All Hands on Deck

Later that day after one of them napped and the other cleaned, Perron was the first to greet Tessa when the boys started pouring into the locker room closer to game time and she happened to stroll through. “Hey, the Loch Ness Monster herself.”

Tessa backtracked and nodded her chin at the boys who, though in various states of undress, were 100% fine with her hanging around; she had just become one of the boys for the most part. “How’s it going, Perron?”

“Alright. You game for hitting Fat Head’s tonight?” He slapped Sidney on the shoulder and added before she could answer, “Even our esteemed Captain is willing to pry himself away from a woman to come out with us.”

Tessa smiled at them both. “Well, I’d hate for anyone think I’m not as fun loving as the Cap. I’m in.”

“Yeah! That’s the spirit. We’re gonna find Beau a woman if it kills us. You can help.”

Tessa started laughing. “And how am I supposed to do that exactly?”

Perron shrugged with a grin. “You can be our insider, give us some tips, help us avoid the crazies.”

“Crazies? Wow, I wonder why so many of you guys are single...”

Perron threw a sweaty towel at Tessa as the married men among them laughed in agreement with her. When she turned to leave, tossing the towel back at Perron, Beau jumped up.

“Hey, Nessie, hold up.” He followed her towards the trainer’s area. She already had her back turned so she missed Sidney’s death glare that he sent towards them, before remembering where he was and adjusting his face accordingly. He knew he needed to get himself under control so he focused on the fact that Tessa was wearing a t-shirt, not a tank top. And that was because of what was underneath, what he had put there just last night. There was nothing to be jealous of. At least, that was what he kept repeating to himself, trying to believe it. Male urges of possessiveness can be difficult to curb at times.

Around the corner Tessa asked, “What’s up, Beau?”

“Just wondering, could you maybe stretch me out? Jack used to be my guy and I don’t like the way Mikey does it.”

“Sure thing. Floor or table?”

“Uh, floor, if that’s…”

“Your choice. Lay down.” He reclined on the thick mat on the floor, hands under his neck. Because she knew Sidney wasn’t the only player serious about his pregame processes, she asked, “You have a preference, order of stretches, right or left first?”

“No special order, left first.” He smiled wide. “You’ve worked with hockey players a long time, huh?”

She returned the grin. “Long enough. Left leg up.” Beau raised his left leg straight up in the air and Tessa came down in a squat, holding his right leg down as she pressed slowly against his left, forcing it closer to his torso, rotating his hip. “Good?”

“Ugh, great.” She bent his knee and pressed again until his thigh was flat against his stomach. When his right leg started to elevate, she pushed down and deepened the stretch. Then, she turned his leg to the side, knee against the mat, opening his hips. She worked his leg into a few more positions before moving onto the right. She helped him stretch his back, going through a few positions with him.

When he sat up she asked, “You do arm stretches or just legs?”

“Just legs normally, but, uh, can I ask you something, if you got a minute?”

She let him stand up and nodded. “Sure.”

“You think the Captain’s mad at me about something?”

“I have no idea. Why do you ask?”

“He just seemed pissed this morning and he walked by a minute ago and looked about ready to kill me.”

Tessa bit back a laugh. “I don’t think it’s you, Beau. He’s probably stressed about the schedule cause you guys got some tough divisional games this week. Plus, he wasn’t named as an All-Star and I think that’s got him a little testy, even though he never likes to go anyway.” Tessa added another little white lie on top of the others, touching Beau’s shoulder gently she added, “It’s not just you, he got snappy with me the other day, too.”

“Yeah? Eh, maybe you’re right. I’m glad you’re coming out with us. Should be fun. I think everyone needs it.”

“For sure and I’ll put in a good word for you if the ladies ask.”

“Heh, thanks.” Beau turned to leave, calling back. “And thanks for the stretch.”

“No prob, bob. That’s what I do.”

When he was gone, Tessa pulled out her phone, texting Sidney who she knew by the time was on the treadmill. “Please stop scowling at Beau.”

“Stop defending ur bf 2 me”

“Haha, but I’m serious, he thinks you’re mad at him and unless you want more questions as to why you need to be nice.”

“Fine”

“What’s with this pouty shit? I can feel it from a mile away.”

“Ur right, i’m sorry, but i dont like u touching him”

“Babe, you’re the only man I touch. Me stretching him out isn’t touching, just my job. You don’t act like this when I work on Kessel or Fleury or Kunitz or Perron???”

“Beau’s diff & u kno why, he likes u”

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation, who cares if he likes me when I only like YOU! I tease you about him because it’s funny. Play nice or I’m gonna like you a lot less.”

