I head back to my table, doing my best to school my features. Tweetie rocks back on the two legs of his chair, obviously looking to get the scoop. They think the conversation was about my retirement and have no idea I just took a job as their new boss.
After dinner, couples dance. I’m heading to the bathroom when I get pulled into a dark room. The smooth hand running down my chest is one I know all too well. She’s a welcome distraction from my mind that’s spinning out of control.
“Hey, you,” Jana says, her fingers cupping my balls, her palm rubbing my dick from the outside of my pants.
“Hey yourself.” I turn and fuss with the door handle. “It’s locked now.”
“We only have a little bit of time.” She rises on her tiptoes and locates me in the dark, one hand landing on my cheek to center me before her lips touch mine.
I’m not going to lie. I’ve had women in my life, but none of them did to me what she does. Maybe it’s the way she’s always a little tentative when she initiates things between us. It shows me a side of her I never knew existed, as if she’s scared I might turn her down.
Once our lips meet, it’s like a cosmic force takes over and we both lose control. That connection, our chemistry is what keeps me coming back for more. Truth is, I’m more of a relationship type of person, but Jana’s not. She doesn’t want any strings. At first it pissed me off, but she’s become an addiction I can’t hold back from.
My hand rises up the slit in her dress I’ve been eyeing all night. As always, her panties are already wet for me, so I slide them over and thrust a finger inside her, making her moan and fall into my chest. I take her weight and rest my back along the shelves as I try to ignore the smell of bleach and cleaning chemicals, concentrating instead on Jana’s perfume.
Her hand continues to rub, and our kiss grows more frantic and uncontrolled.
“God, I want you so bad right now,” I whisper against her lips.
“Take me,” she says before biting my lip then soothing it with a stroke of her tongue. “Right here.”
My dick is so hard, and the dress she’s wearing gives me easy access. She’s already working my button and my zipper. I’m about to say fuck it, I’m game, but the door opens, and the bright light pours into the small room and blinds me.
I squint at the door to find Cory and Ande standing with their jaws dropped, blatantly staring at us.
“Holy shit!” Cory’s eyes are wide.
“You said you locked it!” Jana shouts and smacks me on the chest.
“Shit, so you two are really…” Cory says.
“Excuse us.” Ande reaches past him for the door handle. “Carry on.” She shuts the door.
“Damn it,” Jana says. A few seconds later, the light in the room turns on and she’s standing by the door, her hand on the switch. She straightens her dress and finger-combs her hair. “How bad do I look?”
“Jana, it’s impossible for you to look bad,” I mumble, tucking my still-hard dick inside my pants and buttoning them up.
“Ugh, don’t you dare compliment me right now.”
She opens the door, peering out into the hall before she bolts out of the storage room and slams the door shut, almost slamming it into my nose. I’ve managed my entire hockey career not to get a broken nose, and somehow it wouldn’t surprise me that she would be the one to break it.
I leave the storage closet a few minutes later and go back to my seat, picking up my drink and sliding into the chair.
Shortly after, Mr. Gerhardt heads up to the podium. He’s already given his speech about Coach Vittner, so I’m not sure what he’s doing, but I hope we don’t have to sit here long and suffer through another speech. I need to get the hell out of here as soon as possible. Jana got me so revved up in such a short time, it’s all I can do to stay in this chair and not drag her out of here to finish what we started.
“Hey, everyone, gather round. I have an announcement to make,” Mr. Gerhardt says.
Announcement? He’s not thinking of announcing my acceptance of the coaching position, is he? No way. Nothing’s been signed yet, and he said himself he didn’t want anyone to know yet.
The room quiets down and everyone makes the journey back to their seats.
“When I bought the Florida Fury, I had hoped it would be where it is today. We’re popular with our fans, and we’ve managed to grow the popularity of the game in a southern state, and we’ve built a solid foundation for our team. Now we just need to win the Cup. We’ve had a lot of growth these past few years, so I’m excited to announce who will be replacing Coach Vittner behind the bench next year.”
My stomach crashes and I choke back the bile racing up my throat.
“I think this person can build on what Coach Vittner put together and with any luck, take us all the way there. I probably shouldn’t even be saying this since nothing has been signed, but we’ve shaken hands on it, and I trust that we’re both gentlemen and maybe I’ve spent a little too much time leaning on the bar tonight.” He winks. “We’re all like family here, so that means everyone has to keep their mouths shut until we’re ready to announce it to the press. Agreed?”
A murmur of agreement goes through the crowd.
“He was a player himself, and although this will be his first year of coaching…”
Cory’s head whips in my direction, but I continue to look straight ahead at Mr. Gerhardt. I knew he’d be the first one to figure it out.
“Kane Burrows has happily accepted the position. He’ll be announcing his retirement from the league and taking over as head coach for the Florida Fury. Please welcome him in his new role to the organization.”
The applause starts hesitantly, but it picks up as I stand and walk on numb feet to the podium and shake Mr. Gerhardt’s hand. I raise my hand but say nothing.
He turns back toward the microphone. “There’s one more announcement I’d like to make. I’m tired and I’m old, guys.”
A few people laugh.
“So, I’m really happy my gorgeous wife gave birth to such an amazing daughter who’s as smart as a whip and can probably take this team to places I could never imagine. Sometimes the old need to step out of the way for the young. Jana, come join me up here.”
Jana looks at me like a doe in headlights, but her mom hugs her as if she won an Academy Award. When Jana reaches the podium, I slide out of her way as though it would be weird if we brushed up against each other, even though we were seconds away from fucking in the closet thirty minutes ago.
“It’s yours now, sweetheart. The Florida Fury is yours. Time for you to take the keys to the castle so to speak. You belong in the owner’s office.” Mr. Gerhardt pushes his hand into his pocket and pulls out a key.
Jana accepts the key but doesn’t say anything as he kisses her cheek.
“Take a look at the future of the Florida Fury, everyone.” Mr. Gerhardt puts his hand out toward the two of us, standing next to one another with forced smiles.
My life went from simple to complicated in the span of an hour.
I spend the night processing the team dinner.
Getting caught in the storage closet with Kane.