The Games We Play

James tossed Ali a t-shirt; she tossed it in the washer.

James tossed her a pair of his boxer briefs; she tossed it in the washer.

James held up a bright yellow thong with white lace trim, stretching it between his hands. "And why haven't I seen these?"

Ali grabbed it out of his hands. "Because I just bought them." She tossed it in the washer.

"When did you get them?"

He actually looked hurt that he'd never seen that particular pair before. Ali moved her fingers, ushering him to continue separating their clothes. "It was like last week....or the week before. Not sure."

"After Colorado?" He tossed her another one of his shirts.

"Yes."

"So.....can I see them soon?"

Ali smirked. "You'll see them all eventually, babe."

"What one's do you have on now?"

The look on his face made it seem he was worried he hadn't seen that pair either. His mouth was hanging a bit open and he stopped sorting the laundry.

"For real though."

Ali laughed. Feeling the slightest bit of pity for him, and only because of the sad-puppy look on his face, she turned around and pulled down the waist of her jeans. She had a belt on, so she had to pull the fabric up a little to show him.

"Oh wow."

She smiled.

"Those are kinda hot." James grinned. "That reminds me! Remember the last time I had you in a laundry room to myself?" He watched Ali pick up another piece of laundry, pretending not to hear him. "You were putty in my hands, if I remember right..."

She lifted her eyes, trying to hold back her smile. James saw right through it, of course, and took great pleasure in watching Ali play innocent. He knew how dirty she could be, and enjoyed being, so he couldn't let her off that easy.

"Come on, admit it" he said, "that was hot and you know it."

Ali tossed a white top into a clothes basket that sat next to her. "Your fingers are as goods as your mouth and dick, that's for sure."

That's what I wanted to hear. James tossed the shirt he had in his hands, aiming it for Ali's head. "Knew it."

"You should know it!" she said with a laugh, catching it. "And this stinks."

"Essence of Neal."

"More like essence of ass."

James smiled and continued helping with the laundry. They did this at times, whenever they were both around. Helping one another with the laundry started originally as a competition between the two of them when Ali challenged James to launder-off. When James lived alone, she swore he never did laundry. James whined that he did, but the amount of clothes to this day that remained scattered on their bedroom floor made Ali think differently.

Ali won the challenge, and now James always helped whenever he could, so he could "make up" for it.

James pulled a pair of bikini styled panties which were dark navy and sheer with a
thin black ribbon wound about the waist. He held them up and whistled. "Now these I have seen."

"Just two mornings ago" Ali said, winking. She tossed them in the washer with the rest of the colored items.

"Question, babe."

"Answer."

James halted and looked at her. "Morning or night?"

"Morning, you know that."

"Really? I can never tell which you like more."

"That's because I'm fucking you." She looked at him a little devilishly. "Who's paying attention to what time of day it is?"

"This is why I love you."

"No it's not, loser."

It's true. It wasn't, but James often thought it was a close second to her overall personality. It helped that she wanted sex as much or as often as him, but it wasn't the sole reason. New year, new us indeed, eh Neal?

"So let's get married at midnight so we can go through the whole process and fuck in the morning when it's over."

Ali actually threw her head back and laughed. "Well...before we put this A+ plan into action, we need an actual date."

James stopped what he was doing and faced Ali again. He'd been waiting for the opportunity, and he finally got it.

"I have a date."

"Yeah, okay James..."

In one solid movement, James had Ali by the waist and lifted her on top of the dryer. They were eye level now, with both of James' hands placed on either side of Ali's legs.

"Really. I picked a date out for us."

Ali must have looked as surprised as she felt because James had his serious-face on. "What is it? And when did you come up with a date?"

"At practice." His tone was casual. "I do my best thinking on the ice." Now that he had Ali's attention, he stood up taller, hands on her slender knees. "What do you think of June 29th?"

She looked at him with a smile. "Hmm...June 29th. Interesting choice. Any reason?"

"Do you want the practical reason or the sappy reason?"

The way James' eyes seemed to go from sharp to soft in the lighting of their laundry room made Ali believe he wanted to tell her the so called 'sappy' part second, so she chose the former.

"Well...If we go to the playoffs, which we will" he said with a grin, "then the last possible date for a playoff game is mid June anyway. So we won't have to worry about that."

