(Please ignore Gudas and his ridiculous mustache because this is my fave pic of Neuvy EVER!)

When Jayden came home from work that night, she wasn’t surprised to see Michal’s equipment bag resting in her living room. After the Flyers game and their playoff run ended, she figured he would make his way to her apartment eventually. It was late, well after midnight and she let out an exhausted sigh. She should have been home sooner but she had been asked to stay late at the restaurant and quite frankly she could use the extra cash.

Slipping off her practical tennis shoes in the hall, she then made her way into the kitchen, drinking some juice straight from the carton. She was hungry, but also too tired to make something, so she hauled out a box of crackers and some peanut butter and made herself a snack to appease her stomach.

Okay, that probably wasn’t the only reason. She was wasting time, knowing Michal was in her bed, probably feeling worse than the entire city of Philadelphia combined. And what was she going to say to him? How do you comfort a man who most likely blames himself for his team’s loss, even though he had done more than enough to give them a chance to win? What do you say? Are there even any words that would come close to helping ease the pain of playoff elimination?

Probably not, but she had to try. Even though she had no energy, no positive thoughts or words or wisdom. He had come to her, so she had to try. She stopped prostrating and brushed her hands on her wool skirt as she took the short walk down the hall to her bedroom.

Predictably, there he was, his big body curled up in her comparatively tiny full-sized bed. His eyes were closed, his cheek resting on the pillow, but she just knew he wasn’t asleep.

Leaving the light off, she pulled down her skirt, then off came her blouse, then her stockings, finally her bra and underwear. Maybe he didn’t want sex, but he knew her well enough to know that she slept naked, so if he wanted to share her bed, even platonically, he could deal with it.

Peeling back the covers, she slid in beside him. He scooted back to make room for her, still pretending to be asleep. He kept his eyes closed even when he reached out and put his hand on her hip. He only opened them when she gently caressed her palm along his cheek.

He gave her a sad smile and she marveled at the fact that he man was twenty-eight and still looked so youthful. Such a sweet, cherub face and one that when drooped in sorrow made her heart break.

“You played so good, Neuvy. You did everything you could.”

“Not enough. We lost.”

“You gave up two goals over three games to the best team the league. That’s nothing to be disappointed about.”

“We still lost.”

And that was the root of it: it wasn’t about how he had played, because hockey is a team sport. The man would find no solace, no comfort in his own performance if at the end of the day the Flyers still came out on the losing side of things.

Jayden nodded, shifted closer, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him against her, his cheek coming to rest on her chest. She told him, “It’s gonna be alright. I know you don’t wanna hear this right now, but you and the boys looked really great. You fought hard. Next year, you’ll do better, go further. Just let it go, Neuvy. There’s nothing you can do about it now. It’s over. Let it go.”

Shoving one arm under her body, he held her close, letting himself be held in return. And that felt nice, to just hold her and feel her warmth and compassion for him. No matter what happened, he knew he could always come here, to Jayden, and find some semblance of peace.

She felt him take a deep breath, exhaling against her body. He took another and sunk deeper into their embrace, his body relaxing slightly.

Jayden bent her head and kissed his forehead, whispering again, “Just let it go.”

His next inhale expanded his chest and when he released the air, she felt some of the tightness of his body release. Not all of it, but it was a start. He fell asleep in her arms and she drifted off the sound his light breathing and the patter of his heartbeat against his chest.

When Jayden woke up, Michal was on laying on his stomach, arms bent with his hands shoved under the pillow his head rested on. Worry free, his face at rest, he appeared even more angelic, too sweet and pure for the shit he had to deal with in this world. He deserved so much better, to always have a reason to smile.

Jayden and Michal were sometimes lovers, but always friends and her affection for him knew no limits. She wanted the best for him, always. And she wanted him happy, which she knew he would be again soon. Whatever he needed from her, she would provide it, because it was the least she could do.

That was why, when he opened his eyes and caught her watching him and swiftly pulled their bodies back together, she didn’t fight it. They had both tossed the covered down sometime in the night and Michal kicked them away from their legs as he shifted on top of her.

She was still naked, of course, and his boxers did little to mask his erection that now pressed between her thighs. He didn’t do anything at first, just let his body rest on hers as he looked deep into her eyes with those gorgeous narrow and dark orbs of his.

