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thebluenoteblog · 4 years

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Knee to Knee

Summary: After being badly injured, Joel just isn't himself. It takes something big to snap him out of it.

Player: Joel Edmundson

Word Count: 3.1k

Requested: can you do a colton or joel one where he gets injured and you have to take care of him and after a couple of weeks he finally snaps at you and you leave and he gets all worried and when you come back he apologizes and you make up

Note: Joel is injured in this fic and is on crutches. There are a lot of things he struggles to do because of this. I am aware that there are people who live on crutches and are fully capable of doing these things, but my assumption is that this takes practice which Joel has not had by this point. My intention was not to offend anyone.

It was a little over sixteen minutes into the third period and the Canes were up by two goals. You stretched your arms above your head and relaxed back into the cushions of the couch, the remote balanced beside you and a bag of chips in your lap. They were playing their second of four away games and tonight’s match up was against the Panthers. The game was harder and faster than you had expected it to be and Joel had found himself in the middle of more than one scrum throughout the night.

It was almost over though, and soon you would be able to put away the chips and climb into the shower while you killed time until Joel called you. You had just glanced away from the screen to check a message that had popped up on your phone when there was a commotion between the announcers. You dropped your phone back into your lap and refocused your attention on the game. “That was a knee to knee hit. There’s no doubt about it. It looks like he’s down, they’re calling over the trainer now.”

You scanned the ice, eyes immediately focusing on the player lying face down near the net. Who was it? Finally, the guys blocking your view moved and you got a good look at who it was. 6. Oh god. About a thousand thoughts raced through your head. You couldn’t gather a single one of them into anything remotely coherent as you watched him struggle to get to his hands and knees and then lay back down, hands curled into fists beside his head.

Eventually the trainer made it to him and after a short discussion, he was being helped off the ice, supported on each side by Slavin and Svechnikov. He disappeared down the tunnel without once putting any weight on his right leg. When he was gone, the players stood around for a moment, as everyone gathered their thoughts and the screen cut to a replay of the hit. Joel didn’t even have the puck when he was hit, he was skating toward it.

You knew one thing for damn sure: you could forget taking a shower. You weren’t walking away from your phone until someone called you.

<><><><><><>

You unlocked the door and pushed it open, carrying Joel’s bag inside and holding the door open for him as he made his way through on his crutches. He hadn’t said a single word to you since you had picked him up from the airport. He was more than a little bitter that the team had sent him home to start physical therapy rather than finishing out the road trip with the rest of the guys.

It might have been a little bit selfish, but after what you saw, you were glad to have him home. He couldn’t play anyway, and you were worried about him. At least this way you knew he was taken care of. He didn’t seem to see it that way though.

“Why don’t you go sit down?” You said, “I’ll take your bag upstairs. Do you need anything?”

He frowned, “No, I’m fine.”

You nodded and turned to head up the stairs, bag in hand. You froze at the landing to see him making his way into the kitchen on his crutches clearly in need of something that he was too stubborn to ask you for. You could already see exactly how this was going to go.

<><><><><>

You placed the plate on the end table beside Joel and said, “Dinner is served,” in the most upbeat tone you could muster with him walking around the house like a storm cloud of gloom.

He looked up at you and, to his credit, tried to smile as he took the fork from your hand. “The Blues are winning,” he said.

“That’s awesome, what’s the score?” You asked as you took a seat next to him and stabbed a fork into your pasta.

“Can’t you read?” He mumbled quietly.

Your cheeks flushed, equal parts in embarrassment and anger. You’d just spent an hour cooking him dinner, one of his favorite meals, and that was the response you got? You swallowed the pasta around the lump in your throat and blinked back the angry tears burning your eyes.

He never looked away from the television. He never looked over at you. He never noticed you silently swipe a single tear from your cheek. If you really thought about it, he probably didn’t even realize what he had said.

<><><><><><>

You pulled up in front of the physical therapy building and shifted the car into park. You moved to get out of the car, grab his crutches for him, open his door, help him in any way that you could. He beat you to it. He opened his own door, climbed out of the car, hopped to the back and pulled out his crutches.

He moved to close the door, but you stopped him, calling out, “I’ll go park and meet you inside.”

He gave you a confused look, “I’m fine. I just needed a ride. Be back to get me in an hour and a half.”

Then he closed the door and disappeared through the entrance, quite easily for someone stuck on crutches who wasn’t used to them. You took a few deep breaths as you pulled away. Counted to ten in your head and tried to convince yourself that abandoning him at the rehab facility would only make things worse.

You were sure there was somewhere you could get in for an hour-long massage. You would send Joel the bill when he was in a better mood. Say you were billing him for damages he had done to your psyche or something like that. If the only repercussions he faced for acting like a tool throughout his recovery was a seventy-dollar bill for a massage, you figured you were letting him off easy.

<><><><><>

“What are you doing?”

You glanced down at the pile of clothes you were folding. “Laundry?”

Joel rolled his eyes, “I can see that, I meant, why?”

“I always do your laundry,” you said. “Do you even know what laundry detergent is?”

He shifted back and forth on his crutches, “Of course I know what laundry detergent is. Just leave it. I’ll do it myself.”

“You’re going to fold your own clothes?” You asked him, giving him an incredulous look, as you dropped a shirt into your lap. It was your shirt, not his. This was your laundry too. So, if he wanted to be a dick about this, then he was going to have to at least let you sort out your clothes. As much as you loved your fiancé, you did not want him folding things that were supposed to go on hangers. You would never get those wrinkles out.

He frowned, “You really don’t think I’m capable of folding my own clothes?”

You forced a smile and turned to the pile, “Let me get my stuff out and you can take over. I would be glad to go start lunch.”

“When do you go back to work?” Joel asked, sitting down heavily on the couch beside you, his leg propped out in front of him.

You froze, staring straight ahead, “I’m working from home for a month. Until you’re off crutches. Unless you want me to go back to work now.”

He shook his head and grabbed a shirt off the pile, “No, no. I was just wondering.”

You nodded and finished sorting the clothes in silence. You were afraid to open your mouth. You were afraid that no words would make it past the lump in your throat. That questions intention was clear: he didn’t want you there.

As soon as you sorted the last of your clothes from the laundry, you grabbed the laundry basket full of your clothes and headed to the bedroom, wiping a tear from your face as you went. You closed the door behind you and dropped the basket on the floor before collapsing onto the bed.

You buried your face in Joel’s pillow and tried your hardest to remember the days leading up to the roadie. All the smiles and the laughter and the subtle touches just to remind you how much he loved you. The way he would walk up behind you and wrap his arms around your waist, pick you up and spin you around. You would kick and scream and pretend that you hated it. Right now, you would do anything to that that Joel back. Even if he couldn’t do that, he could laugh like that. He could smile like that.

You let yourself cry for a long time, because you knew that Joel wouldn’t come looking for you. Even on the off chance that he noticed you were missing and cared enough to worry, he wouldn’t care enough to try to make it up the stairs. Yes, you knew that when you were done you would fix your makeup and go down to the kitchen, then cook him something amazing for lunch. Then you would bring it to him and probably get nothing in return except a faked smile, if you were lucky.

Still, you pulled yourself out of bed and made your way to the bathroom.

<><><><><>

“Joel, it’ll be okay.”

Joel twisted his head around so sharply that you were surprised that he didn’t stumble on his crutches, “Stop fucking saying that,” he snapped. “Stop saying it could have been worse, stop saying it’ll be okay, stop trying to make it better, stop trying to help, stop trying to make it okay.”

You flinched back, the doorknob still in your hand and you were now thankful that you hadn’t had time to close it yet. All you wanted to do was run out of this house. Away from him. Away from this nightmare. Away from whoever the hell had come home from Florida in your fiancés body.

“It’s a grade three MCL tear. It couldn’t have been worse. It could have been better. It could have been a two-week injury. Maybe one month. No. I’m out for three months and that’s assuming things go well which they aren’t. My PT says it’s looking like I could be out for over four months,” he hissed. “Does that sound like things are okay to you?”

You didn’t realize you were crying until his face softened, “(Y/N), why are you crying?”

You swiped your hands at your cheeks, “I’m going to go stay somewhere else.”

“What are you talking about?” He asked, shaking his head, “(Y/N)-,”

“I don’t need to stay here and spend all day trying to take care of you just to take this… this…” you paused, trying to think of a word, any word to describe what he had been putting you through for the past two weeks. “I’m not even going to say what I’m thinking right now Joel. I’m just going to leave.”

He reached out an arm to try and grab you and he dropped one of his crutches. This time you didn’t stop to help him. He’d made it perfectly clear how he felt about your help. You turned and walked through the door, closing it lightly behind you. You could hear him calling your name as you walked down the driveway and as you pulled out into the street, he finally got the door open, just in time to see you pull away.

<><><><><>

Joel had never felt anything quite like what he felt watching you drive away and being completely helpless to stop it. His stomach sunk, his heartbeat picked up and he was finding it really hard to breathe. He stood there, on the front porch for a long time with only one crutch under his arm before pushing the door closed and hopping over to grab the one that he had dropped.

He called you about ten times before you started sending him straight to voicemail. He threw his phone across the couch. He immediately regretted it because he was the only one there to go get it and he wasn’t going to give up on trying to get ahold of you. It was useless though, he called and texted until his phone died and you never answered. He didn’t know why he was still trying; your phone was clearly turned off.

Eventually he gave up and set his phone on the charger, then made his way into the kitchen to make something for dinner. It turned out to be a lot more difficult than he had expected it to be. He wasn’t allowed to put any weight on his knee and hopping around with a pot of boiling water wasn’t exactly a bright idea, even he knew that.

He gave up on cooking and heated up some leftovers, returned to the couch, took a few bites then paused and sent you a message.

Please call me.

<><><><><><>

Over the next week, Joel realized just how much you had really been doing for him. It turns out that he really didn’t have any idea how to do laundry. He was a little embarrassed to realize this and decided that he would figure it out, then ended up doing something wrong and dyeing his white clothes blue.

He tried his best to cook and ended up doing nothing but making a massive mess that wasn’t even remotely edible. He ate a lot of take out. He wasn’t supposed to be driving so he had to Uber to physical therapy because the team was out of town. Your side of the bed was empty at night, and he hadn’t fallen asleep in his bed alone in so long that he had forgotten what that felt like.

He knew you had to be staying with someone from work, because those were the only people you knew in Carolina other than the team and you wouldn’t have gone to any of them. He didn’t have any of their numbers though, and he wasn’t enough of an asshole to show up at your work and cause a scene. You probably wouldn’t even be there. You still had a few more days of working from home.

<><><><><><>

One week and one day after you left, Joel was sitting on the couch his leg up on the coffee table and a carton of Chinese food in his hand when the front door opened. His eyes snapped in the direction of the entry way and he muted the game, set his food on the end table then moved to grab his crutches.

He got halfway to his feet before you appeared in the living room and held up a hand, “Don’t get up.”

He frowned and slowly sank back to the couch, afraid to not listen to anything you said, least you leave again. “Where have you been?” he asked.

“A friend’s house,” you said, taking another step toward him. Instead of touching him, or interacting with him in any way, you grabbed a pizza box and a couple of empty Gatorade bottles off the coffee table and walked out of the room with them.

Joel got up this time and made his way after you, pausing when you walked outside to toss the box in the trash can. You made your way past him without saying another word and he stared down at the hardwood floors for a moment before pushing the door closed and following you. “Are you staying?” He asked, quietly.

At first, he didn’t know if you had heard him. Then you turned and paused from where you were straightening the living room. “I haven’t decided yet. I guess it depends on how the next few minutes go.”

Joel took a deep breath, “How do you want them to go?”

You paused in folding a blanket, then continued and dropped it over the back of the couch. You slowly turned to face him, “I don’t think you understand how badly you hurt me.”

He looked at the floor and rocked back and forth on his crutches, “I think I do.”

“No,” you said, “You don’t. I cried every day because I was trying so hard to make you happy and all I got was sarcasm and rude comments. You asked me when I was going back to work, Joel,” you said, tears welling in your eyes at the memory. “I was going to talk to my boss about working from home for another week or two because I wanted to be home to help you until you didn’t need me, but clearly you want me gone. Clearly you don’t want my help.”

He shook his head, “I didn’t… I don’t… (Y/N) I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t have an excuse. All I can say is that I’ll be better.”

“Why? Because now you know that you need someone to cook you dinner and do your laundry?” You asked him, a tear finally running down your cheek.

He mumbled something that you couldn’t hear but sounded something like, “Shit, no.” and he leaned his crutches against the back of the couch and hopped over to you. Joel placed his hands on the side of your face and forced you to look up at him. “I wanted you to come home the second you left. This has nothing to do with me needing help. Although I am starting to realize that I do need a little bit of help,” he paused, then added, “If you came home and told me that I was out of luck and you weren’t going to do a damn thing for me, I would be fine with that. Just please, please, come home.”

You looked up at him, blinking back tears as he looked between your eyes searching for any sign that you were accepting what he was offering. Finally, you spoke, “Do you really think that I could be here and not take care of you? I’ve been home for ten minutes and I’m already cleaning up your messes.”

He smiled hesitantly, “Does that mean you’ll come home?”

You nodded, “Yes, I’ll come home.” He pulled you against him and you rose up on your toes to connect your lips. When you pulled away you smiled at him, “Seriously though, I’m sending you the bill for the two massages I got because of this nonsense.”

He laughed and pulled you in for another kiss.

#joel edmundson #joel edmundson imagine #joel edmundson imagines #hockey imagines #nhl imagine

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pucksnsticksnhockeyboys · 4 years

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let’s fall in love for the night

prompt: Let’s Fall In Love For The Night by FINNEAS

summary: you can't seem to stay away from Joel, no matter how bad you want more than what he’s willing to give you.

warnings: a bit of steaminess, mentions of sex and drinking, swearing

word count: 3.5k

Let's fall in love for the night And forget in the mornin'

You knew it was a dangerous game you were playing, toeing the line between friends with benefits and something more. You thought you weren’t ready for the more after your last relationship, but with Joel, the benefits were just too good to pass up.

So, you found yourself waiting for the standard ‘you up?’ text from Joel, the one that you knew would be coming shortly. Carolina had finished their home game a few hours earlier, and you knew Joel wanted to go out to celebrate with the boys. You weren't surprised when the text came just after midnight, but you did feel like kicking yourself a bit for being so willing to jump at the chance to see him.

He was waiting at the door by the time you arrived at his apartment, and you knew this because your fist barely had time to connect with the wooden door to knock before it swung open and he stood before you.

No matter how many times you saw him, his blinding smile always seemed to make your breath catch in your throat. A lazy smirk found home on his face as he towered over you, one arm wrapping around your waist to tug you close to him and the other shut the door as soon as you were far enough in the apartment. You could smell the alcohol on him, his lips dangerously close to your face. His hands fell heavy on your hips, crowding you close to the door.

“You aren’t even going to say hi?” You said quietly, trying to regain some of your composure, to act like he didn’t have such an effect on you as he did. His smug grin softened a bit, and that somehow made your stomach twist even more.

“Hi.” He cheekily said, as if he didn't have you pinned to his front door, the length of his body pressed against yours. You let out a breathy laugh, locking your hands together on the base of his neck behind his head.