Now James leaned in a little closer, and Ali felt his hands slide up to her waist where he rested them comfortably.

"...and can you imagine if we won the Cup?"

His eyes were shining now, giving away all of his desire to finally win the Stanley Cup. There was a childlike optimism within their unique color, one that Ali noticed right away.

"...we could have it at the wedding, and you could drink from it, and we could fucking eat cake from it..."

Ali was giggling, because James was completely, genuinely wishing for these things to happen.

"It would be pretty cool" she said softly.

"Cool doesn't begin to describe it."

His hands went to her face and his smile grew even larger. "Do you know how bad I want you to be a part of that with me?" He saw Ali's bottom lip push out a little.

"I do too, babe. More than anything."

Like any other kid in Canada who grew up loving hockey and playing it before he could ever remember, James had dreamt of winning the Cup since day one. Before, it was for personal, and mostly selfish, reasons. Now, though, he had a whole new reason for winning; not just for his image, his paycheck, his security with the Pens, and for his family...now he wanted to do it for the girl who sat on the dryer in front of him.

"Is that your 'sappy' reason?" Ali asked. "Because I don't think that's sappy at all. I love it."

"Believe or not, it isn't."

Ali saw James look a little bashful now as his eyes kind of fell to the floor momentarily before they looked at her again.

"It's the day my mom and dad got married."

James waited for Ali to make fun of him or roll her eyes or something. Instead, she kissed him. When they parted, Ali was smiling.

"June 29th it is."

* * *

It was the night before James headed home with Ali to her hometown. He was psyched, and yet, had no idea what to expect. They'd only be there one night, since that's all James had before he had to be back on the ice for practice on Sunday morning.

Ali had gone to work, so he was home alone for the rest of the afternoon. He threw some clothes into a clean, black and gold duffle bag; one of about 800 that he owned or was given from the organization. As he continued to pack, he dialed up his brother Mike, hoping he was around to talk.

"About time!" Mike said, his loud voice filling James' ear.

"For what?"

"I need to talk to you."

James laughed. "You do know, you can use a phone to call as well as answer, right?"

"Shut up, I know that. I never know your schedule! Between your practices and being with Ali--"

"--Just get to it, Mike" he said, throwing a pair of socks into the bag. "Something wrong?"

"Yeah. Jillian's sister."

James sighed. He took a seat on the edge of the bed, scratching at his messy hair. "She say something to you?"

"Yeah, she said you fucked her like a dozen times or whatever, nothing big" Mike replied. "But Jillian is worried about going out with me now because you fucked Michelle."

To be honest, James couldn't remember fucking Michelle once, let alone 12 times. He went to high school with her and that was a long, long fucking time ago. They were townies, locked in Whitby forever by choice, and James would run into Michelle and Jillian once in a blue moon. But he didn't remember fucking Michelle "at least a dozen times." Go figure. I go Pro, and suddenly they come out of the woodwork.

"So what do you want me to do about it, Mike?"

"Can't you talk to her?"

James laughed out loud and fell back onto the bed. "So do you need me to change your diapers too? Or..."

"Dammit, can't you do this for me? Not everyone's got it easy like you, getting married and shit all of a sudden."

"Time out. I 'got it easy'? Since when?"

"You have a fucking knockout that somehow fell for your shit. Meanwhile, I've gotta clean up your mistakes from the past just to go on a date."

James shot up in bed. "Mistakes? Mike! I don't even remember fucking Michelle!" He groaned and hunched over his knees. "Look. You want me to call Jillian? I will. I don't know what I'll say, but if you want me to, I'll do it."

"Yeah. That'd be cool."

"One thing in return" James said. "And the reason why I called in the first place."

Mike paused. "...Okay?"

James exhaled. "I was going to ask you to be my best man at the wedding."

"No shit, really?"

He felt his heart racing again like it always did whenever he started talking wedding stuff. He was actually scared, because he figured no one believed him yet that he proposed, yet here he sat, packing for a trip to his fiancé's hometown.

"Yeah, so.....would you?" he asked nervously. "Be my best man?"

"I will. For my brother? For sure I will."

James shook his fist in victory, biting his lip to keep from letting Mike hear him smiling. "Yeah, thanks man. Thanks. It'll be great, not like other boring weddings we've been to" he said, trying to play cool.

