"Finally."

James rolled onto his side and sleepily stretched his legs. For the tenth time that night, he kicked the footboard of Ali's sleigh bed frame, causing yet another hollow thump.

"Shit" he mumbled softly.

Next to him, Ali was laying on her side. She had been asleep until she heard the same thump she heard multiple times throughout the night. Even though her eyes remained closed, a smile spread across her face. A little giggle even escaped.

James wrapped an arm around the front of Ali, scooting her back and into his chest even closer. "Are you laughing at me?" His voice was soft and full of amusement.

"Maybe." Ali did her best to prevent him from seeing her smiling. He caught her, of course, which fueled his amusement even more.

"Your bed is ridiculous" he joked, pressing a tiny kiss to her temple.

"Or maybe you're just too damn tall." Ali looked back at him, getting an eyeful of James for the first time that morning. He was as handsome then as he was the entire night they were together. His thick hair was fluffy and well-slept in, and the shadow of a beard he wore seemed even fuller in the light of the new morning. His grin was as happy as ever; his eyes a clear cerulean blue.

"Santa wouldn't even fit inside this damn sleigh bed." He lifted her face towards him so her lips were at better access to his. "Or his elves."

Their lips melded together slowly, unhurried and methodical compared to the frenzy of the night before. Ali moaned softly, her entire body responding in just that one kiss.

"So did you sleep well?" She ran the pads of her fingers along his cheek, craving the rough feel of his stubble. "I sure did."

James smiled. "I did." He pressed his lips to hers once more. "Thank you."

"Thank you." She placed her head back on the pillow they both shared and curled into him.

James rested his head in the crook of her neck as they spooned, his arms cradling her and holding her tight against him. Ali's naked bottom pressed back against his hips, and the softness of her skin was dangerously close to arousing him all over again. Aside from his seemingly never-ending arousal for her, James had never felt this content waking up to anyone before in his life. His eyes scanned the flesh of Ali's shoulders, his mouth unable to resist tasting it. As he kissed and licked his way from her neck to her shoulder, he felt Ali curl into him further.

"Dangerous."

James smiled. "Delicious." He closed his eyes, letting his lips lazily caress Ali's sweet skin. He could feel himself hardening beneath her the more his desire grew.

"Do you have to leave anytime soon?"

He shook his head, his hand sliding up the flat panel of her stomach to the snug spot between her breasts. "Nope." He gave one of them a squeeze, eliciting a soft exhale from her. "Do you?"

"Nope."

He rocked his hips slightly, grinding against her. "I don't want to leave this spot unless I have to."

"Thought you hated my bed?"

James caught the flicker in Ali's dark brown eyes when they shifted back to look at him, so he pressed his growing erection against her even harder. "Does it feel like I hate being in your bed?"

"No…" She felt a lot of things, though. She felt lucky as fuck, she felt like she was living in some sort of dream that, at any given moment, she'd wake up from. Instead of these things, Ali was feeling the dick that fucked her several times the night before, and from the feel of its incredible size, was about to enter her all over again.

It didn't take long before James rubbed the head of his dick along her wet slit, moistening himself before gently pushing inside. Ali felt him the same as she felt him last night; her insides were still sore from their first time together. Now he was inside her again, working his length slowly in and back out again. She felt him kiss the back of her neck, moving her hair out of the way as he pulled down on it. This lifted Ali's head a little, forcing her mouth open as she moaned.

Behind, with his chest pressed tight against her back, James smiled. "I love the way you moan..."

"I love the way you fuck me" Ali breathed in reply. It came out as a moan, followed by a quick whimper as she felt him pick up his pace. "James…"

The way she said his name, the way her pussy clamped onto his dick, the way her breasts felt in his hands as he grabbed at them…all of it made James dizzy. He rolled one of her nipples between his fingers as his hips continued slowly grinding her from behind, the closeness of the position working in favor for both of them. Laying behind her like he was, James had access to everything Ali had for him. He kissed where he wanted, licked where he wanted, grabbed her top thigh and lifted it, spreading her core further as he plunged deeper. "Babe…"

Ali bite her lip and closed her eyes, feeling his entire length dive inside, only to be withdrawn slowly, torturing her and making her want to beg to feel him slam inside again. Over and over, his hands worked skillfully as his cock drove her mad with pleasure.

