, the heels on your feet bringing you closer to him than he’s used to. You nibble on your bottom lip as you watch the liquid in your glass teeter side to side.

“Nothing important.” 

The smile is unconvincing. It didn’t reach your eyes the way he’s used to. But he didn’t want to push it. He knew better than to push and prod when you were on edge. So instead he sips his beer and nods towards your glass.

“Want more?”

“Please.”

He nods, uttering reassurance he would be back for you and walks back into the house. You watch as he is whisked into another conversation, back to you, shoulders shaking as he laughs at something a someone said. You turn back over to the Raleigh skyline, leaning over the balcony railing. 

You admire the skyline, the flickering lights the decorate the city. Cool wind hits your skin, and you pull your coat tighter against your body. You decide to down the rest of your drink, grimacing as the liquid bubbles down your throat. The music nearly drowns out the conversations happening around you, the joy and excitement over the new year. You couldn’t really find it in you to really pay attention or care, mind to occupied with how you were going to lighten your mood in the last maybe eight minutes of the year. With a tilt of your head, you empty the flute and swing it gently between your fingers. The fourth glass may just do the trick, but Sebastian was still not back. 

“Are you happy?”

You perk up at the question, one from some random conversation on the side. It was a complicated question, subjective even. You stand there and reflect on the last three hundred and something days. Every smile, every tear, every single moment spent living. You remember the moments when you were held, both in joy and sorrow. All the days spent alone and with your favorite people. Truth be told, the year behind you a tumultuous one. It had rewarded and punished you, built you up to knock you down. It brought you the greatest heartbreak of your life, and a moments where you truly believed that you would never see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

“Well are you?”

You shake it off, looking around for your best friend. Sebastian comes into view, a green bottle in hand as Seth whispers something in his ear to make him laugh. You can hear it, the little giggle moving past his lips as he playfully bumps shoulders with his teammate. 

He saunters over to you, raising the bottle with a wide grin. You feel your tummy do flips, but you pass it off as your previous chug acting up. Jordan announces the last five minutes of the year, urging guests to go outside to prepare for the countdown. Sebastian fills your glass, keeping the bottle close to his side.

“What took you so long?”

“Was looking for a full bottle.”

You giggle, nodding as you take another sip from your glass. “What’s your New Year’s resolution Sepe? 

He pauses, his own champagne flute just halfway to his mouth. He never really thought about what his new year’s resolution, knowing full well it’ll be three weeks into the new year before he when he would forget about it. So why make one? He looks down at you, eyes filled with wonder as you take another sip from your glass. 

Well, if he was being honest with himself there is one thing he would life to do in light of the new year. If there was a resolution he could make, it would be to be braver and bolder. It would be to work at it so that maybe, maybe he could be good enough for you. That maybe if he were just a little braver and a little bolder, he could find it in him to show you just how good he can be for you.

But he couldn’t say that. 

“None, just keeping my good habits. You?” 

“Gym.”

He laughs before he sips from his glass. You smile, downing the rest of your drink. You swipe the bottle from Sebastian’s hand to fill your glass to the brim. You didn’t mean to, but it seems the champagne had already made it to your head. The liquid slides down the side of the glass, and Sebastian laughs, leaning down to sip from the cup, pushing the liquid low enough that you won’t spill any more. His eyes stay connected to yours, a cheeky smile on his lips as he pulls away. Your cheeks heat up as you mutter a soft thank you. 

“3 minutes!” 

Marty’s voice carries over the music. The time on your phone screen reads 11:57 and suddenly your heart drops. In three minutes, you’d be back at day one. A new beginning, a new chapter. 

“I don’t know if I said it,” Sebastian starts, “But I’m really happy you’re here. And you look beautiful tonight.” 

The cool North Carolina air hits your reddened cheeks, and you can’t help the goofy grin that spreads on your face. “Thank you Sepe.”

You both stand there in comfortable silence, just drinking your drinks as the crowd around you chatters on about their excitement. Your shoulder’s touch, and Sebastian replays all his stupid little rules in his head over and over. The world continued to move, completely unaware of your urge to rest your head on his arm and Sebastian’s need to be closer to you. Just two friends that want to be closer but are too fucking scared to make a move.

There were moments in the last year that made you feel like you were truly better off, that you had found happiness beyond the heartbreak from your previous relationship. Though you’d be lying if you didn’t admit that you missed the routines of one, how easy it used to be to slide your hand into the other person’s, or to look up at them as they talked like they held the world in their hands. It’s weird to confine your happiness to the intimate details of a relationship you are not in, so you push them aside. You forced yourself to look at every moment in your lonesome, every moment that aided in you putting your heart back together again. And all you can really go back to is him.

10…

You rest your head on his shoulder.

… 9…

Sebastian moves his arm so that he can wrap it around you, pulling you to his chest.

… 8…

Your hearts soar, higher than either of you had ever felt in your lifetimes.

… 7…

“Are you happy Y/n?” 

… 6… 

You look up at him, faces only inches apart.

…5… 

“Yeah… I am. Are you?”

…4…

He smiles, nodding.

… 3…

“Yeah.”

… 2…

He leans forward, eyes flickering from your eyes to your lips as he looks for any sign of hesitation. Any signal to tell him to back off.

1!

No hesitation, no signal. You were never more sure about something in your life until this very moment.

Happy New Year!

His lips meet yours, softly and sweetly as the room around you cheers loudly. With your free arm, you sling it around the back of his neck to pull him closer as his hands hold your waist to do the same. The butterflies flutter around your insides, making them flip inside out. You had to pull away to catch your breath. 

“Happy New Year.” He says, forehead on yours.

“Happy New Year.” Your reply, panting softly.

⊱ ────── ༺❀༻ ────── ⊰

for to one of my favorite people here, @sebbyaho. i hope this eases the pain of the canes playoff elimination. ily.

#sebastian aho #sebastian aho x reader #sebastian aho fanfiction #sebastian aho imagine #carolina hurricanes #nhl fanfiction #nhl fic #nhl imagines #nhl imagine #sebastian aho fic #sebastian Aho x you #nhl x reader #nhl x you #carolina hurricanes imagine #canes imagine #canes lb #nhl hockey #nhl writing #hockey works #sebby aho <3

[idontgiveaflyinggrayson69]

Author: Nat / @idontgiveaflyinggrayson69​

Tagging: @ryanpulock​ @texanstarslove​ @charlie-theangelwrites​ @suitandtys​

Relationship: Pre-Established; Andrei Svechnikov x Fem!OC

Summary: Zara’s sister is getting married in Tulum and her lie about having a boyfriend ends up being more than she bargained for.

Word Count: 36k

Warnings: Alcohol. Smut. Public sexual activities. Questionable family dynamics.

Comments: This is my fic for Demi ( @antoineroussel​ ) for her Summer 2k22 Fic Exchange! I’m SO sorry that this is so late and thank you so much for being patient!!! I really hope you like it!!! I know how much you liked Kat and Andrei so… I decided to go in that direction. I hope you enjoy!!! xx

Link to playlist

Donate to Ukraine here

(c) nat g. 2022 // do not repost, do not claim as your own

- November -

Zara was pulled from sleep by her phone vibrating on her bedside table. She groaned as she wiped the sleep from her eyes and she knew before she reached over that it was her parents. Sure enough, her mother’s name flashed across the screen when she picked it up and Zara could already hear her voice.

“Do you have a boyfriend yet?”

“Will you be getting married soon like your sister?”

“When will you be giving us grand babies?”

Every time Zara was on the phone it was the same thing. It didn’t matter that Zara had been top of her class in high school and college and won academic medal after academic medal. It didn’t matter that she was working her dream job as an athletic trainer for the Carolina Hurricanes. All her parents saw was that she was 29 and no closer to love than she was ten years ago while her younger sister, Skye, was on the cusp of marriage.

Skye had always been the perfect child. She was the baby and she could do no wrong. She was beautiful and artistic and everyone who met her fell in love with her, including her fiancé, Toby. They had met in ninth grade English. He sat behind her and they had a project together analysing Romeo and Juliet and the rest was history. Everyone adored Toby. He was everything anyone could want in a boyfriend or brother in law; he was smart and athletic and kind and funny and, above all, good with family. It came to no surprise when he proposed after eight years together.

Of course, Zara was happy for her sister. But Zara also went through men like candy. No matter how promising they seemed at first, it never took long for things to fall apart. They were always too self-absorbed or too arrogant or too childish or too inexperienced. It wasn’t for her lack of trying, but she couldn’t keep a man down for longer than a few months.

Her phone vibrated in her hand and she sighed before she answered it. “Hello?”

“Hi! Your dad and I just wanted to check on you, you know, before the wedding. You still haven’t made your reservation at the hotel,” her mom said, making Zara run her hand over her face. It wasn’t even 10am and it was beginning. “Maybe because you’ve been seeing someone and you’re not sure about bringing them to the wedding?” Her mother added hopefully.

Honestly, Zara had had enough. Maybe it was the lack of coffee, maybe she was just plain tired, but she gave in. “You’re right,” she said to get them off her back. “I am seeing someone and I’m not sure he’ll be able to get the time off work so I haven’t booked it yet.”

“Well, book a room, honey. Flights can be refunded but the rooms are selling out fast,” her mother told her like she didn’t already know.

“I know, I know,” Zara replied. “I’ll book in the next couple of days, okay? You know I’d never miss Skye’s wedding.” As unconvinced as her parents were, they accepted her answered and let her go, for now at least. And once the call was ended, Zara grumbled at her phone before pulling herself from her bed.

It had to be nice to be the favourite child.

Her parents called her a couple of times over the next couple days, wanting to make sure she got a room for her sister’s destination wedding in Tulum, but they also had questions about the new beau she was seeing. Zara tried her best to be vague, saying he was kind and funny and handsome and that they’d love him, but there just wasn’t much to say (given he wasn’t real). Sure, maybe she could have been more detailed, but she didn’t want to over commit and get her story mixed up and expose herself as a phony.

Even if she was.

But the dam blew two weeks later when they called her again because she still hadn’t booked a room.

Zara was at work and she still had her blue medical gloves on as she answered the phone, “hello?”

“Hi, baby! We just wanted to ask again if Prince Charming was coming to the wedding. The nice rooms are almost completely gone so you need to book one regardless of whether he’s coming or not,” her dad told her.

Zara ran her gloves hand over her face and she would have run it through her hair if it wasn’t pulled back, but she nodded, even if her dad couldn’t see her. “We’ll book something soon, I promise,” she answered. “It’s just been a little hectic with work.” Thankfully, the wedding aligned with the All-Star break, but right now Zara was focused on making sure all her guys were good to play, something her football obsessed family didn’t understand.

“So he’s coming?” Her mom butted in.

“I don’t know,” Zara sighed. “He’s working so I don’t know if he can snag that time off.”

“Oh,” the sound was sharp and Zara knew exactly what it meant. They didn’t believe her; didn’t believe he was real. “Of course, sweetie,” her mom said, her words coming out sympathetic, which only made Zara’s blood boil.

“He has a really important job,” she said a little forcefully, but all they did was hum, unconvinced, making Zara wonder if they ever bought her story.

And, because the universe was cruel and unrelenting, Andrei Svechnikov picked that exact moment to come out of the dressing room. He was dressed just in his underarmour and he froze when he saw Zara was on the phone and he instantly picked up that she was stressed. As soon as Zara saw him, she held a finger up to let him know it would just be a minute.

“I will talk to him, I promise,” Zara told her parents. “I know you want to meet him and I will do my best to see if he’ll come.” She continued, knowing damn well that “he” could never go. “But I need to go now, one of the guys needs treatment.”

“Alright,” her dad sighed. “Love you. Talk to you soon.”

“I love you, too,” she replied before she hung up the phone. “Okay, what’s up?” She asked as she took her gloves off to change them, but Andrei only shrugged, his aching shoulder suddenly secondary.

“I didn’t know you were seeing someone,” Andrei replied without missing a beat. If he was being honest, Andrei had had a crush on Zara for years, since she started interning with the Canes. She was beautiful and smart and caring and she had the best laugh and smile and freckles like constellations, and, of course, she was also the best trained he ever had. She always knew exactly what was wrong and how to fix it and her massages were beyond amazing. No one’s touch compared to hers.

So, yeah, sue him for getting a crush on her. It wasn’t like he ever stood a chance with her anyway.

“I’m not,” Zara told him honestly. “My younger sister is getting married in a couple weeks and my parents won’t stop heckling me about who I’m bringing, so I lied,” she explained and gestured to the table. “And now it’s biting me in the ass because they want to meet my extremely vague boyfriend who doesn’t actually exist.” She didn’t know why she was saying all that to Andrei of all people, but it felt good to get it off her chest.

“Oh,” Andrei said quietly as he got on the table, feeling relieved that she wasn’t seeing anyone, and a little guilty he felt relieved when it was clearly stressing her out.

“Yeah,” she sighed before gently touching his shoulder. “Still bothering you?” When he nodded, she began to slowly go through his range of motion, noting any resistance or wince.

“So, what’s your plan then?” He found himself asking as he studied her. She had light freckles dusting her cheeks and incredible green eyes that reminded him of a slice of lime on a summer morning, and when she got closer, he could smell the vanilla perfume she used that always drove him crazy.

“My plan?” She replied, not fully following him as she focused on his shoulder.

“Yeah, with your fake boyfriend and the wedding.”

“Oh,” she whispered and her hands dropped from his for a second as she sighed. “I don’t know,” she confessed quietly. “They already don’t believe he’s real and if he doesn’t go that’ll only confirm it, but, you know, ‘he’ can’t go because he doesn’t really exist.” Zara shook her head before continuing his treatment.

“You could bring someone to the wedding to pretend to be your boyfriend,” Andrei suggested. “It would only be a couple hours.”

It… Honestly wouldn’t be the worst idea if it was only a couple of hours, but it would be much, much longer than that.

“It’s a destination wedding. In Mexico,” she sighed. “It would be a week trip.”

Andrei licked his lips as he thought about it. Trip to Mexico. Pretend to be Zara’s boyfriend for a week, maybe even get a kiss or two, see Zara in a bikini, share a room with her—

“Okay, big boy, how’s that feeling?” She asked and gave his arm a pat, pulling him from his thoughts.

He rolled his shoulder and nodded. “Still sore but better.” There were no easy rehabs and he knew that. As amazing as Zara was, she couldn’t fix everything with a single touch.

She nodded and helped him sit up. “Ice it at home, okay?” She told him and he nodded, but he was still caught up on her fake boyfriend.

“When is the wedding?” He had to ask.

“January 27th,” she replied absent mindedly as she took her gloves off. Bye-week, Andrei realized. Perfect.

“You know…” he started and tilted his chin up. “I could be your fake boyfriend.”

Zara instantly laughed, but it died on her tongue when she looked over at him. “Wait…” She said slowly. “You’re not serious, are you?”

He shrugged her laugh off, “why wouldn’t I be? I’d be a great boyfriend, very loving. Mothers love me. I’m hot. Plus, a trip to Mexico would be nice.”

“Oh my God, you’re serious,” she said softly and he nodded.

Zara was quiet for a long moment as she looked at him. He wasn’t wrong. Of course he wasn’t wrong. He was tall and attractive and a fucking amazing hockey player and guy. He’d be a perfect boyfriend—fake boyfriend—if they didn’t work together, if she didn’t work for him, but she did.

“Look, Svech, it’s really sweet of you to offer, but we work together and you’re honestly a little young for me anyway,” she did her best to let him down gently, her chest tightening just a little at the way he furrowed his brows.

“Too young for you?” He repeated back to her in disbelief. He had been called a lot of things in his life, but never ‘too young’ for someone. “I’m not a kid. I’m a big boy, you said it yourself.”

“Svech,” she almost pleaded. She was used to being hit on by the guys, she couldn’t be an NHL trainer without being hit on along the way, but the Canes were nothing compared to the Charlotte Checkers and the Green Bay Gamblers before them and she didn’t want to fight with Andrei.

It was his turn to sigh and he got off the table and stepped closer to her, reminding her just how much bigger than her he was. “I’m a big boy,” he repeated as he held her gaze. “I may be young, but trust me, I know how to care for a woman. So, the offer stands. If you don’t want to prove that your parents were right about your boyfriend not being real, I will be your fake boyfriend for the week,” he told her and he let his eyes dip down her body as he bit his lip before he turned and walked out the door, leaving Zara standing there alone.

She shook her head as she stood there but she didn’t get much time to think before Necas walked in looking for treatment too and she did her best to push Andrei from her thoughts to focus on him.

Not that it really worked.

By the time she was in bed at home, she could still hear her parents’ voices in her head and it made her stomach twist as she tossed and turned. She didn’t want them to think they were right (even if they were). She didn’t want to be the lonely one who always lucked out with a guy. For once, she wanted to prove to her parents that she could get a guy, a nice guy, and that she was happy. It didn’t seem that hard on paper, but every day the wedding got closer and she was running out of options. None of her dates in the last month made it to a second date.

Andrei was charming and attractive and every girl he met seemed to be smitten with him, not that Zara was. Sure, he was a face of the franchise and he had lived alone in Raleigh since he was eighteen, but he also thought it was hilarious that he finished last season with 69 points and overused “that’s what she said” like a middle schooler.

But Zara was 29. She wanted a real man who knew what he wanted and could accept her job and was ready to settle down and start a family. Andrei was none of those things.

He was young. A kid. With his whole career and life ahead of him. And maybe she wasn’t actually part of the team, part of the guys, but she overheard them talk about his exploits and she just didn’t want anything to do with them and couldn’t imagine him bring the Prince Charming she brought to meet her parents.

It was just a matter of whether she’d prefer proving her parents right… or Andrei.

--

Zara spent a week thinking about it.

But, of course her parents called every single day, which was insufferable, and she could still hear Andrei offering to be her fake boyfriend in her head and when her mother said condescendingly, “I’m sure this so-called boyfriend is nice, sweetie,” Zara snapped. For once, just for once, Zara wished she could be left alone with her love life and seen for literally anything else. But no, she was the single one with no prospects and no children and she was pushing thirty so the clock was ticking, like she didn’t already know that.

“He has a name,” she replied firmly.

“Oh, does he now?” Her mom asked, unconvinced.

All her reservations went out the door when she said, “his name is Andrei. He’s on the team.”

Her mom was quiet for a long moment, “oh.”

“We’re not supposed to be seeing each other because we work together and if they find out I could lose my job,” Zara said softly, not really believing she was actually doing this.

“Right, of course, sweetie,” her mom said quickly, already googling ‘Andre Carolina Hurricanes NHL’ on her phone. “Oh, isn’t he cute,” her mom said as she clicked on photos. “Andrei Svech-ne-cove?”

“Svechnikov,” Zara corrected quickly, her chest tight with anxiety. There was no going back. Noe she’ll always be known as the girl that couldn’t keep the NHL player.

“Andrei Svechnikov,” her mom repeated back to her. “I sure hope he’s able to come, I’d love to meet him.”

“He’s great,” Zara found herself saying. “A total sweetheart and a giant teddy bear.”

“And good at that hockey thing according to Google.”

Zara took a deep breath, “yeah, yeah he is.”

A moment later she could hear ruffling in the background and her dad’s muffled voice and then her mom explained who Andrei was and it only made her stomach tighten with anxiety. Of course, Andrei had offered, but that had been two weeks ago and there was no saying he’d still be interested, still be available.

“Well, guys, I kinda have to go, so I love you and have a good night,” she told them and two ‘I love you’s later she hung up the phone. She dropped her phone on her lap before she grabbed her pillow and screamed into it.

She bit off more than she could chew and she knew it. Her little web of lies had gotten too big and she couldn’t take it back.

Andrei, whether he went to the wedding or not, had just become her fake boyfriend.

--

She wasn’t herself at work the next day and all the guys could tell. She wasn’t as chatty or smiley, really she seemed to frown more than anything else, and she brushed off anyone who asked if she was okay. Until Andrei that was.

As soon as Andrei asked her if something was wrong, the words tumbled from her lips. “Did you mean it?” She asked, making him furrow his brows.

“Mean what, Z?” He asked as he looked up at her from the treatment table.

“That you’d pretend to be my boyfriend,” she replied simply.

Andrei was quiet for a moment before he nodded, “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it.”

“Okay,” she swallowed. “So, here’s the thing. I kinda told my parents that you were the mystery fake boyfriend.” She missed the way he perked up as she rolled him onto his side to work on his shoulder. “So… If you’re still interested and available… I will book the flights and hotel.” The words tasted bitter in her mouth but she didn’t have another option. She had put the nails in her own coffin.

“Book it,” he told her. He wasn’t about to pass up this opportunity.

“Really?” She asked, not entirely convinced, but he nodded.

“I’ll be the best fake boyfriend, I promise,” he smiled. At the very least it gave him a way to show her he wasn’t a kid. At most, it gave him a chance to show her how good a boyfriend he could be.

As soon as she was done with his treatment, Zara said, “I’ll take care of everything and text you the details, okay?”

“Sounds good,” he smiled as he sat up. When she turned, he let his eyes run down her body and bit his lip when his eyes reached her ass but quickly pulled his gaze back up when she turned back to him.

“You’ll need a suit for the wedding, but it’s on the beach so nothing too heavy, probably don’t need a tie but bring a few just in case,” she continued. “A couple different nice shirts for dinners, too. And when whatever you’d normally pack for a trip to Mexico in January.”

Andrei nodded, “and what colour is your dress?” He asked, surprising Zara.

“What colour is my dress?”

“Yeah, you know, for the pocket square and tie?” He shrugged. “If I’m your boyfriend I should match you.”

Zara was quiet. She honestly hadn’t even thought about it. “Sage,” she told him and when he furrowed his brows, she continued. “I’ll send you a picture.”

Andrei smiled as she nodded and it made her stomach twist in a way she couldn’t explain but she quickly tried to cover it up as she shooed him toward the door. “Now skidaddle, I have others to see.”

Andrei held his hands up as he laughed but nodded as he started toward the door. He paused in the entry and looked back at her with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Should I call you ‘baby’ now? Or maybe ‘babe’? Oh, no, how about ‘boo’?” He asked and Zara didn’t hesitate to throw her balled up gloves at him.

“Shoo!” She told him, but of course he caught the gloves with ease as he laughed and tossed them into the bin before walking out of the room, leaving Zara more flustered than she should have been.

Fucking Andrei.

--

As soon as she got home, Zara popped open a bottle of red wine and flopped on the couch. She had perfectly good stir-fry in the fridge but she pulled up Uber Eats on her phone and searched for her favourite burger joint and made sure to add an extra side of fries to her order. It was only once her order was in that she grabbed her computer off the coffee table and pulled up flights.

It didn’t take her long to book the flight. It was only a three-hour flight so she booked economy. Once she got the confirmation email, she pulled up Skye and Toby’s wedding website and clicked the link for the hotel. They were at least able to get a good deal for the wedding package and amount of rooms booked.

Of course, Zara didn’t hesitate to book the room with two queens, only giving the pictures a quick flip though. It didn’t matter what it looked like anyway, but she had to admit that it was nicer than she was expecting. It was a suit, almost, with a small living area down a few steps with a balcony, and a huge bathroom with a glass shower and a soaker tub.

It was nice. Really nice, actually. And the perfect place to spend a trip with a significant other.

Zara sighed and closed her laptop. She grabbed her phone and screenshotted the confirmation emails and sent them to Andrei along with the links to the hotel and the wedding website. And, in turn Andrei fashion, he replied just a few minutes later with a series of beach and wedding emojis that had Zara rolling her eyes.

This was definitely going to be a bad idea.

- January -

The flight from Tulum was on a Monday and they carpooled to the airport.

It was still dark out when Zara picked Andrei up, but that didn’t stop him from being full of energy and smiles, which, of course, only made Zara more tense and she drove to the airport with white knuckles.

Getting checked in and through security was easy enough, even if Andrei did get ‘randomly selected’ for a secondary inspection. But, even with the delay, they were still there a good couple of hours early and had to wait for their flight. Zara was fine, she had no problem finding a seat and getting her kindle out. She could use the time to get back into Romancing Mr Bridgerton ahead of the next season. Andrei, on the other hand, couldn’t sit still and kept getting up to wander around and check out the nearby stores. But, as long as he was back to board, Zara didn’t care.

It was easy for Zara to get drawn back into her book and before she knew it, they were boarding first class. “Come on,” Andrei said as he nudged her and grabbed his carry on.

“It’s first class,” she told him, thinking he hadn’t heard correctly.

“I know. I upgraded us,” he explained and nodded toward the gate. “Come on.” Zara made a strangled sound in her throat but couldn’t exactly argue with him, so she nodded with tight lips and put her kindle away and grabbed her bag.

First class was, as expected, nice. There was more space, which Andrei needed. Even after years of working with him, Zara sometimes forgot how big he really was. At almost a foot taller than her, of course he’d want the extra room. They also served lunch in first class and they both selected the salad, wanting to keep things light in the air.