"Just call Jillian, okay?"

Apparently the tender moment is over already, he thought sadly. "Alright, I will. I'll do it now. I'll call ya back with whatever I find out."

Mike gave him Jillian's phone number, then they hung up. James paced a little in his bedroom. He had no idea what the hell he was going to say to this girl. The last time he'd spoken with Jillian was at least two summers ago. He'd been at a party and she was there, luckily not with her sister. He may have said hi, he wasn't sure. Either way, he was at a loss for what Mike really wanted him to accomplish.

James dialed the number and waited. I'll just do this quick and see why she is hesitant and be done with it.

Three rings.
Four rings.

"Hello?"

James hand went to his hair. "Uh, hey, Jillian? It's James."

"Neal?"

"Yours truly." He paced, hand gripping his hair. "Yeah, so...my brother. You two seeing each other now, eh?"

"Oh my god! Well, first - hi! And second, yes! Through some stroke of luck, if you ask me. I've had a thing for your brother for a long time."

Ew. "That's great, Jill. I approve."

She giggled. It was the same oddly high-pitched laugh she had all through high school.

"But he confided in me and said he's worried because I may have messed around with your sister back in the day, that that somehow is affecting you--"

"--Oh my god, no. No, James. Michelle is only looking for attention. You know how she is."

So much so that I called it before I even got on the phone, he thought to himself.

"How are you, anyway?" Jillian asked.

"Ahh, well..." he laughed a little awkwardly. "I'm doing really well, actually. I'm getting married."

Jillian gasped. "Huh?"

"Oh, and I can cook a turkey now, so yeah...life hasn't been better!" It was all meant to sound light hearted, since he wasn't in the business of running through his entire life since the last time they chatted.

"Holy fuck, James NEAL is getting married?" Jill's voice went an octave higher. "To WHO?"

He frowned. "No one you know, but someone you definitely should. She's amazing."

"From Whitby? Or where? Like a groupie or something?"

"No, not a fucking groupie, Jill." He was losing his patience. "Just a normal girl with an anything-but-normal personality. So back to Mike..."

"...No, no, no. What's this 'normal girl's' name?"

"Allison."

"Pretty normal name, that's for sure."

James laughed incredulously. "Okay, are we done here? I just wanted to call and say you should give my brother a serious chance. He likes ya, and you shouldn't base anything that you like about him based on whatever history I have with Michelle."

"I got it. I won't hold it against him."

"Thank you." He breathed a sigh of relief. "So...take care?"

"Can I come to your wedding? If it happens?" Jillian asked.

James detected sarcasm. Oh yay, my favorite. "Oh sure! You can definitely come! But only if Mike invites you, because you're not getting shit from me."

Jill laughed, thinking he was joking but he wasn't. He wished her good day and promptly hung up. He sent Mike a text saying he did what he could, and then he sent a text to Ali.

Any chance I can come get you and whisk you away early? I'm going through withdrawal already.

He fell face first onto the bed, feeling more exhausted that if he had practice that morning.

Practice.

Lifting his head, James literally heard the lights come on in his brain.

Holy fuck, I should.

...Should I?

He felt scandalous just thinking about it, but it also turned him on all of a sudden.

As if on cue, his phone beeped and up popped Ali's response:

Come get me!

"Oh, I'm coming alright, babe" he said, jumping off the bed. He ran downstairs, threw on his trainers, left his hoodie on, and slapped one of his hats over his head.

Out the door he went to rescue Ali from work and treat her to a surprise instead.

* * *

Ali trotted out to the parking lot excitedly. She was still in her work uniform, figuring why bother changing since she was leaving in such a hurry. James was waiting there for her in an open spot next to her SUV. He opened the door for her from his spot on the passenger side.

She sat down and immediately leaned into him so she could give him the kiss he deserved. "You're a life saver!"

"No, no" James said, throwing his car in reverse, "you are. I never thought you'd even be able to leave! What'd you tell 'em?"

Ali was grinning. "That I had girlie problems."

"That actually works?"

"Mm hm. Especially when you're working alongside a man. They never ask questions."

James laughed, completely impressed with his girl's prowess. "By the way, we're not going home."

"We're not?" Ali could tell James was up to something by the look in his eyes. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere I'd have to say you are dressed totally appropriate for."