His hands came up to stroke her cheeks. “Jay…do you mind?”

She ran her hands up and down his sides, smiling slightly and shaking her head. He lowered himself even more to kiss her and it was tender, delicate.

It had been a while since they had done this, but it was like riding a bike and they both fell into it like a bad habit they couldn’t quite shake. Jayden opened her mouth for his tongue and groaned it felt so good. All of his six foot frame encompassed her body and she never wanted to leave that place, because there, for both of them, everything was just right.

Every press of his lips was like gasoline on a fire, making her spread her legs wide and thrust up against him. He felt no sense of urgency the way she did and continued to kiss her slowly, methodically, unbothered by her neediness. With his bulk holding her down, she just took what he gave and tried to be grateful for it.

He moved lower, kissing along her jaw until he hit her collarbones. Both his palms cupped her breasts and she bowed her body toward his touch, panting now if only slightly. As a lover, he was everything he was as a friend and then some: sweet and giving, attentive and considerate, skilled and mindful.

He moved still lower until his mouth snared one nipple, his tongue bringing her body to life, making her rise to the occasion. He suckled her softly and then a little harder until she whined and griped his biceps with both her hands. He moved to the other nipple, treating it just the same, his eyes closed in contentment.

Jayden let her own eyes close as her head fell back against the pillow. She stroked his shoulders, ran her fingers through his hair, muttered his name quietly. He worked his way back up, kissing along her chest and then working his mouth against her neck. When he got high enough, she rested her hands on his hips.

He let out a low moan when he felt the contact and thrust against her in response. Her fingers found the elastic band of his boxer and pushed inside, shoving the fabric over his hips bones. He came up to kiss her again, a little more desperate, but still sweet and slow. Together they got his boxers down and off.

By the time his mouth returned to hers, he was already pressing between her folds as she spread to accept him. There was no reason to, but Jayden still spoke softly, because it just felt wrong to be loud during during such a soft moment between them.

Her mouth came to his ear and her voice was breathy. “God, Neuvy…you feel so good.”

He answered her with kisses, along her cheek and then against her mouth. He pulled back, pushed in again and then set a pace that was lazy and sweet. His season was over, he had nowhere to be, nothing to do today and he made love to her like he had weeks to devote to the act.

It felt strangely restorative to both of them. The sort of sex that gives you energy as opposed to sapping it from you. The longer it went on, the more he pumped his hips between hers, the more alive she felt. Michal felt like he might run a marathon after it was over, jump out of bed full of energy and motivation.

In the meantime, he pushed all thoughts of the future aside and focused on Jayden. She had no reason to be, but she was always here for him like this when he needed her. Not all the time, not even that often, but when the need arose, she was there.

Every move was purely perfect and the depths he found made Jayden feel like she could never hide anything from him, he had found it all within her.

With her hands on his back, she felt his skin go from smooth and dry to clammy and wet as he exerted his will inside her body. Her own body heated, releasing energy from every pore and from her open mouth. Muscles tightened, breath caught, and a soft moan fell from her lips as she came around him.

He didn’t stop, didn’t even slow down, but just kept moving against her, inside her as she felt the rush of pleasure wash over her again and again. She kissed along his neck now and found his shoulder with her tongue, tasting his sweaty skin and urging him on towards orgasm.

He finally came, many minutes later, and it filled her with a sense of warmth and satisfaction to see him smile again. Grinning and still breathing heavy, he tugged them both onto their sides and pulled them close, face to face.

He just nodded at her approvingly and she silently agreed with him.

Eventually he said, “Coffee?”

“Shower. Then coffee. And we have to go out. I need espresso.”

His frown returned. “I’m not ready, Jay. I don’t want to see anyone but you right now.”

She fixed his hair with her fingers and then graced the digits along his red lips. “You can’t hide out here forever, babe.”

“Who says?”

She laughed because now on top of looking like a child, he actually sounded like one. “I do. There’s nothing to afraid of out there. Philly loves you, we always will.”

“Sure about that?”

“Positive.”

Notes

BONUS CONTENT: My 2nd fave pic of this man ever, because look at those forearms!