The Games We Play

Shot glasses were everywhere.

So were bodies.

Outside, the colored lights of the Las Vegas valley still glimmered and shined out the suite’s massive picture windows. The temperature outside, even though it was 11 pm, was still in the 90s. Heat and alcohol and a streak of bad luck while gambling brought the boys back to the room, but the party was far from over.

James stood at the island counter on the first floor of their suite. Surrounding him was Nick, Pete, Mike, and Geno. Each one of them had done four shots already, and they were raising their fifth, even as Geno started to mumble some sort of incoherent toast.

“Nealsy” he started, his thick accent already much harder to decode. “I love, and I love Ali. You get marry…..all go away.”

James laughed. “What?!?” He looked at his brothers, who all shrugged.

“All sex…it go away.” Geno waved his hand that was free, keeping the shot glass hand raised high. “You no skate, you no score, you no Nealsy.”

The other guys couldn’t stop laughing. Even Geno was laughing, and James was shaking his head. He had no clue what he was trying to say.

“So to Ali, I say: you love Lazy!” Geno clinked his shot glass with James’. “And to Lazy, I say – I love you. I wish for much sex and much goal score in long future.”

They cheered and then tipped back their glasses, James wrapping an arm around Geno’s shoulder and hugging him tight.

“Love you, G. You’re like a brother.” He pointed with his glass rather shakily at his actual brothers. “A better brother than these assholes, anyway.”

Nick made a dumb face at James and poured himself another shot of vodka. “Either refill and shut your ass up, or I’m finishing this bottle myself.”

“Well then, you best get to pouring!”

As the bottle was passed around to refill all the shot glasses, Sid moved from the group that was in the living room area over to the kitchen where the true commotion was.

“Sid!” James threw an arm around his broad shoulders. “How ‘bout a shot?”

“I’ll do one, sure.” Sid waved for a shot glass, which Mike slid his direction. “First though - I got a text from Ali, wanting me to tell you to call her.”

James’ drunken elation faltered and his face fell a little. “Is she okay?”

“I don’t know, I’m sure she is” Sid replied, taking his full shot glass. “But if you wanna borrow my phone, it’s all yours.”

James’ head was fuzzy again, and his vision was getting pretty blurred as well. If it was around 11 in Vegas, then it was 2 in the morning back east. It didn’t sit right with him that she’d text that late if she didn’t need him.

“Yeah, can I borrow that?”

Sid handed his phone over as he tipped the clear liquid back, and James left the group momentarily to head upstairs. He slipped into his bedroom, which after only two days looked similar to his bedroom back in Pitt: clothes strewn everywhere, bottles of cologne on the endtable where his various charging cords lay, the sheets on the bed a tossed and turned mess.

James dialed Ali and waited only one ring before she answered.

“James?”

“Yeah, babe – you okay?” His increased heartrate wasn’t working well with his decreased speed of thought or speech.

“Oh good! It worked! Yeah, I’m fine – I just need you.”

James stood still. “Need me?”

“Are you busy?”

“Uh…well the guys all came back to the room to drink” he answered. “I lost 20 grand in blackjack.”

“I don’t care about blackjack, baby.”

James noticed a distinct change in the tone of Ali’s voice, one he knew very well. He took a seat on the bed and ran his hands over his knees. “So why did you want me to call?”

“So I can tell you how I’m touching myself right now.”

His heartbeat spiked so hard he thought it would burst through his chest at that moment. “Youhuh?”

“Touching myself…thinking of you….”

Ali moaned and James grabbed a handful of his hair. “So you’re actually…”

“Yes, babe. Follow with me, please. I told you I needed you.”

Holy fuck, but I didn’t think she meant that. James swallowed hard, trying to get his intoxicated mind wrapped around this. “Are you in bed?”

“Yes.”

James could hear Ali breathing, and all he saw in his mind were her hips moving. “Tell me what you’re wearing.” Outside the door and down the stairway, people were calling his name. He didn’t care.

“Nothing…I just got out of the shower.”

Soft. Warm. Fuck. “What am I doing to you right now?”

“What do you want to be doing to me right now?”

His mind was so hazy, and was only getting worse the more bloodflow he lost to the southern parts of his body. “I want my tongue on your hot little pussy, that’s what.”