Ali tried to think where her front desk uniform would ever be appropriate other than the front desk, but she supposed she looked formal for a nice dinner or something.

They talked a little more, but James mostly kept quiet. Another indication he was in the middle of a plan. Ali had to admit, he had her interested.

James glanced over, his winning smile still present. "Guess yet?"

"Nooooo."

"Well shame on you." He turned the wheel and rolled onto the parkway that would take them to the parking garage adjacent to the Consol Energy Center. He looked over at Ali again. "How about now?"

Ali bit her bottom lip with glee. "We going to the arena?"

"Ding ding ding!"

"WHY?" She was laughing, unable to figure out any reason or occasion James would have this time to sneak her away.

They pulled into a totally different lot than the one James normally parked in, lining his car up in a dark spot within the garage. Not a single other car was there. The only sound the couple made as they headed for the entrance was the echoing of Ali's heels. James took her by the hand, punched in a code, and they entered.

"Okay where are you taking me this time, because I am not skating in a pencil skirt, babe. It's just not happening."

James didn't answer; he was too busy checking hallways and offices as he led Ali down a flight of steps to a lower floor. Putting the pieces together, Ali figured they were at least either a level away, or on the same level as the locker rooms...but she wasn't sure.

They stopped when James held up a hand, motioning to Ali to stay put and be silent. He walked ahead, his tall sweat-clad figure disappearing around the corner. In a minute, he came back, his smile telling at that needed to be told.

"We're alone, come on."

They hurried forward, passing by several offices. One looked like a trainers room, another looked like it could've been the gym, and another containing equipment. Ali knew now they were just a few doors away from the locker room. This was confirmed when she saw the signs that were hung and the emblem on the giant wood doors.

James punched in a series of codes, then the doors clicked. He looked at Ali proudly. "Ever dream of fucking in a hockey locker room?"

Ali exhaled a laugh. "What?"

"Because I have."

He pulled her inside the Pens locker room, shutting the doors behind. He punched a new code into a small pad on this side, locking the doors. Before Ali even had a chance to fully grasp what was happening, James had her against the doors with his mouth locked onto hers.

"Babe." She tried to talk, but James held her mouth still. Her body was quickly warming in response to his needful embrace, her brain not quite keeping up.

"Even though we're alone, we have to be quiet" James said. "Just incase."

Ali had never done anything like what she was about to do, and it felt horribly risky and totally wrong.......

....at first anyway.

James' strong hands slid up her thighs, lifting her skirt up with them. His mouth worked her neck while his hands lifted one of her creamy thighs, bent at the knee next to his waist. In this position, he was able to grind into her more, letting her know exactly how ready he was for her.

"Feel it, babe?" he whispered.

Ali nodded, her mouth finding James' again. Her head was getting into that drunken state she found herself in any time James took control. Slowly but surely, she was losing any caution she once had. The only thing she could focus on was James' hot skin and his hard body.

"I want it" she uttered, and was rewarded by James lifting her as they moved from the door over towards the far right side of the giant room. There they were at least away from the doors and against a solid wall.

James slammed Ali up against the wall again, freeing her blouse from the confines of her skirt. Both of their hands moved frantically to remove one another's clothing as their desire increased. Ali was dying to be fucked at this point, and was literally pleading with James to hurry and undress. She watched as his thumbs hooked on the waistband of his sweats, shoving them to his feet and kicking them aside.

"I know this is your line" Ali said, eyes locked on James' erection. "But fuck me if you aren't absolutely the hottest thing I've ever seen."

James didn't need his ego stroked any more than it already was, but he was welcoming it all the same. It was one thing to have sex with Ali, but it was a whole other to have sex with her where they now stood.

"And if you don't hurry and fuck me, I might leave" she added, smirking at him. The only thing left that was made of fabric was Ali's bra, her thong, and her skirt. She moved to take these item off, but James pressed hard into her.

"Leave the skirt."

"Okay." Her voice answered well before her head even thought about it.

James used his strength to lift both Ali's legs up until she clasped them around his bare waist. Ali's view was nothing but tattoos and muscles staring at her. Her hands were just sinking into the soft depths of James' hair as he lined himself up and pushed deeply into her.

They both moaned, feeling finally what they'd both been craving. The wall against Ali's back was cold, but her entire body was just lit on fire with a single push. James' moved his nose next to hers, their breath increasing as his thrusts did.

