#Carolina Hurricanes 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

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[stormsplurge]

if they woke you up, somebody better be dying

warnings: none!

pairing(s): seth jarvis x fem! reader

inspired by the interview he just did for spittin chiclets where he talks about how he usually wont fall asleep until 3am (and the title is from one of my favorite phoebe bridgers songs, halloween)

760 words

the clock on the bedside table blinks “1:00” as you slowly open your eyes. the only light in the room is coming from the moon shining between the blinds, casting a cool glow on the noticeably empty bed next to where you were lying.

seth wasnt in bed; same as last night, and almost every night before. 

you can hear the faint sounds of a seinfeld episode coming from the living room, letting you know immediately where your boyfriend was. sitting on the couch in front of the tv instead of in bed next to you. so you begrudgingly pulled on the first sweatshirt you could find, trying to beat the cold winter chill that had invaded the apartment, and tiptoed out of your bedroom.

“seth” you grumbled. “its one in the morning”

“i know, i just” he replied, pressing pause on the tv and turning to face you. “i couldnt sleep and i didnt want to bother you.”

“you should also know that if you cant fall asleep i want to help. you arent being a bother, im your girlfriend. this is the shit im supposed to be able to help you with” you said as you sat down at the far end of the couch. pulling one of the spare blankets you had all over the apartment over your lap.

“im sorry” seth returned, scooting closer to you and interlacing your hands with his. “can i get a do-over?”

“i guess” you giggled, amused by the sight of seth doing his sad puppy eyes in front of you.

“i cant sleep, can you help me?”

“of course i can, give me five minutes.” you said as you rose from the couch, gliding over to the kitchen and pulling out two coffee mugs. running your fingers over the design adorning the box holding the tea bags, you turned your attention back towards seth. “the sleepytime bear reminds me of petya.”

“the what?”

“you know, the bear on the boxes for all those non-caffinated teas. with the red hat and the nightgown.”

seth slipped into the kitchen behind you, pulling out his phone and snapping a quick picture of the bear before sending it off to the group chat and spinning you around so your back was pushing against the counter.

“thank you” he said before pressing a long kiss to the top of your head.

“you dont need to thank me.” you replied, snaking your hands under his shirt and hugging his waist.

“i know, i just wanted too.”

“youre so sappy.” you mumbled into his shirt, letting the sweet, woody, smell engulf you.

“yeah but you love it.” he mumbled back before pulling the kettle off the stove and pouring its contents into the mugs you set out. 

you released each other from the hug and grabbed your respective mugs before hobbling back into your bedroom. you pulled up the episode of seinfeld seth had paused before sliding in bed. 

making tea might have been a waste of time, seeing as seth was more interested in holding you than holding the mug. as soon as you got under the covers he’d wrapped his arms around you.

“youre wearing my hoodie.” he whispered as he traced circles along your thighs, letting the callouses on his palms graze the goosebumps on your skin.

“am i?” you murmured. “i just picked it up off the floor, it was the first one i found”

“my old blue bombers one.” he replied. “it looks good on you”

“you say that about everything i wear.”

“i wouldnt say it if it wasnt true.” he says before turning your chin towards him and pulling you into a kiss. 

the stubble growing in as a result of his budding playoff beard scratched at your face as you pulled him in deeper, and as you turned your attention back towards the sitcom on the tv you felt your eyes grow heavier. 

you fell asleep with the moonlight glazing over you and seth, and seinfeld playing on the tv. on a cool carolina night, with no care in the world. 

seth wasn’t far behind, wrapping his body around you before finally succumbing to his fatigue.

maybe it was having his girlfriend care for him that slowed his brain down enough to let him finally catch a semi-decent night of rest, maybe it was the reminder of unconditional love that put him at ease. regardless of the cause, you woke up to sunlight streaming through the windows, and a clingy, but well rested, boyfriend attached to your hip. 

[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.”

[hockeyboistrash]

our wedding | s.j

summary: you and seth go to his teammates wedding but when he mentions your own you start to freak out

Seth was someone who always had to touch you somehow, whether that was the small of your back or holding your hand, but when he's had a few too many beers it would worsen. His filter had also gone, words just spilled out of his mouth without thinking about it, more than usual. It's why one hand was on your thigh while his other arm was across the back of your chair, laughing at something his teammate said. Seth had no idea that your mind was currently spinning, his words on repeat.

'We should have this at our wedding'

He wasn't talking about his own wedding with some random girl. He was talking about yours. It didn't freak you out. It just wasn't something you expected Seth to say casually. Neither of you have discussed the future of your relationship, happy to just take it one step at a time.

"Is everything okay?" Seth asked, bringing you out of your inner though spiral. Everyone at the table were looking at you like they were waiting for an answer to a question someone asked you.

"Yeah, everything is great." You told him, hoping your smile didn't come across as forced. "I'm just going to grab us some water." You pressed a chaste kiss on his cheek before you got up to head to the bar.

Sebastian's wedding was beautiful, the reception hall was decorated enough that it wasn't over the top. There was an open bar which probably wasn't a good idea for a bunch of hockey players who were now on their summer break. Music flowed through the speakers as everyone danced on the dancefloor. The atmosphere was good, something you wanted at your own wedding. 'Damn Seth and his comment' you grumbled to yourself. You never had thoughts like this before but now they were creeping in thanks to your boyfriend.

"Is this because of what Seth said?" One of the girls asked, sliding next to you at the bar. You often sat near her on game day as she was the partner of one of Seth's teammates. "You know he meant it right? The guy is in love with you. All he talks about when they're on the road is how much he misses you."

You appreciated your friend was trying to make you feel better but the thoughts continued. The what ifs. You knew you had to have this conversation one day with Seth. The two of you have been dating for a couple of years now. You were just scared to, scared that it could ruin the dynamic, scared that you could lose the love of your life.

The spiraling thoughts followed you back to the hotel room and in bed as you laid next to Seth, facing him as he recounted the evening of fun he had with his teammates. You tried to make it look like you were focusing on every word that came out of his mouth but Seth noticed you were distracted. "Are you sure everything is okay?" He asked repeating the same question he asked earlier.

This was it. There was no hiding no matter how scared you were. You looked up at him, taking in every inch of your boyfriend. "Did you mean it? When you said 'our wedding' earlier." Your voice was quiet, barely above a whisper, but Seth heard you.

"Of course I meant it." Seth scoffed as if you said the most ridiculous thing. "I can't imagine my life without you. Whenever I think about my future you're always there by my side."

"I'm sorry." You shook your head, realizing how stupid you must have sounded.

"I'm the one who should be apologizing. I guess I just assumed we were on the same page even though we never spoke about it before." He said. "I'm sorry I sprung it on you in the middle of the reception and freaking you out."

"You didn't freak me out, Seth." You assured him. "It threw me a little that's all. We've never spoken about marriage and the future before."

"Well I want to marry you." Seth admitted, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you closer to him. "Not any time soon but eventually. And I want to get a house with a garden where we can grow old together."

"I want that too." You grinned, your previous worries melting away with the kiss you pressed against his lips.

Seth deepened the kiss as your arms snaked around his neck and his hands fell to your hips. "I love you so much." He mumbled against your lips.

"I love you too."

[prettytoxicrevolver]

Jacket | Seth Jarvis

wc. 1.6k

Jarvy sees you in the wags playoff jacket for the first time

(not my best writing tbh. im sorry!)

Growing up, you never had an affinity for fashion. 

Your mom was the one who always dressed you and middle school was always that awkward fashion era of everyone’s lives. In high school the different outfits everyone wore had started to pique your interest, wanting to finally find your own style and make yourself feel more confident overall. 

By college you had hit your stride and everyone in your life was incredibly confused when you decided to major in fashion business. Your dad was over the moon that you added the business side of it, being a finance director himself, and while your mom was still confused, she enjoyed the new fashion advice from her daughter. 

You grew up in North Carolina, heading to FIT in New York for your undergrad before returning home. You spent that summer trying your best to figure out what to do with this new degree, when your life intertwined with Seth Jarvis. Through a mess of awkward run ins, late nights, and a final first date that sealed the deal, you were quick to realize that Seth was it for you. Three years later and you and Seth were closer than ever. He was on his way to another playoff run while you had been living your dream job for a couple of years now. 

As April loomed near and the season was coming to an end, the wag groupchat had started to pick up. The girls were discussing playoff chances and who should be planning the wag jackets this year and you were voted the number one choice. You tried to get out of it, worried that what you made wouldn’t be good enough but the girls shut you down quickly, knowing whatever you make would be iconic. 

You found yourself dreaming up ideas in the middle of meetings, doodling in the corners of your notebooks, looking up colors and fabrics, and finally caving to create a full fledged design when Seth had come bounding home with the news of a playoff clinch. 

The drawing you come up with is a high school varsity style jacket in black, the front saying Carolina in uppercase bold red letters, with the words cause above one pocket and chaos on the other side. One sleeve has the previous cup win dates while the other sleeve has the boy’s number and the original canes logo underneath it. Lastly, the bottom hem of the jacket is decorated with the storm warning flags similar to the boys jerseys and classic name and number on the back in the same color and font as the Carolina. 

Ever since finalizing the design, you instantly headed to the store and grabbed a blank black varsity jacket and started your work. You had fallen so deep into the job, focusing on each tiny detail for your prototype that you didn’t even hear Seth coming home. You had just finished on the front when you heard the door of your office creak open and you turn to see Seth with a tired smile on his lips. 

“Hey there pretty girl,” he says, sauntering his way into the room and your heart skips at the sight of him. You’re distracted for a moment just at the sight of him, but when you notice his eyes flicker over to your current project you flinch and get up. 

“No!” you screech, taking quick steps towards your boyfriend and covering his eyes with your hand. Seth freezes against you, concerned in his movements but when he hears a breathy laugh escape from your lips he knows everything is okay. 

“Uh why can’t I look?” 

“It’s bad luck!” you squeal, nudging your boyfriend out of your office and Seth rolls his eyes, his lashes fluttering lightly against your hand. 

“I’m sorry did I propose and forget or something?” he asks when you finally drop your hand from his eyes and shut your office door behind you. 

“No but if you are going to propose I’d wait till off season,” you respond cheekily and Seth grins. 

“I was making the wag jackets,” you tell him, slinging your arms around his neck and bringing him closer to you. 

“Mmm were you?” 

Seth leans down, pressing a soft kiss to your neck, trailing one up to your cheek and then finally on your lips, his hips pushing you back against the door so you’re caged in his embrace. 

“Mhm,” you murmur against his lips and you feel his grin, the scruff of his beard scratching against your skin. “And you need to go so I can finish them.” 

“Or we could do this,” he says and before you know it, Seth has grabbed you around the waist, throwing you over his shoulder and marching his way towards your shared bedroom, your protests of work and prototypes deaf to his ears. 

The week leading up to the first playoff game was complete chaos. You hadn’t seen Seth at all, occasionally when he was slipping out of bed and you were just slipping in, bumping into each other when he was out the door and you were coming in and so on. 

You were finalizing all of the wag jackets, making sure the matching shoes had arrived and were in good condition as well. You had decided to add a pair of nikes with the players last name on the side to match the jackets and you couldn’t wait to see how each girl would style their outfit. One by one as each girl received their jacket you would be on the other end of a million texts and several facetime calls of the girls freaking out about the job you did. You couldn’t help it, you started to feel good about your work too after being praised so much. 

Unfortunately due to both your schedules, you couldn’t see Seth before the playoff game but promised to make it in time for warmups. You and a few of the girls head out together, taking pictures both at your place and when you get to the arena. You head straight for the front, your nerves getting the best of you and you’re bouncing up and down on your heels waiting for Seth to come out on the ice. 

Somehow even with the nerves you miss his initial entrance onto the ice. Normally Seth is all serious mode when he starts warmups, only deciding to relax and goof off towards the end of them but when he sees you first, he’s a complete goner. 

You’re facing away from the glass but Seth could spot you from miles away in a crowded area, it truly didn’t matter. Your hair was pulled up and out of the way so everyone could see his last name and jersey number plastered on the back of the black varsity jacket. Your smile is wide and he knows you’ve been nervously fidgeting by the way you twist and bounce as you stand. 

His heart is pounding twice as hard now, not even registering the world around him as he sees you in your heavenly state with his name on your back. His. His jacket. The one that claims you’re his. God, how did he get so lucky? 

He doesn’t know when he stopped paying attention to the movements he was making on his skates until he’s smacking embarrassingly into the glass just before you, startling both you and everyone around. You look up, Seth with an unreadable expression on the other side of the glass and you can’t help the shy smile that creeps onto your lips. 

Seth tries to regain some kind of confidence again, shooting a wink in your direction and mischievous grin before taking off on the ice again. 

You swear your face hurts from smiling and your throat is no doubt sore from the screaming you had done all of game 1. You and the girls make your way down to the tunnel and talk about the events of the game while you wait for the boys. One by one each girl disappears in the arms of her man, you smiling and bidding goodbyes while you impatiently wait for Seth. 

“Is that the future Mrs. Jarvis?” you hear from behind you and you turn to see Jarvy smiling like he just won the damn lottery. 

You rush forward, wrapping your arms around his neck and pressing kisses anywhere you can reach. You exclaim your praise between each kiss and Seth grins shyly against you. 

“You did amazing,” you say leaning back to finally look into your boyfriend's big brown eyes and they shine with pride at your words. 

“Thank you baby,” he says, pressing a kiss to your lips before pulling back and staring at you, his eyes roaming your figure, his fingers tracing the outline of his number on your shoulder and his name on your back. 

“What’s up lover boy?” you ask, nervous under his gaze. 

“You look damn good with my last name,” he murmurs and your face flushes further. 

What Seth doesn’t tell you is that from the first day, he’s known you were the one from him. He doesn’t say that since you had your first date he knew you’d be married one day. He doesn’t say how he wants to spoil his proposal right now and just ask you to marry him because he can’t go another second without having you share his name. 

He doesn’t tell you that one piece of clothing has made him imagine the next 50 years of his life in the matter of seconds. 

But you don’t need to know that. Not yet at least. So Seth settles for another searing kiss to your lips before slinging an arm around your shoulder and leading you home so he can take that jacket off of you and love you properly.

[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. 

[senditcolton]

If You Want It Done

summary: after a disappointing playoff loss, brady reappears on your doorstep eight months after he ended things. and he has nothing on his mind but taking out his frustrations by having you desperate and keening for him once again. however, you aren't about to submit without a fight.

song inspo: NFWB by Hozier & Rats by Motionless in White word count: 5.1k warnings: feminine reader. smut! hair pulling, fingering, unprotected penetration, spanking, slight choking, oral (m receiving), and - as always - a healthy amount of dirty talk. plus somewhat toxic and insanely cocky brady.

a/n: no tricks here. just a sweet treat in the form of long- awaited Brady Skjei smut. technically it's a continuation of this blurb, but i just combined the original and the addition into one fic for you all. enjoy and happy halloween.

Sadness. Humiliation. Shame.

Those should be the emotions running through Brady as the plane lands back in Carolina after Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Because he wasn’t back ready to fight for another win. He was here to pack his bags and go home.

The best team in the Metro. Swept. By a wild card team who barely made the playoffs.

It was a disaster, an embarrassment. And Brady should feel the heavy weight of that failure, even if he might only be responsible for one-nineteenth of the blame. Or, at least, he should feel the waves of sadness crashing over him about the way it ended, or the mere fact that it did end.

But he didn’t. Perhaps he had earlier, when that final buzzer sounded and the fans in South Florida cheered. But now, having sat with those feelings for the better part of 24 hours, he was no longer sad.

He was angry.

And so, when the wheels touched down in Raleigh and he collected his car, he didn’t drive home.

Instead, he drove to yours.

~

A tired sigh leaves you as you pull up to your quaint cottage-style home. A long work week was cause for an even longer relaxing weekend and you were ready to start that weekend by getting inside and having a long nap. Or a strong drink. Or perhaps both.

However, after hopping out of your car and wandering up the small path that leads to your front door, your plans placed on a momentary hold when you see someone leaning against your siding, their baseball cap pulled low.

“I’m not interested in whatever you’re selling,” you call out, ready for this stranger to flash you an award-winning smile and tell you all about how their company could save you money on roofing repairs after last week’s storm.

But when their head lifts, you stop in your tracks as you recognize the face staring back at you.

Hell, you used to wake up to it every morning for eight months. Until he ended things.

“Brady.”

His name falls from your mouth in complete practiced apathy. You didn’t need him to know how much time you spent crying over him in the last month. You especially didn’t need him to know how your heart still skipped a beat when his eyes connected to yours.

“Did you see the game?” he asks.

“I heard.”

“And?”

“And what? Do you want to cry for you?”

There’s a humorless chuckle that comes from Brady as his head falls before he takes a step towards you.

“You always knew how to make me feel better,” he says, the sarcasm lacing his voice. And when you hear it, that dry scathing tone, you realize that you didn’t recognize the man in front of you.

Brady was always soft, gentle, welcoming. It made the dichotomy between you even more obvious; you all sharp edges and harsh words and burning fire. It was part of the reason the two of you broke up.

But this Brady… there was something different. Something dangerous. it intrigued you. But not enough for you to give in.

“I’m not going to coddle you, Brady. You should know that by now.” 

“I don’t want your sympathy.”

“What do you want then?” you ask, finally taking a few steps forward, closing the gap between you and your front door. “You want my pity? You want me to say ‘poor you, poor Brady’?”

It’s your turn to let a scoff fall from your lips as you reach into your bag for your keys, Brady now behind you.

“If you wanted someone to feel sorry for you, you came to the wrong fucking house,” you explain, unlocking the door.

Before you can even reach the handle, you feel Brady step forward, his hands falling on your hips as his body crowds you into the smooth wood. You attempt to take a deep breath to calm your heart but it doesn’t help because when you breathe in, your senses are filled with the smell of his cologne. A smell so familiar. One you missed.

Brady moves closer, his body almost pinning you to the door and you can’t stop your knees from trembling as you feel the heat of him behind you.

“I came here because I missed you,” he whispers into your ear.

“And it took you getting your ass kicked to realize that?” you shoot back. Although, the waver in your voice betrays you, revealing how much your body was responding to him; his touch, his words, his warmth. Brady just lets his previous sentence continue, as if he didn’t even hear you.

“And because I know you missed me just as much.”

You couldn’t let him do this – let him come crawling back to you when he was broken or bored. You no longer belonged to him. It was a recipe for disaster.

“I think you’ve forgotten that I’m not one of those girls that would fall on their knees for you.”

“You seemed to enjoy being on your knees for me when we were together.”

“And we’re not together anymore. So, find someone else to fuck your frustrations out on.”

“Is that what you did?”

“None of your business.”

You feel his grip on your hips tighten and you barely have time to react as he effortlessly spins your body until your back is pressed against the wood of the door, your eyes now looking up at him.

“You’re lying.”

Brady almost spits out the words, as if even the barest suggestion that what you said was true was poison to him. Your eyes follow the movement in his temple, the clenching of his jaw, the storm in his eyes. This wasn’t the side of Brady that you knew.

But it was a side that you were always curious to discover. Throughout those eight months, you wanted to know if Brady had that same fire hiding within him – a passion and intensity that could match yours. And now, you could finally see it peeking through.

You wanted it to come out completely. 

“And you can tell?” you ask, wielding your words with edge and precision. “Does that make you feel worse? If I told you about all the other men that ended up in my bed?”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“I wouldn’t? Are you sure? You knew what you giving up when you left. Can’t blame me for moving on.”

“You wouldn’t,” Brady repeats, one hand falling away and you barely have time to comprehend where it had gone when you feel the steady weight of the door fall away from you.

Your body lurches back, the momentum pulling you until it is abruptly stopped by Brady’s strong arms, pulling you close and lifting you over the threshold. Your feet find the hardwood of your floors before Brady is spinning you again and you find yourself pressed against the door once more, this time inside your house instead of without.

“You wouldn’t,” he reiterates, “because no one could make you feel as good as I did.”

You hear the deadbolt click, the sound causing the heat pool in your stomach. Brady’s hand moves back to your hip, pulling you close again as he leans in until your lips are barely touching. It’s intoxicating, having him this close to you once again. You are about to surge forward, connect your lips to his, let your fire burn with his. Until Brady speaks again.

“No one could make you feel as good as I’m about to.”

That statement pulls all rationality from you and you don’t hesitate to close the gap between you, crashing your lips onto his. Brady returns the kiss with as much intensity, his hands gripping you tighter while yours move to trace over his arms, his broad shoulders before tangling into that salt-and-pepper hair. The kiss is frantic, all teeth and tongues and it takes a moment before Brady finally pulls away, connecting those brown eyes to your own

“You’re mine,” he whispers. “You always will be.”

The words cut right through you; as a threat or a promise, you weren’t really sure. But the instant that Brady crashes his lips back into yours, you find that you don’t care.

God, you missed this. You would be lying if you didn’t spend many restless nights reminiscing on how his hands felt on your body. How his lips felt on your skin.

But you wouldn’t tell him that. The words would never leave your mouth, not while Brady is standing in front of you. You wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. At least, not yet.

Instead, you get lost in Brady’s kisses, your hands coming to tangle deeper in his hair, pulling him closer to you as your hips roll up to meet his. You think you can hear a dark chuckle rumble from Brady and vibrate directly into your body, sending sparks of electricity flowing through you. His hands roam across your body, up from your hips to the soft material of your blouse before landing on your breasts, giving them a squeeze, causing your head to fall back.

“Missed these perfect tits,” he mumbles, his movements against your chest continuing in response to the soft moan falling from your mouth. Your moan turns into a sharp gasp as Brady grips the center of your shirt and tears it open. The sound of the buttons scattering across the hardwood floor floods your ears and it inexplicably turns you on even more.

If this was any other man, you would be pissed off at him for ruining your one of your favorite shirts. But this was Brady. A new Brady.

In those eight months you were with him, he was nothing but a gentleman, both outside and inside the bedroom. And he was more than satisfactory. But you knew there had to be something underneath all that charm. An untamed animal just waiting to be unchained.