Forcing herself out of the blissful haze James had her in, Ali reached back to cup his head and look into his gorgeous eyes as their bodies spoke for the both of them. James smiled at her, a few small dots of sweat forming along his hairline. She reached up and wiped his forehead, using the movement to pull his mouth to hers so their bodies were connected in two places instead of just one.

"I'm so glad I met you" James breathed between kisses. "You're what I've been waiting for."

Ali gazed into those large eyes and saw how genuine his sentiment was. And though their bodies rocked rhythmically, she was still able to focus on the flecks of green set in their predominant blue shade, admiring just how beautiful James truly was.

"Roll over" she said with a naughty grin.

James slowed his thrusts. "Why?"

Ali didn't answer. She simply pushed him onto his back, feeling a terrible emptiness when his dick slid from her depths. As she assumed a sitting position above him, she heard the familiar thump of his feet hitting the footboard.

"Dammit!"

She started to laugh, her hand sliding up to thumb at his full bottom lip. "Stupid tall."

"Stupid sleigh."

Ali silenced him by tracing his mouth with the tip of her tongue, sucking on his bottom lip and gently pulling at it with her teeth as she backed away. She watched the dumbfounded expression on James' face grow as she slithered down his torso to the stiff dick that was very much alone.

"What…"

"Shhh." Ali clenched her hand about his ample width and smiled up at him. "My turn to have a little fun."

James' mouth fell open as he watched his dick disappear into her mouth. The warmth and wetness was immediate, the velvet of Ali's incredibly skilled tongue working him without even a warning…but what turned him on the most, what blew his mind the most in that moment, was how much desire she had.

I'm in love he thought, eyes practically rolling back into his head. I'm fucking in love-- "AhhhFUCK."

She looked up, smiling but never letting James' dick from her mouth and lips as she stroked him along with her hand. She'd been dying to do this since the second she laid eyes on him; something told her he would be attractive beyond words, but nothing had prepared her for how amazingly sexy he was from head to toe. It didn't matter that she loved sucking a dick that deserved to be sucked; after the night James had given her, it was the least she could do.

When James grabbed a fist of blankets next to him, Ali knew she had him. She rapidly stroked his dick as she came up for air. "Any requests, babe?"

"REQUESTS?" He lifted his head, eyes wide as he looked down at her. She smiled up at him, lips swollen and wet. "Did you say 'requests'??"

"Mmm hmm." Ali kissed along the v-lines near his obliques. "I wanna make you cum like you made me cum twice last night."

James was drunk from the feeling of her hand working his shaft like a fucking professional, her mouth wet with excess saliva kissing along his abs that were suddenly unfairly sensitive, and felt the silkiness of her long, dark hair draping over her and down onto his skin. Arousal erupted all over his body, pressure already beginning to build deep inside him as her mouth returned to working his dick.

"Oh my fuck, Allison…" James looked down and caught the sly smile that came to her lips as they stayed wrapped tightly around him. She gave him a wink, then went back to bobbing and stroking, licking and kissing, all a whirlwind of pleasure James was entirely unfamiliar with. Chicks didn't suck dick like this, and they certainly didn't initiate without some bribing. If James was lucky enough to find one that was willing and happy to do it without a favor returned, they never sucked his dick like this. Never.

Ali kept on, and James was getting close and becoming downright furious with himself because of it. His breathing was becoming ragged, and still Ali continued on, unfazed and unwilling to stop any time soon. Her rhythm was perfect, as if she somehow knew how he liked it and how he wanted it. It blew James' mind.