“Liar”

“Try me. We don’t need questions about why you’re being mean to Beau, especially because people KNOW he likes me. How do you think that looks? These guys aren’t that stupid.”

“Shit i’m sorry i thought i was handling it better”

“You’re handling it like a baby, knock it off. Seriously, there’s only you, I don’t like Beau in that way at all, not even a little. What more do you need to hear?”

“Ur right, nothing, i just need u, forgive me?”

“Yes, even though you’re an idiot.”

“I am sorry baby”

“Don’t be sorry, do better. I get it, you’re a man and you get territorial, and that totally turns me on, but do it at home, not here.”

“Me acting like an ass turns you on, huh?”

“Sometimes.”

“All the time i think”

“Go back to running to nowhere, loser.”

Sidney resumed his routine and Tessa went back to hers. When she was working Kessel’s lower back, which had turned into a daily issue she had to address, she over heard Sidney joking around with Beau and smiled. At least she knew she had gotten through to him.

The issue was that she knew she was a big part of the problem. She loved how possessive Sidney could be, the way he marked her skin and wanted to kill any man she touched or anyone who looked at her too long. If their situation was different, if they didn’t have to hide, she’d be wearing the lowest cut tank top she could find and encouraging Sidney’s boorish behavior at every turn. As it was, she needed to rein herself in and keep him in line as well, for both their sakes.

The Pens won that night, trouncing the Blackhawks 0-4, which only made everyone even more excited to hit the town. The boys showered and changed while Tessa just pulled on a yellow cardigan and black peacoat over her grey Penguin’s t-shirt and skinny jeans. Since Fat Head’s was only about a half hour’s walk away and the weather had warmed, if only slightly, they set out on foot, breaking off into smaller groups as they went. Tessa ended up sandwiched between Sid and Geno who seemed to be in a competition to see who could make her laugh the hardest. For the record, Sidney won.

At the bar the noise of music and rowdy behavior was infectious. And considering the following day was a freebie, no game, no practice, everyone was looking forward to getting a little wild The players were recognized by a few people and autographs and handshakes were given. For the most part though, everyone was happy just to give them a nod and leave them be.

They gathered around several tall tables and Perron had apparently decided to take responsibility to ensure that everyone had a good time, acting as the ringleader to their merry band. He interrupted the chatter, “Ok, we need drinks. And I mean real drinks, none of this watered down horseshit. Tessa, ladies first. What can I get ya?”

“Hmm…bourbon, straight.”

“Oh, babycakes, I knew you wouldn’t let me down. Captain?”

“I defer to the lady’s fine judgment on this, bourbon for me too.”

“Nice call, I’ll be joining you two in that. Beau?”

“Um, just a beer, I guess.”

Perron rolled his eyes. “Ok, fuck it, I’m just gonna get a few bottles and we’ll stick with shots since Baby Beau can’t order a real drink.”

Perron headed towards the bar, leaving laughter at his back. Beau didn’t seem to understand why ordering a beer was so odd, but took the teasing with good humor. A few shots into the bourbon and scotch that Perron brought over, they all started getting comfortable. Maybe a little too comfortable.

Tessa heard way too many stories about road trip hookups, late night booty calls in Pittsburgh, and about half a story involving Vegas, the Captain, and some very eager strippers, which Sidney quickly cut short before Kunitz could finish it. To change the subject, Geno told them of his third cousin becoming a mail order bride for some farmer in Texas. Of course, Tessa then had to answer for why Texans were so fucking weird, which is not easy to do.

Perron was spinning another wild tale involving airplane shenanigans when Tessa looked over to the other table, noticing Beau eyeing up some cute college girls at the bar who were drinking martinis and looking bored. She went over to him, draping her arm over his shoulders, the liquor making her even more friendly with the boys.

She shouted over the din of the place, “Why don’t you go talk to them?”

Beau laughed to avoid the question and poured himself another shot, offering one to Tessa as well, which she took; swallowing down the burning liquid before telling him, “Come on, Beau. You’re a handsome guy. What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid.” His face told her that just the opposite was true.

Instead of pointing this out, she just smiled. “Don’t move.” She scampered over to the bar, introducing herself and inviting the women to join them. When they agreed, she brought them over and called the boys to attention. “Gentlemen, may I present the lovely, and SINGLE, Kaitlyn, Elizabeth, Alyssa, and Lindsay. These ladies don’t know a thing about hockey, but told me they are very interested in meeting some hockey players tonight. Ladies, this is everyone, but specifically that’s Beau, the little cutiepie I was telling you about.”

