The Games We Play

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Author’s Note:

Okay, so this is where Ali goes to Sochi to cheer James on. At this point, I’m not comfortable writing in anything about the Olympics, so let’s do this: I’m going to wave my wand and a cloud will appear before your eyes…..and then POOF: The story is now two months later. :)

Thanks again for following. Have fun and enjoy! (((hugs))))
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The dress was purchased.
The flowers were selected.
Both the ceremony and reception locations were chosen.
Ali’s bridesmaids were confirmed and had their own gowns.
James had his guys chosen, his best man, and their coordinating suits all ready to go.

It all seemed to be going along as smoothly as it could, and with only two months to go. Both James and Ali continued to pat themselves on the back at every chance…If they thought Thanksgiving dinner was difficult and they pulled through, this would be their test of will.

Since it was April, Ali’s birthday came and went, and so did most of James’ regular hockey season. Every game was a fight to the finish as each team battled for that spot on the schedule that would hopefully end in raising the Cup.

With this kind of schedule, combined with the wedding ever lurking in the shadows, James was feeling more and more stressed out. It was a good kind of stress, which he had to remind himself more often as the days went by.

Ali’s brain was at a constant state of alert, juggling both wedding planning and supporting James at every game she could. There was extra fire in his eyes, the kind that scared her the previous year when she was new to the whole NHL playoffs thing. Now she was used to it, craved it, wanted it…all for him. James was alive on the ice, and sprung to a new level of energy with every game as the season drew to a close. This also left him wiped out at the end of every day, especially game days. He was quieter at home, his face bent a little more seriously and his grin a little more difficult to pull from him, but it was stuff that Ali expected. She did what she could, in between work and planning and living, to help him through the most stressful games.

One morning, nearing the Pen’s final stretch of games, Ali and James lay in bed together. It was a Sunday, and neither had anywhere to be nor did they want to be anywhere than where they were, especially James. His body hurt; tender from too many blows to the boards and too many body checks. He looked forward to a day of lounging around, doing whatever he wanted, even if it meant never getting out of bed. The team had an optional skate that afternoon, which James promptly opted not to attend. The sun was just barely up, but the clouds made it seem earlier than it was. It was turning into the springtime weather he’d become used to in Pittsburgh: fickle and annoying; warm one day, chilly and raining the next, and always accompanied by wind. Today looked like it would be similar to the latter.

All the more reason to stay in, he thought.

He closed his eyes, resting his head against the stack of pillows. His dark hair was a contrast against the light grey pillow cases; his week old stubble-turned-beard now showing its famous ginger tint he got shit for in the locker room. The hair on his head was getting longer, too. The gentle waves that normally stuck out the back of his helmet was now starting to become more pronounced curls…something Ali was thrilled about. “All part of the Stanley Cup process”, she told him before running her nails through it and grabbing a fist full.

At this, James glanced down at Ali, who remained resting comfortably in the crook of his shoulder. His arm had settled into the curve of her waist, feeling her warm soft skin beneath him. He smiled, hoping they could lay in bed like this forever and a day.

I guess we’ll get that chance soon enough, eh?

He closed his eyes and let the weight of that realization spill over him. Some aspects of wedding planning had been fun, others not so much. He and Ali argued over some things, and to avoid the arguments he went along with whatever she wanted. Whatever made her happy made him very happy. Plus…girls had a knack for this sort of thing. He wasn’t about to argue with patterns of stationary or what color the table clothes should be. Once, she asked him how many candles they should have and where they should put them, and he laughed out loud. After that mistake, and the glare she gave him, James realized he would go along with whatever Ali wanted.

Still. If he were to be totally honest with himself…he was discovering how nervous he was. For a while, it had been nice to show off to people that he’d changed; that he somehow went from a guy who had nothing to lose to a guy that suddenly had everything to lose. It was uncomfortable to feel this increasing weight of anxiety building inside him, but hockey helped him stay focused.

In his arm, Ali shifted quietly. James looked down, admiring her long eyelashes resting against the curve of her cheek. Her face was warm as it rested against his bare chest, taking a little of the chill off him. They both were still naked…a product of their need the night before. They had gone to bed without the thought of sex on their minds; James was far too tired from his game, and Ali had been droopy even before he made it home. They fell asleep spooning, but woke up hours later…fumbling in the night for one another….feeling a need to do more than cuddle. Something in them needed the other, and they soon found their bodies entwined without a word even spoken.

Sex should be boring right now James had thought, breath ragged as his body drilled hard into Ali’s. I know every corner of this girl’s body, and I’m still not bored. That’s odd, right?

