Ali woke up the next morning when she felt the contrast of stubble and softness on her mouth. It took her a second for her mouth to catch up. James guided her face over the pillow so that she was facing him, giving him better access to her.

“Morning” he said, kissing her again.

“Morning.” Ali wanted more. James read her mind and kissed her a little more deeply. And this is why I pouted. She smiled as their lips moved with one another, their touch warming each other’s bodies.

Ali lifted her mouth from his momentarily. “When we’re married, can we wake up like this every day?”

“Why wait?” James grinned at her.

“I like your style, Neal.”

Sometimes it was just fun to make out. Nothing needed to progress (not that either would object if it did), but both enjoyed making out like teenagers with one another. James had such a strong kiss, even when he wasn’t putting any oomph into it. Ali complimented his style by challenging that strength with her own. It made for one damn fun make out session whenever they went at it.

“Your mouth.” Ali shook her head. “NHL stars shouldn’t have a mouth like you do.”

James chuckled. “And why not?”

“Well…normally there’s half as many teeth and twice as many busted lips.” Ali loved to tease him just to see the face that he was currently making.

“Hey! Leave my friends alone!”

“I didn’t say anything!”

They looked at one another with smirks on their faces.

“Just kiss me again, please.”

James did. He would never, ever, ever get enough of Ali’s perfect lips and every amazing thing they did to every part of his body. She was turning him on and wasn’t even trying, and that turned him on even further. When he woke her up by kissing her, he had no intentions of it going anywhere…but he was getting closer and closer to forgetting that intention.

“When’s your skate?” Ali whispered between breaths.

“An hour.”

She smiled at him. “Shower?” James made a face like he really had to think it over, which made her giggle.

He lifted her from the bed, his mouth locking onto hers once more. Effortlessly they moved over to the master bathroom where James purposely lifted Ali onto the free space between each of their sinks. Standing between her legs, spreading them wide, he took Ali’s face in his and deepened their kiss even further.

Ali was excited. Her head swam with those pre-sex sparks she always felt in anticipation of getting to fuck James. This was one thing she hoped to never take for granted, because she knew how lucky she was. The married guys on the team could chirp James all they wanted; Ali wasn’t about to get married and then turn the faucet off…Not as long as James kissed her the way he was kissing her now.

“You okay?” he asked, his hand sliding from around her waist to the small of her back. “Not uncomfortable?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine.”

James kissed her again, scooting her hips closer to his in one quick motion. He spread his legs, which spread hers. Both of his hands slid up her arms to her neck, thumbs against her jaw as they continued to make out. Ali was dying for him to get inside her before she melted right into the sinks that she sat between.

Reaching forward, she felt through his mesh shorts to where his stiff dick was straining against the material. “I’ve missed him,” she mumbled, feeling the thickness of his hard on in her hand.

“He’s missed you too.”

“Don’t make me wait any longer.”

James learned a long time ago that Ali loved sex as much as he did, sometimes even more than he did, if that was even possible…but hearing her practically begging him to fuck her sent him into overdrive.

Ali had to lean her head back against the mirror when she felt the head of James’ dick line up with her wet center. Fuck, I need this. I need this bad. She inhaled and bit her bottom lip when she felt him enter.

“Goddamn you’re tight this morning.” James groaned. He leaned his head forward as he slid his entire length in, his chin nearly resting on the curve of Ali’s neck. “Yeah…he’s definitely missed you.”

A soft laugh escaped from Ali’s mouth, but she honestly couldn’t think of much other than the feeling of having James inside her. It had only been a few days since the last time they fucked, but for some reason it felt like a few months. Every stroke was meticulous and purposeful; a regular James trademark.

She slid her hands up to grip his biceps, which were currently flexed and made for the perfect handholds. Her one hand stuck out glaringly against the dark swirl of ink on his left arm, the other a perfect match against the paler tone of his other arm.

For James, the view was as outstanding as it normally was, except now he got to watch himself fuck Ali in the reflection of the mirror behind her. He felt a little guilty steeling a glance now and then as he increased his speed, but the shape of her ass on the counter, the slim curve of her waist, all the way up to the mess of dark hair that draped down her back was almost a sensory overload for him. Other men may have kept watching themselves fuck, but James had to close his eyes or focus on Ali’s so he wouldn’t blow it right then.