Your simple positional movement seemed to remind him of why you were in his apartment, because he closed the small gap between you and caught your lips in a searing kiss. He wasted no time in deepening it, letting you know just what he wanted from you. And you were more than willing to give to him.

“God, you’re amazing.” Joel muttered against your lips, pulling you up to wrap your legs around his waist so he could carry you to his room.

And with praises like that spilling past his lips, you had a hard time remembering that by morning light you’d go back to being just another one of his friends.

Play me a song that you like You can bet I'll know every line

“You’re such a dork.” You teased, tossing a piece of popcorn from the bowl resting in your lap at the man sitting on the opposite side of the couch. Joel had invited you over for a movie night, and though you expected it to devolve to something along the lines of Netflix and chill than a friendly hang out, you enjoyed the quiet company. You sat with your back against the armrest, legs spread down the couch. Joel had pulled your legs across his lap, large hands resting on your shins.

“You love it.” Joel teased, completely ignoring the movie and instead staring straight at you. Ignoring the way your heart flipped in your chest, you simply shook your head and turned your gaze away from him. It was becoming harder and harder for you to tell yourself that things were just strictly platonic—with the occasional booty call, but still.

“You wish, Edmundson.” You teased, deciding that it was the easy way out. Joel didn’t respond right away, just squeezed your legs where they rested across his lap. You could feel his gaze on your face, but kept looking ahead at the television, even if you weren't actually paying attention to the movie.

“Can we dance? Let’s dance.” Joel stated, gently moving your legs off of his lap so he could stand. You shot him a confused look, but nonetheless took his extended hand and let him pull you to your feet. He used more forced than necessary, sending you flying into his chest so he hold you there. From the self-satisfied grin on his face, you could tell he did it on purpose. “C’mon, you can pick the song.”

And there really was no way you could say no that, especially when he was looking at you like you were the reason the sun rose in the morning. You nodded, and he cheered, moving through his apartment to set up the bluetooth speaker, mutter that if this was happening, ‘it was happening the right way’ and though you weren’t sure what he meant by that, you simply chuckled and paused the movie.

“A promise is a promise.” Joel joked, handing you his phone to pull up a song. You immediately went to Spotify, searching up the song that’s been stuck in your head for the past few days. You were slightly surprised to see that it was already downloaded, meaning that he listened to the song too. It was a fairly unknown song, and it honestly didn't even seem like on Joel would like. “Oh, that’s a good one.”

You grinned at this, pressing play on the upbeat song and immediately it started playing through the speakers in the apartment. Joel slipped his phone from your hands, locking it and tossing it onto the couch without ever taking his eyes off of you. His hands wrapped around yours, using them to spin you around and pull you into his chest, pressing kisses to your lips every once in a while that had your mind going fuzzy.

And as the two of you danced like idiots in love, you had a hard time remembering that by morning light you’d go back to being just another one of his friends.

I'm the boy that your boy hoped that you would avoid Don't waste your eyes on jealous guys, fuck that noise I know better than to call you mine

“Are you fucking kidding me.” The sentence fell past your lips without permission, and it certainly wasn't a question. You just couldn't seem to shake the jerk that walked into the bar, the one you blamed for launching you into the back and forth game you played with Joel.

The tall brunette sitting next you had been in conversation with his teammate Ryan Dzingel, who sat opposite him in the booth at the hole-in-the wall bar a group of you were in, when he heard your exclamation. Both boys stopped talking, following your gaze to the bar counter where your ex stood, a new girl tucked under his arm.

“Is that—” Ryan started, but Joel cut him off before he could finish, the arm he had wrapped around your waist tightening.

“Yeah, it is.” He confirmed, and you couldn't tear your gaze from him. Really, you couldn’t remember what exactly his appeal had been. He controlled what you wore, who you hung out, and was generally a possessive asshole.

When he need things with you, you had sworn off relationships. Joel had been your shoulder to cry on, and one thing led to another and suddenly you’re in a friends with benefits dynamic that was slowly driving you insane.

“What do you think he’s going to do when he sees we’re here together?” There was a hint of smugness in Joel’s voice, one that you couldn't help but roll your eyes at. Throughout the entirety of your relationship with your ex, he had told you he didn't want you hanging out with Joel, because according to him, the hockey player had a thing for you. Nothing had happened between you and Joel, while you were dating, at least.

You knew he would hate it if he found out he actually drove you into Joel’s arms—and bed.

“I really don’t care.” You huffed. You were done letting him dictate your life, and couldn’t care less if his feelings got hurt because you were out with someone he had been jealous.

“That’s right. Fuck him.” Joel tipped the remains of his drink back and downed the rest of it, causing you to shoot Ryan a look. He was just as confused as you were about Joel’s odd behavior. Usually, the tall brunette could keep a cool head, but seemingly the sight of your ex had him on edge. “You’re too good for him, anyways.”

Joel slide out of the booth, tugging you with him and towards the bar to presumably get a refill.

“Let’s go show him what he’s missing out on.”

And as he kept his hand entwined with yours for the rest of the night, you had a hard time remembering that by morning light you’d go back to being just another one of his friends.

You need a pick-me-up? I'll be there in twenty-five I like to push my luck So take my hand, let's take a drive I've been livin' in the future Hopin' I might see you sooner I want you ridin' shotgun I knew when I got one right

There was no good way to put it other than you day just simply sucked. From the moment you woke up—late, considering your alarm didn’t go off—to messing up some important paperwork at work.

The cherry on top had been when you burnt the dinner you had been cooking, ending up with you close to tears caused from stress, curled up on the couch. Your thumb hovered over his contact, unsure whether or not to call. Sucking in a breath to steady your nerves, you dialed his number.

“Hello?” He answered on the second ring, and just hearing his voice calmed you down. When you didn't respond right away, he called you name, and you heard him shifting through the line. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” You hurried to assure him, but he caught on to the tightness of your voice. It was one of the rare times you hated how well he knew you.

“No, you’re not.” He said with a light chuckle, though there was a hint of worry in his own tone. In the background, you heard what suspiciously sounded like keys jingling. “I’ll be there soon, we can go for a drive.”

And he didn't sound like he was asking, not that you would have turned him down. He hung up shortly after you agreed, and you were left sitting on your couch wondering just when your hookups turned to comforting each other after hard days. You and Joel had been friends before adding benefits to your relationship, but never had you called him late at night to try and find some calmness in a stressful day.

True to his word, it wasn't long before he texted you saying he was out front, and to meet him. When you exited your apartment building, he was leaning against the side of his car, waiting for you. The moment his gaze settled on you, he opened his arms wide and you wasted no time in pressing into his chest.

He just smiled softly at you as he opened the passenger door for you after you pulled away. He gave you control of the music, and as he drove through the night a comfortable silence fell over the two of you.

“Where are we going?” You asked after a moment, keeping your voice quiet as you were afraid to break the bubble that had formed between the two of you in the car.

“I dunno.” Joel shrugged, stopping at a red light. He turned in his seat to look over at you, and suddenly it felt like you were the only two people in the whole city. He reached across the center console, cupping your jaw softly and tracing the curve of your lip with his thumb. Your breath caught in your throat at the tenderness of the action. Joel had kissed you hundreds of times before, but somehow deep in your gut you knew that if pressed his lips to yours the dynamic of your relationship would change, especially with the way he was looking at you.

All too soon the light turned green again and he dropped your face. But instead of retuning his hand to the steering wheel where it had been previously placed, he brushed down your arm to thread his fingers with yours.

“Let’s just get away for a while.”

And really, there was no way you could say to that.

Let's fall in love for the night And forget in the mornin'

Ever since the night where Joel had picked you up and just driven you around for an hour, the two of you had become closer. Now, not every text he sent you was an invitation to come over and hookup. Sometimes he wanted to talk on the phone to unwind from a stressful day or a bad game, and sometimes he wanted you to come over, but only simply because he liked having someone next to him as he fell asleep.

Tonight was like the latter. He had asked you during your lunch break if you wanted to spend the night, and it didn't take much convincing for you to agree. It scared you, a little bit, just how easy it was for him to make you want a relationship. You had been the one, after all, you decided the whole ‘no labels’ thing when you started hooking up. And now that you were ready for something more, you were scared he’d leave you. He didn't sign up for a relationship, but it felt like you were blurring the lines between friends with benefits and just what you had been trying to avoid in the first place.

But then he opened the apartment door, looking so comfortable in a pair of grey sweats and your favorite hoodie of his, and all thoughts left your mind. You couldn't focus on anything besides how devastatingly handsome he looked smiling widely at you.

He was going to be the death of you.

I love it when you talk that nerdy shit We're in our twenties talking thirties shit We're making money but we're saving it 'Cause talking shit is cheap and we talk a lot of it

Sometimes it was really hard to tell yourself that Joel saw you as nothing more than a casual hookup, one that was a built in friend when the morning light peaked through the window.

Like right now, when you’re curled up against his bare chest, skin on skin and his fingers threaded in your hair, scratching at your scalp absentmindedly. You were so content, and the thought of ever having to get up made you curl into him tighter.

“Do you ever think about the future?” Joel questioned, breaking the stillness of the room. Your heart momentarily skipped a beat in your chest, wondering just where this line of thinking came from.

“I mean, yeah? Why?” You were treading lightly, hoping the maybe this was going in the direction you wanted it to. That maybe he would offer taking your relationship to the next level. Instead, you felt him shrug under your touch.

“Just, my mom said something to me the other day about settling down.” He contemplated, and you worried that maybe he could feel your heart pounding against your chest from where it was pressed against him.

“Yeah?”

“But I don't know if I’m ready to do that yet.” You tried not to get your hopes up, you really did, you would could feel yourself physically deflate as you took in his words.

“Oh. Yeah, me too.” You found yourself saying. Because really, how were you supposed to tell the guy you’re pretty sure you’re falling for that you saw your future with him? No matter how uncertain your relationship with him seemed to be, ten years down the rode you couldn't imagine spending your days with anyone other than Joel.

So for now, you would settle for nights like this, storing the memory for another day when you needed to smile.

You won't stay with me, I know But you can have your way with me 'til you go And if all your kisses turn into bruises, I'm a warnin'

You tried to take your mind off of it, really. How in the morning, Joel would slip out of bed before you and head off to his apartment. Sometimes after you and him hooked up, he’d stay, and he’d been staying more and more often in the recent weeks.

But he had an early flight. A week-long road trip on the west coast, starting with the LA Kings. You were glad he was leaving, hoping that maybe the break from him would give you time to get over Joel.

But now, you weren’t focused on getting over him. In fact it was quite the opposite, you were straddling his lap, trying to get him as close to you as possible. Your hands were threaded in his hair, desperately trying to get a grip. His large hands were splayed across your back, pulling you impossibly closer as you arched into him.

It was obscene, how easy it was for him to have you ready to go for him. He had barely touched you, but the idea of stopping was seemingly the worse thought in the world at the moment.

“Always so good for me, baby.” He breathed in the short time it took for him to move his lips to your neck and it had you tilting your head back to give him more access.

“How do you want me?” You all but moaned as he sucked marks into the skin of your neck. At your words, he felt you groan against you, the vibrations rattling through your whole body.

“What’d I do to deserve this?” He muttered, his hands securing themselves under your thighs as he stood to carry you back to your bedroom. You simply shrugged, not sure how to explain that this very well may be the last night you spent together. Maybe you were fighting a losing battle by trying to get over him, but you at least had to try. For your own sanity, you had to try to make this the last time you saw him.

“Consider it a going away present.”

I know better than to ever call you mine

Joel had been gone a few days, and in that short amount of time you had tried to limit contact with him. You didn't really know how big a role he played in your life, until you found yourself closing out of the messages app when you wanted to send him an update about how your day went.

Of course, you couldn’t shake him that easily. It was late at night, late for you at least. From the time zone he was in, it probably was a reasonable hour when he called you.

At first, you had let it go to voicemail. You hadn't been sleeping, but you knew you really wouldn't be able to go to bed if you talked to him. But then he texted you, asking you to call him and that’s when your resolve broke. You knew nothing was probably wrong, and he was probably just bored, but that didn't stop the way your heart raced as you dialed his number. He picked up on the first ring, telling you he had been waiting for you.

“Hey, what's up?” He spoke into the phone, a lightness to his voice that had you rolling onto your back and smiling like a fool in the dark.

“Joel, you called me.” You reminded him, and there was a breathy chuckle on the other side of the line that you missed hearing. It had only been a few days since you had seen him last and you already missed his laugh. “It’s late, here.”

“Sorry, just wanted to talk to you.”

And there it was. He said things like this and kissed you the way he did, but told you that he didn't want labels. He didn't want the one thing you had been yearning for as of late. But no matter how many times you told yourself that you were done—you knew you’d always come back to him. No amount of distance between you and him could be enough to change how you felt. You just couldn’t give him up.

“I miss you.” Joel sighed, the sound so lonely it made your chest seize. You pulled the comforter up to your chin, snuggling deeper into the bed and pretending that he was with you. That the sound of his even breathing coming through the line was really coming from the pillow next to you.

You wanted him, selfishly, you wanted all of him. But if you had to, you would take only the parts of him that he was willing to give to you.

“I miss you, too.”

#joel edmundson #Joel edmundson imagine #Joel edmundson imagines #Joel edmundson x reader #carolina hurricanes #Carolina Hurricanes imagine #Carolina Hurricanes x reader #Carolina Hurricanes imagines #hockey #hockey imagine #hockey x reader #NHL #NHL imagine

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horsesandhockeyplayers · 2 years

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A Not So Southern Christmas, Part 1

This is obviously a rewrite of my old fic. I have been feeling romantic and Christmasy, so I figured it was time to bring back my favorite holiday couple. I found the header from @whatishockey!!

Synopsis: When Adelaide Thibodeaux finds her husband to be diddling the wedding planner in the Church before their nuptials, she walks out and is determined to take her dream honeymoon by herself. Until she gets a seat upgrade to first class and ends up next to Hurricanes Defenceman, Joel Edmundson. Holiday shenanigans ensue.

Author's Notes: This was written in early 2019 before Eddy went to Montreal as a free agent. I will be tagging both teams.

Part 1

Looking back on my relationship, there were a lot of red flags I ignored. Or maybe I was just naïve. Either way, it was five days before Christmas and I was starting my solo honeymoon in the tiniest airport known to man in Birmingham, Alabama. My cousin, the “travel agent”, had “given” me a deal on my honeymoon as her wedding gift, but I was beginning to suspect she didn’t own a damn globe because I was flying to North Carolina then to Winnipeg, and then onto the winter wonderland of Toronto, Canada.

The plane looked like it would lose a fight with a sparrow, but 30 people were going to board the thing. As someone that had never been on a plane, I was beginning to regret my gumption of marching out of the church and taking the limousine directly to the airport.

If you asked me, impulsivity was not a common trait among my people. I was Southern by blood, Southern by raisin’, Southern by livin’ and I wasn’t prone to rush anything and I enjoyed tradition as Southerners do. I picked at a hangnail with my teeth and resisted the urge to ruin the most expensive manicure I had ever had in my life.