And if this was the key to its cage, you weren’t about to stop everything to cry over a few buttons. But that didn’t mean you weren’t going to complain at all.

“You’re buying me a new shirt,” you mutter against Brady’s lips. Brady swiftly removes his mouth from yours as he looks down at your newly exposed bra.

“Gonna buy you something new to wear under it,” comes his response as his thumbs trace over the edge of the plain nude material and this time, you can stop your eyes from rolling in annoyance.  

“Do you really think I wear lingerie to work?” you quip, staring up at him.

You can see his eyes harden and it is in that moment that you realize he was enjoying this. The chase, the tease, the dare, the push and pull between the two of you.

“If you don’t like it,” you continue, your voice taking on a sultry tone as you continue to meet his dark brown eyes, “then take it off.”

The quick sparkle that appears in his brown eyes makes you think that he has taken the bait, that you might have gained some control over the situation at hand – a situation that you were wholly unprepared for but welcomed none the less. And when Brady leans back in to lock you lips together once again, his hands wandering around your ribcage towards your back, the confidence grows.

However, it takes a sharp plummet when you feel his hands drop from your frame. If Brady had given you a split second longer, you would have broken the kiss to question or quip him again. But you have barely any time to miss the sensation of his hands on your skin before you feel them grip the back of your thighs as Brady uses his athletic strength to effortlessly lift you off the floor.

You gasp, a gasp that Brady gladly swallows before he spins, tearing his lips away from yours to look around your house. There is a part of you that wants to tell him nothing has changed from the last time he was there – the furniture is the same, your bedroom is still two doors down on the left – but your lips have already busied themselves marking the smooth skin on his neck.

There was also a power in your decisions; forcing him to find his way through your space all while doing your best to distract him. And it seems to be working as you feel Brady’s pulse shudder underneath your mouth.

You feel him take a lurching turn right and a slight flash of confusion runs through you until you feel his body lowering. The soft material of your couch hits your knees and the skirt you had on flows out around you as you now straddle Brady.

“Forgot where the bedroom was?” you chirp into his neck, feeling his desperate hands return to your torso as he removes the tattered remains of your blouse from your waistband.

It seems that it takes a minute for your words to register but when they do, Brady’s hand lifts to tangle in your hair. Another gasp escapes from your chest as his fingers tighten before pulling your head away from his neck. He quickly reverses the roles, his own lips moving to your newly exposed throat, your breath transforming from gasps to soft sighs as his mouth works against your skin.

“Who says I’m not going to take you there after I’m done here?”

“Who says I would let you back into my bed anyway?” you retort to keep some semblance of control.

Your pathetic attempt is clearly read by Brady, who makes you falter once again as the hand not tangled in your hair effortlessly unclasps your bra. His lips depart from your neck as he helps slide the material down your arms, throwing it carelessly somewhere in the room. You both hate and love the smirk that appears on his face as he takes in your heaving chest, your pebbled nipples. His dark eyes dart back up to you briefly before he is tugging you into him for another animalistic kiss.

“Seems that you like it so far,” he whispers into your open mouth before he pulls away again, lifting your body upright and pulling you closer. “I’ll take my chances.”

You wish that you could say something back, something to knock his arrogant confidence down a peg but your mind goes blank as his lips move to your collarbone, leaving faint hickeys against the taut skin before moving down to your chest. His lips close around one of your nipples, tongue moving to tease the sensitive peak as his hands rest on your ribcage, his thumbs running across the delicate skin on the underside of your breasts. Your hands fly to the back of his head, keeping him close and you can feel his lips curl against your skin. The action both turns you on and pisses you off, a combination that you weren’t sure could even work until now.

You fly into action, hands moving down to grip the fabric stretched across his broad shoulders, tugging at the material and pulling it upward before he finally breaks away to help you remove the shirt entirely, tossing it away to join your clothes on the living room floor.

His lips return to your chest, moving to leave no skin unmarred with his love bites as your hands drop to his shoulders, fingers digging into the muscle in silent encouragement. Brady’s hands lower before coming to grip your ass and you gasp as he pulls you forward, the action causing your hips to roll. You both let out moans at the sensation of you grinding against him and it turns you on more to feel his erection against your core.

“And here I thought I was the masochist,” you joke, moving your hips of your own volition, pressing deeper into him. The grunt that your actions pull from his chest has you grinning. “Who’d know you get this hard from getting your ass kicked?”

You must’ve struck a nerve, prodded at the memory he came here to forget, because the only thing you hear in response is what could best be described as a growl before he lifts you off of his lap enough to slip out from underneath you. Your brain recognizes the weight of his body disappearing from the couch and you attempt to turn, just to keep your eyes locked on him but Brady doesn’t give you a chance.

His large hand finds the space between your shoulder blades and pushes you forward, your torso falling until your chest meets the back cushions. You can’t stop the gasp that falls, your arms lifting over the edge of the couch as your back arches, your hips pressing back towards Brady now looming behind you.

A dark chuckle echoes throughout the room in response to your actions as he pulls the material of your skirt over your hips, exposing more of your body to him. He doesn’t waste any time, doesn’t even bother removing your underwear, instead choosing to move it to the side before he slips two fingers into your already soaked core.  

You let out a moan, your head falling forward as Brady’s hand moves, winding you up and my God, you would be lying if you said you didn’t miss the feeling. His thumb quickly finds your clit, pressing against the bundle of nerves and you can’t stop the way your body responds to his movements.

“That’s what I thought,” he laughs. “You have no right to that attitude when you’re this fucking desperate for me.”

He emphasizes his words with a curl of his fingers, the tips grazing your g-spot and the combined sensation of his hands skillfully moving against you almost has you falling over the edge. Brady doesn’t give you your satisfaction that easily though as he removes his fingers from your core. You whimper at the loss, listening intently to Brady’s movements behind you, impatient to feel him once more.

Brady doesn’t leave you wanting for long as you hear the rustle of his pants hitting the floor and before you can blink, you feel his hands practically tear your panties down your legs before he enters you in one swift, harsh motion.

The moans that you both let out are delicious and desperate. You whine as you move your hips back, pushing him impossibly deeper. Brady groans, his hands quickly finding purchase on your hips, gripping you tight before he begins to move.

“Oh god,” you moan out as Brady fucks into you with quick hard thrusts, showing no mercy, your ass rippling every time it meets his hips. You are grateful for the couch cushions in front of you, helping to support your upper body as your fingers dig into the fabric so deeply that an irrational part of you worries you might tear it.

“Not God, sweetheart. Just me,” Brady replies, his movements barely faltering. “Come on, say my name.”

You wish you could tell him to fuck off, make a quip about his cocky attitude but your mouth doesn’t seem able to form the words or any words for that matter. The only thing you want is for him to continue. A sharp smack against your ass jolts your body forward and your head whips around in surprise, eyes connecting to Brady.

“Say. My. Name,” he repeats, now more command than anything else, every word punctuated by another spank and you are helpless to comply.

“Brady,” you whine, your desperation painted on every letter, your eyes staying locked on him, drinking in his reaction. He groans, his teeth coming to bite his lower lip, his gaze dropping from your face to connect to where his cock disappears into your pussy.

“Fuck, that’s it, sweetheart.”  

His quiet encouragement is all you need to continue moaning his name over and over. One of his hands falls from your hips to join yours in gripping the back of the couch, his body now completely covering yours, the new leverage only increasing the strength in which Brady thrusts into you. Your head falls to rest against the back cushion, the sounds of your staccato whimpers and breathy curses filling the living room along with the continuous depraved slapping of skin against skin.

You whine as you feel his hand disappear from your hip and slowly trace up your body, the softness of his touch a sharp contrast. The gentleness doesn’t last long and your whine turns into a gasp as Brady’s large hand wraps around your throat, pulling your head upwards.

“Keep saying my name,” he says, his hot breath fanning across the shell of your ear. “Let everyone know who’s making you feel this good.”

“You are, Brady.”

“Yeah? Can anyone else fuck you like I can?”

“No. Only you.”

“That’s right. Only me,” he growls in satisfaction, emphasizing his words with his rhythm.

“Fuck, Brady, please,” you plead, your voice strained from how much focus it took to pry the words from your mouth. “I’m close.”

“Well then, come on sweetheart. Touch yourself. Remind me how good it feels when you cum on my cock.”

The speed in which your hand falls is reckless, frantic to get that additional pressure that you were craving. As soon as your fingers press against your clit, your head falls back against Brady’s shoulder in relief. His praise is muffled against your skin as he peppers your shoulder with kisses, only interrupted by quiet curses as he feels your core flutter.

It is hot, so unbelievably hot – how he’s fucking you, how he’s holding you – that it doesn’t take long for you to finally fall over the precipice, your own hand faltering against you as your orgasm rocks through your body. A groan falls from Brady as he feels you clench around him; a groan that he muffles by sinking his teeth into the flesh of your shoulder, the additional sensation causing you to moan louder, hips rocking back against him as his motions halt.

The haze that pricked at the corner of your eyes slowly dissipates and you can feel Brady’s hand fall from your neck. The cool air cascades over your back as Brady lifts himself away from you causing goosebumps to appear. A small whimper escapes when you feel him remove himself from your core and steps away. The submissive part of your mind, still in control, panics in fear that he might leave. But the concern is short lived as Brady sits down next to you, pulling you back into his lap.

He wastes no time capturing you in another kiss, stealing any remaining breath from your lungs. Brady attempts to break the kiss but you don’t let him, hands lifting to cup his jaw and pulling him deeper into the kiss. He doesn’t resist and allows you to continue to kiss him, his own arms wrapping around your body.

Eventually your hands move, trailing down his throat, dancing over his chest and you smile against his lips as you feel his abs tighten in response to your fingers sinking lower until they finally reach the desired destination.

You gently take his still hard length in your hand and stroke him a few times, which was easy to do with your prior release clinging to the silky-smooth skin. You grin as you feel the vibrations of Brady’s soft moan in response to your ministrations. The cloud of your orgasm had lifted and, in its absence, your own confidence returned.

“Want me to take care of that for you?” you question, only moving far enough away to ask, your lips brushing against his occasionally. Brady doesn’t respond; you knew he wouldn’t. He had worked too hard to give up the dominance he held over you so easily. But you weren’t deterred.

You kiss him deeply one more time before your lips follow the path your hands previously traced: down his throat, over his collarbones, across his chest. An occasional moan and curse fall from Brady as you continue your descent and you grin, knowing that his resolve was slowly cracking. Your body moves, shuffling from being perched on top of his lap to kneel on the plush carpet between his thighs. Brady’s eyes are needy when your own eyes dart up to meet his stare. Your hand strokes him again but you make no attempt to put your mouth on him, the dare hanging clearly in the air.

“Baby, please,” Brady finally speaks, his hips punching upwards.

“Who’s fucking desperate now?” you quip, unable to contain your excitement at regaining the upper hand. Your jaw drops open in surprise as Brady’s hand darts out, grabbing your neck once more, his eyes growing dark.

“You want to repeat that sweetheart?” he asks, that dominant energy rolling off him again. Except this time, it doesn’t make you back down. Instead, it just spurs you on, that heat and elation as it returns – the battle, the chase. Your dropped jaw just morphs into a wicked grin and you are ecstatic to see a similar smirk twist onto Brady’s lips; a quiet confirmation that he was still enjoying the newfound push and pull between you two.

“Come on Brady. Admit it. You are just as desperate for me as I am for you,” you explain, your voice dipping again into your lower sultry timbre. “Tell me, do any of those other girls have a mouth like mine?”

You flatten your tongue against his shaft and lick a bold stripe up his length before moving your lips to leave a lingering teasing kiss on the head. Brady groans, his head falling back as his hand moves from your neck to tangle in your hair, pulling you closer in an attempt for you to fully wrap your lips around him.

“No one can fuck me like you can?” you continue, hand wrapping around his cock. “Well, you’ll never find someone who can give better head than I can.”

You don’t give him any chance to respond as you surge forward, finally taking him into your wet mouth. Your tongue traces every vein that you could feel as your hand moves against the rest of him. Brady’s moans sounding from above fuel you and you continue to work your sinful magic against his skin.

It may have been months since you two were in this particular position but you feel like a part of you will remember everything about Brady, including all the spots that make him groan and twitch and throb. Your lips move to suck on the tip, teasing the area where the head meets the shaft with your tongue.

“Fuck,” Brady curses, his hips jumping causing his cock to thrust into your mouth. You gag a little before withdrawing – not completely but only enough to catch your breath. Your eyes dart to his and find that he is already staring at you, his salt-and-pepper hair falling over his forehead. The moan you release at the sight vibrates around Brady causing an identical moan to escape him. You inhale deeply before lowering your head, relaxing your throat until the entirety of his cock is nestled in your mouth.

“Goddamn, you’re so fucking good at that,” he groans, his fingers twisting in your hair. You move, shallowly bobbing your head as you feel him pulse against your tongue, a tell-tale sign he was getting close. The assumption was only confirmed by the next word Brady spoke. “Fuck, baby, gonna cum.”

You pull your mouth from him, replacing it quickly with your hand and continuing the pace you had set.

“I won’t waste a drop,” you say, keeping your eyes locked to his as you wrap your lips around him once again, your hands moving to the side his thighs and pressing your fingertips up into them. Brady understands your silent request, hand once again tightening in your hair as he moves his hips upward, taking control.

“Yeah? You going to swallow it all like a good girl?”

You nod your head, keeping your mouth open and accepting everything he gives, moaning against his skin as he increases his pace. It’s only a few more moments before Brady throws his head back against the couch cushions, a long groan emulating from his chest as his own orgasm hits. You feel his cum hit the back of your throat and you greedily pull him deeper, determined to keep your word.

You let Brady collect himself and take a few deep breaths before you slowly raise your head, sliding off of his cock. You wait until his eyes connect to yours before you swallow, releasing a satisfied exhale afterwards. You can’t help but make a show of it, licking your lips before opening your mouth to show him that you indeed didn’t let anything go to waste.

Brady grins, a smile which you quickly mirror before his hands are on your body, hauling you off the floor and back into his lap. Your lips connect and you sigh, savoring the euphoric glow that surrounded the two of you. The two of you continue to make out for a few minutes, relaxing before you pull away, looking down at Brady.

“D’you feel better?” you joke, the remembrance of why he came to your house in the first place – and what it all meant now – nagging in the back of your mind. You aren’t sure if you can see sadness lingering on the corners of Brady’s smile as his hand runs soothing circles across your spine.

“A little.”

“Need anything else?”

“Maybe a shower,” he replies, looking up at you with those brown eyes that always made you weak. A sparkle that spells nothing but trouble for you flashes in his irises as his smile turns into a wicked smirk. “And perhaps a round two, starting with my head buried between your thighs.”

“Demanding, aren’t you?” you breathlessly chuckle, your head shaking in playful disbelief as your tear your gaze from his.

“I just know what I want.”

“Which is?”

“You.”

His quiet declaration has your head turning back to him, connecting your eyes once again. The emotions displayed in his own stare are unfathomable and you know that this isn’t the place to attempt to decipher them. You don’t have time to unwind and unravel the mess that defined you and Brady’s connection: your prior relationship, the subsequent break-up, and everything that happened today.

So, instead, you gently climb from Brady’s lap, standing upright before stretching out your hand towards him. He accepts your offer and you help lift him off the sofa before dragging him down the hallway to the second door on the left, back into your bed.

Like he always belonged there.

Like he never left.

tagging the skjei-sy sluts (affectionate) who asked for a continuation + a few others I think would appreciate this: @smileysvech @pyotrkochetkov @cellythefloshie @comphy-and-cozy @laurenairay

[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.

[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.

[sydnikov]

Fleeting || A. Svechnikov

Author: Sydney / @sydnikov

Pairing: Andrei Svechnikov / fem!Reader

Word Count: 17.5k

Summary: Every moment with Andrei is fleeting.

Warnings: 18+ smut, unprotected p in v, oral (f and m receiving), cheating(?), toxic relationship, alcoholic consumption, angst, cursing, no happy ending, Andrei-is-a-dick™

A/N: For those of you who have already been following me, you might remember this post—that’s what this is based on :) This is also the longest fic I’ve ever written so that’s insane, but sorry not sorry. Get ready, this one’s gonna hurt 🤭

*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.

Andrei doesn’t love you.

It becomes clear for you months after you start fucking him on the side. His likeness for you is merely an obsession, something to have all to himself.

You’re his, or were his, and that’s how he saw you. Nothing more than that, or at least that’s the conclusion you’ve come to after months apart lets you reflect on your relationship with him.

Spending a lot of time in your head, you think. About him, his actions, why he couldn’t love you the way you love him.

He always held you close to him, one muscular arm curled around your waist while the other likely held a drink in his hand. He paraded you around like a prize, happy to show off the hot piece of meat he likely thought of you as at his side.

It was hard to reach him, literally and metaphorically. You had to stand up on your toes to reach his ear, and the power imbalance just by your height difference alone only made the whole thing hotter, merely one aspect of your relationship you never really could get over.

Every time you spoke it had him grinning in a way that made you think he knew something you didn’t. You’re already so shy, too, and it’s what made up your whole demeanor, what drew him to you in the first place.

He likes sweetness. Innocence, quiet—that way you couldn’t rebel. And he loved it when you doted on him. You did your best to be everything he wanted in a girl, too. Bold makeup, skimpy clothing, speaking only to him and him alone. Best of all, you didn’t question him. His actions, his decisions, why he’d sometimes go days without speaking to you but once he called you again, you would come running without hesitation.

It took you too long to realize that he only liked you because you were someone he could fall back on when the freedom of his escapades got too boring and he needed stability. The thing is that Andrei loved you being his, but he didn’t want to ever be yours.

And you know this now, you do. The moment you went no contact and left his apartment in tears, you were calling your best friend for support and to reinforce the fact that he is the asshole, not you.

Sometimes, though, you dream. Of his hands on you, his mouth on your neck, his thick cock pounding into you from behind. The toxicity of it all that, despite everything, felt so good because your emotions were always on overdrive when with him.

Mostly, you liked feeling desired. Nobody had ever pursued you the way he did, even if your body is all he really wanted from you to begin with.

It’s been months since you confessed your feelings for him and he told you to leave; months of you wallowing, going to work, meeting with friends for drinks as a shell of yourself because without Andrei, life suddenly seemed colorless.

You miss him. The excitement, the tension, the way he made you feel. And you pride yourself on being confident, but all self respect flies out the window the moment his name is brought up. It’s wrong, too, you swear you know this, and you imagine countless times telling him off, if you ever run into him again.

For treating you like a body to warm his dick, a soulless individual with no feeling… You’re reminded of the last conversation you had with him yet again, the one that ended everything. You’d been seeing each other for months when it occurred. Months full of Andrei and the rollercoaster of emotions he had you on.

To get to the end, though, you have to go back to the beginning.

It’s January of twenty twenty-three, and you’re freshly twenty-one and experiencing the world in a way you never could before. Riding the high of getting your first serious job in college, it took no convincing at all for you to let your best friend, Maria, convince you to go out on a Friday night to celebrate your blossoming lives.

“Who are we meeting there, again?” You ask, painting your lips a bright red in front of Maria’s full-body mirror. You’ve already started pregaming, and your head is starting to buzz in just the way you like it.

Your blonde friend is quickly curling her hair, despite the fact that she’s had hours to get ready and still procrastinated until you arrived at her apartment. “Some friends from work. You probably won’t know them,” She says offhandedly, finishing her hair in record timing before snatching up the two dresses she had previously laid out on her bed. “Should I wear this in black or red?”

Raising a brow, you question her wording. “Considering I don’t work with you, I doubt I would.” Laughing, you turn your head away from the mirror to examine the two dresses she’s holding up to her body. “Do the red one, it makes your eyes pop.”

Anything would look good on Maria, though. She has this timeless sort of beauty, a blonde, blue-eyed bombshell that has eyes turning her way wherever she goes. You’d be jealous if you didn’t mind her taking all the attention off of you, considering you’re nowhere near as bold as her.

It will especially come in handy tonight, too, since these co-workers of hers are ones you’ve never met before and you don’t exactly plan on getting too close to them.

“This is why I get ready with you,” Maria sighs happily, unceremoniously throwing the black dress back onto her bed. “Oh! I almost forgot, I have heels for you!” She’s then running back into her closet, ruffling through a box before emerging with a pair of bright red stilettos.

“What’s with the red theme tonight?” You giggle as she tosses the heels to you. They look expensive, a brand you don’t recognize written in cursive on the inside of the leather soles. Maria insisted you incorporate red into your outfit tonight, whether it be subtle or bold.

She eyes you from her position on the bed, somehow managing to zip up her dress one-handed. “You don’t watch sports by any chance, do you?”

Throwing back the last of a vodka shot, you wince before responding. “My dad made me watch baseball with him sometimes?”

Maria’s face lights up like she suddenly knows something you don’t. All she does is hum in response, biting her lip like she’s holding back from telling you something.

Or, you’re just drunk. You’ve always been a lightweight. “What?” You ask anyway, finally standing up as you adjust yourself.

The blonde walks over to you, fixes the creases in your little black dress and affixes you with an approving stare. “Don’t worry about it,” Suddenly, she’s whirling around to go back for her phone, which is laid faced down on the nightstand. “Ooh, I knew those heels were a good choice. You look so good!”

As she saunters back over, wraps an arm around your waist, pulls you into her side and poses for a picture, you forget all about the abrupt topic change and the fact that her red theme with questions of sports does mean something, after all.

Truthfully, you still can’t remember exactly how you got from her apartment and into a high-end bar you’ve only ever seen advertised online. Bits and pieces of an Uber ride along with downing more shots come to mind, but it’s all hazy.

You don’t really care to remember though, either, as Maria leads you through the crowded bar, arm linked through yours, with a purpose. The music is loud, so loud you think you can see the walls moving, but that’s also probably just your swimming vision.

“Here they are!” Maria is shouting over the noise, and you follow her gaze to a group of tall, imposing men surrounding two booths right by the bar.

“Those are you coworkers?” You ask, a little incredulous. Scratch that—very incredulous.