Watching her down the line of his body, James reached for her head, sinking his fingers into her glorious hair. He didn't apply pressure to guide her; he simply didn't need to, Ali was that good. He just needed something to hang on to while he rode out the last minutes of the best blow job of his life. She kept even pressure, keeping him nice and wet as she worked him harder and quicker, taking his entire length until he hit the back of her throat.

Ali read the signs and knew James was precariously close. She gave him every move she had, worked him at the right speed dictated by the force of his moans and the tightening grip of his hand in her hair. With a final push of her head, James grunted and groaned, shoving his length into her until her nose hit his torso. It was animalistic, hot, a joining of desires for the both of them, and James unleashed what was left of him, if there was anything left of him after their wild night. His orgasm ripped through him, and Ali moaned as she swallowed every drop.

She backed off slowly, still licking his shaft as James lay there without any sound or sight of what was going on around him. It was one of the most powerful releases he'd ever had, and he'd had it with the girl who he thought couldn't surprise him with anymore perfection. And yet, there he lay…on her bed that was too short for his height and exhaling hard, his dick cool from Ali's mouth as she crawled back up to the pillow. He looked over in awe as she kissed his open mouth.

"I like that look" she said playfully, tapping a finger on the end of his nose. "That's the look of a happy boy."

It's the look of a very happy boy who's never been in love with anyone before until you, James thought. He would've said it, too…if he had a voice. Instead, as Ali snuggled next to him, her head resting on his chest that was still heaving, he kissed the top of her head…unable to believe that two weeks ago, he didn't know that it was even possible to feel this happy.

* * *

Across town, Dan Bylsma stood in the center of his Pittsburgh Penguins, one hand propped on the end of his stick, the other hand holding a few cards with notes for the day.

"First line - Sid, Kuni, Bennett. We'll go Geno, Nealer, Juice for second--"

"--Coach?" Sid raised a gloved finger.

Dan looked over his eye glasses.

"Nealer's not here."

Dan blinked. "Optional?"

Sid shook his head.

Raising his head further to scan the crowd, Dan eyed each one of the guys who were present. Letang and Vokoun had maintenance days, but it looked like everyone else was present. "Where's Neal, Geno?"

Geno shrugged. "I try him earlier. No answer."

"I see." Dan considered where one of his top wingers would be if not on the ice in front of him. "Anyone talk to him last night?"

No one answered. A few eyes behind clear visors looked at one another, none of them with an answer for their coach. Dan sighed and shook his head. "Alright, I'll take care of it later. Hope he's alright."

As Coach continued, Sid rested his chin on his hands gripping the top of his stick. He tried to think of all the likely places James would be, especially without declaring if he was taking an optional day or a maintenance day.

The only thing he could come up with, of course, was that he was with some chick.

But Nealer doesn't skip practice unless it's a damn good reason, especially lately with his point streak, Sid thought to himself. He looked down at his skates thoughtfully. Unless this is one hell of a chick he's with.

He thought this unlikely. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time James missed a practice over some late night hookup. Even on the road, James made as little commotion as possible if he took a girl back with him. It was all a well orchestrated ordeal, not just for James, but for all of them…if they wanted.

"Alright guys, let's go!" Dan gave a nod as the players dissipated around him. He glided over to Sid, who waited. "Sid."

"Yeah, Coach?" He knew he'd be approaching him.

"Honest - any idea where he is?"

Sid shook his head. "I considered all options, and I honestly don't know. If he didn't declare maintenance--"

"--He didn't." Dan tapped his stick on the ice in thought. "Hope he's got a good reason."

"Me too, Coach" Sid replied, hoping James really did have a good reason.

* * *

"This is fucking outstanding."

Ali watched James swallow another bite of the french toast she made, taking a bite of her own. "It's my special recipe."

He smiled. "Who knew I could find all three."

"All three?" Ali cocked her head as she chewed.

James took a drink of water. "All three in a woman: beauty, brains, and talent." His grin slipped across his face. "And I don't just mean cooking."

She laughed and looked down at her plate. "Goof."

As she sliced and took another bite of french toast, James stared at her. He kept his gaze steady until she looked up and met his gaze.

"I mean it, Allison" he said.