Ali saw the desire in his eyes when he looked at her, but his slightly crooked smile contradicted it.

“What?” she asked, enjoying watching his smile grow.

“Luckiest guy…in the world…”

He increased his pace and Ali threw her arms around his neck just to hold on. She felt the muscles in his shoulders moving in unison with every thrust. Given the angle he was currently fucking her in, Ali felt his dick hit all the right spots with every damn push. It was amazing.

“Shit, James…” she moaned, closing her eyes.

There was room on the counter, but not much. James intended to use every inch. He pulled her ass out further, taking a second to lift both her legs up Perfect legs. Perfect ass. Perfect woman. He gripped both ankles and drove himself even deeper, feeling the pressure build within him. Ali’s moans confirmed his repositioning was a wise one.

With one hand, he held her face near the top of her neck, forcing her to open his eyes. He wanted to see how good he was in those eyes; his ego needed it. He watched Ali moan and try to squirm beneath him, but he had her pinned in a position where he was in control.

“So deep” she breathed. Her eyes sharpened as they looked at him. “Deeper.”

James laughed. Just when he thought she couldn’t get any sexier…

Ali’s head hit the mirror when James buried himself up to the hilt, pausing there so Ali could get her wish. She cried out, but James withdrew. Not to torture, but he delivered another equally deep push until he was balls deep inside her. Ali moaned hard, which only made him want to do it again.

“What baby wants, baby gets” James whispered in her ear, slamming himself into her. He heard Ali whimper beneath him and realized that way too much pressure was building inside him to keep going any further. This definitely wouldn’t be the world’s longest fuck, but he hoped Ali wouldn’t mind. He’d pay her back later anyways.

All Ali could do was hold on as James used those final moments and took her all to himself. She could see the cut of his hard, lean frame working hard to fuck her as well as it was. Her eyes drunkenly fell to the small trail of dark hair that led down to the very dick that was pounding away inside her. James caught her admiring him and it seemed to do the trick. He put a hand against the mirror behind Ali’s head as he buried himself inside a final time, letting out a powerful moan as he erupted inside her.

Both bodies came to a halt, though their heavy breathing persisted. James took a second to get his mind right, feeling the last of himself finally empty into her. He exhaled, satisfied and content. Looking down, he saw Ali resting her head against the glass but her eyes shifted up to meet his. He smiled, placing a lazy kiss to her forehead.

“Quick, I know…”

“Shhh.” Ali lifted a hand to his cheek, drawing his mouth to hers. James got lost in the softness of her lips, which was her goal. “I needed this.”

“You didn’t cum, though” James breathed.

“Don’t need to, not every time.”

He relaxed a little more, feeling himself finally soften inside her. He didn’t want to leave the warmth of her body; not yet. He pressed a kiss to Ali’s temple, then her cheek, then her neck; completely present in the moment. This is the best he’d feel all day.

Ali loved James’ little kisses. They felt as good as the rest of his body did in the past minutes. “Love you, James.”

“Love you, babe.”

* * *

“Hi Mom.”

“How is everything? Still flying high?”

Ali could hear that excited-mom-tone in her voice, which made her happy that she’d called. “Pretty high…but coming back was rough.”

“Oh no, why?”

“Just…I don’t know…” She felt embarrassed to tell even her mother. “It was tough to come back alone and watch your boyfriend on tv and just…be alone. I was jealous he was playing hockey, of all things.”

Wendy’s tone changed. “That hasn’t changed, though?”

“No, it hasn’t.” Ali rolled her eyes. She knew it was silly, it sounded silly coming out of her mouth, but it was what it was. “Can we not drone on about this, please? I called for a much happier reason.”

“You lead then, Allison.”

“Well…first of all, are you and Dad busy in a week or so?” She waited, hoping her mom said no.

“What day?”

She tried to remember what the exact days were that James told her. She knew he only had a short break next week, so they could make a quick trip together if her parents were free.

“I think it’s Friday into a Saturday.”

“Oh yes, that’s a free night for us.” Wendy paused. “OH my gosh - are you coming to visit? Do I get to see the ring!?”

Ali was smiling. “Yep! And I have a bonus surprise……James is coming.”

“What!”

“I mean, if you guys have room—“

“—Oh stop with the nonsense, you know he’s welcome here anytime! Oh, Jesus, now I have to clean and tell your father to go get a haircut…”

“A haircut?”

