All Hands on Deck

Three hours before puck drop and Sidney Crosby was already tossing his duffle bag on the bench in front of his cubby. He took off his suit and threw on some black baggy athletic shorts and a Penguin’s warm-up t-shirt. He went without his backwards cap and instead simply moved his shaggy hair back with his fingers. He had arrived ridiculously early, he knew, but he had a kink in his quad muscle that needed attention or he was never going to be able to skate as well as he needed to that night. He ran a hand over his neck, cracking the tip of his spine as he inclined his head one way and then the other. Now that he thought about it, his neck was little stiff as well.

Life for a professional hockey player is punctuated by perpetual bruises, sudden aches, piercing pains, and dull throbs in muscles they couldn’t even name. All teams employed a staff of veritable miracle workers who could massage, stretch, or pull away any physical complaint a player might have day-to-day.

Thus, Sidney was on his way to the trainer’s hideout before this game to see if Jack could work out a few of his issues. He stuck his head around the corner and found not his regular burly physician, but a tall, gorgeous brunette in tiny shorts and a bright white wife-beater tanktop. It was normally warm in the arena and he was never more thankful for that fact than right now, seeing this luscious woman so scantily clad in the middle of winter. He smiled when her pale blue eyes looked up to meet his. “Hey, Jack around?”

The most chipper voice to ever echo the halls of the building bubbled from between her plush red lips. “Nope, he’s out today. Wife is giving birth I think. You need something?”

Looking at her standing there, one hand on a curvy hip, so much exposed skin covering her lean, muscular body, with a cheerful, helpful grin on her face…well, it was enough to make Sidney forget why he had come to see Jack in the first place. He bit back a comment about what he really needed from her and tried to concentrate, at least feign professionalism. “Uh, yeah, you filling in for him or something?”

She laughed and it seemed to Sidney that the sound was sweet enough to warm the entire frosty state of Pennsylvania. She stepped around the tiny metal desk and offered Sidney her hand. “Sorry, that was rude. Contessa Higgins. I work with the Reading Royals. Pens called me to fill in on short notice.”

Her grip was strong, something Sidney wasn’t used to in a woman. It was…interesting, but not unattractive in the least. She repeated her question, “So…Sidney. What can I do for you?”

It didn’t surprise him that anyone working in hockey in Pennsylvania knew who he was on sight, but it still filled him with sense of ridiculous pride. The urge to satisfy several needs with this woman was growing larger by the minute, and that wasn’t the only thing expanding between them. Still, he managed a cool smile. “If you have time, my left quad has been stiff since I hit the ice after a check I took a couple of games ago.”

“Of course.” She held out her hand, pointing down the hall. “Step into my office and I’ll see what I can do.”

The two made their way to the world class training facility next to the locker room. Set aside from the treadmills and weights there was a massage table that Sidney had been on hundreds of times since he started in the NHL. And yet, this was the first time he found his heart racing at the thought of climbing up there and having the trainer put their hands on his body.

He stood awkwardly next to the table, trying to get some semblance of control over his body, more specifically the member between his legs that was flush with blood, eager to release. The woman was simply stunning and it was almost embarrassing how quickly his cock was responding to her nearness. Contessa had been busy pulling a few supplies from a nearby cabinet and when she turned back around she was surprised to see Sidney still standing there, eyeing her up, and not lying on the table as he should be.

She fussed with a jar of coconut oil to buy herself more time to survey him in turn. She had seen his picture before, naturally, and had seen him play more times than she could count. He was, without question, the most gifted skater, shooter, and puck handler she had ever witnessed. Not to mention the fact that if those endless brown eyes didn’t bring a woman to her knees, his awe-inspiring body and boyish charm was sure to get the job done.

Now it was her turn to snap out of it. She had put her hands on thousands of men over the years, most of them with beautiful, strong bodies. In fact, Contessa had seen and handled enough half-naked men to fill the spank banks of every woman on earth for the rest of their lives. She could certainly keep it professional with Sidney Crosby. She told herself he was no different from the rest.

She smiled brightly. “Ok. You wanna hop up and I’ll get started?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.” He did as she asked, lying on his back, his arms folded underneath his head, stretching his long body out fully.

