The Games We Play

Game two was another victory for the Pens, this time on Washington ice. However, it was a different story come game three when the Pens returned home. They fell to the Capitals in a tight back-and-forth game, with a final score of 4 to 3.

Ali had a late shift at the hotel that night, but she wore her jersey to work anyway. She was working with John, who wasn't into hockey in the least bit, but she gave him a shirt to wear beneath his blazer. Together, they got quite a few compliments and kind words to those checking in.

Between keeping an eye on the flat panel that showed the game and listening to the boisterous crowd in the lounge bar, Ali was able to follow along fairly well as guests came and went. In addition to juggling work and the game, Ali was also finalizing wedding stuff with all her girls via email.

They had started a massive chain, emailing back and forth about when everyone was flying out, where they were staying, where they'd be going for the bachelorette party, and on and on and on. Email had been the best way to go, since everyone's schedules were all over the place, in addition to the fact that many of Ali's bridesmaids were scattered across the country. Brittany was in Boston, Julie was in Colorado, Mary Anne and Molly were both still home, and Rebecca was in Whitby.

Since Brittany was her Maid of Honor, a lot of the correspondence was being taken care of by her. Ali was beyond thankful for this, because her head was already spinning too fast between hockey, work, and the wedding. It was great to have Brittany take a little of the load. Not only that, but Ali would be traveling to D.C. to watch James and the guys play in two nights. If they won in D.C. the next night, that meant one more game in which that round could be decided. She wanted to be there, whether it was a win or a loss, to hopefully see them advance to the semi finals.

When Ali got home after her shift, James was already upstairs in bed, but not asleep. He was lying on his back, remote control in his hand, head propped up on a stack of pillows as he watched tv. Ali noticed he was still wearing his dress clothes: a pair of dark navy pants, black belt, and light blue button down. His tie was on the floor next to the bed. His blue eyes shifted to the doorway and he smiled.

"There's my girl."

"Hey babe." She dropped her work bag at the door. "Sorry about the outcome."

He shrugged, seemingly unphased. "It's only one. I'm glad you're home, though."

Ali climbed on top of the mattress, sitting on her legs. "You seem to be taking it well...that's good."

James looked at her, wondering why she hadn't come closer. Is she still worried I'll get angry at her during these games? He opened his arm, giving her the signal to come lay with him. She smiled and gladly slid in, finding her spot in the curve of his neck, draping one leg over his.

"That's more like it" he said, glancing down at her.

Ali closed her eyes against his chest. She could tell he was wearing her favorite cologne; it was warm and inviting and just a bit bold, enough to cause her to sigh happily in his arms.

"Tired?" he asked.

"No, just comfortable."

He rested his head on hers, observing her as she played with one of the buttons on his shirt.

"Think you'll bounce back when you play again in two nights?"

"No doubt."

"Good, that means you'll be going back to DC...and I want to join you there."

James shifted his eyes down. "Yeah? Well what if I want to join you in DC? Hmm?"

"What do you mean?" Ali lifted her head to catch James' smile. "Like...in my hotel room?"

He nodded.

"You can't go one night?"

He shook his head 'no'.

Ali laughed. "Score one for Diserelli then." She leaned in and kissed him, noticing how lazily he kissed her back. It made her realize just how tired he must be. "You want to go to bed, babe?"

"Nah, let's just lay here...like this." James hugged her closer, feeling better than he had all night. In his mind, Ali made him feel good when she laid with him like they were. When James could hold her and touch her, he felt much calmer.

The truth was, James knew he and the team played like shit that night. He hoped it wasn't going to be a pattern, but he knew how emotional they could get when it came down to it. He also knew how detrimental those emotions could be to his team, no matter how skilled they were. But he pushed all those emotions aside for the time being.

He drug his hand up Ali's arm to her shoulder, then back down again. She was warm and soft, and her breathing just barely matched his. Her eyes remained closed, which made him laugh to himself. Looks like someone else is the tired one here.

He continued watching tv for a while, avoiding all sports related channels so he wouldn't have to see or hear anything about their loss. Next to him, Ali shifted and made the tiniest noise while doing so.

"Hey" James whispered. "Babe, you awake?"

"Barely."

"Here...let's get comfortable." He gently slipped out from under Ali, which left her to sit up on her own. James quickly removed his shirt and then his pants and socks. As he did so, Ali drowsily removed her top and jeans as well, unsnapping her bra but leaving her boyshort panties on. With her eyes closed, she slid under the sheets, backing up against James as he slid in behind her.

"See? Much better." James kissed her temple, hearing her sigh sleepily.

