All Hands on Deck

After the drunken debauchery of that infamous night, things returned to normal with everyone falling back into their old habits and maybe some new ones, too. Beau was walking around like a love-sick puppy, talking of nothing but Alyssa, his Ally, to anyone who would listen. Sidney, more than the others, was willing to put up with him and it bothered him a whole lot less when Tessa stretched him out. It still annoyed him, of course, just not as much as it had before.

Sidney went to Tessa’s apartment after every game. Every day off, after every practice, he was there as well. She had no TV, so he brought over one he had in his basement, along with his old Nintendo 64. Their afternoons were spent playing Mario Cart and Mortal Combat, with Sidney throwing a fit like a petulant child every time he lost, his competitive nature overruling the part of his mind that told him to tone it down. Tessa hid her giggles behind her hand and sometimes let him win. Nights were spent tangled up in her bed, road trips passed with them texting each other inappropriate things just to see the other squirm in public and stolen kisses whenever they got a moment alone was the norm.

The winter turned painfully cold again, but Sidney hardly noticed. Tessa’s broad smile and sweet laughter kept him warm. Well, that and their vigourous workouts in bed that left them both sweaty and exhausted. But it was so much more than the sex that kept him coming back to her day in and day out, that made him oblivious to nearly every other person in his life who was vying for attention. It was her companionship, their conversations, her generosity and grace. It was the way she told stories about her childhood or college days, waving her arms for emphasis, grossly and obviously over exaggerating everything, even doing voices. It was the fact that she was happy to lay in bed with him while he napped, reading or scrolling hockey blogs, both of them just wanting to be near the other whenever they could.

For Tessa, his very presence became intoxicating more than anything else. His big body taking up so much space in her tiny apartment was comforting. Tucked away in Monroeville she felt safe from prying eyes and nosey neighbors, which made it feel like a little slice of heaven. She was used to him being there, so much so that when they were on the road her hotel room always felt too big, too vacant, too lonely. Despite the fact that they were spending practically every hour of every single day together, she missed him when he wasn’t near, even for short periods of time. She missed his warm skin, his deep voice and sleepy smiles, his intense eyes narrowed in concentration and even his sweaty stench.

Lost in a sea of late nights, early mornings, and carefree afternoons, the next few weeks flew by and the All Star Break was upon them in no time; Letang and Geno both excited to head to Nashville for the fun and games. Sidney, however, was just looking forward to taking a break from hockey to indulge in his now second favorite activity: hanging with his girl.

A few days before the break, he sent Tessa a text message out of the blue, “Got a passport?”

“Yes…?”

“Good :)”

Sidney refused to answer any of her questions, going so far as to ignore her repeated text messages back to him. Two days later, on their last day of work before the break, as usual, he showed up at her apartment late night after the game. When he found her in the kitchen making tea, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissing her cheek.

“You like beaches, right?”

“Mmm, hello to you, too. Actually never been on a real one, but in theory, yeah, sure, I like beaches.” She turned in his arms, slipping her hands under his shirt to feel his skin. “Why?”

He pulled a folded up piece of paper from his jeans’ back pocket and handed it to her. “Two tickets to Tahiti and reservations for a beachside villa. You, me, the sun and fun.”

She looked briefly at the Expedia print out and laughed, asking, “What the hell are we gonna do in Tahiti?”

His look was incredulous. “What do you think? Order room service, lay in the sand, and fuck until we can’t walk so we just have to lay around some more. What’d you say, you in?”

Tessa smiled wide at him. “I’d love to, because that sounds like pure bliss, but it’ll be a few weeks before I can pay you back for this. Is that ok?”

Sidney grabbed her hips, pulling her closer. “Tessa, you don’t have to pay me back. It’s my treat. Buy me a drink and don’t pack any underwear and I’ll consider us even.”

“You’re too good to me, Crosby.”

“Uh-uh, impossible.” His lips met hers as he pressed her against the kitchen counter, until he grabbed her ass and elevated her so she was sitting on it.