Ali moaned again. “That’s what I want, too...Do you know how wet I am right now?”

James could imagine. “Finger yourself and tell me.” He went over to the door and quietly locked it, listening as Ali did as she was told.

“Ohhh, James…”

He lay on the bed, kicking himself back against the headboard with his legs spread in front of him. The buzz he had was thick enough that he didn’t think twice about whipping his stiffening dick out.

“How tight are you, babe…” he asked, his hand slowly working his dick.

“Wet and tight and warm.”

Her voice was breathy and needful, and James closed his eyes. He wished he could feel her.

“You’re a tease, Ali.”

She giggled. “Are you rubbing your dick right now?”

“Yes…”

“Mmmm, I win.”

The way Ali said it made James smile, even as his hand tugged at his rigid hard on. Downstairs, the guys were chanting something, and James thought he heard his name, but it was hard to focus on anything other than the way Ali was breathing into his ear on the other line.

“I wish you could fuck me right now.” The way she spoke made her words come out sharp and intense…exactly the way James would fuck her if he could.

“You want it hard or slow, baby…tell me.”

“I want it slow at first…”

James heard her smile, even through her heavy breathing and her squirming, which he also could hear her doing. “But?”

“But then I want you to make it hurt. Let me know who’s good little girl I am. Slam me like the dirty slut that I—“

“NEALER.”

James jumped so hard his phone went flying out of his hand. “What!?! What the fuck!?”

“What are you doing!? We weren’t done down here, ya know!”

“Fuck you, Mike – I’m done when I say I’m done!” James stood and tried to find his phone. “Fuck, where is it…where is it…”

“You’re not on your phone, are you!?” Mike yelled against the door.

“No man, YOU have my phone! Remember?” James picked up Sid’s phone and saw the call was still going. “Ali?” he whispered. “You there?”

“Yes…still rubbing my pussy for you…”

James’ eyes went to the door and sighed. “I can’t finish with you baby.”

“Why not!? I can speed up—“

“—They’ll know. They’re on me nonstop here” James said, pinching his forehead with his thumb and index finger. He stared down at his dick, still sticking out of his zipper. “I’ll finish myself later and think of you, okay?”

Ali made a pouty sound. “I’m going to finish myself in the next ten minutes, so when you look at the clock, know that I’ve given myself an O just thinking about you.”

Even that was enough to keep James hard.

“Let’s go, dickhead!” Mike shouted.

Dick head is right. James reluctantly shoved his dick back in his pants and zipped up. “Sorry, Ali.”

“Your loss” she teased, a playful flare to her voice.

“I can’t wait until tomorrow” James told her. “Get yourself off and get some sleep. You’ll need it for what I’m gonna do to you.”

“Oooo okay” she cooed. “Love you.”

When James hung up and went to open his bedroom door, Mike wasn’t there. When he walked down the hall, he saw all the usual suspects still downstairs. Passing by Sid’s room, he saw Sid on his back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

“Here you go.” James walked in and handed him the phone, but Sid didn’t bother to take it. “You alright, Crosby?”

“Oh yeah, my head’s just spinning out of control.”

James decided to join him, since his head was spinning as well…both heads, that is. He lay down on the bed and set the phone down by Sid’s head. “Thanks again.”

Sidney’s dark eyes met the brightly colored ones of James. “Was everything okay?”

James chuffed. “Yeah, except now I’ll have blue balls.” He watched as Sid laughed and stared at him.

“What? Really?”

“She can get crazy” James replied, glancing down at his waist. Thankfully, he’d softened enough so that it wasn’t obvious anymore, but he really would need to jerk off at some point later.

“So….Ali called you to have phone sex?”

James nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile. “Did I mention I was lucky?”

No, but I already knew, Sid thought to himself. Instead, he just laughed at stared back up at the giant lofted ceiling above them. Downstairs, more cheering and laughing could be heard, but neither James nor Sid made a move to join the crowd.

“Ali’s a really great girl, Neal.” Sid glanced over. “A really great girl.”

“I know. I don’t deserve her.”

