"Oh thank god you're still here!" CiCi exclaimed as she walked out of Heinz Hall to find Sidney. He was leaning against a street lamp with a large bag at his feet and a hat slung low over his ears. When she spotted him he stood a little straighter and lifted his eyes to look at her. "I thought you might give up on me or.." She trailed off.

CiCi stopped when she saw him smile at her. He was beautiful and standing on a busy street corner, going unnoticed by many walking by, waiting for her. "Hi."

"Hey. I knew it wasn't out yet, I was standing in the back of the auditorium for a little while." They stood awkwardly facing each other as the crowd from inside the hall started to file out onto the street.

"What's in the bag?"

"Well, I had an idea. So that we can have a quiet and uninterrupted dinner, I picked up food for us from one of my favorite restaurants down here." He looked like a child in a candy store. He was bouncing on his feet and grinning from ear to ear. He looked so proud of what he did.

"Where are we going to eat?"

"I live over in Market Square." He grabbed CiCi's hand and started pulling her in the direction of his apartment only a couple blocks away.

"I thought you lived in the suburbs? With, like your old coach or something?" She questioned as she followed his direction. She was thrilled that he was holding her hand and considered wanting to be able to enjoy their time together. But her question posed made him stop in his tracks.

He turned, and with a fake pout said, "You promised you wouldn't google me!"

"I didn't! I promise you I didn't. After you left my roommate's boyfriend hounded me with information and he said that you lived with some guy named Mario. And how he thought it strange that you can afford your own place but choose to stay there." CiCi rushed through her explanation getting everything Tom had said to her out in one breath.

Sid laughed and looked up at the night sky. "I lived with Mario when I was 18 and new to the states. I didn't know anyone. And he is the team owner. You seriously know nothing about hockey, eh?"

"No, but I know you're Canadian because you just said 'eh'."

"That was sort of discriminatory." He had a look of mock horror on his face. She didn't know if he was kidding or if he really was offended and she hoped she hadn't crossed a line.

"I thought I was just being cute." She shrugged her shoulders.

"You're lucky you are. Come on, the food is getting cold. At this rate we are going to have to heat everything up and it's never the same when it's reheated." He grabbed her hand again and began walking in their original direction.

It only took ten minutes to get to his apartment building and when they were in the elevator Sid removed his hat and ruffled his hair a bit. CiCi got a better look of him and found herself blush when he caught her staring at him.

"What?" He asked.

"You weren't noticed were you?" She quickly recovered.

"Surprisingly, no. I'm relieved that I wasn't." The elevator dinged indicating their arrival to his floor and the pair exited without another word spoken. CiCi walked behind Sid to a large steel door and followed him in towards the open floor concept apartment.

"I had no idea these apartments existed and I've lived in the city for nearly eight years now." She wandered through the spacious living room and got caught up in staring out the large window facing the square.

"Yeah, I got this place about six years ago. Wow, I didn't realize I've been in this place for that long," Sid said as he unpacked the bag from Meat and Potatoes. He glanced up to see her staring out the window in a daze. "What's on your mind?"

"You really want to know?" She asked as she turned around to look at him. He nodded his head and flashed an encouraging smile. "I never thought I'd be in a famous person's home. How awful is that? I shouldn't be thinking like that at all. You just want to feel like a normal person."

Sid chuckled at her little rambling and noticed her face flush with embarrassment. Her hands flew up to her cheeks and she felt the warmth radiating from them.

"Okay, I'm finished. I apologize. I never fan girl." CiCi walked over towards Sid standing at the island in his kitchen.

"Did you just use fan girl as a verb?" Sid laughed only making CiCi turn redder.

"Yeah, I guess I did," she said shyly. His shoulders continued to shake in silent laughter. CiCi knew how ridiculous she sounded and found herself laughing with him. In the midst of their laughter they fell into seats side by side and began sharing a variety of starters from the dinner menu.

"Here, you have to try this," Sid said as he set a bowl of gravy covered French fries in front of her.

"Firstly, everything else here looks delicious and completely out of the realm of what a physically fit athlete would be expected to eat. And secondly, what are those white things in the gravy?"