Beau turned beet red and turned away, shaking his head. Tessa felt bad, until Alyssa, an adorable little blond in hipster glasses, took a seat next to him and started chatting him up. Perron poured them all shots, Hornqvist started eyeing up Elizabeth, and Sidney was shouting in Tessa’s ear only loud enough for her to hear. “Nice work, Higgins.”

“Thanks, Crosby. I’m a little better at matchmaking than I thought, I guess.” She leaned closer. “You look happier now that Beau is otherwise occupied.”

“I am. I nearly threw this table over in a jealous rage when you put your arm around him.”

It shouldn’t have, but the declaration went straight between Tessa’s thighs and she felt warmth pool there. She should haven’t been so close to him, shouldn’t have been sharing a private conversation, but the intoxicated buzz she felt racing through her veins made her bold, and more than a little reckless. She told him, “You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think should be yours.” She was almost whispering now, but still he heard her. “You already have me, Captain. Only you.”

Christ, she was trying to kill him with that kind of talk. He already wanted to grab her and kiss her and see the men around them go slack jawed with shock. He thought also about dragging her to the bathroom to fuck her in a tiny, filthy stall, her legs wrapped around him as his cock drove home. Maybe have her bent over the bar, her bouncy ponytail wrapped around his fist.

Instead, he merely looked at her, Tessa reading all his thoughts clearly on his face before reaching under the table to squeeze his hand. A foolish move, but her body was no longer listening to her rational mind. She nodded as if communicate, yeah, me too, but not here, later.

Tessa suddenly remembered herself and looked around. No one was even looking at them, they were caught up in stories and laughter and the beauties Tessa had brought over. She took another shot and slammed the glass down on the table. “Ok, Crosby, you, me, darts. You’re going down.”

Sidney finished his drink with a smirk. “You wish, darlin’.”

He was right, he destroyed her at darts, but Tessa beat Geno, so it all evened out in the end. As they were playing, more shots were had, and everyone was dangerously close to drunk. One of the reasons they had walked over was so they could all take cabs home and leave their cars at the arena, so without the worry of driving that night, the men and Tessa indulged themselves more than they normally might have.

The night went on everyone was raucous, even those players who were normally more reserved. Perron’s voice kept echoing over everyone, inviting more people to join them, encouraging even more outrageous behaviour. Tessa had been watching Geno lose to Sidney at pool when The Hockey Song came on over the jukebox. When they looked over, they saw it had been Perron who put it on and was now dancing badly, but joyously with Kaitlyn. While laughing, Tessa turned to Sidney, grabbing his hands. “Dance with me.”

“Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. I don’t think so.”

Tessa was still trying to back up and drag Sidney with her. “Why not?”

He pulled her closer. “You really wanna see what’ll happen if I get my hands on you right now?”

She dropped his hands as if burnt, but gave him a grateful smile. He was right, what had she been thinking? She hadn’t been, and that was the problem. She quickly grabbed Geno instead. “Come on, Sid’s being a stick in the mud. Dance with me.”

The Russian grinned drunkenly and obliged her, spinning her around the makeshift dance floor to the ridiculous song while laughing loudly the whole time. When Tessa looked over, Sidney was smiling wide while watching them.

Not long after, things started to settle down just a bit and everyone returned the tables for more shots, more laughter. When a man came up to them and put his hand on Tessa’s lower back, she was in such good spirits, it didn’t even occur to her to react to it right away.

He smiled before putting his mouth against her ear. “I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you. You’re a good dancer.”

“Thanks.” Tessa could feel Sidney looking at them across the small table, but didn’t dare meet his eyes for fear of inciting him even more. She now removed the man’s hand from her body and when she did, he held it out to her.

“Jacob.”

“Contessa.”

“Pretty…like you.” He was drunker than even Perron and he put his stinking breath right in Tessa’s face. “You wanna get out of here, Contessa?”

“No, I really don’t. I’m having a good time with my friends.” To prove the point, she took another shot, clinking glasses with Kessel who was looking almost as concerned about this guy as Sidney was looking pissed off.

Jacob put his hand back on her waist, pulling her closer. “I can show you a better time. Let’s go have a drink at the bar.”

Tessa was about to answer when Kessel’s voice drew their attention. “Hey! Fuck off. She’s not interested.”

“Shut the fuck up, no one was talking to you.”

Kessel stood and Tessa joined him. Putting a hand on Jacob’s chest to push him back. “Hey, it’s ok. No problem, guys.” She watched as Sidney calmly came around to their side of the table, which for some reason was even more terrifying than if he had smashed a bottle over Jacob’s skull. She called his name to force his eyes on her, trying to defuse the situation. “Sidney…it’s fine. Kessel, everything’s cool. Jacob, you should go.”