A tinny version of Jingle Bells played in the terminal and I was tempted to turn tail and run home. My momma went hog wild for the holidays and our house usually looked like something right out of a Thomas Kinkaid painting. White fluff and tiny villages covered every surface, anything that could be wrapped in lights and garland was adorned and Daddy made sure you could see our house from space. It didn’t matter if it was 30 degrees or 80 on Christmas day (being Alabama, both were possible) we were having a baked ham with all the fixin’s.

There seemed to be two types of women in the South: Southern Belles with white gloves, pearls, and eyelashes that could bat for anyone, or TomBoys dressed in camo and boots. Any woman that fell into the inbetween was pigeonholed into one or the other. Despite the fact that I was 5’10” and closer to 200lbs than 150lbs, my momma always tried to turn me into a belle. Gymnastics, ballet, cloggin’, modern dance, pageants, cotillion of all things, were on my resume for a proper Southern Belle.

If I had let my mother dress me I would have been in a Chanel suit, tottering close to six foot in matching pumps, and a string of pearls around my neck. Dixiecrats were nothing if not predictable in their fashion sense. My own personal style was more “post menopausal writer” in leggin’s, drapey sweaters, and sensible flats (if I had to wear shoes at all).

Considering all I had as I sped away from the church was the suitcase I had packed for the honeymoon, I was looking festive in darkwash jeans, a sensible red blazer I had found in a consignment store over a green teeshirt from the Wal-Mart, and pair of comfortable silver flats that I had found at Payless Shoes for $12. My Christmas light earrings actually lit up with the push of a small button and I looked like Santa Claus’ long lost granddaughter. You know… if she had run away from her wedding and slept in an airport.

I had my hair up in a messy bun after leaving a small mountain of bobby pins in the back of the limousine, but the bangs that were last year’s bad decision didn’t quite make it and they fell around my face in unkempt waves.

My knees were currently jammed into the seat in front of me and I was pressed against the window trying to make myself as small as possible. My fear of the window falling out and being sucked out of the plane was now secondary to making sure I did not touch the sweaty, leering, overweight man who had jammed himself in the seat next to me and might have actually drooled when he blatantly stared at my breasts.

I was saved by the captain’s voice coming over the loudspeaker, “Good morning y’all, there’s a big ol’ storm comin’ down that’s gonna be coverin’ the better part of the Eastern half of the country, but we should be getting you into Charlotte on time to catch your connecting flights before she hits.”

My family was poor, but we weren’t rich either. My daddy owned the family hardware store in a small town outside of Tuscaloosa and my Momma was a professional homemaker that would have made Paula Deen and Martha Stewart weep with envy. We had enough to go on day trips, to pay for my sister and I to do all of our extracurriculars, but I had never been on a plane in my entire life and I was about to spend the next 57 minutes with my knees jammed to my chest while being squashed by the fattest, reddest, sweatiest man on the planet and I would bet my life savings he was some sort of shoe salesman, or a judge, or a small town sheriff or something.

--------------------

When we landed in Charlotte, I sent a little prayer to the Universe for allowing me to live and for the one millionth time since climbing into that big car I thought about just going home. But that was what sensible me would have done and I was always sensible.

As we taxied to the terminal, I turned on my phone and the family group text started blowing up my phone.

Little Sister: Addie are you there yet? Did you live? Did the plane crash? I didn’t see anythin on Twitter.

Momma: Adelaide, I don’t understand dear, why are you leaving for Christmas? It was different When you and Daniel were going on your honeymoon and starting your own traditions. This is insane. Text us when you land. Adele said she didn’t see anythin’ on the Twitter App. I know this weddin’ didn’t go quite the way you were hopin’ but just come home.

Daddy: Girl, call us when you land and Canes won!

My phone was to my ear as the plane came to a stop and all 40 something passengers tried to stand at the same time with the exception of Chubby McPervert who didn’t move a muscle and fell asleep with his massive jowl to his chest.

“Hi Daddy, I landed. Yes, I’m going to catch my next flight. No, this one wasn’t bad.” It had in fact been horrible, but I wasn’t about to tell him about Chubby McPervert and his leering eyes. “I love y’all too. I’ll call y’all when I make it to Toronto, it will be really late. No it won’t cost a fortune, remember Adele and I taught you how to facetime using the WiFi. Yes, Daddy, we have to use that newfangled thingamabobber. I love you too.”

I hung up as people were starting to file off the place and Chubby McPervert still hadn’t gotten out of his seat and I needed to grab my carry on from the overhead bin. I swung my purse onto my other shoulder making sure it whipped right across his sleeping face and I put a look of abject horror on mine, “Oh mah gosh! I am SO sorry, This purse was a present from my Daddy so I can carry all my stuff and I just have not gotten used to this big ol’ thing!”

He grunted and finally got up. He apparently didn’t have a carry on and I stuck out my tongue at his retreating back to the amusement of the little boy seated behind me. Stepping into the narrow aisle and grabbing my little roller bag that contained all my toiletries and a few changes of clothes in case the airline lost my suitcase, I rolled after everyone else exiting the plane and entered the indoor city that was (to me) a large international airport.

The hustle and bustle of an airport right before Christmas was overwhelming and I looked for a place where I could get out of the way and get my bearings.

I found a pillar in front of a bank of screens framed in cheap tinsel garland that had a list of all the flights coming and going. To my dismay, it looked like a lot were already being cancelled due to the weather. When I finally found my flight, I was dismayed to see it was already delayed. I looked around the terminal for signs of where the gate might be and figured waiting there was as good as any place.

It took what felt like an hour to traverse the bustling airport and I was pretty sure I had walked to the next county.

The poor gal behind the counter looked harried as people checked into the flight and a lot of grumpy faces seemed to be aware of the delay. I waited patiently in line for my turn as she tried to find accommodations for people who needed to make connecting flights. Much to my chagrin, Chubby McPervert huffed up behind me and spent the next 20 minutes grumbling under his breath. When I finally got to the counter I set my giant purse on it, “Y’all look like y’all’ve had a DAY.”

She took a breath before answering, “I’m new, this is my first holiday.”

“Well take a breath, a drink of water, I gotta find my ticket on my phone anyway.”

She shot me a grateful look as Chubby McPervert made impatient huffy noises behind me. She clicked around on her computer and after a good minute I held out my phone feigning stupidity, “This is for this flight right?”

She smiled, “Yes it is.”

Chubby McPervert made another impatient huff. I wanted to tell him he sounded like the draft horses in the log pull at the county fair, but I didn’t, I just turned on the Southern Charm, “Oh my goodness, I am so sorry, am I going too slow? I bet you’re in a big ol’ hurry to board a flight that’s been delayed.”

Turning back around, I made a note of the name etched on the little brass name tag as I reached over the counter with my hand and hoped the gal would follow my lead, “Bethany dear, how IS your momma doin’? I sent her a Christmas card last year and it was returned! Did she move?”

Bethany tried to hide her smirk as she caught onto my game, “You know we had to move her in with my brother last year, I’ll text you her new address.”

I made a sympathetic face, “Aw I am so sorry to hear that.”

She shook her head, “No, it’s good, after Daddy died she just couldn’t keep the farm all by herself. She fell and broke her hip, but she is doing great now. The grandkids can barely keep up with her!

She let go of my hand and passed my phone back to me, I gave her a wink and turned around with my cheeriest smile, “Bless your big ol’ heart for waiting while I caught up with my friend. I’m sure she will be happy to help you now!”

As I grabbed my purse, Bethany mouthed, “Thank you,” and I ventured into the waiting area to take a seat and wait for my delayed plane.

I was deep into a meditation podcast when I felt a tap on my shoulder, Bethany was bent over me, “Ms. Thibodeaux? Can I have you come up to the counter please?”

“Absolutely,” I answered, pulling my earphones out of my ears as I stood.

Setting my purse on top of my rolling carry on, I followed her to the counter. When she was back behind the computer she made a few taps, “Unfortunately, the gentleman behind you in line had to find an alternate flight, so we now have a first class seat available, would you like a free upgrade?”

A free upgrade into first class? I didn’t even know there was such a thing.

Bethany seemed to sense my hesitation, “There’s more legroom? You get to drink?”

She knew exactly what I needed. Bethany was like my secret Santa, “Well in that case, how can I say no?”

She gave me an updated paper ticket, “Your flight is about an hour out, enjoy!”

It was her turn to give me a wink and I was suddenly very grateful for my parents who taught me to treat everyone with respect and patience.

Returning to my seat to wait, I watched people exit a freshly landed plane, watched the cleaning crew get on, the switching of the pilots and attendants, the waiting area emptied as they started to board the plane like a herd of grumpy cattle and eventually it taxied away from the gate.

There was a duty free store across from where I was sitting and I idly wondered how many of those little gin bottles it would take to fill my water bottle and more importantly, how much it would cost. I finally decided, “Way too damn much,” and I was saved from a potentially bad decision by the loudspeaker announcing my flight. I blinked and noticed the waiting area had filled up again with weary holiday travelers and the flight was going to be very full as cancellations meant everyone was trying to get somewhere before the storm covered most of the US.

I got up, shrugging my purse onto my shoulder and grabbing the handle of my bag. I turned to walk around the bank of seats I was sitting in to avoid the gaggle of teenagers that had settled on the floors to take turns with the one available charging outlet, but was stopped as I smacked into a solid wall that I did not remember sitting next to.

Rebounding off the slab of granite, I tried to step back but the back of my knees hit my carry-on and they buckled. I felt myself losing my balance, before two large hands wrapped around my arms to steady me.

I would be the first to admit it was tough to date men when a woman happened to be nearly six feet tall and could be generously described as “curvy.” Dan had been almost two inches shorter than I was, and was one of the very few men who didn’t seem bothered by the fact I was bigger in every sense of the word. That is what I had believed, anyway, until I found him balls deep in our wedding planner who was all of five foot and 100lbs soaking wet.

The man I ran into, however, was much taller than Dan -- much taller than I was-- and it was a weird experience looking up into a man’s eyes instead of down. Not that I was complaining.

I felt my mouth open before I told it to and I knew stupid was going to come out, “Oh mah goodness you are handsome.” My drawl became more pronounced when I was nervous and I had a feeling I just went full ‘back in the holler down by the crick’ Southern.

He blushed, murmuring what had to be a thanks and let go of my arms, gesturing for me to walk in front of him. When I turned around the aisle between the banks of metal framed seats had cleared like a combine gone through a wheatfield.

Making my way to the gate, I could feel the man’s huge presence behind me and I realized for the first time, I was unsettled because he made me feel almost small. Adelaide Thibodeaux don’t you dare trip or make a fool of yourself more than you already have.

I scanned my ticket with my new seat assignment and headed down the gangway to a thankfully, much larger airplane than the first one. First class looked like having a king sized bed to myself after flying on what was essentially a deflating balloon next to the world’s sweatiest man. The seats were in pairs on either side of the aisle and even economy, which had three seats on either side, looked roomy comparatively.

My seat was smack in the middle of first class and I was by a window. I stopped and pushed the extendable handle down on my carry-on and before I could pick it up the man I had crashed into basically palmed the thing like it weighed no more than a feather and lifted it into the overhead bin, before putting in his own bag and laying his very nice coat on top of both of them.

I felt a flush the exact color of my blazer creep up my neck and into my cheeks. “Um thanks! Polite and handsome, my momma would love you.”

Adelaide Thibodeaux, what the actual flying fuck are the words coming out of your mouth?

I took my seat near the window and looked out at the workers throwing the luggage onto the plane, hoping the very tall, very handsome man would keep going and I would never see him again. Which would be disappointing, but quite alright since I apparently couldn’t control the verbal diarrhea around him and I wanted to sink directly through the plane to the ground below.

I was not that lucky; God didn’t seem to want to grant me any favors to avoid paralyzing embarrassment this day and I glanced up at the man who was about to sit next to me. From a different angle and finally focusing on his face, I immediately recognized him and I turned my face toward the window again to have a minor meltdown. I was about to spend the entire flight next to a Carolina Hurricane and I did not want to find out what incredibly stupid things could come out of my mouth in six whole hours.

When I looked back over and swallowed he gave me a funny look, suddenly the plane seemed even smaller than the one I arrived on. There may have been at least four inches between our arms, but it felt like nothing and I swear I could feel the heat of his body coming through his stylish sweater. The awkward silence stretched tight like a bungee cord and I knew when it finally snapped I was going to feel the lash.

He held out his hand, “Joel, and I’m sorry about putting my hands all over you, but I don’t make a habit of letting beautiful women fall to the floor.” His smile indicated he was anything but sorry.

In that moment, I wished his hands had been all over me. I cleared my throat and willed myself to say something normal, “Adelaide, and it’s no problem, hot hockey players catch me in airports all the time.”

I winced internally at the flood that escaped my lips, but he just chuckled, “First time flying?”

“What? No! Excuse you sir, I fly all the time.” I had an intelligent, stubborn, impulsive little sister, I could razz with the best of them.

He grinned, and looking at him was like looking directly into the sun, he was so hot, “Are we making up stories? I’m going to win the Norris this season.”

The teasing was enough to release that awkward tension and I smacked his bicep playfully, “Shut UP I am not that obvious!” I don’t know what bayou I was suddenly born in but the Southern just jumped right out and I sounded like I should be noodling catfish and not flying to another country.

“Just when I think I’ve gotten used to the southern accent, you sound a little different than people in North Carolina,” his smile was infectious and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Well Mr. Edmundson, you are acquirin’ quite the ear. I have a ‘bama accent not a Carolinan one.”

He squinted his eyes in thought for a moment, “Alabama?”

“The Sweet Home one, yes.”

The gorgeous pea coat he had been wearing was in the overhead bin, leaving him in just a burgundy cashmere sweater and soft jeans that hugged the muscles in his thighs. “How did an Alabama girl start watching hockey?”

This was a story that had been told more than once in our house during the holidays because Alabama was definitely football country. “Back in 2017 Bama lost a game to Auburn and at one point Daddy screamed at the TV, ‘If you let that dumbass team beat you I am never watchin’ football again!’ Auburn beat us 27 to 14 and my daddy is a stubborn southern man and hasn’t watched a single pass since. We all thought it would last a week tops but here we are 2 years later and now we’re all Canes fans.”

“When you say… us?” He had an eyebrow raised.

I realized I probably sounded like one of those fans that thinks they are on the team, “Oh! Alabama football, Roll-Tide! If you’re from Alabama you’re a Bama fan or an Auburn fan. We are a ‘Bama family and I am a ‘Bama alumni.”

He grinned and shook his head, “I know you’re speaking English, but I’ll be damned if I understood a single word, but you sure look cute saying it.”

The heat flooding my cheeks could have probably cooked a holiday turkey and I was certain my face was the same color as my blazer. It almost felt like I was being hit on. Clearing my throat, I fiddled with my phone, opening and closing apps hoping my brain was going to restart soon because it needed to tell my heart to stop beating a million times a minute.

The silence stretched like some eldritch being between us until he broke it again, “So you’re obviously from around here…ish. What is taking you to Winnipeg?”

He was almost too handsome to look at directly, “I am actually going to Toronto for the holidays.”

A perplexed look crossed his face, “are you on the right plane?”