They were both more than used to flying, so it was easy for them to settle in. But every minute in the air was another minute closer to her family and the wedding, which left Zara so on edge that Andrei ordered her a mini bottle of vodka to go with her orange juice.

“I’m fine,” she tried to wave him off, but he shook his head and poured it into her glass.

“It’ll take the nerves off,” he told her and passed her the glass. “I didn’t know flying made you nervous.”

“It doesn’t,” she corrected and begrudgedly took the glass from him. She grimaced as the vodka burnt her throat and put it back down on her tray. It was a little strong for her liking. “I’m nervous about my family seeing through us.”

“They won’t,” he tried to reassure her, but she shook her head.

“Can we go over our story?” She asked and he nodded.

“Of course.”

“Okay, so, we’ve been friends and colleagues for years but we got closer with your shoulder injury and you asked me out and I said no but you were persistent and eventually I caved and we’ve been together ever since,” she said, having thought about a good story for them ever since she told her parents they were together.

Andrei titled his head to the side as he looked at her. “I was thinking more like that we hooked up and I blew your mind and you came back for more and we’ve been together ever since,” he said making Zara take a big sip of her drink as she blushed.

“Absolutely not.”

But it’s true, I would blow your mind,” he told her and licked his lips as he looked at her.

“No,” she said firmly and Andrei sighed as he leaned back into his seat.

“Okay, so how long have we been together then? Three months?” He asked after a moment.

“Works for me,” Zara nodded.

“I took you out to a nice Italian restaurant, you had the pomodoro, I had the chicken parmesan and we split deserve, even if it meant cheating on my diet. I walked you up to your apartment and kissed you goodnight,” he continued and Zara tightened her grip on her glass. She didn’t want to admit how nice that sounded.

“Perfect,” she nodded and finished her drink, even if it burned. Though, she quickly regretted it when Andrei asked his next question.

“And when did we first fuck?”

Zara choked on her drink and coughed as she blushed, but when she finally managed to catch her breath, she said, “we haven’t yet.”

Andrei raised an eyebrow at her, “we’ve been together for three months and haven’t fucked yet?”

“I like to take things slow,” she said, even if it wasn’t really true, and she wished she still had some of her drink left.

Andrei didn’t shy away from checking her out again, which only made her blush harder, before he shrugged, “okay, we’re taking it slow.”

He fell quiet after that and Zara appreciated it and let her eyes close as she tried to tell herself that everything would be fine. But, like most nice things in the world, the quiet didn’t last long.

“I’m an affectionate guy, so how much PDA do you want?” He asked.

“Whatever is natural. I don’t want it to be too much, especially considering it’s my sister’s wedding,” she replied after a moment and Andrei nodded.

“No problem. I’m a great boyfriend.”

Zara sighed, “so you keep saying. As long as you fool my family, that’s all that matters to me. Then in a few weeks I’ll tell them we broke up and it’ll be like it never happened.”

Her words made him frown and he looked out the window. “Yeah,” he whispered a moment later. “Like it never happened.” The words tasted sour in his mouth and he hoped he could change her mind.

--

The air in Cancun was thick and hot and Zara felt like she was being suffocated, but Andrei just pulled his hoodie over his head and stuffed it into his bag. After they got through customs and grabbed their luggage, they made their way to find their shuttle, which took nearly two hours to get to their resort, but Andrei kept smiling as he looked out the window at the palm trees and sandy beaches and ocean.

“Barnaul is in the middle of Russia. All buildings. There’s the Ob Rivers, yeah, but it’s not like this,” he shook his head. “It’s so beautiful here.” It wasn’t the first time he had been in Mexico, but he’d never get tired of the endless beach and sun.

“It is,” Zara agreed softly, but she found herself watching Andrei more than the passing trees.

She always knew she had it good in life. She got to go to a good school out of state that her parents helped pay for, even though she got a scholarship. She always had food to eat and presents on Christmas and birthdays, and her parents were funding Skye’s destination wedding. But she was reminded of all that all over again as she looked at Andrei who had to work—and continued to work—for everything he had.

Her heart panged in her chest as she realized that maybe Andrei wasn’t so much childish but finally getting to experience the childhood he never had.

By the time they got to the resort, it was already mid-afternoon. Andrei stayed with their bags as Zara went to check in. “For Roberts, Zara,” she said, quickly adding her first name when she realized there would be a lot of Roberts in for the week.

“Ah, yes! Mr and Mrs Svechnikov, yes?” The concierge asked a moment later and Zara’s head jerked back.

“Uh, I guess, yeah,” she replied awkwardly and check in seemed to go by quickly as she struggled to figure out how the hell they figured she was Mrs Svechnikov when she made the reservations under Roberts. But, he gave her two room keys and explained how to get to their building and room and sent her on her way.

“Something wrong? You look flustered,” Andrei commented once she got back to him.

“He called me Mrs Svechnikov,” she mumbled and Andrei furrowed his brows as he looked at her, not quite catching it so she repeated it louder. “He called me Mrs Svechnikov.”

The corner of his lip twitched up as he looked at her. “Mrs Svechnikov, huh? It does have a nice ring to it,” he teased, making Zara roll her eyes and take her suitcase from him.

“Come on, we’re in the Sea Turtle building, third floor,” she grumbled and started in the direction she was told to go in. Andrei laughed that deep, hearty laugh that gave her butterflies no matter how much she tried to shake them and started after her.

It didn’t take them long to get to the room, but by the time they got there, Zara was ready to change into something lighter. She unlocked the door and pushed it open but stood aside for Andrei to step in before following him in and she froze just inside the door as her eyes locked onto the single piece of furniture in the middle of the room.

No.

No. No. No.

She definitely, 100%, booked a room with two queens. She sent the confirmation to Andrei and it was two queens. There had to be some kind of mistake, this shouldn’t be happening, it—

“Cozy,” Andrei smirked as he jumped on the bed but Zara didn’t move.

“No, no I booked a room with two queens, I sent you the confirmation, remember?” She said quickly.

Andrei looked around the room. “I don’t see another bed,” he said, pointing out the obvious before he smirked back at her. “Looks like it’s ours, Mrs Svechnikov.”

Zara flushed a dark red as she stepped further into the room, letting the door slam behind her. “Shut up,” she hissed and picked up the phone. “I’m calling the front desk and I’ll get it sorted out.” Andrei pouted as he watched her call the front desk. “Hi, this is Zara Roberts in room 1304, I think there’s been a misunderstanding because I booked two queens but was given a king room.” She was quiet for a long moment before she tensed. “No, I booked a room with two queens—Can I change the reservation to two queens?” She pinched the bridge of her nose as she went back and forth with the front desk for a few minutes before she sighed and grumbled a “thank you” and hung up and Andrei’s smirk only made her scowl.

“They said the reservation was changed from two queens to a king and they have no rooms available for the length of our stay,” she explained, but it didn’t make sense to her. She never changed her reservation and she had the confirmation email of two queens and the only person who could have changed it was—

“Skye,” she breathed. “I think my sister messed with the reservation.”

“So this is our room?” Andrei asked for confirmation and she nodded.

“This is our room.”

Andrei smirked as he made himself comfortable on the bed, hands behind his head as he looked at her, “comfy.”

“I’m sure,” she replied, barely giving him a look before she started unpacking. She knew the trip would be a bad idea and it was proving itself to be. Sharing a bed with Andrei? Could this trip get any worse?

Andrei watched her carefully and he thought she was cute when she was flustered. “I’m taking it sleeping naked is out of the question?” He asked after a few moments and she spun around to look at him, blushing all over again.

“Absolutely no sleeping naked!” She told him. “And I’m building a pillow wall between us so no funny business, Svechnikov.”

“You’re no fun,” he teased with a smile.

“We barely know each other and have to share a bed. I think I’m within reason,” Zara replied and went back to unpacking.

“But it wouldn’t be the first time you’ve gotten your hands on my body,” he said, making Zara turn back around to glare at him, but he only smiled.

“Underwear stays on,” Zara told him and, honestly, he’d take that, so he nodded.

“Underwear says on,” he agreed before getting up to start unpacking, too.

They had reservations with her family at the Italian restaurant at 7pm, but it was only half past three and by the time they finished unpacking it was only 4pm, so they had time. Andrei investigated the room after unpacking, and it wasn’t unlike the link Zara had sent him—minus a bed of course—it had a small living area with a table and TV three steps down from the main room with the bed, a large bathroom with a separate tub and huge shower, but the standout of the room was the view of the ocean from the balcony.

“You need to check this out,” Andrei told her as he stood on the balcony. “It’s so beautiful.”

Zara made her way out and she had to admit that he was right. It was beautiful. They had a perfect view of the ocean and she could even hear the soft waves hitting the beach. “Wow,” she breathed.

“We have to go check it out,” Andrei said as he turned to her.

“We have—"

“Reservations with your family at seven, I know. But it’s only four. We can check out the beach for an hour,” he said and, well, he wasn’t wrong, so she nodded and Andrei’s smile widen before he rushed back into the room to change into his swim trunks as Zara rolled her eyes. Once Andrei was done changing in the bathroom—it only took a minute—Zara changed into a bikini with a cover up and Andrei was only a little disappointed.

But the beach was wonderful.

The sand was soft and the water cool and refreshing against the Mexican sun. Zara stayed on the beach, letting the water cool her feet and ankles as she walked with her sandals in her hand, but Andrei didn’t hesitate to run into the water and let her know how nice it was, which made her laugh. Andrei had no problem letting the water splash against him and even dunked under a few waves, completely drenching himself. And when they got back to their room to get ready for dinner, Zara told him that he smelt like salt, but he only shrugged.

Dinner was at the upscale Italian restaurant. Andrei wore slacks and a button down with a suit jacket while Zara wore a knee length floral dress. Zara got ready quickly, terrified of being late to dinner and she ignored Andrei’s eyerolls as they left for dinner 15 minutes early despite it being a stroll away.

The sun hung low in the sky as they walked toward the restaurant with a good foot between them, much to Andrei’s dismay. Other than Zara’s heels clicking against the walkway, they were quiet. Or they were until Zara broke it. “How did we meet?” She asked Andrei.

“Huh?” He replied on default, furrowing his brows as he looked over at her.

“Us. Our story. How did we meet?” She repeated.

Andrei took a deep breath. “At work. You’re one of the trainers. I had a crush on you for the longest time and asked you out and you said no but I was persistent and you finally said yes,” Andrei replied, wishing it was true.

“And I accepted because…?” Zara continued after a moment.

“Because I hurt my shoulder and you made it better so we spent more time together and you fell for me like I fell for you.” Each word felt like a dagger, but Andrei ignored it. “Your favourite wine is pinot grigio, you like your coffee with almond milk and half a sugar, your favourite meal is pasta, even if you pretend it’s teriyaki chicken, you like milk chocolate and mango smoothies, and as much as you pretend to like being alone, you actually hate it.”

Zara’s step stumbled and she stopped waking as she looked at Andrei. She never told him any of those things but they were all right. She didn't know where he learned it, but he knew her better than she thought he did.

Andrei continued walking for another few feet before he realized Zara wasn’t next to him and stopped. “Are you okay?” He asked, looking back at her. It pulled Zara out of her thoughts and she shook her head before forcing a smile.

“I’m good,” she told him and quickly walked up to him. “Just glad you remembered our story.”

“How could I forget?” Andrei replied, but Zara ignored him as she kept walking. Andrei watched as she walked past him, his eyes dropping to her ass for half a moment before he started after her. Andrei called her name as he caught up with her before he reached out to rest his hand on her lower back. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked.

Zara forced a smile and kept walking, but Andrei kept looking at her with a concerned expression, making her break. “I just don’t want them to figure us out,” she told him and Andrei’s lip twitched down.

“They’re not,” he reassured her. “I will be a perfect boyfriend and everything will be fine.”

She leaned into him just a little as she walked and he smoothed his hand down her back. She didn’t want to admit it, but he really was warm, and in her heels, her shoulder tucked just under his. She tried her best, but it was really hard to ignore how perfect she fit in his arms, and she was so caught up in him she didn't realize they had made it to the restaurant until Andrei pulled his hand back. Zara instantly felt cold without it and she ran her hand over her arm as she shivered before she walked over to the hostess, missing the way Andrei ran his hands down his pants.

“Hi, reservation for Ro—“ Zara was cut off by Andrei’s hand on her lower back.

“Sorry,” he whispered and pulled Zara to the side a bit. “Don’t kill me but I forgot my phone so I’m gonna run back and grab it.”

She shook her head as she reached out to hold his wrist, “what? No. You don’t need your phone anyway.”

Andrei’s shoulders fell as he winced. “I won’t even be five minutes, okay? What if we go for a walk on the beach after? Or see like a pretty bird?”

“Andrei—“

“Not even five minutes,” he told her and kissed her cheek before gently pulling his wrist from her hand and walking back toward their room, leaving Zara alone in the front of the restaurant feeling more than a little exposed.

She ran her hands over her arms as she watched him walk away before she re-approached the hostess and introduced herself, and the hostess happily walked her over to the table along the back wall filled with her family and Zara did her best to force a smile as she approached, really wishing Andrei was there.

Skye was the first one to see her and her sister’s eyes lit up, “Zara!”

At least Skye’s excitement was enough to pull a real smile from Zara. Sure, it hadn’t been that long since they last saw each other, it hadn’t even been a month since Christmas, but Zara still missed her little sister.

It took Skye a moment to get out from between their mom and Toby, but once she did, she pulled Zara into a hug and Zara laughed as she hugged her back. “What? No white dress? I thought the bride-to-be was supposed to be in white.”

“Shut up,” Skye whispered and gave her sister a playful shove. “It’s good to see you. But…” There was nothing subtle about the way Skye looked around in search of Zara’s ‘boyfriend.”

“Yeah, I thought you were bringing a plus one,” her mom added. “Did something happen, honey?”

“He’s here,” Zara replied firmly, giving her mom a pointed look.

“Is he?” She asked and Zara clenched her jaw.

“He just forgot something in the room and ran back to get it.” Her mom hummed, but didn’t seem all that impressed, making Zara take a deep breath. But the touch on the small of her back startled her before she could say anything else and when she turned, her found Andrei’s familiar smile.

“Sorry about that, kisa,” he said and kissed her cheek before turning to give her family a charming smile. “You must be Mr and Mrs Roberts, it’s so nice to see you,” he said and there was no mistaking the shock in her mom’s eyes, which only spurred him on. He shook her dad’s hand before taking her mom’s hand and kissed the back of it. “I can see where Zara gets her good looks from.”

Her mom laughed and gave Andrei’s arm a playful shove before running her hand down his arm when she felt how firm he was and Zara rolled her eyes. “See?” She said, her tone sharp. “Very real.”

“I never said he wasn’t,” her mom replied before turning back to Andrei. “And please call me Sheryl. My husband is Dan, Skye of course, and Toby, her fiancé.”

“Ah, yes,” Andrei smiled and turned to Skye. “The beautiful bride, Zara has told me so much about you, and congratulations on the wedding.”

“Thank you,” she smiled back and let her eyes drop over him before giving Zara a nod of approval which made Zara shake her head.

“Let’s sit?” She said and gestured for Andrei to sit but he ignored it in favour of pulling her chair out for her. Zara’s lips tightened as she looked at him but his smile only grew as she resigned and let him tuck her in before he shrugged his suit jacket off to hang over the back of his chair. When he sat down across from Toby, he let his arm rest on the back of her chair.

Waters had already been brought to the table, so Zara reached out and took a big sip of hers, already wishing it was stronger, especially when Andrei’s thumb brushed the back of her shoulder.

“So,” Sheryl smiled. “Andrei, right? My daughter has not been very forthcoming about you, so please tell us about yourself.”

Andrei nodded, “yeah, sure. I’m Andrei, I’m from Russia, I play for the Hurricanes. I met Zara at work and always thought she was amazing. It took me a few months to win her over, but she finally came around and it’s been great. Your daughter is incredible, Mr and Mrs Roberts. Honestly, I still can’t believe she’s really mine.” His gaze softened as he looked at Zara but she didn’t look back at him and everyone but her could see the adoration he had for her in his eyes.

Skye nudged Zara under the table to get her sister’s attention. “You turned him down for months? Are you crazy?”

Zara shrugged, “I didn’t know if he was serious.”

“I’ve always been serious about you,” Andrei replied and smiled at Zara when she looked up at him.

Zara didn’t know how to respond and Andrei’s smile softened as he reached out to brush a piece of her hair behind her ears and Zara’s breath caught in her throat before she pulled away to look at the menu in front of her. Andrei’s lip twitched down for half a moment before he pushed his smile back up and glanced down at his menu, his arm still resting on the back of her chair.

Zara ordered the fettuccini alfredo while Andrei ordered the chicken parmesan, as did Toby, while Skye ordered the pomodoro, and her parents the bolognese, and after the waiter came by to fill their wine glasses, Sheryl’s attention once again fell to Andrei.

Andrei was, in their mind, Zara’s first serious relationship in years and Sheryl had been convinced she was lying until she saw him with her own eyes. Still, she was skeptical and even if it was clear by the way he looked at her daughter that he cared about her, she wanted to know if he was the real deal, if he was good for her.

Zara griped her wine glass and fork tightly as her mother continued to direct questions toward Andrei, terrified that he was going to slip, but he never did. Andrei was more than used to pressure and high stakes situations and being questioned by a mother was easy in comparison, and he was determined to make Sheryl like him. He had never met a mother that didn’t like him and Sheryl wasn’t going to be the first.

“So, are you close to Zara’s age, then? You look fairly young,” her mother said between bites. Sure, Andrei was tall and strong but there was no denying the youth beneath his features.

“No, I’m actually 22, almost 23,” he replied with a smile and Zara gripped her fork a little tighter.

“22,” her mom repeated and looked at Zara. “A little young, don’t you think?”

Zara reached for her wine as she shook her head, “I don’t think so.”

“Same age as me and I’m getting married this week,” Skye butted in, but her mom kept looking at Zara.

Andrei picked his napkin up to wipe his mouth and after Zara put her wine glass back on the table, he took her hand in his and ran his thumb over her knuckles, “I know seven years seems like a lot but I’m serious about your daughter, Mrs Roberts.”

He had her breath catching again and she forced a smile as she leaned into him, “he’s really mature for him age and we just really hit it off.”

Andrei nodded before looking at her and kissing her temple. Zara felt her cheeks heat up with a soft blush and she pulled her hand from his to reach for her wine again. “But enough about us, it’s Skye’s week!” Zara tried to change the subject. Her mother studied her for a moment longer before she sighed and let it go. She’d have all week to get to know Andrei a little more.

The rest of dinner was about the happy couple and the wedding and Skye’s whole face lit up as she talked about the plans and Toby looked at her like she hung the stars in the night sky and it made Zara’s heart ache. She was more than happy for her sister; she was happy that her sister was happy and loved and getting the wedding of her dreams with the man of her dreams, it was just that she wanted it, too, and Andrei’s hand on her thigh only reminded her of how alone she really was.

Not that anyone noticed if she ate her pasta with a tight grip on her fork.

By the time they finished dinner, it was getting late and between the travel and the wine and the full stomach, the exhaustion was starting to hit Zara and she was ready to curl into bed. Not that she was looking forward to curling into bed with Andrei.

They had just started back toward their building when Skye caught up to them. She gave Andrei a smile before pulling Zara aside, “I’ll bring her back in a second.”

Zara gave her sister a confused look but let Skye pull her a little down the path. “Dude! You like totally scored!” Skye told her, looking over Zara’s shoulder at Andrei. “I honestly can’t believe he’s really your boyfriend. I mean, tall, dark, and handsome? Pro athlete? Rich? I thought you made him up.”

“Yes, I totally lied about dating the team superstar,” Zara deadpanned as she rolled her eyes.

“Oh, come on. NHL player? Working together? You can’t really blame me. But wow, he’s amazing. And he looks at you like you’re his sun. And that accent? He’s like the whole package.”

Something in Zara twisted at her sister’s words and she looked over her shoulder at Andrei who gave her a small smile that she struggled to return before she looked back at her sister. “Yeah, he’s pretty great,” Zara told her before clearing her throat. “Now, did you fuck with my reservation?”

“I did no such thing,” Skye replied. “I just upgraded you two to the king room since one became available. You know, more space for you two.” She winked and Zara bit her tongue as she gave her sister a bitter smile. “Enjoy,” Skye added before she pulled back to rejoin her fiancé.

Zara just shook her head and when she looked over, she found Andrei still looking at her. She took a deep breath before she gestured that he could come over and he nodded before catching up with her and Zara ran her hands over her arms as he approached, a shiver running down her spine as he touched her hip.

“Are you cold?” He asked. She shook her head, she wasn’t really, and their room wasn’t far. But when she shivered at the breeze, Andrei didn’t believe her and he draped his suit jacket over her shoulders. Zara froze as she looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat but he just shrugged and walked another couple steps before realizing she wasn’t next to him and turned back. “What?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly and took a deep breath, the scent of him consuming her and she swallowed before catching up with him. “Thank you,” she added with a small smile.

He returned her smile but kept his hands by his side as they walked and Zara did her best to ignore how he was the first and only guy to give her his jacket and how much she liked it.

--

Once they got into their room, Zara took the bathroom first to take her make up off and brush her teeth as Andrei changed and when she was done, they switched places. Zara changed into a light, loose fitting t-shirt and shorts while Andrei went for the underwear only look, which made Zara glare at him.

“What? You said ‘absolutely no sleeping naked’ and ‘underwear stays on’,” he argued and she knew she stood no chance, so she sighed and pulled the sheets up to cover herself.

Getting into bed was easy. It was the settling that was hard. Zara stayed true to her word and built a pillow wall between them that made Andrei roll his eyes.

The room was hot, even with the ceiling fan, and Zara just couldn’t get comfortable. She kept tossing and turning and tossing and turning and it drove Andrei crazy. He was more than used to unpleasant sleeping arrangements. He slept in the same bed as his brother for years and then he was billeting and had road roomies for years with the Colts and Canes. But this was different.

After what felt like forever, the exhausted from the travel and dinner with her family hit and Zara finally settled and they were both able to get from shut eye, not that it was as deep a sleep as either would have liked, the weight of an unfamiliar place and sharing a bed hanging over them.

When Zara woke the next morning, her pillow wall was only half intact as Andrei spooned the pillows. He had fallen asleep with his back to her, but he had to have turned sometime in the night and he ended up in the middle of the bed with his arms wrapped around the pillow wall and his face pressed into it.

His face was mostly hidden by the pillows but she could see a small, content smile on his lips as he slept and his hair hung over his forehead. It was long and she couldn’t remember the last time he cut it, but she liked it. He looked younger as he slept, Zara decided, and part of her wanted to reach out and brush his hair back from his face, but as quickly as the thought came, she pushed it aside and got up. By the time she came out of the bathroom, Andrei was up, too.

Tuesday was really the only day Zara had to herself during wedding week, if Skye didn’t call with some cupcake emergency that is, and she fully intended to spend it on the beach. The beaches in South Carolina were nice, but not this nice.

So, after the breakfast buffet, she changed into a bikini and lathered herself in sunscreen and stepped out of the bathroom.It was a simple green bikini but the ties rested high on her hips and the green brought out her eyes and Andrei took a sharp breath in as he ran his eyes down her body.

So that’s what she had been hiding under her team jacket and t-shirts.

Her breasts bounced just a little as she walked and Andrei’s eyes were locked on them. He groaned softly to himself, making Zara look over at him. “You good?” She asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah,” he nodded and cleared his throat.

“Ready to hit the beach then?” She asked and he nodded.

“Oh definitely,” he smiled and slipped his sunglasses on so he could continue to check her out without her noticing.

Zara nodded and pulled a cover up on before she slipped her flipflops on and started toward the door with her kindle in hand and Andrei took the opportunity to run his eyes down to her ass and bit his lip. But she stopped with her hand on the doorknob and turned back to him, making his eyes snap up to hers. “Did you put sunscreen on?” She asked. “Because I’m sensing there isn’t much sun in Russia and I don’t want to spend the rest of the trip listening to you moan and groan and having to rub aloe on your burns.”

Andrei rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses, “I put sunscreen on. I will be fine.” Zara took a deep breath as she looked him over but nodded and they made their way down to the beach.

The sun was warm above them, the sand soft beneath their feet, and the smell of sea salt was thick in the air. Zara grabbed two towels from the towel desk and found a pair of empty beach chairs with a cabana and made herself comfortable.

“You’re really going to read on the beach?” Andrei asked as she took her cover up off and pulled her kindle out.

“Yes,” she replied simply. “Enjoy the sun and sound of the ocean while I read.”

Andrei scoffed. “Lame,” he told her and pulled his shirt over his head without knocking his sunglass off. “I’m going to swim because that’s what you’re supposed to do at the beach.” Zara’s eyes dropped down his body for a moment before she looked back at her kindle. She had seen him without a shirt more times than she could count over the years, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate what was in front of her.

