Meet Me in the Penalty Box: A Small Town Hockey Romance (Orchid City Book 1)

As I walked off the ice and headed back to the locker room, my hair was soaked and stuck to the back of my neck. There was nothing like hitting the ice for practice and having your coach tell you that you’re not practicing with pucks. After the loss that we had on Sunday, I wasn’t surprised. We got spanked and it wasn’t the pleasurable kind of spanking.

“Damn, that man is ruthless,” Lincoln mumbled as we both dropped down onto the bench beside each other. He was in his rookie year too, so we were both working our asses off to prove that we belonged playing on this level.

Ice hockey was competitive as hell and if you weren’t keeping up with the best, you’d easily get left behind. Dropping back to the AHL wouldn’t be a death sentence, but it wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted it all, or nothing.

And luckily, I was right where I needed to be in terms of impressing our coach and being an asset to the team.

Coach Anderson didn’t fuck around and I wasn’t about to be the one who got on his bad side. We had one issue this entire season and it was about me getting into some unnecessary fights. I dialed it back a bit since we had a talk about it and everything had been good between us ever since.

“Cirone,” Miles, one of our new equipment guys, said as he walked over to me. “Let me get your practice socks so I can get you new ones.”

I pulled the clear tape from the material and balled it up and set it on the bench beside me before I continued undressing. Miles looked at the ball of tape and held out his hand for it as I handed him my socks.

“Do you want me to throw the tape out for you?”

My eyes widened and I shook my head. “Absolutely not.”

Wes chuckled from a few guys down. “You never touch Nico’s tape,” he warned Miles. Wes and I played on the same team together in the AHL before we were moved up to the NHL. He knew my weird quirks and superstitions.

“What’s the deal with the tape?” Miles questioned the two of us, genuinely interested.

I shrugged off the rest of my equipment and put it all back in its respective place. “My mom started this thing when I was a kid. I used to piss her off with leaving balls of tape everywhere, so every season she would collect them. It kind of started this weird thing that I do now.”

Wes laughed again and Lincoln shook his head. “Go on, tell him more,” Lincoln urged. “It gets even more interesting.”

I looked between my two teammates. “Like neither of you have your own weird things you do.” I paused and directed my attention at Wes. “You sleep in your damn suit every night before a game.”

Wes simply shrugged. “It’s good luck, bro.”

“And so is my ball of tape.”

Miles looked between the three of us. “You know what, I don’t need to know the specifics. I know now to leave your tape untouched, so we’re good.”

He quickly moved away from all of us and everyone went back to their routine. Some of the guys headed into the shower to wash away the sweat before leaving. Wes walked over to me as I grabbed my keys, phone, and wallet.

“What are you doing tonight, Nico? Some of us are going to meet up at that new club Mirage. You game?”

I shrugged, even though my body was telling me I needed to go home and go to bed. “Sure, why not. I’m going to run home and shower and I’ll meet you guys there?”

“Sounds good,” Wes said with a smile before he left the locker room. I wasn’t far behind him and some of the other guys came out in a larger group. I was still getting to know a lot of the guys and they had been pretty accepting so far.

After hopping into my black Mercedes, I headed out through the ramp that led down to where all the players parked. The man sitting at the booth lifted the gate and waved as I drove through. My apartment was only a five-minute drive from the arena and there wasn’t much traffic so I got home without any issues.

From one parking garage to another, I slid my car into its spot and took the elevator up to my floor. It was a building of condos and each floor was its own separate unit. I didn’t make enough of a salary for a place like this, but my mother had an insane trust built for me and she left me a fortune when she passed away.

The thought weighed heavily on my heart and as I stepped into the shower, I couldn’t help but tilt my head back and wonder where she was in the universe. I hoped wherever she was, I was making her proud. She was diagnosed with cancer when I was finishing up college. Her prognosis wasn’t good and she didn’t last very long with us after she found out.

She was alive when I was drafted into the NHL and I’d never forget the look on her face. It was a memory I had cemented inside my brain. She never got to see my NHL debut, but I knew she was with me that day. I missed her, but there was nothing I could do about it now except hope that I was continuing to make her proud.