He almost laughed at himself as he remembered those thoughts he’d had. Instead, he snuggled Ali closer to him, watching the corner of her lips rise ever so slightly. For a second, James thought he might have woken her up, but she merely exhaled contentedly and moved no further.

Sometimes James liked to quiz himself when he was awake and Ali was still sleeping. He tried to remember where that little scar came from directly under her nose, or how many times he kissed the tiny mole on her ear lobe that he considered a subtle bullseye for his lips. It was the kind of thing that most people wouldn’t notice because it was so small, but it was there, and James would memorize it along with every other thing on Ali’s body.

What have I become? He blinked, still staring down at his fiancé in his arm, perfectly positioned and comfortably fitting in him like two puzzle pieces. Like everything else…a comfortable fit.

James sighed.

My fiancé. I’ve become that dude. The ‘other man’ my dad raised me to be, but I refused to mimic. He now sits in bed holding his fiancé and quizzing himself about her body.

His dad was on him lately, thanks to the Pens’ latest winning streak. Regardless of how the next couple of weeks went, they were a guarantee in the playoffs. This prospect alone caused James to want the Cup even more than he did before, especially with his father reminding him of it at every chance. James would live it and breathe it and over the next several weeks, the chase for the Cup would be his life. As stressful as that was, it was exciting as hell, and it’s what the entire season meant for him and his teammates.

And as long as he got to sleep next to Ali every night, just like they were lying together at that very moment, he’d be able to get through it somehow without losing his mind.

Last year at this time, James had only been sleeping with Ali for a month or so. Not long, whatever the amount of days it was. He remembered how he craved it like he craved her text messages, her phone calls, her pictures she’d send when he was on the road of her doing random, simple things, like painting her nails or shopping or laying on the couch.

Things she still did, and he still craved.

Below the sheets that loosely covered his waist, he felt himself stir a little at the thought, and even he rolled his eyes at his own body. He and Ali just had a decent rompy not a few hours earlier, and he was still ready at a moment’s notice.

Well….at least that’s not odd. There’s always my hard on to bring me back to earth.

James shook his head and sunk lower into the pillows, gently adjusting Ali’s head as he lay closer to her. With his head resting against hers, he closed his eyes and let sleep take him again.

In a few hours they woke up together, Ali inhaling deeply the scent of James’ skin. Deeply colored swirls of ink on his right arm was the first sight she got when she opened her eyes, followed by the drowsy smile that appeared when she met his eyes.

“Morning” he said, his voice deep with sleep.

“What time is it?” She stretched a little, sitting up next to him. “How long have you been up?”

“The time doesn’t matter today, and I was up for three hours before you.” He grinned, watching her raise an eyebrow. “But then I fell asleep again, sooo…”

Ali flicked him in the cheek with her nails playfully, then slumped down onto the pillows. “Ugh. We’re worthless.”

“I love it.”

“I don’t…but I could get used to it.” She glanced over at him. “Plus, I’m a little sore.”

“Why!?” James looked at her alarmingly to see her smiling. “Oh no.”

She nodded. “Even when I catch you off guard in the middle of the night, you still somehow manage to jack hammer.”

James wasn’t about to admit he liked that he had the consistent ability to leave Ali with lingering good feels from sex, but he never wanted to hurt-her hurt her. Not like that. By the way she was smirking at him though, he figured he was in the clear.

“How can I, um…jack hammer…if you’re riding me?” He pulled her into his chest. “Huh? Answer that, Diserelli!”

She squirmed and squealed a little as she felt James rub his knuckles against the top of her head. “You suck!” she said, laughing. “I didn’t ride you the WHOLE time!”

James let go, unable to keep back the laugh that escaped when he saw what a mess Ali looked like. Her dark hair was now all frizzy and ruffled on the top from his hands. Ali tried to pat it down, but it remained standing.

“Gee, thanks.”

“Oh, come on, we’re not going anywhere today” James joked. “Are we?”

Ali shook her head. “Not if I can help it.”

“Good.” James waved for her to lay back down on him. “Then let’s stay her longer.”

“Are you hungry?”

“It can wait.”

Ali’s head shot up again. “Hang on….food can wait?”

“Believe it or not, yes!” He pushed gently on her head so it returned to his chest.

They lay there quietly for a bit, neither really having much to say but enjoying the comfortable silence. James was slowly running his hand up and down Ali’s back, watching as tiny goosebumps rose at his touch. He felt her sigh against his torso.

“The next few weeks are going to be crazy” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

James couldn’t argue. His hand continued moving along Ali’s back, sometimes with his short nails, sometimes with just the pads of his fingers. Such a contrast between the roughness of his hand and the smooth, flawless skin beneath it.