“Why should I? I ain’t afraid of these fucking pussies. And I’m not done talking to you yet.” He grabbed her arm, yanking at her away from the table and making her stumble over her own feet. Before she could react, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sidney swing, felt Jacob’s grasp loosen as he fell to the floor.

Mayhem ensued: Sidney moved to punch Jacob again, but Geno held him back. Kessel tried to get past Tessa, who had to stand firm in his way. Perron and Beau were shouting, trying to see what was happening, and Jacob’s friends came over to collect them just as the bartender approached them.

“Someone wanna tell me what the fuck that was? I don’t give a shit who you guys are, I don’t stand for this in my bar.”

Kessel spoke first, which was good because Sidney was still fuming, breathing heavily and watching Jacob be hauled out of the place while being supported by his friends. “I’m sorry, but that guy, he was harassing our friend. We didn’t appreciate it.”

The bartender looked at Tessa and nodded before pointing at Sidney. “Just let that be the end of it, you hear me?”

Sidney nodded once, shaking his hand that he had used to knock Jacob out. Kessel grabbed Sidney’s wrist before Tessa could and told him, “You should have let me hit him.”

Perron drunkenly joined them, pulling Kessel and Sidney under each of his arms. “Yeah, fuck that guy, man. You should have let me hit him. Let’s go find him and we can all fuck him up. No one, I mean no one! Fucks with Nessie while we’re around, right boys?”

Tessa heard a few drunken shouts of agreement, but all her focus was on Sidney’s hand, his left hand, his shooting hand. She took his arm tenderly from Kessel, surveying his red knuckles. Feeling immediately sobered up after the scuffle and now faced with worrying about his hand. “You shouldn’t have hit him. Look at your fucking hand, Sid.”

He flexed his fingers, making a fist and releasing it. “I’m fine.”

She felt unable to meet his eyes, so she shouted at his hand, “You shouldn’t have hit him!”

Kessel’s hand was on her shoulder now to calm her down. “Nessie, he did what any of us would have done. I was about to knock his ass out myself right before Sid stepped up. You’re family, and that means no one but us gets to fuck with you.”

She found small comfort in a few things: one that no one seemed to think Sidney punching a guy who was talking to Tessa was out of place and two that Kessel had called her family. She turned and hugged him, feeling overly emotional thanks to the booze in her system. Then, she hugged Sidney because it would have seemed odd not to in that situation. He returned the gesture, pulling her close with his right hand, trying to casually nuzzle her hair.

Kessel patted her back when she pulled away from him. “I don’t know about you two, but I’ve had about as much excitement for one night as I can stand. I think I’m gonna head home.”

Perron was there again, louder than necessary. “What?! Come on, we’re just getting started!”

Geno shook his head and agreed with Kessel. “Me too, old man. Sid?”

“Yeah, I’m done.”

Perron waved them all off. “Fine, go, go.” He turned and he was gone, back to the party he had started and was intent on ending.

Tessa said to Sidney, “You should let me take you to the hospital so they can x-ray your hand.”

“I’m fine, Nessie. Honestly.” He flexed it again to prove his point and she grabbed his hand, feeling along his knuckles to see if she could tell if anything was broken. He told her, “Maybe you could just wrap it up for me?”

Kessel nodded. “Good idea. Come on, let’s grab some cabs, you and Sidney can head back to the arena and get him taped up.”

They said goodbye to the rest of the boys, except Beau who was now three sheets to the wind and making out with Alyssa in a corner booth. Geno and Kessel decided to share a cab since they lived near each other and that left Sidney and Tessa alone, piling into the next cab to head to the arena. At least, that was what Tessa had in mind, but when they got in, Sidney gave the driver her address.

“I don’t have the right stuff at my apartment to wrap you up.”

“My hand is fine, Tess. I just wanted a reason for us to leave together.” He reached for her, but she pulled her hand away, looking out the window to avoid his stare. “What?”

“Nothing. Not here.”

“Tess -”

Her voice was soft, but serious. “I said not here, Sidney.”

He obeyed her wish, falling into silence, feeling like an idiot, wondering how badly he had fucked up. She was deathly silent, refusing to look at him, shying away from his touch. Had he crossed some invisible line of behavior when he punched that guy? He tried to feel bad about it, but it was nearly impossible. If he had the chance, he probably would have beaten him into a coma for not just touching Tessa, but for being violent with her. The more he pictured him pulling her arm until she almost the fell the more angry he became. He took a deep breath and blew it out.

All he wanted to do was talk to her, explain himself, know what she was thinking about as she sat there stoically, and yet the cab ride seemed to last an eternity. Even when it was over, Tessa left the car and was up the stairs of her building in no time, leaving Sidney to trail behind after paying the fare. When he ran up the stairs and stepped through the doorway, Tessa grabbed the front of his shirt under his open coat and slammed him against the wall, kissing him hard.