She sends you a mischievous grin. “I said friends, girl. Meet my friends!” That’s what gathers their attention, and you’re suddenly reminded that she’s just as tipsy as you right now, if not more.

Ah, fuck, you think as one of the men come over and pull Maria into a hug. He looks at you questioningly after they pull apart, and you send him a small, nervous smile.

Damn it, Maria.

“You must be the friend she mentioned,” He says, again looking to the blonde beside you for confirmation. “From college, yeah?”

That seems to snap Maria out of whatever stunned stupor she’d been in, and she tunes back into your conversation by, again, pulling you into her. “My best friend,” She swoons, and yeah. She’s definitely drunk now.

“Nice to meet you,” He’s chuckling, and seems to be familiar with her antics. “I’m Martin.”

You introduce yourself and shake his offered hand. “Any leftover shots, by any chance?” While taking the lead in conversation with people you’ve never met before might seem odd, you don’t think you can rely on Maria to socialize for you considering she’s already falling into your side.

“I can check, if you want to follow me—ah, shit,” Martin curses, suddenly, then quickly apologizes to the two of you before rushing over to a man with a mustache attempting to climb on top of a table.

“Interesting friends, Maria,” You say into her ear as you reluctantly follow him, keeping her close. “Who’s the one with the mustache?”

She seems to gain a little bit of her wits back to give you a description of all the guys within your eyesight. “The mustache is Seth, super friendly but also, uh… Super drunk. He’s Canadian.”

You’re not sure why you need to know his nationality, but she continues before you can ask.

“And you just met Martin, right? Yeah, he’s really nice. His girlfriend, Nykki, is gorgeous, they’re both from Czechia. Then there’s the really tall one, behind Seth? No, other side. Yeah, that’s Jesperi. A bit of a flirt even though we’re all pretty sure he has a girlfriend, but he still won’t admit it. He’s Finnish.”

Maria continues to describe a few of the others, but truthfully, you tune out after Jesperi because a man about the same height as the Finn is suddenly approaching the group, and looks to be the only one Seth listens to because that’s who gets him to crawl down from the table.

You don’t know why he catches your attention so suddenly, but something about him… He turns, and you’re able to catch a glimpse of his side profile.

Immediately, you come to find there’s no accurate word to describe him. His beauty simply transcends any compliment you could give; instead, you interrupt your friend from her spiel.

“Hey Mare, Mare—who’s that?” Slapping her arm, you point towards the now-laughing stranger. He’s looking around as he does so, which is when he makes contact with your starstruck eyes. He looks amused, then seems to recognize the blonde beside you, and then he’s cutting through the crowd to meet you.

Maria gives you a look before also spotting the approaching stranger, and a large smile lights up her face. It’s a smile you’re very familiar with, one that enraptures every man who catches a glimpse of her pearly whites.

You quickly come to the conclusion that this is why she was so eager to go out. She’s likely had her eye on him for a while, and you struggle to keep the disappointment from your face as she purrs his name.

“Hey, Andrei,” She says, a little giggly. “Great game today, you all played awesome.”

Andrei… You test the name silently, liking the way it feels on your tongue. He’s even taller up close, and you can see the muscle definition straining through the fabric of his shirt. He’s huge, and you feel incredibly small standing next to him.

“Thank you,” He replies, his voice deep. A little husky, definitely accented, but you’re not sure from where. “Who’s your friend?” He changes topic quickly, and those dark eyes are back on you once again.

Maria, as ditzy as she can be, does notice the subtle change in him. Andrei has never been overly flirty with her like she has with him, and she’d be an idiot not to notice the way his eyes were drawn to you the moment he spotted you.

She’s used to having all sorts of attention from the opposite sex, and the Russian hockey player is all sorts her type. It’s amusing though, watching how you melt under his gaze, thinks ‘me too’, and then decides to help you out.

“This is my friend from college,” She introduces you, says your name and watches as he takes it in like it’s very important information. Grabbing your hand from where it rests at your side, she holds it out to Andrei for you, snickers as you send her a glare. “And this is Andrei. He plays for the Carolina Hurricanes.”

This is why she asked you if you watch sports, you suddenly connect the dots. And why she was telling you where all these people are from. Her friends from work are actually sports players, and you understand why she didn’t say it outright.

These guys, they’re famous, right? Your stomach twists, and you suck in a breath as Andrei takes your hand. His palm envelops yours, and he brings it to his lips to press a heated kiss to your skin.

The greeting is outdated, but for whatever reason it suits him. You think the kiss is a promise, too, as his thumb swipes over the back of your hand.

“That’s hockey, right?” You intend to ask Maria, but you’re unable to take your eyes off of Andrei as he slowly lets go of you, like the contact is riveting for him, too. “In the NHL?”

“Yes,” He answers. “You don’t watch?” You’re not a fan like he’d expect. Strangely enough, he likes that you don’t follow them. It makes you all the more interesting, someone new to pick apart for his pleasure.

You flush, turning red under his unrelenting gaze. Suddenly, you feel out of place with your lackluster hockey knowledge. “Not a huge sports girl, unfortunately.” You say slowly, but he catches your quiet words anyway.

He’s already tuned into you—has made you into a new game to win, in his mind.

“I can fix that.” Andrei grins, and it’s almost predatory as he smoothly slides his left arm around your waist. “Do you mind if I steal her?” He directs his question to Maria, but doesn’t really give her a chance to answer before pulling you  away.

Turning your head, you find her sending you a grin as she mouths something encouraging, holding up two thumbs-ups. She’s already decided that if she can’t have this sexy Russian, she wants you to instead.

“I like your heels,” His deep voice is in your ear, suddenly, and you take your eyes off of Maria to look up at Andrei, instead. “They’re the color of our jerseys.”

“Thank you,” You breathe, letting the warmth from his compliment wash over you. “Maria made me wear them.”

He clicks his tongue, like this information doesn’t surprise him. “She has good taste. Red is definitely your color.”

You flush again, finding that his eyes are already on you when you tilt your head up. Nobody has ever told you that before… Maria is always the one getting praise, not you.

The fast beating of your heart, shaky limbs and nervous breath, and you already know you’re falling for it. His charm, his looks, his confidence; it’s addicting, and you can’t force yourself to stop as you ever so slightly lean into him, letting his body envelop you.

Before you know it, you’ve arrived at the bar, and Andrei orders a drink over the loud bass that reverberates in your ears. It appears moments later - not fair - and then he’s sliding it towards you. You meet his eyes again as he smiles, raising a brow at your silence before he gestures to take it.

“For you,” He says. “Vodka cranberry. I have a feeling you like the fruity drinks, no?”

He’s right, as much as you hate to admit it. You’re not one for sipping hard, bitter liquor, even if it gets the job done. You’re not sure how you feel about him being able to read you so well, but you do like not having to carry the conversation.

“Am I that transparent?” You grin, though it’s laced with insecurity as you take a sip. It’s good, and helps calm your nerves.

“You wear your heart on your sleeve, malyshka. It’s not a bad thing.”

You wouldn’t know it then, but he already began patronizing you the moment you met him. The Russian language is full of double-meanings, and malyshka, little one, is rather mocking. For him to know you so well already was a good thing for him, but for you? Not so much.

Andrei sees right through you, and he has from the very beginning.

“You’re not American, are you?” You change topic, suddenly, using the unfamiliar term he used as an excuse. “Your accent, it’s foreign.”

“Net—no, I’m not. Most of my teammates are out of country.” He replies. “I’m from Russia. Just here to play hockey.”

“Do you like it? Here in Raleigh?” You ask, a pitiful form of small talk to keep this sudden tension at bay.

“I do.” He replies. “I like it a whole lot more now that I’ve met you, though.” And then he’s smiling again, a grin rather feral as he looks at you like you’re his prey waiting to be devoured. He’s incredibly smooth as he puts his hands back on you, one sliding around the circumference of your waist while the other brings your hand holding the drink to his lips, taking a sip from the glass.

Your eyes go half-lidded at the motion, and Andrei knows he has you—hook, line, and sinker. He loves this game, but he thinks he likes you a little bit more than that, too.

Not that he’ll ever admit it.

“You just met me,” You blurt, overwhelmed by the intensity of his gaze.

Andrei, to his credit, takes your nervousness in stride. He finds it cute that he has that effect on you. “And I like you,” He counters, flashing a dazzling smile. “You’re cute. Small, like kisa.”

“Kisa?” You try out the unfamiliar word, your attempt at a Russian accent definitely not as sexy as his.

“Kitten,” He translates. “Will you purr for me?” It’s so disgustingly cheesy you can’t help but grimace, and Andrei laughs at the look on your face.

He steps closer, even more than he was before, and the way he looks down on you only makes the difference in height that much more noticeable. He’s so big… Normally you’d feel caged, but with him it feels safe, and that’s probably a red flag you won’t discover until much later.

You struggle finding something to say, but he beats you to it. “I’d like your number, if you’re willing to give it.” And he’s so smooth, so conniving with the way he asks it because he’s not demanding at all, letting you think you have all the power.

“Okay,” You breathe, eyes widening in awe as you don’t even have the chance to pull out your phone before he’s sliding his own into your hands. “You can add your contact.” He instructs, watching you type in your information.

It looks informal, your first and last name in his phone like you’re merely a coworker. You’ll blame it on you being tipsy later, but you add a smiley face at the end of your name, hoping it makes you stand out. You don’t know how many girls he has in his contacts but you’re not naive enough to think you’re the only one.

You lick your lips almost subconsciously as you hand Andrei his phone back, and he zeroes in on the motion. Suddenly, he has the urge to kiss you, and so he does just that. It catches you by surprise, but soon enough you’re melting into him as one large hand cradles your jaw, keeping you tilted up to him.

Andrei tastes like sin, like temptation and all things bad you were told to never get involved in as a kid. A forbidden fruit, perhaps, and there’s even hints of cranberry left on his tongue to cement that fact.

“Andrei…” You hum in surprise as he deepens the kiss, his lips soft and heavenly. It takes everything in you to pull back, to separate yourself from the addicting taste of him. “Wait, I don’t, um—”

You pause. Andrei looks confused, perhaps a little alarmed as his eyes flit over your face. “You don’t… Kiss anyone?”

“No! No,” You lower your voice, not wanting to attract any attention. “Of course I do. I just, I don’t hook up. For fun. Ever.”

He frowns, like he can’t fathom the idea that you don’t enjoy sex with no strings attached.

“Really,” he says, not quite a question. “You’re beautiful, though.” The charm comes back full force as his hand comes to brush away some of your hair that had fallen into your face. “Surely you have suitors, no?”

Your throat tightens, and suddenly your eyes are glassy as he looks at you with so much reassurance and affection. “Maria usually gets the ‘suitors’, not me.”

“I don’t believe that.” He responds immediately, and he looks so sure of himself as his head lowers, his eyes looking back and forth from yours to your lips, and you’re helpless to stop him as the hand moving your hair comes to rest on your cheek.

It’s all very convincing, the sudden care and adoration… You’ve never had a man treat you so delicate, like a prized possession, and you fall for it all too quickly.

“Let me take you out?” He soon asks, and there’s nothing you can really respond with other than yes.

Everything happens so quickly from here. Andrei becomes a centerpiece in your life, and you’re helpless to stop it as you fall for everything about him. You don’t truly become his ‘girlfriend’, but you are something more. Secret dates and midnight drives where no one can see you confirm that.

That’s why you think he’s finally turning serious about you when he shows up to your apartment at the beginning of March a few weeks before his playoffs start. He holds a large bouquet of roses, except your favorite flowers are gardenias because they remind you of your mom so your smile wobbles a little bit, but you let it slide for the romanticism of it all.

Andrei grins, the whites of his teeth blinding and he pulls you in and kisses the top of your head. He asks you if you’ll come to his playoff games, wear a WAG jacket and act as if what you are is official. You think you truly mean something to him after this, even though he never actually confirms it.

Suddenly you’re Andrei’s girl (but not really) and it becomes your entire identity. You essentially live with him as the playoffs come around, taking care of his apartment while he’s on the road. He talks of getting a dog over the summer, and you’re enthusiastic in your encouragement because you’ll have a friend to keep you company while he’s on the road.

His injury happens, though, and he’s out for good, at least for the rest of the season. You don’t know how to comfort him because your ‘relationship’ is so new, and it’s hard for you to understand why the anger at himself cuts so deep.

Ultimately, you fix the rough patch with sex. Lots and lots of sex. He works through his frustrations by taking you long, hard, and deep, mostly with him on top holding your throat while you take it like the good girl he tells you you are.

“‘Drei, your leg,” You remember saying to him one time as he slams you onto his bed, rolling directly on top of you. He doesn’t seem to hear you at first, too busy laying kisses to your neck.

“I don’t care.” He eventually responds, looking at you so darkly it leaves you shivering. He eats you out afterwards, and, well—you don’t have any more protests after that.

They win the first series against the New York Islanders in six games, and the moment the final goal is scored in overtime you’re jumping out of your seat along with the other WAG’s at one of their houses.

It’s exhilarating, rooting for something with every ounce of your being. You do it for Andrei - who still isn’t playing, but he was there watching - but mostly for yourself because you love the feeling of belonging to a community so close.

The second series ends sooner than the first, a five game victory over the New Jersey Devils, and this time you are at that final game. You sit with Andrei in a private booth at the top of PNC Arena, gripping his arm that also holds onto your thigh with the same amount of intensity.

The moment the final goal is scored - also in overtime - you’re hunching over your seat releasing a long breath. Andrei attempts to rise, then likely remembers his leg which forces him to grip the arms of his chair in strained acceptance.

“They did it,” You hear him whisper, like he can’t believe they actually came out of this series alive. “They did it.” He repeats himself, louder and more confident. You’re still folded over yourself, letting the anxiety drain out of you when he grabs your hand and tangles your fingers together.

“My kisa,” He says, waiting for you to turn your head so he can smile brilliantly at you. “We did it.”

“Not we,” And you grin back, because there’s nothing else for you to do but match his ecstasy. “You did it.”

“I didn’t even play,” Andrei is laughing, soaking in your praise like a sponge. “But I was here, wasn’t I?”

“You mean more to them than you’ll ever know.” More to me than you’ll ever know, you want to say, but hold back on that particular vulnerability.

After he finishes the team meeting in the locker room, you take him back to his house. He still hasn’t been given the all clear to drive, so you’ve taken up caretaker duties along with his mother.

You don’t think she likes you very much, either, but Andrei just says it takes a while for her to warm up to new people. Thankfully, she’s never around when you are though, because as you close the front door to his house he gives you a look equating to a meal he wants to devour.

Andrei seems to forget all about his knee, again, when he moves into you, pushing you back against the front door. “You drive me crazy.” He mumbles into your lips, and you don’t think you’re meant to respond as he moves to your neck.

You wore his jersey tonight, hoping it would bring the team good luck. You also happen to like how possessive he gets when he sees you in his clothes, especially wearing his name. It’s a little ridiculous, but you can’t lie and say you don’t love the attention.

Biting into your jugular, he tastes your rapidly beating heart before moving on, addicted to the sound of the moan that chokes its way out of your throat.

“I’m going to fuck you,” He breathes, massaging his hands into your waist as he pulls you away from the door. “And you’re going to love it, aren’t you? Because you’re such a good girl. My good girl.” His raspy voice leaves you holding back a whimper, and it’s hard to speak as he begins to sneak his hands under your jersey.

When you don’t respond because you’re too distracted by his hands, his damn hands, trailing up your ribs, he digs his fingers harshly into your skin. Your eyes snap open to find him almost glaring.

“Yes,” You think he wants to hear you say. “I’m yours.” You babble as his fingers let up, moving to cup your breasts over your bra as he pinches your nipples into hard points.

“That’s right,” He hums almost mockingly, hands now back to your waist as he pulls you after him to the path of his room. “No one else can make you feel like I do, yeah?”

This time he doesn’t expect a response as he pushes his door open, turning you around as you fall into his bed. Your head spins as the jersey you’re wearing rides up and Andrei quickly does the rest, slipping it off you with ease.

“Fuck,” You think he says, but you could care less as his bare hands are back on you, kneading the soft skin of your stomach and trailing back up the length of your torso. “No shirt underneath?”

“It was too hot outside,” You reply, breathless as you attempt to tug his suit and tie off, but that quickly proves to be more difficult. He tsks, thankfully deciding to aid you as he rids himself of his jacket. “You’re lucky that jersey is so thick.” He says, moreso to himself as he begins unbuttoning his slacks.

All that’s left is his undershirt and boxers, meanwhile you’re still left in your bra, jeans, and panties. Andrei must realize this too as he kicks his slacks off somewhere behind him. “Strip,” He commands, but you don’t need the reminder as you’re already one step ahead of him.

Your jeans and panties come off quickly, but it’s harder to remove your bra lying down. You eye the delicious specimen of a man above you, reaching out your hand for his own. “Help me?” You ask, biting your bottom lip before rolling onto your stomach.

Andrei mutters something behind you, but it’s clearly appraisal as the first thing his hands land on is your bare ass. He spends a few moments appreciating the view before his fingers trail up your back, unclipping your bra much quicker than you ever could have.

“You, kisa, are dangerous,” He teases, lowering himself to where his solid chest is pressing down on your back. He loves taking you from behind, tangling his hands in your hair while you’re left to his mercy.

He noses his way past your hair to reach your neck, lightly nipping the skin as you sigh, your head melting to the side so he can continue his ministrations.

“Andrei, please,” You hiss, the wetness between your thighs now too prominent to ignore. You wiggle your hips tantalizingly, hoping to catch his attention.

He grins into your neck, doesn’t respond as he presses a final kiss to your pulse point before pulling back, his right hand sweeping the rest of your hair to the side.

“You need me to touch you?” He asks, smoothing his left hand over your hip before slipping it to the inside of your thighs. His fingers find your clit, rubbing it ever so lightly to feel you flinch with sensitivity underneath him.

You tremble underneath him as he continues stroking you, and your hips jerk upward when two of his fingers slip past your walls and curl. He’s laughing as your ears ring, and already you’re so close to coming when his thumb rubs circles on your clit in time with the thrust of his hand.

Just like everything else about you, though, he knows; he knows and he pulls back before you even have the chance to swear because then the last layer of clothing between you is gone. His boxers are thrown somewhere behind him along with his undershirt, and now he wastes no time pulling your hips up, leaving your chest pressed into the bed.

So used to this familiar position, you look behind you in anticipation to find him stroking his cock, staring at your glistening pussy with barely contained arousal. You’re not sure what he’s waiting for, but then he’s sliding his free hand through your soaked lips to gather the wetness there, using it as lubricant.

“Shit,” He says, swearing more to himself before climbing atop you. It’s routine the way he grabs your hair, tangles it in his fingers while the other guides his swollen cock to your entrance. The bulbous head pushes into you with ease, finding no resistance as he sinks into you.

Andrei hisses, mutters something in Russian, then is lowering his head to press his lips to your ear. “Fuck, you’re tight. You just feel so good all the time, you know that, kisa?”

The only sound capable of coming out your mouth is a whimper as you bury your face into the sheets as his hips begin thrusting, hitting your sweet spot with bullseye accuracy each time.

The girth of him stretches you out deliciously, and it leaves your walls clenching and unclenching rhythmically in time with his movements. You mold to him like your body was made for him, like there’s no other way to exist without him taking you in such primal fashion.

Andrei’s head rests in the crook of your neck, murmuring indiscernible phrases while his hands trail up and down your body. His hips rut against your clit each time he thrusts forward, and if anything you get wetter at the thought of him fucking you so callously.

You feel like his most precious belonging sometimes, like an object. It can be disorienting when he talks to you like you’re a child, but when he fucks you it’s like that preciousness he views you with is amplified.

You flinch upward when his cock curves into you just right, and the way he coos into your ear to bring you back down only verifies that thought. He wants to take care of you, always—even if it demeans you.

Andrei suddenly rolls over onto his back, bringing you with him to where you’re the one on top with your back laying against his chest. He sits up, and now you’re in his lap, thighs spread to the side as he once again begins fucking into you.

Your mouth opens into a silent scream as your head rolls back onto his shoulder, the new angle forcing his cock into deeper lengths inside you, and it hurts but it hurts so good and why were you ever questioning how he treats you, again?

How has only one man ever been able to make you feel this good?

Euphoria floods your veins as his hands find purchase on your body, one taking your left tit and rolling your nipple between his fingers while the other sneaks down to the junction of your bodies and finds your clit, rubbing over it mercilessly.

When your stomach starts clenching and your lower spine tingles, Andrei is right back at your ear whispering encouragement. “That’s it, angel,” He praises. “That’s it. You want to come, yeah? Do it. I’ve got you.”

His name leaves your mouth as a breathless whine, and you struggle not to flinch away from his touch when it becomes too much but also not enough, and somehow he knows this and just holds you tighter.

When his cock hits you so deliciously good while his thumb swipes over your clit, you fall. You fall hard, the walls of your cunt seizing around him as ecstasy takes over your body. Sparks fly across your skin, stars filling the empty blackness behind your closed eyes and you think you’re sobbing Andrei’s name but you can’t be sure. The only thing you can be sure of is him; his cock inside you, his hands on your body, his voice in your ear, his teeth on your neck as he approaches his high.

Yours lasts for longer than normal because he doesn’t stop moving—if anything, he goes faster, because the sight and feeling of sending you into a spiral only triggers his own release.

By now you’re motionless, unable to even lift your head as it remains lying against his shoulder. Andrei’s thrusts are frenzied, more sloppy and less precise, until he’s throwing his own back with a long, pleasure-filled groan.

Eventually, he stills. His chest is rising and falling behind you rapidly, attempting to collect himself now that his mind is back in the present. You sigh, quietly yet happy, as his cock softens inside you but doesn’t move, his release slowly trickling down your conjoined bodies.

You suddenly remember that he didn’t lose a condom, but then you remind yourself that you’d stopped using condoms weeks before. You were already on birth control, and he assured you this was exclusive.

You were a fool to believe him.