And as always when he got her alone, he went right to work getting her naked, breaking away to remove her baggy tank top. She stopped him from kissing her again and said, “Not to be a downer, but what if someone sees us at the airport? Lots of people we know are going away this week.”

“That’s why I booked us out of Philly. Figured we could take a little road trip, you can show me your old neighborhood, then we can fly out from there, worry free.”

She grabbed his neck, pulling him closer. “Damn, you think of everything.”

“Impressed?”

“Very much. Now impress me with your mouth again.”

“With pleasure. Mmm…” He hummed against her lips, sliding his tongue into her mouth slowly. While he did that, Tessa’s hands roamed down to undo his jeans and pull out his cock, stroking the softness of his skin in the palm of her hand.

She kissed along his cheek towards his neck mumbling, “Let’s go to bed, Sid. Start this vacation off right.”

“No, I think I like you right here.” He went back to kissing her as his hands found the waistband of her shorts. She helped him, lifting her hips so he could slide them off. With a tug, his shirt was on the floor and her hands were on his expansive chest. With a shimmy and a step, his pants were off and kicked away. With one smooth flex of his hips, he was inside her as her ankles hooked the back of his muscular thighs.

When he filled her, Tessa threw her head back with a groan, smacking it on the cabinet, then laughing as Sidney brought up his hand to rub the tender spot under her hair.

“Fuck…you ever wonder if people get tired of this?”

“What?”

She thrusted her hips to meet his and licked at his Adam’s apple. “This. I’ve never had so much sex with someone, but I just can’t get enough of you.”

He let out a soft moan, pulled her hips closer to the edge of the counter, drove deeper. “Me too. You’re too good, Tess, feel so good. This is all I think about.”

“Really?” She sounded like she didn’t believe him, and that’s because she didn’t. She met his eyes with an innocent look.

Sidney smiled back at her, thrusting a little harder. “And hockey, but that’s really it.”

“Ugh, God…me too, just you…this…and sometimes hockey.”

Sidney took hold of her hips, keeping her still as he pushed into her again and again, meeting her eyes. “You still need to show me your moves on the ice.”

Tessa nodded, panting. “When we get back, promise. Kiss me again.” Their lips came together and his hand snaked between them to rub her clit. When she came, her nails scraped along his upper back, making him release right along with her with a roar.

Two days later, after a long car ride to Philly and seventeen very long hours on an airplane, Tessa and Sidney entered paradise. The warmth and sunshine and vibrant colors painted everywhere, over everything were almost shockingly harsh after coming from the frozen wasteland that was Pennsylvania in winter. Yet when the humid, hot air started to soak into Tessa’s dry skin, she found herself acclimating quickly, as did Sidney.

Day one, they slept off the jetlag, collapsing on the bed together two minutes after being shown their room and sleeping like the dead. Tessa woke first, which rarely happened, so she didn’t move, but just watched the rise and fall of Sidney’s breath in his wide, smooth chest, the pumping of his pulse point in his veiny neck, the way his long fingers twitched as he slept. He woke soon after she did, yawning, stretching, and reaching for her.

Day two, they didn’t leave the bed, but got very little sleep. Room service dishes started to pile up on the floor, their clothes, long ago abandoned, laid where they were tossed to begin with, and the sun cast new shadows with each passing hour. And Sidney kissed her, made love to her mouth with his, slowly then quickly, from above her or below, from behind, turning her head with his palm, through smiles and giggles, grunts and groans.

His lips and tongue then went about learning every inch of her that his hands had only just begun to memorize. Tender inner thighs giving way easily to his kiss, while her firm calves and quads stood strong, requiring more forceful attention from his nudging chin and biting teeth. The roundness of her hips formed a nearly perfect bell-curve under his fingertips and tongue. He dragged rough finger pads slowly down her neck and torso as he kissed her lazily, found that valley of wet warmth that called to him.

And she mapped him as well. Fitting his shoulders to her palms, running her fingers through the tight curls at his groin and thighs, gripping his forearms when he planked his body over hers, tracing the lines of his hands with her nose, and forever squeezing the bulging masterpiece that is his ass.