“You’ll have to let me know how it is,” she said without looking at him.

“I will,” he replied and put his sunglass on his chair before kicking his flipflops off and starting toward the water.

There was no testing the water for Andrei, he ran right into it and once he was deep enough, he dove in. Zara shook her head but she couldn’t pull her eyes away. His head poked up from the water a moment later and he shook his head like a dog before running his hand through his hair, not that it mattered because a moment later he flopped back into the water.

Zara’s book was forgotten as she watched him splash and drift in the water and if she lost sight of him because he went under a wave, it never took her long to find his broad shoulders again. She’d know those shoulders anywhere.

She didn’t know how long he was in the water, but she watched him until he emerged from the ocean. His blue swim trunks had fallen lower on his hips from the waves and clung to his body and he ran his hand through his hair to push the wet strands from his face. The water dripped off him with every step and Zara’s mouth went dry as she watched him, the rest of the beach suddenly seemed secondary, as if—

“Oh my God, that guy in the blue trunks is SO fucking hot.”

“Wher—Oh, oh fuck he is. He’s a tree I’d like to climb.”

“I think I’d rather have him climb me.”

The voices of two girls pulled Zara from her thoughts (or lack thereof). It left a sour taste in her mouth and she shot the girls a glare before Andrei approached. He didn’t bother towelling off, just set his shirt on the sand and slid his sunglasses on and flopped down on his chair. His wet skin caught the sun and Zara definitely didn’t notice the way the drops of water collected in the valleys of his abs before running off.

“Refreshing,” Andrei said, snapping her out of her trance and her eyes jumped up to his. The corner of his lip twitched up, “the water. It’s refreshing.”

“Oh,” Zara cleared her throat and she suddenly felt a lot hotter than she did before. “I’m sure it is. It looks nice.” She wondered if it would be refreshing enough to cool the heat crawling through her veins.

Andrei hummed and rested his arms behind his head. “Anyway, I was thinking…” Zara’s stomach instantly twisted. “If we’re dating, we would kiss, yeah? So maybe we should practice?”

Zara threw her flipflop at him.

“No. No practice kissing. No kissing me in front of my family. No kissing. No!” Zara rushed out, her cheeks heating up and she quickly stood up before he could argue. “Watch the stuff, I’m going for a dip.”

Andrei’s lips twitched into a frown as he watched her walk down to the water and not even the cheek action from her skimpy bikini bottoms could ease the ache settling in his chest. He knew he was far from perfect, that he stood next to no chance with a woman as beautiful and smart and amazing as Zara, but it stung.

Zara didn’t last half as long as Andrei did in the water that was chillier than she was expecting, just a quick dip to cool off and clear her thoughts.

She worked with Andrei. She worked for Andrei. Zara had never been attracted to any of the guys she worked with. Of course, she could appreciate that they were attractive, but she had never been attracted to them. She didn’t know why suddenly Andrei was having this effect on her, it made no sense.

She couldn’t be attracted to him.

Could she?

No.

He was the same age as her baby sister.

She couldn’t be attracted to him, whatever she was feeling had to be something else. It had to be nerves about getting found out or for the wedding. That made more sense than being attracted to Andrei Svechnikov.

Unlike Andrei, Zara did towel off when she got out of the water before settling down in her chair and she could feel Andrei’s eyes on her. “You’re right, it is refreshing,” she told him.

It at least made the corner of his lip twitch up. “You know, the volleyball court is empty,” he commented a moment later. “Wanna play a match?”

The real answer was no. She wanted to lounge on the beach and able to actually read a chapter or two and Andrei was the most competitive guy on the team and she already knew he’d win. But, he was doing an excellent job playing the part of her fake boyfriend so the least she could do was play a round of volleyball with him. Knowing him, it would be over quickly anyway.

“Sure,” she nodded and stood up, using the hair elastic on her wrist to pull her wet hair back.

And, ever the gentleman, Andrei waited for her to finish tying her hair back before he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Andrei had overheard the girls talking about him, too. He knew he was hot and while he was (technically) single, he wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t available. Really, it would have been the perfect moment to kiss her, even just for practice, but she didn’t want to, so he resorted to other methods.

“Andrei!” She shrieked as he carried her over to the court trying to ignore how easy it was for him to pick her up like that, but he just laughed and when he finally set her back down in the sand, he had a wide grin on his lips that had her stomach doing flips once again. “I can’t believe you just did that,” Zara said breathlessly, but there was a small smile behind her words.

Andrei shrugged, “it was fun.”

Zara shook her head as she laughed and Andrei wished he could bottle the sound. She gave his chest a playful shove before she ducked under the net and grabbed the volleyball and brushed the lose sand off it while Andrei got into position. “Ready?” She asked and when he nodded, she served the ball over the net to him.

Andrei easily volleyed it back to her making her run across the court to hit it back to him and—oh.

Oh.

Andrei’s eyes immediately dropped to her chest. The little bikini didn’t provide much support and her tits bounced with her every step and he groaned under his breath.

When she sent the ball over the net, he purposefully sent it to the other side of the court to watch her run after him. It was too far for Zara to catch, not for her lack of trying. She shook her head as she picked the ball up and wiped the sand off it. “Svechnikov 1, Roberts 0,” she said and served it again.

It was fun playing with him, really, but it went exactly how she thought it would go with Andrei easily racking up the points, sending the ball all over the court, wherever she wasn’t, making her run around the court as she desperately tried to get a point.

A part of Andrei felt guilty for enjoying it so much, but the bigger part of him just wanted to run his hands over her, slowly untie her bikini, trace his lips over her body and bury himself between her thighs, and—

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Zara managed to spike the ball over the net and it hit him right in the… balls.

Well, he kind of deserved that, he thought to himself as he winched out a long string of Russian curses and bent over at the waist with his hand over his crotch.

“Oh my God! Andrei! Fuck, are you okay? I’m so sorry,” Zara rushed out as she ducked under the net and all Andrei could do was give her a thumbs up as he continued to curse in Russian so she knew he wasn’t okay. She was gentle as she touched his shoulder, “I’m so sorry.”

He tried to shrug it off, but there were tears in the corner of his eyes. He had been speared before, taken some shorts to the crotch in games and practice, but he had equipment and padding and there was none of that in swim trunks. “Fuck, Kisa, you got me good,” he told her with a strained laugh.

“I thought you’d see it coming, I didn’t mean to. God, I’m so sorry. Do you need ice or something?” She asked. He would have seen it coming if he wasn’t thinking about everything he wanted to do to her.

“I’m fine, I’ll be fine,” he replied. Karma was an absolute bitch.

“Let’s just go back to the chairs and lay down for a bit,” she suggested and he gave her another thumbs up before straightening up and Zara kept her hand on his lower back like she would if he got hurt in practice or a game as they walked back to their chairs. The trainer in Zara came out and once he was settled, she got a bag of ice from the bar and he thanked her before settling it on his crotch with a groan.

But, even laying on the towel in pain with literal ice on his dick, he couldn’t stop thinking about how hot she looked in that bikini.

He was going to hell.

--

After Andrei felt better, they had dinner at the buffet and Zara could only rationalize that he was trying to eat his discomfort away because she had never seen someone eat so much.

Pasta. Fish. Scrimp. Crab. Bread. Muscles. Chicken. Mozza sticks. Steamed veggies. Clam chowder. Not to mention the four glasses of wine. It would be impressive if it wasn’t also concerning. “You good?” Zara asked, still nursing her second glass of wine.

Andrei nodded, “so good. Everything tastes so good.”

“I gathered,” she laughed and he ran his hands down his chest and stomach.

“I’m so full.”

“I would be surprised if you weren’t. I don’t think I’ve seen someone eat so much and I used to work with junior hockey players.” She forgot that Andrei was only a year older than the oldest to play in the major junior leagues. “I couldn’t imagine you have more space in there. But then again, I was thinking that after the chicken. And the mozza sticks. And the veggies.”

Andrei laughed as he shrugged her off. “As long as you don’t tell the nutritionist.”

“It’ll be our little secret,” Zara nodded and Andrei smiled.

They caught the nightly entertainment after dinner, which was some sort of play. Andrei didn’t fully get it, but Zara was smiling and it was enough for him. By the time it was over, it was pretty late and Zara was ready for bed. Just like the night before, they took turns getting ready for bed in the bathroom before settling into bed. Andrei was still clad in only his underwear so Zara made sure the pillow wall was still intact.

But, to no surprise, that night was just as difficult as the night before.

Zara tossed and turned and stole the blanket when she rolled to the far side of the bed and it drove Andrei crazy. He was used to sharing a bed with someone, his brother, his mother, ex-girlfriends, sloshed teammates that ended up passed out in his bed, but Zara was pushing his limits.

He let her be for the first while, just like he did the night before. But unlike the night before, Zara didn’t pass out from exhaustion and Andrei snapped. “Can we try something?” He asked, but there was an edge to his voice.

“What?” Zara replied, desperate to get comfortable and get some sleep.

“Just… Don’t hit me. Again,” Andrei told her and Zara raised an eyebrow at him. He broke the pillow wall down, glaring when Zara protested and rolled onto his side. He was gentle as he reached over and pulled her back against his chest and she went limp in his arms.

Zara’s head was empty, void of any thoughts because he was pressed completely against her. She could feel every inch of him against her and every muscle and the heat radiated from his skin and she could feel her own flush on her cheeks and the tips of her ears and down her chest.

“Okay?” Andrei asked after Zara had been quiet for a few moments.

“Y-yeah,” Zara replied shakily.

“Okay,” Andrei whispered and pressed his face into her neck, breathing in her soft vanilla scent mixed with the soft smell of sea salt. “Goodnight.”

“G’night,” Zara mumbled back, her heart racing in her chest.

It took her a while to fall asleep, hyperaware of Andrei and every raise and fall of his chest, but his hold on her waist prevented her from moving and tossing and turning and she could feel his heartbeat against her back. Slowly, the tension fell from her shoulders and her eyes got heavy and she let sleep take her.

--

When Zara woke the next morning to the sun streaming through the open curtains, they were still in the same position as they were when the fell asleep: spooning. Andrei still had a tight grip on her and his nose was pressed into her neck and she liked it. She didn’t want to admit it, but she liked it. She liked waking up in someone’s arms. The air was cool with the AC on and Andrei was warm behind her and she liked it.

She smiled to herself and just let herself soak it in for a moment. It wasn’t that it was Andrei, she told herself. It was that it was a strong attractive man spooning her.

Finally, she resigned herself and tried to pull away from him, but he tightened his hold on her waist, keeping her against him as he mumbled something in Russian she couldn’t understand. She covered his hands with hers and just for a second noticed how much bigger his hands were before she gave his hand a tap. “You can let go of me, Svech, it’s morning.”

“Five more minutes,” he mumbled and pressed his face into her neck to shield his eyes from the sun and gave her a few butterflies in the process, which Zara did her best to shake. But, she was enjoying it too much to argue, and he was stronger than her, so she let her eyes close and gave him those five minutes.

But Andrei’s arms were too warm and inviting so those five minutes ultimately became an hour since she fell asleep again.

When she woke again, Zara wiped the sleep from her eyes before turning in his arms and came face to face with a very awake Andrei Svechnikov. “Hi,” he smiled.

He was so close she could see all the different shakes of brown in his eyes and the few scattered hairs along his brows. “You didn’t wake me up,” she replied simply, a little betrayed.

“You looked so comfy,” he told her and Zara rolled her eyes.

“What time is it, even?”

Andrei shrugged but finally let her pull away from his arms, as much as he hated it, so she could check her phone. “Oh my God it’s noon already,” she told him and quickly tossed the sheet back and got out of bed. “We need to hit lunch ASAP before the afternoon with my family—and oh fuck they’re going to require a lot of drinks.”

Andrei groaned as he rolled onto his back and he watched Zara walk around the room and pull clothes from her drawers before disappearing into the bathroom and he smiled. She liked being in his arms so much she fell asleep. Twice.

Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for him yet.

--

After getting dressed for the day—Andrei in pink swim trunks and a white t-shirt, and Zara in a black and grey marble bikini that had more cleavage than the bikini the day before (that Andrei definitely wasn’t drooling over) and a cover up (much to Andrei’s dismay)—they headed out for some lunch, and Zara definitely wasn’t stress eating.

“What’s the big deal?” Andrei asked as he pulled the top off a blueberry muffin. “I already met them and they definitely bought it.”

“For two hours,” Zara replied. “The longer we’re around them, the easier it’ll be for our gimmick to fall apart. And my mom wasn’t huge on the age gap.”

“Gimmick?” Andrei asked.

“Our story,” she corrected and the corner of his lip twitched up.

“Then we should kiss,” he tried again, but the answer remained the same. She glared at him.

“That will be a last resort,” she told him and Andrei happily took it. It was certainly an improvement from the No. No practice kissing. No kissing me in front of my family. No kissing. No! he got from her the day before, so he was getting somewhere.

Maybe he could win her over by the end of the week.

Everyone was already by the pool by the time Andrei and Zara showed up. Two sun chairs were conveniently available in the middle of the group, not that Andrei noticed, he just happily sprawled out in his chair before taking his backward baseball hat off to run his fingers through his hair and put it back on.

When he caught one of the bridesmaids looking at him, Andrei flashed her a bright smile before resting his hand on Zara’s thigh. She jumped at his touch and fought back the urge to knock his hand off, not because she didn’t like it, but because she probably liked it more than she should.

She was hyperaware of how high his hand rested on her thigh and every circle his thumb traced on her skin. She gave him a few moments, but when he never pulled his hand back, she reached for her kindle with white knuckles, desperately needing a distraction.

Her family spoke over the chairs as they caught up ahead of the big day later that week, but it was muffled to Zara as she was consumed by Andrei’s touch, even as she tried to focus on her book. But Colin and Penelope didn’t matter, all Zara could think about was Andrei’s big, warm hand on her skin.

A couple of her uncles, cousins and their kids were more than a little interested in Andrei, and Zara did have to give him credit for being patient and kind and talking hockey with them, even when he was clearly on vacation with his ‘girlfriend.’ But when Mason, one of the kids asked for advice on scoring a lacrosse goal, Andrei was more than willing to help.

“Better if I show you,” he said and gave Zara’s thigh a squeeze, pulling her from her thoughts for a moment as she glanced up at him before she looked back down at her book, finding it so much easier to focus on without his hand on her thigh.

He stepped into the open area by the pool, his back to the water as he faced Mason. Andrei didn’t have a hockey stick, so he had to pretend. “I struggled with it in the beginning, too,” Andrei told him, not that Mason believed him. “You have to make sure the puck is flat and clean to start. When you put your blade down, you have to use the flex or else it won’t work, so make sure your flex is right for you. If it’s too strong, it won’t bend so it won’t work. Then, you have to move quickly and smoothly or it’ll fall.” He mimed his goal and his smile widened when Mason looked at him with bright eyes. “When you score your first lacrosse goal, make sure to tell them Svech taught you, okay?” Andrei added with a wink and Mason nodded excitedly.

Andrei straightened and didn’t see Toby’s nephew trying to slip behind him. Toby’s nephew caught Andrei on the back of his knee. It wasn’t hard, but it was enough to knock him off balance. He tried to step back, but he was right at the edge of the pool and there was nothing for him to step back on, sending him tumbling back into the pool with a big splash.

Zara shot up, her kindle dropping to her lap as she called his name with a gasp. The water sloshed up over the edge of the pool before Andrei got his feet under him and stood up. His hair stuck to his forehead, the longer strands dangling in his eyes and he gave his head a shake before running his hand through it to push it back and he grabbed his hat which floated not far behind him. His sunglasses were another matter and it took him a moment to find them on the bottom of the pool and he had to duck back under to grab them. His white t-shirt had become all but transparent and it clung to his body, leaving nothing to the imagination as he put his hands on the edge of the pool and pushed himself out of the water.

The water fell off him in sheets, drenching the cement around the pool as he stood and he used the hem of his soaked shirt to wipe his face before he pulled it off and wrung it out. Zara’s jaw was slack as she watched him, and she wasn’t the only one. More than a couple bridesmaids shamelessly let their eyes run down Andrei’s body.

He ran his hand through his hair again before he put his hat on. He hung his shirt over the back of his chair and he didn’t bother towelling off before he laid back in his chair with a bright smile. “I was feeling a little warm anyway,” he shrugged, a smirk teasing his lips.

“And looking a lotta hot,” a bridesmaid mumbled under her breath as she continued to eye Andrei up like a piece of meat.

Zara didn’t know what came over her as her head jerked toward the bridesmaid and she snapped, “keep your eyes to your own man, Lauren.”

Her reaction made Andrei’s smirk widened and he pushed his chest out a bit. “I’m your man, huh?”  He teased as he leaned into her.

“Shush,” Zara grumbled, but she couldn’t hide the blush growing on her cheeks.

“Aw, babe,” Andrei said louder and pressed a kiss to her cheek, making Zara scrunch her nose as her stomach twisted.

His eyes dipped to her lips for half a moment. It would be so easy, so natural, to kiss her and he wondered if she still tasted like the strawberry lip balm he saw her put on earlier. He licked his lips and for a moment her eyes dipped down to his lips, but just as quickly as her eyes dropped, she looked back down at her kindle. “You’re dripping on me like a wet dog,” she said as she tried to shrug him off.

He frowned as his heart dropped but he pushed it aside as he reached out to grab her kindle from her. “What are you reading on this thing anyway?” He asked.

“No!” She shouted and threw herself over Andrei to get it back as she flushed, which only made Andrei more curious and he used his hand to block her as his eyes scanned the page, his interest increasing with every word.

He slid one figure inside her, causing her to gasp again (which caused him to laugh with delight), then began to stroke her slowly.

“Oh, my God,” Penelope moaned.

“You’re almost ready for me,” he said, his breath coming faster now. “So wet, but so tight.”

“Colin, what are you—”

He slit another finger inside, effectively ending any chance she had for intelligent speech.

She felt stretched wide, and yet she loved it. She much be very wicked, a wanton heart, because all she wanted was to spread her legs wider and wider until she was completely open to him. As far as she was concerned, he could do anything to her, touch her in any way he pleased.

Andrei’s throat went dry as he looked over at her. “Really, Z?” He asked, his voice rough making her blush darken but he didn’t fight her as she grabbed her kindle back, not that she did anything more than stuff it into her bag, mortified.

Of course, her family only thought it was cute that they teased each other.

Andrei was quiet for a long moment and he ran his hand through his hair a few times, suddenly feeling hot again despite the breeze and the pool water still dripping from him. His throat was dry and the rest of the world seemed to be drowned out by the sound of the blood rushing in his ears as he pictured Zara beneath him and how warm and wet she’d be around his fingers.

His cock twitched in his trunks at the thought and he quickly tried to shake the image from his mind, not that Zara was making it easy for him, her skin flushed as she laid out in the sun in that cute, little bikini that showed off everything Andrei wanted to get his mouth on.

She was absolutely killing him.

The rest of the afternoon passed by quickly with Andrei stuck in his own little world and it was only when everyone started to file out to get ready for dinner that Andrei finally got to say what he was dying to say.

He let his hand rest on her lower back and as soon as they were out of hearing distance from her family, he told her, “you know, if you ever got tired of reading about all the ways a man can pleasure a woman, I’m right here.”

Zara made a strangled noise in her throat as she flushed again, but she forced out a scoff. “You? Please. I’d need a real man to know how to touch me.”

“I believe you said I was your man earlier,” he replied and shamelessly ran his eyes down her body, eating her alive. “Trust me, I know exactly how to touch you.”

Despite her flush, Zara shivered, his words stirring something deep inside her that she tried to deflect. “Or maybe girls just like to stroke your ego and fake it.”

“Trust me, kisa, no woman has ever had to fake it with me and neither would you.” Kisa. It was a nickname Andrei used on her every now and then and the Russian petname made her stomach flip but before she could ask him what it meant, he continued. “And if you ever want me to prove that to you, I will. Once with my mouth, maybe twice, once with my fingers, and definitely when I’m finally buried in you.”

If she was flushed before, her skin felt like it was burning now. Her tongue was heavy in her mouth and any intelligent quip was gone from her mind. All that remained was him. She couldn’t remember the last guy to make her cum once, let alone three or four times.

“Do they do that in your little book, kisa?” He asked and licked his lips. For the first time, maybe he had her hook, line, and sinker.

“Something like that,” she squeaked out and cleared her throat before she quickened her pace toward their room. Anything to put some distance between them and catch her breath.

Andrei Svechnikov was going to be the death of her.

–

The next day, the day before the wedding, was the rehearsal.

Zara spent way too long fussing with her hair and dress and Andrei watched her carefully. She used a straightener to curl her hair into soft waves and she did her make up neutral. The dress she chose was a solid emerald green with cap sleeved that ended just above her knee. “How do I look?” She asked Andrei. Of course she wanted to look nice, but she didn’t want it to be too much and take away from her sister.

Andrei didn’t shy away from running his eyes down her body and he couldn’t help but lick his lips. Now that he knew what she looked like in skimpy bikinis, he couldn’t help but notice how the dress hugged her curves. “Very nice,” he told her honestly and her shoulders relaxed.

“Okay, good,” she sighed. “The rehearsal dinner is at–”

“The grill overlooking the water,” Andrei cut her off. She had only told him a million times.

“At seven,” Zara continued even though Andrei knew. The whole trip they had been together–until now–and Zara didn’t want Andrei to lose track of time or forgetting to go and not showing up.

“I will be there,” he told her and pushed himself from the bed so he could touch her shoulders. “The world’s best boyfriend doesn’t miss rehearsal dinners.”

“Fake boyfriend,” Zara replied weakly, making Andrei frown for half a second before he forced his smile back up and walked around her.

“I’ll probably just hang around the beach until I have to get ready and then I will be there for you,” Andrei said.

Zara groaned softly. “God, the ocean. The rehearsal dinner is in some banquet room near the lobby.”

“But the wedding tomorrow will be on the beach,” he pointed out.

“I know,” she sighed. “I just hate the thought of being inside running through everything again while it’s so nice out.”

“Maybe it’ll still be nice after dinner,” he shrugged and stepped toward her. “We could go on a nice walk on the beach, maybe take a late night dip…” He couldn’t help but wink at her.

Zara’s flush wasn’t covered by her blush but she rolled her eyes. “Not happening, Svech.”

“We’ll see,” he hummed and bit his lip. “Might be stuffy in that room all day, you might enjoy some cooling off.”

If Zara was being honest, she could use some cooling off right now.

Andrei was so close to her she could smell the hotel body wash he used and where the dark brown of his eyes met his pupils. His lips were a dark pink, a little worn from the sun and salt and his constant biting, but they looked so soft as her eyes dipped to them. He was scruffy, having not shaved since they arrived, and for a split second, she wondered what it would feel like against her skin. But as quick as the thought came, she pushed it aside and tapped his chest. “Seven o’clock. Don’t be late.”

Disappointment flickered on his features. For a moment he thought that maybe she was going to kiss him, but that was foolish of him. “I’m never late,” he replied and stepped back to give her room.

Andrei didn’t say anything as she left, the door closing loudly behind her and he let his shoulders drop. Every day it felt like he was making progress, like maybe she could see him in a new light and like him like he liked her, but then she’d shut him down like it was the easiest thing in the world and it made his heart ache.

All he wanted was to be her boyfriend and treat and love her the way she deserved. He wanted to give her the world.

But he was still just a kid to her, wasn’t he?

–

Andrei was never late. Being on time was late in Andrei’s mind. So, naturally, he was ready and waiting for the rehearsal dinner at 6:30pm instead of seven. He wore blue slacks and a matching suit jacket and a button down, but no tie. He even shaved. He was planning on shaving the next morning for the wedding, but he could admit that there wouldn’t be much difference in 12 hours. He wasn’t like Jordo or Marty who could grow beards quick and thick, so he thought he’d shave and not show up to such an important event for Zara with a scruffy shadow.

Even if he wondered what it would be like to leave beard burn on her inner thighs.

“You made it,” Zara said as soon as she saw him outside the room and he smiled at the way her shoulders relaxed at the sight of him.

“Of course I did,” he replied and held his hand out to her. Zara hesitated for a moment before she took it. He was right, a girlfriend should hold her boyfriend’s hand.

She tried not to think about how much bigger his hand was or how worn and rough it was from the years of hockey, and she definitely did her best to not think about how much she liked it.

As a bridesmaid and sister to the bride, Zara (and Andrei) were seated at one of the two close tables with her family, and Andrei went into boyfriend mode once again, moving his chair closer to hers and letting his arm rest on the back of her chair. The movement pulled at his button down, which already had the first couple buttons undone, revealing more of his smooth skin and the cross that dangled between his pecs and paired with the woody, almost vanilla scent of his cologne that got stronger the closer he came, Zara forgot how to breathe.