"Cheese curd. This is poutine."

"This is the only thing that looks gross," CiCi tried to push the bowl away. "And you are totally all Canadian. Did you find the only restaurant in the city that serves a Canadian delicacy."

"I don't think this is really a delicacy. And I've never had it until I was playing in juniors."

"What is juniors? And why wasn't it until then?"

"A professional league in Canada. And I didn't grow up in Quebec where poutine is largely based," he explained as he forked some of the fries and stuffed them into his mouth.

"Ugh, fine I'll try it but only because you make eating it look sexy," CiCi pulled the bowl back over and took a bite herself.

"Sexy, huh?" Sid wiggled his eyebrows at her and smiled suggestively. She chewed slowly as not to rush her response.

"You are very, very sexy," she said once she finished eating and took a sip of her bottle of water.

"I have to say, I think you are too," Sid whispered bashfully. They both seemed shy all of a sudden. "This is crazy, we've slept together, why are we being awkward?"

"Because we met unconventionally and any forthcoming relationship, if there is one, will be straying from the norm."

"Tell me something you haven't told me already."

"I love food."

"I gathered that. You haven't strayed from anything I've put out."

"I'm not a pig or anything," CiCi got slightly defensive.

"I wasn't implying that! I'm sorry if you thought I was," Sid said. "You aren't like any girl I've ever met before."

"What do you mean?" She asked as she picked at a piece of chicken she placed on her plate.

"Well, you have this passion for art, you listen to an eclectic choice of music, you don't try to fit in it seems. But you are completely beautiful and you don't walk around like you know this. Seriously, where did you buy your dress?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" CiCi asked. She studied the dark green colored skater dress she found on the shelf of a local consignment shop.

"I'm just trying to make a point here Cesira. Humor me."

"Plato's Closet," she replied. He smiled at her and when she finally glanced up at him to see his grin she said, "I didn't grow up in a family with money. I had two working parents who preached to me to go to college, get an education. My mom showed me how to shop for style at discounts. I know how to coupon like you wouldn't believe, and I pursued a career that I wanted. Not because it would make me money, because frankly it doesn't, but I love it."

Sid caught her off guard by hopping off of his stool in one fell swoop and throwing his arms around CiCi and pulling her flush to him. His lips were full against hers and his kisses tasted faintly of the soda he had been sipping on while she tried to justify her uniqueness. She moaned against his lips, enjoying the feel of his muscles against her thin frame. His method was frenzied, but he slowed down and began to savor her. After what felt like several minutes he pulled away, never releasing her from his embrace and studied her as she slowly opened her eyes. He smirked at her and was pleased with himself because he knew he was the one to make her have that wanton look on her face.

"Not like any girl I've ever known," he whispered when he finally saw her blue-green eyes. He kissed the tip of her nose and pressed his forehead against hers. "We really aren't being very traditional are we?"

"I'd say no. But who cares? Come here," she uncrossed her legs and he stepped even closer to her. Sid rested his hands on CiCi's knees and as she pulled his lips to hers again he inched them up along her bare thighs under her dress. Between his luscious lips and his rough hands CiCi could feel her body responding in a most delicious way. "Mmm, I really thought we would talk and get to know one another," she moaned as his lips ran across her jaw to her neck. She willingly moved her head to allow for better access.

"We are getting to know one another," he said between kisses. CiCi laughed softly as Sid continued his trail of kisses along her neck down to her exposed collarbone. His hands were completely hidden by her skirt, grazing her thighs, fingertips brushing against the seam of her lace boy shorts. She wouldn't complain. His idea of getting to know one another was even more appealing than talking anyways.

********

CiCi snuck out of the exceptionally neat bedroom quietly and with ease. She was searching for her shoes and was hoping she could make it home before her roommates woke up. She grabbed her phone before she located her shoes to see three texts from her roommates. All of them wondering where she was. Caroline's coming across as threatening.

"Damn." She collapsed against the kitchen island and read Caroline's text again. She figured she better call her to let her know she was fine. She picked up on the first ring.

"What the hell CiCi? You went to the symphony alone and never came home," Caroline shouted into the phone.

"I'm fine. I met up with Sidney after the show. I told you I was."