Andrei soon moves, his hands taking to your hips as he gently lifts you off of him. “I know,” He says when you hiss with sensitivity. “I’ve got you, good girl…” He lays you on your back, and you don’t move from your position even as he leaves the room.

Your eyes soon flutter shut, and you curl to the side as the minutes go by with no sign of return. It’s not regret that fills your mind, no, but another emotion, something stronger than just satisfaction at getting such a pleasurable release.

You don’t dare to think of the world ‘love’, but maybe something similar to that is what you’re feeling?

It doesn’t help that just as you’re on the verge of falling asleep, Andrei comes back to your naked form while he’s now adorned in sweatpants. You merely hum as he sits on the edge of his bed next to you, one of his hands reaching out to trail up your arm. When he reaches your face he brushes away the hair stuck to your cheeks and forehead from cooling sweat, letting your skin breathe.

He says something, so quiet it’s impossible to hear over the sound of your thundering heart, and you don’t have the energy to ask as you finally succumb to exhaustion.

Andrei cleans you up after, dries the inside of your legs and slides one of his t-shirts over you. He tucks you under his sheets and pulls you into his arms, letting your hair tickle his cheeks.

The Eastern Conference Final arrives far quicker than any of you are prepared for, and games one and two against the Florida Panthers are full of anxious nail-biting and frustrated cursing when the puck hits the goal post.

Both games end in overtime losses, and the team has to play games three and four in enemy territory, down by two.

Andrei, understandably, isn’t taking it well. It's hard for the players on the ice, of course, but even harder when he has to sit at the sidelines, hidden in a booth at the top of the arena with you doing your best to comfort him.

“Why can’t they just fucking score?” You remember him hissing before the end of regulation in game two, not angry at his teammates but at the situation instead.

And himself, too, because he is the injured one. He is the one who tore his ACL making it so that he couldn’t play. It isn’t his fault, but it is at the same time and that’s what’s truly getting to him.

As the timer hit zero, he’d leaned back in his chair and grabbed your hand without thought, squeezing your fingers to the point of strangulation.

You let him, though, because at that point you’d let him do anything.

“I’m sorry.” You said, your eyes on him the entire time. It pained you to see him so miserable, and there was nothing you could do to make it better. “This isn’t your fault. It’s… Blame Bobrovsky, okay? He’s just too—”

You interrupted yourself, not wanting to say ‘good’ even if that’s true because you didn’t want to upset him with the implication that his teammates couldn’t be better.

Andrei, to give him credit, didn’t take offense. His eyes were on you the moment you started your ramble, and as you finally paused to gauge the look on his face you found amusement and unbridled affection in his gaze.

“Too good?” He finished your sentence, waiting for your meek nod of confirmation. Merely sighing, he only brought your intertwined fingers to his lips, pressing a kiss to the top of your hand. “You’re right, kisa. He is too good.”

You stay back in Raleigh while the team, including Andrei, takes flight to Sunrise, Florida. Most of the WAG’s stay back too, the majority already anticipating the result of this series.

Hours after the team’s flight, Maria calls you late on the eve of game three.

“Hey, Mare!” You answer, lowering the volume of whatever show is on the television to better hear her. “What’s up?”

“Hey, girl!” She chirps, and you can hear voices in the background so you assume she’s somewhere busy. “Just landed in Florida!”

“You flew to Florida?” You ask, choking slightly. “Since when?”

“Don’t you remember? I told you! The team needed extra people since we’re staying here for longer than a night.”

“Oh, shit, yeah,” Is all you say because you don’t, in fact, remember, and suddenly feel really guilty about it. You haven’t actually spoken to Maria face-to-face in weeks, having been caught up in everything Andrei-related.

You haven’t talked to lots of people you were close to before Andrei came into the picture, now that you think about it. It’s a problem you’re sure to reflect on when you’re done talking to your friend.

“...bunch of us are going out tonight since the game isn’t until later tomorrow night, including a lot of the team.”

Maria’s voice tunes back in, and you shake yourself out of your thoughts to catch-up. “Really?” You inquire, now suddenly interested. “Is Andrei going with them?”

You could ask him yourself, sure, but you don’t really talk about that stuff, what he does or what you do in your free time. It always felt invasive to ask because you weren’t quite sure if you even had the right to, considering the nature of your relationship.

You doubt he thinks about what you do when you’re not with him, anyway, so you always just assume you can live in the moment with him and have that be good enough.

“Dunno,” She replies. “Can’t you ask him yourself? You’re seeing the man, after all.” You can hear the smirk in her voice at the last sentence.

“Um,” You stall, because no, you can’t just ask. “He just got off the plane, I don’t want to bother him.”

“Mhm,” Maria hums, and you can’t tell if she’s suspicious or not by her tone alone. “True. I’ll just text you if anything interesting happens, okay? Sound good?”

“Sounds good,” You can’t help but laugh at her sudden hastiness, and soon enough she’s hanging up the phone with the claim that the team bus is there to take her to the hotel.

As your call with Maria is in the early afternoon, you have a while to wait before all night life in Florida begins, so any updates will take time to roll in. You know this, and yet you can’t stop thinking about it for the rest of the day.

Distracting yourself by shopping helps, as does meeting up with a few of the WAG’s for a late lunch. You’re able to put your anxiety in the back of your mind for the rest of the day, and as the sun sets you pull back up to Andrei’s house and let yourself in with the spare key given to you, mind at peace as you float around his living space in preparation for bed.

You almost considered his place your home now, rather than your actual apartment. You’ve been spending so much time here, with him and also alone as everything with him seems to be going so good… When you settle into his bed, wearing one of Andrei’s large t-shirts and boxers, you check your phone one last time for any updates.

There’s a few Instagram notifications, one or two emails from your university, only one message in the groupchat with the WAG’s, and a text from Andrei which is what you zero in on first.

Settled in the hotel now. Leg is hurting, so I’m going to bed early tonight. Text you tomorrow, okay?

There’s no silly emojis, no indication of any emotion in his text, and yet you read the message with a smile, insecurities officially gone. His teammates are going out tonight, not him, and you don’t have to worry about Maria texting you later because there would be nothing to update you on.

How could you have ever doubted him?

You fall asleep peacefully, unbeknownst to the fact that long after midnight, your phone begins blowing up with silent notifications from Maria. She does, in fact, send you updates of her night out, but not updates you’ll smile at when you wake up the next day.

Sunlight filtered through closed eyes is what has you slowly awakening to the world of consciousness, and you stretch your arms with a yawn before reaching for your phone first thing. It’s hot to the touch, and at first you attribute that to it being stuck under your pillow the entire night, but upon unlocking the screen you discover that that is not the case.

WTF did you and Andrei break up?????

He’s here with the rest of the guys and he’s highkey flirting with some randos???

I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were done w/ him!

You’re prettier than them btw. I snuck a few pics

Several more messages from Maria have taken over your inbox, those are just the first you see. It takes your brain a minute to catch-up, but when it finally does you’re sitting up with bated breath as you tap on one of the images she sent.

It’s definitely Andrei—you’d know his face anywhere. He is, in fact, surrounded by girls in the picture, his arm wrapped around the waist of a gorgeous blonde with a drink in his other hand, and it’s so reminiscent of the way he holds you at clubs that you know, you know immediately that this is what you meant to him all along.

The affectionate name-calling, gentle hand-holding and constant touching… You thought he looked back at you like you hung the moon, but now you’re realizing that maybe you were just projecting the reflection of your own starstruck eyes instead.

You sit up in bed, hand pressed to your forehead as a sudden headache rips through your brain. What the fuck are you supposed to do now? Remembering that you’re actually in this man’s house, in his clothes, too, has you jumping up like you’ve been burned, and you quickly exit the bedroom to collapse on the couch instead.

“Oh my god,” You whisper to yourself, in disbelief as you click through more of the images sent to you from last night. There’s no denying to yourself that he was with these women, all while supposedly having a significant other waiting for him at home.

There’s no one to witness the slow breakdown of your sanity, and you can’t even cry because you’re so in shock about what you’re seeing

Is this real? Are you real? Is this really happening?

It’s almost like a switch in your brain goes off, and very quickly you drop your phone. You take a deep breath, you bury your raging emotions, and you stand up from the couch to start your day.

You refuse to allow yourself to break down now. Not when you still haven’t spoken to him. At the very least you’ll wait until you have an explanation…

To confront him on your very strong feelings you’ve been doing your best to ignore until now, because they’re too real in the wake of this discovery to just vanish away like you’ve done before.

You need to know where you stand with him. Truly, because these pictures you can’t stop thinking about? It’s too much. You can’t pretend it doesn’t feel like thousands of little knives stabbing your heart repeatedly even if it all means nothing to him.

Everything goes back to normal. Everything is fine. You never saw those pictures, ignored Maria's continuing calls and acted as if your world wasn’t suddenly tilted on its axis.

Andrei doesn’t text you at all throughout the day, which can probably be attributed to preparation of game three, but all you can think about are the girls he might be texting.

Because he certainly isn’t texting you.

Game three results in a loss, a bad one, and it would pain you to see the reactions on their faces filtered through the television if you weren’t so numb.

He still doesn’t text you. Doesn’t call, either, and Maria eventually gives up on trying to reach you as game four approaches.

The impending doom of Andrei bares down on you like a vice, slowly strangling you in the screaming silence of his house you still remain in. Maybe this is something you should have seen coming because it isn’t the first time he’s gone radio silent, you just assumed he was busy—because that’s what he told you.

You’re starting to think that maybe you shouldn’t have listened.

You love him though, right? That’s why you believed him? That’s what you’re feeling right now, why it’s like you can barely breathe when you think of his smile or the way he’s betrayed you so?

The Panthers sweep the Hurricanes, a complete four-game victory that sends Andrei and the rest of the team licking their wounds all the way back to North Carolina. You don’t watch the fourth game with anyone but yourself and a bottle of wine while catching up on homework for one of your classes.

Becoming so close to Andrei meant you became close to the rest of his teammates too, to the point where you’d consider some of them your good friends, so seeing their faces broadcasted live after the final goal is devastating to see.

Not as devastating as the text you receive, though, in the midst of trying to figure out what to say to him the moment he steps foot inside his house.

I won’t be home tonight, heading straight out with some of the younger guys. I will see you tomorrow

Well. You can’t say you’re surprised. You’re willing to bet money he’s out sleeping with some random girl whose name he won’t remember the next day. Instead of letting the anxiety take over, anger takes its place instead.

And boy do you run with it because anger is so much better than feeling powerless. It simmers in your blood, a wildfire settling low in your stomach until you’re practically shaking while waiting for Andrei to walk through the front door the next day.

When he finally does, you’re so mad you’re numb. Your anger has turned you into a ghost, an attempt at protecting your fragile heart from more heartbreak likely to fall upon you the moment he tries to charm you back into his good graces.

Once he spots you sitting on the couch, he smiles in greeting. It’s soft, and you’d like to say affectionate, but you no longer can tell how deep his feelings run for you.

Clearly, not deep enough.

“Kisa,” He says. “How are you? I’m sorry I was out late.”

“It’s fine,” You respond tightly. Andrei doesn’t seem to notice, merely nods before walking past you to the kitchen. You follow him silently, trying to figure out how to phrase your next words.

You end up settling on a subtle approach. “I’m sorry about the games… I know it must’ve sucked having to watch.”

He scoffs immediately, mutters something you don’t catch but still doesn’t turn around to face you as he rummages through his fridge. “It definitely was not fun to sit there, no.” He replies.

“Is that why you didn’t come back last night? You were coping with the loss?” You’re hoping your strong reference to his late-night escapades will spark something in him, but alas you still seem to be wrong and all he does is cast you a furtive glance before going back to his business.

God, you were just going to have to wring this out of him, weren’t you?

“Andrei,” You start, taking a deep breath. He still doesn’t stir. “Andrei, I know.”

Finally, he stops. Pauses mid-motion of whatever he’s doing, and his shoulders seem to tense in preparation of your foreboding words.

“There’s other girls, right? It’s not just me?” Your voice is already wobbling, and you’re glad he’s still refusing to face you because your eyes are slowly filling with tears, the agony of these last few days catching up to you.

This is when Andrei finally turns around. He meets your eyes last after scanning up and down your body; the clothes you’re wearing that aren’t his, your nails digging into your hands, and finally the bright flush of your face as you struggle not to explode.

“What do you mean?” Is what he says, looking at you calculatingly.

“Don’t play dumb with me, ‘Drei,” You whisper, invisible wires constricting around your throat as you force yourself to continue speaking. “Maria told me. She saw you. And you lied to me.”

Andrei doesn’t speak. He just stares, fingers clenching and unclenching like he can’t decide if he should approach you or not. After what seems like hours of silent battle, he replies, starting out by saying your name like a warning. “She… Maria had no right to tell you that.”

“Because I’m not actually your girlfriend, right?” Your response is immediate, and it hurts him if the flinch on his face is anything to go by. “You don’t owe me anything. Not a title, responsibility. You never promised me any of that so sleeping with other girls is perfectly okay.”

Everything you’re saying is true but it’s all wrong the way you’re looking at each other. Tears are now openly streaming down your cheeks and Andrei hasn’t moved since the moment you opened your mouth.

“Nothing to say?” It’s defeated, your entire demeanor as your shoulders sag and you fight the urge to collapse. “Yeah. I—I wouldn’t know what to say either.”

“I’m sorry,” Andrei whispers, and he doesn’t fight you which makes it all the more devastating. Everything you’re saying is true and it’s still all so wrong but he isn’t fighting you and wow, you’re really about to lose him, aren’t you?

“I think the worst part of this for me is that I actually let myself fall in love with you.” It’s your last-ditch effort of getting something out of him, anything that proves this isn’t completely one-sided on your end.

Andrei looks gutted at that. But he steels his resolve, his eyes go cold and he clenches his jaw as you try, one last time, to reach him.

“Do you love me?”

He’s staring at the wall behind you. No words fall from the lips you’ve kissed a thousand times until they finally do, and this is when you come to the realization that you’re ruined. You won’t ever look at another man the same because Andrei will forever haunt you in everything that you are and what you do.

“No. I don’t.”

You don’t put up much of a fight after that. You wave your white flag and slip past him to grab the small bag you’d packed earlier in preparation.

Andrei doesn’t move from his spot in the kitchen once. His face is tight, eyes dark and anguished as you drop his spare key on the counter. You look at him one last time, will him to say something, anything, but he doesn’t.

He never does—so you leave and you don’t look back.

It hurts worse because there really wasn’t a fight. There was no screaming, breaking glass, hurling insults at each other; it was a quiet acceptance of the end of a relationship that had no chance of lasting.

That’s what gets you. Not just because it’s over, but because he doesn’t love you like you love him.

You can’t believe you let yourself fall for it.

When you finally make it back to your apartment it feels like walking into an alternate reality, especially after an agonizing drive back full of nothing but silence and your thoughts.

You’ve practically lived with Andrei the last few months so much that you’ve forgotten you had a life before him. Maria comes to your mind immediately at that thought, and you can’t think of anything else you need more right now than your best friend.

Her phone only rings twice before she picks up. She says your name warily, likely because she hasn’t heard a word from you in two days.

“Hey,” You whimper, and you hate that you can tell how broken you sound. “Um, you were right. About Andrei. I… Talked to him about it. We’re done.”

There’s silence on the other end for several moments. Then:

“Oh, babe, I’m so sorry. I’m coming over, and I’m bringing the fattest bottle of wine known to man, okay?”

You can’t help but laugh through your tears.

“Don’t respond, you can’t say no. I’ll see you in a few!”

And, well, you do nothing but let her hang up as you stare at your blank lock screen for a minute. Something possesses you to try and freshen up even though it’s just Maria, so you make your way to your bathroom.

Opening the door, your eyes land on your reflection in the mirror, your tear-stained eyes the same color red as the lipstick you wore the first time you met him. The same red of your heart, too, as you feel the shattering of it now more than ever.

It all goes back to him. Everything about you, your identity as ‘his girl’ reducing you to someone who doesn’t exist without him.

Fuck you, Andrei, you want to yell. Fuck you and fuck everything you put me through.

As you furiously rub your eyes, you realize you don’t know who you are anymore. You let yourself be molded into an unfamiliar version of yourself, into someone just for Andrei to want to keep around.

The tears start again, and you’re left sniffling in the suffocating silence of your bathroom. The only person who knew you, the you now, is gone.

And suddenly, you find yourself alone.

Well… Not totally alone. “Fuck him!” Maria shouts after she breaks into your apartment (she has your spare key) after you’d collapsed onto your couch and refused to open the door. “Seriously, fuck him. You’re way too good for him.”

“Weren’t you the one who convinced me to sleep with him in the first place?” Is your weak rebuttal, muffled and almost imperceptible as your head is burrowed in a pillow.

Your friend tsks, likely waving her arms around in that expressive way she does. “Yes, well. I never claimed to see the future. But now we know him for the piece of shit he is!”

Maria is your closest friend, yes, but you also know her to be someone who tells you what you want to hear. Right now, you’re feeling vengeful and angry, so she’s feeding into those emotions to make you feel better.

You know, in two months time or however long it takes you to process this, when you start missing him and tiptoe around the idea of calling him, she’ll support you then, too.

Which probably isn’t what you need, but, whatever. You’re just grateful you have someone on your side.

“I need…” You start, not quite sure how to phrase what you’re wanting. “I need to forget.”

“A one nightstand type of forget or get so drunk you pass out type of forget?”

You wrinkle your nose at the thought of sleeping with someone so soon. As much as you hate it, you don’t think you’ll ever stop craving Andrei’s body.

No man ever could make you feel that good…

“Get drunk,” You say, quirking a small smile at the whoop she lets out. “I can’t fuck someone right now. At least not yet.”

“Yeah,” The blonde agrees, sighing almost wistfully. “I’d feel the same if I knew what his dick felt like.”

“Maria!” You shriek, throwing a spare pillow as hard as you can her way. It misses, but does the job of lightening the mood and keeps you giggling the rest of the night.

She does her job in making you forget, though. Makes you put on one of your shortest dresses and gets you drink after drink until you’re hunched over a toilet in the back of some bar gagging your stomach out.

You wake up the next day with the worst hangover ever, but Maria is fairing the same and somehow you consider it worth it. Maybe you can live your life again without him.

You’ve done it before, right?

And really, it’s ridiculous when you let yourself think about how you’d only been seeing the man for five months and he completely managed to send your world careening in that timespan. So, you don’t let yourself think about it. Instead, you live.

For yourself, for your friends, for your heart that won’t ever be full but feels a little bit better every time you wake up each day without Andrei next to you.

You graduate university with your bachelor’s and get a job that’s even better than your last, and you make a really good group of friends at said-job without Maria’s help (though she’ll always be your best). The summer passes by with melancholy laughter and gentle healing, and while your first love always remains in the back of your mind, you think about him less.

So much less that you lose track of time, not even realizing that October of twenty twenty-three is here and the NHL season is starting back up. You haven’t spoken to any of the WAG’s since you broke it off with Andrei, assuming you would no longer be welcome in the ‘clique’ and preferring to separate yourself from a group associated with someone who brought you so much pain, so there haven’t been any reminders about the new season from them.

The memories of him are fleeting. They’ll come to you at random times, and now that you’ve lived in the past yet again, you can forget about the end where Andrei is a distant thought but every time his name is brought up it squeezes your heart so much you can’t breathe.

You’re doing better. Truly, you are. You’d stopped crying over him long ago, and you might have gone to class with swollen eyes and showed up to work despondent, but you’re working through it in your own way. Healing isn’t linear but you’re making progress slowly but surely.

One day, you wake up with a sudden determination to officially ‘get back out there’, per Maria’s words. There’s nothing spectacular about this day; it’s only mid-November, the weather in that awkward stage of autumn morphing into winter.

Maybe it’s because the night before you’d succumbed to the urge to search up the Hurricanes’ schedule, curious to when they’d be home and not.

It’s only a coincidence that they have a home game when you call your friends from work, asking if they’d like to go out after everyone gets off. It’s also a coincidence when you meet someone at said-bar you attend, and it’s absolutely insane how if you squint he kind of looks like Andrei.

Oh, but he’s so, so sweet… His name is Jack and he buys you and your friends drinks, keeps a respectful distance yet never strays far when you’re wrapped into another conversation. He asks for your number at the end of the night and you give it to him without hesitation, taking note of the way he creates your contact in his phone himself.

“You like cats?” He asks as he’s still typing away, and your breath catches in your throat because it’s a question that makes you think of the first night you met him. When you don’t respond, he gestures towards your keychain attached to the strap of your handbag.

“You have little kittens on your keychain. I think that’s what I’ll add to your name, yeah?” Jack laughs a little shyly, and it’s cute but you keep replaying kisa in your mind over and over in a Russian accent you never could quite imitate.

“Yeah, I do like cats,” You say, flushing at the sudden amusement in his eyes. “I like them a lot.”

Jack doesn’t waste any time texting you the next day, and the normalcy of it freaks you out a little. Where’s the anxiety? The stomach-dropping nerves that come with talking to someone new? The constant wondering if they like you or not?

It’s so safe and secure that it hurts, because it was never like that before.

Everyone in your life is so supportive, though, but that only makes it worse because they can see how good this man is for you, but why can’t you? You feel like pulling your hair out when he texts you good morning and goodnight and sick to your stomach when he shows up during your lunch break with flowers.

However, there’s no one is more enthusiastic about Jack's new presence in your life than Maria.

“He’s a dream guy, honestly,” She swoons, kicking her feet back on her ottoman. “You’re so lucky. I would kill for a guy I met at a bar to be so smitten with me he shows up to my job with flowers.”

You hum in agreement, unable to come up with something to say. “He… Yeah, it’s nice, I guess.”

The blonde eyes you from where you’re curled up on her couch, deliberately avoiding her stare as you mindlessly watch whatever is on the TV. “You guess? He’s perfect!”

“On paper,” You retort, huffing slightly in frustration at yourself because why can’t you see what everyone else sees? “I don’t really know him.”

“Yet. You don’t really know him yet.” She helpfully points out. “Why don’t you want to give him a chance?”

“I… I do. I am giving him a chance. Maybe I’m just not feeling it.”