"Thankyou" she mumbled, her voice sluggish and tired. "Love you."

James smiled. "Love you, babe."

* * *

The game two nights later went in favor of the Penguins after all, which guaranteed at least one more game between the Caps and the Pens. It would be played in Washington, which gave Ali her wish of wanting to travel to watch James play in DC. If the Pens won this game? They advanced. And if they advanced, Ali wanted to be there.

After it was all said and done: the Pens won and clenched their spot in the semi finals. The team was beyond excited and they celebrated wholeheartedly...both on the ice and off.

James clamored into the hotel with the rest of the guys, all of them in high spirits and chattering wildly. They'd be going out later for drinks, for sure. First thing was first: James had to contact Ali to make sure their plans lined up. She'd be going out with them, but he had every plan on going back with her. Just the thought made James feel even more uppity, elevating his personal high even further.

Niskanen and Geno filed into the room behind James as he fired off a text message to Ali, telling her to call him the minute she got back to her room. Even though she was staying in the same hotel, she didn't have the direct transportation James and the team did, so it would take her longer to make it back. He was in no rush, and he knew the others weren't either...although he did want to see her.

"You call Ali?" Geno asked him.

"Texted, yeah" James answered, yanking on the purple silk tie about his neck. "Don't worry, G...you'll get to drink with her."

"Not too much to ask, no?"

James shook his head and laughed at him. "You gonna give her a speech like the poetry you spilled in Vegas for me?"

Niskanen looked up from his suitcase, a snarky smile on his face. "Poetry? Is that right, Geno?"

"You no listen to Lazy" he replied, rolling his brown eyes. "He drink too much, start saying wrong things..."

"What!" James let out another laugh. "Pretty sure it was YOU, man."

They started shoving each other, Geno ruffling up James' hair, which proceeded to James tossing Geno on the bed and immediately checking his hair in the wall mirror.

As Geno continued chirping James, his phone went off on the desk near the opposite side of the room. It was Ali, the picture James assigned to her contact of her and her bright smile and aviator sunglasses on.

"Hey!"

"OH MY GOD BABE ARE YOU NOT DYING?"

James chuckled, one eye still checking his hair in the mirror. "Something like that, yeah."

"Are you excited??"

"Fucking right I am!" He turned to the guys in the room and held out his phone. "Are we excited, boys?"

"FUCK YEAH" Niskanen and Geno yelled, Geno's voice overpowering Nisky's by a long shot.

"Wow, I guess that proves it!" Ali said with a laugh.

Leaving his two teammates in the room, James ducked out into hallway for some privacy. "So where are you?"

"Almost there. Just one more street of never ending traffic, I think."

"Your room is 907, right?"

"Yep, and you better be there when I arrive."

A grin spread across James' face. "You know I will be. See ya soon."

Back in the room, he double-checked everything he was wearing to make sure it was just right. He threw on a tad bit more cologne just for good measure, ran his hands through his hair, then grabbed his wallet and headed for the elevators. Geno yelled after him, and James made sure to yell back that he'd return before they went out. Whether he actually would be, he didn't know.

Room 907 was five stories above where James and the team were staying, which was a godsend. He knew there was no way he wasn't having sex tonight, and he also knew how he and Ali could get, so the distance between her room and his made him count his blessings.

Knowing he would arrive at the room before Ali did, he hung out on the couch at the end of the hallway, waiting patiently for her to appear from out of the elevators. About 10 minutes later she arrived, still dressed in James' jersey and jeans, her hair left down in loose curls about her shoulders.

"BABE!"

James stood as Ali jogged towards him. They met in a huge embrace, Ali laughing all the while as James hugged her.

"You're crazy!" he said.

"You're AMAZING." She slapped him in the shoulder. "That goal of yours was a beaut, babe - I'm SERIOUS."

"Yeah, yeah, suck up all you want...you know you're still getting whatever you want tonight."

There was such an obviously naughty radiance to James’ gaze when he looked at her at that moment, Ali could've stripped right there and given him anything that he wanted.

"That's a pretty loaded statement."

"I have a pretty loaded gun." James winked at her.

Ali groaned. "You did not just say that."

"Oh I did, baby, I did..."

She shook her head and slipped her key card into the door. A little flash of green and a double beep, and they were in. The minute the heavy door swung shut, James had Ali pinned against the wall, his mouth locked onto hers. His hands slid up her thighs to her waist, lifting the baggy jersey up so he could grab her skin.

"James..." Ali felt his hands squeeze her waist tightly, letting her know she shouldn't argue. When she acquiesced and wrapped her arms around his neck, James pulled her hips into his more.