After showering, I got dressed and added my ball of tape to the massive one I’d been collecting during the season. I had been keeping it in my guest room and thankfully, no one ever asked to see inside the room. To the guys, it wasn’t anything to be ashamed of. Someone who didn’t understand it might not find it as amusing.

By the time I left my apartment, it was already well into the night and I was pulling into the parking lot at the club by ten-thirty. Wes had already texted me to let me know they were here and to head to the VIP section.

“Took you long enough,” Lincoln said as I took a seat next to him in the booth. There was a bottle of champagne in a bucket in the center of the table, but everyone had mixed drinks and was taking shots.

I shrugged as I grabbed one of the shots and swallowed it back. The liquor burned as it slid down my esophagus, but I welcomed the feeling. “Let’s be real—you guys were probably here for five minutes before I showed up.”

Wes clapped his hand on my shoulder and gave me a swift shake. “Hey, buddy,” he said with a smile in his voice. “Linc was just missing you, is all.”

Lincoln laughed loudly. “I’m here for one thing and one thing only tonight,” he said with a smirk. “And you are not it, Cirone.”

“Bummer,” I chuckled as I grabbed one of the mixed drinks that Wes had. Otto, Mac, and Cole were sitting in the booth talking to some girls who had wandered over. A few of the other guys were here somewhere, but who knew where they wandered off to.

Lincoln stood up from where he was sitting. “I’m heading out to scope out the scene. Either of you want to come with me?”

Wes shook his head as he leaned back in his spot and slowly sipped his bourbon and ginger ale while pulling out his phone. “Nah. I’m just going to lay low for a little.”

Lincoln glanced over at me. “Cirone?”

I shrugged as I picked up my drink and stood up. It was the same thing Wes was drinking. “Fuck it. I don’t have anything else going on, so I’m down.”

Lincoln smiled and he began to wander through the VIP section. I followed after him as the sound of the bass pounded through the speakers and directly into my bones. It was loud as hell but the DJ had a nasty mix going, so I was feeling it as we walked down the stairs and into the main area of the club.

I waded through the sea of dancing bodies and lost Lincoln somewhere along the way. I didn’t need him as my wingman. I was highly capable of finding someone without him. Plus, Wes was a better wingman than he was anyway.

As I pushed my way through the throng of people, eventually the crowd broke open to where the bar was. My eyes scanned the area and I took a seat as I finished my drink. Setting it down, I ordered another when the bartender came over to me. Just as I placed my order, someone ran into my back, pushing me forward slightly in my seat.

“Oh my god, I am so sorry.”

The sound of her voice slid across my eardrums like silk and I slowly turned around to face her. She was still standing close and I caught a whiff of her floral perfume. The corners of my lips lifted as her blue eyes met mine. Under the flashing colored lights from above, her blonde hair changed hues with each flash.

She was petite and looked like I could probably bench-press her entire body. A tight black dress hugged her curves and I allowed myself the opportunity to quickly check her out as she moved to the seat next to me.

“There are so many damn people in here. Someone pushed me into your back.” She paused for a moment, pulling a credit card from her clutch. “Let me buy you an apology drink?”

Reaching out, I placed my hand over hers and pushed the card back into her small bag as I shook my head. “You don’t owe me anything.” I smiled at her as she turned to face me. “I have a better idea. How about I buy you a drink instead?”

My eyes were drawn to her plump lips. They were stained a dark red from her lipstick and I wanted the matching stains on my own lips. “I like that idea.”

“What are you drinking?”

Just as I asked her, the bartender walked back over with my drink and I listened as she ordered a vodka soda. I assessed her as she was talking to the bartender. My eyes traveled over her high cheekbones and down her straight nose. She reached up and tucked her straight hair behind her ear.

She turned to face me. “Do they make their drinks strong here?”

I glanced at the bartender and took a sip of my own drink. “Usually. Judging by this drink, I think it’s safe to say they do. Is this your first time here?”

She nodded. “I just moved here a week ago for a new job. One of the girls I met through work invited me out here, but she brought her boyfriend and I’m not in the mood to be a third wheel.”