I sighed, “Yes, my ‘travel agent,’” I made air quotes, “is a cousin on my momma’s side, honestly, the whole side of the family is a lost cause.”

He replied with a knowing nod, “Gotcha, so do you have family up there? Meeting family? Friends?”

I nervously fiddled with the end of the seatbelt, “Uh no, I’m going by myself.”

He didn’t say anything and the silence began to stretch and grow like an organic being and I felt myself rushing to fill it, “It was actually supposed to be my honeymoon, until I caught my fiance having a one on one meetin’ with my wedding planner, naked, in the bridal suite of the church.

A big breath of air whooshed out of him, “Wow that kept getting worse.”

I offered a shrug, “It was not my finest moment. But the trip was non-refundable and I needed to leave, you know?”

His long strong fingers traced the edge of the armrest and he cleared his throat, “You know that Toronto is like a two hour flight from here and you’re about to fly six hours in the wrong direction.”

A humorless laugh escaped my throat, “Ha, well yes, my cousin is not really gifted in any way. The good lord didn’t see fit to give her smarts or looks, so here I am flying in the wrong direction because she dropped out of school at 14.”

He gave my hand a cursory pat and it was probably wishful thinking that he let his fingertips linger ever so slightly, “Well Adelaide, I’m very happy my mom convinced me to fly out last minute and that your cousin is terrible at geography.”

As the last few passengers filed onto the plane, the crew pulled the door shut, and the pilot came over the loudspeaker, “Sorry folks, but there is a mechanical problem with the fueling truck, it will be a few minutes longer.” There was a collective groan from everyone.

The thought of the plane going down in a snowstorm made me shiver. If the crash and subsequent explosion didn’t kill me then hypothermia would and at least I’d die next to Joel Edmundson.

He glanced at the fancy black watch on his right wrist, “I wonder if it's too late to disappoint my mother and be back to my apartment before the evening news.”

I scoffed, “You couldn’t let me fall on the ground, but you’ll let me die in a fiery plane crash by myself? AND disappoint you mother? Some gentleman you are, Mr. Edmundson.”

His grin was wide and white, “Fair enough, I can’t be disappointing my mom.”

The flight attendants were starting to make their way down the plane with the drinks cart while we waited. His fingertips were still on the back of my hands and he gave it a pat, “First drink is on me, what is your order?”

I resisted the urge to move my hand away, not because I didn’t want him touching me--I did, I wanted him to touch me all over so when I died on this death trap, I didn’t have a single regret--but the sensation was also overwheming because the Sex on a Stick that was Joel Edmundson had been caressing my hand like a lover and it was all too much.

“Lady?”

That snapped me out of my own head, “Lady?”

I don’t know what face I made but he was quick to backpedal, “No not like ‘Hey Lady!’ But L-A-I-D-I-E Like Adelaidie. Sorry, it’s a hockey thing. Nicknames.”

“Uh, my sister just calls me Addie.”

He shook his head, “Can’t have Eddy and Addie, that’s too cute.”

This was a completely surreal conversation and I wondered if the gangway to planes was like a portal to another dimension, “So Lady and Eddy is better?”

He nodded like this was a completely normal thing to talk about 5 minutes after meeting someone, “Yeah like Eddy and his lady.”

I just blinked and answered his original question in case I hallucinated this entirely ridiculous exchange. “Gin and Tonic please.”

He snickered, “Such a Lady thing to order.”

How many concussions had this man suffered?

He took our drinks and surreptitiously slipped a couple of dollars into the flight attendant's hand, then passed over my G&T, heavy on the T. I suspected I’d have to drink 20 to even feel anything close to tipsy.

As she helped the row behind us, I leaned over and Joel leaned in and now our faces were close together and it was difficult for me to focus, “Was that enough money?”

He looked confused a moment before his face softened, “Lady, drinks are free. This is first class, that was just a tip.”

I had a feeling I just showed my Alabama roots. “Oh.”

He patted my hand again and left his fingers on top of mine. Was it hot in here? It felt hot. I desperately wanted to move my hand because touching him was summer in Phoenix, completely fine in small doses and completely overwhelming after 30 seconds.

Finally, I was saved by the buzzer as my phone notified me of a text message. I regretted losing the contact of his touch immediately as I slid my hand out from under his and pulled the phone out of my purse.

Little Sister: Are you THERE YET?

No. My flight was delayed but I did get upgraded to First Class and you will NEVER GUESS WHO I AM SITTING NEXT TO.

Little Sister: TAYLOR SWIFT.

Why would Taylor Swift be flyin to Winnipeg also I’m pretty sure she owns her own plane.

Little Sister: Well then I don’t know.

Joel Edmundson

Little Sister: … Fake… Take a picture.

I AM NOT TAKING A PICTURE

Little Sister: Then you are obviously lying. It’s probably some stinky old rich guy.

I sighed as only an older sister could sigh and Joel looked over at me, “What’s up Lady?”

“My little sister is a pain in the ass,” I said as I set my phone face down on my thigh.

His smile was large and genuine. “As the little brother, I take offense.”

I offered an eye roll, “Yeah, but I bet you don’t drive your older brother crazy.”

He laughed, “I’m pretty sure he still wants to strangle me on a regular basis.”

“Well then, maybe I should introduce you to my little sister, and you can introduce me to your brother,” I said, shaking my head.

He lowered his voice, “only if she’s as gorgeous as you,”

This time I know my face matched the color of my blazer. “She got the same build as my mom. Small and petite ”

Joel sucked air through his teeth, “Sorry not interested. Petite has never been my thing.”

I almost barked and covered my mouth with my hand, “Liar. Petite is every man’s thing.”

He took a sip of his vodka soda and shook his head. “Nah”

Turning in my seat to face him I rolled my eyes, “Ok mister mysterious. What is your type?”

He stayed silent but his eyes traveled slowly down my body before he looked forward again and took another sip of his drink with a smirk.

The temperature in the cabin seemed to jump 500 degrees. I pulled the safety card out of the pocket of the seat in front of me and pretended to read it for a moment before I just started using it as a fan. “Is it hot? I feel like it’s hot.”

He just grinned to himself and took another sip of his drink.

Eventually I started babbling to fill the silence that once again stretched and started to come to life, “So Daddy said y’all won today. I couldn’t watch the game because I was flying from Birmingham to Charlotte on a plane the size of a tic tac. But, congrats.”

He just smirked. “Thanks. I was feeling good, probably why my mom was able to convince me to get on a plane last minute.”

Then something hit me out of the blue. “Shouldn’t you be flying outta Raleigh?”

His answer was punctuated by a nod, “This was the last flight to Winnipeg I could find this afternoon before the storm hit.”

“Oh that’s right we’re flying directly into a storm.” I downed the rest of my drink and resisted the urge to crush the little plastic cup in my hands.

He just arched his brow, “You’ll be fine.”

My answer was bitchier than it should have been and I grimaced as I said it, “Oh really, are you a pilot?”

“I spend hundreds of hours on a plane every year.” The look on his face was kind.

I shrunk down in my seat, thinking I was toilet scum, “Oh. I suppose that’s true.”

I glanced at my phone, my sister was still relentlessly texting and finally she called. Even though my voice was low there was no mistaking the tone when I hissed, “What Adele?”

Joel gave me another sideways glance and he seemed to have the smirk permanently etched on his face.

“No! I’m not puttin’ him on the phone. Why? Because he’s flyin’ home for Christmas, not partaking in a meet and greet with my crazy little sister. You are SO crazy. Oh my goodness gracious, put Daddy on the phone I can’t with you right now,” I growled, “Why are you like this? I swear.”

Before I knew what was happening, my phone had been snatched from my ear and his giant hands dwarfed the device. “This is Joel Edmundson and you are?”

I couldn’t hear her side of the conversation any more but I did hear her shriek and I covered my face with my hands. This poor man...and I was going to have to sit next to him for six hours and stew in my embarrassment or he’d have me moved back to economy or something.

I did my best not to listen to the conversation because I knew I was going to melt into a gooey puddle of embarrassment if I did; fortunately it was fairly easy because, true to form, my sister wasn’t letting the hockey player get a word in edgewise.

After 84 years she seemed to stop talking. “Well, Adele, It’s lovely to make your acquaintance and I’ll get your address from your sister and send you some swag. Yes, I’m sure she’ll give me your address. I can be very charming ma’am.” There was a long pause, “Well, yes she does seem immune to my charm though…”

My head whipped around at his words, but he ignored me and continued. “Well, I’ve tried to be very obvious, but she’s not picking up the cues, oh she’s dumb that way?”

His eyes met mine and he winked, he was joking. Everything was fine. He was just kidding. Of course Joel Edmundson wasn’t interested in me, imagining that could be true would be a special kind of brain trauma. I probably was dumb like my braniac sister always said.

“She IS gorgeous, I’m glad you agree, legs for days and that hair! So tell me about this loser she dumped on her wedding day… uh huh… uh huh… What a bastard. Your daddy never liked him huh? I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but would your daddy like me? Uh huh… I can definitely work on not turning over the puck on the blueline. Is that his only complaint? Of course I’d treat her like a queen. Have you seen her?”

My mouth was hanging open so wide that my chin was somewhere around the vicinity of my boobs. Who in tarnation was this man?

“Look, Adele, I’m going to have to let you go, I think your sister might be going into shock, but add me on Instagram, okay? Great! I look forward to it, have a wonderful holiday.”

His hand had barely lifted from his ear before I heard my Daddy’s baritone, “Son?”

Joel put the phone back to his ear. “Yes, sir?”

This conversation was easier to follow because my father was a simple and forthright man, “I also think it’s crazy she’s going all the way to Toronto by herself. Uh huh…. Yessir. Well, I’d love to accompany her to Toronto, but I’m afraid I promised my mom I’d be home this Christmas. Uh huh…. Uh huh. We always love the holidays. My mom’s been baking for weeks.” He gave me a sideways glance as my father’s voice rumbled, “I can’t imagine she will like this idea.”

He covered the phone with his hand and I wondered if I had somehow been transported to a different timeline; maybe parallel universes did exist. “Your dad says I either have to go with you to Toronto or you have to come to Brandon with me.”

“He did NOT say that,” I said, furrowing my brow. I leaned forward and he held the phone out, “Daddy did Eddy take a hit to the head today?” I could barely hear him, “Because I think he might have a concussion.” Our faces were inches apart and this close I could definitely smell his soap or a hint of cologne mixing with his natural scent and it was panty dropping for sure.

He brought the phone back to his ear, “OK sir, I’ll do my best to change her mind. I have her as my captive audience for six hours. Yes sir, thank you sir. Have a great evening.”

The call was over when he handed the phone back to me and I gladly put that fucker in Airplane Mode and slid it into my purse before studying the safety placard with great interest. Eventually, the air felt extremely heavy to my left and when I glanced over Joel had turned in his seat to watch me with great interest. I gave him a dry look, “What?”

“You don’t seem interested by that phone call.”

“What phone call, that was clearly a hallucination and you are a figment of my imagination. My fear of flying is clearly manifesting into,” I gestured at his big body, “you.”

He rolled his eyes. “Anyway, your dad said if I don’t go with you to Toronto or convince you to come home with me he knows a witch and he’s gonna curse me.”

I chuckled through my nose, “My daddy wouldn’t know what a witch looked like and he sure as heck doesn’t know one. But I’m pretty sure my Auntie practices Hoodoo. But that’s just speculation. Anyway, I’m staying out of these cockamamie shenanigans.”

He looked perplexed, “You mean VooDoo?”

I rolled my eyes, “I said what I said Mr. Edmundson, Google is free.”

His eye brows hit his hairline and he made a serious face, “Okay Ms. Witchcraft Know-it-All.” Facing forward he made a sad noise, “Man, my mom is going to be so disappointed that I’m going to Toronto.”

“I think we both know that you aren’t following me to Toronto and I’m not actually invited to Christmas at your house, so don’t even try and make me feel guilty. Also, it’s weird, we met like 5 minutes ago.”

He just looked at me, deadpan, while he picked up his phone to hold it to his ear. While it rang, he spoke, “It’s been like half an hour and it IS weird, because I never let my brother meet girls I’m interested in, “Hi mom, yes, I’m on the plane. No, it’s delayed again. Yes, I will be home in time for Christmas. Listen, I’ve met this lovely woman, Adelaide, she is flying to Toronto. Yes, she knows she’s on a plane to Winnipeg. There were scheduling problems. Anyway, she’s going to Toronto, on her honeymoon, BY HERSELF. Yeah, I know that’s terrible. The asshole cheated on her, ON HER WEDDING DAY, can you believe?”

I shushed him and waved my hand indicating he should lower his voice, leaving me slightly mortified that not only did his mother know what a loser I was, but so did everyone on this plane.

“Yeah she’s sitting right here. No you can’t talk to her. No, Mom. No.” He held his phone out, “My mom wants to talk to you.”

This was the most surreal experience I had ever had and I was 100% sure this was some kind of dream. I was probably the lone survivor of the plane crashing and I was pinned by piles of twisted metal and I was hallucinating as I died from blood loss. Tentatively I took his phone and held it lightly to my ear, “Umm, hello Mrs. Edmundson. Umm no ma’am I can’t call you by your first name. Southern raisin’ and all. Well, I’ve never been out of the country before and the trip was already paid for so I figured ‘why not.’ No ma’am we celebrate Christmas. My house lights up the whole block. Yeah my Daddy does displays at our house every year. My mama bakes a ham every Christmas. Yes ma’am, it’s a big deal at our house. You and my mama would get along real well Mrs. Edmundson, she asked me the same thing before I left. Mmmhmm. Yes ma’am.” I handed the phone back to Joel and sighed, “She says I’m invited for Christmas.”

He gave me a smug look, “Yeah, mom. I don’t know if Dad should bring the SUV to pick me up, I don’t know if it will be an us. Yes, I will ask her. Yes, I know. Ok. Love you, bye.”

It was his turn to down his drink and he turned to face me again. “My mom says if you won’t come to Christmas, then I have to go to Toronto with you and while that will make her sad, your safety is important.”

Was everyone in this dream crazy except me? Or maybe I was the crazy one and this was normal behavior. “I am not crashing your family’s Christmas because your mother feels a moral obligation to some sad sack you met on an airplane and because my family is trying some weird matchmaking thing.”

He sighed. “Man, my mom is going to be so disappointed. Do you have a bunch of couples stuff planned in Toronto? Are we going to get a sensual couples massage? Couples yoga? A romantic carriage ride?”

I hit the call button above my seat. “We are not getting anything. You are going home to your mother and I am going to Toronto to enjoy my solo vacation.”

The flight attendant interrupted Joel’s retort, “Can I assist you?”

I held up my empty glass. “I have a newly developed fear of flying and this man might be insane. May I have another gin and tonic, heavy on the gin, light on the tonic.”

She was ever the professional but her mask slipped as she eyed the 6’4” defenceman and her look said “Girl, look at this tall drink of water you get to sit next to for six hours, what is wrong with you?”

She didn’t actually say any of that though instead she said, “Of course, just one moment.”