Contessa rubbed some of the oil between her hands to both melt the solid substance and warm her palms before she touched his skin. “Alright, let’s have your right leg straight and bend your left at the knee, side of the knee resting on the table. Roll your shorts up a little. Good. Now, feel free to tell me if it hurts.”

She brought her slicked up hands to his skin and Sidney bit the inside of his cheek to keep from reacting. The pads of her fingers were rough, calloused from working with them for years, but coated in coconut oil they moved easily over his thigh. The bottom of her palm pressed against his quad muscle, starting around his knee and moving steadily higher as her other hand held the back of his thigh to keep his leg in place and to create a counter-pressure.

Her hands, so close and yet not close enough to his cock were enough to increase his breathing immediately. He was just grateful he hadn’t let out a moan. Too bad for him, she picked up on his quickened breath right away. “You ok, Sidney? Did I hit a sore spot?”

Christ how he wanted to tell her that his sore spot was higher, just a little bit higher, right under his rolled up shorts. He closed his eyes; he couldn’t look at her right now with her tight little ass, perfectly round breasts, and good-natured grin. “I’m good. It’s just…more towards…”

“Higher?” He nodded. He could of sworn her voice dropped in volume when she said, “Here?” Her palm was pressing his muscle, just below his hip bone, which meant the hand on the inside of his leg was mere inches away from his now rock hard cock.

Unfortunately, that was exactly where he needed her if wanted to skate without pain. “Ugh, yeah, right there.”

“Hold on one sec. Let me just grab some more oil.” Her hands were slicked up enough, she really just needed a minute to steady herself before she did something regrettable, like purposefully fondle the Captain of the Penguins and destroy any hope of joining an NHL training staff someday. She mentally slapped herself and turned back around after taking a deep breath.

When she returned the table, Sidney was looking up at her through heavy lids. “You ok, Tessa?”

She stopped short. Only her father called her Tessa. Everyone else when they shortened her name called her Connie, which she hated, but tolerated for continued amiability of the given situation. Our darling Tessa now found her own heartbeat speeding up, between touching him, hearing her preferred nickname on his lips, and those intense eyes focused on her. Just her. They were absolutely alone, afterall. How had she not noticed that before?

“I’m great. Let’s see if I can work this out, ok?”

She went back to work before he could respond and before she could say what was really on her mind, like how she wanted to switch places with him and feel those massive hands of his rub oil over every inch of her body before he plunged his cock into her depths.

When she started rubbing his quad again, Sidney closed his eyes once more and tried to relax his muscles, which was extremely difficult because her other hand was back on the inside of his leg and all he wanted to do was flex his thigh in frustration.

“You have a tough knot here, so I’m just going to…” Her fist finished the thought, grinding her knuckles against the tight muscle so harshly that Sidney actually let out an exclamation of pain.

“Fuck.”

Contessa quickly removed her hands from his body. “Too much pressure?”

“No, no, it was good. Keep going.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, don’t stop.” Tentatively, she went back to work, using her knuckles and then both her thumbs to massage away the kink. Sidney’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. That was usually a good sign in her line of work. Too bad for her, she was sidetracked thinking about the fact that that was probably also how his face contorted with pleasure when he was fucking a beautiful woman. So, she looked at his thigh instead, keep her eyes locked there, in fact. But that…wasn’t helping either because those thighs…big around as tree trunks, perfect for holding her on his lap as she rode him, or flexing as he thrust his hips between hers.

And did he have to tell her not to stop in such a breathy, needy tone? God Almighty. She cleared her throat and looked at the ceiling instead. She didn’t have to watch her hands on his body, she could feel what he needed and give it to him even if she were blind.

She worked his quad for several minutes until she was satisfied, even if her pussy was less than pleased with the end result, which had not included his cock burrowing into her warmth. “I think I got it. Stand up and tell me how that feels.”

After Tessa stepped back, Sidney swung his legs to the side of the table, trying to casually adjust the bulge in his shorts. This did not escape her notice and she turned away to hide her smile. Good, she thought, feeling like less of a pervert knowing he was also aroused.