They hardly spoke, but gasping breaths, echoing moans, mutual groans, and childish giggles communicated all they needed to say. Sidney put her hands where he needed them, listened to the silent pleas that rose up from her undulating body, swallowed down her moans, watched her reactions. Tessa came until she felt weak and liable to faint, but she still let Sidney lick slowly at her pussy until she came again. Sidney fucked her until he felt chafed, the skin of his cock sore from stretching, rubbing, thrusting. Still, he let her take him into her mouth, flaccid until he hardened in her sucking moistness. Then, he fucked her again.

The sun rising on day three found them still abed, still naked, hands still fumbling toward the other’s body, unbelievably not done yet. Sidney had her wrapped up in his embrace, planting chaste kisses on her mouth with swollen, raw lips. He told her, “We should really do something today.”

Tessa’s voice was low, vocal cords achy from screaming out for him. “Something that involves leaving the bed?”

“Sadly I think that might be in order, yeah. Give them a chance to change the sheets.”

Tessa giggled and wiggled out from underneath him. “What did you have in mind? Beach or adventures?”

Sidney rolled on his back, turning his head towards her. “You decide. Nothing too crazy, though. I want you back in bed sooner rather than later.”

“Sounds good. Order me breakfast. I’m showering.”

“What do you want?”

She had rolled out of bed, stood over him, and now bent to kiss his lips yet again. “Something sweet.”

“And what about me?”

She waved her hand vaguely. “Order something savory for yourself.”

“Mmm, but I want something sweet, too.” Tessa was back on her back with his head between her thighs before she could even register a second thought.

Later, when they finally got out of bed (for real) and showered (together, which they both admitted was counterintuitive), they hit the beach for the first time. And it was everything Tessa had imagined. The sun beat down on her floppy sun hat and warmed her skin all the way to her bones, the bright blue waves were noisy, yet soothing, the day long and lazy. The white sand was fine, softer than silk and the beach was nearly deserted with only a few swimmers seen in the distance.

They walked the soft earth path toward the beach hand-in-hand, bold and relieved to be holding each other in public, worry free, each with a folding lounge chair under their arms. On the sand, reclined in relative shade under a grouping of palm trees, Sidney napped while Tessa read, a romance novel, of course. After a light picnic lunch they moved onto the sand, laying on their stomachs atop crisp white towels that covered the softly pliant sand. Tessa folded up her arms and rested her cheek on them, head tilted to face Sidney. He did the same, nudging himself closer, their elbows touching.

They laid there, soaking up the tropical rays. He mindlessly reached out and twirled a piece of her hair around his finger. “You bored yet?”

“No. I could stay here forever, Sid. You, the sun and fun. What more does a girl need?”

His answer, given with a smirk, was simple and honest. “Hockey.”

Tessa scoffed. “Oh, yeah, that. How about you, Captain? Bored and missing the ice?”

“Not in the least. It’s good to get away from it sometimes. Forget the sun, I have you...that’s all I need to have fun.” His fingers now trailed down her back, jumping over her red bikini strings as he went. Tessa made a happy sound in her throat, leaned towards his touch. He asked, “Wanna play a game?”

Tessa chuckled softly. “Like what?”

“Truth or dare?”

She laughed uproariously now. “How old are we, twelve?”

“I mean…if you’re too scared, just say so.”

“Oh, puh-lease! You’re on. I’ll even start. Truth.”

“Ooo, bold move. Alright…how old were you when you lost your virginity?”

Tessa tisked, but smiled. “I knew the sex questions were coming. I was sixteen and it was Kyle Lawson, basketball player, power forward, nice lanky body, pale eyes.”

Sidney knew it was ridiculous to be jealous about a man, or rather boy, she had been with well over ten years ago, but he still felt like punching something, someone. Then again, he had asked, so he had to live with it. “You’ve always had a thing for athletes, huh?”

“Hmm, not necessarily. Athleticism is sexy, but mostly I like big men who make me laugh and know how to make me come.”

“Ha, well then.”

“Those are just the facts, Sid. Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“Hmm…how many women have you been with?” She smiled sweetly, happy to get him back with an invasive question of her own.