He was doing that to her more and more it seemed and she didn’t know what to do about it, or how to feel.

There were a few toasts made as they waited for dinner, but Zara was more caught up in his scent and the cross that caught the light every time he shifted, drawing her attention back to his big, beefy chest.

Dinner, of course, was seafood, and Andrei had to pull his hand back from her to eat and she only missed it a little. The room was hot and humid with that many people, but Zara missed his touch, even if she did her best to ignore that she did.

After dinner came more speeches and toasts and Zara welcomed back Andrei’s touch and surprised herself when she leaned into him, seeking more of it, making Andrei smile, even if she didn’t catch it.

For Andrei, each toast bled into the next. He didn’t or barely knew these people and they more or less sounded the same, and maybe those two glasses of wine with dinner, paired with the few drinks that afternoon, were starting to hit him.

He couldn’t help himself, he leaned into her and brushed his lips over the shell of her ear. “So, when do we get out of here to have that late night dip?” He asked, his voice barely above a breath.

As much as she tried to deny it, his voice made her shiver, but she reached out to give his thigh a squeeze, warning him. “Andrei,” she whispered.

Of course, that only invited his hand to her thigh. Her dress was knee length and it was easy for him to push the fabric up to feel the soft skin of her thigh, making Zara’s breath catch in her throat. “It would be more fun than sitting around listening to toast after toast and getting drunk off wine,” he said and moved his hand up a little higher. Her nails dug into his thigh, but that only spurred him on.

The past couple days, he had wondered what her skin would feel like under his touch and it was so much better than he could imagine and it left him craving more. She always left him craving more.

“We could take a quick dip in the pool after it gets dark,” he suggested with a hum.

“And some employee will come running after you and drag you out and probably get us both kicked out of the resort,” Zara replied, rolling her eyes, but, of course, Andrei only licked his lips.

“Not if we don’t get caught,” he told her and moved his hand up a little higher, trying to convince her to give in; to give into him.

“Andrei,” she whispered, warning him again, but his hand on her thigh made her skin burn and whoever was giving a speech was completely forgotten to her.

“It would be fun. Refreshing,” Andrei continued and winked at her.

For a moment, Zara held his gaze and he thought he had her. Her skin was flushed and her eyes were dark and he thought he had her. And then she pushed his hand down to her knee. “Not happening, Andrei,” she told him.

Andrei took a deep breath as he pulled his eyes away from her, not wanting to share his disappointment, but he couldn’t pull his hand from her knee, even as he used his other hand to reach for his wine and down the whole glass.

The speech dragged into the next and then the next and Andrei let his hand drag back up Zara’s thigh. She quickly took a sip of her wine before setting it back down on the table, but didn’t say anything so Andrei let his eyes find whoever was giving the current speech as he pushed his hand higher, so high he could almost–

Zara jumped at the feeling of his fingertips against her panties. Her skin flushed a dark red and she knocked his hand away harshly, hitting the table hard enough to knock her glass of wine onto her lap.

Her gasp was sharp, making the whole room look at her and Andrei quickly pressed his napkin to her dress, right above where he wanted her most, but her green dress was ruined by the red wine soaking the fabric despite Andrei’s attempts to clean her up.

“Are you okay?” Skye asked, making Zara’s head whip toward the front table as Andrei continued to press his napkin to her dress.

“Yep,” Zara replied, popping the p as she tried to play things off, her skin burning from Andrei’s touch. “Just some spilt wine, please continue.” She could barely hear her own voice over the roar of her heartbeat in her ears as she tried to play it off, not that Andrei bought it. He could feel her heart racing under his touch and the heat of her body and it drove him crazy.

But the rehearsal dinner went on.

Everyone was unbothered by Zara and her ruined dress and Andrei, after all, it was the bride and groom who were the centre of attention, not the bride’s sister and her ‘boyfriend.’ But Zara was bothered. She was hyperaware of Andrei and his every touch and the scent of his cologne and the way his eyes never seemed to leave her.

The toasts went on, congratulating the happy couple and reminiscing in their memories, but the words never truly reached Zara’s ears, all too focused on Andrei.

“You know,” he breathed, leaning in to brush his lips against her ear again. “You could let me help you out of his dress when we get out of here. I’d tell you you’d be drier without it but…” he finished his thought by returning his hand to her thigh.

Zara closed her eyes as she took a deep breath and pushed his hand away. “Enough, Andrei,” she told him. Whatever his little game was, she wanted it to be done. She had made a fool of herself at her sister’s rehearsal dinner and she just wanted to survive the rest of the night and Andrei with his brown eyes and deep voice and big hands was making that impossible.

She put her head in her hand and gripped the napkin he had used to clean up her dress tightly in her other hand. Andrei studied her for a moment before he nodded and leaned back in his chair to give her space. But he still couldn’t pull his eyes away from her all evening.

How could he? Zara was the most beautiful woman in the world to him, more radiant than the bride and he’d never get tired of looking at her.

The toasts spoke of joy and love and family and when Andrei finally tuned into them, he found himself picturing that they were talking about him and Zara, that one day her family would recall the first time they met him and how good he was to her and how they knew they were meant to be.

His heart ache, he wanted it so badly. Wanted her.

“What?” Zara asked when she caught him staring, but Andrei just shook his head.

As much as he wanted it, he would never have it because she didn’t want him the same way. He was just a hockey player. A kid. Too young for her. Someone she worked with.

He was just Svech.

–

As if Zara’s day hadn’t been long enough with the all day rehearsal and the dinner and ruining her dress and fucking Andrei, once they got back to their room after dinner, Zara realized one thing: it was hot.

Suffocating, really.

“You gotta be fucking kidding me,” Zara groaned, her shoulders slumped as she walked over to the AC controls to get it running again.

Andrei’s furrowed brows relaxed as he stepped into the hot, still room and he immediately shrugged off his jacket and undid his shirt, already overheating and he had only been in there for a moment. Zara huffed as she pressed button after button, but the room stayed just as still and hot. “Not working?” Andrei asked as he looked over her shoulder.

“No,” she groaned and gave it a frustrating smack, not that that helped either. “I’m going to call the front desk and maybe they can send someone to fix it.”

“Z,” Andrei sighed and gently touched her arm. “It’s almost midnight, they’ll just tell you that you have to wait till morning.” Rationally, Zara knew that, but she couldn’t stay in the suffocating heat box of a room with Andrei without trying.

Her hair was already starting to stick to her neck as she sat down on the bed to call the front desk while Andrei propped open the balcony doors for some air. He stripped down to his underwear while Zara was on the phone with the front desk, but her frustrated bang of the phone as she hung up had him stick his head out of the bathroom door and when he saw her head in her hands, he already knew the answer. They were stuck for the night.

Well, there were certainly worse things in life than being stuck in a hot room with a hot woman.

“No good?” Andrei asked and Zara shook her head as she sighed.

“They can’t send someone until morning.”

It was what Andrei was expecting, but he still took a deep breath. They had a long day tomorrow, Zara more than him, and they needed their sleep, but he wasn’t sure how much sleep they’d get in this sweatbox.

Zara took her time getting ready for bed, making sure to do her whole skincare routine plus a facemask, wanting to look her best for the wedding. She changed out of her dress and into a pair of loose sleep shorts and a tank top. For a moment, she debated just sleeping in an oversized shirt and her panties, but she couldn’t bring herself to, not when she knew Andrei was only in his boxers. She needed more between them.

Even with the balcony door open, neither of them could muster more than the sheet, the rest of the covers kicked down to the foot of the bed. Zara wanted to sleep above the sheet like Andrei, but she felt too exposed, even if the air was thick and humid and the sheet stuck to her clammy skin.

Neither of them slept well in the seemingly increasingly hotter room, hyperaware of each other and by the time Zara’s alarm went off the next morning, she felt the opposite of rested. The room was still hot, her tank top stuck to her skin and exhaustion weighed her down. The day ahead of her was long and she didn’t know how she was going to survive.

She groaned as she pressed her face into the pillow and begged for another hour of sleep, but she knew she’d be lucky if she got another five minutes.

Her back was to him, but Andrei stirred beside her and when she felt the bed dip as he got up, she let herself roll onto her back, seeking more cool air from the open balcony door he was closer to. She could see Andrei walk to the bathroom from the corner of her eye and her eyes widened before she looked over at him, not believing what she saw.

She knew for a fact that Andrei had gone to bed in his boxers, but she was staring at his bare naked ass as he walked to the bathroom, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Zara’s skin may have been flushed from the heat, but she blushed as the bathroom door closed behind him and she suddenly felt much more awake than she did two minutes ago.

And a lot hotter.

She had seen Andrei shirtless countless of times. She had worked on his shirtless body, be that his shoulder, wrist or hip, countless times. But she had never seen him naked. She never wanted to see him naked. But that was a whole lot of ass. A whole lot of very nice ass.

Everyone always said hockey players have the best asses and… Andrei’s ass was perky and round and jiggled just a bit with his every step and Zara wondered what it would feel like if she reached out and gave it a little squeeze. The thought had her feeling hot all over again.

And it wasn’t just his bare ass because his bare ass meant that he was bare everywhere. She had slept less than a foot away from a very naked Andrei Svechnikov.

You work for him. You’re his trainer. He’s too young for you. It’s all just pretend. Don’t think about him like that.

It didn’t matter what she told herself, Zara couldn’t stop thinking about his perky ass or how naked he was or the new heat it made her feel and she could hear Andrei’s voice in that post game interview when he said ‘I’m a big boy, I gotta use my body well’ and when he told her all the ways he’d make her cum, and she pressed her thighs together as she wondered how true his words were.

Zara was pulled from her thoughts when Andrei opened the bathroom door and she jumped at the sound, pulling the corner of the sheet over her as she looked over. There was a flush to Andrei’s cheeks and he had a sheepish smile on his lips as he looked at her through the crack in the door.

“I’m sorry,” he told her, the flush on his cheeks darkening. “I must have gotten hotter while I slept.”

“It’s okay,” Zara squeaked out, her cheeks just as red.

“Still sorry,” he told her and opened the door fully so he could step out. He held a hand towel in front of his …bits and Zara could see that his flush went down his chest and just how deep his v-line was.

She sank further into bed and her skin felt like it was burning but she tried her best to ignore it as Andrei grabbed a fresh pair of underwear from his drawer and pulled them on.

Zara wasn’t blind, of course she knew he was hot, but knowing he was hot and seeing how hot he was were two different things and Andrei was hot.

Very fucking hot.

“Sorry,” he apologized again once he got his underwear on and looked over at her, the towel still clutched in his hand.

Zara shook her head and forced herself to sit up. “It was unfavourably hot, and Russia is cold, I imagine. I’m not going to hold it against you, I’m just going to pretend it didn’t happen.” She didn’t wait for a response as she made her way to the bathroom and turned the shower on, needing a cold wash.

Andrei’s lips were tight as he sat down on the bed and looked at the closed bathroom door, unsure if they had made progress from the first night, or if he had unintentionally crossed a boundary and ruined everything. He couldn’t even remember stripping down so he had to have done it in his sleep, too hot in his boxers, even if he slept above the covers.

He waited for her to come out of the bathroom, missing the way her eyes dropped down his chest in favour of watching a drop of water run down her arm. The air in the room felt thicker as she eyes the way his cross rose and fell with his every breath, but she cleared her throat and gestured toward the dresser.

“Just gonna grab some clothes…” she whispered and busied herself with grabbing the custom bridal party pyjamas Skye wanted them all to wear. She had to bend down to get them, her towel inching up her legs and Andrei’s eyes ate up every new inch of skin. There was nothing he wanted more than to push her towel up and sink to his knees and–

“The ceremony is at three, but you should be there at least half an hour early,” Zara said as she stood back up, pulling Andrei from his thoughts. His cheeks were rosy as she turned to look at him but she didn’t say anything.

“Got it,” he told her with a forced smile, trying to keep his eyes on her face and not on how tight the towel was around her chest and the drops of water that dripped from her hair down the tops of her breasts.

“I’ll be with my sister all day, so please be there on time,” she told him, holding her towel tightly, not wanting it to fall.

“I will,” he replied firmly and grabbed his phone off the nightstand. “I have three alarms so I don’t miss it.”

His words made her relax some but watching him stretch and seeing his muscles move under his skin as he reached for his phone made her feel something else and she was sure she was blushing as she nodded and quickly retreated to the bathroom to change.

She returned a moment later dressed in her bridal party pyjamas that had Bridesmaid stitched over her breast in a sage colour cursive font. Andrei watched as she gathered her things in a bag and got her dress and shoes out of the closet. “I’ll see you at the wedding then,” she told him and Andrei nodded.

“I’ll be there, watching the most beautiful girl there,” he replied and smiled at Zara’s blush. He meant every word he said.

“I’m sure everyone’s eyes will be on the bride,” she said weakly.

“Everyone’s but mine,” he told her, pleading with her to look at him again.

Instead, Zara closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, needing to ground herself before she opened her eyes again. He was just a flirt. It was nothing more. He didn’t really mean it. He couldn’t.

“I’ll see you later, Andrei,” she settled on and put her flats on before she slipped out the door, leaving Andrei alone in their way too hot hotel room.

He groaned as he flopped back against the bed. Zara Roberts was going to be the death of him, but he couldn’t imagine a better way to go.

–

Getting ready for the wedding was easy. Or, at least it would have been easy if she hadn’t woken up next to a naked Andrei Svechnikov that morning.

Room service brought breakfast as they fussed over Skye and made sure everything was in order and that she looked her best. Skye couldn’t stop smiling and her smile was contagious. After breakfast they all had their make up and hair done, which seemed to take forever, but Skye didn’t mind. She was just so happy the day was finally here. Today was the day she went from a girlfriend to a wife.

And Zara was only a little jealous.

Zara’s hair wasn’t long enough to do up, so it was left down in loose waves and her make up was earthy and neutral, just like the other bridesmaids, while Skye’s hair was down in curls and her make up was more smokey but still earthy to fit the beachy vibe.

All morning Zara knew she should be focused on her little sister and her big day and being the perfect bridesmaid and sister she could be and making sure everything went according to plan, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Andrei.

Andrei and his big brown eyes and bright smile and contagious laugh and kindness and broad shoulders and abs and pale ass.

Andrei.

Maybe it was the mimosas, maybe it was the wedding, maybe it was something else entirely, but her whole mind was full of Andrei and her heart ached. She missed the feeling of his hands on her skin and she wondered if he really knew what he was doing when it came to women like he always bragged, and she wondered what he would feel like.

“Earth to Zara,” Skye said with a laugh, pulling Zara from her thoughts with a blush. God, she hated how she was always blushing these days.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “The AC died in our room last night so it was kinda a long night, but I’m here, I’m good, won’t happen again, I promise.”

“As if your room wasn’t hot enough with that beefcake,” one of the other bridesmaids, Arianna, said, and Zara clenched her jaw.

“Today is supposed to be about Skye, Arianna, so I’d appreciate it if you could focus more on the bride and less on my boyfriend,” Zara told her before turning back to Skye. “Is there anything I can do before we get dressed?”

“No,” Skye replied a moment later, the corner of her lip twitching up at her sister’s jealousy. It wasn’t often she saw Zara like that. Actually, she couldn’t remember ever seeing her sister like that. “I’ll just change into my lingerie while you girls get into your dresses.”

“Okay,” Zara replied with a smile and watched her little sister disappear into the bathroom with a lingerie bag, feeling only a little jealousy that her little sister would be getting some while she was busy playing pretend with Andrei.

Still, Zara was sure to shoot Arianna a glare while they got dressed, wanting her to know that Andrei was not up for grabs. If he was going to be anyone’s, he was going to be hers.

The girls were all dressed in their sage green dresses by the time Skye came back out in her robe and pictures were taken as she put her dress on. It was a simple dress, an A-line with a tulle skirt and a lace overlay and off shoulder sleeves. She looked beautiful and Zara’s throat was tight as she looked at her little sister.

But then she thought of Andrei and his words, ‘I’ll be there, watching the most beautiful girl there,’ and she smiled as she wondered if he truly meant it, if he’d really be there watching her throughout the ceremony instead of the bride.

Zara found herself hoping he would.

The rest of the early afternoon went by quickly and after some quick finishing touches and pictures, they were making their way down to the beach. Zara should have been thinking about Skye and if her dress was perfect, about the weather, about shoes in the sand, about Toby and if he didn’t cry when he saw her, if he wasn’t there at all, but all Zara could think about was big boy himself.

Asking him to be her fake boyfriend was a mistake, she realized as they lined up to head down the aisle, her neck straining in search of his familiar light brown hair. Of course it was only when the music started and everyone stood up that she caught his soft brown eyes and her shoulders relaxed as she smiled.

He was there.

Zara held the groomsman’s–Mitch’s–arm as she walked down the aisle with a smile, but her eyes were on Andrei the whole time, just like his were on her. Even when the music changed and Skye began to walk down the aisle, Andrei couldn’t pull his eyes from Zara at the altar.

Her sage green dress and earthy make up looked stunning on her and complimented her features and eyes and he was breathless as he watched her. She was everything he could ever want and more.

She was everything.

“Please be seated,” the officiant said and Andrei sat down, his eyes still locked with Zara’s. Their trip would be over soon and he was running out of time to win her over.

The officiant was one of Skye’s and Toby’s closest and oldest friends, and it showed as he told the story of them from the first time they met in class and how Skye hated being partnered with him because she thought he was going to lower their mark, to Toby looking for advice on how to ask her out, to how cute and inseparable they were in high school and how that closeness never left as they got older.

“Everyone expected them to drift apart after high school, but they only got closer,” he said and Toby lifted their joined hands so he could brush his lips over Skye’s knuckle and Andrei’s heart felt heavy in his chest as he looked back to Zara and he pictured that the officiant was talking about him and Zara.

Not that they would have been in high school together or grown up together, he reminded himself, their age difference too big. But still, he couldn’t stop himself from imagining.

Their officiant–maybe Evgeny–would talk about how they teased each other and the difficulties of working together and the friendship their relationship was built on and how Andrei pined for her for years. He’d talk about this trip and pretending to be together and how it showed her he was everything she needed and how perfect they were together.

It was selfish and he knew that, but he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about it.

Zara’s hair fluttered in the ocean breeze and every now and then she had to brush tears away before they ruined her make up, and there were a couple of times throughout the ceremony that Zara looked over at him, giving him butterflies as he smiled back and he knew he was lucky for just getting the change to look at her.

When he offered to go on the trip with her and be her fake boyfriend, he had had a crush on her, but looking at her now, at her sister’s wedding, he realized it was so much more than a crush. He never felt like this before. He wanted to be with her, he’d do anything for her. He craved her smile and her laugh and her every touch.

He wanted Zara.

He needed Zara.

He…

He was in love with Zara.

Andrei was glad he was sitting down as the realization shook him and he took a deep breath through his nose and dug his nails into his palms.

He was in love with Zara.

He was in love with Zara.

He must have had a panicked look on his face since Zara furrowed her brows as she looked over at him, and he did his best to give her a reassuring smile as his head spun.

He was in love with Zara and she only saw him as a patient. A co-worker. A friend. A kid.

The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur for Andrei. Vows were said and rings exchanged. They shared a kiss as they were pronounced husband and wife and Andrei remembered clapping with everyone else as they walked back up the aisle, but his eyes never left Zara.

He was fucked. Absolutely and completely fucked.

–

Andrei walked on autopilot to the reception, his mind still reeling. A waitress came by with a tray of champagne and Andrei quickly grabbed a glass and downed it before making his way to the bar, needing something stronger.

His hands shook as the bartender slid his drink over, but Andrei ignored it. The only thing that occupied his mind was Zara. He had had feelings for Zara since he entered the league, but he hadn’t realized his feelings were that deep until now.

He was in love with her and she was absolutely going to ruin him.

He ordered a shot after his drink, wanting to distract himself from his life altering realization. The tequila burned his throat a little, but it wasn’t bad, and certainly not enough to truly take his mind off Zara. But, honestly, he could be black out drunk and still be thinking of Zara.

But, of course, Andrei was too caught up in his mind and cocktail hour went by too quickly and then it was time for the reception and dinner and he didn’t know how he was going to survive.

After the ceremony, Andrei had given Zara some space, or, more accurately, he had given himself some space from Zara. But that space went away as the bridal party got their introductions and Andrei’s breath caught in his throat all over again and he needed her.

When it came time for dinner, Andrei settled in beside her and pulled his chair a little closer before he draped his arm on the back of her chair, seeking even the slightest brush of her skin against his.

They had seafood for dinner again, and it was good, even if the taste was secondary to Zara.

All Andrei could think about was Zara. How beautiful Zara was, Zara in her dress, the sea green of Zara’s eyes, the sweet scent of her perfume, how she leaned into him when the tips of his fingers brushed the ends of her hair, the matte pink of her lipstick and how it was a little smudged, and how he wanted to smudge it some more.

Everything began and ended with Zara.

Andrei knew he should at least pretend to be paying attention to the happy couple and the speeches, but he couldn’t pull his attention from Zara.

He brushed the tips of his fingers through the ends of her waves again, making her shiver and she pulled her eyes from her sister to look at Andrei. He watched her with his big, soft brown eyes that had her heart doing flips. The corner of his lips twitched up and she forced a small smile before looking back Skye, but she could still feel Andrei’s eyes on her and when she glanced back, he was still looking at her like she hung the stars in the night sky.

Zara had had a lot of boyfriends–well, more flings than anything else–but none of them ever looked at her like that.

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a split second she thought Andrei might kiss her when his eyes dropped down to her lips, and despite her earlier remarks, she’d actually be okay with it. Instead, she was disappointed when he brushed his lips over her temple. Not that she had a reason to be when she was the one that drew the line in the sand.

Zara couldn’t help but melt into him, seeking his touch and warmth, even if her heart sank in her chest. Andrei was good at a lot of things–hockey, magic, and media, to name a few–she shouldn’t have been surprised he was this good at pretending, too. She just wished that he wasn’t.

The point of him coming to the wedding was to get her family off her back, convince them that she was capable of having a meaningful relationship like her sister. But, in true Andrei fashion, he had to go above and beyond and made her family fall in love with him. Made her fall in love with him. Andrei was leaps and bounds the best boyfriend she ever had, and he wasn’t even her real boyfriend.

If anyone asked her what her dream boyfriend looked like, Zara would have said kind (like Andrei), flirty (like Andrei), considerate (like Andrei), funny (like Andrei), passionate (like Andrei), and attractive (like Andrei). But it wasn’t real. It was never real.

She knew that in her mind, but it didn’t stop her from being pulled toward him and seeking everything he had to offer.

If he was just worse at pretending, kept more distance between them, didn’t flirt as much, and sure as hell didn’t look at her like that, she’d be okay. But Andrei was never one to half ass something.

Zara shivered and leaned over the gap between the chairs to rest her head on Andrei’s shoulder and the rest of the speeches were lost to her as she focused on him.

He was an adult, an NHL superstar, but in her head, he was still the wide eyed rookie who was basically a kid when he came into the league. She knew rationally that their seven-year age gap wasn’t that much in the long run, but it felt like a lot when he was only 22 and she was knocking at 30’s door.

If he was just a little older… Or her a little younger…

But things didn’t work like that.

The wedding speeches were nice, though not as nice as being in Andrei’s arms, not that she’d tell anyone that. And once the speeches were over and the cake was cut, the party started to take off.

There was a nice dance floor set up on the beach, but Zara stayed in Andrei’s arms longer than she should have, just wanting to soak in the feeling of him. When she finally found it in herself to pull away and join the party, Andrei reached out and caught her wrist. Her hand looked so small compared to his and it shouldn’t have made her feel the things it did. “Where are you going?” He asked.

“To dance?” She replied and Andrei’s chair scraped on the floor as he stood.

“Then I’ll go with you,” he told her and followed her out onto the dance floor.

In the beginning, Andrei danced beside her, not that he let her wander out of his reach. But, the more songs that played, the closer he moved. Zara was perfect and she looked amazing in her dress and there was no denying the sensual nature of how she moved to the music.

All Andrei wanted was to pull her back to their room and have his way with her.

So, when ‘Talk Dirty’ came on, he moved closer to her, keeping his arm around her as he pulled her back against his chest, all but grinding on her. He let his hand find her waist and his lips brushed her neck, making Zara freeze for half a second before leaning back against him, moving with him and enjoying the feeling of his body against hers, even if she knew it was just for show.

It was funny because Zara had never really been a PDA person. Sure, kisses and hugs were okay, but not in excess, and yet, there she was at her sister’s wedding eating up attention from the man pretending to be her boyfriend.

In the past, Zara’s eyes always found the attractive guys in the room and she knew exactly how to get their attention, but everything and everyone was secondary to Andrei. The only attention she wanted was his.

The only thing she wanted was him.

She reached behind her to cup the back of his neck and let him pull her completely flush against him, a different warmth settling in her body, no matter how much she tried to ignore it. She fit perfectly against him and she melted into him for the song.