“He’s not Andrei, babe.”

You fight the powerful urge to scoff. I know, you want to scream. I know. That’s the problem.

Jack is too perfect for you. You want the ups and downs, the electrifying chemistry, the undeniable connection you’ve felt with no one else before. You crave the feeling of those past five months, of being with someone who lit you up to your very core.

It’s been almost eight months and you still can’t get him out of your head.

You give Jack a rightful chance, though, like everyone in your life is begging you to. You can’t bring yourself to end it because there really is nothing wrong, it’s a perfect getting-to-know-you stage which checks off all the boxes. It’s just that you don’t want normal because normal is boring.

You want chaos. And Andrei is chaos personified.

Unbeknownst to you, Maria is still very good friends with a lot of the WAG’s and talks about you when they ask. They miss you, it turns out, but your friend never tells you this in fear of sending you into a depressive spiral that tends to happen when they’re brought up. They’re ecstatic to hear that your life seems to be going so well after the breakup, especially after seeing Andrei’s reaction to it all.

This is something Maria doesn’t tell you, either. She’s such a good friend, protecting your heart like that. Andrei did not come out of his house after you ended it the same person; he was a little darker, a little angrier, frustrated in a way that suggested nothing could be done to fix it.

It doesn’t help that he couldn’t take it out by playing hockey, because he wasn’t cleared to play until the end of October, a month into the regular season.

He never admits his sour mood is partly to blame you for. Not that it’s your fault—he’s the one who fucked up, not you.

Never you.

Maria knows all of this and still gives him the cold shoulder for his treatment of you. None of the girls were very happy after finding out while his teammates just gave him awkward pats on the back. It doesn’t stop him from finding out about you, though, and what you’re up to.

The WAG’s talk. They’re gossip machines, and while normally he hates them for it because he always has to watch what he says around them, this time he’s thankful because they tell their husbands and boyfriends everything.

He’s at Martin and his girlfriend, Nykki’s, apartment watching their cavapoo, Gigi, when he finds out you’re seeing someone new. They’re heatedly talking about something when they walk in and don’t see him on the floor cuddling Gigi, so he doesn’t interrupt.

“I mean, I’m not surprised, but wow. It certainly took her a while to move on, didn’t it?”

He hears a smack, assumes Nykki has hit him on the arm like she typically does when he pisses her off. “She loved him, of course it took time!”

“Ow!” He hisses, though it’s clearly in jest. “Well, yeah, but like… It’s been months. And it’s not like she’s in contact with any of us anymore to remind her of him.” Andrei notes the sourness in his teammate’s voice, feels his heart drop because he thinks he knows who they’re talking about, now.

“Still,” Nykki replies. “I was so sad after my first heartbreak. They take a while to heal from, especially when it’s not a clean ending. It’s no secret how Andrei treated her.” She’s frowning when she continues. “I wish I could give her a hug, but I get it. I wouldn’t want to see any of us, either.”

Martin sighs. “I get it, too. I sure do miss the wine she’d bring though. She had the best fucking taste, ever.”

“Of course you only miss her for her alcohol.”

Andrei decides to clear his throat at this moment. When he does so, Martin and Nykki whip their heads towards him on the floor, surprise and guilt decorating their faces when they see him holding Gigi rather dejectedly.

He starts by saying your name, even surprises himself when it comes out biting and, dare he say it… Jealous? “She’s seeing someone?”

Martin and Nykki share a glance. Gigi chooses this as the time to leap up from his lap and run towards her parents where Martin happily picks her up. “I’m going to go take her out. Thanks for watching, ‘Drei!” He quickly flees the apartment, and Nykki says something under her breath as she glares after him.

They both know Andrei isn’t letting this go.

“Do you remember Maria, her friend? Works in the Hurricanes’ marketing department?” She eventually says, joining him on the floor.

“The blonde one? Yes,” He replies, and even though there are many blondes working for the team he knows exactly who she’s talking about. She’s your best friend, after all, and he knows everything about you.

Like how he knows you will never get over him. Conceited? Yes, but he had (has) you wrapped around his finger.

“Well, she talks to a lot of us still, despite everything that happened. And she tells us things.” Nykki pauses, almost like she’s scared to go on.

“Things like?” Andrei inquires. “How she is doing? Who she is doing?”

She glares at him then, eyes narrowing into slits. “Not that you really have a right to know, but yes.”

His fingers dig into his palms and his jaw cramps with how much he’s trying to keep from exploding.

“So, she’s seeing some guy now?” He scoffs like the very idea is incredulous. As if whatever pathetic excuse of a man you’re talking to could ever compare to him.

“She has a right to move on, Andrei. You should too. You ruined her.”

That fact remains true, but he still has no desire to ever let you go as he deliberately ignores her advice, well-meaning as it is.

How ruined could you really be if you’re already with somebody else?

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to run into you because you avoid him like the plague. You know everywhere he and his teammates frequent so you stopped showing up long ago, and he’s pretty sure you keep a several hundred-foot radius between you and PNC Arena at all times. He doesn’t blame you, but it pisses him off to know he can’t easily find you.

Christmas passes, you spend it with Jack and Andrei spends it with his Russian teammates. The New Year arrives just as quickly, and as he locks lips with some random girl at the party he’s at he thinks of you. Wonders who you’re with, if you’re kissing that guy Nykki told him about.

You actually flew back home to spend it with your parents, giving Jack some weak excuse about how you weren’t able to see them over the holidays.

North Carolina winter is in full force as February of twenty twenty-four rolls around, and your life remains inexplicably boring while Andrei’s picks up. The Hurricanes are finally having a redemption arc after their awful first-half of the season, and thus are heading out to celebrate far more often than normal.

They’re more daring in where they choose to go, too, wanting to branch out of their norms, because why not?

This is really unfortunate for you. Horrifying, actually, because you’re out with your friends, Jack, and his friends too when the team comes strolling in. Eyes instantly shoot their way, aweing at the miniature celebrities in their own right for finally bringing a good professional sports team to NC.

The moment Andrei steps foot in the establishment you know. Your skin catches fire, your ears ring, and your heart thunders inside your chest because only man can set off your senses so powerfully.

You look away from Jack - who thankfully doesn’t notice, he’s sucked into a conversation with one of his friends - and find Andrei approaching the bar with Martin and Seth. He hasn’t noticed you yet and you try to keep that from happening as you sink down into your seat, flashing your friends an exaggerated smile when they eye you curiously.

You’re unable to hide for long, though, when a song bursts from the speakers and sends everyone into an excited frenzy, your group included as they crowd the dance.

Luckily you’re able to escape that particular rally and wave Jack off when he asks you if you’re okay. “I’m fine,” You shout over the bass rattling your eardrums. “Just letting my drink settle a bit.”

He doesn’t question you, merely nods and smiles before disappearing somewhere with his friends. Now, you’re alone, and you can’t decide if that’s a good or bad thing because now you have a perfect view of Andrei and his teammates leaning against the bar, looking far too good as they do so.

You can’t keep your eyes off him. You never could, especially can’t now as you soak up every little change your eyes can see. He has a scruff now, a sexy five o’clock shadow that you know firsthand how it feels between your thighs. His hair is a little longer, too—you wonder if it’s still as soft as you remember.

Jack suddenly appears from a break in the crowd and oh, yeah, fuck you can’t be thinking about your ex like this, can you? No, you aren’t officially with Jack, but it’s still wrong. He likes you so much, you know this, and you… Don’t hate him?

Fuck, fuck, fuck, you bemoan to yourself, torn between the angel on your left and the devil on your right that don’t give you the chance to decide because you feel eyes baring into your skull, begging you to notice them. Your entire being freezes, stuck in between some weird limbo as you lock eyes with Andrei for the first time in months.

There’s no one else but you and him as neither one of you refuses to break first, and you only lose eye contact when a group of people walks between you. When they’re gone and you’re able to freely look again, you realize he’s gone from his spot at the bar. All his teammates are still there, and they’ve now spotted you too.

Would it be wrong to call an uber and just tell Jack you felt sick?

Your name is suddenly being whispered into your ear, and you would have flinched if the sound of his voice didn’t have you relaxing back into your seat. You refuse to look up at first, because if you look at him so close to you again you’ll fold.

“Andrei,” You greet, quietly. “How are you?” You still aren’t looking at him, choosing to swirl around the drink in your hand instead.

“I’m good,” He replies, so close you can feel the heat of his body seeping into your skin. You lean into it almost subconsciously until he’s sliding into the booth next to you, pressing the two of you together. “How are you, my kisa?”

“You don’t get to call me that anymore.” You retort, finally meeting his eyes to cast him a withering glare.

“No?” Andrei reaches a hand up to brush some stray hairs from your face. So delicate his touch, he trails his hand down your cheek, your neck, and down your waist until landing on your thigh. You don’t stop him, either.

“That’s funny. I could have sworn that you’re mine.”

“I’m not,” You squirm under his touch, unable to push him away. “I haven’t been in months. Wasn’t ever ‘yours’ to begin with. You made sure of that.”

Andrei doesn’t appreciate the call out. The way his face twists is mean and you know whatever he’s going to say will hurt. “Right,” He scoffs, is snide with the way he tones it. “But you’re his?”

He gestures towards Jack, who thankfully is enraptured in a tense game of pool on the other side of the room. You don’t question how he already knows that’s who you’re with.

“I’m not anyone’s, Andrei.”

“Yes you are. You might have thought that because we haven’t seen each other we are just over?” He leans into you, doesn’t let you break eye contact as he gets so close your noses touch. “No. I bet me being so close to you right now has you soaked, and you want to know how I know that?”

Your throat is tight as you swallow. You can’t look away as you move to shake your head, but strange, because it comes out as a nod instead.

“You’re not ‘over me’, malyshka. You’ll never be over me. You love me.”

His grin is feral, his words biting as they cut through you at such a vulnerable level it has you flinching back from his touch immediately.

“Oh, fuck you, Andrei,” You hiss, an angry sheen of tears starting to gloss over your eyes. “Fuck you. I don’t love you anymore—especially not now.”

You move to slip around him but his arm shoots out and stops you in your tracks, leaving you frozen as he stands to tower over you.

“Careful,” He murmurs. “Your boy over there might think something’s wrong. Maybe I should introduce myself, make sure he knows I would never dare hurt you.”

“You don’t have to touch me to hurt me. You did that plenty without having to lift a finger.” You retort. “Now, get out of my way. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

“But what if I want to talk to you?” You really hate the height difference between the two of you right now because it takes no effort at all for him to slide a muscular arm around your waist and keep you glued to his side. “Maybe I have missed you.”

“I sincerely doubt that,” You mutter, but he ignores you as he begins to lead you away from the booth you were in before. “My friends will wonder where I am if I’m not at the booth when they get back.”

“Not worried about your boy?” He mocks, noting the way you don’t mention Jack at all. “They won’t have enough time to notice.”

You narrow your eyes at his insinuating words as he stops at the bar, waving down the bartender who comes immediately. “His name is Jack.” You mutter, thinking he can’t hear you. He continues talking, ignoring you, and you’re unable to hear him over the noise so you don’t bother trying to understand what he’s asking for.

Soon enough there’s a drink sliding across the bar counter and Andrei pushes it in front of you. You eye the glass, making note of the fact that the liquid is red. “Vodka cranberry,” He confirms what you’re already thinking.

You flash back to the night you first met and suddenly you want nothing to do with the drink in front of you. “No thanks, I don’t want it.” You say, trying to step away.

You don’t get far, though, because he’s grabbing your wrist and tugging you rather harshly back to him. “Drink it,” He demands, watches your eyes and the way they dart from his face and back to the glass nervously. He sighs, then, like he’s realized something and lets go of your wrist only to land back on your hip. “It’s… Nothing is wrong with it. I didn’t touch it.”

He thinks you’re worried about being drugged? You almost laugh but manage to hold it back, because of course he doesn’t remember that this is the first drink he ever got you.

Your heart beats a little faster as you concede, finally picking up the drink and taking a tiny sip. He waits for your reaction like he’s the one who made it. “It’s good,” You finally say, licking the sweetness from your lips.

Andrei watches you, your eyes, your lips, everything about as time seems to stop and it’s just you and him, like it’s supposed to be.

You haven’t changed all that much, and you can tell he likes that. Your hair is a little shorter, you’re perhaps a little thinner now that you’re not on a college student diet, but you’re still you.

Andrei hasn’t changed either. You’re the same yet so different, and it’s incredibly difficult resisting the temptation to fall back into old habits.

“I’ve missed you,” He admits quietly, and you think it’s sincere this time. You wouldn’t have heard if you weren’t standing so close together.

Your heart thunders in your chest. You might be sweating out of nerves, or maybe it’s just the club. Your hands itch to touch him, and with more alcohol in you thanks to the cranberry you don’t stop Andrei as he succumbs to his urges first and uses one, large hand to cup your cheek.

You shudder as he caresses the skin, his thumb landing on your bottom lip and stroking it lightly. “Andrei,” You breathe, pupils blown wide. “You can’t—we can’t…”

He tilts his head, reminiscent of a dog. “Why not? You are not single?” He has you. He knows you know he does. You aren’t nearly as committed to Jack as much as you’d like yourself to be.

“I can’t do that to him,” You try weakly, already feeling your will bending to the persuasiveness of his touch.

His head lowers, hand remaining on your cheek as he brushes your lips together. You crave it, you realize, and move to fully push your mouths together but he’s pulling back before you get the chance.

“Go to the bathroom.” He says. “I’ll meet you there.”

“Will you?” You ask, the double-meaning clear as you stare at each other, neither willing to break.

Andrei’s face is unreadable. You can’t decide if that’s a good or bad thing as his hands land on your hips and he turns you around in the direction of the restrooms. “Go,” He taps your ass, nudging you forward. “I’ll be there.”

You give in this time. You’re aware of the astronomically bad decision you’re making as you cut the line, faking a sick stomach and whispering ‘sorry’ over and over again in your head as the nice ladies let you through.

When you close the door you immediately make your way to the mirror. Your reflection stares back at you, and with mussed hair and smudged lipstick you should be feeling ashamed.

All you feel is anticipation, though. For Andrei’s hands on your body, for his mouth to kiss all the spots he’s missed.

Several minutes go by and the knocks on the bathroom door become more frequent. You think he’s bailed on you - it certainly wouldn’t be the first time - but then you hear his voice outside.

“Da, yes, she’s in there,” A pause. “She’s my girlfriend, she needs me.”

Your breath catches in your throat, turning to face the door as he knocks and can hear his voice more clearly.

Yes, you do need him.

“Kisa,” He says, slightly muffled but you feel the effect he has on you is all the same. “I’m here. Let me in?” He’s almost begging, and you quickly unlock the door as he pushes through.

His smile is mischievous as he closes the door behind him. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” He purposefully raises his voice, shows faux concern and plays it up in case anyone is listening outside.

“You’re so dramatic,” You say, pulling him down to you by the collar of his shirt. Now that you’re alone you don’t bother pretending you don’t want him as much as you do. “Now shut up and kiss me.”

“Yes ma’am,” Andrei relents immediately, closing the distance between the two of you. Both his hands come up to the sides of your head to keep you in place, tilting you in whatever way he likes. His lips are just as soft as you remember, and your bodies move together like they were never apart.

He’s demanding as he begins pushing you back, crowding you against the tiny bathroom wall. His words from outside come back to you suddenly, and you break the kiss to catch a breath as his lips begin a trail across your cheeks. “Girlfriend?”

He doesn’t miss a beat. “I had to get them to let me through somehow.” It’s not what you want to hear but you lose the urge to fight him on it as he reaches your neck and begins sucking little hickeys onto the sensitive skin. Your head falls back with a sigh, uncaring of your hair catching whatever germs might lie on the wall.

You let Andrei do what he wants to your neck for a few moments, then when the urge to taste his lips comes again you grab the back of his hair and pull him up to you. He goes willingly, and you moan into his mouth as he continues to push back against you so hard you can feel his dick through his jeans.

He pulls back much too soon for your taste, and you try to follow but suddenly one of the hands holding your head comes down to wrap around your throat, restricting your breath as he pushes you back. You go to speak, but his other hand is leaving your face to unbutton his jeans one-handed.

You watch, eyes heavy-lidded. “‘Drei?” The weight on your neck is comfortable, so you don’t bother moving as he shoves the rest of his jeans along with his boxers down his thick thighs.

“You want to talk to other guys?” He starts with a bite. “Then you can remember the taste of my cock in your mouth while you do it.”

Your blood pressure skyrockets as the hand on your throat leaves to pull your hair back out of your face, grasps it like a rope, and pushes you down to your knees.

You’re at eye-level with his cock as it bobs in front of you, angry and swollen with beads of pre-cum leaking from the tip. He stares down at you expectantly, has to hold back a groan at your wide-eyed gaze looking so innocent.

As your lips wrap around his tip he’s reminded of the fact that no, you are not innocent. He made you that way. Fucked you like no man ever could. Ruined you for everyone but him. His feelings for you are complicated, but he does understand one thing…

Andrei doesn’t want you, not really. But he hates to think about you with somebody else.

Your tongue is masterful in its work as it swirls around his head, and once you get comfortable you begin going down. His head falls back and this time he doesn’t hold back his noises as your warm, wet mouth envelopes him.

“Missed this mouth,” He grunts as you suck. “Like it much better when you can’t speak.”

It’s insulting and degrading, yet it doesn’t fail to turn you on as you squirm and rub your thighs together in hopes it’ll give you the friction you need.

His hand in your hair soon starts pulling, sliding your mouth forward and back in increasing motions as he gets closer. He’s unabashedly groaning now, and you can see his abs clench when you suck a certain way.

Suddenly, you have the urge to have him fall apart before you. Maybe it’s revenge, wanting to see him lose control for you like you’ve done for him so many times; you tilt your head, using your tongue to stroke the sensitive underside of his cock and that has him jerking into you.

“Fuck,” He hisses. “Good girl. Just like that.” The praise goes directly to your clit, and you whimper as it throbs with no relief.

Despite being apart for almost a year, you still know what every twitch of his body means. You know he’s close because the hand in your hair is gripping you tighter, you can feel the steadily increasing tempo of his heartbeat through his pulsing cock, and his thighs are ever so slightly trembling underneath your hands.

You want him to come in your mouth. You don’t think you’ve ever wanted anything more; your efforts increase and you dig your nails into his skin to hear him hiss and as his thrusts pick up he starts hitting the back of your throat.

Internally thanking your lacking gag reflex, you don’t flinch as he picks up speed, now blatantly using your mouth for his own pleasure with little regard for your comfort. “Shit, baby,” He blurts, desperate. “I’m gonna cum.” You hum in response, the vibrations of the sound finally throwing him over the edge.

Andrei throws his head back for a final time, one long groan emulating from his unfairly sculpted chest as his cum hits the back of your throat. You’ve always loved the taste of him and this time is no different as you suck him deeper, not wanting to waste a drop.

He takes a few moments to collect himself and in that timeframe your ears slowly stop ringing and you come back to reality, finding that your knees ache from being pressed into the floor and there are loud voices coming from outside the bathroom door.

As you move to stand, he too seems to remember where you’re at and uses both arms to pull you the rest of the way until you’re back to standing. You swipe your hair out of your face as his thumb comes to your lip, wiping away a stray drop of his release.

Despite the post-orgasmic clarity, he looks at you with softness and something else swimming in his dark eyes. “You’re still good at that,” He states. “Been sucking anyone else off?” His words are quiet but every bit threatening as you note the possessiveness in his tone.

“No,” You gasp as his thumb pushes its way into your mouth. “Just you. Only you,”

“That’s right,” He says. “Just me. Only me.” Then he’s spinning you around, fingers remaining pressed into your mouth while the other trails up your spine until he’s gripping the back of your neck. “Hear them outside?” He asks.

The ‘them’ he’s referring to, you realize, are the voices outside the bathroom. They’re much louder now, a few knocks mixed in, and you wonder with slight panic how a manager hasn’t come to unlock the door yet.

“They sound very angry, don’t they?” That same hand on the back of your neck strokes your skin, slowly working its way down to your waistband. “So we better make it quick. Hands on the wall, kisa,”

You know the moment he pulls down your pants he’ll find you to be unabashedly soaking. Despite claiming to be in a hurry, he takes his time working open the button of your jeans, grazing the skin above your panties before ever so slowly sliding them down your legs.

“Andrei,” You hiss, impatient. “Hurry up!” As the hand in your mouth retreats, you realize you’re both needy and nervous, an overwhelming combination.

He only laughs. “Someone is needy,” He mocks, holding your hips in place when you try wiggling against him. “Patience.” Leaning into your ear he murmurs this, staying this way as he fully slides your jeans past your knees.

Andrei sneaks his hand in between your thighs, something resembling a growl rumbling from his chest when his fingers find your dripping folds, feeling how you throb for him. “Missed this pussy even more,” He breathes, lubricating his fingers with your slick before slowly circling your clit. Your arms shake from where they hold you up and it’s a battle to keep yourself from collapsing.

“You are just made for me, aren’t you?”

You’re so wet you practically suck him in as he guides his dick to your entrance, and he wastes no preamble as he pushes in. If he thought your mouth was heaven after so much time apart, the feeling of your pussy squeezing him in so deep doesn’t even compare. His hands are digging into your hips as he ruts into you fully with one thrust, panting as your warmth contracts around him.

“Still so fucking tight,” He marvels like he can’t believe it, like it’s a dream you feel even better than when he replays the memories of you on repeat. “You been waiting for me?” He’s not expecting a response as his rhythm picks up, finding a familiar pace for the both of you that has him swearing under his breath and you struggling not to shout your pleasure to the rooftops.

“God,” You cry out when the head of his cock directly hits your g-spot, your hips jerking up so hard you would have fallen if it weren’t for Andrei holding you up. “Fuck, Andrei, fuck, I’m gonna—”

Andrei laughs, a sound that would have been more menacing if he also wasn’t gasping for air. “Already?” He mocks. “I barely touched you, baby,”

You don’t have to touch me, it’s on the tip of your tongue waiting to be blurted out. You don’t have to touch me for me to be on my knees for you. The words are ready, but instead all that comes out is a moan and maybe that’s for the best because he probably wouldn’t respond as well as he does in your dreams.