Ignoring the man next to me, I impatiently tried to push my failed bangs back, They immediately fell forward again and I stared dejectedly out the window. I almost missed Joel lifting his phone, the telltale shutter sound, and him swiping his finger across the screen and the swoop of a text being sent.

I narrowed my eyes at him, “What did you just do?”

He lifted his butt off the seat and slid the phone back into his front pocket. “Sent a picture of you to my mom.”

The audacity of this man. There was a replying bing that was followed by a second bing. “Aren’t you going to check that? It’s your mom telling you not to bring Shrek to Christmas.”

He shook his head, “Don’t need to. The first one is my mom saying you look nice and it’s about time I date a nice girl and the second one is my brother asking how serious we are and if he has a shot.”

I rolled my eyes. “You are such a fibber.”

He snorted, “A ‘fibber’?”

“Yes, you know, someone who is a liar.” My drawl drug that 'i' out to pasture and the 'r' was soft and barely pronounced.

“Oh I know what it means, Lady, I just haven’t heard that word used in this decade.”

I swatted his bicep again, “Are you always this annoying or is this just for me?”

He rubbed his arm and faked a wince. “Am I going to have to tell Rod the Bod I can’t play because I was abused by a girl on an airplane?”

I countered his question with one of his own, “You call your coach ‘Rod the Bod?’”

Joel dropped his arm to the rest again. “Not to his face, because I value living, but have you seen the man?”

He had a valid point. Rod Brind’Amour was jacked in all the right ways. “Of course I’ve seen him, I have eyes for goodness sake.”

The flight attendant returned with my happy juice in a much larger glass and waved away the few dollars I tried to give her and her eyes darted to the man next to me before she gave me a pointed glance.

I took a sip and I didn’t think there was a drop of tonic water in it. I just had a straight up highball glass full of gin. “I do believe that woman is trying to get you into the mile high club Mr. Edmundson.”

He snorted, “Baby I’m already in the club, but I’d be more than happy to provide your initiation.”

I didn’t know what to say to that so I just sipped my gin and my face was once again just as red as my blazer.

He snuck a glance at me, “You blush so easily, it’s fantastic.”

#Joel Edmundson #carolina hurricanes #montreal canadiens #Joel Edmundson fic #Canes fic #habs fic #Joel Edmundson Imagine #Carolina Hurricanes Imagine #Montreal Canadiens Imagine #NHL rpf #hockey rpf #NHL Fic #NHL Imagine #A Not So Southern Christmas #ANSSC #Jadelaide

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myhockeyworld87 · 3 years

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Bubble Wrapped - Part 14

Word Count: 3,417

POV: Reader

Warnings: Same as always, Language, Smut, NSFW, Please see the note in the Masterlist

Teams: Bruins, Caps, Flyers, Lightning, Pens, Jackets, Canes, Islanders

Notes: Well, here we are onto another part of Bubble Wrapped. When we last left this story, our reader had just had a magical date with Matt Barzal. Will she stick with him of go looking for someone new to hook up. So I’m hoping the wrap this story up in a couple more parts. As always feedback is greatly appreciated and wanted…hahaha! Luv ya all!! Happy Reading to all! Also sorry for posting this late. I’ll queue for tomorrow afternoon as well.

As soon as you said goodbye to Mat, you checked on how things were going at the hotel. Tomorrow would be another hectic day as the Canes would be moving out and the Islanders moving in, and you wanted to make sure everything was in order. By the time you got up to the suite, both Dougie and Svech were already upstairs in their room, though you found Joel over at the bar pouring himself a dram of one the most expensive whiskeys you had.

“Don’t worry, you can bill me or I’ll have a bottle shipped here to replace it,” he said before taking a healthy swallow of the strong spirit.

“I’m not worried about it. Pour me one if you don’t mind.”

“Really? Never took you for a whiskey girl.”

“My father taught me to appreciate it,” you told him taking the glass he offered, then sipping the amber liquid. “And well, this is something that should be appreciated. Sorry about the game.”

“I’m not sure you are.”

“And what does that mean exactly?”

Joel eyed you suspiciously. “Please after that little scene downstairs. I’m sure you’ll be happy to be rid of us.”

You knew that he had seen you with Mat. That he was taking it like this stunned you, for honestly, you thought Svech would be more of a problem than Joel. Taking a deep breath and exhaling it, you attempted to explain. “I’m not sure what you want me to say, Joel. We never promised anything or talked about anything more after that one night.”

“I didn’t think we had to,” he said rather harshly, and you gave him a look of warning to keep it down knowing that Dougie and Svech were upstairs. “When you share something like we did, it sort of speaks for itself.”

“Apparently, it doesn’t.” The look of hurt on his face sent a horrible twist in your gut. “I’m sorry Joel. I didn’t think that it was anything more than just a one-time thing for you.”

He downed the rest of his whiskey, his fingers almost white as he gripped the crystal. “I guess that’s all it was for you.” You knew you’d been playing a dangerous game with these men. Which is why when you were with Mat tonight, you thought you needed to end it. This bubble would be over soon, and you knew you had some decisions to make.

“I don’t know what you want me to say. You never asked me out. Mat did. It’s as simple as that.” You knew that really wasn’t a valid explanation but it was all you had. “Maybe if this,” you said motioning between the two of you. “Happened at a different time or a different place, but it didn’t.”

His shoulders sagged and you could see the defeat not only from the game but you as well, in his eyes. “And now I’m leaving in the morning.”

“Unfortunately, you are.”

He released the glass, and moved from behind the bar, walking so that only inches separated the two of you. “Well, if you ever change your mind, let me know.” He grabbed your waist and hauled you close to his body before his lips came down on yours. The kiss was hard and punishing, one meant to leave a lasting impression and it did. There was part of you that just wanted to melt into him, but then you pushed him back, knowing that it wasn’t right when you had feelings for another. Well more than one person actually, and to throw someone else in the mix wasn’t right. “Goodbye, (Y/N).” With that he headed upstairs, leaving you to wonder if you’d ever see him again.

You grabbed the glass of whiskey and downed the rest of its contents. The taste of the expensive alcohol lost on you. You stood by the bar wondering how the hell you’d gotten yourself in this predicament. For years you’d watched the bachelor or bachelorette wondering how their feelings could be so torn between two people in so little time. Now, you found yourself with that same dilemma. Your heart was already torn by three men and now it ached for Joel, though not in the same way it did for the other guys. You headed to your room, locking the door behind you. The last thing you needed was Svech coming to your door in the middle of the night.

Sleep came easily, and by the time you woke in the morning the men were all packed and ready to go. You bid them all farewell, noting a hint of sadness in both Joel and Andrei, though you pushed it away and went on with your day. By the afternoon, thoughts of the Canes were starting to dwindle as you worked towards moving the New York based team into the hotel. You saw Mat wink at you, as room assignments were given, and butterflies started to churn in your stomach.

They had a game that night, so you didn’t expect to see Mat at all. The knock on your door that evening was a surprise, and you barreled down the stairs to answer it. “Do you always answer the door in nothing but a t-shirt?” Mat asked.

“Um…No. I actually forgot this was all I had on. I was just getting ready for bed, but I can go change.”

“No. Don’t. I wasn’t complaining,” he told you as he finally stepped inside, and kissed your cheek. “Hope it’s not too late?”

“It’s not.” It was then that you realized your hair was thrown up in a messy bun and you had absolutely not one drop of makeup on your face. “I’m just surprised you’re here after moving in and playing tonight. I thought you’d be exhausted.”

Mat simply shrugged. “Not really, kind of keyed up from the win. Did you watch?”

You had of course, but you were also watching the Stars and Tyler, or at least you had been until Mat knocked on your door. “Of course, you played well.” He had even though he didn’t score.

“Thanks, I didn’t mean to bug you,” he told you glancing around the suite and taking everything in. “I just wanted to stop by and see you for a minute. You know…now that I’m in the building and all.”

The two of you were standing at the door still somewhat awkwardly. Why did this man make you so nervous all of the sudden? “You’re not bugging. Did you want to stay for a while?”

Mat had his hands in his pockets, almost as if he was trying to keep them from pulling off what little clothes you had on. “I’d like that.”

“Have a seat. I’m just going to run upstairs, turn off the tv, and uh….” You motioned down to your attire or lack thereof. Mat stopped you though, right as you made a move to leave.

“Seriously (Y/N), don’t change.” His hands went to your hips and he drew your body close to his. “You look sexy as hell like this, and that’s me telling you the truth. I’m not trying to make a move or something. We can just cuddle on the couch for a bit.”

Your arms looped around his neck, enjoying the feel of his thick muscles there. “Ok.” You kissed him then, just sweet and tenderly, half hoping that it would turn into more, but Mat pulled away before that could happen and led you to the couch. He pulled you down onto his lap, curling your body into his.

“I thought about this all day.” He confessed.

“Did you?”

“Mmmhmm.” His large hands began to caress your skin and you felt yourself melting into him. “So, what were you watching.”

“I just had whatever game was on.”

“Oh, watching the competition huh? Should I be worried?”

“Maybe a little,” you teased though only partly considering you did have feelings for Tyler.

“Oh, ok,” he scoffed a little. “Hand me the remote and let me see who my competition is.” It was the last thing you wanted to do, but you found yourself giving him the control to turn on the game. The Stars were playing Calgary that night, in what appeared to be their final game of the series if the score was any indication. “Tell me you’re not talking to Tkachuk?” Mat seemed almost offended at the idea.

“He’s a little young for me.” Matthew Tkachuk was older than Svech, though not by much. Had the opportunity ever presented itself you may have fallen in bed with the curly-haired forward, but couldn’t see anything lasting with him.

“He’s not that much younger than me, but I like that he’s not on your radar. So, let me see who else do we have here.” You could see him watching each line change and knew that you needed to deter him before he guessed Tyler and you’d end up giving yourself away. “Is it Hanifin? He’s a year younger than me I think.” You grabbed the remote and clicked off the television. “Hey, what’d you do that for?”

“Because I’m not going to spend all night having you guess about someone that isn’t here in this room with me.” You threaded your fingers through the longer locks at the nape of his neck. “Especially when we could be doing so many other things.” You pulled his mouth down on yours, kissing him hard and letting him know what you really wanted now that he was here.

Mat read your cue perfectly. His tongue swept in and took control, ravaging your mouth and stealing you of your senses. He cupped both of your cheeks, practically fusing your lips to his in a breath-stealing kiss. The two of you stayed like that for some time, neither of you making a move to take it any further, but then you felt his hand slide down to your neck and over your back. The move was subtle and gentle, and Mat’s warm hand on your back had you leaning in even closer to his body; wanting and needing more. Before you knew it, you found yourself shifting, so that you straddled his hips.

Mat’s hands stole under the hem of your shirt, to cup the globes of your ass, and a gasp left your lips causing the two of you to break apart. “I promised myself I wouldn’t take things this far tonight,” Mat whispered, his breathing harsh.

“That’s a pretty big promise to make without even consulting me,” you teased, peppering him with kisses.

“I just don’t want you to think that I’m only here for sex.” The look on his face, had you pulling back. “I meant what I said last night when I told you I want more.”

You sat back on your haunches, still straddling him and feeling his erection growing. “I know Mat. Look, I can’t promise you anything…” His wounded puppy dog eyes were slowly killing you. “Yet. I still need time to think.”

“I understand.” You weren’t entirely sure he did, for he looked like a lost puppy.

“I can make you one promise though.” You tilted his chin up, which had fallen down in dejection moments ago. “While we’re here in Toronto, I won’t be with anyone else but you.”

The sadness in his eyes left, replaced by a sparkle of hope. “That’s all I can ask.” Mat kissed you then, his tongue invading your mouth, swirling with yours. This time when his hands went to the hem of your shirt they didn’t stop until he had it off of your body, leaving you clad in nothing but a lacy thong. “God, you’re beautiful.” His hands glided up your sides until they reached the undersides of your breasts. He cupped them both, squeezing and kneading the flesh in his hands, as your back arched into his palms. Mathew’s lips traveled down your collarbone, only stopping once he had one nipple between them. You moaned into the room, clutching at his scalp as he sucked and nibbled on the little peak.

Your hips started to rock back and forth against Mat’s, feeling his erection grow against you. “Where’s the bedroom?” Mat hissed out lifting both of your bodies off the sofa. Your legs wrapped around him instinctively. “I’m not taking you on some couch again.”

You softly chuckled at him. “Upstairs, on the right.” He was taking the stairs two at a time as if you weighed no more than a feather. You clutched at his neck dropping kisses to his face and collarbone along the way. Once he entered your bedroom, he slammed the door shut. “No one else is here…” You meant to tell him that there was no need to shut the door, but then he pinned you against it, his hips thrusting into yours and you moaned out.

Mat kissed you long and hard, stealing your breath away. You could feel yourself growing wet with desire as your tongues mated together, mimicking what your bodies wanted to do. Mat finally pulled away, his eyes darting around the room in search of the bed. Once he located it, he carried you over to it, laying you down gently while his body hovered over yours. “You’re so damn beautiful.” You reached for him then, bringing his lips to yours, just needing to kiss him again. Mat’s kisses were intoxicating. They made you feel as if they were only meant for kissing you and damn if that didn’t feel amazing. But then they were gone, though still on your body making their way down to your breasts, before continuing on to your core.

He slid your panties off and spread your legs, as he dropped kisses all around your pussy, evading that one place you yearned to have him kiss. Mat stripped off his shirt before kneeling in front of you and sliding you to the edge, so he could work his way up your inner thigh. You leaned up on your elbows watching, as a smirk crossed his face; a devilish grin transforming him into a kid that had been caught opening his Christmas presents early, right before his lips found your clit. “Ooohh,” you moaned out, your head falling back and your arms trembling with an effort to hold your upper body up, as his mouth did unholy things to you.

“You like that baby?” Mat asked and you could feel him grinning against your cunt. His tongue flattened against you before you could answer and all you could do to reward him was moan out his name. You fell back against the bed, your hands clutching at the bedsheets, as he pushed his tongue deep inside you.

“Fuck,” you hissed out, one hand threading into his locks and encouraging him to continue. His tongue was like magic, as he licked and sucked at your core. You couldn’t help your hips lifting up into him, as sensation after sensation started to rip through your body. Mat held you down with one strong arm across your midsection, still working his mouth over you. Pressure from his splayed hand on your mons rocketed through your body and you thought you were going to explode then and there, but then Mat dipped his finger inside you, only in to his first knuckle while he lapped at your clit. You were teetering on the edge, ready to break at any second but Mat wasn’t ready for that just yet. He removed his finger, coated with your wetness, and spread it all over your pussy.

“You’re so damn wet, baby. Do you know what that does to me? How hard it makes me.” Fuck you loved it when he said things like this. His finger dipped back inside, this time all the way and you groaned out at how good it made you feel. He pumped it in and out of you a few times before adding another. “You’re so tight. Gotta get you ready for my cock, baby.” God, you wanted it. You wanted him to just thrust his dick inside you and fuck you for the rest of your time in the bubble. Maybe it was your hips thrusting into his hand or maybe Mat was just taking pity on you, but the next thing you knew his tongue was back on your clit and you were shattering beneath him. Your pussy convulsing around his fingers as they worked you through your orgasm.