"Mean what?"

"Beauty, brains, talent…all of it, and then some." He set his fork down and slid his hand over her thigh, giving it a little squeeze. "I haven't felt this way about a girl before. Or ever."

Ali stared up into his eyes, which were close as he leaned towards her more.

"I want more nights like the ones we've had already together."

She felt her heart begin to race, the same way it always did whenever she looked at James…especially when he was looking at her as intensely as he was then. It crossed her mind that maybe this was the same gaze he had on the ice, sizing up the puck, getting ready to score.

"Tell me you feel the same" he said.

"I feel exactly the same." Ali smiled at him, trying to control her breathing because of the words they were exchanging right now. "I've never felt this strongly for someone this quickly before either. Last night…."

"…Last night was incredible" James said, finishing her exact thought. "You felt it too?" She nodded, grinning wildly, her smile easily the most beautiful thing he'd seen all morning. "Good, I thought I might be crazy.

Ali giggled and slid her hand up his bare arm to the angles of his shoulder, admiring the body she wanted to claim as hers. "I've felt a lot of things lately, really… That first night in Denver, then again on our date…" She shook her head, laughing softly in disbelief. "And then last night, all of last night - from our time just hanging on the couch to us talking about our childhoods, to when you held me the way you did…"

James heard every word Ali was saying, humbled and thankful for the way she complimented him and the way she spoke about their night together. He feared it would all be some sort of joke in his life, to find a girl like this and then watch her walk away, never to return….a one time deal. Life was cruel like that, but it seemed that his life was taking a turn for the better this time around.

"So…what does all this mean?" Ali was afraid to ask, because she was afraid of the answer. It was just so unlikely that it seemed silly to even ask. "Please tell me it means something good" she said nervously. "Tell me I'm not the only one scared right now."

James turned to face her, cupping each side of her face. He stared into her doe eyes, the sharp eyebrows and long dark lashes making them even more animated that they were naturally. They were eyes he wanted to see more than once smile up at him like they were right now. With a smile, James bent his head and kissed her softly to let her know she wasn't. "All of this means that....hopefully….we should be together."

Ali exhaled. "I was hoping you'd say that."

"Just you and me" he said with a grin.

She nodded. "You and me…"

They kissed again, deeper this time, and Ali felt so happy she could burst into pieces. It was all a little incomprehensible, unlikely, unreal…in every sense of the word. How did someone like James fall for someone like her?

When their lips parted, James kissed Ali's forehead before hugging her close. "I said it last night and I'll say it again, babe - I'm not going anywhere."

Ali closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief against his chest. "Me either."

* * *

Geno called James for the fifth time that morning. Nothing. He tried once they Had all filed into the locker room following practice, but no answer.

Even after he showered and drove back to his place, he couldn't get a hold of his boy. On the sixth attempt, he left a message: "Hey Lazy. Why you not at practice? Coach upset. Will want to talk before game. See you then."

Across town, Sid tried James' phone and got the same result:

You have reached the voicemail inbox of... James Neal. Please leave a message after the tone.

Sid waited for the beep and then left his one and only message of the day: "What's up, Nealer. Just calling to make sure you're okay. A lot of people wondering why you weren't at practice. Hopefully you are making it to the game tonight? Shit will hit the fan if you don't. Dan's already not happy. Let me know if you're at least alive. Later."

He hung up feeling a little discouraged, his thoughts wandering off as they had earlier at practice as to where James might be.

* * *

With her hands stretched up over her head, Ali was trying to hold onto the edge of the table in any way that she could. As if her insides weren't spent already, as if her mind hadn't already exploded several times since James stepped in her front door, and as if she hadn't already came twice in that amount of time: she was hanging on for dear life because she felt a third release coming.

"Holy shit..." Her breathing was escalating, the pressure welling inside her, the sensations heightening. "Shit that's good, James…"

James grunted and continued thrusting, his body bent over hers on the kitchen table. He slid his hands from her breasts to her wrists above her head, holding firmly as his hips sent his dick in and out of her wetness for the third time in a twelve hour period. He felt alive, on fire, at his prime, ready to prove to her that he was all hers.

