Heat Lightening

Steven pulled Harleigh in front of him. He put her hands under his on the wheel of the boat. He almost swallowed his tongue when he saw the tiny white bikini, emphasis on tiny. He was hungover as fuck but Harleigh might pull him out of it. He vaguely remembered talking to her the night before, he was glad drunk Stammer had the forethought to make her promise to be here for him today. Harleigh was damn near perfect. He glanced around and noticed there were other boats in the harbor area. Steven wasn't ready to share her with the rest of the world. In fact, he didn't want to be involved with the rest of the world. Fuck the world. He wanted to hide and lick his wound, or Harleigh. Steven kissed her shoulder. She turned around and gave him a beautiful smile. Steven shrugged out of his shirt and handed it to Harleigh.
"What's this for?" she asked pulling on his shirt.

"For public decency standards." he said stealing a quick kiss "How long do we have the boat?"

"Says the nearly naked hockey star. Until tomorrow morning." she replied.

“Not a damn soul is looking at me right now, darlin'.” said Steven as he turned and walked away. Harleigh watched him go below deck and wondered what came over him.

She saw him return with her cell phone. "What are you doing, Stamkos?"

Steven smirked at her and went through her recently called list. "Keep it steady." he called. Harleigh watched the play of his muscles as he leaned against the rails on the side of the boat. Harleigh was staring at him. She knew he was a cocky son of a bitch, but she wasn’t sure if he was aware he was beautiful. The type of beautiful that made people take second glances at him, it wasn’t traditional beauty. No, it was something more. Harleigh realized she was staring at him and biting her lip. She was about to turn back to the wheel when he cast a glance over his shoulder "Quit gawking at me and stay on course." he teased.

"I liked you better hungover and mute!" she yelled. Harleigh turned her attention back to the boat. It then dawned on her he had her phone. She whipped her head back around. "Steven, give me my phone. What the hell are you doing?!"

Harleigh was stuck at the wheel listening to him have a conversation with the person on the other end of the phone. "Yes" she heard him say "I'll take care of the boat. No, I appreciate the offer, but I'll pay you for all the hours we have it. I don't want you losing money on the deal. No, I hadn't noticed the boat was name "Five for Fishing." Yes. No worries. We'll get you out to a game next season." Harleigh shrugged he apparently wanted to keep the boat a little while longer. Not a big deal. She glanced at him again, he was on the phone with someone else.

Harleigh needed to put some sunscreen on him or she would be adding sunburn to his list of reasons to be whiny. "Dr. Mitchell?" she heard him ask. Oh hell no, what was he doing? "Steven Christopher Stamkos!" she yelled "What are you doing?!" She heard him talking to her boss. "Yes, it was a good run. Nope, still miserable. I hope we can do better next year." He paused in his conversation. He was apparently listening to whatever Karen was saying. "So her schedule is clear through Friday?" he asked. She whipped her head around again. He was smiling that pirate smile at Harleigh "I'll have her back on Monday." She was going to kill him. "Nope, all we need is someone to check on the demon cat." He listened again "Braxton would be awesome to check on Rebel. I'll get you out to a game this season, Doc. I appreciate this. Yeah, I just need to drop off the map for a bit. I'll take care of Harleigh. No worries. Yeah, she spends too much time at the hospital." Harleigh was listening to his side of the conversation. "No phones at all where we're going. Yes, thanks for understanding the short notice. Yeah, wish we could have brought it home to Tampa."

Steven disconnected the call. She watched him dial another number. Who the hell was left to call? Then she heard it "Hey Mrs. Reva." Her eyes shot daggers at him. "No, Ma'am. Yes, Ma'am a little hungover. I think it's understandable too." Harleigh listened to him talking to her mother.

Murder was too good for Steven at this point. "Harleigh is busy sailing this boat we are on. So I'm calling you." He turned towards Harleigh smiling "Yes, I'm glad I called you too. Harleigh and I are going to go on a trip. Just didn't want you worried when her phone won't work for a few days." Steven was grinning like an idiot. "Yes, Mrs. Reva I know you want a grand-baby. She won't cooperate at all with these guys you set her up with." Steven quirked his eyebrow at Harleigh “I’ll talk to her. Yes, I'm sure I'll make it down to Mississippi before I head up to Canada. Yes ma'am, but I am always skinny at the end of season. I know I haven't bulked back up to my pre-broken leg weight." Steven listened again "Yes, Ma'am I promise. Bye, Mrs. Reva."

Steven powered her phone off and slid it into the back pocket on his navy trunks. He knew she would be pissed. Yes, he overstepped boundaries. No, he didn’t ask what she wanted. But he didn’t fucking care.
It would be him and Harleigh for several days on this boat. He knew he needed to let her calm down for a minute. He headed below and fired off a few texts to his agent and the team. He told them he’d get his shit on Monday, and not a day before. He turned his phone off and stuck both of them in a high galley cabinet that Harleigh couldn’t reach. He climbed back up and he was bracing himself for Hurricane Harleigh.