He’s unaware of your internal dilemma as he leans over you, pressing his clothed chest to your back. “Gotta be fast,” He reminds you, as if you’d forgotten. “You ready?”

“No, I—I can’t,” Because you don’t want this to be over. You don’t want to cum because he’ll follow you right after and then when clarity hits he’ll leave you again and you’ll be back to square one.

“Yes, you can” He croons. “I’ve got you. Not gonna let anything happen to you, I’m right here.” You want to sob as one of his hands leaves your hip and finds the junction of your bodies, gentle fingers prodding your pussy spread-wide around him until he finds your clit and rubs.

Your body is trembling and you can’t tell if you’re trying to move towards him or away, but it doesn’t matter anyways because he has you trapped between the wall and his body and the unrelenting pace of his hips slamming into you.

You have a sudden urge to look him in the eyes before you come undone by his cock and his fingers, so you crane your head to the side and watch him watch you. His hair is damp from sweat at the corners of his hairline, his lips slightly open as he pants and you think you spot him lick his lips when he catches you staring. You go to say something but he swoops down, catching your mouth with his own and promptly shuts you up.

Andrei doesn’t relent in his motions despite the uncomfortable position, not letting you break from his lips by removing his hand at your hip and gripping your face to keep you right here. He owns you, at this point, mind, body, and soul as your lungs beg for breath while your clit throbs beneath his fingers and oh, oh, there it is and you’re gone—

You feel the rough pads of his fingers bullying your clit but you don’t really focus on it until now, how the calloused ridges carelessly sweep over you with no semblance of relief and only when you body abruptly freezes does he part from you, but only slightly, leaving a hair’s width of space between your lips. “Beautiful,” He says, under his breath so quietly you don’t hear him as your bones catch fire and your brain short-circuits.

Heat sears you from the inside-out and you do nothing but endure as Andrei rocks you through it. There’s tears of ecstasy streaming down your face, you’re sure of it now, and you think he’s wiping them from your cheeks but you can’t open your eyes enough to check.

It takes a few minutes, but once your heart stops racing you can hear your favorite voice swearing behind you and only then do you comprehend him still moving inside you, but before you can whine at the sensitivity he’s stilling with a long, drawn-out groan.

You don’t dare speak first, nor are you the first to move. The air around you is stagnant with tension as you rest your head on your arms, breathing deeply to catch your breath. What does this mean? You’re spiraling already and it’s only been minutes since your desperate fuck in this bathroom.

Eventually, Andrei moves first. He slides his softened dick from you with a hiss and you feel his cum trickling out without him there to keep it plugged in. Wrinkling your nose at the feeling of having to walk around with wet inner thighs now, you slowly stand up as his hands fall from your body. You slide your panties and jeans back up the rest of your legs, ignoring the uncomfortable sensitivity of being covered once again.

Neither of you speaks a word. You want to cry suddenly, and this time not from pleasure. “What did we just do?” You manage to choke out, your voice so hoarse you have to clear it. He’s clearly planning on just leaving without a word but you’re not going to let him.

You stare at him expectantly. He’s turned around so all you have in your view is his slide profile, clearly struggling with what to say as his jaw clenches tightly.

“Nothing,” He finally says, and he might as well just fucking stab you in the back. “We did nothing. You’re going to go back out there and pretend nothing happened because it didn’t.”

Oh, he makes you so angry. You can’t believe you’d forgotten that. “You’re serious?” You know he is but you don’t want to believe it.

Andrei meets your glassy eyes and you wish you could read him like he so easily can read you. He looks as conflicted as the day you walked out of his house for the last time, like he has so many words to say but refuses to let them fall from his lips. Just like then, you know this rendezvous means more to him than just a meaningless hookup.

If only he’d admit it…

He exhales a shaky breath as another loud knock disturbs you. “We need to go.” He dodges your question just like he dodges every issue in his life, especially in regards to you. “Come on, kisa.”

“You can’t just call me that, after—after this,” You hiss as he grabs your arm and pulls you towards the door. You panic on the inside as he unlocks it because once you leave this dirty sanctuary you know your problems will only get worse.

Strange, how Andrei manages to make everything worse despite making you feel so good.

As if your emotions don’t matter to him (they really don’t), he flashes you a grin as he drags you behind him, past the angry horde of people who, now that you think about it, definitely know you were fucking. “I know you like it.” Spoken so simply, so plain, you hate that he’s right.

You’ll always like it. Always love him. For as long as you’re hung up over him it will always come back to bite you in the ass and he knows this too.

It’s why, without shame, his arm is curled possessively around your waist as he leads you through the crowd of people. Your friends, Jack, don’t even cross your mind as he does so.

“Go find your friends,” He soon leans down to whisper in your ear. “Then find Jack. Tell him you felt sick and had to use the bathroom.”

“What if I don’t want to?” You snap, purposefully antagonizing him.

Andrei merely raises a brow at you. “You can always stay with me, with my cum dripping down your legs, and explain to everyone how you missed me so much you couldn’t stay away.”

You want to hit him. You almost do, but he continues before you actually go through with it.

“I wonder what Jack would say?” Of course he was listening to you earlier. He ignored you then, of course, but he listened.

And yeah, okay, you get it. Not a good idea to let everyone you know see you with him. He doesn’t want his friends to see him with you, either.

“Trying to get rid of me?” You ask, intending to sound sarcastic but it comes off as more insecure than you wanted it to.

You know he is, but you can’t help but ask for confirmation. Maybe it would help you move on to hear how little he actually cares for you.

“I don’t think I could get rid of you if I tried,” He replies. You can’t tell if he’s serious or not. “You’ll never get rid of me though.”

He’s right, again. You hate so much that he is because you both know you’ll be crawling back the moment he calls.

You want to cry again as his arm leaves your waist, the absence of his heat leaving you shivering.

Andrei looks at you for a long time, just appraising. He tilts his head like he doesn’t know what to think, but then he spots something behind you and starts backing up.

“I will see you again someday, kisa.” He winks at you, and then he’s gone.

Someone behind you taps your shoulder while speaking into your ear, a voice you recognize as one of the girls you came with. You should probably focus, banish Andrei from your mind, but you don’t.

You strain your neck, watching for him through the crowd. He’s back at the bar with his friends, his teammates you once knew.

He’s laughing at something one of them said. Like he wasn’t just with you, fucking you against the bathroom walls.

“Are you okay?” Your friend behind you asks, the one thing from her you do catch.

“Yeah,” You say, swallowing despite the dryness in your throat. Andrei is talking to more people now, girls that have approached him, you notice. “I’m fine.”

He looks gorgeous under the lights. You catch his brilliant smile, the glimmer of his eyes, and those lips you can never get enough of. You soon lose sight of him amidst the throng of people, but his fleeting allure forever lingers...

Like a steadfast reminder, a haunting echo of what can never be.

A/N: Well, that was fun. I hurt my own feelings writing this but it was worth it. I hope you guys enjoyed! Please remember to reblog & comment!!

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[goodnightoilcountry]

don't overthink when you could be loving me - sebastian aho

summary: Your inadvertent friendship with some of the Canes players was not something you advertized in your day-to-day life. But an evening of Friday night drinks changes that when you find yourself trapped in the same bar with your co-workers and one love-struck Sebastian Aho who’s determined to make it known that you’re spoken for… well, tentatively that is. 

word count: 6.2k

author's note: one month in the making and i'm not even convinced that this is of any quality. but if i don't put it out now, i never will. i'm going to do another proofread but don't worry, if there are going to be any edits, it'll just be fixing up typos / grammar.

tag list: @kashee-h

You won’t lie. You weren’t always the biggest believer in keeping your personal life and work life separate. 

Despite the numerous warnings about how “your colleagues are not your friends”, you couldn’t help but merge the two words into a synonymous figure. By this point in your life, you could probably ballpark that half of your closest friends were acquired from the various roles you were appointed. You’ve always felt like you’ve lucked out in that department. 

The moment when your luck seemed to wear out was at your very first grad role. 

With a newly minted finance degree in one hand and just about $50,000 in the other, the bar wasn’t set particularly high in terms of quality for a grad role. So when you received the congratulatory phone call from human resources, you didn’t care about the questionably low pay or how weirdly vague your interviewers were about overtime practices, you were just happy to finally have something substantial splashed across your resume. 

Your first month wasn’t anything to write home about. As expected, everyone was cordial, you were given grunt work, and you would routinely eat tune rice and veg for lunch - something that was weirdly unique to the corporate world. 

Where the comfort flipped was the night that the firm hosted its annual Thank You Dinner. What was announced as a company event hosted by the executives to say thank you to its employees for their efforts was actually disguised as a night of debauchery at the expense of the firm’s bottom line - but you didn’t know that yet. 

So when a passing comment about the Canes turns into a full-blown conversation piece at your table, your wine-induced lips couldn’t help but let something slip. 

It’s not like you ran around advertising the fact that you were family friends with Seth Jarvis growing up. But hockey culture was thriving in Raleigh and moments where a mention of the Canes wasn’t thrown into the mix rarely occurred. 

More often than not, you were happy to pass on any unused tickets that Seth had reserved in your name every year. Of course, generally, nobody questions where the tickets came from the first time around - free tickets are free tickets. But by the fourth round? Who would still believe that you just accidentally purchased lower-bowl seats not knowing you already had plans? 

You would eventually let up that maybe you were better acquainted with the Canes than on just a last-name and number basis. And the reactions that followed usually panned out the same way. You’d receive looks that crossed between amazement and disbelief, followed by thirty minutes of inquisitioning, and then the excitement of the news would eventually fade before moving on to something salacious that had happened earlier that week. 

But the news of your affiliation that night was volatile. 

Suddenly, your tickets weren’t viewed as a generous offering but rather as a right. People in different departments whom you had never met started taking you out for lunches with a casual mention of how they hadn’t ever been to a live game; your boss expected you to give them up for the sake of appeasing potential clients; girls would invite you out with the hopes of them showing up to wherever you were. 

You handed in your resignation six months later. 

So when you signed your letter of offer for your new role, you made a silent promise to yourself to keep that portion of your life separate. So, you distanced yourself. 

Seth had noticed. He had known that you would occasionally give up your tickets when you knew you weren’t able to make a game. But as more and more weeks had passed, he had maybe seen your seats filled twice: once by a few of your closest girlfriends and the other was when your parents had come to town for a long weekend. 

Outings with him and the team became infrequent as you declined to attend any sort of public event that would bear the risk of you being caught out by your new colleagues. And when you were eventually questioned why, you simply excused that your new job had you locked down. 

The second person to notice your increasing absence was Sebastian. 

Since Seth’s rookie days, you had been, on more than several occasions, his plus one to team events. And over the years, you had gotten to know some of the younger members who were able to keep up with Seth’s redbull-fueled energy. That included Sebastian. 

The first time you had actually properly spoken to him was at a Canes charity gala. Seth and KK had been swept into a conversation by a few board members, leaving you to quietly people-watch from your assigned seat. 

****

“Refill?” 

You turned to find Sebastian with an arm extended out; a glass of champagne delicately sat between his fingers. You returned a grateful smile as he sat down in Seth’s seat. 

“You manage to avoid the noise fest?” you lightly poked, looking over at Seth where Andrei and Jack were now caught. 

He let out a laugh and shook his head while looking down, “I’ve definitely done my fair share of the sucking up.”

“You didn’t feel like joining your boyfriend?” 

You choked on your drink as soon as the assumption left his mouth. You couldn’t help but begin laughing as you coughed up a response, “Oh my god, no. Seth and I grew up together back home. Our parents were close friends.” 

His cheeks flushed red at the revelation. 

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed because you’ve come to a few of these things with him before and you’re at our games a lot,” he tried to reason as he rubbed the back of his neck to ease the embarrassment. 

You shook your head with the same amused donned across your face, “he’s really never mentioned that we grew together as kids?”

“I’m sure he’s mentioned it but it’s hard to catch everything he says. He talks… a lot.” 

You couldn’t help but giggle at the blunt statement. 

You had found it easy to talk to Sebastian. The conversation flowed seamlessly, from the standard questioning of each other’s jobs to the shared ache of missing home. Before you knew it, Seth had returned with a sheepish look on his face; apologetic for his disappearance but not missing the flash of disappointment across his teammate’s face when you said goodnight. 

After that, the trajectory of your relationship with Sebastian had shifted into something more. Sure, you both became closer as friends, growing comfortable in the presence of one another. But as time went on you couldn’t help but feel like the line between you two would occasionally go hazy; blurring completely on a night out following a hard-fought win. 

****

Every summer that comes around reminds you of how incomprehensible the energy can be in Raleigh. 

The city came alive as holidayers passed through, the nights drew out longer, and the cool drinks were more than welcome from people who were looking to escape the heat. Which is how you found yourself sitting at a beer hall three blocks from your office in downtown Raleigh.  

Unsurprisingly, the bar was packed on a Friday evening and you could only expect it to ramp up even more when your eyes fell on the sight of a band setting up stage for the night. 

“Here, grab these first and I’ll bring over the rest.”

Maddy slides over 3 glasses to you and pulls out her card to start a tab for the table. You met Maddy on your first day when you were doing the round with HR. They had introduced her as your “office buddy”, to which Maddy later rolled her eyes at and reassured you that she wouldn’t be as micro-managing as they had made it out to be. 

She took you to lunch and gave you her version of the onboarding special which basically involved giving you the run down of who you didn’t want to piss off if you ever wanted to be promoted. 

It wasn’t long before you both became each other’s go-to person at work when things went to shit and sometimes the occasional debrief session at Thursday wines where she updated you about how her dating life was tracking. 

You pull together the glasses and place them into a firm grasp between your hands before turning around to make a beeline for the table with Maddy trailing behind you. There are a few familiar faces from your team and some that you don’t think you’ve ever met before but you know that Maddy is a big fan of getting into the good graces of other departments. 

Your phone screen lights up before you can even take a sip from the glass causing you to divert your attention. 

Last weekend before we’re due back for pre-season training. Come out with us tonight? - Jarvy 

You feel a pang of guilt with the sudden reminder that Seth just unintentionally gave you. 

Your MIA-ness had begun a month before the playoffs started. Granted you still followed every game from the comfort of your home, but your continued in-person absence did not go unnoticed. Even more so after the 4-0 Conference Finals loss to the Panthers, where Sebastian wanted nothing more than to feel the comfort of your presence to ease the heartbreak. 

Instead, he had to settle for an “I’m sorry.” text. 

And in your defence, you had tried to see him when they returned home but the timing was never quite right as Sebastian took off for Finland a few weeks later as a last-minute guest for his cousin’s wedding. 

You were able to catch Seth a handful of times before he also took flight: Winnipeg for home, Chicago for Lollapalooza, and Cabo with KK and Svech from the look of his Instagram stories. 

He waved away your apologies and said he understood that you were flat out with work and that he hoped you weren’t working yourself too hard. All you could do was return a meek smile and be thankful that he didn’t press about it further. 

Your fingers hovered over the keyboard, trying to rack your brain for an excuse that wouldn’t leave any room for further persuasion. 

Sorry :( feeling too run down from the week. Next time though! 

You take one more look at your phone as Seth sends you the ‘Boo, You Whore!’ gif from Mean Girls, causing you to crack a small smile. 

“Better offer somewhere else?” 

Your head snaps up and meets the eyes of one of the unfamiliar faces sitting across you. 

“I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Charlie, I just joined the legal counsel,” he offers with a smile. And it’s a pretty damn good smile too.

You’re quickly swept up into a conversation with Charlie. You learn that he recently relocated from Boston, he has a labrador named Ollie, and that he’s heard of a fantastic restaurant down the road that he’s been “dying” to check out with someone. That last part is followed with a mischievous glint in his eyes.  

He’s not bad-looking, you’ll give him that much. Maybe a year ago he would have been your type. But lately, you’ve seemed to turn away from the sharp jawlines and blue eyes, and instead look for softer and warmer features with maybe a small scar carved into the bottom of their lip...

Wait, what? 

You shake the thought out of your head and instead focus back on Charlie’s current story: some embarrassing run-in with your boss, on his first day. 

You’re shaking from laughter at this point, “No way! Did she say anything to you later on?” 

Charlie grins as he places his head in his hands, “Yeah, it was such a shame job. When I got my first official meeting with her, it was-” 

You watch him trail off as his eyes dart to look at you. No, not at you. Behind you? 

“Well, well, well. Feeling better, eh?” 

You recognize that shit-eating tone anywhere. 

“Oh Jesus Christ,” you mutter under your breath. You turn around and find Seth smirking down at you like he’s found a deer in the headlights. 

“Must have been a pretty quick recovery considering you were sick only two hours ago,” he derides, sliding into the empty spot next to you. You’ve only just realized that your whole table is now empty besides you and Charlie. A quick whip around tells you that they’ve all moved to the nearby pool tables. 

“Seth,” you say calmly, “what are you doing here?” 

“I told you. Last weekend before practice starts.” 

“Yeah, but you don’t even like it here. I’ve literally heard you call it the worst bar in the world,” you argue back.

Seth’s about to open his mouth for some quick retaliation but Charlie beats him to it. 

“You’re Seth Jarvis,” he says. The look he gives is nothing short of bewilderment as he puts together that Seth Jarvis knows you. 

“Hey man, how you doing? Always nice to meet a fan,” Seth nods with an outstretched hand to Charlie. 

Charlie slowly shakes his hand, still reeling in from the newfound piece of information he’s just learned. “Oh, well I’m from Boston so not exactly a fan of you.” 

Seriously? Who even says something like that? 

You refuse to meet Seth’s side eye in an attempt to dodge the embarrassment you feel from Charlie’s unwarranted dig. He’s unsure how to respond to the hostility but the moment of awkwardness is cleared by a second voice appearing. 

“Jarvy, Burnsie found a table outside - let’s go...”

Your head snaps towards the voice and you find Sebastian looking right back. He’s taken aback and stumbles on his words for a second but recomposes himself just as quickly. 

“Hey, where have you b-,” he begins to step forward but falters as his eyes properly assess the scene before him. You and Charlie. Together. Alone. 

“Oh. Are you in the middle of something?” he hesitates, flickering between you and Charlie; unsure of what to make of the situation. 

Your eyes widen slightly before clearing your throat, “Oh, um no. This is Charlie. He recently moved to our office from Boston.” 

God, you feel so small right now. Here you were, seeing Sebastian for the first time in months and you can’t even muster up the courage to properly say hello. 

“Well, we’re gonna go back to our table. Find us at some point, yeah?” 

Seth gives Charlie a final cautious look before he pats Sebastian on the back, guiding them both to a table on the veranda. 

The rest of your group comes flooding back to the table having witnessed the sight unfold from afar. If Charlie keeps his mouth shut, surely you can play it off as a lucky fan interaction?

“Holy shit! Do you know who they were? Tell me you do because I will seriously freak if you tell me you don’t know,” Maddy furiously whispers with wide eyes. 

“I don’t know, Maddy. Seemed like she’s more than well-acquainted by the look on Aho’s face,” Charlie said dryly, bringing a bottle to his lips with a raised eyebrow. 

You’re a bit taken aback by his insinuation. 

“Um, Seth and I grew up together back home,” you slowly let out, “it was just a coincidence that we both ended up in Raleigh.” 

“Wait, so you’re telling me that you’re friends with Seth Jarvis? Are you kidding me? You’ve only heard me talk about the Canes like a thousand times,” she gapes at you with an incredulous look. 

Here we go. 

The rest of your group wasn’t privy to your admission, being too caught up with the sight of the team being mere yards away from them. 

“Look, I don’t know. I just don’t like using his name like that. It makes me feel gross.” you sigh, rubbing your arms. 

“I’d just rather we drop it. Please?” 

You shoot her a look to which Maddy softens; understanding that the topic has hit a bit of a sore spot for you. 

“Okay yeah, of course. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.” 

The mass intrigue of the boys’ presence soon dies off as people slowly realize that they’re about as interesting to watch drinking as the next table is. Conversations resume back to normal and you try your best to feign interest but the knowledge that he’s the closest that you guys have been in months won’t leave you alone. 

So twenty more minutes pass by and you’re ready to throw in the towel. You’ve decided that you’ll deal with the situation another day - preferably when you can string together a proper sentence. After a quick goodbye and the promise of a home-safe text to Maddy, you gather your things and start making headway for the exit. 

The weakness in you can’t help but take one final look at Sebastian before you step out for the night but he’s beaten you to it. His eyes are already fixed on you with the same look you had become all too familiar with. 

****

Saturday night. Seth’s Birthday. Shut-out win over Vegas. No game scheduled until Wednesday. 

Individually, they’re considered lawfully good events. Combined? It’s as if someone was testing to see if Carolina even knew the definition of chaos. And when have they ever backed down from a challenge? 

You let out a huff of air as you fall back into the booth. You had finally managed to escape Seth and Jesperi from the dance floor. If there was ever a case to be made about the negative long-term effects of Redbull, those two were it. 

“Oh my god, how were you even out there for that long?” 

Martin’s girlfriend, Nykki, opens up her arm and lets you lean in. Her leather jacket is a cool contrast to your warm and flushed body. 

“Don’t let them take me again,” you whine as the ache in your feet comes flooding in. She giggles and affectionately pats your head. 

Your eyes skim over the crowd, taking count of where everyone was. Brady, Kuzy and Martin by the bar. Andrei, Jack and Pyotr occupied with a group of girls. Seth and Jesperi still unabashedly dancing but now sporting a pair of shades that you had a sneaky suspicion they found on the floor. As if your eyes knew before your brain, they’re scanning the room again to find what’s missing. 

“He stepped away to the bathroom.” 

Your eyes tear away from the crowd and you sit yourself up, pulling the closest drink to your lips to avoid the direction Nykki is heading.

“He was watching you all night, you know? Didn’t listen to a damn thing I said,” she nudges with a knowing smirk. You didn’t think it was possible for your face to heat up anymore. Your continued silence doesn’t deter Nykki though as she decides that she will get you to admit something that you’re not even sure you’re ready to admit to yourself. 