“We’ll manage through.” He moved a lock of Ali’s hair to have better access to more of her back. “We’ve almost gone a whole, full season together.”

“Wild, isn’t it?”

Their eyes met and James smiled. He pushed her head back down again, wanting her to relax. She needed it as much as he did, even if it wasn’t in the same way. And so they lay together again quietly, James’ hand moving along her back, Ali resting against his bare chest.

Ali was enjoying the feel of his hands too much to just lay there and do nothing. Closest to her eyes was a set of abs that would’ve made fainter hearts melt, but they were disguised a little too much for her liking. She peeled back the sheet that was hiding the goods, just wanting to get a little look-see.

“Whatchya doooiinnggg” James asked from above. Ali didn’t see him, but she heard him grinning.

“Nothing” she answered coyly. The tiny trail of light hair from his belly button down to the grand prize below were the perfect highway for her eyes to travel. She kept the sheet perched against his dick, which see thought was getting the slightest bit hard.

“Liar.”

Ali smiled, running her nails along the lowest section of his abdomen, knowing it was a soft spot on him. James flinched a little, which made her giggle.

“BIG TIME liar!” he said.

“Sorry.” Ali pulled the sheet up, covering his ticklist spot. “I’ll stop.”

James lifted her hand and placed it back where it had been. “I’ll rub your back, you rub dick.”

“Ugh. Doesn’t work like that, babe.”

“Really?” He smiled. “Sorry.”

They smiled at one another again, unspoken words passing in their glances. Ali wasn’t even horny; how could she be when she’d just gotten a nice pounding at some point in the night that led to another unexpected orgasm to help her sleep better? Oh sure, she could muster it up somehow, but she just liked being with James. This should be odd, right? I should be more annoyed with him day by day, right? That’s how this goes?

“Hey.” James shook her lightly.

“Hmm?”

“I have an idea for today.”

Ali lifted her head. “Let’s hear it.”

“Let’s order-in every meal, not leave the bedroom except to go downstairs to get the food, and just watch movies all day.”

The childlike gleam in James’ eye was too cute for words. Ali had to chuckle a little though. It was like he was treating the day as if it was a snow day in elementary school.

“Whaddya say?” James pinched Ali in the side, drawing another giggle from her.

“I like it! Let’s do it.”

James excitedly pushed himself into more of a sitting position against the pillows. “Who delivers breakfast?”

“Babe, it’s past noon.”

“So?” He grabbed his phone from the bedside table, unhooking the charging cord from the bottom. “I know I gotta have a place in here that delivers breakfast.”

Ali watched him scroll through the multitude of to-go locations in his contact list. She was in awe at the level of sheer joy he had whenever food was involved and he didn’t have to make it or go get it. It was one of the things she always thought would grate her nerves, but it simply became just a silly trait of James’ she ended up thinking was comical.

“FOUND ONE.”

Ali smiled. “Congratulations.”

“This place has awesome hashbrowns” he said, trying to lure her into his excitement. “I know how you love a good hashbrown.”

Admittedly so, that did seem to excite Ali more. “Yes, you do, and yes, I definitely do!”

James brought up the menu online on his phone and they went about choosing what they were going to get for their first food delivery of the day. If today was about self-indulgence and relaxation, James knew how to do it right. Ali was suddenly looking forward to breakfast at noon, in bed, next to a naked James Neal. Damn. Late season off days are quickly becoming my favorite days ever she thought, listening as James placed their order with a giant grin on his face.

* * *

Breakfast was over, lunch had come and gone, and Ali and James had managed to still remain in bed. James had thrown on some boxers and Ali a tank-top and panties, but for the most part, they were just as handsy with one another as they’d been all night and day so far, even with clothes on. It reminded both of them of their early days together, which was a nice feeling to share.

They moved from one movie to the next on Netflix, James choosing a drama, Ali choosing a comedy. Surprisingly, neither had fallen asleep to either movie. Instead, they laughed together and joked and watched and enjoyed.

Just as they were examining an online dinner menu for their third and final delivery of the day, James got a text from Crosby, interrupting the page they had been viewing. Ali looked away, not wanting to invade James’ privacy as he read the text.

“Holy fuck.”

“What?”

James was quickly typing back. “Kuni’s hurt.”

“What!?” Ali sat up. “What happened? Is he okay?”

“Guess it happened at the optional skate this afternoon. I gotta call Coach, hang on.”

James stood up from the bed, his hand running through the moppy mess of hair as he normally did whenever he got anxious. He waited for Bylsma to pick up the phone as Ali waited on the bed, sitting at attention and watching James’ face.