The song was quick and every brush of his lips sent another wave of heat and need through her body and by the time the song came to an end, she had to pull away from him to head to the bar, needing to take some breaths that didn’t smell like his cologne.

Zara hung around the bar for a few minutes, nursing a drink as she kept some distance between her and Andrei. But, as each song blurred into the next, the distance between them only made her crave him more. She needed him and the drink did nothing to change that.

When the music turned slow, Andrei’s eyes found Zara in the crowd. The corner of his lip twitched up as he stepped toward her, his eyes dipping down her body for a moment before he extended his hand to her. It wasn’t a song that he was familiar with, but it didn’t matter. It was slow and soft and about being in love and it was more than enough for Andrei.

“Would you do me the honour of sharing this dance with me?” He asked. His words surprised Zara but she smiled as she took his head and let him pull her out onto the dance floor.

His hand was so much bigger than hers and he was a whole head taller than her, even in her heels, and she tried to think of the last time she slow danced with someone and the only thing that came to mind was prom more than ten years ago. She had worn a horrible pink dress she thought looked good at the time and her hair was dyed too dark for her fair complexion.

“I–” Zara started, but Andrei shook his head and guided her hands to his shoulders before resting his hands on her hips, holding her close.

Her chest was pressed against his and she was so close he could see the flecks of blue and gold in her eyes and the slight chap to her lips and the smudge of her eyeliner, but she was perfect.

She was always perfect.

He couldn’t pull his eyes from her the whole dance, even the music was secondary to her. Her green eyes, the arch of her cheeks, her cupid’s bow, the freckles that decorated her nose.

Her.

It took everything in his power to not kiss her when his every atom was screaming at him to.

Everyone melted away, leaving just him and Zara as they swayed to the music. His hands moved to the small of her back, pulling her closer and he heard her breath catch in her throat, but she didn’t pull back. If anything, she pressed herself closer.

She told herself it was in case any family was watching and she had to keep playing pretend, but really, she had to know what his chest felt like against hers and what the hair at the base of his skull felt like.

He never pulled his eyes away from her, his deep brown eyes burned a hole in her soul and pulled at an emptiness within her. An emptiness he could fill.

The song ended way too quickly for either of their liking and Zara found it hard to pull away. The air was thick and humid despite the late hour, but she craved his warmth.

She craved him.

The slight of him that morning was fresh in her mind, along with his every touch from the rehearsal dinner and the child-like wonder when they first landed, and her heart pulled to him. No matter how hard she tried to deny it, her heart pulled to him.

The song that came on after wasn’t as slow, but it wasn’t overly quick either. They could have kept dancing–should have kept dancing–but Andrei kept looking at her with those big brown eyes that made her heart flutter. She opened her mouth but quickly closed it in favour of taking his hand and leading him somewhere more private.

The first place Zara saw was the photo booth off to the side, away from the dance floor and it would have to do. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure they weren’t being watched before she pulled Andrei into the small booth and closed the curtain behind them.

She opened her mouth to tell him that letting him be her fake boyfriend was a mistake, that she couldn’t do it anymore, that he was doing too good a job and she couldn’t take it anymore, not when he was already the best boyfriend she ever had and it wasn’t even real. But before she could get the words out, his lips were on hers.

His lips were soft and slightly chapped from the salt water and he tasted like champagne and Zara knew she should have pushed him away, reminded him how unprofessional it was. But he was firm and warm and he felt bigger in the small booth and she pulled him closer by the undone collar of his shirt.

Andrei groaned softly against her lips and deepened the kiss as he pressed her into the wall of the booth. He kissed the breath out of her and she moved her hands up to his hair, needing to hold onto him, needing to feel him.

The tug on his hair pulled another low groan from his throat and he trailed his hand down from her hip to push the skirt of her dress up, letting his hand wander over the soft skin of her thigh. He was so focused on her and her soft gasp against his lips when he hooked her leg over his, needing to be closer to her that he didn’t realize his elbow hit something until–

Flash.

Zara froze and pushed him back enough to see the time count down again and Andrei let his lips trail down her jaw.

Flash.

He ran his tongue over her pulse point, pulling a strangled moan from her lips and she tugged him by his hair back to her lips. The kiss was rough and frantic and–

Flash.

Andrei’s hand moved from her thigh to her ass as he pushed her dress up more, wanting to slot himself between her legs and he pulled back from the kiss to nip at her lower lip, his eyes dark when he realized just how tiny her panties were.

Flash.

Zara’s chest heaved and she swore she had never felt so hot with need before in her life.

Trust me, kisa, no woman has ever had to fake it with me and neither would you. And if you ever want me to prove that to you, I will. Once with my mouth, maybe twice, once with my fingers, and definitely when I’m finally buried in you.

She could hear his words in her head and she wanted it desperately.

She wanted him.

She ran her tongue over her lip as she eyed him and she cupped his cheeks before kissing him again, clinging to him knowing he’d support her.

Flash.

The sound of the pictures printing pulled them from their trance. Zara groaned as Andrei pulled back and tried to follow his lips before realizing what she did and she flushed as she leaned back against the wall.

Andrei untangled himself from her to grab the pictures and he smirked before he held them up to her. Zara blushed all over again as she looked at them. Andrei’s big body took up most of the frame, but there was no mistaking how much she was enjoying his every touch.

“I think this one is my favourite,” he told her and pointed to the pictures with her lip between his teeth.

“Shut up,” she said weakly and his smirk grew.

“Never. And I’m saving these.”

Zara groaned and let her hands fall to his sides as she pressed her face into his chest. She could feel his chest shake as he laughed but he gently ran his hand down her back, making her shiver.

“I need to ask you something,” she said after a moment and pulled back enough to meet his gaze.

“Anything,” Andrei replied.

Zara flushed before she could even get the words out. “The other day by the pool… You said some things… I just want to know if you meant them.”

“I said a lot of things by the pool, kisa. You need to be more specific,” he told her, the corner of his lip twitching up. He had a pretty good idea what she was after, but he needed to hear her say it.

Zara was quiet for a long moment before she mumbled “fuck it” under her breath. “You teased me about my book,” she started. “Said you’d… do things to me.”

“Make you cum?” He teased, his smirk growing.

Zara’s blush darkened but she nodded. “Did you mean it? Or were you messing with me?”

Andrei leaned in to ghost his lips over hers. “Kisa, I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it.” Again, she opened her mouth to ask him what kisa meant but he cut her off with a kiss and she let herself melt into it. “It’s getting late,” he said as he broke the kiss. “They won’t notice if we turn in for the night…” His words sent a wave of heat through her body and her breath caught in her throat. He bit his lip as he studied her, waiting for an answer.

“Do you think they’ve fixed the AC?” She asked.

“Yes. They fixed it before I left for the wedding,” he told her and traced soft circles on her hip with his thumb.

Any reservations she had went out the window and she crashed her lips to his. He hesitated for half a moment, surprised, but quickly kissed her back and pulled her flush against him. He was so good at kissing that she wondered how good he was at using his mouth elsewhere. The thought alone left her breathless and she pushed him back by his chest only to take his hand and pull him out of the photo booth and toward their room.

Andrei’s laugh gave her butterflies and once they were out of view of those at the wedding, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to his chest. He pressed his lips to her temple as she squeaked and it made his heart do somersaults in his chest.

This was really happening.

It didn’t take them long to reach their building and Zara’s heart raced in her chest as she headed for the stairs, not wanting to wait for the elevator. Again, Andrei laughed but raced after her, taking the stairs two at a time.

He had the room key, so even if she beat him to the door by holding her dress above her knees, she couldn’t get in without him and he slowed his steps, enjoying the sight of her ass in her dress.

As soon as the door was open, Zara pulled him in by his sleeve, but he was quick to cage her in against the door as he caught her lips in another kiss that he only took a moment to deepen. She ran her fingers through his hair before pushing at the suit jacket he was still wearing, wanting it off, and Andrei broke the kiss for just a moment to shrug it off, not caring if it landed in a crumpled ball on the ground as he kissed her again.

She sighed happily against his lips as she let her hands run down his back before pulling it free from his belt and her core ached with need for him. But he broke the kiss to trail his lips down her jaw as he pulled her hands away from his shirt, enjoying the breathy moan she rewarded him with before he pulled back to unbutton his shirt. If she wanted to feel him, he’d give her what she wanted.

He held her gaze as he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a few more inches of freshly tanned skin with every undone button. Zara bit her lip as she watched him shrug the white button down off before reaching out to touch his chest.

She had touched him countless times before. She knew every dip of his muscles, every joint that ailed him, every visible scar on his body. But it was different touching him now. She wasn’t touching him to soothe his every ache and pain. She wasn’t touching him to help rehab an injury. She was touching him because she wanted to. And fuck did she love how he felt under her touch.

“Like what you feel?” Andrei asked with a smirk, knowing damn well she did and Zara scoffed before she pulled him in for a kiss by the back of his neck.

Andrei immediately took control of the kiss, pressing his lips to hers as her hands explored his back before he kissed down her throat and began bunching her dress up around her hips. He nipped gently at her skin and soothed it over with his tongue before he trailed his lips lower until he met the neckline of her dress. He pressed a single additional kiss to her chest, just below her collarbone, before giving her a smirk and sinking down to his knees.

He watched as her eyes widened, but it only spurred him on as he nudged her foot, wanting her to lift it. When she did, he unstrapped her heel and tossed it aside, her second heel following a moment later. She tried to put her foot back down on the tile floor, but Andrei’s grip on her ankle tightened and instead of putting it down, he guided it over his shoulder, pulling a sharp gasp from Zara’s lips.

“Okay?” He asked as he pressed a kiss to her calf.

“Uh huh,” Zara managed as she leaned her head back against the door.

Andrei chuckled against her skin but continued to trail his lips up her leg, mouthing at her miles of soft skin and loving the quick and shallow breaths she took.

Finally, he reached the seam where her leg met her hip and he licked his lips as he looked at her. “These are cute,” he told her, brushing his finger over the small pink bow on the front of her lacy pink panties. Zara groaned as she rocked her hips into his touch. He’d tease her about it later, but she didn’t care, she needed him to touch her. “But I think they’d look cuter on the floor,” he continued and slipped his index finger into the band, asking permission to take them off.

“Probably would look better next to your shirt,” Zara agreed, her voice breathy. Andrei didn’t need to be told twice. He gently put her leg back on the floor and pulled her panties down, half debating sticking them in his pocket before he tossed them over to join his shirt.

He pushed her dress back up to her hips and guided her leg back over his shoulder, making her take a sharp breath in and he groaned loudly at the sight of her.

She was soft and pretty and pink and so fucking wet for him.

He licked his lips as he looked at her before pressing his lips to the seam of her leg just to feel her squirm. “Andrei,” she whined, high in her throat and he chuckled against her skin before finally getting his tongue on her.

He licked a broad strip up her slit, his eyes closing at the taste of her. He thought about it more than he cared to admit, dreaming of having her beneath him and above him and how sweet she’d taste on his tongue and all the things he’d do to her. She tasted better than he imagined and he couldn’t get enough. He pressed the tip of his tongue to her entrance, needing more of her before he pulled back to circle her clit and the sound of her moaning his name was music to his ears.

“Oh my God, Andrei,” Zara moaned and ran her hand down the door, searching for something, anything, to hold on to before she gave in and fisted his hair, making him groan against her. She gasped at the vibrations and clenched down on nothing as he wrapped his lips around her clit.

“Fuck,” she moaned, it was so fucking good. He was the devil with his tongue, knowing exactly how to touch her and she had been wound tight all day and she knew it wasn’t to take much for him to make her cum.

He gently rubbed her hips with his thumbs as he traced the alphabet over her clit, noting the motions that pulled the loudest moans from her before pulling back from her core to nip high on her inner thigh, smirking at the whine he pulled from her and how she tried to push his head back down. “You look so pretty like this, kisa,” he told her, his voice rough as he tried to commit the image to memory. “And you taste even better.”

“Andrei please…” she whined and gasped when he wrapped his lips around her clit again, looking up at her as he did. He was going to be the death of her, but, fuck, there wasn’t a better way to go.

If he wasn’t holding her up, her legs would have given out and she moaned loudly as her grip tightened on his hair, needing to hold onto him, but it only spurred him on. After months of wanting her, he finally had her and she was moaning his name at that, legs tightening around his head and he could tell she was close.

Andrei was hard in his slacks, harder than he had ever been, but there was nothing he wanted more than to make her cum. He wanted her to cum on his tongue and realize that no other man could make her feel as good as he could. His eyes closed as he focused, needing to push her over the edge.

And then she was cumming. A long moan left her lips as she ground her hips against him and her grip tightened on his hair as she rested her head back against the door.

Andrei tightened his grip on her hips and his eyes closed as he groaned and pulled her closer. The only thing he could taste and smell was her and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

He only pulled back when Zara tugged at his hair and his lips and chin were wet with her cum. His eyes were dark and dazed as he looked up at her and he licked his lips. He’d never get enough of her.

Her legs felt like jelly as her chest heaved but he was quick to wrap an arm around her as he stood up and pulled her flush against him. Zara’s eyes widened as she looked up at him and he knew she could feel how hard he was for her.

Her jaw was slack and she was still catching her breath but she couldn’t help herself, she pulled him in for a kiss and moaned at the taste of herself on his lips. Andrei deepened the kiss as he slid his hands up the back of her thighs and picked her up and walked her to bed. He needed her more than he had ever needed anything.

Zara needed him just as badly, needed to feel his bare skin against hers, but Andrei wasn’t done with her yet. He broke the kiss to drop her on the bed and when she looked up at him with a dazed, flush expression, he smirked. “Can you turn around for me, kisa? Let me get that zipper for you?”

She bit her lip as she nodded and rolled onto her stomach, arching her back to push her ass out for him and he groaned low in his throat making her shiver. Andrei ran his hands down her back to her ass and gave it a playful squeeze, loving the way she squealed under his touch before he trailed his hand down her leg and gripped her calf and dragged her closer, pulling a gasp from her lips. He fumbled with the zipper for a second as she squirmed under him before he managed to take it between his fingers and pull it down, revealing more smooth skin he was dying to get his mouth on.

Zara gasped as Andrei blanketed her body with his and pressed his lips to the back of her neck before trailing his lips down her shoulder as he gripped her hip in his hand. She pressed her ass back against his hips as she tried to encourage him on and pulled a low groan from him.

Once the zipper reached its end, he pulled back to push the dress off her shoulders and off her hips before dropping it to the floor. She arched her back and gave her ass a wiggle that only drove him crazier. “You’re so beautiful,” he told her, noting the freckles that decorated her skin before he turned her around and kissed her again.

She pulled him closer, looping her arms around his shoulders so his chest was pressed against hers and she wrapped her legs around his hips, feeling him through his pants. The kiss was softer than she was expecting, but she let herself melt into him as she ran her hands over his shoulders, feeling how firm he was under his touch before he knocked her hands away to pin them above her head.

Andrei broke the kiss to trail his lips down her jaw and neck, nipping at her skin as he left marks before soothing them over with his tongue, and Zara’s eyes close as she moaned his name. The sound went straight to his cock and he glance up at her before trailing his lips down to her chest, moaning against her skin when reached the top of her breast.

He gripped her wrists in one hand so he could cup her breast in the other and pinched her nipple between his fingers. Ever since they played volleyball and he watched her tits bounce as she ran around the court, he had been thinking about getting his hands and mouth on them and they felt even better under his touch.

He pressed his lips to the top of her breast before trailing his lips lower until he wrapped his lips around her nipple, pulling a sharp gasp from Zara that melted into a moan as she struggled against his grip on her wrists. Andrei groaned against her as he teased her nipple with his mouth and took his time to worship it and her eyes rolled back as she arched into him and whined his name. As good as it felt, she wanted more. Needed more.

He grazed his teeth over her nipple, making her arch into him with a gasp before he switched breasts to give the other one the same attention, leaving a few marks on her skin as she squirmed beneath him before he moved down her body.

Andrei kissed down her stomach, taking his time to mouth over her freckles before he pulled back to drag her down until her hips rested at the edge of the bed and he knelt down between them, letting his breath fanned over her cunt, making her whine.

“Andrei, please,” she begged. His mouth was amazing, but she needed him, not his tongue.

“Be patient, kisa,” he told her and nipped at her inner thigh again, making her whine before he got his tongue back on her. She was wetter than before and Andrei groaned loudly as he pushed her legs open wider and gripped her hips, his eyes closing as Zara’s grip on his hair tightened.

He looked up at her as he circled his tongue around her clit before he pressed one of his long, thick fingers to her entrance and he could feel how she clenched around nothing before he pressed it into her and he groaned against her at how tight and warm and wet she was.

Zara moaned at the feeling of his finger and when he curled his finger up and found her g-spot, she clenched down on him with a sharp gasp that melted into a long moan of his name. Andrei smirked as he pulled back from her clit to focus on her g-spot, loving how blissed out she looked as he brushed the tip of his finger over it.  

She was so turned on and sensitive from the first orgasm and he was overwhelming in the best way and she knew it wouldn’t take long before he made her cum again. Andrei smirked before he wrapped his lips back around his clit and Zara all but screamed as she clenched around his finger, her high suddenly a lot closer than she thought.

He held her gaze as he traced his tongue over her clit and with his thick finger inside her, brushing against her g-spot, it didn’t take much longer until she came. She came hard, her back arching as she tried to close her legs around his head and she gripped the sheet tightly in her hand as she moaned.

“That’s my girl,” Andrei moaned against her, the taste of her flooding his tongue. “So fucking good to me.”

She moaned his name as she writhed, it both too good and too much, and it was only once she came down from her high that she said, “you better fuck me, Andrei.” Her voice was breathless as she looked at him, her tits bouncing with every breath. “No more teasing. I need you inside me.”

Andrei smirked as he looked at her before he slowly stood up. “Oh baby, I plan on it,” he told her before making a show of undoing his pants. His belt came first and then the button of his slacks and then his zipper and Zara bit her lip as she watched him push his pants and boxers down and stepped out of them.

Her eyes widened as she finally got her eyes on his cock. She figured he’d be big, but, fuck, she was still taken back at how big he was and she pressed her thighs together with anticipation before sitting up and reaching out to touch him, needing to feel him again.

Andrei only pushed her back down where he wanted her. “You’ll get to feel in a minute kisa,” he told her before hovering over her, his cock hot and heavy between them. “It’s gonna feel so good.”

“Are you ever not cocky?” She asked breathlessly as she looped her arms around his shoulders.

“I think you like it,” he grinned and leaned down and kissed her deeply. Zara moaned against his lips and pulled him flush against her. She could feel how hard he was against her pussy and she ran her hands down his back as she felt him up. He was so strong and she scraped her nails over his skin, pulling a low groan from him and he ground his hips into hers. “Are you sure?” He asked.

“More than sure,” she told him. “Fuck me, Andrei.”

He groaned again and pressed a quick kiss to her lips before he pulled back and reached over to his bedside table to grab a condom from the drawer, the foil crinkling between his fingers.

“You brought condoms with you and stashed them in your nightstand?” Zara asked, her eyes wide as she looked at him.

“I wanted to be prepared, just in case,” he told and quickly kissed her before she could answer. She moaned against his lips and cupped his jaw as she pulled him closer, letting him kiss the breath out of her before he pulled back.

He ripped the package open and rolled it onto his length before blanketing her body with his and as soon as the head of his cock brushed her entrance, she forgot about how prepared he was as she moaned.

“Ready?” He asked.

“More than ready,” she moaned. “Please fuck me.”

She didn’t need to tell him twice and he kissed her deeply as he reached between them to line himself up and sunk into her with a groan against her lips. Zara moaned as he stretched her, loving the feeling of him filling her up and when he bottomed out, she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him even deeper.

Andrei broke the kiss to drop his head to her shoulder and he mumbled something in Russian about how good she felt. She felt so much better than he could have imagined and he couldn’t get enough.

“Oh my god, Andrei,” she moaned, her nails digging into his shoulders. He filled her up perfectly and with how sensitive she was from the previous orgasms it wasn’t going to take much for her to cum again. She was already fluttering around him and he bit down on her neck before sucking another mark onto her skin as he moaned. She squeezed him so well and she was the best he ever had and he hadn’t even moved.

Andrei sucked another mark into her skin before she squeezed his shoulder and he pulled back before thrusting back into her. He started slow, letting her get used to the feeling of him before he set a quick rhythm, hitting all the right spots as she felt every inch of him.

Zara was a mess as she clung to him and moaned his name. His cross dangled between them, reminding her of their sins but she didn’t care. “Don’t’ stop, oh my God, please don’t stop,” she moaned as she tilted her head back against the pillows.

“Don’t plan on it, kisa,” he told her and kissed her again, trailing a hand down to her thigh to put her leg up so he could get deeper.

“Oh fuck,” she moaned as she threw her head back. Her back arched and she clenched around him, she was so close. It made his hips stutter and he closed his eyes to tried to control himself.

“Gonna cum again, pretty girl?” He asked, loving how fucked out she looked. “Need me to…” he shifted enough to get his hand between their bodies and rubbed her clit, the tips of his fingers brushing himself as he sunk into her.

She squeezed her eyes shut as she gasped for breath. It felt incredible and she was so, so close. It only took a few circles of his fingers before she came again, squeezing him hard as she did and the noise that left her throat was something Andrei was never going forget.

He groaned, his jaw slack as he fucked her through it and his rhythm was getting sloppy as she fluttered around him, but he kept rubbing her clit, even when her moans turned to whines, wanting to pull another from her.

“Oh my fucking God,” she moaned loudly. She didn’t think she could cum again as she squirmed beneath him, but he didn’t let up and her high turned into another as she came again, her vision going white as she moaned his name.

He worked her through it and it was only once she had come down that he pulled his hand back in favour of gripping her hips and the room was filled with her moans and the wet sound of skin on skin and Andrei dropped his head to her shoulder as he got closer with every thrust and he wasn’t far behind her as he came, moaning into her skin.

Zara moaned as she tightened her legs around him, keeping him flush against her as her chest heaved. Andrei did his best to support his weight so he didn’t crush her, but he was just as breathless.

“Jesus Christ,” Zara whispered, completely spent as she trailed her hands down his back.

It made Andrei chuckle and he pushed himself up to look down at her. “No, just me,” he told her with a small smirk and she tugged on his chain to pull him down and kissed him. Andrei melted into the kiss, not wanting the moment to end; not wanting to lose her.

The kiss didn’t last as long as the others as they caught their breath, she kept her arms around him as she smiled softly. More of his weight rested on her than before but she couldn’t complain. He felt so good against her and she didn’t want to let him go.

Once he caught his breath, he kissed her again, this time slower than before and Zara completely melted into it, into him. Andrei was, for all of his youth, the best she ever had she couldn’t get enough of him.

He deepened the kiss to distract her as he pulled out, but she still whimpered against him and he murmured an apology against her lips before he pulled the condom off, tied it off, tossed it near the pile of clothes to be discarded later, and flopped onto his back next to her.

The sound of their heavy breathing filled the hot room, but neither of them said anything as they soaked it in. It was only once they had caught their breath that Andrei pulled back. “I’ll get us a cloth,” he told her before getting up, picking the used condom up and headed to the bathroom.

He did his business before wetting a washcloth with hot water and stepping out to wipe her body down, something none of her exes ever bothered to do. It made her gaze soften as she looked to him and she wondered how someone so young could be so perfect.

“Better?” He asked when he was done wiping her down and she nodded.

“I’m just gonna head to the bathroom, okay?” She told him before getting up. She told herself it was a combination of Andrei and drinks that made her stumble just a step or two before she opened his drawer and grabbed one of his t-shirts out and headed for the bathroom.

Her body was sore and she felt fuzzy in a good way. She took her time as she did her business and wiped her body down a little more before she brushed her teeth and pulled his shirt on. It was huge on her but it smelt like him and it made her smile before she opened the door and found him sitting up against the headboard looking at her.

Rationally, Zara knew that she should have put some distance between her and Andrei, put the pillow wall back up or something, but she couldn’t bring herself to, not when she came out of the bathroom and Andrei was curled up under the covers, his hair hanging in his eyes and a soft smile on his lips. It made her heart do somersaults in her chest and any idea of pulling away from him was completely abandoned.

The walk from the bathroom to the bed wasn’t far, but it felt long considering she was only in an oversized shirt, but as soon as she knelt on the bed, Andrei pulled the covers back and she curled into his chest with a content sigh.

Andrei ran his hand down her back as she settled in and ghosted his lips over her forehead, making her suck in a sharp breath. But the only thing she said was, “what does ‘kisa’ mean?”

“Huh?” Andrei asked and pulled back to look at her.

“You keep calling me ‘kisa’,” she explained. “I want to know what it means.”

“Oh,” he breathed a laugh and scrunched his nose up as he rolled completely onto his back. “It’s just a petname.”

Zara followed his body, resting her arm on his chest as she looked at him, “but what does it mean?”