Mat gave you a second to recover, ridding himself of the rest of his clothes as you caught your breath. When you finally did, you made your way up the bed a little more, Mat chasing you as he hovered over your body. He kissed you, as you sunk back against the pillows; tasting yourself on his lips. His cock nudged at your entrance, and you bent your knees to give him easier access into you. Mat took his time sliding into you, letting you feel every inch of his cock. When he was buried balls deep inside you, he moaned into your mouth, loving how your pussy clenched around him. You hooked one of your legs around his hips so that he pressed even deeper into your core, only then did he release your lips. “Are you trying to kill me?” All you could do was grin up at him before he flexed his hips and started to move. You were lost then, floating on a cloud that pushed you closer to that slice of heaven that seemed to only be found when he was inside you.

The two of you moved as one, and all that could be heard in your bedroom was the sound of your bodies coming together mixed with your moans. Mat couldn’t control himself, he knew he was close to climaxing inside you, yet he pushed himself to bring you to that brink with him; driving into you with a force he knew that would bring you pleasure. When he couldn’t take it any longer, he wedged his hand between your bodies and rubbed your clit, with the right amount of pressure that drove you wild. That was all it took. Your back arched, your legs trembled, and your pussy quivered around him as the orgasm hit you. At the first sign of you cumming, Mat was done, so far gone in his own climax he couldn’t think straight.

His body still shivered from the force of the orgasm, as he rolled to his side taking you with him. You laid there staring into his eyes as he gazed back at you. “Can you stay or do you need to go back to your room?”

“Oh, I can stay, as long as you want me.” His hand was idly stroking your hair as you drew lazy circles on his chest, so content and at peace just being there with him.

“Of course, I want you to stay.” There was nothing you wanted more than to lay just like this in his arms for the rest of the night and into tomorrow. You felt him get a bit more comfortable, shifting you ever so slightly so that your head was now on his chest where you could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

“Well, then it looks like you got me.” You didn’t need to look at him to see the smile on his face. It was the same one that graced yours.

As you lay there listening to Mat’s heartbeat you could feel yourself drifting off. “We should set the alarm,” you mumbled. “My phone is on the nightstand.” Mat grabbed it and went to hand it to you, but you were too sated to be bothered. “Just set it for whatever time you need up at.”

Mat looked at the phone then and noticed the two missed calls and a voicemail there, both from the same number. He looked down at you resting on his chest, almost asleep. He should tell you, he really should, but then that ugly green-eyed monster reared its head and he found himself deleting both the calls. He waited until you were in a deep enough sleep before listening to the voicemail. He knew it was wrong but he couldn’t stop himself. Mat now knew Tyler was his competition and there was no way he was going to let him win this game, even if it meant he had to play a little dirty.

#bubble wrapped the series #nhl smut #nhl imagines #nhl imagine #nhl fanfic #hockey smut #hockey fanfic #hockey imagine #hockey imagines #mat barzal #mat barzal smut #mat barzal imagine #Joel Edmundson #joel edmundson imagine

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leafsbabe · 3 years

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how Joel Edmundson is like as a boyfriend

- dating Joel is fun

- he’s just so easy to be around

- but there’s times where you could think that he’s not really serious about it

- he will take you on awesome fun dates and kiss you but he’s not going to introduce you to his teammates for a while or things like that

- it’s not that his feelings aren’t there he’s just not good at communicating

- he needs a certain amount of time just for himself and he doesn’t want you to feel neglected but depending on how much couple time you need it could come across that way

- tries to make it up to you though

- by just spending some time alone at home or going on dates

- he’s always up for adventures

- dates with him would be so fun and definitely never boring

- but one thing that completely flees his mind is that maybe just maybe he should talk to you about the relationship

- maybe define it a little

- because he’ll take you on dates

- invites you to games and gives you his jersey to wear

- you have more than a drawer of clothes at his place

- he’ll even say the big scary l word

- not the three words you’d like to hear

- but he loves spending time with you and he loves having you around

- it’s not like you’re questioning if he’s into you

- it’s more about how he sees the relationship, what he wants out of it

- one day he’ll just sit you down and asks you what you think about marriage and kids and what your timeline is

- and you’ll just sit there like wait i didn’t even know i can call you my boyfriend

- honestly just force him to communicate

- tie him to the bed until he talks about his feeling i don’t think he’d complain

- after that he definitely makes a point about always talking to you about every little thing

- and he tells you he loves you all the time

- crop top king can make a comeback

- maybe matching crop tops in summer

- maybe something with his number across your back

- he’s a bit of a whore

- but he’s a whore for you

- basks in your attention

- after he scores a goal he’d point to you when he cellies

- after wins he always tells you that he won that for you

- and after losses he comes to you seeking comfort and cuddles

- and you’re more than happy to provide

#hab series #joel edmundson #hockey imagines #hockey imagine #nhl imagine #hockey player

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canadeins · 3 years

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joel edmundson pays a visit to tyler myers for the game 5 joel armia hit // 01.23.2021

#joel edmundson #montreal canadiens #habs #dei hockey gifs #loooool i can't with this coloring. also sorry for the quality of that third one idk what's going on but #just look at those swings man. ur doing a great job here joel. mtl appreciates u.#anyway re: that caption-- i promise i saw a quote somewhere that that was what joel said to myers during warmups #like 'expect a visit from me' or something like that #imagine that BDE !!!!!

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thebluenoteblog · 4 years

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Just a Number

Summary: While celebrating a win with the team, you overhear a conversation that you really wish you hadn’t heard.

Player: Joel Edmundson

Word Count: 2k

*I’ve never written the Hurricanes before, but I did my best.*

Requested: Can you do a Colton parayko or Joel edmundson one where they have a age gap (reader is 21-23) and on day at a party you hear his friends talking about the age gap and you also hear him not defend your relationship and you leave and when he comes back he sees a blanket and pillow on the couch and the bedroom door is locked and you tell him what he did and you ignore him when he tries to talk to you but that next morning you go downstairs and he runs to you and says he sorry and you guys make up

You were never much of a party person. However, there was no denying that your boyfriend was the definition of life of the party. It wasn’t uncommon for you to find yourself in one of Raleigh’s bars late into the night after a game celebrating a win with the boys and their girlfriends. It wasn’t your favorite pastime. You would much rather be curled on the couch with a good book and a nice glass of wine than sloppy drunk on a Wednesday night. You managed though.

You were managing your way through your second beer of the night when you excused yourself to go to the bathroom. You weren’t gone long. Three, maybe four minutes. The boys and their girlfriends were all pretty far gone though, so their social skills were basically nonexistent at this point.

You paused a table away, still able to hear their too loud voices clearly over the bustle of the bar. “I don’t understand how you do it man.”

“I could never date someone that much younger than me, I would feel like I was babysitting all the time.”

A round of laughs and no defense from Joel, he was laughing right along with them. You should have made your presence know. You should have walked up to the table and stopped them from making asses of themselves. You couldn’t make yourself. The temptation of finding out what they truly thought of your relationship, what Joel truly thought of your relationship, was to strong.

So, you stood partially concealed behind a group of men and listened.

“You’ve got to think about this. You’re at totally different points in your life, man.”

You watched as Joel nodded and took another drink of his beer.

He wasn’t wrong. You were getting your college degree and Joel was traveling North America playing in the NHL making millions. That had nothing to do with the age gap though, it would have been the same story whether you were twenty-one or twenty-six.

“You aren’t really planning on staying with her, are you?”

You didn’t want to hear the answer to that question. You already had your purse, so you turned and walked out the door before he had time to answer. You didn’t say goodbye. You didn’t tell anyone you were leaving. You didn’t want them to see the tears in your eyes. Childish? Yes. Why did that matter? You’d done everything you could to prove yourself to them and still, none of it mattered. So you walked down the street, ordered an Uber from a McDonalds and waited.

****

“Where’s (Y/N)?” Joel asked, craning his neck to look around the bar.

Sebastian turned his head, joining him in the search, “I don’t see her.”

“Could she still be in the bathroom?” Petr asked, “She isn’t out here.”

“It’s been like fifteen minutes,” Joel said, though his concept of time was skewed by alcohol and it had been much longer then fifteen minutes. He started to stand from his chair, “I’m more worried about something having happened to her between here and the bathroom.”

Sara put out a hand, as the soberest person at the table she was thinking the clearest. “Sit down, I’ll go check the bathroom. I don’t think they would take to kindly to you walking into the women’s restroom.”

She stood and walked off, Joel leaned back in his chair bouncing his leg and pealing at the sticker on his bottle. “Man, she’s fine.” Haydn said from beside him, “stop freaking out.”

Joel didn’t take his eyes off the bottle, just nodded, “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

“Haydn? Right about something? It’s a miracle.” Sebastian said in an attempt to lighten the mood. Haydn threw a straw wrapper at him and he swatted it away without much effort.

“Sara’s coming back,” Petr said, nodding his head through the crowd.

She took a seat with her lips pressed together and said, “She wasn’t in there, or anywhere along the way. Did you try calling her?”

He quickly placed his beer on the table and pulled his phone out of his pocket. The phone rang once, twice, then voicemail. He pulled it away from his ear and stared at it. He was feeling really fucking sober by that point.

He tried again. Straight to voicemail. He looked up at the rest of the group, “Straight to voicemail.”

They all looked around at each other, concerned. “Do you share you share your locations with each other?” Sara asked.

Joel nodded, a little bit of the panic leaving his face as he pulled out his phone and went to the app. No Location Found. “Her phone is turned off.” He looked up, eyes wide, “What do you do when someone goes missing in a bar?”

“Do you think maybe she just left?” Haydn asked. “Like maybe she just went home?”

Joel shook his head, “She wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t just leave and not say anything.”

“Eddy, it’s a hell of a lot more likely that she went home than that she got kidnapped in a crowded bar and no one noticed.” Haydn said, “We’ll stay here, you go back to the apartment and see if she’s there.”

He pushed his lips together and closed his eyes, trying to think logically through the panic and what was left of the alcohol in his system. “Okay.” He said eventually, “Okay, I’ll go see if she’s there.”

****

Twenty minutes later he was unlocking the door of your shared apartment and pushing it open. He stepped inside and the first thing he noticed was that in the middle of an otherwise spotless apartment (courtesy of you, despite the team thinking he was babysitting you, you were the one cooking for him, cleaning up after him, and in general making sure he was taken care of) there was a blanket and a pillow thrown on the couch. They weren’t folded. Not the way they would have been if you had been leaving them for a guest. They were unceremoniously tossed.

They hadn’t been there when you’d come home to change after the game before heading to the bar. At least he knew you were here.

He closed the door behind him and as he flipped the lock he called, “(Y/N)?”

There was no answer. He could see into the living room and kitchen from where he was standing so that really only left one of the two bedrooms as options. As he walked past the guest bedroom he pushed the door open. Nope.

He made it to the end of the hallway and twisted the door knob of the master bedroom without pausing in his stride because, well, he expected the door to open. It didn’t. He ran right into it, took a step back and twisted it again. Locked. “(Y/N)?” he asked through the door, knocking a couple times, “Can you let me in?”

There was no verbal response, but through the door he could hear her turn up the TV to tune him out. He pounded harder on the door, “(Y/N), seriously! Let me in!”

There was no sign whatsoever that she had heard him. He sighed, “Babe, what did I do?” He asked making sure his voice was loud enough to be heard over whatever show she was using to drown out his voice.

On the other side of the door, you turned down the TV and responded, “Go away, Joel. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

He could hear in your voice that you’d been crying. He ran back through the events of the night trying to find anything that he had done that was bad enough to illicit this response from his usually stable, calm, reasonable girlfriend. He couldn’t come up with anything. “(Y/N), I swear to god I will break down this door if you don’t let me in.”

“I don’t want to deal with this right now! Go away!” You yelled, finally snapping and throwing a pillow from his side of the bed at the door.

He flinched at the impact and took a few steps back. He stared at the door for a few more minutes wondering what the fuck he’d done and how he was supposed to fix it. After a long moment of contemplation, he headed to the couch to grab his pillow and blanket.

****

It was a good thing you usually walked staring at the ground when you were in a bad mood. If you hadn’t been, you probably would have tripped over your boyfriend who was laying sprawled on the floor outside your door like a guard dog. You stepped over him and made your way into the kitchen.

You must have been slamming things around louder than you thought you were because the notoriously heavy sleeper appeared behind you within five minutes. You did your best to ignore him, but it was difficult given his following you around with a confused, guilty look on his face. It was like he felt bad for what he’d done but he wasn’t quite sure what that thing was.

Finally, you dropped the bowl of eggs you were whisking on the counter with a clatter and turned to face him with your hands on your hips, “Okay, ask.”

He swallowed, eying you nervously like you were some type of wild animal. “Why are you so mad at me?”

You were angry and not quite thinking clearly. “Don’t you mean to ask why I’m acting like a child?”

“What are you talking about?” He asked, his eyebrows coming together in confusion. Then his face paled. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.” You said, “Make your own eggs, babysitter.” Then you returned to your whisking.

He stood quietly behind you, knowing he had to do something to fix this, but not quite sure what. As you poured the eggs into the pan he decided that saying just about anything was better than saying nothing, so he decided on, “Babe, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

You hummed, acknowledging that you’d heard him but not accepting the apology.

“To be honest, I don’t even remember what all was said. I was mostly tuning them out.” He said, taking a tentative step toward her. “I know I should have stopped them, but it just didn’t seem like an argument worth having.”

“Is this argument worth it?” You asked.

“No.”

“Well I’m glad to hear that you feel that way. Maybe next time you won’t just sit there while all your friends try to convince you to break up with me.”

“I didn’t!” He defended himself, walking up to stand next to you, leaning against the counter and trying to get you to meet his eyes.

“Really?” You asked, “Because that’s sure what it seemed like from my end.”

“(Y/N),” He said, voice serious, so uncharacteristic for a man who prided himself on being so lighthearted, “The only part of that conversation I remember was telling them that I plan on marrying you someday.”

You looked up from your eggs, “I didn’t hear you say that.”

“I did, (Y/N), I swear.” He said, “They asked me if I was going to stay with you-,”

“Actually, they said you aren’t really going to stay with her, are you.” You corrected him.

He swallowed, and you stared into each other’s eyes as you waited for him to say something. Eventually he said, “Yeah, they did. They were wrong though, and I told them that. They shut up after I did.”

You dumped the finished eggs on the plate you’d set out then turned to face him, tears in your eyes. “You really said that?”

“I did.” He said, “I swear to god, (Y/N). I wouldn’t lie about that.”

He took a step toward you, closing the distance and wrapping his arms around you. “I know I should have said something sooner and you have no idea how sorry I am, but I don’t think they’ll bring it up again.”

You blinked back tears as you buried your face in his chest. “I’m sorry too. I guess I kind of proved them right last night, didn’t I?”

He hummed low in his chest, “No, baby. Besides, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. We both know I’d be lost without you taking care of my irresponsible ass.”

#Joel Edmundson #joel edmundson imagine #Joel Edmundson Imagines #hockey imagines #nhl imagines

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ilyasorokinn · 3 years

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toronto maple leafs

* = from a prompt list

joel edmundson !

imagines,

✷ ‘tis the damn season - a fic based on "'tis the damn season" from taylor swift's evermore album. (from the “taylor’s version” series)

william nylander !

imagines,

✷ best birthday ever - y/n and william celebrate his birthday, but for the first time, it’s not just the two of you.