Sidney paused, feeling she was justified in asking that, but still not quite at peace with this truth of his. He told her, “Not as many as some people might think, but more than I ever planned on.”

Tessa gave him a look. “That’s not an answer.”

“Fine...seventy-four, not including you.”

“Seventy-, um, wow.”

“Too many?”

“More than I would have thought, what with your small town boy image and all.” He looked upset now, brows coming together, his eyes refusing to meet hers and staring at the ground between them. She gently nudged his shoulder with the back of her hand. “Hey, it’s not bad, just surprising.”

Sidney nodded, smiling with one side of his mouth and asking, “And you? How many men?” He didn't know why he asked when he really didn't want to know the answer.

He was almost grateful when she said, “You didn’t ask me truth or dare.”

“Truth or dare?”

Tessa smiled mischievously. “Dare.”

“Oh, I see. Ok, I can play that game. I dare you take your top off.”

Rolling her eyes she said, “What do you think people would say if they knew that good old polite Sidney Crosby was really just a dirty pervert?”

Sidney laughed, but answered, “No one knows that except you, though. And I know you won’t tell on me.”

“Yeah, me and seventy-four other women.”

“Ouch.”

“Just teasing.” Tessa came up on her elbows and looked around. They were completely alone, so she reached back to untie the strings at the center of her back and neck. Sidney reached over to help. She told him, “If you wanted to ask me sex questions and get me topless you could have just asked. We don’t need to play kid’s games to get it done.”

Tossing the skimpy top behind him Sidney returned his fingers to her now bare back, stroking her sun-kissed skin. “But this is way more fun. I’m going with truth again, by the way.”

“Scared I might get you back and ask you to lose your pants?”

“Maybe.”

“Wimp. Well, now I have to think of a good one.” Tessa closed her eyes and thought for a moment. When she opened them again she said, “Tell me something you wanna do to me, with me, whatever, but that you can’t because of…”

“Right. You want a sex thing or a nice thing?”

“If you’re offering, both.”

“Sex thing…I’d like to suck a brusie the size of my fist on that pretty, pale neck of yours.”

Tessa chuckled. “Good one.”

“As for a nice thing, I wish you could meet my mom. My whole family really, but mostly my mom, she’d love you, I think.”

Tessa nearly felt tears welling up behind her eyes and she rose up to look at him. “Sid…that’s…I don’t know why, but honestly that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“It’s true. You’re so sweet, Tess. Anyone can see that.” The back of his hand stroked her cheek and they shared a brief moment filled with both joy and sorrow. Joy because it was almost ridiculous how close they had grown over the last month plus and sorrow because they could never escape the choke hold of their situation. It was a nice thought, but in the end it was a fantasy, a dream. Sidney forced a smile. “Your turn.”

“Truth.”

“What’s something you want me to do you? Something I can do, but I haven’t yet.”

Tessa smirked, relieved he had lightened the mood. “I assume we’re still talking about sex?”

“Ladies choice, but if you’re asking me, of course I’d like something nasty. Don’t make me be the only pervert on this beach.”

Tessa had to really think about this one. With all the sex they were having it was hard to think of something she might want from him that he hadn’t already given her. Finally, a dirty little thought popped in her head. “I got one. I wanna go to a porn store with you, but we might need to do the online equivalent.”

“Probably a wise move to stay at home for that. What do you wanna get?”

“I wanna pick out a vibrator and then I want you to use it on me.”

Sidney was slightly taken aback, but not in a bad way. “Can I ask why?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never done that before with anyone. I guess it’s the idea of you fucking me something that isn’t your dick…just seems kinda hot. Right?”

“Uh, yeah, really hot. Let’s seriously get on this when we get back.”

“Deal. Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

Since getting involved with Sidney, there was something she had been dying to ask, even though she was sure she already knew the answer. “You ever think about running away, leaving it all behind? The game, the cameras, the press, the pressure to win? Just pack up and move to Montana, somewhere no one’s ever heard of Sid the Kid and start over as nobody?”