What the fuck did he think he was doing? Harleigh couldn’t believe he called her boss and her momma. She was going to kill him...slowly. Harleigh watched him peek up from below deck. She saw him hesitate. He damn well knew he was in trouble. He dropped his head for a moment. But then his face broke out in an ear to ear grin.

Damn him. She wasn’t sure what was worse the pouting or that lethal smile. He climbed on to the deck and stopped just out of her reach.

“You’re not really mad at me are you?” he asked quietly leaning against the rails. “ Because I think you are the only person I know that is still talking to me after that plane ride home.” Harleigh didn’t answer him. She focused on keeping the boat on course. She felt his eyes on her, but she still didn’t acknowledge him.

“Harleigh Quinn, you can’t stay mad at me!” he called moving closer. Harleigh still didn’t answer him.

Damn it! I fucking hate when she ignores me, thought Steven. Harleigh felt him behind her but she still didn’t reply.

Man up! Said his internal monologue. He wrapped his arms around her waist and laid his head on her shoulder. “Don’t be mad.” he murmured in her ear. “I can take a lot of shit but not you being mad at me for real.” He felt her shake her head. She might be quiet but her body was telling him she wasn’t really mad. He could be quiet too. Well maybe.

“As soon as I am done steering this damn boat I’m kicking your ass Stamkos.” warned Harleigh. He chuckled behind her. “I am so very serious Steven Christopher.” He squeezed her tightly and kissed her shoulder.

Steven quickly pulled her away from the helm and into his body. His mouth descended on hers. She felt him smile against her mouth “You know this damn boat has been on autopilot since we made it to open waters.” His lips landed on hers again. Swallowing any protest she might have had. Harleigh struggled with him for second before surrendering. She wanted to protest when his mouth left hers, but he grabbed her hand started towing her toward the cabin below. Harley looked at him skeptically.

If she kept biting her bottom lip they weren’t going to make it downstairs. “Harleigh, I am hungover as fuck. Stop biting your damn lip and get down the stairs. You promised me a nap.”

“You want me to take a nap and trust this boat not to have a Titanic moment?” quizzed Harleigh “Did you take a puck to the head?” Steven burst out laughing. “I don’t find this funny.” she said in exasperation. Steven cut off her next protest by hauling her up against him and kissing her senseless. She stared at him in awe for a moment.
“I wouldn’t do anything that ever puts you in danger. Parachute, remember?” he said before kissing her again. Harleigh nodded. Steven glanced at the watch on his wrist. “We have an hour and a half before we have to pay attention to the boat. How we spend it is up to you? Do you trust me?” That was a loaded question if she had ever heard one. Harleigh leaned in and kissed his mouth. Damned if she didn’t trust him. She turned and headed below deck. She paused and looked up at Steven.

“Just so you know, if this boat sinks, I am totally letting go.” sassed Harleigh. Steven just smiled and followed her below deck. She has pulled a bag from somewhere and was sifting through it.

“What are you looking for?” he asked.

“Comfy clothes.” she replied holding up a t-shirt and shorts.

“Not a chance, Harleigh Quinn.” he answered tossing the clothes and the bag out of the way “In fact, I need that shirt back.”

“You are daft if you think I am napping in just my bikini.”

He looked at her and pouted. Damn him and that pout “I just lost the biggest game in my hockey career. All I want is to snuggle up to you and take a nap,” he intoned “besides I am just in my trunks. Fair is fair, Harleigh Quinn.”

“So, I'm a consolation prize?” she asked as she stepped towards the full size bed. He shook his head no. Harleigh wasn’t a consolation prize. However, he had hoped their first time together would involve a Chicago hotel and the Cup.

“You sure as hell aren’t a consolation prize. I can think of two things I want right now. The Stanley Cup and you, and that is in no particular order. I let one slip out of my grasp,” he stated. Steven sat down on the edge of the bed and drew her closer with his shirt. “And I don’t plan on letting go of the other anytime soon.” They were face to face. Steven pushed his shirt free from body and it landed in a heap in the floor. Harleigh stepped closer to him, her palms instinctively resting on the muscles of his chest. She could feel his heart thundering underneath her hands. She was relieved her's wasn’t the only one beating erratically. She had thought of this moment a million times, but somehow still wasn’t prepared. Sure she had been in bed with Steven hundreds of times. But that had all been innocent friend things until now. They were nearing the point of no return. She wasn’t even sure if she stopped it here that they could survive the aftermath.

Steven looked into her beautiful face and saw a whirlwind of emotions. She was thinking too much. His girl tended to get lost in her head. Steven scooted away from her, farther on to the bed. He pulled the blankets free from the bed. He arranged the 2 pillows against the wall. “Come here.” he said motioning to Harleigh. She climbed into the bed beside him. “They obviously didn’t get your, we must have 30 pillows, memo.” he teased. Harleigh smacked his abs. There was his girl. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a bed with you where I haven’t almost drown in pillows.”