✷ halloween party - y/n, a teacher, gets will to help her set up her classroom for her students. (part of “taylor’s 5 days of halloween” series)

✷ beans, chicken, corn, and leafs? - when y/n hears about a homeless shelter serving food a couple of days before christmas, she immediately signs up. when will hears she signed up, he signs up. and gets practically the entire leafs roster (plus their partners) to sign up. (part of “taylor’s very merry christmas” series)

blurbs,

✷ family reunions - y/n and william are best friends, but might be something more when y/n needs a date to her family reunion.

✷ a ring then a wedding - y/n and william are at a friends wedding, and they start talking about their future wedding. *

✷ olive nylander - y/n comes home with a special surprise.

✷ the hoodie debacle - will loses a hoodie, but quickly finds it... on y/n. *

series,

✷ the nylander diaries - william nylander, and his life with his two kids, sebastian and julia.

morgan rielly ! (no longer write for)

blurbs,

✷ beautiful - y/n, morgan’s wife, are pregnant, and breakdown because she can’t fit into anything.

✷ well kept secret - y/n and morgan have been keeping a secret from everyone for months, but not all secrets can be kept forever. much like the one the two of them are hiding.

✷ baby r’s kicks - y/n and morgan are expecting a baby and they finally feel the baby kick.

✷ barbecues - at a bbq, y/n’s friends confront morgan, and let him in on a secret. *

[ wips ] [ masterlist of masterlists ] [ taglist ]

#toronto maples leafs masterlist #toronto maple leafs #nhl #hockey #taylor’s masterlists

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horsesandhockeyplayers · 2 years

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A Not So Southern Christmas-- Part 6

This is obviously a rewrite of my old fic. I have been feeling romantic and Christmasy, so I figured it was time to bring back my favorite holiday couple. Title banner by the wonderful @whatishockey. Thank you thank you thank you to the people who periodically peek at this fic to make sure I don't make too many typos and mistakes. @hockeylvr59 @rymurrsneckbeard and @princessphilly

Author's Notes: This was written in early 2019 before Eddy went to Montreal as a free agent. I will be tagging both teams. It's been a while since I've posted a dual POV so reminder that *~*~*~*~*~* delineates a change in POV. Today we are beginning with Eddy.

Tag List: @leafs-foreverr, @pagirl6866, @colecockfield If you would like to be part of the tag list, please let me know.

Part 6

*~*~*~*~*~*

Just over an hour later we were crawling along I-90 in an SUV the size of a tank. After the second close call of almost being sideswiped by another vehicle sliding on ice after a single mile on the interstate, I was thankful for it. It was a rideshare, so I didn’t care if it only got two miles per gallon, as long as it was able to get us to the airport in one piece.

Adelaide finally turned on her phone and I just arched a brow at her as it vibrated in her hand for what seemed like a solid minute while she looked annoyed, “You ok there?”

She gave me a withering glare, and she looked so cute that I couldn’t help but smile, which made her glare harder and the entire thing was just a circle of me being amused and her getting more furious. It was fantastic.

Poking around on the screen, a call connected and started to ring as she brought the phone to her ear. I could hear her mother’s voice on the other end of the line. “Hi Momma, is everyone there? Put me on speaker.”

I was thankful it was a regular voice call and not a facetime, because I knew her father would pinpoint the “I just fucked your daughter nasty" vibes wafting off of me from four states away.

“No, Adele, I'm not putting Eddy on speaker.” She sighed and dropped her phone to her lap, hitting the speaker button with her thumb. “FINE. Is everyone here?”

“Adelaide why are you in a car, it sounds like you’re in a car.”

She transferred the phone to her opposite hand as I stretched my arm across the seat and intertwined our fingers. “Eddy and I are going to the airport Mama, our flight leaves at one.”

Her father’s rich baritone chimed in, “I guess there’s a first time for everything, one of my daughters not being stubborn? I better buy a lottery ticket.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes, “Daddy.”

“Eddy, son she IS going with you, correct?”

I cleared my throat, “Yessir, she agreed.”

“Good. Finally. Adele you’re next.”

Adelaide mouthed “I’m sorry” at me.

The conversation devolved from there. “What does that mean Daddy?” Adele sounded irritated.

“It means you need to stop being so stubborn and accept help and maybe find a good man.”

An argument started between the two of them, with Dottie interjecting at random times. There was something about college and Adele getting her Masters while working. Adelaide looked bored, like she had heard this argument before. She started massaging the palm of my hand with her thumb and staring out the window as her family argued.

Finally, Adele’s voice cut through the nonsense, “Addie and Eddy’s hotel room only had one bed!”

I caught the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror and I don’t think he felt at all sorry for my impending death.

Adelaide’s attention was suddenly diverted back to her phone, “ADELE! Daddy, there was one bed, but I slept on the couch.”

Her sister wasn’t to be swayed from her current path of turning the attention to Adelaide, “Daddy, I looked at photos of the suite, the couch was too small for anyone to sleep on.”

He sounded displeased, I was suddenly very aware the man owned a hardware store and all murdering/disposing bodies things were readily available and no one would blink twice at him having any of them. “Eddy made you sleep on the couch?”

Adele sounded breathless, “THEY WERE CUDDLING THIS MORNING.”

Adelaide started making sounds into the phone, “Can't…. tunnel… losing…. service…” She hit the end button and heaved a sigh, “Well that was a fucking disaster.”

I squeezed her fingers. “Am I safe from your father in a different country?”

She squeezed back. “Probably.”

Her phone started vibrating and she sent the call to voicemail and the next three calls after that before opening Instagram and scrolling through her notifications.

She frowned thoughtfully, “I probably should have gone private before you posted that picture. In our little bubble I forget you’re a famous heartthrob.”

“What? Why? Are people being mean?” I released her hand and snatched the phone from her. Totally ignoring the famous part, because honestly I forgot sometimes too. Someone had gone through every photo of her just commenting “fat” or “whore.”

I took the liberty of blocking them. She had 100 new followers and a number of DMs. “Do you want me to go through the DMs?” She didn’t answer so I took the liberty.

A lot of them were the same as the comments, a few from women I had slept with claiming I was their boyfriend, a lot of marriage proposals from men, those all got deleted. And finally, there were some messages from my teammates' wives, and at least three from my horny teammates trying to hit on Adelaide. She would see right through them, so I left those for her to laugh at later. I set her profile to private and handed her back her phone. “Cleansed. But Svech proposed, you should probably let him down easy.”

She smirked. “I don’t know...he’s heading for a big contract and I’ve become accustomed to a certain lifestyle. Besides I’m dying to find out what else his nimble hands can do.”

My jaw dropped, “You minx. He’s 12.”

“Oh so we should add stamina to the pro list then,” she said looking teasingly thoughtful.

The SUV pulled up to the terminal and I reached over to unbuckle her seatbelt and haul her against my side, lips finding hers. “Svech probably doesn’t even know what the clit is. You’re better off with me, beautiful.”

As the driver put the vehicle in park and went around the back to get our bags, I stepped out of the backseat and offered Adelaide my hand, which she took, gracefully stepping out of the SUV. I could easily picture her stepping onto the red carpet at any awards show.

There were a lot of perks of flying first class and the priority lane through security and the lounge were two of them.

Adelaide was sipping on a double cappuccino she snuck off to buy herself and staring around the lounge. “I’m suddenly regretting working in Human Resources instead of being a bajillionaire.”

We were sitting on a plush leather loveseat and I put my arm around her and tugged her against my body. “Bajillionaires own their own planes. They don’t fly with the unwashed masses.”

“Eddy, I’m the only woman in this lounge and everyone’s shoes cost more than my entire outfit.”

I kissed her temple. “Except I know you’re not unwashed because I was in the shower with you, doing the washing.”

Little Eddy twitched thinking about the shower, soap cascading down her body and dripping off her tits while I fucked her against the shower wall.

She blushed and hid her face in my shoulder. “Eddy! Shh, someone might hear you.”

I didn’t tell her the guy a few seats down definitely heard me and looked her up and down. I had never been possessive before. It was a new feeling and I didn’t want some overdressed schmuck making eyes at my girl.

With her tucked into my side, head under the side of my jaw, she let the coffee cup she was holding rest on top of my thigh. A few minutes later it started to slide out of her fingers and I took it with my free hand and sipped while she made little kitten snores into my neck.

She was wearing an oversized cream colored fisherman’s sweater, sleeves rolled up, over black leggings with practical fur lined boots. The knit hung from her shoulders making her appear way more petite than she was and according to her, was premium comfort.

I just thought she looked cute and I had only thought about bending her over the back of the loveseat, pulling her leggings down just below her ass and fucking her hard until we both came, twice… maybe three times.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I lifted my hips slightly to get my hand in there and pull it out. I rejected the call and sent my mom a text in reply.

At the airport, Adelaide is sleeping.

Mom: She’s coming?!

Yeah… she’s coming. We’re gonna land about 5, and it will probably take an hour or so to get through customs and get her checked bag. You should have dad bring the dolly. Her luggage was huge before we went shopping.

Mom: Ooh a heavy packer. I’ll have Dad pick you up around 6 then. You and Jesse will have to share the bunk beds. The guest room is full of storage stuff.

It’s all presents for you guys and her family. We spent 6 hours in department stores and boutiques and I don’t think she bought a single thing for herself. I am not sleeping in a bunk bed.

Mom: She didn’t have to get us anything! What a dear. Well I’m not making our guest sleep in a bunk bed with your brother.

I told her that. She didn’t listen. Something about hostesses and Southern women. Mom, my suite at the Thompson only had one bed.

Mom: Oh… OH.

Yeah.

Mom: So when are you proposing?

You’re ridiculous.

Mom: You’re bringing home a woman that you are sleeping with which has never happened in the history of EVER. Even when you dated that one girl for almost a year.

I met her two days ago, she was just left at the altar and cheated on. Give me some time.

Mom: But you’re planning on it.

I’m currently trying to convince her to let me take her somewhere tropical for the break. Besides, she could go full exorcist at any time. I literally know nothing about this woman.

Mom: Whatever. You’ll marry her. A mom knows these things. She’s been through a trauma and still scurried around to buy people she’s never met gifts.

I shoved the phone in my pocket. I knew my mom was going to make a huge deal about this thing. I sat in the quiet lounge, staring out the window as the storm clouds began to clear and chilly sunshine started to glint off of the snow and ice, sipping on Adelaide’s cappuccino while she snored gently into my neck.

Finally, our flight was announced and I turned my head to kiss her forehead. “Lady, our flight is boarding in 10 minutes.”

She stirred and pressed a kiss to my neck before sitting up and stretching. “Mm. Okay handsome.”

I grinned, “Handsome?”

She took the now empty coffee cup from my hand and frowned. “Well yeah, you call me ‘Beautiful’ so can’t I return the favor?”

Taking her free hand I pulled her to her feet and grabbed our carry-ons, “Of course you can.” I brushed her hair from her face and gave her a chaste kiss, “You’re adorable when you sleep by the way.”

“Oh my god, did I drool or snore?” she said, rolling her eyes.

“No drooling and only soft little cat snores. Adorable.”

The airport was absolutely packed and bustling outside of the first class lounge and instinctively she stepped into my body and I put a protective arm around her as we made our way to the gate.

When we got to our seats, I let Adelaide take the window. I tended to prefer the aisle anyway. Leaning over, I took her hand. “Do you still have a fear of flying?”

She squeezed my fingers. “I’m still nervous, but it’s like an excited nervous. But I don’t think I can fly economy ever again.”

I squeezed back, “Stick with me Lady and you’ll never have to.”

Her bright genuine smile made my stomach jump. Oh no.

It was amazing watching her reactions: well rested, well fucked, and without the stress of getting left at the altar, she was able to actually enjoy all the minute things about flying that frequent travellers lost. I couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face as she treated take off like a roller coaster, saying a whispered “wheeee” to herself as she watched a winter laden Chicago get smaller and smaller.

She was still staring out the window, her nose practically pressed to it like a child waiting for Santa when the drink cart came by and I got her a G&T. “Lady, I got you a drink,” I said, nudging her elbow.

Settling back into her seat she took the drink, “Thank you Eddy.”

I grabbed her free hand with mine and brought her fingers to my lips, “You’re welcome, Lady.”

We sat in silence, she occasionally glanced out the window, but we had ascended above the clouds and there wasn’t much to see. At least I didn’t think so, but I was wrong.

“I bet this is what heaven looks like… but less cold.”

I choked down my drink, “What?”

“It’s just a big fluffy blanket that goes on forever. Like a foam pit but without all the gross kiddy germs.”

Suddenly, I saw the appeal of economy; sure there was less leg room, but the armrests lifted. I hated the six inches of extra space that separated our bodies. I leaned an elbow on it, “Lady.”

“Hmm?” She continued staring out the window.

“Lady, come here and kiss me.”

Turning her head, she mimicked my position and pressed her lips to mine. “Thank you Eddy.”

I wrapped a lock of her hair around my finger and tugged her closer to kiss her again, “For what?”

“The destination and the man are different, better even, but this feeling I have? That’s exactly as I planned it. I feel… I don’t know, safe, cared for.”

I kissed her again before pressing our foreheads together. “Good. I want to give you everything you want for Christmas this year. Dan is a fucking idiot.”

“You’re making a shitty holiday better than I ever could have imagined.”

Pressing my lips to hers again I wove my fingers through hers, “We have about 5 hours in the air now, want to tell me about your dad?”

She sighed and tugged our hands into her body and laid her head on my arm. “My real dad is a congressman now. Has been. He knows I exist but,” she shrugged, “he doesn’t care. My mom was raised by a family that was trying to climb the social ladder and my grandmother actually encouraged her when he started making advances even though he was with someone else. My mother didn’t know it but he had gotten engaged to that other woman when she had gotten pregnant with me. He chose the other woman who was from a better family. My mom got thrown out of her house because she refused to get an abortion. So she was 20, pregnant, and basically had zero life skills other than knowing what fork to use for what course.”

She paused and took a sip of her drink. “My dad had just taken over the hardware store from its previous owner. Papa Glenn was white, widowed, and his kids had zero intention of taking over the store. It had been an institution in our town for over 50 years and they wanted to sell the building and the business. So Papa Glenn left it to my Daddy who had worked for the man since he was just a poor teenager. He started as someone who swept and tidied. I don’t think he even needed help, just saw a boy who needed a purpose in life and gave him one. I started calling him Papa Glenn when I was a little girl, but he passed quite a few years ago. ANYWAY, he had just given Daddy the store. His kids vandalized it. Threw bricks through the windows, tried to burn it down, graffitied horrible things on the walls. Daddy almost lost the store before he even got a chance to run it.”