Wendy sighed. “You should see him. I’ve been on his ass for a week about it. If a Penguin plans on staying at the house, that should get him to do it!”

Laughing, Ali flopped down onto the couch and listened as her mom went on and on about what dinner she would make and asked her all about the kinds of foods James liked.

“Easiest answer in the world – he eats anything and everything.”

“No allergies? We can’t have him sick and miss a game.”

“Relax, mom. You two didn’t just meet!” She was on the verge of laughing again, but held it back. “You don’t have to impress him, you know.”

“Oh yes we do.” Wendy took on an authoritative tone. “Listen here, Allison – one day, you might be a mother, and then you’ll understand how nervous we get when our only daughter’s fiancé comes to visit them.”

Ali winced. “Please don’t bring up motherhood, not even if you’re joking.”

“Fair enough” Wendy said with a laugh. “One thing at a time, I’m not ready for that either.”

“So aside from a haircut, you don’t think Dad will mind?” Ali asked, trying to get back to the meat of the conversation. “And by that, I mean – he won’t beat James up for sleeping with me?”

“He better not or I’ll slap him for you. You two are engaged; he had more than enough time to get over the fact his little girl has grown up.”

It was weird to talk about with her mom, who she considered a friend and a mom all rolled up into one. It was even weirder to breach the subject with regards to her father. Ali remembered dating boys in high school, and bringing her only serious boyfriend in college home on Christmas break one year, and none of those occasions went smoothly. Her father was, by all intents and purposes, very much a father. She was so thankful he got along so well with James, though she had a bit of the whole NHL factor to thank for that as well. Her dad may want to protect his daughter, but he would always be a little awestruck by James playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Guess I should count my blessings twice over for that.

“So Italian food, then?”

“Yes, Mom. He’ll be more than happy with that.”

“Okay.”

It sounded to Ali like her mom was writing something down, which made her want to hug her. It was nice they wanted to make James as comfortable as possible; Ali would have to remind herself when they got there that they were a very Italian family, and Italians treated guests like family. Maybe a little too much.

“Should I move some of the old pictures out of your room?” Wendy asked.

Ali laughed. “Nah, keep ‘em up. It might be funny to see his reaction.”

“Okay hun.” She exhaled happily. “Well! This is something to look forward to! And the ring. The ring, Allison!”

“You saw it when I emailed you a picture though?”

“Doesn’t count and you know it.”

She was right, so Ali didn’t argue. “Alright mom, I should get going. I’ll call you in a few days just to firm things up, okay?”

“Sounds good. Tell James good luck tomorrow night!”

Ali slumped down into the cushions of the couch, feeling slightly better that she’d cleared the plans with at least her mom for next week. It would also be the first time since her engagement to James that they could all talk wedding stuff together.

They needed a date. Neither of them had really even talked about it, because neither of them really knew anything about it. In Ali’s mind, she figured it would be during the summer at some point. Probably next summer, at the earliest. James was off all summer, aside from personal training, so that would be the best.

Other than that, Ali hadn’t thought much more about it.

She bit her lip and contemplated this while resting on the couch. Checking her watch, she had at least a couple hours before she had to be to work. An idea popped into her head, and it kind of excited her. It also kind of scared her, and the thought alone was a little overwhelming, but she’d need to do it at some point. Might as well do it before work.

Grabbing her coat and throwing on some shoes, she went in search of wedding magazines. She went straight for the closest Barnes and Noble bookstore, not wasting any time in any other place. If there was a store that would have everything under the sun involving wedding dresses, they would have it.

Walking in, Ali wove through the maze of shelves that made up the heart of the store. Toward the far left was the lengthy magazine wall. It took her a few seconds to locate exactly where the wedding stuff was, but once she found it, it was a cornucopia of smiling women in striking dresses. Ali scanned all the available prints; unable to decide which magazine was best.

So she grabbed all of them.

Once she had a stack in her hands, she went over to one of the nearby benches and took a second to herself to look at one.

Oh my God though.

Page after page of the particular issue she chose to examine had nothing but gorgeous women in equally stunning wedding dresses. Some pages were ads for dresses that she would look downright silly in; other pages had dresses that made her envious of the model.