Luckily for her, I was only looking for a second wheel.

“What do you do for work?” I inquired as she got her drink and took a sip of it.

She set her glass down just as the DJ switched the song to a different one. “I’m a photographer.” Her face lit up and she began to move in her seat to the beat of the music. “Why is that always a question people ask when you first meet someone?”

“I feel like it’s an easy icebreaker,” I said with a shrug. “Plus, you did say that you just moved here because of your new job, so I figured I’d be polite and ask about it.”

This earned a smirk from her. “Ah. Trying to make it seem like your intentions are pure and wholesome, right?”

I laughed and shook my head at her. “My intentions are only the purest and most wholesome.” I leaned closer to her, my lips brushing against her ear. “I’m actually an angel and as innocent as they come.”

She snorted and pushed me back before hopping out of her seat. “I highly doubt that,” she winked as she grabbed her drink with one hand and grabbed my bicep with the other. “Dance with me?”

I grabbed my drink and slowly rose to my feet. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Her palm was warm against mine as I threaded my fingers through hers and followed her into the crowd. She abruptly stopped and I dropped her hand, grabbing her waist to hold her upright as I crashed into her back. She lifted her arm up, snaking it around the back of my neck as she began to move in front of me.

Her back was pressed flush against my torso. We had about a foot difference in height so her ass was just below my pelvis as she began to roll her hips. I moved along with her, grinding against her as I slid my hand across the front of her dress, stopping with my fingers splayed across the bottom of her stomach.

Holding her drink in one hand, she spun around in my grip and I was holding the small of her back as she faced me. Her other arm was back around my neck and her velvet skin slid against mine. I wanted to toss my glass onto the floor so I could hold her with both hands. I wanted to explore her body and get lost in the valleys and planes of her torso.

We were pressed flush against each other, two strangers in the darkness of the club as we moved together to the music. She leaned her head back, her ocean blue eyes colliding with mine as she gazed up at me. Her lips parted slightly and my gaze dropped down to her mouth before finding her eyes again.

“Kiss me,” she murmured. I could barely hear her over the music, but her body spoke louder. “Make me forget it all.”

My face dipped down to hers. “What are you trying to forget, love?”

“The asshole who broke my heart.”

I pulled back slightly, a ghost of a smile playing on my lips as I searched her eyes. “So, you’re looking for someone to replace the memory of him tonight?”

She flashed me her bright white teeth and her eyes danced under the flashing lights. “Exactly.”

Everyone around us continued to dance along to the music, but we weren’t moving with them anymore. Instead, my face was dipping down to hers and I was claiming her mouth with my own. She tasted like the vodka she was drinking and her nails dug into the back of my neck as I traced the seam of her lips with my tongue.

Gripping onto her waist, I slid my tongue against hers, breathing her in as she moved against me. This wasn’t usually my style with a girl that I had just met. I mean, by the end of the night, I was usually on my way back to their place with them, but I usually tried to play it cool at first.

She made it clear what her intentions were and I wasn’t going to deny her a fucking thing.

Our tongues were tangled together and there was an urgency behind our kiss. My lips bruised hers and I wanted more. Fuck playing it cool, fuck waiting till later. Abruptly breaking apart, I left her breathless and she stared up at me with wide eyes.

I pulled at the material of her dress as I spun on my heel. Her hand slid into mine and I headed through the crowd. I needed to get her alone. Somewhere I could do whatever she wanted me to do.

She followed along after me as we moved toward the back of the building and discarded our drinks along the way. We climbed the stairs and I led her through the VIP area. I caught Wes’s eye as I strode past the booth the guys were in. He raised an eyebrow and nodded in approval. There was a back room tucked off to the side. I had no idea what was in it, but we were about to find out.

Grabbing the handle, I turned it to the side and it opened with ease. I pushed it open and pulled the girl in with me before shutting it behind us. Her hands were on my back and heat rolled off her in waves.

“I can’t see a thing. Is there a light in here?”

I turned around to face her, my fingers trailing up her neck and across her jaw. “I don’t want anyone to interrupt us.”