"You know what would be pretty hot" he said in between kissing her. "If you wore my jersey while I fucked you."

Ali smiled into their kiss, feeling parts of her below the waist go weak as her desire increased. "Later, though..."

"Oh I know" James breathed. "But I want you to think about it all night while we're out." He drug his tongue along the curve of her ear, kissing directly behind as he held her face with his hand. This forced Ali to look into his eyes. "And I know you will, too."

All Ali could do was nod. His breath was heavy and hot against her skin, drawing from her exactly what he wanted, which was everything she wanted to give him. It made her reconsider going out at the rate James was ruining her current pair of panties.

"I don't remember you being this horny last year during the playoffs," she said.

James kissed her, releasing his grip on her face. "That's because I didn't know what I was doing with you yet...How far I could go...how far you wanted to go..."

“And now?” Ali pulled on the fabric of his shirt, yanking him towards her. “It’s all a green light.”

Their mouths met again, James’ hands running up both sides of Ali’s neck as he felt her hands sliding down to the buldge that was growing in his pants. Just the feel of her hand on him made him want to ditch the entire evening’s plans.

Ali paused and held her head back so she could look James in the eyes again. “You really want me to wear your jersey later?”

He wiped his mouth and grinned, avoiding eye contact. “I mean…”

“Teeeelll meee.” Ali squeezed his hardening dick, getting his eyes to look at her. She smiled. “Because I think it’s kinda hot.”

“Fuck you are the best.” He bent forward to kiss her again, but Ali moved her head back.

“One more thing…”

James searched her gaze, his lips needing hers. “Anything. What?”

Ali bit her lip, hesitating only momentarily. “Can you wear it?”

"My jersey?"

"Yeah."

He laughed. “While you wear nothing?”

“Oh….I’ll be wearing something.” She finally moved her mouth closer so they could kiss, but pulled back almost immediately, leaving James hanging. “But you’ll just have to wait and see what that is. And I want you, to think aboutthat all night.”

The corner of James’ mouth lifted in a smirk. “Deal.”

* * *

D.C. had its fair share of night clubs, and of those, the members of the Pittsburgh Penguins who were going out had sought out the best one and infiltrated it in all their glory.

Sid called and made sure a VIP area was arranged for them, keeping them in the mix but far enough out of the way that they didn’t draw too much attention. The club they were hoping to go, a fresh new location called Ultrabar, had just the right setup, so Sid made it happen.

The ambiance was modern with a sultry vibe. Pink, purple, and dark blue were the only color lights within the place, casting a seductive shadow over the booths and balcony that made up the layout of the bar. There was a healthy sized crowd for a Wednesday night, but nowhere near the size crowd the weekends likely saw. A cluster of 20-somethings gathered around the bar and filled several of the booths, all of which had their gazes drawn back to where the Pens occupied the spacious VIP area.

Dressed in scalloped-edged white shorts, an off the shoulder light blue top, and bright yellow high heels, Ali’s pop of color with her heel choice quickly turned orange under the bright fuscia and purple hues of the lights. In addition, her white shorts took on various shades, depending on where she sat.

So much for trying to look cute, she thought, setting her clutch down on a white side table next to where her and James sat.

Drink were handed to them by Geno, who managed to squeeze in next to Ali despite the lack of room.

“What is it?” she asked loudly over the music.

“Special type of vodka.” Geno moved a finger towards the drink. “You try – you like.”

Ali looked at James and shrugged. She took the entire liquid down in one shot, causing both James and Geno to bust out laughing.

“Babe, you don’t SHOOT that!” James looked at Geno with his mouth hanging open.

She coughed, feeling the burn flood her arms, stomach, and spine. “Oh sure…” She coughed again. “…now you tell me!”

“I get you another!” Geno jumped up and hurried off to the bar again.

James was still laughing. “You okay?” he asked, sliding a hand over her thigh.

Ali was still wincing, but the worst was over. “I think so…”

“That was impressive!”

She smiled and cleared her throat. “Thanks. What did he get you?”

James sniffed the drink and made a face. “Probably the same…I don’t know, could be anything. He could’ve pissed in it, for all I know.”

Ali giggled, wondering if it was possible to have one drink and already feel like she was floating. Maybe it wasn’t the alcohol at all; maybe it was that little piece of knowledge in the back of her mind that she would be getting her back blown out later by the man sitting next to her. When he reached an arm around her shoulders and rested it on the back of the couch, she settled in closer, watching as the other guys spread out around them.