“Ahh…fuck that.” Sid waved a hand, letting it drop on his chest drunkenly. He was wondering if James was as wasted as he was. He’d drank too much at the blackjack table, where he had been winning most of the night…but when he lost his total earnings in one game, he’d pounded quite a few shots with Sutter, who’d been his partner in crime at the table.

“Just tell me one thing” James said, blinking hard. The pattern in the ceiling was playing with his eyes. “Did you ever have a thing for her?”

Every lesson Sid had ever been taught about being cool in front of a camera, or during an interview, or while presenting an award or being presented an award came into play in that very moment.

He leaned his head to the side to meet James’ gaze. “No.”

“Not even a little?”

“Neal, she’s your chick.”

“I know you’re lying.”

“I want her to be happy” Sid replied firmly. “There’s a difference in caring for a person and having a “thing” for a person, right?”

James was having a hard time following as he felt his buzz getting heavier and heavier as time passed. He forgot how quickly shots could catch up to a person.

“Okay, yeah” he said, rubbing his eyes. When he brought his hands away, the pattern in the ceiling seemed like it was rotating. “Is the ceiling moving?”

Sid laughed. “What?” He looked upwards and didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. “Uhh…I don’t think it is?”

“I must be fucking drunk after all.” James groaned. “Amazing my dick got as hard as it did.”

Sid made a face. “TMI, dude.”

“Whatever. I heard you banging Chelsea the other night.”

Sid immediately sat up. “What!? You what?”

“Heard you?” James lay there casually, studying the alarmed look on his captain’s face. “It’s okay. I’ve heard worse….ya know….Beau banging Ali’s best friend in my guest room—“

“—So you didn’t hear, I mean…I wasn’t saying anything, was I?” Sid asked, eyes full with alarm. His heart hammered in his chest harder than if he was on the ice.

All James could do was stare at him and try not to laugh. “Dude, relax. All I heard was moaning.”

Sid breathed out heavily, then flopped back on the bed. James continued to stare at him, wondering why it was such a big deal. After a moment, Sid started to laugh. It began low, then grew to a full-fledge fit of giggles; Sidney Crosbygiggles.

James started to laugh, mostly because he was clueless as to what was going on. “What the hell, Sid?” He pushed him in the shoulder.

“Nothing! Nothing…” Sid shook his head from side to side, then wiped his face with a groan as his laughted subsided. “Ahhhh….this has been one weird weekend, hasn’t it?”

“Just wait ‘til you get married” James said, sitting up. He patted Sid on the knee as he stood. “Should be a jolly good time, eh?”

With that, James left the room, sauntering out in his confident, casual way. Sid watched after him and once he was gone, he let his head fall back heavily onto the mattress. Closing his eyes, Sid tried to envision his own bachelor party…but it seemed to far off, so impossible, so unimportant at that moment, that all he could do was laugh all over again.

* * *

Ali waited all shift, working right up to the very last minute to make sure everything was finished up and she didn’t leave Becky hanging. As soon as she heard the swoosh of the glass doors opening, Ali was out of her heels and slipping off her blazer.

Becky stepped through the entrance, a smile on her face. “Wow, you really are excited, aren’t you? You’re not even gonna stick around a little?”

“Nope!” Ali undid her long hair from its loose bun and shook out the length. “Sorry, love. But we can catch up in two nights, right?”

“Right. Thanks again for helping me out.”

“No prob.”

Becky came around the desk and placed her heavy black workbag under the drawer. Mostly though, she watched Ali dismember her entire ensemble, trotting back into the staff restroom to change. When she emerged again, Becky whistled.

“Oh please.” Ali rolled her eyes playfully.

“I know it’s the first warm evening of the season and all, but a skirt? That short?”

Ali glanced down at the royal blue skater skirt that had just the right amount of flounce no matter how she moved. It was gently flared, and was the perfect topper to a sheer black long sleeve top she’d put on over a black cami beneath. All in all, she thought she had the perfect combination on. “Too much?”

“Hell no.” Becky pointed a finger at her legs. “I guess I forgot just how great your legs are.”

“I officially owe you for that one” she said, winking at Becky. “But I gotta run.”

“Go get ‘em, girl!”

Ali grabbed her purse and phone, gave Becky a hug, then walked out to the parking lot where her car was parked. She checked her phone one more time, and she saw exactly what she was hoping to see:

J: Made it back, in one piece, and I can see straight. Successful trip. All that’s missing is you.