“Hey Coach, just got word from Sid about Kuni.”

Silence hung in the room as Dan explained the situation. James was nodding as he listened, but then closed his eyes and held them tight.

“Wow. That’s too bad.”

Ali’s brow bent in worry. James glanced over and shook his head, mouthing the words “not good”. Her heart sank.

“Alright, yeah, I’ll do that for sure. Thanks Coach. Yep. You too.”

James sat down on the edge of the bed with a heavy thud. “Guess it’s bad. Took a puck to the foot at practice; couldn’t put weight on it at first, but now they think it’s broken.”

“Oh my God.” Ali’s first thought was what it meant for Chris’ return for the playoffs. He was a key part to just about every facet of their team. Her second thought went to Maureen.

“He’s getting x-rays now.” James looked over at her. “Sorry about this. Kinda puts a dent in our great day, doesn’t it?”

“Babe, stop…this is Kunitz we’re talking about.” Ali scooted closer so she could sit beside him. “Do you have to go?”

James shook his head, staring down at the cell phone in his hands. “Dan specifically said no movement until we know for sure, then he’d call us back. Probably a request right from Kuni himself.” He knelt over his knees, hands sliding deeper into his hair. “Uggghhh, whyyy. Why right now? Why Kunitz?”

Ali rubbed James’ back, feeling how tense his muscles were already. “Maybe it’s not broken? Maybe it’s just bad swelling—“

“—You take a puck to the foot, it’s broken, babe.” He looked at her, concern in his eyes. “Who the fuck will play first line now? We need Kuni, he’s a scoring machine.”

“But you don’t know anything yet, right?” Ali squeezed his arm. “Isn’t that was Dan said to you? Not to get worked up until you know?”

James understood that Ali was trying, but he knew the game better than her, and he knew….if Sid was sending an alarm, and Coach was needing to inform everyone, it likely wasn’t a good prognosis. This was all part of the mental prep the rest of the team would need before their game tomorrow night if Kunitz wasn’t playing.”

“Everyone’s in such a good groove right now” he said dejectedly. “God, we have the worst fucking luck. The worst.”

Ali didn’t know what to say. They already had two injuries on the team, but they’d been dealing with those for a few weeks now, adjusting well to the situation. She was running through all the obvious solutions in her mind: Why don’t they just move the lines around a little? Surely Dan has a plan for this sort of thing? Wouldn’t Bennett or Sutter be just as good on the first line as Kunitz?

She knew better, though. Crosby-Kunitz-Dupuis. The three who never failed one another, who moved as one, who read one another’s minds. It’s just the way the first line was; even she knew that.

“Aggghhh, fuck it.” James stood up and placed his phone back on the side table. “Nothing we can do about it, right?”

Ali nodded. “I guess not.” She wondered if she should call Maureen now, or wait until there was confirmation of a broken bone. Maureen was likely with Chris if he was getting x-rays. Either way, she needed to call her friend soon and see how she was.

“Come on, let’s order dinner.”

James sounded deflated, and Ali didn’t want to argue against him. Crawling back up to the pillows where they’d been, James sunk down beneath the covers, lifting the comforter for Ali to snuggle in.

“It might be on my mind the rest of the night” he said, wrapping his arm around Ali, “But I’ll try and get back to the mood I was in earlier.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to” she replied. “I’m as concerned as you are.”

“I’m still hungry though.”

“Oh, well of course.” Ali kissed him on the cheek first, then pulled his face sideways so she could kiss his lips. “I’m here for you, okay? You don’t have to put on a front here, it hasn’t ruined our good day. Promise.”

“I know.” James felt her lips again, moving slowly with his. They were soft and comforting and indicated nothing other than support. “Thank you.”

Ali nodded. “Now get that menu up again, because I’m also just as hungry as you.” That got a smile out of James, if only temporarily.

The rest of the evening, the couple fell back into step with one another, however their moods were still slightly subdued as they waited for word on their friend.

* * *

Notes

Since Ali's officially purchased her wedding dress, here it is!

Front: http://www.rainingblossoms.com/5063-14413-thickbox/chiffon-sweetheart-neckline-sheath-wedding-dress-with-crisscross-bodice.jpg

Back: http://www.rainingblossoms.com/5063-14414-thickbox/chiffon-sweetheart-neckline-sheath-wedding-dress-with-crisscross-bodice.jpg

In addition: I envision her doing her hair very similarly, other than the fact her hair is waaay longer, and waaaay darker. hee hee

Minus the girl modeling it, I think this is very *Ali*. Hopefully you all do too. :)