I could hear the smile in her voice in the darkness. “Good idea.”

She leaned up on her toes and our mouths collided in a rush. Her arms were around the back of my neck and she ran her fingers through my hair as she held on to me. I grabbed her hips and slowly backed her up until she was flush against something.

“Wait,” she broke away, breathless. “I don’t even know your name…”

I pulled away for a moment, sliding my hand into my pocket as I pulled out my phone to check our surroundings. It was just a storage closet and there was a worktable behind her. Turning off the screen, I slid it back into my pocket before I grabbed her thighs and lifted her up.

The sharp intake of her breath filled the room and her hands clutched at my shoulders as I had her sitting on the table with me standing between her legs. My cock throbbed in my pants and she hooked her legs around my waist, pulling me flush against her.

“Nico,” I told her as I dropped my mouth to her neck. “But you can call me whatever the fuck you want.”

“Mmm, Nico,” she hummed as she reached for the bottom of my dress shirt and pulled it out of my pants. Her nails were sharp against the skin on my back. “Different. I like it.”

“I like the way my name sounds rolling off your tongue, but you know what I really want to hear, love?”

She looked up at me as I pulled the straps of her dress down her arms. “What’s that?”

“I want to hear you screaming it instead.”

I slid the straps of her dress down to her elbows before trailing my hands across her collarbones. My lips found hers again as my fingers traced the dips and curves of her body. Sliding the material under her breasts, the feel of her skin was soft against my palms and I rolled her nipples between my fingers.

She moaned into my mouth and I swallowed the sound. Her hands found the waistband of my pants and she worked them open. Shifting my hips back, I gave her access to my cock as she slid her hands under my boxers.

A pounding sounded on the other side of the door and she stilled against me with my cock throbbing in her hand. “Someone knows we’re in here,” she breathed against my lips.

“Fuck,” I mumbled as I released her breasts and pulled back. Whoever was on the other side knocked on it again and I heard my name. “Goddammit.” I grabbed the straps of her dress and pulled them back up to cover her up. “Hold on.”

Her heels hit the floor as she dropped down off the table and I pulled up my zipper and buttoned my pants as I walked over to the door. The hinges groaned as I pulled on it with force, feeling the frustration building inside. My balls ached and I needed to be inside her.

Wes was standing on the other side with a look of regret on his face. “Sorry to interrupt, bro, but I need your help with Linc.”

“What about him? I’m not his babysitter.”

He frowned and swayed a bit. “He left with these two girls. I don’t know what the hell happened, but they kicked him out of his car.” He paused for a moment and lifted his backward baseball hat from his head before putting it back in place. “I shouldn’t drive and I didn’t know if you could.”

Goddammit. I only had one drink and barely drank the second one I ordered. If there was anyone sober enough to drive here, it was me. I glanced back at the girl with ocean eyes who was staring at me from across the small room.

As much as I wanted to finish what we started, she was just a stranger at the end of the day. These guys were my family and we had to have each other’s backs on and off the ice.

I turned back to Wes. “Give me a minute and we’ll go get his dumb ass.”

“Thanks, Nico.”

Leaving the door cracked open, light shined into the small room as I closed the distance between the girl and me. “I hate to leave like this, but I gotta go.”

She smiled up at me. “I get it. You go do whatever you have to do and maybe one day our paths will cross again.”

“Let me see your phone,” I said to her as I held out my hand.

She raised an eyebrow and pulled it from her clutch. After unlocking the screen, she handed it to me. I took it from her and called my phone from hers.

“There, now you have my number,” I told her as I handed it back and slid my hand up to cup the side of her face. “I’m not done with you. Call me if you decide you want to finish this sometime.”

I claimed her lips once more with a teasing kiss and grabbed her hand before pulling her out of the room with me. Wes was waiting by the booth and I stopped next to him as I watched her disappear back into the crowd.

“Who was that?”

Shit. I pulled out my phone and saw that I had her number, but I never got her name. A slow smile pulled on my lips.

“I have no idea,” I paused as I slid my phone back into my pocket, “but I have every intention of finding out.”