Ali wanted to reach out but she couldn't, and the forced position made her red hot body boil over. With her eyes open and alert to every thrust delivered to her, she could see the determination in James' gaze as he stared down at her. His mouth connected with hers, both moaning and breathing heavily into the kiss. James increased his pace even more, sending her into a fit of uncontrolled moans.

"James, I....I'm....fuck....FUCK..."

He held on, kissing at Ali's neck, licking at her amazing breasts rocking hard, getting sloppy at where he paid his attention on her body but he was feeling it as well. He never thought he'd be able to go with her like he had, especially as many times as they had, but he was learning very quickly that anything was possible with her.

"Oh GOD."

He closed his eyes the second he felt Ali's pussy contracting over him. Her back arched on the table, and he let go of her arms so she could wrap them around him. Over and over he felt the beautiful, rhythmic waves of her body giving him everything she had, which drew another loud moan from him. With Ali still clutching to him, her breath hot and quick next to his ear, James plunged inside up to the hilt and exploded.

He clung to her as much as she was holding onto him; it was an unnoticed symbol of how their relationship would play out in the future. They needed one another equally, each requiring the other give their all to them.

"Babe...." James exhaled the word, unable to think.

Ali let her head fall back so their eyes could connect. She touched his face, kissed his mouth, his brow line, and then his forehead. "You're so good to me."

I want to be. I want to be everything to you. He kissed her again and felt her skin, hot from the energy between them. He felt her fingers slide into his sweaty hair to hold him close. "I don't want to leave" he said softly, his mouth traveling down to the hollow of her neck. It tasted salty and sweet and he never wanted to taste anything else.

"Don't go."

"I have to play tonight." He lazily nuzzled one of her breasts with his nose. Every sensation was better than the next. "Come to the game."

There was a small laugh somewhere in Ali's heavy breathing. "I don't have a ticket."

James looked up at her, a smirk alive and well on his tired face. "Ali."

"Yes?" She smiled at him. "Don't even say it..."

"I'll get you a ticket easily. Wherever you want. Just tell me--"

"--You shouldn't."

He looked at her seriously. "I should. You deserve to be there." His gaze turned timid, but only for a moment. "I wantyou to be there."

He slid his arms under Ali's back, lifting her enough to cradle her in his arms. With her sitting upright in his arms, biceps flexing as he held her, Ali relinquished to the strength in them. Her eyes ran over the rise and fall of his lean body, unable to believe they might actually be dating. Even him asking her to be at his game made this all the more real.

"So will you come?"

He smiled down at her, and all Ali could do was stare at his messy hair. How can I resist this? she wondered futilely. "Yes, I'll come."

James' entire expression lifted. "Really!? You will?"

Ali nodded just as James hugged her tighter, their naked bodies pressed together for a totally different reason now - one they both liked very much.

With a firm kiss to her forehead and then one to her lips, James was completely ecstatic. "I'll score for you. Promise."

"James!" Ali laughed and slapped his arm. "Don't make those kinds of promises."

"Oh, but you underestimate my skill..."

She gave a sarcastic smile. "I do not."

"Then what promise should I make, if not one about hockey?" he asked, his tone taunting her to answer wisely.

Ali placed her hands on James' neck and pulled him towards her. "Promise me you'll stay with me tonight, too." She looked at him with the need she felt to be with him. He was her new drug and she was beyond addicted.

"Anything. Anything you want" James said, caressing her cheek. "I'm yours."

* * *

James went home and slept the rest of his day away. On the way home from Ali's, he listened to all the messages of those who had been trying to call him all morning.

Yes, he knew he skipped practice.
No, he didn't care.

He decided when he and Ali fell asleep after they were together the first time, he wasn't going anywhere. Chances like this didn't happen often, and he wasn't about to screw it up by leaving the morning after they finally fucked. If it was any other girl, he would have. But this wasn't any ordinary girl, and she didn't deserve that.