“Why are you both dancing around this? It’s obvious that he likes you. And maybe you won’t ever admit it to me but I can tell that you like him,” Nykki softens, acutely aware that Sebastian could return to the booth at any moment. 

“Do you…” you hesitate, swirling the remnants of your drink in the glass. “Do you ever feel like you’re too exposed sometimes?” 

She furrows her brows, “What do you mean?” 

“There’s this thing that happens, and maybe it’s not often but it happens, where people expect things just because of who you know.

And if it’s true for just simply being friends with Seth, will it be worse if you’re involved with them?” 

“A hockey player definitely wasn’t my first choice,” she says after a moment. “And maybe I wish I knew what it would have meant to be with him.” 

“But,” she quickly recovers, watching your expression fall, “I wouldn’t change anything. It’s not about the world that he can offer me like everyone thinks it is. It’s how he always shows up for me, even when he’s 3000 miles away. It’s those private moments that are enough to make me forget the world is watching us.”

You catch the glowing adoration that’s etched into her face when she gazes across the room, watching her boyfriend laughing with Brady. You’re so wrapped up in ruminating over Nykki’s words that you almost don’t feel the way the cushion sinks next to you. 

“Are you done with that?” 

Sebastian’s voice grounds you back to reality. “Oh, I am but I’ll get another soon.” 

Before you can stop him, he slides back out of the booth again and flags down a bartender. And Nykki doesn’t take a beat to do the same, “I think I’ll join the others,” sending you a small wink. 

Sebastian slides back in setting down three glasses, two for you and one for him. “I thought you’d want some water too. Jarvy didn’t look like he was going to let you leave at any point,” he offers with a smile. 

You let out a laugh and shake your head, “The trick is to run the second he turns his back. Trust me, works every time.” 

“Did you have fun tonight?”

“Me? What about you? 3 assists and a goal? Surely that’s what we’re really celebrating tonight,” you whistle as you twirl the straw between your fingers. 

You don’t miss the way he almost immediately shies up, turning away with the crack of a smile threatening to take over.

“I couldn’t have done it without the guys, they make all of it happen,” he notions. 

You roll your eyes immediately, “I forget how well media-trained you guys are sometimes.” 

“You should be able to enjoy your successes. It’s not about the other guys not being talented, it’s about being able to reflect on how far you’ve come. All of this is the culmination of your dedication, Sebastian. It’s important to remember that.” 

The silence he returns suddenly fills you with regret. Did you say too much? Was it even your place to say anything at all? You need to backpeddle. 

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have -” you sigh, pushing away your drink. 

“No,” he quickly cuts, “I guess I’ve just never thought about it like that. But it does feel good to hear it.” 

“I like having you at our games” he smiles. “You know you’re part of my warm-up routine?” 

“I am?” 

“Yeah, I play this little game where I try to spell people’s names as fast as I can with the puck. I tried yours once and we won, so I did it the next night and we won again. Now I do it every game to put a little luck into the ice.”

Fuck. His confession renders you speechless. If there were any more doubts about your feelings for Sebastian, they were well and truly effaced now. And suddenly you gain a partial understanding of what Nykki meant. For every game, whether you’re there or not, Sebastian carves a part of you into it. 

You swallow, giving yourself a moment to recollect. “I didn’t think that I was such a game changer,” you softly let out.

You’re not exactly sure when or how it happened but you notice the proximity between you two has significantly lessened. And the arm he has strewn behind you on the top cap suddenly feels misplaced - like they would feel more at home around you. 

And for a brief moment - between the silence you’re both too afraid to break - his eyes break away from yours and flick towards your lips.

He inches closer, “You are… everything.” 

Your breath hitches. Before you can even stop yourself, your hand rests against his neck, gently pulling him in and Sebastian is more than willing to follow. This is it. 

“Guys! KK said his friend can get us into this new club!” 

Your eyes close shut and your hand drops down Sebastian. An agitated sigh leaves him as he reluctantly pulls back. You both look at each other, still caught in the moment that’s now fleed at the sound of Seth’s voice. 

Seth shakes Sebastian, forcing him to break away from your gaze. 

“Did you hear me? KK’s calling us an Uber,” Seth bounces. Not a beat later, Nykki appears and attempts to forcefully pull him away. But it’s Seth. And of course, rightfully so, he wants two of his best friends to come with. 

You quickly down the rest of your drink and step out of the booth, not wanting to bask in the awkwardness any longer. As you step outside, the chill of the wind grounds you back into reality, and you instinctively wrap your hands around your arms. In the peripheral of your vision, you see Nykki rush towards you. 

“I’m so sorry. I tried to grab onto him but he just moved so quickly.” 

You return a small smile, “It’s fine. Really.” 

You link arms with her and she guides you to the Uber that Martin is standing by with the door open. As Nykki climbs in, you turn your head and find Sebastian watching. 

He almost looks hopeful that you’ll follow him. That you’ll both leave the mess of the group behind and find solitude someplace else.

But you don’t. 

Instead, you give a small shake of your head and follow Nykki, with Martin firmly closing the door behind you. 

****

In the years you’ve watched Seth play in Raleigh, you’ve never once seen a game from the suite before. 

But the Monday morning after your run-in with the group, you find yourself opening a calendar invite from your boss to the first home game of the season with a few key clients. So now, you’re perched by the glass, watching the spotlights dancing around the ice and the crowds of people getting settled in for the night. 

“You know we’re meant to be chatting up the clients, right?” 

Of course, Charlie managed to be invited too. 

“I still haven’t been able to swing by that new restaurant I was telling you about. Could be fun to check it out afterwards,” he says, looking out towards the rink. 

“Thanks, Charlie but I think I’m just going to head home the game’s done,” you respond dryly.

He cocks his head with a raised brow, “You know they organized a meet and greet after the game right? The whole reason why we’re here is because the CEO’s son is a huge fan.” 

You don’t love the way your body freezes up at the newly shared information. You appreciated that your friendship with the team hadn’t made it past Maddy and Charlie’s lips, but you weren’t confident that would stay the same after tonight. And that’s the only thing that runs through your mind through all three periods. You can barely converse with the clients as you’re half-distracted by the get-away plan that you’re attempting to draw out in your mind, and it leaves your boss shooting you looks of “get your shit together”. 

The horn sounds off as soon as the clock hits zero. It’s evident that you’re not getting out of this and the only prayer you have left is that the players who join you are the younger rookies who have little to no idea who you are. But you know the chances of that are slim to none. 

You try to push away the anxiousness by listening to a conversation between your boss, Charlie, and the client. 

“All I’m saying is that the reason Boston didn’t make it past the first round was because of how shit some of the calls were against them,” Charlie rambles, oblivious to the unimpressed faces. 

The door of the suite swings open and you find Jordan, Brady, and Sebastian filing in. They’ve all clearly come straight from the showers, still dripping droplets of water from their hair onto the floor. They make their way around the room and shake everyone’s hands, thanking them for their support. Brady is the first to spot you as he gives you a surprised look followed by a welcoming smile. But he reads the panic in your eyes and - being classically perceptive - nods in understanding. 

It doesn’t take another second to pass for Sebastian to register your appearance and amongst the earlier crowding, you’re only now able to fully take in the way he’s dressed. His compression shirt sculpts against him, with the soft lines of his muscles pressing against the fabric. Shorts barely hanging loose against his thighs. A backwards cap sported to tie it all off. It’s enough to make you want to break your silent promise. 

Your eyes can’t help but fixate on him the entire time they circulate with everyone in the room. And while Sebastian tries his damn hardest to remain polite and focus on the conversation at hand, he can’t help but flicker his eyes towards you, making sure you won’t disappear on him again. 

“Thank you so much for your time. We won’t keep you guys any longer, but best of luck with the season ahead. Bring one home for us, hey?” your boss beams. Everyone else has headed home, leaving just you and Charlie waiting for your boss to let you go. 

“Goodnight guys. I’ll see you Monday.” 

And with that, it’s just the five of you left in the suite with a few people on the Hurricanes team off to the side. 

“Well, we better get going if we want to make it to that restaurant,” Charlie says turning towards you. 

Sebastian tenses at this and you see the way Jordan and Brady shoot each other a look. 

“I said I’m going home, Charlie.” You’re shutting this down. 

“I’ll give you a lift then,” he presses. 

Before you can open your mouth to counteract, Sebastian interjects, “You’re not far off from my place, I’ll take you.” 

“Yes, please!”

You’d be embarrassed with how quick you are to jump at his offer if it weren’t for the fact that you so desperately wanted to avoid being confined in a car with Charlie. 

“Thanks bro, but we’ve got it from here.” 

“Actually, I don’t think you do, bro.” 

Charlie looks between you two. Growing annoyed at the situation, he grabs his coat and retreats out of the suit. “Whatever. See you Monday.” 

A sigh leaves your lips and you don’t realize how taut your body is until it eases under the feeling of Sebastian's hand on your shoulder. 

“You guys all good if we take off?” Brady asks, expectedly. Sebastian nods and you all bid goodnight. 

“I just have to grab my things but if you’re tired I can just come back for them tomorrow,” he offers, as Brady and Jordan make their way out. 

You shake your head, “I can hold on, you’re doing me the favour.” 

It doesn’t take long to get back to the locker room, and you can’t help but think about how good he looks when he emerges with his hockey bag hung over one shoulder and a garment bag thrown over the other. 

As you lean against the passenger door, waiting for him to throw his things into the boot, you can’t help but start to grow nervous at the realisation that Sebastian may want to talk about that night. But your nervousness is cut short by Sebastian moving in front of you with a small disc in his hand. 

A puck. 

He looks down at it, fiddling with it between his hands, “It’s from the warm-up. I thought you might like it.”

It’s the puck.  

Your mouth falls open slightly, as you gingerly take it, as if you’re afraid it’ll break if you handle it too hard. 

“I can’t believe you still do that,” you breathe, turning it over, feeling the ridges where the ice has chipped the edges. 

“Of course I do. It changes the game.” 

Your eyes dart up at his choice of words - he remembers. 

“Why did you stop seeing us?” he puts forward. 

You sigh and lean back against the car, turning your head away. 

“Was it because of that night at Jarvy’s birthday? Did you not want to…” he trails off. Even he’s not sure what that night was meant to be. 

“This world that you’re in Sebastian, I just don’t know if it’s for me.”

“I know that we’re away a lot but I-” 

“It’s not that,” you quickly cut off. He returns a confused look and you know, as his eyes search you for an answer, that you owe him this explanation. 

“Before you came back to the table, I was talking to Nykki about how difficult it can get to be involved with a hockey player.” 

“But you’re already involved with us? You were friends with Seth already” he presses.  

“And look where it got me last time. I was forced to leave a job after six months because all anyone cared about was being closer to the Canes than me,” you lamented. 

“I just don’t want to spend the rest of my life feeling like I’m second to the person I’m with; I want to feel equal to them. I want to know who is genuinely trying to be my friend. I want to exist outside of my relationship. I don’t want to have to hide in public because I’m scared to run into people from work.” 

You close your eyes, feeling exhausted by the flood of words leaving your mouth, and you half-expect Sebastian to get into his car and drive off. 

“I didn’t know.” 

You nod in understanding. How could you expect him to know? 

“I would never put you in a position where you wouldn’t feel safe,” he says softly.

“But if that’s what you really want, we can move on from everything. But I need you to know how I feel first.” His hand wraps around the side of your jaw and pulls your gaze towards him. 

“I wanted to know you the moment Seth pointed you out our game for the first time. And then we spoke at the charity gala and I only wanted to know you even more. And then you were around us more, and I got to know you beyond just being Seth’s friend. And what I know I know is that you’re smarter than you let on but you’re still kind. You’ve remained so grounded that you see me as more than just this job. You make me think more deeply than I ever have with anyone else and I don’t want to go back to a life before I had that.” 

You don’t know whether to cry or charge forward. Because after the endless rounds of almosts and what-ifs, you’ve finally caught each other. And the confessions that pour from his mouth left you knowing one thing for certain: you had both waited long enough.

And for the second time, you bring his neck down and finally close the gap between the two of you. Sebastian presses you against the car with his hand wrapping up to rest on the back of your neck, his lips deepening against yours. You never doubted it but his arms feel secure around you, afraid to let go and let the moment be over. 

But you pull away just long enough to let out a murmur, “Take me home, Sebastian” 

****

Six gruelling months pass by and you find yourself at a potential playoff-clinching game with your colleagues. 

Granted your relationship with Sebastian was still very much under wraps, but you had learned to navigate your feelings of discomfort towards the publicity of his job. Sebastian had accommodated your cautiousness. Careful to never spend too long in your section during a pre-game warm up. Made sure to drive around the quiet side of the arena to pick you up afterwards. He had never pushed you to do more than you needed to. 

But even though he’d never tell you, you know he’s quietly envious of the way the guys can openly skate with their partner at family skates. Or how they can sit and openly touch at company events. He had afforded you comfort at the expense of his wants. You wanted him to have more than this. And more importantly, you wanted to show him that you wanted more. 

So when the buzzer sounds off and the Canes skate away with another return to the Stanely Cup Playoffs, you can’t help but let go of the discontentment you have about being found out. So before you even know it, you find yourself moving towards the ice where Sebastian is wrapping up his post-game interview, ignoring the calls of Maddy asking where you’re going. 

And when you reach the board that separates you and your boyfriend, he doesn’t hesitate to skate over, collecting a puck from the equipment manager on the way. 

“Always nice to meet a fan,” he winks, offering his pre-game puck. 

You grin, pulling him forward by his jersey, “I appreciate it but I’ve gotta tell you that I’ve got a boyfriend.” 

His eyes melt at the sound of your public announcement and he catches your lips against his, “I love you so damn much.”

[misshoneyimhome]

「5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ FOLLOWERS CELEBRATION」

“So you think my legs are just going to magically spread open for you?" I Andrei Svechnikov 🌺 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

Summary; Andrei is keen on asking you out, but considering the typical traits of famous hockey players, you've made a mental note never to be swept off your feet by any of them.

Tropes & warnings; No warnings; reader's working for the Carolina Hurricanes; sort of friends-to-lovers; just fluff really

Other notes; Alrighty babes, so next up for the 500 followers celebration we've got none other than #37 Andrei S. 💓 Truth be told, I wanted to do something like an enemies-to-lovers thing, but I just couldn't with this sweetheart 😉 Still, I hope you like it

Word count; 1.9K

Taglist; @couldawouldashoulda50 @findapenny@justwanderingbutneverlost @cixrosie

・✶ ｡ﾟ

Another night. Another home game. Another round of work.

You had been working with the Carolina Hurricanes for a few years, and even though you were just an assistant helping with game preparations and clean-up, you felt like nothing less than a part of the hockey family. The players were always friendly, treating you like one of their own, and you simply enjoyed the camaraderie, the playful teasing, and the way they appreciated your hard work.

Some players had even grown closer to you than others, and one in particular stood out: Andrei Svechnikov. It wasn't just his skills on the ice but also how he seemed genuinely interested in you.

From the moment Andrei had seen your sweet smile, he’d been captivated. He admired how you handled your tasks with efficiency and grace, always ready with a kind word or a quick joke. And over time, his crush only grew stronger, yet he didn’t know how to make a move. So he just watched you from the corner of his eye, noticing all the little things: the way you bit your lip when you were focused, the way you laughed with your whole body, and the way your eyes sparkled when you were amused. All these small details only intensified his feelings.

And while not entirely knowing how to handle his own feelings, he, like many young guys on the team, resorted to occasional flirting, trying to get your attention without coming on too strong. He’d make sure to catch your eye during practice, offering a wink or a smile, and he’d find excuses to talk to you, asking for your help with something trivial just to hear your voice. Sometimes, he’d even leave small gifts in your work area – a protein bar, a coffee, a note with a silly drawing – always signed with a simple "A."

You, however, weren’t easily impressed. You knew the reputation hockey players had and had no intention of becoming another story in their dating history. You’d heard the tales of their exploits and the endless parade of girls vying for their attention, and you simply didn’t need to be another notch on anyone’s bedpost, least of all a professional athlete’s. Besides, you liked your job and didn’t want to complicate things with a messy romance.

Yet, despite your resolve, there was something about Andrei that intrigued you. Maybe it was the way he seemed genuinely kind and respectful, never pushing boundaries. Or perhaps it was how he listened when you talked, giving you his full attention as if you were the only person in the room. There were even moments when you caught yourself watching him, appreciating the way he moved, the determination in his eyes, the easy grace with which he handled himself both on and off the ice.

But  sill, you kept your guard up, distancing yourself with playful banter and cheeky remarks. Whenever he tried to flirt, you’d respond with a teasing comment, deflecting his advances with a laugh, as it was just easier that way, safer. You didn’t want to risk getting hurt, and you certainly didn’t want to become just another girl on his life.

Andrei, on the other hand, was determined to show you he wasn’t like the rest. He was so much more, and his feelings for you meant something to him. He respected your boundaries, never pushing too hard, and always making sure you were comfortable. His patience was unwavering, and his interest in you was steadfast, so he wanted to prove that he was different and that he cared for you in a way that went beyond superficial attraction.

And the challenge only made him more determined, as he found himself thinking about you more and more. How could he show you that he was serious, that he was genuinely interested in who you were, not just what you looked like? It was a question that kept him up at night, but one he was determined to answer. So, he continued his quiet pursuit, hoping that one day, you’d see him for who he truly was.

However, your defence mechanism didn’t make it easier for him. Your playful banter and cheeky remarks were a strategy that allowed you to maintain a comfortable distance. So when Andrei commented your work, it only made it more difficult for him to get past your walls. Every time he approached you with a compliment, you’d respond with a teasing, “Careful, Svechnikov, flattery may help with ladies out there, but in here, it will get you nowhere.” Even if he simply asked about your day, you’d throw in a cheeky, “Why, planning to steal my job?”

It wasn’t easy for Andrei to make a proper move on you, but as time went on, he kept his hopes high. He even practised a few English phrases that might help when the day finally came for him to ask you out.

And fortunately, that day wasn’t too far away.

_

One evening, as you were packing up equipment after a game, Andrei lingered nearby, as he’d often done before. The locker room was mostly empty, with the other players having already left or showered, and that’s when he gathered the courage to approach you, his usual confidence mingling with a hint of nervousness.

"Hey, need any help with that?" he offered, his accent colouring his words charmingly.

You looked up, slightly surprised that he hadn’t left like everyone else. "Oh, Andrei, you don’t have to do that. I’m almost done anyway." You flashed him a soft smile.

He couldn’t help but smile in return, leaning against the doorway. "I don’t mind. Besides, I wanted to talk to you."

And that made you raise an eyebrow, your curiosity piqued. "Oh? What about?"

Andrei hesitated for a moment before gently stepping closer to you, leaving only about a metre and a half between you. "I was wondering if you’d like to go out sometime. Just us. Maybe dinner?"

You chuckled, shaking your head slightly. "Why?"

It wasn’t an immediate no, he thought to himself, though he felt a slight disappointment when you questioned his intentions.

"So we could spend some time alone together," he emphasised, trying to flash a confident smirk, hiding any hints of nervousness.

However, that only made you think one thing.

"What... is this a bet or something? You ask me out on a date, and you think my legs are just going to magically spread open for you?" You grinned slightly, convinced that the other boys had set him up to it or something.

Andrei's face immediately turned bright red, clearly taken aback by your bluntness. "No, no! That’s not what I meant at all. I just... I really like you y/n, and I want to get to know you better. I’m not like what people say about hockey players. I promise."

You studied his face for a moment, trying to see any hints of falseness or sincerity in his eyes. And so, for a moment, you let your guard down, sensing he might actually be different. "Hmm… Alright, Andrei. One dinner. But if you try anything, you’ll be back to carrying your own gear. Got it?"

He couldn’t help but smile, a sense of relief washing over him. "Got it. I’ll be on my best behaviour."

And as you finished packing up, Andrei helped, and the two of you exchanged playful banter. Maybe, just maybe, he was worth giving a chance.

---

The next day, you found yourself thinking about the upcoming dinner more than you’d like to admit. You replayed the conversation in your mind: the way his eyes lit up when you agreed, the genuine relief in his smile. And it was enough to make you wonder if perhaps you had been too quick to judge him.

And when the evening finally arrived, Andrei gallantly picked you up, looking more nervous than you had ever seen him.

“Wow, you look… krasivaya…” he muttered under his breath as his English failed him.

“Thanks,” you smiled softly, tucking a piece of hair behind your ear as you felt your cheeks blush slightly at his compliment. “You look quite good yourself.”

Standing there in the outfit you’d chosen for the night, it seemed that everything was suddenly changing, feeling more soft and romantic compared to the friendly banter you’d been playing at for months, if not years. Similarly, Andrei had chosen to dress up, trading his usual team gear for a smart, casual outfit that suited him well. 

And aware of your fondness for casual dinners, the restaurant he had chosen was a cosy Italian place, far from the glitzy spots the players usually frequented. It was intimate, with soft lighting and a warm atmosphere that quickly put you both at ease.

Throughout the evening, you found yourself enjoying his company more than you expected. The conversation flowed easily, and you discovered sides of Andrei you hadn’t seen before. And as the night went on, you realised that maybe, just maybe, you had been too quick to judge. Andrei was different from the image you had of a typical hockey player, and you couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope that this could actually be the start of something special.

Throughout dinner, he was nothing but attentive, asking questions and genuinely listening to your answers. He shared stories from his childhood in Russia, his journey to the NHL, and the challenges he faced along the way. In turn, you found yourself opening up more than you expected, sharing your own dreams and fears. 

So when the evening slowly drew to a close, Andrei naturally walked you back to your place. And as often happens in situations like this, there was a moment of hesitation at your door, both of you lingering, not quite ready to say goodbye.

“I had a really good time tonight,” you admitted, surprising yourself with the honesty in your voice. Your eyes were locked on his, a new form of intimacy connecting you both as you’d enjoyed the evening more than you’d expected, just the two of you and away from hockey.