When Sidney had his feet on the ground he was stunned to find that his thigh felt like new, no dull ache like he was normally left with, no tingling of his skin. He just felt…good, great actually. He squatted a few times and then jumped up and down several times, pulling his knees practically to his chest. Tessa almost glowed at the sight. “Feels better?”

“Yeah, perfect. Jack never took care of a knot that fast for me. Normally I have to stretch after a massage to get things back to normal.”

There was that smile again, he thought. “I know a few tricks. Jack’s old school, not that that’s bad, but there are new techniques that can really help.”

“Like the oil?”

“Exactly. Coconut oil on it’s own can relieve sore muscles, but when you work it into the skin a certain way, it’s even better.”

The two shared a smile; Sidney licked his lips and gave her a look that made her skin flush red beyond her control. She turned away and picked up a towel to wipe off her hands. She still felt him watching her; she cleared her throat as she turned around. “Anything else, Mr. Crosby?”

“What happened to calling me Sidney?”

“Probably best that we keep it professional, don’t you think?.”

Another man would have seen that as defeat. Sidney just saw it as a challenge. He knew she wanted him, tracking her eyes as they ran over his body, loving the way her teeth subconsciously bit her bottom lip seductively. Granted, fucking this woman was completely out of line, but at this point he was willing to overlook that fact if only get his cock some attention.

In response to her proclamation of professionalism, he nodded shortly. “I understand, Tessa.” There it was, the subtle shudder that went through her body when he said her name. He smiled to himself. “But if you don’t mind, my neck has been a little stiff as well.”

Tessa just watched as he pulled off his t-shirt, grabbing it from the collar and slipping it over his head and body in one smooth stroke. And then he was shirtless, that God-like physique exposed for her viewing pleasure. Good Lord, he was well-made, soft skin over hard muscle with a baby face to complete the heartthrob look. His hair had ruffled when he stripped off his shirt and now he raked those long fingers of his through it, watching her reaction.

Her breath was shaky when she exhaled. “Sure thing. It’s my job. Have a seat.”

Sidney sat on the edge of the table as she walked behind him, slicking up her hands once more and then working them against the back of his neck and shoulders.

Now, Sidney did let out a groan, because it felt too good not to. Tessa nearly moaned herself, just hearing that sound from his lips. Instead, she forced herself to use her words. “Feel better?”

“Mmm, so good.” Tessa once again looked towards the heavens for strength at the sound of his deep, rumbling voice telling her how good it felt with her hands on him. Just as she was ready to call it quits and get as far away from him as possible (preferably to the nearest bathroom so she could rub one out and give her dripping pussy some comfort), Sidney turned his head. “I hate to be a bother…”

“You’re not, not at all. What do you need?”

“Can you do the side my neck, like under my ears to my collar bones?”

“Sure.” Tessa returned her hands to his skin, but it was a bad angle, trying to get the spot he wanted from behind. She came around the table and stood in front of him. His thighs were spread wide and she had no choice but to stand between them. His hands were resting on the table, fingers tapping his thighs, itching to feel her skin. It wasn’t fair, he thought, she got to touch him, why couldn’t he touch her? Tessa could feel his intensity, the room thick with the desire that was practically oozing out of both of them.

She cleared her throat again. “Good?”

“Can you go lower? My chest.”

Tessa’s response was hardly louder than a whisper. “Ok.”

Her hands were on his pecs, thumbs doing their best impression of a massage while her palms just enjoyed his sweaty, soft skin, and her nose took in his rough, masculine scent that was rippling from his pores. She met his eyes and asked, “Alright?”

Sidney should have told her it was enough; he should have let her walk away so he could get ready for the game. Instead he took a chance, betting that she was as turned on as him (she was) and said, “Lower.”

Any semblance of Tessa’s willpower and sense of decency went out the window when she openly ran her finger tips and nails across his abs, not even bothering to pretend that she was merely a professional doing her job for a client. Sidney leaned back on his arms, palms on the table, head lolling back to elongate his neck and better reveal his body to her.

She knew it was wrong, but she did it anyway, stroking his abs, then back up his chest, then back over his abs, all the while almost panting. Her palms found the baby-soft skin of his sides now, her skin wispy across his, barely touching, but creating a heated friction nonetheless. She swallowed a moan and said, “Good?”

“God, Tessa…lower.”