"This is so hot" Ali said, almost laughing. "I can't....ummph....believe it...aahh..." She couldn't talk with so much inside her. She couldn't talk with so much outside her. She leaned her head on James' shoulder, which was rippling with every move he made.

James needed more leverage. He could fuck Ali like this all day, but it wouldn't get her off, and he owed her. With little effort, he swung her off the wall and around to rest on the floor. They were positioned exactly over the Penguin's carpet crest in the middle of the floor. James knew the risk, he knew the blasphemy he was committing, but he figured once....just once....

"Shit, James" Ali moaned, feeling James enter her again. He hit the spot he needed to, and Ali felt sparks fly somewhere inside her body. She gripped onto his arms, focusing on the amazing view. His strong neck and shoulder muscles led to the tattoo that made her hot in places it shouldn't have. It made her even hotter knowing that the very room James was fucking her in was the same room where his body worked in other ways. This time, all of him was working her, and she felt like she was getting away with murder.

James closed his eyes as he pumped into her, his mouth zeroing in on her nipples. He moaned as his teeth gently pulled on them, making sure Ali was moaning right along with him. As if I even need to try, he thought with a smile. He was diving so deep he hoped he wouldn't do any real damage, but by the way she was gasping and whimpering beneath him, James knew he was a-okay.

When he knelt back a little, he got the full view. Ali's hair was a mess around her hair, dark brown against the black of the rug beneath her. Her taut body was on display, rocking with his body as he delivered everything she wanted from him. The navy skirt had ridded up her waist a little, so James tugged it back down and used it for even more leverage. He gripped it hard as he fucked Ali, now able to really increase his speed and get repeated moans from her. Just the skirt alone was doing it for him, but she was so fucking beautiful and sexy and just raw and undeniable that he had to focus again, keeping himself from cumming too soon.

"Wall" Ali said, biting gently on his bicep.

James bent forward. "Wall, babe?"

"From behind."

She was moaning hard, but James figured out what she meant. He slipped from her, his dick glistening and slick from her body. Lifting Ali once more, they switched again...but James changed it a little. He placed her on her knees directly under the shelf of the nearest stall.

Ali liked it. In fact, she loved it. She had never in a million years thought she'd do something this insane before, and if she had half a mind that was able to work, she'd realize just how bad it was...but she was in the moment. Hot and wet and now once again full of James' thickness as he entered her from behind. She felt him grip her skirt, pulling her back onto his cock as he drove it further inside.

James was seeing stars. Ali was under Bennett's stall; he hoped he wouldn't mind the payback from his tryst with Brittany. He felt every flutter of Ali's pussy responding to the drilling he was giving her. It made him weak in the knees, but he stayed standing behind her, his head almost hitting the shelf that had Beau's name placard on it.

Lifting both open hands to the wall, Ali was feeling it now. Every thrust hit her in the perfect position; it's why she loved fucking this way. James was big enough to get it done without his hands, and it was mostly possible in this position. She grit her teeth, moaning through the motion of his body slapping hers, one of his hands holding the skirt at her waist, the other clasping one of her breasts. They moved as one, but as Ali finally reached her pinnacle, she reached behind her for James.

He leaned forward, leaving the skirt and finding her head and holding her so their mouths could connect in her moment of release. James let Ali moan into his mouth, his tongue gliding over hers, holding her firmly as she came over his dick in hard, fast waves. Their mouths parted, but the faces remained touching. James' watched as Ali's eyes closed, her mouth opened, and her whimpering indicated he'd done what he came to do.

Laughing softly, James stroked Ali's damp face, pushing her hair away from her beautiful eyes. "So what's the score?"

Ali leaned into his hand, shaking her head in awe of her own orgasm. "Neal 1...Diserelli 0." She looked at him with an exhausted smile. "But we can even that up in a minute or two."

James smiled and kissed her. "I like your game plan." He kissed her temple, realizing that he was going to marry the girl he just fucked in his own locker room. Its a secret he'd take to the grave, but he thought it was the coolest fucking secret he may ever have.

* * *
‹ Chapter 67

Notes

Thanks to everyone's continued comments. You bring smiles even when I have a hard time finding them! Enjoy the sexy times. :)