“I’m coming, babe” Ali said to herself. Excitedly, she wasted no time finding her car and making her way back to the house.

When she got there, she wasn’t entirely sure why she was so nervous. Maybe it was excitement, yes…definitely a part of it. She was also pretty sure she’d just made it past one of the biggest obstacles (in her mind) that would be a test for James. For all she knew, he’d done nothing to compromise their relationship.

And that’s why I feel as excited as I do.

She gathered her stuff and left the car parked out in the driveway. It was a warm, early May evening in Pittsburgh, where temperatures sat comfortably in the low 60s with not a cloud in the sky and a pink sunset. A light breeze played at Ali’s skirt and her long hair as she hurried up the walkway to the front door.

“James!” she called, opening the door.

He popped out of the kitchen, surprise all over his face. “I thought you’d come in through the kitchen!?!”

“Whatever! Come here!” She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs tightly about his waist, her lips pressing hard against his. He had a red t-shirt on and dark jeans and nothing else, and it was perfect to her. Ali felt the rough denim against her bare legs, and James’ hands clasp beneath her bottom, supporting her weight.

James was laughing at how excited Ali was, and was laughing through their kisses. “Babe, calm down!”

“I can’t.” She kissed him again, tasting gum…or mints...or something on his mouth, and it tasted good. He must have just sprayed cologne because it was fresh and smelled amazing, teasing her senses.

“I missed you” James said, eyes narrowing on hers. “Miss me?”

Ali tapped his cheek with her open palm. “Stupid question, silly.”

“Well I couldn’t tell from the greeting—“

James was hushed immediately by Ali’s mouth as their lips met in a tender kiss. Both were thinking the exact same thing at that moment: James was lost in the softness of Ali’s lips, and Ali was lost in the strength within James’ kiss. She remained suspended in air, since James made no move to let Ali down, and she made no move to signal she wanted down. Knowing James’ subtle strength, Ali figured he hardly minded holding her.

“Damn.” James finally brought his lips away, but kept his mouth close to Ali’s. “I missed this.”

“Me too” Ali said with a smile. She tightened her arms a little around his neck where her wrists were crossed behind. “I missed your beard, honestly.”

He laughed. “Oh sure. Love me for my physical appearance, not my heart.” Looking down at where his hands were clasped together beneath her ass, he thought for a second. “Actually…”

Ali felt James disconnect his hands and drop her gently to the ground. He took a step back and admired the outfit she had on, realizing she’d gotten a little dressed up for his return home. She puts detail into everything, this girl.

“I think I missed this” James continued. He knelt in front of her, kissing one of Ali’s thighs. She giggled, and he shifted his eyes up to look at her.

“What are you doing, dork?”

James grinned. “I’m going through all the physical things I missed about you, now be quiet.”

Ali rolled her eyes.

“Now. Where was I.” James ran his hands up Ali’s thighs. “I missed this…” He slapped her ass once as he stood, keeping his hands moving over her taut stomach. “Missed this too” he said, pinching her waist.

She giggled. “Stop!”

James put a finger on her lips. “Not done yet.” Ali smiled and he let his finger drop. “Now this? This I really missed…”

Ali tried not to giggle as James lightly ran his hands over her breasts, cupping each and kneading them to get her nipples hard. She looked him in his eyes and bit her lip.

“I missed that too” she whispered.

James stepped forward, one arm wrapping around her waist to hold her against him. He kissed her hard, showing her just how much he did miss her. Two drunken nights and three days of being with the guys and not being able to use his phone had taught him that any length of time he was away from Ali would be a difficult, annoying ordeal. Games would come and go, but if it wasn’t because of hockey, he didn’t want to leave her. Ali made him feel too good and too whole to not to stick around.

“Upstairs” Ali breathed, her eyelids heavy, her gaze full of longing. “Then I’ll show you what else I missed.”

James lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around him once more, and up the stairs they went.

* * *

Ali woke up in the middle of the night with the tenderness below her waist she was accustomed to after a round like her and James shared earlier. It left her smiling afterwards, and she awoke wearing the same dumb smile she had when she fell asleep.