James took a long sip of the liquid in his glass, exhaling hard. “Damn. Think it’s tequila.” He held the glass towards Ali. “Want a taste?”

She nodded, so James tipped the glass for her as her lips pressed against it. Her eyes never left his, looking up as she drank. James felt his dick twitch at just the sight.

“Mmm...it’s good.” Ali licked her lips slowly, and James felt the heat within him burning hotter.

“Ali! What the hell’s up?”

Their attention on one another was finally pulled away to see Paulie standing in front of them. He had a drink in his hand and a smile on his face. “Got room for one more?”

James slid down and Ali scooted along with him to give Paul more space. When he took a seat, Ali patted his thigh. “Long time, no see! Good damn game tonight.”

“Thanks.” He reached around and pointed at James. “If it wasn’t for this fucker getting fouled every period, I think my job would be a lot easier.”

“Pfft, that’s bullshit” James said with a laugh. “Where were ya when Fleury was swimming through traffic at the start of the second?”

Ali fell back against the cushion and let the two razz one another all they wanted. She knew some hockey jargon, but there was no way she was getting in the middle of these two.

Very subtley, she reached over and took the glass tumbler from James, who hardly even noticed. She downed the rest of the tequila, which was much easier to do than the vodka, and then stood.

“Excuse me, boys.” She jiggled the glass. “More, babe?”

“Yeah, only if this time I get to drink it.” He gave her a wink, and then he and Paul fell right back in to chirping one another.

Ali headed in the direction Geno had taken off earlier, thinking the bar was a ways down the aisle. She descended two steps away from the VIP area, and then could easily see Geno and some of the other guys standing at the end of the bar. She got excited when she saw one of the guys was Sid.

“Hey!” she said, grabbing onto his arm gently.

“There you are!” Sid’s smile grew ten times its normal size as the two of them hugged. “I knew you were in town, I just didn’t know if you were joining us?”

“You know I wouldn’t miss this! I’m with you guys to the end.”

Sid took Ali’s empty glass and slid it down the bar. He didn’t ask, he didn’t even know what she was drinking, he just took over. Ali stood there smiling, feeling kind of special that Sid and her had gotten that comfortable…even after everything.

“Whatever your top shelf tequila is” he told the bartender. Glancing back, he gave Ali a tiny smile. “Am I close?”

The brown of his eyes appeared black in the pink and blue glow of the lights, but they were happy.

“Well you didn’t have to go top shelf, Sid—“

“—It’s nothing. Whatever you want.”

Ali curled her hands together in front of her, feeling coy all of a sudden. Maybe it is the alcohol? Dammit.

“So…” She quickly tried to find something to talk about.

“So…” Sid repeated. He turned and leaned his back against the bar, folding one arm over the other. Ali watched the bulk of his biceps move beneath his white shirt, straining against the fabric.

“I heard you had a pretty good time in Vegas!” Ali said, trying not to reveal she knew anything about him hooking up with someone. When she mentioned this, though, Sid seemed to falter a little.

“Yeah, uh…it had its moments, that’s for sure.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ve never been a Vegas guy.”

“Have you ever been there prior to this trip?”

“No…”

Ali laughed. “Well Sid! If you’ve never been there, you can’t possibly know if you’re…” She held up air quotes, “A Vegas Guy.”

Even Sid had to chuckle, his unique laugh on the verge of turning into a giggle. “Yeah sure, fiiiine. I’m still not a Vegas guy.”

“One tequila! Neat!”

Sid reached around and grabbed the drink from the bar tender. “Here you go.”

“Thank you.” Ali took a sip, feeling the smoothness fill her from the inside out. Her and Sid stood looking at one another, neither really needing to say anything.

“Your hair’s getting long” Ali noted, taking a drink.

Sid dipped his head bashfully. “I know, it’s really awful.”

“No way, I like your hair long.”

“Really?”

Ali nodded. “James’ hair too. All you guys’ hair. LOVE me some long hair!”

A loud cry of laughter rose up from a few tables down the aisle. Sid and Ali turned their heads to see that it was James, Paulie, Sutter, and Dupuis who were causing the raucous. They looked at one another and both rolled their eyes.

“I don’t know about you, Sid…but I’m having déjà vu.”

“You are?” he asked.

“Wasn’t it me and you, doing just this, watching that…” She thumbed at James and the others having fun, “At a bar somewhere in Buffalo?”

Sid remembered it all too well. In fact, Sid wished he could forget it. The way Ali looked in her red dress that night, he was certain it would be the end of him. The way her eyes had gone wide and full when she saw James surrounded by puck sluts…he thought that would be the end of him as well, but in a very different manner. Ali was happier now, Sid could tell. The ring on her finger seemed to do Nealer wonders, not that any of them ever expected it. Even Ali seemed to glow in a new light since their engagement. That’s all he really ever wanted.