James also regretted nothing. His body was already weak and spent, even after his nap and another shower, and knew he was setting himself back for the game that evening.

As he walked into the locker room, a chorus of chirping echoed off the circular walls of the room, all of which were directed at him.

"What the hell, Nealsy?" Geno slapped him on the shoulder. "Why you no answer all day?"

"Ohhhhhhhhhh, Coach is absolutely fucking PISSED, dude" Joe Vitale razzed as he walked by, half clad in spandex. "Where the hell were you?"

Fleury looked up from lacing his skates. "I actually wondered if you were dead."

James shot him a glare laden with sarcasm. "Dead, Flower? Really?"

Sid and Fleury laughed, but both were waiting on an answer. It was a rush of relief when Sid watched James walk into the locker room; at least he wouldn't be down a player against the Flames, who were on a three away-game winning streak.

As James dug around his stall for his gear and began unbuttoning his dress shirt, at least five players stood around in a semi-circle, surrounding him. He looked back in disgust. "What!??!"

"Where the fuck were you this morning?" Vitale asked, arms folded over his chest. "Give up the act, Nealer."

"As if it's any of your business where the fuck I was."

Sid bobbed his head back and forth somewhat humbly. "Actually....I mean, it was a game day practice, so....." He met James' irritated gaze with a smile.

"Fine, you jerkoffs wanna know?" James looked around at the guys surrounding him, waiting anxiously on his answer. "I wasn't feeling well."

"Ohhhh COME ON."

"NEALER you fucking suck."

"Never been good at lyin'..."

Sid placed his hands on his waist, staring at James with a serious smirk. "Weren't feeling well enough to phone in at least?"

James wasn't playing this game. He wasn't going to tell them he'd been with anyone, and he wasn't going to tell them...yet...that it was the girl that had stolen the air from his lungs the second he laid eyes on her in Denver. It was too soon for any of that.

"It was diarrhea, alright?" he fired back at Sid. "Happy now?" He turned and looked at the rest of the guys, arms open. "Fucking shitting all over the place. There's no way I could come in."

Sid made a face and immediately went back to putting his padding on. The other guys starting chirping him for this now, which James was willing to take. He'd taken worse.

Sitting at the bench in the next stall, Geno rested his elbows on his knees as he played with the bill of his hat. He shook his head at James and smiled. "You lie terrible."

"Not lying" James said....lying. He plopped down next to him and started the long process of taping and strapping himself into his uniform. As long as they don't know it was because of a chick he thought to himself.

"Nealer."

Looking up, James saw Dan Bylsma entering the room. "Yeah?"

"Outside. Just for a sec."

He turned and walked out of the room and Geno gave James a sympathetic smile. "Don't lie to Coach, Nealsy."

"Not lying" he said, and then walked out of the locker room to the hallway. There he found Dan waiting patiently, although his posture spoke of agitation. "Hey, Coach. Look, about this morning--"

"--I hope you have a good explanation." Dan's wry smile appeared.

James looked at the ground and shrugged. "I should've called. I wasn't feeling well."

"What's wrong? You strong enough to play?"

"Yeah...I mean...." He sighed. "Just a stomach bug. I should be fine."

Dan studied the slight flash of guilt in James' eyes. Whether James knew it was there or not didn't matter; Dan saw it. He just didn't know if it was guilt over not calling him, or if he was showing signs of lying. He'd have to trust his winger this time, but he'd be watching him for any signs that he was off his game in any way.

"If you need a night off, Nealer, just let me know."

"I don't, Coach." He stood up straighter and looked Dan square in the eyes. "I'm good now. Trust me."

Dan gave a nod. "It's your word I'm leaning on. Don't make me regret it."

James watched him walk past and down the hall back to the coach's office for more pre-game paperwork. James resumed looking at the floor, knowing now that he had two reasons he needed to score tonight. His ass was on the line if he didn't.

* * *

Notes

~Thanks to all of you who have sent me messages and have left comments!~