James slept next to her on his stomach, his arms under his bunched-up pillow and his face at ease. His breathing was steady and rhythmic, and Ali would’ve fallen right back to sleep if she didn’t love the view so much. The arm closest to her was the barer of the two; the arm with the N.E.A.L. tattoo, not the sleeve. She snuggled up to it, resting her head on the relaxed muscle. He didn’t stir, and Ali didn’t expect him to; James was way better at sleeping through any kind of movement or noise than she would ever be.

She used that moment just to admire him. It may be one of the last times in the coming weeks she could do it. With playoffs coming up, Ali feared James would revert back to his tense, stressed-out self. If he did, she’d be there for him…as long as he was there for her, too. Wedding arrangements and commitments were only going to get more frequent and more annoying, and she’d likely find herself in a stressed out state more often as well.

Ali lowered her eyes over James’ mess of dark hair that blended into the auburn tint of his beard. He’s perfect to me. In every way. Very lightly, she lifted her fingers and let them play through James’s hair. Though it was messy, it was soft and full to the touch. His neck and his back showed evidence of his time in the desert sun on their trip. It gave James’ usually pale skin a bit of color, and it made her happy. The little things truly made her happy with him.

“That’s creepy, babe.”

His deep voice startled Ali enough for her hand to jerk out of his hair. “Jesus…”

“Sorry.” James smiled a drowsy, close-lipped smile.

“You weren’t supposed to wake up.”

“Why are you awake?”

Ali shrugged. “No reason.” She sat up a little, her hand propping up her head. The sheets slipped over her bare breasts, the cold air chilly against her skin. She yanked it up and over her. “Though I was admiring the view.”

“Of my tired ass?” James let a small, low laugh escape. “There you go liking me again for my looks.”

Ali kissed his forehead. “You’re cute when you’re tired.”

“Uh huh.” James watched as her eyes lowered to the curve of his shoulder and tricep muscles. Lightly, her finger ran along his skin, prickling more than just goosebumps. “Sure you’re okay, Als?”

She didn’t meet his gaze. How do I tell him I’m scared? Of the coming weeks, of the outcome of the playoffs, of the wedding? How do I tell him?

James readjusted his sleeping position, pushing more of the pillow beneath him to prop him up a little. “Hey. I know that look, and it means you’re thinking too much.”

Ali smiled at him. “Guilty as charged.”

“So talk to me.”

She sighed and gathered her words. “Well…I’m scared.”

“I told you, there’s no monster under the bed.”

If his grin didn’t make her melt all the time, she would’ve smacked him. “Very funny.”

“So what are you scared of?” James’ tone was more serious now.

“Just how the next few weeks are going to turn out. You know, with playoffs, and finalizing wedding stuff, and my party, and—“

“—Slow down, slow down” James said, sliding a hand out from under the pillow. He took her smaller hand in his, caressing it. “I know how I acted before, when I yelled at you…is that what you’re afraid of?”

“Kind of, but not really.”

“Well that’s not helpful.”

Ali smiled. “Sorry…agh…It’s not even that big of a deal. I guess I’m just scared of the pressure. And we’ll both be under some serious pressure.”

James couldn’t disagree, but he didn’t have a solution for her either. They both fell silent.

“When’s the first game again?” Ali asked.

“Three days.”

Their eyes met.

“I’ll be there” she said.

“I know you will.” James leaned forward and gave Ali a gently, heartfelt kiss. “And I’ll be by your side for any last minute wedding stuff too, okay?”

“Okay.” Her eyes seemed to sparkle in the low light in the bedroom, both happy and content. That’s all James could have asked for.

Ali kissed him again. “By the way, I need you by my side in a few days…I promised Becky we’d watch her kids while her and her husband have a date night off.”

James snorted out a laugh. “I’m sorry, what?”

“It’s only for a few hours.” Ali smiled. “More bonding time before the playoffs, right?”

“Right…assuming no one dies.” He saw Ali roll her eyes at him and he imitated her, which got her to laugh. “I’m up for the challenge.”

“Good. Because if you’re cute while you’re tired, you’re downright fucking sexy when you’re around kids.” Ali knew she had him when she saw James smile widely when she said this.

* * *

Notes