“I believe I told you that you could decorate your own house if you wanted to bitch about pillows.” she replied relaxing.

“I am not bitching,” he said as he scooted next to her “I am simply enjoying being able to find you without the great wall of pillows.” He snuggled up closer to Harleigh. He felt her shiver. Steven wasn’t sure if it was him or if she was really cold. “Cold?” he asked.

“I’m not exactly dressed for warmth here, Stamkos.” answered Harleigh.

Steven moved so that he was spooned up against her. He grabbed the blanket and flipped it over them. “Better?” he questioned. She nodded. Steven’s hand was on her hip and his thumb was absently stroking over her Mississippi tattoo. She remembered the first time he had seen the tattoo. He had teased her about it. After he’d been home with her the first time, he had understood how much her home and family meant to her. He always seemed to have his hand on it when they were cuddled up, it was comforting to both of them in some way.

“What are we doing, Steven?” she asked. He pressed a kiss on the back of her neck. She shivered again. This time he knew it was all him.

“Right now we’re letting this boat rock us to sleep.” he replied “Just a nap, Harleigh. Then we will drop anchor in the cove and you can proceed with my kidnapping.” He heard her snort. “What?”

“I do believe you commandeered my kidnapping, Captain Stamkos.”

It was Steven’s turn to laugh “I’m pleading the fifth, and playing the, I lost the Cup less than 24 hours ago, card.” She rolled over in his embrace and faced him. Harleigh’s hand came up and stroked against his scruffy face. She leaned in and kissed him gently.

“I’m sorry about the Cup. But, it was a good run. You guys gave Chicago all they could handle.” She kissed him again. “And if you mention it again, I’m gonna toss you overboard.” Harleigh rolled over on to her back as Steven groaned. His blonde head came to rest on her.

“This is exactly what I need, Har.” he said sleepily. Harleigh started sifting her fingers through his hair. His arm wrapped around her torso. “I don’t need the rest of the world. I just need you to tell me how it’s going to be. You make it okay to come home.” She was massaging his scalp as he laid there. She felt the tension at the base of his skull release. His entire body seemed to relax. Harleigh felt his breathing even out. Unlike the night before, he seemed peaceful. Harleigh smiled at his sleeping form. She looked at the watch on her stomach. They had an hour. Harleigh let the motion of the water lull her to sleep.

Harleigh woke up with a start. She didn’t recognize her surroundings, and she was cold. The only benefit of Florida is it never really got cold. She then felt the motion of the boat and remembered where she was. She looked around and Steven was gone. She glanced at her watch. Holy hell, she had been asleep for 2 hours! She tossed the covers back and climbed out of the bed. She noticed Steven had left his shirt on the foot of the bed. She pulled it over her suit and buttoned a few buttons. She didn’t bother with finding her flip flops. She climbed on to the deck of the boat. Steven wasn’t at the wheel.

Harleigh could see land on the horizon. She then noticed Stammer messing with a tangle of ropes. She made her way towards him. He was cursing the pile of ropes. “Need a hand?” she called.

“You’re awake.” he said.

“You should have woken me up.” she groused “What is that mess?”

“It’s a hammock. I want to string it up across the narrow part of the deck.”

“Thank God,” she replied coming closer “I thought you’d gone all Castaway on me and were going to try and catch our dinner.”

“Not yet.”

“Well, that’s good. I think I saw a tennis ball in a drawer. I can draw a face on it for you.” she teased “Why do we need a hammock?”

“Because I intend to lure you into my net.” he replied.

“Do you need my help?” she asked “Or would my time be better spent fixing our dinner?”

“Will you feed me dinner while I am laying in my hammock?”

“Not a chance, Captain.”

“You make a lousy wench!” called Steven laughing.

“And don’t you forget it, Steven Christopher!” with that being said she head back below deck. Steven heard the sound system on the boat fire up. It wasn’t long until country music was pouring out of all the speakers.

Harleigh pulled the salads out of the fridge. She was grateful the chef had provided written instructions. She pulled the meals out of the fridge and placed them in the oven, covered per the instruction. Within 10 minutes dinner was completely ready. Harleigh set the table. She grabbed the bottle of Jana Cathedral and the wine glasses. Once the glasses were on the table she opened the wine to let it breathe. She was putting the chocolate lava cakes into the oven to warm. She was dancing around the kitchen to Sam Hunt when Stammer came below deck. Harleigh had no idea he was there. She was shocked when he pulled her to him. Steven normally refused to dance with her in clubs, but here on the boat there were no prying eyes.

“I thought you didn’t dance?” she said as he spun her towards the seating area.

“I don’t dance in public,” he stated “But to hold you like this, I might make an exception.”

Notes