Ok, someone had to stop this mess and it apparently had to be her. She took her hands off his body and his head snapped forward to meet her eyes. With conviction she didn’t feel in the slightest she told him, “Sidney, I can’t do that.”

He took hold of her wrist, a brass move, and repeated himself calmly. “Tessa…lower.” Then, he took her hand and put it right on his cock, which twitched happily under her palm. She had had just about enough of this ridiculous bullshit.

“Fuck it.” Tessa gripped his cock with one hand and pulled his face toward hers with the other on the back of his neck. Their lips mashed together, no form or patience. He licked between the seem of her mouth, his tongue then wrapping around hers, exploring her as he finally touched her, palming a rounded hip with one hand as he rammed his fingers through her hair with the other.

She instantly groaned against his mouth, then gasped for air when his lips worked away from hers, down her jawline and neck. His hands snaked under her tank top, peeling it off from the bottom and then tossing it aside. He cupped both breasts over her sports bra and his mouth was back on her throat, sucking hard at her thin skin.

Soon his wide palms abandoned her breasts to feel the silky texture of her narrow, toned waist before they forced themselves under the band of her shorts to squeeze her feminine hips. “Fuck…goddamn it, Sidney…”

“Yeah, I know. Come here.” He pulled her onto the table and then got on top of her when she was slightly vertical. Propped up on her elbows, Sidney went back to kissing her, half laying on her legs, one hip on the table.

She was all hot breath, grabby hands and greedy kisses, overpowering him and overwhelming his sensations. She was a like sex goddess to him and he couldn’t wait to see what else she had to offer. And then, suddenly, in the middle of it, she was pulling back, breaking their kiss and shoving at his shoulders as if he were on fire. “Wait, wait.” She rubbed her swelling lips with a few fingertips and then met his eyes, shaking her head. “I-I really can’t do this. Here. With you. I’m so sorry.”

She got out from underneath him and rolled off the table. Stunned, Sidney grabbed her bicep to stop her from running away. “Hold up. What’s the problem? We both want this, don’t even try to tell me you don’t.”

“Sidney…you have nothing to lose here. You’ll just be the Captain who fucked the hot trainer. But me? If people found out? I’ll never get hired in the NHL. And I don’t care how good you look without your shirt on or how…amazing of a kisser you are. Or how fucking fantastic your cock felt in my hand.” At least he laughed, that was good, she thought. Tessa smiled in returned. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t sacrifice my career, my future, just for a few good minutes with you. I hate to tell you this, Sidney, but no matter how good of a fuck you are, you’re not worth it.”

He wanted to tell her that she had no clue how good he could be or how he would have her screaming his name within seconds of getting his cock inside of her, a career in the NHL the furthest thing from her mind. Cocky, yes, but he knew it was true. Yet, he couldn’t say that to her; it would sound childish and petty, when in reality he actually felt ok with her rejection. Strangely enough, the fact that she was saying no to him for this reason made him like her even more. He needed to respect the fact that she was right; she stood to lose everything. If someone found out. If.

He pulled her closer and she foolishly let him, allowing him to wrap those long arms around her torso as she brought her hands to rest on his thighs. “I get it, I do, and I totally respect that. But you should also know that I’m not that guy.”

“What guy?”

“The one who brags to his teammates about women. You don’t want anyone to know, fine, but neither do I.” He let her think on that and watched her face react. He could tell she was deciding about whether or not to trust him. He knew he was telling the truth, but he also knew nothing he could say would convince her. So, he released his hold on her and jumped of the table, bending down to hand her the tank top he had removed from her body, as well as his own shirt. Pulling it over his head he said, “You do what you have to do, Tessa. But if you change your mind, I’m gonna be in the parking garage jerking off to thoughts of you. Blue Maserati Ghibli, level six.”

Her shirt was back on and she was chuckling softly, biting her lip again and driving him crazy. He cupped her face with one hand and kissed her cheek. Whispering against her ear he told her, “Either way, thanks for your help today.”

And then he was gone, through the doors to the locker room to grab his coat and keys, true to his word about spending some alone time in his car. And Tessa was left standing there, feeling like an idiot and wondering if she really just let an aroused Sidney Crosby walk away from her.

Notes