"Well we were all worries when you weren't here this morning. I was about a phone call away to Mark."

"And say what to him? Your ex fiancé didn't come home last night. What good would that do?" CiCi asked exasperated. She knew her friends were worried, but she was a grown woman. She knew right from wrong.

"When are you coming home?" Caroline changed the subject. Why does it matter when she came home? It was Sunday, a day off for her. She had planned on leaving then to go home and shower and change, but this conversation was making her lean more to climbing back into bed with Sidney and sleep the morning away.

"I don't know. I'll see you later." She quickly hung up before Caroline could comment and stuffed her phone inside her purse. She turned on her heel and marched right back into Sidney's bedroom where he was still sound asleep. He was on his left side facing the spot she had vacated a short time ago. The sheet had slipped down dangerously low on his naked hip and seeing that made her flashback to the night before.

He wasn't hurried with her this time. He took his time removing clothes and paying attention to certain body parts he hadn't seen before. Just the thought of how he tended to her breasts made her nipples harden with excitement. In fact the thought of his tongue all over her body made her stomach clench.

She hurriedly threw off her clothes and stealthily climbed back into bed without waking the sleeping Adonis beside her. She didn't care that her friends thought she was being wreck less. She never did anything remotely exciting in her life and she decided it was time for a change. This man, local celebrity, hockey god, desired her. And she wasn't going to run away from him as she was about to because her friends were worried. They were being safe, and she could make her own decisions. In his bed was where she wanted to be.

She studied his face, the high cheekbones and long dark eyelashes fluttering against the cheeks. She knew he had lost a significant amount of weight recently, he had told her so. She could only imagine what he looked like with the twenty or so pounds on his frame. And a mouth flu of teeth. As she stared he shift slightly letting the sheet ride down ever so slightly and she could glimpse the way his hip bones formed a v-shape and the taught muscles of his abdomen. She wasn't used to someone so fit, her previous relationship being with a huskier guy. She liked how she and Sid fit together so easily.

She suppressed a giggle when he opened his mouth slightly and a whistling sound came out. She sympathized with him. He had it rough with missing all those teeth. And even tougher time before with the broken jaw. And concussions. She definitely did not envy his career choice. But the way he talked to her about it made her realize he loved it and didn't want to be doing anything else.

She hadn't realized she was zone out until she heard him whisper, "Like what you see?"

"You were whistling in your sleep," CiCi fired back. She didn't hold back her giggle and yelped when he rolled over onto her and started to tickle her sides.

"Ah you are ticklish!" He laughed as she screamed for him to stop, giggling along with him.

"Yes! Please stop!" His fingers gripped her bare hips and he stared down at her hungrily. CiCi could feel his hardening member on her thigh an shifted her legs as best she could to accommodate him in between her legs. He leaned down and kissed her taking no time to let his tongue invade her mouth. He slipped inside of her quickly, but didn't move. She knew staring at him turned her on, but she didn't realize just how ready she was for him.

He moved slowly, languidly, kissing her the entire time. She held onto his hips as she felt herself building to her release. It was too soon, she felt, as she reveled in the feel of his body pressed into hers.

"You feel incredible," he whispered against her lips, "Are you gonna come for me baby?"

CiCi felt it. She knew she wouldn't be able to verbalize a yes so she nodded vigorously. He laughed and kissed her collarbone as he picked up his movements. He wanted to lose it with her, he knew he was close too. And as she came he groaned as he felt her tighten and let go with her. Sid collapsed on top of CiCi and tried to catch his breath.

"You really have to go to Nova Scotia?" CiCi laughed. She was only have joking. She didn't want to come across as needy or clingy. But she didn't want to think of what happened when he leaves for three months.

"I don't have to, but I don't think my trainer will classify daily sexual acts as rigorous enough to maintain my weight and be ready for preseason in September." Sid rolled onto his back and pulled CiCi to him keeping a tight hold on her. She snaked her arm around his waist and snuggled closer to him.

"I just found you though," CiCi whispered against his neck.

"I know," Sid said then pressed a kiss to her forehead tightening his hold on the girl that stormed into his life only thirty six hours before.