Ali closed the magazine. Looking beside her at the heavy stack of other selections, a part of her was thrilled beyond words that she finally got to pick out the dress she’d been thinking of since she was little. She remembered her and Brittany “playing house” when they were little, and they would pretend they got married to their fake love interests back in the day, and they’d pretend they had these ridiculous dresses on (but really they were old dresses their moms left to them to play dress-up in).

The thought made her almost laugh.

A far cry from marrying Jonathan Taylor Thomas, eh Britt?

Smiling, Ali grabbed the stack of magazines and headed for the checkout counter.

* * *

“Let me see, let me see!” Becky grabbed the stack of magazines from Ali’s hands as they stood behind the check-in counter at the hotel. “Oh my God, I haven’t done this in over ten years.”

“Did it freak you out a little?” Ali asked, beginning to thumb through one of the magazines.

“Why?” Becky looked at her with her bright eyes. “You’re freaked out?”

“Why do you say it like that?”

Becky shook her head. “Girl, if I was marrying a Penguin….”

“….you’d be nervous as FUCK.”

They both quickly scanned the lobby for anyone that might have heard her, but no one was around.

Ali sighed. “I know, I’m excited – trust me. I just have this worry about me like it’s not going to be perfect or something.”

“You’ll be so busy that day you won’t even notice you’re at your own wedding” Becky replied, paging through the colored photos. “You and James and that’s it. It’s all you’ll notice. And maybe your feet, because they’ll hurt.”

“Can’t I just wear flip flops?”

They both laughed.

“How about this one?” Becky rolled half of the magazine on itself and held it up. It was a picture of a stunning dress with delicate beading that looked like it was dripping down the dress and onto the train. A very, very long train.

“No long trains” Ali replied. “But very pretty.”

They continued looking through all the dresses that covered each page, and Ali was in awe of how many designs and styles there were. She passed a few she liked, but none that seemed “right”. She flipped through a few more pages and then came to a dress that made her stop.

“Whoa.”

Becky looked over. “Whoa is right.” She lifted the magazine closer to her to get a better look. “It’s gorgeous.”

“It’s expensive.” She took the magazine back from Becky. It really was a gorgeous dress, and was totally her style. It was simple but stunning and just what Ali was thinking she’d want.

“This is going to be tough, isn’t it?” she asked Becky.

Becky shrugged. “It can end up that way, but just stick to what you like. And remember to relax. None of this is fun unless you relaaaaxx.”

Ali looked back at the dress. “I think I want something like this, for sure. Maybe not this one exactly, but similar to this.”

“What are your colors going to be?”

“I don’t know.”

“How many bridesmaids?”

“I don’t know that either.”

Becky laughed. “Okay, maybe this won’t be so easy.” She gave her younger coworker a sympathetic smile. “Have you thought about what colors you’d like?”

“I have, I guess….when I was 6 years old.” Ali shared in a laugh with Becky over this, because she realized just how unprepared she was. “Okay, okay, hang on. I like yellow, like a daffodil yellow, not some baby shit yellow….”

Becky winced.

“…I also like certain shades of green, and wine colors, and purple.” Ali snapped her fingers. “Purple!”

“Purple?” Becky nodded. “See? Easy!”

“James’ favorite, too.” Ali felt a little better. Maybe that would be her color after all.

“Okay, so if you pick that, remember – all the guys will likely have that as an accent in their suits.”

She shrugged. “That’s their problem.” She smiled at Becky.

“I think you’re getting the hang of it now. How about flowers?”

“I want a bouquet with all kinds of colored flowers.” Ali thought for a second, staring down at the magazine. “Actually, yes. I don’t want everything to match. I want it a little free flowing. Not so overly-formal that it looks fake.”

“That’s easy to do, too.” Becky was nodding. “Keep going. Keep the ideas coming. Just blurt out anything that comes to mind.”

“I think I want four bridesmaids” Ali said, feeling more confident. She was picturing her girls in purple with various colored bouquets, and hers would consist of all their colors combined. She voiced all of this to Becky, who began writing stuff down as Ali talked. Pretty soon, in between helping guests as they came and went, Becky and Ali had a long list of ideas.

Becky held the paper up proudly. “Look at this! In just an hour! Not bad, Ali. Not bad.”

“It’s a start, right?” Ali saw the list and it made everything seem more and more real. There was a lot on the paper, and a lot of it was fun to think about. It would be the guest list and the dress that would likely be the hardest part to this, but at least Becky had helped her with step one.

* * *