“Let’s just say you lived up to it tonight, Z,” he tried, but she was persistent. She wanted to know.

“Andrei.”

“Okay,” he sighed. “It means kitten. And beyond you being cute and sweet like a kitten, fuck do you have claws like one, too.”

Zara blushed as she gave his chest a shove and rolled off him, turning to give him her back, but he was quick to wrap his arms around her and hook his chin over her shoulder. “I’m serious, kisa. Have you seen my back? Those definitely won’t heal by the time I have to get back on the ice.”

His words made her tense and the smile fell from Andrei’s lips as he nudged her onto her back so he was looking down at her, his weight propped up on his elbow. “Zara?”

“What are we doing, Andrei?” She asked softly, taking him off guard.

“What do you mean?” He replied.

“This, us, right now. What are we doing? We work together–I basically work for you–not to mention that I’m almost thirty and you’re just a kid. This… This was a mistake. I never should have let you pretend to be my boyfriend,” Zara rushed out before pushing the covers off, needing to get some air.

Andrei caught her by her wrist and he was quiet as he looked at her, his normally bright brown eyes dull with hurt. “I’m not a kid,” he started. “I’m 22, Skye just got married and she’s the same age as me. And you’re only 29, it’s not that big, and I don’t think a ‘kid’ could have done what I just did to you.” His voice was as firm as his grip on her wrist and Zara’s shoulders slumped.

“Andrei–”

“No, I’m not finished,” he cut her off. “Because I don’t think you really regret what we just did, and I know I don’t. I don’t regret it because I like you, Zara. A lot. And I want a relationship with you.”

She gave a defeated tug at his hold on her wrist before sitting down on the edge of the bed with a sigh. “We work together,” she said softly. “I don’t want to lose my job because I got involved with you.”

“That won’t happen,” he tried to reassure her.

“You don’t know that.” Her voice was sharp before she tugged the bed sheet over her legs, feeling exposed. “And I know you said the age gap isn’t big to you, but you’re young, Andrei. I’m past the casual relationships and hook ups, I want something more. Wasn’t that the point of you pretending to be my boyfriend and all?”

“And I want to be your boyfriend all the time,” he told her and moved closed to wrap his arm around her shoulders, pulling her to his chest. “Just because I’m young doesn’t mean I can’t be serious about a woman I care about.”

Zara couldn’t bring herself to pull away from him. She liked the feeling of him. Liked how he made her feel. Liked him. The whole trip, one thing after another, she learned new things about him, from his childlike wonder to his charm to his sharp wit and she realized just how much more to him there was under that confident NHL superstar persona.

Maybe he was right, maybe he was mature for his age. He had come over from Russia as a teen, lived on his own since he was 18, he understood the value of everything around him and never took anything for granted. Maybe he could be serious about a woman; about her.

But, at the same time, nothing had ever worked out for her and who was to say that this would end any differently? If someone her own age couldn’t understand her, how could someone who was barely old enough to graduate college (if he had gone)?

Zara liked him, she couldn’t deny that any longer. She liked how she felt around him and how they had been the whole trip and all the fun they had had together. But what if it didn’t work out and it costs her dream job? She couldn’t risk it.

“I’ve been trying to show you the whole time we’ve been here that I’m serious about you,” Andrei continued, making Zara look back at him.

“You haven’t been pretending?” She asked softly.

“Not for a second,” he told her without hesitation. “Well, okay, that’s a lie. I was definitely pretending that the volleyball to the balls didn’t hurt because it really fucking did,” he said with a laugh, pulling a smile from her and she gave him a playful shove.

“I apologized at least a hundred times for that, and…” She blushed as she shook her head. “And I can say that I definitely don’t see any residual effects of trauma to the area.”

He bit his lip, loving when she talked medical like that. It reminded him how smart and brilliant she really was. “No?” He teased. “Everything feeling good?”

“Very,” she told him and pushed her hair behind her ears. “But seriously, this week… It hasn’t been an act?”

“No,” his smile softened. “I’ve always liked you. Beautiful, smart Zara with the green eyes and freckles like constellations. Zara who takes everyone’s pain away and always knows just what to say. Zara with the brightest smile and jokes so bad you laugh at how bad they are instead of at the joke. Zara… who’s totally out of my league but I couldn’t stop myself from falling for you anyway.” He went on, gently running his finger down her arm. “I thought this was a good opportunity to show you that I could be a good boyfriend and I don’t pass up opportunities like that, you know me.”

Zara made a strangled noise, her throat tight and she quickly brushed her eyes. She didn’t know what to say and she surprised herself when she turned in his arms and kissed him. Unlike their other kisses, the kiss was soft and slow and Zara tried to pour everything she couldn’t say into it.

“You were good, are good,” she told him when she broke the kiss, resting her forehead against his, her hesitations melting away to him. “No man has ever treated me half as good as you’ve treated me this week.”

Andrei couldn’t help himself, he cupped her jaw and kissed her again, needing to feel her lips against his one more time to memorize the feeling in case this was the last time, like he sensed it was.

“But you don’t feel the same,” he whispered, making Zara pull back. “It’s okay. I kinda figured. I just thought–hoped–that maybe tonight meant something more, but it’s okay.”

“No, Andrei, I–” the corner of her lip twitched up as she played with the ends of his hair. “You are so kind and thoughtful and loving and considerate. None of the guys I’ve dated, even the one a decade older than me, has come close to being as amazing as you. I’m… I’m scared about my job, but I was wrong to call you a kid when you’re twice the man of everyone else.” He gave her a small smile, so she continued. “I want you to be my boyfriend for real, I just also want you to flex your star power and make sure I don’t get fired because I’m falling for you.”

His smile grew and he looked up at her, “you’re falling for me?”

“Hard and quick,” she replied honestly. “But I hear you’re strong so hopefully you’ll catch me.”

“Always,” he breathed and blanketed her body with his, knocking her down into the pillows, pulling a soft laugh from her lips. She ran her hands down his back as he held her and he barely noticed the sting as he focused on her.

“So, we’re doing this?” He asked, needing to hear her say it.

“We’re doing this,” she smiled and gently cupped his cheek as he kissed her, soft and sweet. When she broke the kiss, Andrei nuzzled at her neck and took a deep breath in, never getting enough of her.

Zara closed her eyes as she pulled him closer, but when she opened her eyes, she caught a glimpse of the angry red lines on his shoulder. “Andrei!” She gasped and pushed him back so she could sit up and get a better look at them.

“What?” He asked and watched her pull at his shoulder so she could look down his back and he smirked once he realized what she was looking at. “I wasn’t kidding about your claws. You got me good, kisa,” he laughed.

Zara was really getting tired of how easily Andrei could make her blush and she gave his chest a playful shove. “If you tell the guys it was me, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“We’ll, I’m gonna tell them,” he smirked. “Gotta brag about my smart and smoking hot girlfriend and let them know I more than satisfy her.”

She groaned and pressed her face into him. “Can you at least keep your shirt on all day tomorrow so my parents don’t see?”

Andrei pushed himself up and pulled her to his chest and she could feel the vibrations as he laughed, “okay, kisa.”

Between the warmth in his chest and Zara against him, the exhaustion hit Andrei like a ton of bricks and when he glanced at the clock, it was way too late. “We have brunch with your family tomorrow, right?” He asked and Zara’s groan confirmed it. “Yeah, okay. Then we need to rest. You will be exhausted when you get up.”

“I already am,” she replied but let him settle in before making herself comfortable in his arms. Her head rested on his chest and his arm around her waist kept her flush against him. His heartbeat was comforting and her whole body relaxed, feeling content and safe in his arms. Her eyelids got heavy fast and the last thing she remembered before falling asleep was the brush of his lips against her skin.

Yeah, she could get used to this.

–

Zara noticed two things when she woke the next morning. One, how nice it was to wake up in Andrei’s arms and feel his body against hers. And two, that it was too fucking early.

Her alarm was loud in her ears and she groaned as she pressed herself further into Andrei’s chest. His grip tightened on her waist as he stretched and tried to turn the alarm off, Russian curses falling from his lips until he managed to turn it off. “Better,” he mumbled and tried to settle back into bed, pulling Zara into being his little spoon.

It would be so easy for her to lean against him and fall back asleep and she wanted nothing more than to do just that, but they had brunch.

Did they really have to go, though?

Fuck, yes they fucking did.

But did they really?

You’re the sister of the bride, of course you have to go.

Zara went back and forth with herself before she sighed and reached over to grab her phone and added another alarm in half an hour. Satisfied, Zara put her phone back down on the table and snuggled back against Andrei. They could be a little late for brunch.

The next time she woke to her alarm going off, it was easier to get out of bed, since she was a little more rested than before, even if Zara wanted nothing more than to stay in bed with Andrei all day.

She felt like a zombie as she walked into the bathroom, the cold tile under her feet helping to wake her up. Her hips ached in the best way and she was only a little surprised when she realized she still wasn’t wearing any panties. It was only after she washed her hands that she finally met her gaze in the mirror and her hand flew to her neck as she gasped. She studied her neck for a moment, tracing the tips of her fingers over the dark marks Andrei so graciously left in his wake.

She grumbled as she opened the bathroom door and glared at Andrei, who was innocently playing on his phone while he waited. “Andrei whatever your middle name is Svechnikov, how the fuck am I supposed to cover these up for brunch!”

Andrei’s jaw was slack as he looked up at Zara who had both hands on her hips as she gave him an expectant look. He remembered trailing his lips down her throat a few times, but he didn’t remember any marks standing out half as badly the night before and he didn’t realize the damage would be that bad.

He cringed but gave her a half apologetic shrug. “Igorevich?” He offered.

“What?” Zara replied, shaking her head quickly.

“My middle name is Igorevich,” he repeated, making Zara roll her eyes.

“That’s what you got out of all that? Not the fact that my neck looks like I’ve been mauled by a vampire and we have brunch in an hour?”

“It’s not that bad?” He tried even though it really was.

“It’s awful,” she groaned, and it’s not like she brought any of her high neck shirts or dressed with her either. Her whole family was going to know what her young and hot–and actually real–boyfriend were up to.

But then again, she wasn’t the one that just got married and eyes wouldn’t be on her, and everyone knew what Skye and Toby would be up to… Maybe if she covered them enough, no one would notice them…

Zara did her best to cover the bruises and she wore a sundress with a deep V and a push up bra, hoping to keep her family’s eyes away from her so they didn’t notice her neck, and she wore her sunglasses to cover up her embarrassment if they did. Of course, Andrei had no shame and didn’t try to hide how his gaze was constantly drawn down Zara’s chest.

“Ready for hell?” Zara asked, making Andrei raise his eyes to hers.

“Do we have to?” He asked. “Because I can think of a much better way to spend the morning.”

Despite her attempt, her sunglasses did nothing to hide her blush as she pointed to the door. “Brunch,” she told him and ushered him out the door. He wrapped his arm around her as they walked and Zara leaned into him. They took their time getting to brunch, and, to no surprise, they were the last ones to get these. Andrei sat down next to Zara and kept his hand on her thigh the whole time, and this time Zara didn’t move it.

With all the attention on the newlyweds, no one noticed the poorly covered marks on Zara’s neck or the soft, enamoured look in Andrei’s eyes as he looked at Zara–except for maybe Skye, who gave Zara a knowing look, but Zara just flipped her off when no one was looking.

It was about time Zara got her Prince Charming.

–

For their last night in Tulum, Andrei made reservations at the resort’s high end seafood bistro where the rehearsal dinner was held. He was finally getting a first date with Zara, in Mexico no less, and he wanted to make it as perfect as he could.

He only had the one suit from the wedding, so it would have to do, even if it was a little… crumpled from their activities the night before. He did bring other dress shirts, however, so he paired his blue suit with a black button down and he used the mirror by the door to fix his hair and spray some cologne while Zara got ready in the bathroom.

She took her time getting ready, doing her hair and make up before changing into her dress. When she packed, she wasn’t sure of what to wear to the rehearsal dinner or to the dinner with her family, so she brought options, and since she hadn’t worn the black dress she brought, what better time than on a date with Andrei Igorevich Svechnikov.

The dress was just above floor length with only one shoulder and a high slit. Zara paired it with her heels from the wedding and perfume before opening the door and stepping out.

Andrei looked over at the sound of the door opening and her heels clicking on the tile floor and his breath caught in his throat as he ran his eyes down her body. Zara had always been a beautiful woman, the most effortlessly beautiful woman he had ever met, but holy fuck was she gorgeous.

Drop dead gorgeous.

“Wow,” Andrei breathed and Zara bit her lip as she turned to the side.

“Okay?” She asked, her eyes shining.

“Way better than okay, kisa,” he breathed and stepped forward to touch her waist. “Makes me wanna tear it all off you and have you for dinner instead.”

A wave of heat went through Zara’s body and her breath caught in her throat as she debated if she should just give into it like she had been craving all day. But this was their last night in Mexico. Their last night of free food and entertainment and she couldn’t just let that go to waste, not when they had all the time in the world in Raleigh.

“We have reservations, Drei,” she hummed.

“Drei?” Andrei asked, tilting his head to the side.

“Good? Bad? I don’t know, just trying it out,” she replied and nervously bit her lip.

“I like it,” he smiled before kissing her softly just because he could. Her lips were soft and he didn’t care that he’d smudge her lipstick or get some on him, all he cared about was her.

He’d never get enough of her.

When she pulled back from the kiss, Zara ran her thumb over his lips to wipe away the lipstick and she definitely didn’t feel hot and bothered when Andrei teasingly nipped at her thumb.

Andrei was only 22 and liked to play video games and makes a competition out of anything because his desire to win was so strong. When they were back in Raleigh, Zara barely gave him a second look. For as hot as he was, he was just Svech. She couldn’t imagine he’d be the one turning her upside down.

The difference a week made.

“Are you going to kiss me again? Or can I fix the lipstick you just ruined?” Zara asked and looped her arms around his neck.

Andrei hummed as he pretended to think about it. “I think I’ll kiss you again,” he told her and she couldn’t complain as he kissed her again. For all of his youth, he really knew how to use his mouth.

This time, when Zara pulled back from the kiss, Andrei chased her lips, kissing her deeper than before. Her moan was muffled by his mouth, but she let her fingers tangle in the hair at the base of his skull as she pulled him closer.

When he pulled back, Zara’s cheeks were flushed and Andrei only liked it a lot. It reminded him of how flush she looked when he was finally done with her the night before. “You sure you still wanna head out?” He tried but Zara wiped more lipstick off his lips before she gave his chest a pat.

“We’re going,” she told him before stepping back into the bathroom to fix her lipstick. It only took a moment and she couldn’t look at Andrei when she came back out because she knew she’d give in and she really wanted to enjoy their last night in Tulum, not just enjoy the night. So, it was only after she opened the door that she held her hand out to him. “Ready?” She asked.

“Yeah,” he breathed and stepped forward to take her hand. Zara smiled as they stepped out the door and Andrei wondered what he did to get so lucky.

The Bistro wasn’t far from their room. Really, the Bistro was the restaurant closest to them since it was on the water. They walked hand in hand to it and Zara tried her best not to think about how much bigger his hands were and how much she liked it.

Even though it was well into the evening, it was still and humid out and the breeze was welcomed as she walked and Zara kept looking up at Andrei, waiting to wake up because surely someone like him wasn’t meant for someone like her. But then he looked down at her with an adoring smile and gave her hand a squeeze and she knew it was real.

As soon as they stepped into the Bistro, they could see the ocean and smell the fresh seafood and Zara was so glad she forced Andrei to go. “Reservation for Svechnikov,” he told the hostess.

The hostess smiled as she nodded and picked up two menus and led them to their table right by the screen-free window so they could see the ocean. Zara’s shoulders relaxed as she looked out at the water before she looked over at Andrei and she gave him a warm smile. “This… This is beautiful,” she told him

Zara had had more than her fair share of shitty first dates. Dates who only spoke about themselves, dates who wanted her to eat a salad and nothing more, dates who wanted sex and nothing more, and dates who just plain spoke down to her. But they were all forgotten as she looked at Andrei, and even her best first date paled in comparison to dinner with Andrei right on the water.

“Not as beautiful as you,” Andrei replied without missing a beat, making Zara blush.

“Oh, stop it,” Zara replied but Andrei shook his head.

“Never.”

Zara’s blush darkened but she let Andrei have it as she opened the menu, having no idea what to get. Of course, everything looked good and fresh and she probably could have gone for one of everything if she was being honest. “What are you thinking of having?” She asked.

“The crab sounds good,” Andrei replied, taking his time to read the menu. “What about you?”

“That does sound good,” Zara hummed. “I’m thinking about the seafood linguine.”

“Pasta?” He asked and she nodded. “Yeah, pasta would be good.”

“Yeah, I think so,” she smiled and closed her menu. “Should we get a bottle of wine to go with it?”

The corner of Andrei’s lip twitched up. “If you order,” he told her. “I don’t know my wines.”

Zara wasn’t surprised by that at all but she laughed as she nodded. “Deal,” she agreed, already thinking about pinot grigio.

Their waiter came over not too long after with water for them and Zara ordered for them both, something Andrei definitely shouldn’t have found attractive. Especially after he had her moaning his name over and over the night before.

“What?” Zara asked once the waiter left, unsure of the look he was giving her. Andrei was all big brown eyes and soft lips and she wished she could read him better than she could.

“You’re just amazing,” he told her with a soft smile and Zara’s heart flipped in her chest.

“You’re not half bad yourself, Andrei,” she replied softly and toyed with the stem of her wine glass.

The corner of his lip twitched up as his eyes sparkled before he leaned back in his chair. “Tell me about yourself,” he told her.

Zara laughed softly. “What do you want to know? I mean, we’ve known each other for years already.”

He shrugged her off. “That’s Zara, the athletic trainer. I want to know Zara, the most beautiful girl in the world.”

Her blush darkened and she brushed her hair behind her ears as she ducked her head. “The whole world, huh?” She asked softly and Andrei’s smile widened.

“Whole world,” he repeated.

If Zara had butterflies before, she certainly had them now and she took a sip of her wine to settle herself. “Well, my name is Zara, middle name Iris after the Greek Goddess, and I’m the oldest of two–you’ve met my sister, obviously–I’m a Sagittarius, I grew up liking football, American football, rather than hockey, and it wasn’t until high school that I really got into the sport. I was on the debate team in high school and the model UN in college and everyone is always surprised to find out that I minored in politics.”

Andrei listened with soft eyes, hanging on to her every word. “So smart,” he whispered with a shake of his head. “I’m so lucky.”

Those three words shouldn’t have made Zara as warm and fuzzy as they did. “What about you, big boy? Why don’t you tell me about Andrei? And not Andrei Svechnikov, Canes legend at just 22.”

He laughed his beautiful deep laugh that Zara loved so much. “I’m from Barnaul, Russia. My brother is my best friend and family means everything to me and I’d do anything for them. My favourite food is borscht. People tell me I’m intense and that I need to relax, and I’m pretty good at magic, like making your panties disappear.”

Zara rolled her eyes but couldn’t deny it. “So, borscht, huh?” She replied, butchering the name and ignoring his last comment. “You’ll have to make it for me sometime.”

Andrei laughed, “me? No, I’m a terrible cook. My mother makes it best, but I’m sure she’ll love to make it for you.”

Her breath caught in her throat and she took another sip of her wine as they somehow went from getting to know each other on a first date to meeting his mother. But, then again, they had gone from meeting her family to fucking to a first date, so she shouldn’t have been so shocked. “I’d love to meet the woman who raised such an amazing son,” Zara told him, making his smile soften.

“Next time she comes to Raleigh then.”

“Perfect,” Zara smiled back and Andrei couldn’t help himself, he reached across the table to pick up Zara’s hand and brushed a kiss over her knuckles, making her melt.

Maybe it was the eldest daughter syndrome, maybe it was the debate club, but whatever it was, it had never been easy for Zara to admit she was wrong. But she had to admit it now. All the times she turned Andrei down, all the times she thought he was too young for her, too immature, she… she was wrong. So completely wrong.

Andrei… Andrei was sweet and kind and he understood things on a much deeper level than people gave him credit for, and he was mature beyond his years because he had to grow up too fast, even if that sometimes meant he compensated for a childhood he never really had. But, above all, Andrei was the most amazing man she had ever met, she had just been too blind to see it.

Their meals came not too long after and Zara only moaned a little at how good it tasted and Andrei’s eyes definitely didn’t darken at the sound. The conversation flowed easy as they ate and finished the bottle of wine she had ordered. And, of course, when they were finished and the waiter asked if they wanted to see the desert menu, Zara couldn’t resist.

“Kisa…” Andrei warned as he leaned back in his chair and ran his hands down his chest and stomach. It was bye-week, but that also meant they were in the middle of the season and he already had eaten more than he should have during this trip, a desert when he was already stuffed was pushing it.

“It’s our last night, Drei. And our first date. You can cheat a little, I won’t tell,” Zara smiled and handed him the menu. “Doesn’t the chocolate explosion cake look amazing?”

“Been cheating all week,” he mumbled but she was right. It did look amazing. “I’ll only have a bite or two,” he told her, such famous last words. Once the desert arrived, Andrei had half because it really was good, and as much as he tried to deny it, he did have a sweet tooth.

It wasn’t all that late by the time they left the Bistro, and as much as Andrei really wanted to take Zara back to their room and have his way with her, the sky was clear and the night was warm, so he suggested a walk on the beach instead. It was the most romantic thing anyone ever suggested to her and Zara loved it.

Once they reached the beach, they both took their shoes off and the sand was cool beneath their feet. When Andrei extended his free hand to Zara, she took it with a smile. Without her heels, her dress dragged in the sand, but she didn’t care. All that mattered to her was Andrei. His eyes looked darker in the moonlight and she smiled as she pulled him toward the water, wanting to feel the ocean at least once more before they left the next day.

Andrei laughed and pulled his hand from her in favour of wrapping it around her waist, wanting her as close as possible. It was easy for him to pick her up and spin her around in the ankle deep ocean water, making Zara squeal and his smile widen before he put her back down in the water, a little deeper than before, but she didn’t care as he kissed her again.

The water was nearly up to her knees, but all that mattered was Andrei and his lips on hers. He cupped her cheek in his free hand and tilted her chin up for a better angle before he deepened the kiss and Zara had to hold onto his waist.

“Is this really happening?” She asked when he pulled back.

“It is, or it’s the best dream I’ve ever had,” he replied softly, brushing his thumb over the arch of her cheek.

“Will we be okay in Raleigh? You know, once this bubble pops?”

The corner of his lip twitched up. “Everything will be perfect because you are perfect,” he told her.

Zara was quiet for a long moment as she looked at Andrei. “You promise?” She asked, feeling vulnerable despite being seven years his elder.

“I promise,” he smiled before he kissed her again and Zara clung to him, needing him and everything to be real.

“I’m really falling for you, Andrei Svechnikov,” she whispered.

“And I’ve really fallen for you, Zara Iris Roberts,” he replied with a smile and let his hands trail down to her hips.

At that, Zara pushed herself up to capture his lips in a deep kiss, pressing herself against him completely. To no surprise, Andrei took control of the kiss and Zara moaned softly against him, which only spurred him on and he kissed her until she was breathless.

“You know,” he started, the moonlight reflecting the mischief in his eyes. “It is kind of warm out…”

“Andrei…” Zara said, her tone warning him, not that he cared.

“We’re a bit away from the resort… There’s no one around but us… Why not have a bit of fun?” He told her and pulled back from her to walk back onto the beach to drop his shoes in the dry sand, shrug his jacket off and started undoing his shirt. As soon as the shirt was undone, it joined his growing pile, revealing miles of smooth skin and firm muscles, which made Zara’s breath catch in her throat.

“Andrei…” she started, but he undid his belt and pants before they joined the pile and he smirked at her.

“Never been skinny dipping, kisa?” He teased before pushing his underwear down, leaving him only in his chain before he made his way into the ocean, stopping only once he was up to his waist to look back at her.

Zara’s breath caught in her throat. Honestly? No, she had never been skinny dipping before. It wasn’t something that came up or something she really felt like doing. But it certainly was a different story when it was Andrei Svechnikov buck ass naked in the water waiting for her.

“You’re crazy, you know that?” She called out to him, but still walked over to his pile of clothes and dropped her heels.

“But I’m your crazy,” he replied and Zara’s heart fluttered.

He was, wasn’t he?

It took her a moment, struggling with her zipper before she managed to get it down and shrugged the material off her shoulder and down her legs. She kicked it toward Andrei’s pile of clothes, leaving her in just her black, lacy panties. Andrei’s eyes dropped down her body and he bit his lip, making her feel more confident as she peeled her panties off and kicked them aside before wading into the water.

It felt warmer since she had already been in the water, but she shivered when the water reached her belly, not that it stopped her from making it out to Andrei. He didn’t shy away from running his eyes over her chest as he wrapped his arm around her and Zara leaned into him, enjoying both his firmness and his warmth.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered and Zara rolled her eyes.