After a mere second of shock he pushed her further inside, kicking the door closed, pulling her mouth closer even more forcefully with a hand on the back of her head. She broke from his mouth to rip his coat off and then her own. When she tried to kiss him again, he stopped her. “Are you mad at me? Are we having angry sex right now?”

She wasn’t smiling. “No, I’m not mad. If you would have touched me in that cab I would have fucked you right then and there. We’re gonna have seeing-you-punch-that-jerk-was-the-hottest-thing-ever-and-I-need-you-inside-me-before-I-combust sex. Cool?”

He grinned at her and nodded; now she smiled at him, reaching for his belt and leaning her head back to welcome his kiss again. He told her between heavy breaths and licks between her lips, “See, told you you like it when I’m an asshole.”

“You were right, I fucking love it.” His pants were shoved down, boxers still on, and Tessa peeled his shirt off before he started working off her clothes at an equally frantic pace, as if they could not get naked fast enough, couldn’t get their skin touching soon enough.

When Tessa stumbled with her tight jeans around her knees, she laid down on the hardwood floor in front of her door to pull them off. Sidney was on top of her in a heartbeat, kissing her roughly and nearly ripping her thong off. Her hands reached down, shoving at his boxers to free his cock as she spread her legs wide and pulled off her shirt.

She felt his erection butt up against her entrance and she threw her head back, closing her eyes in anticipation. Sidney’s hand on her jaw brought her back and she met his dark eyes. “Tell me again.”

She pulled his face toward hers, whispering against his mouth. “You have me, Captain. Only you. I’m yours.” He tried to kiss her, but only got her bottom lip between his as her mouth opened in a moan when he shoved his cock inside her. “Fuck…Sid, I’m sorry, I’m gonna - ugh.” She came before he even had a chance to notice how good she felt around him, before he even started to move.

When she gasped and tightened, he pulled back and pumped into her, drawing out the sensations and increasing her pleasure. When the tension left her body, she let out a tiny whimper and then started giggling under his kiss. “What’s so funny?”

“Well, I’m still pretty drunk, but also I’ve just never…come that fast. Ever. It was…”

“Good?”

“Fucking incredible.” Tessa widened her legs to accommodate his pumping hips and ran her palms up his biceps until she reached his neck and then she stroked his hair. “Sid…Jesus that got me so hot.”

“Keep thinking about it so I can make you come again.” He fucked her on that floor, both of them still grabbing at each other with hectic hands as their hips came together needily, greedily. She felt almost his full weight when he dropped down lower, his forearms resting on the floor next to her head, his teeth on her ear before his tongue and lips worked her neck and throat.

Tessa wrapped her legs around his waist, took him deeper, turned to kiss his hard jawline and clung to his back as he worked. She built up again quickly, feeling his body, remembering how sexy he looked when viciously angry and punching Jacob in the bar. Everything about that night drove her closer to the edge: the secret of them, the way Sidney defended her, his power, the clenching of his jaw and narrowing of his eyes.

“Sid…are you -”

“Yeah…come again for me, Tess. And I’ll punch anyone you ask me to.”

Their laughter morphed into squeaking moans and Sidney’s deep groan as he released inside her as she started to come for the second time. Her voice was nothing but air. “Sid…yes…” She bit his shoulder as she finished, licking the indentations when she was done.

He fell off of her to one side, both of them on their backs staring at the ceiling. She spoke first, rolling onto her side to face him. “Is your hand really ok?”

He held it up for her to see. It was red, but not starting to swell, which was a good sign. “Yes, all good. That’s not the first time I’ve thrown a punch, you know.”

“Mmm, tell me more. I really, really like this tough guy Sidney Crosby.” She threw her arm and leg over his body, snuggling close to him. His arm snaked under her neck to pull her in.

“Obviously. I’d go back and pick another fight just see you come two second after I get my dick inside you again.”

“Is it terrible that I’d let you?”

Drunken laughter spewed from both of them until Tessa was nearly crying from it, yet still unable to stop. When Sidney sat up and asked, “Why are we still on the floor?”

Tessa’s giggles started again and would not be contained, not even when Sidney stood and helped her up, not even when they tumbled into bed together. As far as Sidney knew, the woman was still giggling or least smiling by the time he fell asleep, her head resting on his shoulder, her hand on his heart.

Notes

Ok, seriously, this is the last one before I leave. Born of my intense love of a pissed off Sidney Crosby because I need him angry and jealous 100% of the time, I think.