Sidney had honestly never really thought about that, so he did so now. What would his life be like if he was nobody? If he didn’t have to live under the shadow of the overinflated image of himself that people had built over the years. If he could just be a man who went to an office everyday and came home to a woman like Tessa. If his life were simple. What would that even feel like?

He told her, “Tess, you have to understand there’s no separating me from the game anymore because it’s not something I do, it’s who I am. It’s…I mean, don’t get me wrong, all the bullshit, the press and people watching every move I make waiting for me to screw up, that sucks. But when I’m playing, even during practice, the minute my skates hit the ice I’m not thinking about any of that. Everything slows down and it’s just me, my teammates, the men on the other side, the game. That’s why I wouldn’t leave it behind, I love it too much, it makes me too happy. All that other stuff, the fame or the money or the titles…it’s just background noise. I put up with it because I can’t have it any other way. You know what I’m saying? The bullshit is the price I pay to be here, to play. And I have to play hockey, Tess. There isn’t anything else I would want to do. I can’t imagine not having that in my life. If I didn’t have the game, I wouldn’t be me anymore.”

Tess nodded, smiling. “Yeah, I get it. I didn’t really expect any other answer, I just like hearing you talk about playing.”

“What about you? You wanna run away?”

“My life is great, Sid. What would I run from? But, since I met you…I do wish that some things in my life were different, simplier. You know?”

“Yeah, baby, I know.”

Tessa flipped onto her back, her pale breasts now exposed to the sun. Sidney couldn’t help himself, he reached over to palm one. She rolled her head to one side, grinning at him. “I also wish I loved something the way you love hockey.”

Sidney chuckled. “You love your job, with the Royals, with us.”

“I do, it’s amazing, but it’s still just my job, Sid, not my passion. I want to excel and be the best because I’m competitive and because being successful in your career…well, that’s just what you’re supposed to do, right? But you? The way you talk about hockey…that’s not how I feel about being a massage therapist. And I like doing lots of things, but I don’t think I feel about anything the way you do about hockey.”

His touch became bolder as he inched closer, pinched a nipple. “Nothing? You sure about that?”

Tessa let out a sound that was half giggle, half moan and she threw an arm over her eyes to shield them from the sun. “Maybe this, but it seems dumb to say my passion is passion.”

“I agree, that would sound stupid coming from anyone but you. But you, you I’ll accept that from.”

“Mmm…yes, Sid.” His mouth had replaced his fingers around her nipple as he suckled her puckered flesh between his lips. He shifted his body over hers to get a better angle and moved to the other nipple now, biting her gently. Tessa cupped the back of his head with both hands, moaning softly and widening her thighs to accommodate him.

His voice was hot against her warm skin. “Let’s go back to bed.”

Tessa disagreed, using his own words against him. “I think I like you right here, Sid.”

He came up to meet her eyes. “And you called me a pervert. We’re on a public beach, you nasty little thing.”

She did know and just the thought of it was enough to get her blood pumping. She considered for a moment the fact that she was turned on by hiding and by showing off and smiled at the thought. Then again, maybe it was neither of those things on their own, maybe it was just Sidney; he was the commonality in those situations, afterall. She felt him growing harder against her core and writhed underneath him. “It’s your turn.”

Sidney played along. “Dare.”

“I dare you to fuck me, right here.”

He smiled and asked mockingly, “You dare me to fuck you?”

“Double dog dare you. Right here. Right now. Unless you’re too scared…”

Sidney didn’t respond, but he sat up, looking around. Tessa did the same and then met his eyes with a smile. He grabbed the sides of her bikini bottoms and pulled them off, tossing them on the other side of his towel to join her top. When he stood to strip off his own swim trunks he told her, “You look perfect like this, naked under the sun just as God intended.”

“You, too. I like you in this light.”

He came back down on top of her, his skin already sweaty and sticking to hers. When she spread her legs he hooked one of her knees over his arm and forced it higher towards her chest before he pressed his cock between her folds.

“Oh, God…yeah, that’s good.”

“Yeah…tell me why you wanted this, here. You want someone to see?”