Ali nudged him in the arm. “We’ve come a long way from that night, haven’t we?”

“In more ways than one, yeah.”

Their matching brown eyes met, and they both smiled. Ali would always have a soft spot in her heart for Sidney, and for all he did to comfort her and be there for her…and for James…when he didn’t need to be.

“Can I tell you something?” she asked him.

Sid felt his heart hammer within in chest. “Sure, anything.”

Ali ran her finger along the rim of her glass. “You’re a really great guy, Sid.”

Oh please, Ali, don’t do this, he thought.

“And I really hope that some day I get to help you the way you helped me.” Ali laughed and knocked her forehead with her palm. “I mean…not that I hope you are in the same situation I was in—“

“—I know, I know” Sid replied, chuckling. “But really, you don’t have to say anything.”

“No, I do.” Ali looked at him and her face went serious. “Really, Sid. Head to toe, from your looks to your heart to you ridiculous laugh and your ridiculous talent…”

Stop, stop, stop, please Ali…

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just hope you find someone who compliments you. Because I can’t think of another who deserves happiness more than you.”

Sid hung his head, absorbing her words and doing his best not to say a single thing in return for fear he’d ruin everything.

“Oh no, did I do something?” Ali asked, a worried look on her face. “Wait…I’m sorry…”

“No, no, no” Sid touched her arm, his strong hands somehow incredibly gentle. “I just…I guess I don’t…” He shook his head. “I’m terrible with this kind of thing.” He looked at Ali and exhaled. “Terrible might not even cut it.”

“Just say thank you” Ali teased.

Sid leaned into her. “Thank you, Allison.”

When he drew back, Ali leaned in to him. “You’re welcome, Sidney.”

* * *

“I might be drunk.”

“I might be too.”

James kissed Ali’s neck and she pushed him away sloppily. “Stop, that tickles!”

“No.” He leaned in and kissed her again.

Ali bit her lip to keep from laughing, not only because it felt good, but because Geno was making the weirdest face at her.

“What is he doing?” she asked James. He didn’t answer her because he was too busy rubbing his nose against her cheek. “James.”

“What.”

She pointed over at Geno. “He’s watching us.”

“It’s G. He’s weird.”

Ali clicked her tongue. “Well I know that…”

James looked over at Geno, waving him closer. He gladly came over and sat next to James.

“Nealsy.”

“Why are you watching us?”

“Because you’ll need reminder once wedding is over and sex goes away.”

James pursed his lips together and gave Ali a smart smirk. “Do you see? The man is just looking out for me.”

Ali leaned forward so that she was facing Geno head on and pointed at him. “The sex is never, ever, ever, ever, going away….ever, ever, ever….”

James grabbed the finger she was pointing at Geno and started to laugh. “Don’t you know it’s not nice to point at Russians.”

Geno made at face at James. “Ali, I love.”

“I love, Geno” she said back, imitating his accent.

He gave her a firm kiss on the head, slapped James in the arm, then left them alone. Ali fell back against the cushions and started giggling for no reason. Her loose shirt had slid down her arm, exposing the bare skin of her shoulder and collarbone. The long earrings she wore just barely tickled against her skin, swinging subtly with her every move. Their movement only drew James' eyes to her body even more. He let his gaze travel down, taking their time as they arrived at her smooth thighs. The contrast of her barely-there white shorts and her bronze legs was enough to make parts of him ache.

“Hey Ali?”

“Hmm?”

James slid his hand along her leg until it came to rest on her inner thigh. “I think I might be ready to leave.” He gave her thigh a tiny squeeze.

She was no stranger to that look in James’ gaze. It was the one that let her know that he was hungry for her. It was the one that let her know that no matter what she said, they were leaving. It was the one that let her know he was feeling the same way she was.

Closing her legs slowly to trap his hand, Ali tickled James’ furry chin with the tip of her nail. “Have you been thinking about what I told you earlier?”

James smiled. “You know I have.”

Ali felt his hand sneak its way even further up her thigh until it was covering the area beneath the zipper of her shorts.

“And have you been thinking about I what I told you earlier?”

She felt him squeeze on her center, the large flat of his hand hot against her sensitive skin. “Yes” she whispered.

“Good girl.” He kissed her. “Then let’s go.”

* * *

Notes

~~ Sexy times are a'coming! Happy New Year to us all! ;) ~~