“You’re only saying that because you can see my tits,” she replied, but he shook his head.

“I’m saying it because you are,” he told her and brought her out deep enough her breasts were covered by the water. “So beautiful.”

Zara melted against him and pulled him in for a kiss, her chest pressed against his. Andrei groaned against her lips and pulled her closer, loving the feeling of her chest against his, and not even the cool water of the ocean could stop him from getting a little hard, which Zara could feel against her thigh.

“Andrei,” she said slowly, but he only hummed and captured her lips in another kiss. “I’m not fucking you on the beach,” she managed to get out before his kisses. “I don’t want sand in my vagina.”

He groaned against her lips but pulled back to look at her. “But you’ll fuck me in bed?” He asked.

“Absolutely,” she breathed and let her hand trail down his hip.

Andrei groaned again and kissed her deeply, both hands cupping her cheeks, making Zara moan against him. “As much as I want that, want you,” Andrei said. “I just need to…” he didn’t finish his sentence as he pulled back and dove into the water, completely submerging himself.

The water was up to his shoulders when he re-emerged and he ran his hand through his hair, pushing it off his forehead, and once again he had her whispering ‘fuck it’ before she dove into the water after him, not caring if her hair got wet or her make up ruined.

“Jesus Christ, you didn’t tell me it’s so fucking cold,” Zara gasped out when she surfaced next to him and she let his laugh warm her.

“It’s not cold,” he told her but moved closer so she could wrap her arms around him.

“Not all of us are from Siberia, Drei,” she told him and shamelessly pressed herself against him in search of warmth. She felt him laugh and his arm wrapped around her to help keep her warm.

His thigh slid between hers, pulling a soft gasp from her. “You’re really cold?” He asked, not moving his thigh.

Honestly? No, she wasn’t cold. Cool? Yes. Cold? No. But, what she wanted more than anything was for Andrei to take her back to the room and fuck her again. So, of course she nodded. “Very cold,” she told him. “So cold I think I might need some skin to skin contact under the covers to warm up.”

Andrei hummed and the tip of his tongue darted out to wet his lips. “Should probably warm you up then, huh?” He said, his voice dropping, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Definitely should,” she agreed and rocked down on his thigh, pulling another groan from his lips and he quickly crashed his lips to hers, his hands on the small of her back to keep her pressed against him. Zara ran her hands down his side, enjoying every ridge of muscle her fingers trailed over and she knew she wouldn't be able to treat him without thinking about all the ways his body felt against hers.

Andrei nipped at her bottom lip, pulling a small groan from her and she put her hands on his chest as she pulled back. “You’re not fucking me on the beach so we–”

Zara couldn’t finish her sentence as Andrei picked her up with ease and started for the beach. She laughed as he carried her and it was only once they made it to their pile of clothes that Andrei sat her down. They only had to go from the beach to their room, so Andrei forewent the underwear in favour of just his slacks, carrying his shirt, blazer, boxers and shoes in his hand. Zara followed his lead and only put on her dress, but before she could pick up her panties, Andrei snatched them up and stuck them in his pocket, making Zara flush despite the chill. After she picked up her heels, Andrei took her hand and she laughed as he all but dragged her in the direction of their room.

It shouldn’t have turned her on as much as it did and she could see the water dropping down the healing scratch marks on his back and her whole body felt hot despite the evening breeze.

The beach chairs got more frequent the closer they got to the resort and there were only a couple lights from the resort’s pool and the moon illuminating the beach. They were the only ones out and it was late and it was their last night and okay maybe she had had one glass of wine too many but…

“Andrei,” she said and gave his wrist a tug as she stopped walking with him, making him turn back to her. Before he could ask her what was wrong, she started dragging him toward a chair with an umbrella that would hopefully provide a little more privacy, her heart racing with every step closer.

“Kisa, what’re you—?” He started once they came to a stop but Zara cut him off with a kiss that she quickly deepened before Andrei took control of it, dropping his clothes onto the sand in favour of cupping her jaw to tilt her head up for a better angle and she took the opportunity to reach between them to undo his slacks, making Andrei break the kiss to look at her with wide eyes. “Zara?”

She blushed and reached into his pants to get her hand on him, pulling a low groan from him. “I changed my mind,” she told him. “It’s our last night here, only chance…” She didn’t have to finish her sentence before he was kissing her again, deeper than before and she moaned against his lips when she felt him harden more in her hand.

Anyone who came to the beach could have seen them and that only spurred them both on and heat pooled between her thighs as she stroked him. Once he was completely hard, Zara broke the kiss to push him back onto the chair and he smirked up at her as he settled back before she helped him getting his slacks off.

“Condom I hope?” She said, holding his slack and he nodded.

“My wallet is in my right front pocket.”

She nodded and pulled his wallet out and handed it to him before dropping his slacks onto the growing pile of clothes and hiking her dress up around her hips and straddling his thighs. Andrei groaned as he watched her before opening his wallet to fish the condom out and handing it to her before dropping his wallet beside him.

“So fucking hot,” he groaned as she ripped the package with her teeth and rolled it onto him. She captured his lips to quiet him before she moved up to straddle his hips, lined him up with her entrance and sunk down on him.

Andrei’s moan was strangled in his throat and he broke the kiss to look at her, his jaw slack as he gripped her hips, keeping her still as she adjusted to him, her nails digging into his chest at the stretch. “Fuck, kisa,” he groaned with a breathless laugh. “Warn a guy.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” She smirked and kissed him again before pushing herself up and started to ride him slowly, feeling every inch of him every time she sunk down on him. He felt bigger than she remembered and she loved how full he made her feel.

She bit her lip to quiet herself as she started a slow pace, her hands planted on his chest to support herself, and to feel him. Andrei watched her with dark eyes, eating her alive. Even in the dark he could tell her skin was flushed and he wished she had taken her dress off so he could see her tits bounce with her every movement.

Instead, he pushed her dress’s skirt up to her waist and groaned loudly as he watched himself disappear into her. She was so fucking wet and stretched around him in the best way and fuck the ocean, this was the best sight in the world.

“So fucking beautiful,” he told her before he pressed his thumb to her clit, pulling a loud moan from her as her hips stuttered, but he helped her keep her rhythm.

“Drei,” she whined, half warning him, half begging for more. “Gotta be quiet.” The last thing she needed was for someone to find them before they couldn’t be quiet.

“Can’t help it, I wanna touch you all over. Wanna feel this pretty little pussy flutter around me when you cum on my cock,” he said, pushing himself up to kiss her deeply as he continued to rub the pad of his thumb over her clit. Zara moaned against his lips and gripped his shoulder tighter, his movement changing the angle enough that he brushed her g-spot, making her clench down on him.

“That’s my girl,” he praised when she broke the kiss, watching her with hungry eyes. “Riding me so good, kisa.”

Zara loved the praise and dug her nails into his skin with a soft whine, her high building quickly as he hit all the right spots on her, and when he thrusted up into her, she gasped and clenched down on him. “Oh my god, Andrei!” She moaned loudly.

He quickly pulled his fingers from her clit to cover her mouth with a smirk. As much as he loved her loud, loved knowing he was fucking her good enough she lost control, she was right about needing to be quiet so they didn’t draw attention to themselves.

Zara could taste herself on his fingers and she fluttered around him as she whined into his hand. She was so close, she just needed him to—

“Gotta be quiet, kisa,” he told her and pulled his hand back to drop it back to her clit, rubbing quicker circles as she clenched down on him and he knew she was close. “Come on pretty girl, wanna see you cum for me, wanna feel it when you cum on my cock.”

“Oh my God,” she moaned, her rhythm getting sloppier the closer she got. “Don’t stop.”

Andrei used his other hand to steady her before thrusting up into her in time with the rhythm of his thumb, wanting to watch her fall apart above him and he was rewarded as her nails dug into his chest as she moaned, grinding into his hand as he thrusted up into her and then she was cumming hard, raking her nails down his chest as she squeezed him tightly, her jaw slack as she moaned his name.

“Good girl,” he moaned breathlessly as she fluttered around him. He was just as close, addicted to the feeling of her cumming on his cock. He continued to rub her clit through her high until her moans turned to whines and he pulled back to grip her hips and thrusted up a little rougher as he chased his high and when she clenched down on him again, he was cumming.

He moaned and Zara gripped his cross and pulled him up for a kiss, muffling him with her mouth as she clenched down on him. Slowly, Andrei’s grip loosened on her hips and he cup her cheek as he softened the kiss.

Zara smiled into the kiss and when she finally pulled back from the kiss, it was only to curl into his arms, him still deep inside her. Andrei laughed as he rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head. “I can’t believe we just did that,” she laughed breathlessly, still trying to catch her breath.

“Neither can I,” he laughed with her and playfully trailed his fingers over her side, making her squeal as he tickled her and he groaned again as she clenched down on him. “You’re incredible.”

She gave his chest a playful smack but that only made his smile widened and her smile softened as her heart panged in her chest. He meant so much to her and it was crazy to think that a week ago he was only Svech to her.

She watched his gaze dip over her features before he gently smoothed her hair back as his smile softened to match hers. “No more pretending, right?” He asked softly.

“No more pretending,” she agreed and kissed him softly, needing to tell him how much he meant to her. Andrei kissed her back just as gently as he ran his thumb over the arch of her cheek and kept her pressed against him.

The kiss was slow and it bled into the next and then the next and when Zara finally pulled back from the kiss, it was only to rest her forehead against his. She kept her eyes closed for a moment, soaking in the sound of the waves crashing against the beach and the smell of salt in the air before she finally opened her eyes and found Andrei looking back at her.

She didn’t know how she got so lucky.

Zara took a deep breath as she pulled back and gave his chest a pat, “we should head in before someone catches us.”

As much as he hated the idea, Andrei knew she was right and he took a deep breath before nodding in agreement. A moment later Zara lifted herself off his cock and whimpered at the loss but he quickly pulled her in for a quick kiss before letting her slip off him to get redressed.

He took a moment to watch her smooth herself over before he finally pulled the condom off, tying it and redressing, too. Like before, he forwent the underwear in favour of just his slacks, just like Zara wore only her dress. It wasn’t like they’d be staying on long after they go in anyway.

He carried his shirt, jacket and shoes in his hand and he took a moment to toss the used condom into the nearby bin before adding Zara’s heels to his pile and extending his hand to her. She smiled as she took it and leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder as they walked back to their room and for the first time in a long, long time, she wasn’t scared of what happened next.

She was happy.

--

Their flight back to Raleigh wasn’t until late afternoon the next day, so they slept in, trying to soak in every remaining second they had before their burst with the chilly Raleigh air.

Andrei woke first and when Zara woke, it was so Andrei ghosting the tips of his fingers down her spine. “Good morning, beautiful,” he whispered, his voice rough with sleep and Zara curled in closer.

“Morning, handsome.”

They were both content to stay in bed a little longer and Zara traced her finger down the line of his abs, loving the way he squirmed under her touch, ticklish, even if he didn’t want to admit it. Andrei was big and beautiful and beefy and strong and yet so soft and kind and cuddly under all that and above all, all hers.

His laugh was low in his throat as she grazed her nails down his side and the butterflies in her chest he always seemed to bring out returned as her smile softened and she couldn’t stop herself from kissing him.

His lips were soft and the kiss was slow and he was gentle as he cupped her jaw. Maybe it was because he was Russian, but fuck, he really was the best kisser. Zara couldn’t help but moan into the kiss and she tapped his chest before pulling away breathless. Andrei chased her lips, never getting enough of her. The kiss was softer and Zara smiled into it before gently pushing him back. “Let a woman breathe, Drei,” she laughed breathlessly.

“What’s the fun in that?” He countered, his eyes sparkling as he looked up at her. He was so lucky to have her.

Zara shook her head as she laughed and when she shoved him again, Andrei caught her wrist and brought it up to gently kiss her inner wrist and she wondered how she had missed what had been right in front of her all along.

They had a final breakfast at the buffet so Andrei could eat his weight in free food one last time and once they finished packing, they headed to the lobby to wait for their shuttle, Andrei’s hand never leaving hers.

Leaving the resort was bittersweet.

Andrei was warm against her in the full blast AC shuttle and his hand rested on her thigh the whole way there, and even if they had the whole row to themselves, Zara sat in the middle seat to be closer to him. His thumb traced soft circled on her thigh as he looked out the window but not even the blue gulf water meeting the white sandy beaches and palm trees couldn’t compare to Zara.

His smile softened as he looked back at her and his grip tightened on her thigh for half a second, needing to remind himself that it was real, that they were real. Zara smile as she looked back at him before she rested her head on his shoulder and Andrei sighed contently as he let his head rest against hers.

A lot had changed over their week in Tulum, but neither of them would change it for the world. They went to her sister’s wedding as friends—co-workers—and left so much more.

Raleigh had its own challenges with the season and working together and the guys, and just a few days ago all of those things scared the living shit out of Zara, but looking at Andrei now, his deep brown eyes looking at her like she was the most amazing thing he had ever had the privilege to see, for the first time in a long, long time, she wasn’t scared.

Zara had spent so long looking for her Prince Charming that she had been blind to him standing right in front of her, but now her eyes were opened and they belonged to him.

Whatever happened in Raleigh, they could handle it because it was them and they were together.

Just like they were meant to be.

Fin.

#playing pretend story #andrei svechnikov #andrei svechnikov imagine #andrei svechnikov smut #andrei svechnikov story #andrei svechnikov x fem!oc #summer 2k22 fic exchange #Carolina Hurricanes #carolina hurricanes imagine #hockey #hockey imagine #hockey rpf #nhl #nhl imagine

[skjeinon]

go ahead and cry little girl - jordan staal

jordan staal x reader, except it’s just age gap realness

warning: smut. age gap (19/20 and 33), brindamour daughter. also use of the word daddy. just go away if you simply cannot get past jordan staal 💀 daddy issues. also andrei being kinda weird, my b. cum kink. princess pet names. “daddy’s princess fuck fest” is probably the weirdest thing said the whole time

summary: post season cookout, you have a crush on jordan staal cause daddy issues, andrei catcalls and you feel weirded out and then jordo fucks you.

very much similar to sundress season, except it’s rod daughter x staal and not staal sister x svech

being the daughter of rod was hard.. not because you were like the daughter of some celebrity, because he was barely that, but because you were the daughter of some coach.

the coach who had the guys around a fair amount, the coach who was close with the older guys, the coach that had always put his boys first after you’re siblings began to get older.. and when you were the last one left in the house, it was hard. being 19 and going to nc state left you at home a lot but despite this, the “do you want to come to practice with me?” was uncommon

you didn’t play hockey but you knew how to skate, you didn’t skate very often but you were a junior intern with the canes. you didn’t hate your father… but you had daddy issues. something about the canes showed you that you’d never be first and when everyone came over.. maybe dad wouldn’t see you first but others would.

if you looked upset, the first thing that would be asked was “hey.. you okay, kiddo?” from martinook, and you’d nod. he was like a fun uncle to you and never failed to make you smile and at the time , williams would also check in on you but after he had retired, it was also uncommon. it didn’t matter though, after he had retired and staal took over, you nearly doubled over.

by no means was the man the object of your main attraction but the posters on your wall of him when he was on the penguins and the posters and photos of his older brother begged you to differ. when he’d ask you if you were okay, you almost felt needy to pounce but.. he’s the captain. he’s your dad right hand.. oh my god.

the C on his chest made you weak and you ended up just not showing up to see your dad after games just to avoid jordan. and even would avoid when you’d be invited to dinners with your father. saying “oh i’m sorry i have an essay due” knowing good and well you should be there and not ignoring them for a fake essay.

it got down to the bare bone of spring though. the canes had lost their series and rod would host the yearly cookout, him and your siblings and step mom all helped out along with a lot of the wives and girlfriends, and as the summer crept up, the heat outside was unbearable.

the pool had only resulted in more people showing up , and while the model girlfriends of the team looked gorgeous in their swim suits, most of their attention was drawn to the babies of the team, leaving you slightly annoyed when you had no one to talk to except for the guys on the team. wearing an unbuttoned hawaiian shirt over your swim suit was something to draw the younger guys eyes away from your body while holding a conversation with martinook and slavin felt normal.

“how was school?” was the main conversation topic, while you dragged on about how your teacher is a big canes fan so he thought on the first day of his class that your name was cool but never really brought it up again until you were wearing an old eric staal jersey. your conversation with them held on until brady had walked outside with jordan.. sunglasses covering his eyes as he towered over brady. you looked away, embarrassed as brady shot you a gentle smile, jordan not acknowledging your current existence.

you stood up, walking back into the kitchen, seeing that jaccob and marty were holding a conversation. the kitchen was empty as you ventured to find a drink, sighing as your dad had doubled down on you drinking before you’re 21, especially when you’re around the boys. you grabbed a coke and stood at the island for a moment, staring at your phone before he had walked back in. i looked up , embarrassed when i saw him, i looked back down.

“hi” you mumbled quietly. “hey kid..” his voice was gentle as he came over to grab something else to bring it outside. he stood over you, his arm coming around your side to grab a bowl. “where’ve you been?” he asked, looking down at you. “mh.. college..” you let out a short laugh as your cheeks burned. “college got out like 3 weeks ago. your dad not get you tickets to the game?” he teased, looking back outside quickly to make sure no one was around. “he did, i just don’t think i wanted to go” you shrugged. you finally got the courage to turn back and look at him, you cheeks still red. “yeah? that’s a shame.. the guys really like when you’re around..” he looked up before a smile crossed his face. he finally stepped away, his free hand gently touching your waist as he stepped past you. you inhaled sharply , his hand lingering for a moment before he walked back outside. you stood there, face red as a tomato before you mustered up the courage to walk back outside. ‘does he know?!’ was the only thought in your head as you sat back down.

finally , dinner came. you sat down next to some of the guys, your dad sitting at the end of the table so you had to be subjected to whatever they had to say, not holding a filter since they aren’t near “coach”. you ended up sitting between andrei and jordan. it was like a separation between the europeans and the older american/canadian guys.

you sat there eating, listening to their conversation, when you heard andrei say something. you turned to look at him, his frame was large. “that color looks really nice on you.” his blatant flirting made you cringe. while yeah, he was attractive, you’d thought about him twice, he definitely was.. taken. “yeah thanks.” you smiled, looking back at your food. he then said something else, and you didn’t like it. jordan looked over to see you uncomfortable and looked at andrei. he didn’t say anything but when you got up to throw the rest of your food away and walk inside, he waited a few minutes and followed. he was the leader , he had to make sure everyone was okay. always. it was in his nature.

you had made your way to the bathroom, letting out a soft sigh as you pulled the shirt over your chest, trying to ignore the comment before you heard a knock on the door. “hey..you okay?” oh my god you were tired of being asked that. it’s all you were ever asked. it’s like you were a walking mope fest and it made you hate it even more. “n-no, i’m not actually.” you opened the door, seeing jordan leaning against the frame of the door. “andrei?“ and you nod. “i’m the coaches daughter.. you’d think he’d have some decency..” you said, your eyes meeting his.

“you’d think you’d have the same mentality, wouldn’t you..” he spoke, looking down at you. your cheeks suddenly shifted to a shade of red as you realized what he meant. “w-what.. haha noo…” you let out a nervous laugh, looking away. he wasn’t laughing, he wasn’t mad, but he definitely wasn’t giggling about it.

“you’re not very good at hiding it, princess..” he mumbles, stepping in a little closer, the space between the both of you narrowing. “w-well.. you know.. it’s just..” you knew it was because he gave you more attention than your dad or that him and the older guys filled the void but he was different. your hand rested on his chest as he got closer. “is this okay..” he asked, not wanting to go any further without asking again. you nod before he pushes you back into the bathroom, quickly closing the door before his lips are on yours. you let out a soft moan as his hands find their way to your sides. he gently moves his hands up, unbuttoning the buttons you had managed to button up on your shirt, before his hands, calloused and rough, met your sides. he had you pressed against the sink, the small of your back against the cold marble.

you were practically dripping in your swim suit. you felt overwhelmed, but you knew what you wanted. “f-fuck..” you mumble as his hands come up, cupping your breasts, gently squeezing them, he moves down, kissing your neck before he pulls down your swim suit top, your breasts now exposed. he then moves down, taking a nipple into his mouth while his hand takes care of the other, gently rolling your nipple between his fingers before he moves his mouth to the other. he takes his hand and pushes it down your body, under the bottom pieces fabric and feels how wet you are, his finger dragging over your clit for a moment. quiet moans fell from your lips as he slowly pushed a finger in, adding a second a few seconds later without warning.

“f-fuck daddy..“ you cry out. it just leaves you. you have never even thought about it and you were embarrassed as he looked up, his eyes meeting yours before shaking his head slightly, a smirk on his face. “you’re so wet..” he spoke before he began to suck at your nipples again, leaving them hard before he pulled away. he continued to finger you, watching as you tilted back, your head thrown back and back arched. “i can’t wait to fuck you.” the loose shirt on your frame finally fell and it was your top pulled down slightly so your chest was exposed and the bottom piece of your swim suit low on your hips while his fingers penetrated you.

you could feel yourself coming close, your orgasm chasing as he fingered you but as soon as he knew, he pulled away, causing you to let out an annoyed sigh. you sat up straight, looking at him as he looked at his fingers. “here, suck them.” you nodded and his fingers entered your mouth. you licked them clean while he undid his shorts, kicking them down. you saw his bulge in his boxers and god he was huge. letting out a moan against his fingers, he pulled his boxers off, his cock looked heavy as he held it in his free hand, stroking it before he took the bottom half of your swim suit and pulled them down your legs, having you kick them off. he finally pulled his fingers from your lips, letting you focus on his cock. you reached down, feeling it, causing him to hiss slightly. “we have to be fast.. we’ve already taken long enough..” he mumbles, watching you feel him in your hands. he was heavy. “turn around, princess.” you nod and you see yourself in the mirror. your cheeks are red, your shoulders are flushed red too. your nipples and lips are swollen and you just look a little more blissed out than before.

his hands come to your hips and he lines himself up with your pussy, slowly dragging the tip through your folds, smearing precum all over before he slowly pushes in the tip.. then slams the rest of his cock into you. he realizes this is a mistake as he knows you’re about to moan, so he quickly puts his hand over your mouth. “you have to be quiet, be a good girl.” he was straining as he spoke.. “you’re so fucking tight..” he mumbled. “i bet you’ve never had a cock this big, have you..” he leaned over you, watching as you shook your head into his palm. “i’m gonna pull my hand away, can you be a good girl and stay quiet?”, nodding he pulls it away and you’re panting, biting your lip as he finally pulls his hips away before slamming them against yours again. he tilted his head back as he began to pick up a steady pace. you were so tight and perfect. he barely fit inside of you but the fit was perfect. every thrust, he would hit your cervix. you struggled to hold yourself up on the sink, your arms going weak.

as your arms went week, he wrapped arm arm around you to hold you up, looking at yourself in the mirror as he fucked you hard and fast. your lip was stuck between your teeth as you held back your moans, the only prominent sound filling the room was the sound of your skin slapping against his. he let out grunts , close to your ear, and when you’d let out soft sounds, he almost crumbled. the sound was so perfect.

he moved his hand down to your lower tummy, and watching as he could see himself as a bulge would form as he fucked you. he placed his hand over it. “look at that ..” he grabbed your hand and placed it over it. “feel me, right there..” he held your hand there, while he just fucked you harder. time began to get away from you as he edged you one more time before someone walked inside.. it was one of the wives. they knocked on the bathroom door and suddenly he had come to a complete halt. you were pulled out of your little daddy’s princess fuck fest and had to pull it together.

“y-yeah??” you shouted out, he slowly began to move again, making your knees shake a little. “we’re just making sure you’re alright… are you?” they asked as he began to fuck you deep. biting your lip, you struggled to respond. “yeah i’m.. i’m- im okay..” your head fell forward, your hands coming to the edge of the sink, gripping hard. “okay, just call if you need anything.” you let out a sound of approval and as soon as they walked away, he began to fuck you relentlessly again.

letting you lean over the sink, his hands came to your hips and slammed into you. you could feel yourself coming closer. “fuck.. daddy.. daddy…” you’d mumble, cock drunk, over and over again. he knew you were close again and so was he. “you want me to fill you up? fill you with my cum?” he asked, his voice was so soft, you didn’t understand how he could be so stern. “yes please! fill me up please!!” you pleaded. “okay princess..”

your orgasm finally washed over you, his hand covering your mouth again as you cried into it, tears forming in your eyes as he finally let you cum, squeezing his cock as your legs shook. he practically doubled over as he began to loose rhythm, fucking into you quickly before he finally spilled inside of you. he leaned over, his cock as deep inside of you as possible, as you feel his warm cum fill you. you finally could recover, but as you sat up, your walls involuntarily squeezed around him, causing you to let out another moan before he reluctantly pulled out. “you did so good.. you’re such a good girl..” he spoke as you turned around, leaning down to kiss you again. “thank you, daddy..”

he helped clean you up, pulling your clothes back on while he got his shorts back on. as he pulled the bottoms back onto your ass , he gently slapped your pussy, essentially saying ‘this is mine, and that’s why i filled you up.’ he kissed you one more time on the head before he finally let you go. “don’t say anything..” he said before watching you leave. you walked up to your room, trying to recover slightly.

he walked back outside , acting like he hadn’t been gone for 20-30 minute. they asked what he was doing and he said “i was talking to y/n.. rod was kinda busy and she just needed someone to talk to.” he spoke, his hair a little bit of a mess.

as you got upstairs, you changed into normal clothes.. you didn’t want to wear this around andrei anymore. you spread your legs while changing though, feeling as jordan’s cum began to seep through your folds. you took a quick picture, sending it to him, knowing he wouldn’t look at his phone until he left, and changed, going back downstairs to sit back in that same spot, next to the guy you just called daddy and the one that made him do it.