Tessa’s response was breathless. “Yes, yes, I do. You?”

“Fuck, yes. Because no one can hurt us here and I like having you in the light.”

She grabbed his face with both hands, giving him pause. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the way things are, that we have to hide.”

“Don’t be. I didn’t mean it like that. I’ll take you anyway I can. I like you in the shadows, too. I like you no matter what, Tess.”

He smothered any answer she might have had with his lips pressed against hers, his hips jutting against her more forcefully now. He made love to her on that beach for a good long time; no one walked by, no one saw. Back in their villa they picked up where they left off, drowning any doubts with passion.

Several days later, they returned home, refreshed and deliriously happy. Walking through the Philadelphia airport towards the parking garage the two of them shared a laugh and just as Tessa was about to reach for his hand, a familiar voice spoke behind them.

“Sid? Nessie?”

They both become serious quickly and turned, coming face to face with Letang and his wife and son. Sidney’s heart immediately sped up, a cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and Tessa had to remind herself to breath as she took a step away from Sidney, trying to create some distance between them.

Sidney grinned uncomfortably. “Hey, man. How-how are you? What are you doing in Philly?”

Letang pulled him in for a hug and said, “You don’t know? It’s snowing like hell in Pittsburgh so we got rerouted. What are you guys doing here?” He was asking Sidney, but he looked straight at Tessa when he said it.

Sidney, unprepared, struggled to find an excuse, to think of a lie that would make sense. “Um…well…” He looked at Tessa.

She saved him, managing to sound casual and convincing, at least to Sidney’s ear. “Well, I flew to Dallas for the week to visit my dad and it’s just cheaper to fly into Philly and then drive, who knows why. I ran into Sid when I was getting off the plane. He had gone home, too.”

“Really? That’s so weird. Small world, I guess. But I thought you were staying home for the break, Sid.” Letang smiled and shifted his gaze back toward Sidney.

“I was going to, but I changed my mind. There wasn’t a flight to Pittsburgh today so I decided to come into Philly. Imagine my surprise when I saw Nessie.”

Letang nodded. “Yeah, that’s something.”

Catherine, his wife, put her hand on his shoulder. “Babe, we need to go. Sorry, guys.”

Tessa waved off the apology. “Oh, no, please go ahead. Probably a lot of people trying to rent cars and whatnot. Don’t want you guys to be stranded.”

The Letang family started to walk away and Kris called out. “Call me later, Sid, yeah?”

“You got it.”

Tessa and Sidney watched them make their way through the crowd and then turned to stare at one another, both of them speechless until they spoke at the same time.

Sidney saying, “I’m sorry, I panicked.”

Tessa telling him, “That didn’t go well.” She managed a smile at their talking over each other. “Not your fault. We probably should have come up with a story before hand. I just didn’t even…”

“Think about it, yeah, me either. Uh…”

“You think he -”

“I don’t know, Tess. I’ll talk to him. He’s a good guy. This -”

Tessa shifted, looked at the floor. “Yeah, just…talk to him. I don’t -”

“I’ll take care of it. Please don’t worry.” Sidney rested two fingers on her chin, raising her eyes to meet his. “Are you worried?”

She swallowed hard. “Yes.”

He cradled her face with his palm now. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s ok. We couldn’t have known. What are the odds?”

“Slim to none. Bad luck.”

“Yeah. Call him tonight. We’ll figure it out from there.”

“Yeah, ok. You wanna -”

“Right, let’s get out of here before we run into someone else.”

The drive back to Pittsburgh was decidedly less pleasant than rest of the week had been and it had nothing to do with the several inches of snow that was still falling by the time they got close to the city. Tessa spent most of the trip locked in her own head running through every possible scenario, closing her eyes in frustration, cursing the weather and whoever had decided to reroute Letang’s flight. Sidney kept quiet; there was nothing really to say. He needed to talk to Letang, find what he was thinking, and then, hopefully, find a way to move forward with Tess. Because despite the shit situation they were possibly now in, after their trip he was even more convinced than that he would not, could not give her up.

Notes