“So did I,” Andrei replied, his eyes softening as he looked at you. He couldn’t help but feel the intensity of the pull he felt towards you, yet he also reminded himself to be patient and, as he’d promised, be on his best behaviour. So, he restrained himself, settling to only imagine what it’d feel like having your lips against his. Instead, he took a deep breath before continuing, “I meant what I said, you know. I like you and want to get to know you better. I’m not like what people say about hockey players—at least, I try not to be.”

You couldn’t suppress a timid smile, feeling a warmth spread through you. “I’m starting to believe that.”

It was the truth. The evening with Andrei had been nothing short of amazing, and the more you got to know him, the more you started to trust his intentions. And just like that, as if drawn by a magnetic pull, you slowly and very gently leaned in towards him, closing the small gap between you as you let your lips delicately touch his.

It was brief, almost innocent, as you shared this sweet, intimate moment. And as you then slowly pulled back, you couldn’t help but bite your lip, mentally hoping that next time, he wouldn’t be on his best behaviour.

[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."

-

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[senditcolton]

I Hope I Never Lose You

song inspo: random instrumentals (although this is the music for the dance scene) word count: 4.5k warnings: none, just pure romance

a/n: what started as a response to a request - a request not even directed at me specifically - has turned into an entire storyline and universe that i have completely fallen in love with. so, tiff (@smileysvech), thank you for planting the concept of Prince Andrei into my head. and a very happy birthday. 👑💙

In all the months of your investiture, the castle had never felt this alive. Usually, a ball brought in a large amount of excitement – the promise of music, food, and dancing, all which made for a palpable atmosphere. But this evening was different.

Although, if one took into consideration the fact that Carolyna’s eldest prince had returned from his year-long voyage at sea, the enthusiasm that seemed to bleed from the palace walls was completely understandable.

You had spent most of your day dodging other servants running down the hallways, arms filled with bundles cloth napkins and boxes of candles. Part of you was thankful that you were not requested to paint during the ball itself, the new portrait of Prince Evgeny deemed enough. You told yourself that you more than content to stay in your bedchambers all night sketching or reading.

However, there was a slight longing to be in attendance. To be able to see the ballroom aglow with golden candlelight, the swirl of color from the ballgowns, and feel the joy radiating from the guests at the return of their Prince.

You also wanted to see Andrei’s face when he was reunited with his brother. If you had been charged with painting anything that night, that was the moment that you would’ve captured.

Wiping your paint-stained hands off on the cloth hanging from the easel, you glance at the clock. The doors had just opened for the ball – you could hear the chatter of guests and the distant sound of trumpets wafting down the halls, sneaking into your enclosed studio. You sigh, taking in your current work in progress, debating whether you should stay here for the night or come back later.

Eventually, you decide leaving was the best option: go back to your bedchamber for a nap and some food before returning. Maybe later, when the ball is in full swing and hectic, Andrei could sneak away and visit you. It is a hope that you know is far-fetched, at least for tonight. Andrei loved and missed his brother more than anything. He wouldn’t leave in the middle of the celebration thrown specifically for Evgeny.

Still, one could dream.

As you sneak down the halls, avoiding the arrival of the guests, your mind toys with the fantasy of Andrei slipping through your studio door. He would look so handsome in his regalia, the medals hanging from his chest.

You wish that you could see him tonight.

That is the dream you hold onto as you push through the doors to the servants’ quarters – a dream that is quickly interrupted by a shriek of your name falling from the lips of one of your closest friends. You barely have a chance to turn around before Svetlana is barging into you, her calloused fingers digging into your upper arms.

“You are never going to believe this,” the younger girl yells, pulling you through the common area towards your bedchamber, despite your attempts to reign her in.

“Lana, slow down. What is going on?”

“You’ll see,” she replies, continuing to drag you down the hallway. A few curious glances are tossed in your direction as well as jealous looks cast at you from some of the other girls. You are uncertain where their anger is coming and why it is directed at you from until Svetlana stops in front of your room.

“Look!” she declares, swinging your door open and your jaw drops when you see the embroidered fabric laying on your bed.

You walk in, your eyes dancing over the ballgown splayed over the sheets. It is beautiful; the stark white contrasting beautifully with the velvet overlay, shimmering in your favorite color. The metallic floral embroidery dances across the fabric, trailing up from the trim of the skirt and the long sleeves to transform into a full garden on the bodice.

“I mean, I was helping the master seamstress embroider those flowers but I honestly thought this was for the Queen or one of the other ladies of the court but it was made for you?! That’s insane! The Prince’s personal guard dropped it off earlier today and I had to, like, stand watch outside your door to stop the other girls for obvious reasons and - ”

“Wait,” you say, interrupting Lana’s ranting. “The Prince’s personal guard?”

“Yeah! What’s his name?” Lana says, her eyebrows furrowing. “Pasha? Petrov?”

“Pyotr,” you whisper, your hands running over the gown’s material.

“Pyotr! That’s it.” Lana says, walking over to stand behind you. “Why did you get a dress?”

“I guess my attendance is wanted at the ball.”

“But you’re clearly not painting. Or at least you shouldn’t be in a gown this fine.”

“I don’t know,” you say, the words not a total lie. The information that Pytor delivered this stunning gown had you guessing that it was Andrei extended the invitation. But that was still merely a hunch. “Perhaps they want to have me there when Prince Evgeny’s portrait is presented.”

“Well, maybe I should’ve gotten into painting instead of sewing,” Lana teases as she playfully jostles your shoulder. Your eyes finally tear away from the gown, meeting with her sparkling hazel ones.

“Can you help me put it on?”

“Of course! We have to be fast; the ball has already started!”

Lana flies into a flurry, locking the door and turning to you. Her voice is a comforting metronome and you follow her instructions as she helps you into the dress. You are thankful she was there; not just because she was a seamstress and knew how to properly lace you into the gown but because her excited buzzing made the storm of anxiety in your mind quiet.

This had to be a dream, one that you were surely going to wake from at any moment. Your job as a painter was to be out of sight. The only knowledge of your existence to anyone outside of the royal family and the other servants were the painted canvases hanging on the castle walls. But now, here you were, wearing a gown that you couldn’t hope to possess even in your wildest fantasies.

Once you were fully dressed, Lana moves to your hair, retying it into a more elegant updo than the pulled back hairstyle it was placed in earlier. She doesn’t stop there, adding a tiny pat of butter to your face, smoothing your eyebrows and moisturizing your skin. She even manages to paint a bit of color onto your cheeks and lips with a piece of beetroot.

“You’re lucky that it was beets instead of radishes tonight,” she teases with a wink.

“Thank you, Lana. I could’ve never done this without you.”

“Well, maybe you could tell the royal family that the seamstresses should get an invite too. Considering their finery wouldn’t exist without us,” she quips as she smears the honey onto your lips, the gloss reflecting the light from the small candle on your bedside table.

“I’ll make sure to pass on the message,” you reply, your tone light but the words sincere. Lana didn’t know that you had the ear of the Crown Prince, one of the few men who could make that happen.

“You better,” she grins, stepping away. Her eyes rove over your face and body, admiring her handiwork before turning to look at you fully. “Perfect. You look absolutely beautiful.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you do. You’ll be the belle of the ball. All the other maidens will burn with jealousy. Trust me.”   

“I kind of have to considering we have no mirrors.”

“Would I ever steer you wrong?” Lana laughs, extending her hand to help lift you off the bed. “Now, come on! We’ve got to get you to the ballroom quick, before the entire party is over.”

You are ushered you out of your personal quarters and through the common room, Svetlana trailing behind you, holding up the hem your skirt to not sully the fine material. Her vocal haste pushes you to quickly jog down the halls towards the ballroom, your combined giggles bouncing off the vaulted ceilings. You finally stop at the closed double doors, the chatter of guests and the faint strains of music just on the other side. A deep breath rushes through you as you stare at the oak, your heartrate increasing.

“I still don’t understand. I’m just a painter,” you whisper but the words echo off the quiet hallways onto Lana’s ears. She finishes laying out your skirt before moving to stand next to you, gently taking a hold of your hand and squeezing.

“And yet, here you are in a beautiful gown about to enter a ball at the express invitation of the palace,” she says, her own voice dreamy. “Enjoy it.”

There is no hesitance as you turn to Lana, throwing your arms around her and pulling her into a hug. A whispered thank you is the last words you exchange before she is disappearing back down the hallways and out of sight. You take one last deep breath, steeling yourself before you knock gently on the door.

With an ease and elegance that has you momentarily faltering, the door swings open. You slowly walk over the threshold, your eyes dancing over the crowd. A few curious eyes are directed your way, drawn by the movement, but you simply breathe, walking down the first flight of steps to the landing of the grand staircase. Standing there is Dmitry, the royal caller and you catch his eye. He smiles at you before clearing his throat, his resounding voice pulling the remaining guest’s attention as he announces your presence.

You look towards the King and Queen, sitting on the raised dais and extend them a deep curtsy before rising, meeting Queen Elena smile with your own before turning your attention to the crowd. Your eyes scan over the sea of faces until they meet the dark brown irises that you were searching for.

Andrei is standing there, in his royal blue regalia, looking as handsome as you had imagined him. And he is looking at you like you hung the very stars in the sky.

The heat rises in your cheeks under his heavy stare, your head ducking down as you descend the remaining stairs. You weave through the crowd, feeling the eyes on you and hearing the hushed whispers of other guests. But you find that the attention slips off you, like water off a duck’s wing. Your mind is only on Andrei. It seems as if his mind is on you as well because in what feels like mere moments, he is there standing in front of you.

“Your Radiance,” you say, curtsying to him.

“My lady,” he replies, returning your curtsy with a bow. There is a brief moment of silence between the two of you, where you just look at each other. “I see you got my invitation,” he whispers softly for only you to hear.

“It wasn’t your most subtle work,” you tease, a small smile playing on your lips. It is a smile that Andrei returns before clearing his throat, his posture straightening as he speaks.

“Come. There is someone I want you to meet.”

He extends his arm to you, an invitation that you gladly take before he is guiding you across the marble floor. You try to remain confident even though the stares have increased due to your presence on the prince’s arm. Andrei seems unaffected, pushing through the crowd with an ease that was proffered to him as the Crown Prince. He doesn’t halt your journey until he has stopped in front of another gentleman wearing the greys and greens of the Carolyna naval uniform.

“This is Prince Evgeny Svechnikov. My brother,” Andrei says, before offering your name and title to Evgeny.

“An honor to meet you, Your Radiance,” you say, extending Evgeny another deep curtsy. He takes your hand, placing a small kiss on your knuckles before meeting your eye with a small grin.

“It’s just Your Honor now,” Evgeny explains, his teasing grin jumping back to Andrei. “I’m not a prince, simply a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Drei knows this but likes to pretend I didn’t abdicate.”

“You’re still a Prince of Carolyna, whether or not you have the official title,” Andrei quips back, jostling his brother on the shoulder.

“Regardless, it is still a pleasure to meet you,” you say, your voice still formal. “I hope your time at sea wasn’t too difficult.”

“A lot of fresh air and plenty of time to think. Easier being in the Navy when your country is at peace,” he replies. “So, you are the royal portrait artist that Andrei has filled pages of letters with.”

“I suppose so,” you stutter, looking back at Andrei with a raised eyebrow. The flush on his cheeks surprises you at first but soon his embarrassment relaxes you, the urge to tease him goading you on. “Pages, you say?”

“Oh yes. Every time the ship made port, there was a letter waiting for me filled with praise about the new painter that was teaching my brother to get in touch with his creative side. I must admire your tenacity, seeing as the Drei I know gets frustrated when he doesn’t perfect a skill in the first attempt.”

Evgeny’s lighthearted quips makes you relax, the smile on your lips growing wider.

“He’s been doing better. Has only broken three brushes in frustration this past week.”

The laughter that falls from Evgeny’s lips is similar to Andrei’s yet unique in its own right, filling the air as he claps his brother on the back of the shoulder. Your own giggle follows as you see Andrei’s blush deepen, his head shaking.

“Why must you turn everything into a joke at my expense, Geno?” he asks, the loving tone betraying the anger the words could portray.

“Because it’s so easy to get you riled, little brother,” Evgeny replies, playfully wresting Andrei under his arm, mussing his slicked back hair. Andrei manages to wriggle his way free, his hands smoothing his uniform and pushing back his hair before politely nodding to the few guests who took an interest in the brief commotion. It is only when their eyes turn away does Andrei jab his elbow into his brother’s side as a small payback.

There is an indescribable feeling in your chest as you watch Andrei interact with his brother. It was abundantly clear how much he loved Evgeny. His smile seemed brighter, his laughter came easier, and it felt as if he was more settled into his own body.

The conversation between the three of your flows, various topics flitting in and out like the moths in the garden. A glass of champagne had been placed in your hand and was refilled more times than you cared to admit. It felt like hours of talking before Andrei was summoned away to perform his other princely duties, mingling and brushing elbows with other dignitaries. His departure leaves you and Geno alone on the side of the ballroom. Your body turns to face the crowd, eyes taking in the couples dancing, the beautiful music lifting over the noise of the crowd. You take a sip of your champagne, a pleasant buzz running through your body.

“So,” Evgeny speaks, breaking the silence. “How long have you and Drei been in love?”

The unexpected question has you choking on the sparkling liquid, your glass quickly pulled away from your lips as you compose yourself. Once you’ve gotten a hold of your bearings, you look towards Evgeny who is smirking down at you, his own champagne flute pressed to his lips, an eyebrow quirked as if waiting for an answer.

Your eyes quickly dart around the ballroom, making sure that there was no prying attention on the conversation you shared with the eldest prince. In a room full of eyes and ears, keeping the secret of your and Andrei’s relationship was paramount. Once you were satisfied, you shoot a quick glance back to Evgeny before keeping your attention forward to not arouse suspicions.

“Did Andrei tell you?” you ask, the prior mention of you being the starring subject in Andrei’s numerous letters filling your mind.

“No, he never said a word,” Evgeny replies. “But I know my brother. The way he looks at you… it’s more than just simple admiration for the painter who is giving him lessons.”

You could blame the alcohol for the warmth that radiates from your chest down to your toes. But if you did, it would be a lie. It is Evgeny’s words, his quiet assurance that Andrei is telling the truth when he says that he loves you. That confirmation coming from someone who knows Andrei best and could figure out your shared secret within only a few minutes of meeting you sets off a blaze in your heart. You breathe deeply, reigning in your emotions as you look out across the ballroom. Your eyes easily find Andrei, his blue uniform stark against a sea of red, white, and black gowns and suits. He is conversing with what appears to be other generals, his stature strong and regal.

“May I ask you a question, Prince Evgeny,” you inquire, turning your attention back to his brother.

“Please, you can call me Geno,” he replies, that easy smile on his face. “And yes, of course.”

“Why did you abdicate? You’re the eldest son of the King so the Crown was yours by right. Why give it up?”

“To be honest, I was never very good at it. Bureaucracy,” Evgeny laughs. “Plus, it never appealed to me: sitting in rooms filled with papers, giving commands to people I never met, having every self-interested bastard whispering their ideas in my ear and having to sift through the shit to find what best served the country. I much prefer the Navy where I know and trust the men by my side, where I can feel the work I’m doing, knowing for certain that my actions are helping the country I love.”

You let his words sink in, your eyes trailing back to Andrei. The way Evgeny describes the role of King weighs on you, the pressure of such a demanding job feeding your concern for the man you loved.

“I wouldn’t worry about Drei though,” Evgeny continues as if he can sense your apprehension. “He’s everything I’m not: driven but not demanding, loyal but not blindly so, commanding while still remaining respectful. That’s a rare combination of qualities to have. Plus, he’s devoted to the people of Carolyna. I know that he will always have their best interests at heart.”

Your heart swells again at the description Evgeny gives to his brother, the pride in his voice clear. Your eyes stayed locked onto Andrei, watching as he concludes his conversation before turning his own gaze around the room. It seems instantaneous, the way they lock onto yours and your heart pounds as he starts to make his way back to you.

“Andrei loves the people,” Evgeny’s voice sounds again. There is a brief pause, your eyes still locked onto Andrei’s. You slightly jump when you feel Evgeny’s warm breath next to your ear, his words hushed and he whispers to you. “He loves you. And if there is one thing I know for certain about my brother, it is that he fights for those he loves.”

Your head turns quickly, looking back towards Evgeny, that now familiar grin on his face. He takes your hand, bowing as he places a polite kiss on your knuckles. An instant later, he is gone, vanishing into the crowd around you. You turn your head back, only to come face to face with Andrei. He shoots you that crooked grin before glancing around, no doubt looking for his brother.

“What was Geno whispering to you about?” he asks. “Talking about me again?”

“Only good things, I promise,” you reply, keeping your voice light and teasing as to not betray the emotions brought on by Evgeny’s hushed declaration.

“Lucky I trust you,” Andrei says, his smile never leaving his lips.

You simply return the smile, your head ducking down in shyness under the weight of his gaze. Around you, you can hear the music slowing, reaching its soft crescendo before the guests applaud. Your eyes glance up again, connecting to Andrei’s gaze once more. He has an indecipherable look on his face, as if he was having an internal debate with himself.

The feeling of his hand on yours startles you, but you allow him to gently remove the glass from your grip, placing it on the tray of one of the passing servers before returning his attention to you. Andrei extends his hand, his palm upwards.

“Dance with me.”

The words are a gentle demand, tinged with hope. You want to keep staring in his eyes but the weight of others looks tugs at your focus, your own eyes darting around the room filled with high-ranking individuals and many an eligible maiden.

“I don’t think we should,” you whisper, your gaze turning back to him.

You wish you didn’t notice the hurt flicker across Andrei’s face at your response. His hand curls in on itself before disappearing behind his back, a sigh lifting his shoulders. Andrei gives you a polite bow – a silent agreement – and you can tell that he is about to turn away.

“But perhaps,” you speak again, stopping him in his tracks and pulling his gaze back to you. “Perhaps I was lost. Confused. Maybe had a few too many drinks.”

Andrei’s laugh rumbles through his chest at your words, a laugh that you share before looking up at him, your eyes wide and earnest.

“And perhaps you were a gentleman and saved me before I made a fool of myself. Made sure I was alright.”

The smile that Andrei gives you is intoxicating, his eyes shining with the same desire that was surely reflected in yours. His hand extends again and this time, your reaches out towards him. There is still a brief hesitancy, made clear by the pause and slight curl of your fingers. But is a miniscule moment, one that passes when you find that last sliver of courage and slip your hand into his. Andrei’s fingers close around yours, his thumb brushing over your knuckles as a silent comfort before he leads you out onto the dance floor.

The candlelight reflects off the embroidery on your gown as Andrei pulls you to the center of the marble floor, spinning you to face him, the velvet hem brushing against the stone. He reaches out, placing his free hand on the small of your back and you follow his lead, your own hand landing delicately on his bicep, feeling the strength of the muscle underneath the fabric. A gasp escapes you as he pulls you closer to him, your bodies almost touching. You can’t stop the way your eyes bounce around the ballroom, the stares of the other guests now impossible to ignore.

“Everyone is looking at us,” you whisper, feeling the heat race up the back of your neck, your heart fluttering in your chest like a newly captured bird.

“Just keep your eyes on me,” Andrei murmurs.

You are helpless to follow his directions, your gaze jumping up to lock with his. The instant they connect, your heartbeat stills. Andrei is staring at you with pure devotion and admiration. It was as if you were the finest painting in any gallery, like you were the most beautiful sculpture in the world.

In his eyes, you were no longer the artist. You were beauty animated. You were art itself.

“Just me,” he says again.

You swallow back the tidal wave of emotions that threaten to spill over, blinking before giving Andrei a subtle nod of your head and offering him a timid smile.

Andrei’s chest lifts in a deep breath, an action you copy before relaxing into his hold. You can hear the music begin and it is another moment before Andrei starts to move. It is slow, measured, and you just keep your gaze aligned with Andrei’s as he leads you around the dance floor, falling into the ebb and flow of the melody bouncing off the candelabras above you.

The two of you continue to dance, your dress flowing around you as Andrei keeps you secure in his hold. The curious and somewhat judgmental stares that you were previously acutely aware of fade away the longer you are in Andrei’s grasp. Soon, it feels as if the two of you are alone in the ballroom.

“I love you,” Andrei whispers. The declaration cuts through you, piercing you deep. “I know that we aren’t supposed to be together; by law or rule or general propriety. But I don’t care. I will not give up on you. On us.” He sighs, his eyes softening with melancholy. “That is, not unless you tell me to.”

“Never,” you say, your grip tightening on him as you step closer, close enough to feel his breath fanning across your cheeks. He smiles, your own fierce promise fueling his words.

“You are the love of my life,” he vows. “And I know that if I ever had to live without you – if our connection was severed by distance or by time, my heart would shatter, never to be mended again.”

Andrei’s words have captured you, enveloping you in his pure love and devotion. You are acutely aware of the warmth of his hand in yours, the feeling of his hand slowly rising from the small of your back. His fingertips gently brush against the bare skin between your shoulder blades, pushing a gasp from you at the sparks that his touch brings.

“At least, not until you returned to me,” Andrei murmurs, those dark brown irises staring into your very soul, reading you plain and leaving you bare. “That is what our love is: eternal.”

“Timeless,” you reply, a smile tugging at the corner of your mouth, one which Andrei returns.

“Yes. Timeless.”

His fingers dance over your exposed skin once more before his hands fall away from you. The departure of his touch throws you back to the present moment, the cacophony of applause from the guests hitting your eardrums. Andrei bows to you, your hand still in his. You follow suit, bending in a deep curtsy before lifting yourself slowly, looking back to him.

You find that his gaze is already glued to your frame and you watch with breathless anticipation as he brings your hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss onto your hand. Directly over the spot where the makeshift ring he gifted to you all those months ago sat.

A subtle indication of the promise that he made to you, one that he intended to keep. The promise of a love that was enduring, constant, unending.

A love that would last forever. 

taglist (join here!): @tkachvkmatthew @m00nlightdelights @cixrosie

[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.

[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

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(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.