#carolina hurricanes #carolina hurricanes imagine #nhl smut #shamelessly writing about jordan staal #jordan staal #smut #nhl fanfic #nhl writing #18+ #skjeinons daddy issues #go ahead and cry little girl series

[thomasschabot]

broken hearts and dirty windows make life difficult to see

sebastian aho x fem!reader

two times you felt sebastian cracking your heart and one time he shattered it

word count:  2.2k

warnings: cursing, crumbling relationships, major dickweed vibes from mr. aho

a/n: hello hello! this a little gift for @sebbyaho as part of @antoineroussel​’s  summer fic exchange. i hope you enjoy <3 super huge props to demi for organizing yet another amazing event!!!! also everyone go thank @joshuaanderson​ because she’s the one who told me to get my ass in gear and write a 3+1 but i can’t commit to anything so this is what we ended up with

⭑⭒⭑

The lack of public displays of affection in your relationship doesn’t bother you. 

Private, not secret is the motto Sebastian lives by, given the nature of his rising superstardom, and you’ve always been one to keep to yourself. Over the years there have been tastefully curated instagram posts from each of you with heads cropped out or faces covered, but to those close it’s clear the two of you are a couple. You know Sebastian loves you, he knows you love him — that’s enough. 

Raleigh, and North Carolina in general, might be becoming more hockey-centric, but the players and their families can still wander in peace. It’s part of the reason Sebastian has never tried to move. Pundits and reporters are correct in saying he could get a larger paycheque somewhere else, but it’s the anonymity and freedom to exist that keeps him, and you, here. There have been discussions about moving closer to your family, seeing as you both spend the off-season in Finland with his, but it’s never amounted to anything more than pillow talk fantasies. You’re happy in Raleigh and the Hurricanes have become a family away from home. 

Anyone associated with the team, even on a part-time basis knows about Sebastian’s relationship. It’s important for both of you to share some parts of yourselves with others, and the easiest way to do that is by going to dinners or barbecues with teammates. He doesn’t have many friends outside the organization, and by nature of being far away from home neither do you. It isn’t inherently lonely, but a lot of your time is spent at work, with Sebastian, or the three former co-workers who are still in contact with you. 

“Sepe,” you grumble, having grown increasingly tired of following him around the shopping mall. “Can’t you buy shoes without me?”

A pensive yet teasing look flashes across his features. “I suppose so, but there’s no fun in that.”

The comment earns him a light kick to the shin, which is swiftly followed up by Sebastian ruffling your hair. You manage to pry him away from the sneaker store with promises of something more worthwhile at home, and as you exit the store you feel Sebastian’s pinky link with yours. It’s something small he started doing years ago to let you know he was still around in crowded places, and you cherish the meaning it holds. 

From around the corner there’s laughter, which doesn’t bother either of you, and you continue to wander towards the mall’s exit. “Aho, you beauty, is that you?” a boy, no more than nineteen, calls out from the group, approaching Sebastian with open arms. Instantly Sebastian’s hand is dropped from yours and he’s a good arms length away from you. 

“Hey man, how’s it going? How’s camp?” your boyfriend asks with ease, slipping into an easy conversation about hockey while going around the circle and greeting everyone. It doesn’t take you long to concur that the boys are newcomers, part of this year’s draft class in Raleigh for development camp, and that they took a liking to Sebastian when he helped lead a couple of off ice seminars about how to adjust to living alone in a new city. 

You hang back, letting the guys do their thing, not particularly interested in whatever drill they’re talking about. Sebastian has interests that differ from your own, including hockey, and it’s nice to give him space to engage in it with other fans. The digital edition of The New Yorker was released early in the morning, and you scroll through your phone reading articles of interest. Eventually someone clears their throat, signalling your presence has been noted. 

“And you are?”

Before you can speak and introduce yourself, Sebastian does it for you. “She’s just a friend of mine,” he shrugs casually, completely forgetting to mention that the two of you have been dating for nearly four years, “And we’ve actually got to get going. See you around.”

With the parting words uttered and handshakes administered yet again, the group splits in the opposite direction you and Sebastian are going. The white hot sting of rejection burns in your stomach, creeps up your esophagus, and threatens to spill out. Tears also begin to well in your eyes but you blink them away. Why didn’t he just just introduce you as his girlfriend? There has never been any hesitation from him in the past. 

Suddenly walking beside him is too much, and you need a few degrees of separation from the man you love. “I  just forgot I need to stop by the office quickly,” you blurt out. “Nina left some documents for me to sign since I won’t be there on Monday when the deal goes through.”

“Want me to come with you?” Sebastian asks, back to playing the doting boyfriend like nothing happened. You suppose to him maybe nothing had. 

“It’s okay, I’ll only be a few extra minutes. Besides, you have so many bags. I’ll meet you at home.”

You allow him to place a kiss to your cheek in farewell, and head in the opposite direction. Once you’re sure Sebastian is out of the building, or at least out of sight, you make a beeline for the nearest washroom, no longer able to hold back from crying. 

In the mirror as you splash water on your face to reduce puffiness, a vain and probably futile attempt of not alerting Sebastian to your upset, you can’t help but curse his name. “Private, not secret,” you mutter, flicking more water upwards, “How fucking stupid.” 

Enough time eventually passes for you to have reasonably gone to the office and signed papers, and you catch a glimpse of yourself on the way out. Mascara dots your undereyes, though not noticeably, but it’s the pained expression on your features that unsettles you. You hadn’t realized until this moment that the reason you’re so upset isn’t because he didn’t declare his love for you, but because he did it so easily and without a second thought you wonder how many times he’s done it when you're not around. 

The thought makes a small piece of your heart splinter off. 

⭑⭒⭑

Independence in relationships is incredibly important. 

You’ve always been a force to be reckoned with, and that didn’t end when you started dating Sebastian. Doing things alone has never been an issue for you — solo travelling has always been one of your favourite hobbies and you still regularly take weekends away without your boyfriend. He does the same, knows it’s healthy, and the time apart helps you grow and be stronger together. Tonight the two of you are going out with separate friend groups, getting ready alongside each other in a comfortable silence. 

“Babe? Pass me my toothbrush?” Sebastian asks, words muffled slightly by the towel he has scrunched over his face to try and try his hair. 

In the middle of brushing your own, you nod before reaching into the toothbrush holder and pulling out the bamboo stick that matches yours. A year or so ago you realized just how much plastic waste the hygiene tool creates, and Sebastian welcomed the change with open arms. Soon the only sound in the bathroom is the scrubbing of teeth and the hum that Sebastian elicits when you bend over to spit in the sink. You go to swat him for the insinuated lewdness but he dodges easily, playful smile on his lips before he ducks out of the room to change. 

Mascara and lipstick are the finishing touches to your makeup look, which is complete in a matter of seconds. Hair is the next item to check off your list — it’s too hot in the southern heatwave Raleigh is experiencing to do anything other than a ponytail, but you try to spice it up with a fluffy braid or two. It sounds as though Sebastian is getting ready to leave from the newly sneaker-clad footsteps clomping around the apartment, and being finished enough in the bathroom to leave it you go to bid him goodbye. 

He’s facing away from you, back slightly hunched because he’s no doubt texting Teuvo that he’s on the way to pick him up. You didn’t care to ask about the details of this guys’ night, but from a casual conversation or two throughout the week you learned they were going to some upscale bar that supposedly has the best bottle service in the world, according to a few rookies. Careful not to alert him to your presence, you tip-toe across the room and wrap your arms around Sebastian’s waist as soon as you’re able. You inhale into his shirt, breathing in cologne and something else that’s indescribably Sebastian, but you also don’t miss the way his muscles contract under your touch instead of releasing. 

“Have fun tonight,” you say softly while backing away, afraid to make him any more uncomfortable. Affection in your home has always been encouraged by Sebastian despite his reservations about it in public. 

His response is just as quiet. “Thanks, sweetheart, you too.”

A ping comes from Sebastian’s phone then, and he goes to leave, goes as far as taking two steps towards the door before you make one more move of desperation for some intimacy. You tug his arm back gently, lace your fingers through his, and lean in. Sebastian has never said no to a kiss in all the years you’ve known him, and hopefully it will appease the anxiety creating roots in your brain. 

“Don’t kiss me.”

You’re beyond taken aback by the words — are actually flabbergasted. “Why not?” you ask, but the words are shaky and don’t come out of your mouth as you would have liked them to. 

Sebastian sighs. “Your lipstick will get stuck in the corners of my mouth and the guys will tease me relentlessly. I just don’t want that right now.”

It takes everything in you to not let him see the hurt he’s caused displayed on your features. You’ve always been an emotive person, and it was something Sebastian always said he loved about you. “That’s never stopped you before.”

“Well, it’s stopping me now.”

He’s gone without an apology, though the remarks thrown your direction are firmly located in a morally ambiguous grey area so you’re not even sure one is warranted, and promises to see you when he gets home. The door opens and shuts without so much of a hinge squeak, and you’re left alone with nothing but your racing thoughts and heavy heart. 

You pick up your phone, send a few texts to the group chat explaining that you’re under the weather but want them to still have fun, and crawl into bed lipstick and all. It unintentionally stains the pillowcase in the shuffle, and your heartstrings tug — would it have been such a bad thing if Sebastian had been marked as yours?

⭑⭒⭑

The rare dinners you’re able to share with Sebastian during the season are normally filled with a comfortable silence. 

Tonight, however, it’s suffocating. Normally you would chalk up the slight scowl and grunts while he shovels food into his mouth to a bad practice, but it was an off day. You’re utterly perplexed at the behaviour, at everything Sebastian has done lately, but you’re too exhausted to have that conversation with him. Maybe someday soon, possibly even tomorrow, but not right now. All you’re focused on is getting through dinner and crawling into bed. 

Your work day had been horrendous — everything went wrong that could, plus things you didn’t even know had the option to blow up in your face. Clients screamed at you over the phone about advertisements not being printed, a co-worker ‘accidentally’ ate your lunch, and the position you interviewed for was given to a newcomer with little skill. All you want to do is put this day behind you and start again when the sun rises. 

Clanking cutlery is enough to pull you out of your thoughts. You notice Sebastian’s plate is clear, your own barely touched, and he’s looking at you with an unreadable stare. After so many years together you thought you could read him like a book, but apparently not. 

“I thought I could like it like this.” 

Your own fork and knife crash against porcelain, making your ears ring. “Like what?”

Sebastian sighs, “Us. I thought I could learn to love us like this. Just being boring and domestic, but I can’t. I need more.”

Pain flashes across your features, and he winces when he looks up to see the wounded expression you wear. Not knowing what else to do, you take a sip of water. One turns into several, and soon the glass in front of you is empty. 

“I can give you more,” you whisper. You know you’d give anything to Sebastian if he asked, and you are determined to make this work. 

He shakes his head, most likely in defeat or exasperation. “You can’t. That’s alright, I’ve accepted it. You should too.”

The finality in his tone surprises you — he’s clearly been thinking about this for a while, and his disinterest in including you in the conversation stings almost as much as the action of him walking away from the table. Sebastian continues to say nothing as you sit mouth agape and unable to move. Time is frozen and you’re stuck, possibly forever in the moment where the relationship you thought would last forever shattered into a million pieces. You don’t even know he’s actually gone until the front door slams, effectively breaking your heart in a way you’re not sure can ever be repaired.

⭑⭒⭑

enjoy this fic? give it a reblog :) <3

#sebastian aho imagine #sebastian aho x reader #sebastian aho fic #carolina hurricanes imagine #carolina hurricanes fic #nhl imagine #nhl fic #hockey imagine #hockey fic #the summer fic exchange 2k22 #cwrites

[heartsandhischier]

Behind the Game Face

andrei svechnikov x female!reader

summary - 1.8k words. Perhaps Andrei isn't the only one hiding feelings of jealousy. part 7 of The Pretend Play

author's note - the grip this man has on me... that's all i can say

warnings - mentions of alcohol, reader getting a bit too drunk

In the pulsating heart of the club, where lights flickered like the rapid heartbeat of the night, Andrei and Y/N were adrift in a sea of sensory overload. Y/N, already feeling the effects of her earlier drinks, tried to maintain a facade of control as Andrei navigated them through the crowd, his presence a grounding force in the chaotic whirlwind of the club’s interior.

Their path was suddenly obstructed by a figure from Andrei’s past, a woman whose presence instantly changed the air around them. 

“Look who we have here,” the woman, with her calculated smile and eyes that seemed to appraise everything they landed on, greeted Andrei with a familiarity that instantly set Y/N on edge. Her voice, sharp and clear amidst the cacophony, marked her territory without subtlety, her hand resting on Andrei's arm a silent claim that sparked a fierce irritation in Y/N.

“And you are?” her gaze shifted to Y/N, her voice dripping with disdain as if she was sizing up competition she'd already decided was beneath her.

“Elena, this is Y/N. Y/N, Elena,” Andrei's introduction was stiff, the tension palpable. Elena's examination was dismissive, her words laced with condescension. "Ah, the latest catch. How...quaint," she sneered, her dismissive glance a clear dismissal of Y/N's significance.

"Remember our time in Prague, Andrei? Those nights were unforgettable." Refocusing her attention on Andrei, Elena reminisced about a shared past in Prague, her words laden with innuendo, igniting a fierce blaze of jealousy within Y/N. The mention of intimate memories to which Y/N had no access felt like a deliberate provocation.

"Seems like some memories are better left forgotten," Y/N couldn't help but retort, her words sharper than intended, her filter dissolved by alcohol.

Elena's laughter grated on Y/N's nerves, her insinuation clear. "Oh, darling, you have no idea. Andrei here knows how to make a girl remember."

Y/N's discomfort grew with each passing moment, the combination of alcohol and jealousy clouding her judgment. Without a word, she turned, downing her drink and signaling the bartender for another. And another. As Elena's laughter echoed behind her, Y/N sought refuge and oblivion in the bottom of her glass, her emotions a whirlwind of hurt and resentment.

By the time Andrei realized Y/N had slipped away, she was on the dance floor, her movements unsteady, her laughter too loud. He excused himself from Elena's clinging presence, his concern for Y/N overshadowing any remnants of their earlier argument.

He found her surrounded by a crowd, the pulsating lights casting shadows over her face. "Y/N, what are you doing?" Andrei asked, reaching for her arm to steady her.

"Dancing, Andrei. What does it look like?" she slurred, her words slipping over each other.

"This isn't you. Let's get you out of here," he insisted, the scene before him a stark contrast to the Y/N he knew.

"Why? So you can go back to your precious Elena? Don't let me keep you," she shot back, her bitterness a clear.

“Let’s just leave,” he calmly suggested, she ripped her arm away from his grasp surprising him. “No I’m having fun,” she declared, though her swaying stance suggested otherwise.

“Y/N you’ve had too much to drink,”he said, bending slightly to place a comforting yet firm grip on her shoulders. “You know all about that don’t you?” she harshly remarked, her words cutting deep echoing the incident that put them here in the first place. 

Andrei, with a firm but gentle grip, guided Y/N out of the club amidst her feeble attempts to break free, her movements sluggish and ineffective against his resolve. Retrieving their coats, he maneuvered them through the exit, her protests about the night being spoiled filling the air between them. As they stood outside, Y/N's stability wavered, her ability to remain upright compromised by her intoxication. Andrei, with a careful hand, supported her as they awaited a taxi, eventually helping her into the vehicle as he gave the driver the address to her apartment.

In the taxi, she slurriedly leaned against him, her head lolling onto his shoulder, he stiffened, unaccustomed to such closeness, yet found himself unable to pull away, his gaze fixed on the streetlights that danced across her features.

Standing outside her apartment she slurridely searched for her keys in her bag, “i can’t find them” she lamented repeatedly, her frustration mounting with each unsuccessful attempt. "Let me see," Andrei offered, his tone laced with barely concealed patience. Within moments, his hand emerged victorious, holding the elusive keys. Guiding her inside, the apartment bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight streaming through the windows. 

As he gently ushered her towards the couch, Y/N's ramblings began to unfurl, a stream of consciousness fueled by alcohol and raw emotion. "I hate you. I hate how you… always with them. The women, always smiling at you. I hate it," she confessed, her words cutting through him with their unvarnished truth.

Her words stung, a raw confession of jealousy and need. He watched her, a tempest of confusion and longing brewing within him as he knelt to remove her shoes, his hands gentle.

The task of helping her into pajamas was met with a respectful distance, his heart a tumultuous sea as the soft fabric slipped through his fingers. "I don’t understand… why does it bother me so much? You’re just... You, and I’m… I hate feeling like this. Why do you hate me being nice to others?" she queried, her voice a mix of innocence and accusation that tugged at something deep within him. He paused, the weight of her gaze heavy upon him.

"Let’s not do this now, Y/N. You’re not yourself," Andrei replied, his voice gentle, yet firm, as he carefully removed her makeup, his touch on her skin a bittersweet blend of intimacy and restraint.

She looked at him, her eyes a stormy sea of confusion and longing, and in a moment of impulsive vulnerability, she reached for him, her kiss a mix of desperation and softness. It was a collision of every unspoken emotion between them, a confession of need and denial.

“Don’t go. Stay with me, please.”

Her plea, a whisper against his lips, was the thread that unraveled him. He knew this wasn’t the time for truths, for the daylight would bring clarity and possibly regret. Yet, her need tethered him to her side.

“I’ll stay… but not like this. You need rest.”

He settled her into bed, her fingers slipping from his as sleep claimed her. Retreating to the couch, he was enveloped by the night’s silence, her words echoing in the chasm between them.

As he lay there, staring at the ceiling, the events of the night replayed in his mind, each moment a stitch in the fabric of their evolving relationship. The tenderness he had shown, her confused confessions, the fleeting kiss—it all painted a picture far more complex than any fake relationship should entail.

He realized then, in the quiet before dawn, that his feelings for Y/N were no longer a matter of convenience or pretense. They were real, as real as the ache in his chest when she spoke of hate, and as undeniable as the pull he felt towards her even now, separated by mere walls and unspoken truths.

-

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room where the hockey player lay on the couch, a thin blanket pulled over him. He stirred awake to an unfamiliar yet comforting aroma wafting through the air, the scent of brewing coffee mingling with something divine being cooked. For a moment, he forgot where he was, until the events of the previous night slowly pieced themselves back together in his mind.

Pushing himself off the couch, he stretched away the stiffness and followed the enticing smells to the kitchen. There he found Y/N moving around with an ease around the kitchen. She looked different in the morning light, her hair pulled back casually, a hint of vulnerability in her stance that he hadn’t noticed before.

“Good morning,” she greeted, her voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of last night’s vulnerability. “I figured the least I could do, after you took care of me, was to make breakfast.”

He offered a small, appreciative smile, accepting the peace offering. "Smells amazing," he remarked, settling at the kitchen island, his gaze lingering on her.

The kitchen became a quiet refuge from the previous night's turmoil, their silence a comfortable blanket wrapping around them, hinting at a mutual understanding that was slowly knitting together despite their attempts at maintaining distance.

At one point, Y/N scooped up a spoonful of the meal she weas preparing, offering him a taste. As she brought the spoon to his lips, she instinctively placed her other hand under his chin, catching any stray drops. It was a small, almost intimate act that seemed to bridge the distance between them, even if just for a moment.

The food was delicious, a testament to her skills and effort to make amends, but as they ate, the weight of last night's words hung heavily between them. Finally, Y/N broke the silence, her voice tinged with a mix of hope and resignation. “About last night... we can just forget it happened, right? Go back to being strictly professional?”

He paused, the taste of the breakfast turning bittersweet. Part of him wanted to dive into the conversation, to explore the truths that had been revealed in her moment of vulnerability. But the reality of their situation, the facade they had to maintain, loomed large. “Yeah,” he agreed reluctantly, “strictly professional.”

The agreement hung in the air, a mutual decision to bury their emerging feelings under the guise of professionalism. Yet, the care they had for each other, the glimpses of something deeper, couldn’t be entirely masked by their words. It was there in the way she had cooked for him, in the way he had cared for her the night before, and even now, in the shared looks that spoke volumes.

As they cleared the dishes, a silent acknowledgment passed between them, a recognition of the complex bond they were beginning to form. Despite their agreement to forget, it was clear that the events of the last night had irrevocably changed something between them, introducing a layer of care and affection that couldn’t be simply undone.

As he left her apartment that morning, the taste of her cooking lingering on his lips and the memory of her drunken confessions echoing in his mind, the hockey player couldn’t help but feel that their charade was evolving into something neither of them had anticipated or could easily dismiss.

#andrei svechnikov fanfiction #andrei svechnikov fanfic #andrei svechnikov fic #andrei svechnikov x reader #andrei svechnikov imagine #andrei svechnikov x y/n #andrei svechnikov x you #as37 #carolina hurricanes fic #canes fanfiction #carolina hurricanes imagine #carolina hurricanes fanfic #canes fanfic #nhl fanfic #hockey fanfic #hockey fic #nhl fanfiction #canes

[ilyasorokinn]

feeling kinda soft and thinking about dad andrei 🥹 what do you think the first family vacation with kids would be like?

BIG SLIDE

okay, idk if this is exactly what you requested, but i tried bestie! love ya <3

"MR. AND MRS. SVECHNIKOV" SERIES MASTERLIST

tw: kids/children

you had been on vacation with theo but never theo and anastasia, so it was going to be a big ordeal when it finally came time to take them both.

because they were both so young, there were only two options in their minds when it came to vacation. either a theme park or a waterpark, which greatly limited your options.

"i don't want to go to a waterpark," andrei whined as he looked over at your computer screen to see what you were doing.

"and you think i do?"

"why can't we go to like a beach or something?"

"because we have kids." you reminded him, jabbing him jokingly in the side, "now, can you look at this? does this look fun for kids?"

a few months later, you were finally at the waterpark. theo and anastasia's heads were on a swivel the entire time as they took everything in.

"over there!"

"there!"

"mommy, look!"

"do you want to go on that one?" you pointed to a waterslide.

"that one." anastasia pointed to a bigger one. it wasn't the biggest one at the park, but it was the biggest one in the kiddie area.

your eyes widened, "are you sure? that's a big one." she nodded her head, "all right." you sighed, setting her down and holding her hand, "ana wants to go on the big one over there."

"me too!" theo exclaimed, jumping up.

you looked up andrei, a similar look of horror on both of your faces. you eventually found yourself waiting in the long line to get on the waterslide.

"why are we doing this? how did we end up here?" you asked andrei, keeping an eye on theo and anastasia who were entertaining each other while you waited in line.

"we're going on vacation, me and you, to a beach. a warm one. no kids, just me and you." andrei wrapped an arm around your shoulders.

"i won't complain." you sighed.

"next." the person working the slide called you over. theo and anastasia sat in the front while you and andrei sat in the back. after you got off, both kids were buzzing.

"was that fun?" andrei asked them, holding each kid in each arm.

"so much." theo nodded.

"hungry." ana stated.

"all right, let's get some lunch."

by the afternoon, both kids were exhausted and passed out. you carried theo while andrei carried anastasia, back to the car. after you strapped them both in, you sat back in the driver and passenger seats, enjoying the air conditioning from the car and a breath without kids crawling all over you.

"what if we just fell asleep right here?" andrei joked, closing his eyes and taking a breath.

"can we just cancel the rest of the trip? today was enough." you yawned.

"sounds good." andrei yawned.

#andrei svechnikov imagine #andrei svechnikov imagines #andrei svechnikov x reader #andrei svechnikov fic #andrei svechnikov blurbs #andrei svechnikov #nhl imagine #nhl imagines #nhl fic #nhl blurbs #nhl #hockey imagine #hockey imagines #hockey fic #hockey blurbs #hockey #carolina hurricanes imagine #carolina hurricanes imagines #carolina hurricanes fic #carolina hurricanes blurbs #carolina hurricanes #taylor writes #taylor writes: hockey #taylor's blurbs