I squeezed her hand as she continued, “So, he’s sweepin’ up all the broken glass and my mom, who is about six months pregnant at this point, comes up and starts clucking about crime and hooligans. Just treated him like any other person. He’s cleaning up and this pregnant white lady is standing in the street giving him the what-for all while picking up merchandise that can be salvaged and putting it in a box. Finally, he just looks at her and asks where her husband is, she says she doesn’t have one, he tells her to go home, she says she doesn’t have one of those either. She ended up living in the space above the store managing the books until Daddy convinced her to marry him a couple years later. When they got married someone threw a Molotov cocktail through the big front window. This time though, half the town pitched in to help. What happened to my mom made the rounds in a small town and you don’t just throw bombs in the windows of men who take in pregnant ladies and provide for them. You just don’t, anyway, Adele was born a year later. Mama became president of the PTA and Daddy’s store sponsored sports. Other than the occasional asshole, life was pretty good. And that is how I ended up with a dad that is Black.”

I rubbed her knuckles with my fingertips. “Did you ever try to contact your real dad?”

Her voice was firm. “George Thibodeaux is my real dad. But I know what you’re saying, I sent him a letter once in high school. He basically sent a cease and desist back. I didn’t care after that. I had a father that provided for me in all the ways that were important. Who loved me as his own. He never treated Adele and I differently.”

I kissed her temple, “It’s a beautiful story. I look forward to meeting your dad one day, when he doesn’t want to bury me in concrete.”

She downed the rest of her drink and put it in the trash as the flight attendant walked by. The seatbelt sign had long been turned off and I reclined my seat and reached over to unclip Adelaide’s seat belt. I hauled her over the armrest and she made a small squeak as I settled her on top of my body and pulled a blanket over us. Her voice was quiet, “What the fuck Joel?”

I sighed, “I really hate it when you call me Joel. Nothing ever good happens when you call me Joel. Now, just settle. I need a nap and I can't nap when you’re all the way over there.”

She settled her head on my chest with a sigh and muttered, “Whatever.”

My last thought before I fell asleep was to wonder if I could bring her on the team plane. I was insanely comfortable and warm.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When I woke, I felt like half my face was plastered to whatever I was using as a pillow. It was the type of nap when you wake up and you don’t know what year it is. My pillow was rumbling and there was an arm around my waist. Yawning, I lifted my head and reality slowly resumed. Joel was snoring softly and the plane was filled with a muted orange glow like we were flying directly into the sunset. It was oddly romantic. Before I had time to absorb it the captain’s voice came over the intercom announcing our descent into Winnipeg and the seatbelt light came back on.

I tried to roll off of him gracefully and back into my own seat. I knew I failed when he let out a soft grunt and removed my elbow from his spleen. I grimaced, “Sorry.”

He yawned and adjusted his seat upright. “Don’t be, that was the best damn nap I’ve had in awhile. It was like 3 hours.”

His hair was tousled from running his hands through it and his face was still slack with sleep as he picked up my hand and kissed it with a groggy smile. My heart did a free fall out of my chest and for the first time since I crashed into Joel I realized he had more power to break my heart than Dan ever did and it had been less than three days.

Taking a shuddering breath and an anemic smile he misread whatever vibe I was putting off, “Scared of landing?”

In a metaphorical way it fit, because I was afraid of landing after going back to the real world after this fairy tale, so I nodded and he let go of my hand and settled his palm behind my head, his fingers rubbing the back of my neck.

This revelation was kicking my ass and I realized this was a HUGE mistake, going home with him to his family, but backing out now would be so incredibly rude.

The sun was quickly setting and I looked out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Winnipeg before it was too dark to see anything properly.

Joel let his hand drop and started playing on his phone. As I settled back into the seat he leaned over holding his phone out, “Can I post this to close friends on Instagram?”

The photo was before I had put his sweatshirt on, it was clear I was wearing a Christmas themed pajama set that bordered on lingerie. I was smiling and looking at the camera, Elf hat at a rakish angle on my head, hair falling perfectly and Joel, Joel was looking at me in the photo. Looking at me like nothing else in the world existed. I felt a small flame of hope ignite in my belly. “That’s a good picture, post it wherever you want.”

He looked at me apprehensively. “You’re not worried about your family?”

I gave a wry laugh, “My mama is going to be plannin’ another wedding when she sees that. When we can afford another one that is.”

He linked his arm through mine and started tapping on his phone again. “Your mom will have to fight my mom for that right.”

The little flame of hope glittered a little brighter as the plane made a controlled descent into Winnipeg.

It took the better part of an hour for the plane to land and for us to make it through customs and get our bags. Joel had his bag over his shoulder and was dragging my big suitcase as he followed me with my smaller carry-on. The bells I attached to the zippers jingled everytime the bags bounced over a bump.

Bob Edmundson had texted his son to let him know he was circling the airport and would meet us out front as soon as we got our bags. I stopped in the middle of the sliding doors as the icy blast hit my face and I made an about-face running into Joel.

His arms came around me protectively, “Where’s the fire, Lady?”

“Cold,” I answered, giving a shiver.

His laugh rumbled in his chest, “It’s Manitoba.”

“This is not Alabama cold, this is not Chicago cold. This is Arctic cold and I AM FROM ALABAMA. It’s 65 degrees in Alabama!

He used his body to herd me out the door and I was suddenly seeing a disadvantage of being the small person in a relationship. “This isn’t bad, it’s probably like negative ten.”

My voice was a little louder than I anticipated and my Southern was coming out a little more than I liked, “Negative Ten?! It’s colder than a witch’s tit out here!”

A dark SUV pulled up to the curb and Joel had the audacity to chortle, “Negative ten Celcius. That’s like fifteen degrees Fahrenheit.”

I suddenly felt chilled to the bone. “That information does not in fact make it better, Joel. If it’s below freezing the entire South just shuts down until it defrosts.”

He grinned again and grabbed my head to press a kiss to my temple. “I know Princess, I won’t let you freeze.” As he rounded the back of the SUV with our bags a gentleman about my height rounded the hood and his smile was identical to his son’s.

He opened the front door of the vehicle and held out his hand, “I’m Bob Edmundson, you must be Adelaide, let’s get you in the car before you freeze.”

I gripped his hand, surprised to find it warm and I looked at it in surprise, “Mr. Edmundson, it’s a pleasure. Does everyone in your family run hot? I feel like my hands are turning to icicles.”

“Hop in, the seat heaters are warm, and please call me Bob,” he said, gesturing to the front seat. The well worn leather was already warm and the heater was going full blast as he closed the door and I turned in my seat to watch the men do the forearm grab/back slap hug all men seemed to do. Masculine affection was weird.

There was a muted argument between the two that was short-lived and ended with Eddy sliding into the back seat while his dad slid into the driver's seat, both muttering about stubborn assholes.

I cleared my throat apprehensively. “I can sit in the back seat, there’s probably more room for Eddy’s legs up here.”

The answers were simultaneous with Bob looking at Joel in the rearview mirror and Joel staring back at his father.

“You make her call you Eddy?”

“The old boat only has seat heaters in the front. Because my parents are too stubborn to let me buy them a new one.”

I sat in the front seat as the SUV pulled away from the curb, hand folded in my lap trying not to smile as the men practically yelled at each other.

“Your mother and I don’t need a new Land Rover.”, he held up a finger as Joel opened his mouth, “OR a Gwagon or BMW whatever.”

The six foot four, two hundred and thirty pound man that had literally been inside me less than 12 hours ago, pouted like a petulant toddler in the back seat muttering under his breath, “Stubborn old coot.”

Bob frowned and reached over and patted my knee in a comforting manner, like my own father might do. “I’m sorry, we’re not this dysfunctional usually. But lately Joel and his brother have gotten it into their heads that I’m some infirm old man.”

I smiled and patted his hand. “If you’re ever blessed with a speaker phone chat with my family you will understand why I find this perfectly comforting. Thank you Mr. Edmundson.”

“You can call me Bob, Adelaide.”

“I will certainly try Mr. Edmundson, I mean Bob.”

I bent over to dig through my purse trying to find my phone so I could call the family and let them know we landed. I turned off the data roaming and various notifications started to pop up. A long arm appeared from the backseat, “Use mine Lady, the international charges will be outrageous.”

Bob frowned as he piloted the SUV toward the highway. “You call her Lady?”

“Yeah, Dad. Like ‘Adelaidie.’”

I got a sideways glance from Bob and I put a hand on his arm. “It’s fine. He’s not being disrespectful, I promise. At least he doesn’t insist on calling me Addie like my sister. She calls me that because she knows I hate it.”

Joel shook his phone at me again, “Lady.”

I took his phone and threw it back at him where it hit his chest and fell in his lap. “I have an international plan, Dorkface.”

Bob coughed and kept looking at the icy highway in front of us, while his son looked shocked and then continued pouting in the backseat, “Did you just call me ‘Dorkface?’”

Dialing the phone I held it to my ear. “I did.”

The man to my left was now openly smiling and trying not to laugh.

“Hi Mama! I made it! Put me on speaker. Hi Daddy! No Adele, I’m not speaking to you. Yeah, Eddy’s dad picked us up from the airport. Brandon is about two and a half hours from Winnipeg?” I looked at Joel for confirmation, “Maybe three with all the snow and ice and stuff. No. I’m not putting you on speaker. I just wanted to let y’all know I got here and I’ll send you a text when we get there. No, I’m not inflictin’ you on Bob while he’s drivin’. Momma he told me to call him Bob. Not calling him Bob is rude. Ugh… Momma!”

Joel and his father shared a smile and meaningful look in the rearview mirror that I didn’t have the extra brain cells to process at that moment. “Ok. The plane landed. I’m safe. I’ll send y’all a text when we get to the house. Bye.”

There was a comfortable silence after I hung up and inspite of the three hour nap on the plane, I felt the day catching up to me.

Joel yawned and stretched in the back seat. “Hey Dad, pull over and hit that Timmies.”

I perked up slightly. “Timmies? Like Tim Horton’s?”

He grinned, “You can’t get the authentic Canadian experience without going to Timmies.”

The big SUV pulled up to the drive-thru and we sat behind a couple of other cars as I stared out the window looking at the lights of Winnipeg. Something moved in the bushes by the drive-thru and squinted trying to see what it was before Bob asked me a question.

“Pardon?” I shook my head slightly and blinked a few times. I must have been more tired than I felt.

Bob repeated his question, “What would you like, Adelaide?”

I answered with a small smile, “Oh just some herbal tea for me.”

“You don’t want a Timmy’s coffee?” Bob Edmundson was the epitome of a father and I was beginning to think Eddy and I had similar childhoods.

“I do, I just had a good nap on the plane and if I drink coffee at this time in the evenin’ I will never sleep.”

“Oh Dad, get Timbits!” Eddy piped up from the back seat.

Any guard Joel might have up was completely gone as he sat in the back seat of the older SUV. He was just a big kid in the back seat of the family vehicle and I wondered if his family had taken him to hockey practice in this car. His buddies and teammates and all their hockey gear piled in the big Tahoe and I wondered if our kids would play hockey. What the fuck? I turned back to the window so any expression I might have about my intrusive thought was hidden.

Something moved in the darkness again and I strained to see what it was , blinking trying to get my eyes to adjust to the darkness as Joel and his father had a conversation like I wasn’t even there, which is what my parents did when Adele and I were annoying.

“Will she eat Timbits?”

“Yes, Dad she eats anything, it’s fantastic.”

I was distracted when I interjected, still trying to develop superhuman night vision. “I actually hate broccoli unless it’s smothered in Velveeta.”

I had no idea the look that passed between the men in the rearview mirror, but Joel replied excitedly, “I told you!”

As we pulled forward to the speaker box I could see what I had been looking at was just a bag of trash moving with the wind.

Bob was in the middle of ordering when the bag moved again and this time there was no breeze to speak of. I unhooked my seatbelt and opened the door, the cold hitting me like a freight train.

Joel leaned forward in his seat as his father gave me a sideways glance, “Lady?”

I wrapped my arms around my body, “That bag of trash keeps moving, I just want to make sure there’s not a possum or something stuck in it.”

“Lady, it’s just some varmint. It probably has rabies or something,” Joel’s voice was tinged with a combination of amusements and exasperation.

“Then, we will call animal control or whatever to put it down humanely and not let it suffocate in a trash bag,” I answered matter-of-factly.

Slamming the door I tiptoed through the bushes next to the drive-thru, the Manitoba winter cutting through the knit of my sweater with ease, and as I got closer, the bag moved more and whimpered. Feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the cold I jumped back to the Tahoe and threw open the door to the back seat, “Eddy give me your coat.”

He held the wool to his chest. “What? Why? Adelaide this is a Tom Ford, I’m not letting you wrap a raccoon in a four thousand dollar coat.”

My jaw dropped, “Why do you OWN a four thousand dollar coat!? That’s just ostentatious!” Slamming the door I pulled my arms through the sleeves of my oversized sweater and slid it off, leaving me in leggings and a cami and I ripped a hole in the trash bag with frozen fingers. The puppy inside the plastic gave a tired cry and I gently wrapped it up in my sweater before cradling it to my chest.

Joel jumped out of the back of the SUV. “Adelaide, what the fuck it is freezing outside!”

Suddenly, filled with a white hot rage, it was directed at him in that moment, “It’s not a raccoon, you asshole! It’s a puppy!”

He settled his coat around my shoulders and helped me back into the SUV. I wasn’t sure who was shivering harder, me or the puppy now cradled against my body. I pulled the four thousand dollar coat around me, trying to create a pocket of heat for the little creature. I hugged it a little tighter and it gave a sharp cry with whatever energy it had left. I felt helpless, “Eddy!”

“I’m looking for an emergency vet right now, Lady.”

Bob pulled forward in the drive-thru line and looking between his son and me and the puppy before pulling his cellphone out of his pocket. I guess the Tahoe was old enough not to have bluetooth and therefore could have been the car that Joel and his brother got carted around to hockey practice.

“Hi honey, we are going to be a little later than planned. Joel insisted on Timmies and Adelaide found a puppy and I think we need to drop it off at a vet.” There was a pause that was obvious confusion before he continued, “You’re going to love her. She found the poor pup in a trash bag. I’ll give you a call when we are on our way again. Ok. Bye dear.”

We sat in silence, trapped in the drive-thru. I carefully tried to tuck my sweater around the dog as Joel spoke, “There’s an emergency vet about five minutes across the highway. I’m going to call them.”

The SUV inched forward, pulling up to the window and Bob handed his credit card over and silently distributed drinks and a cardboard box with a handle. “Hi, yes, my, uh, girlfriend just found a puppy in a trash bag. It’s cold and we think it’s hurt.” He paused and I just blinked at the word “girlfriend.” I supposed it was faster than “girl I bumped into in the airport and fucked” and probably would result in fewer questions. But he could have also said friend in a pinch, travel companion, literally anything other than the G word.

Bob regarded me through the conversation. I was never adept at hiding any thought that crossed my mind and I knew he read my face like a book.

“I understand it’s close to Christmas and you’re full, but this is an emergency. Yes, fine we accept financial responsibility. It’s an animal that needs care.” He hung up and pointed between the front seats, “Dad, take a left out of the parking lot.”

I held the cup of tea inside the coat, hoping the hot cup and steam would produce some radiant heat to help warm the puppy and myself.

Joel wasn’t kidding when he said the emergency vet was close and we pulled in just a few minutes later. It was one of those little miracles that happen especially around Christmas. The smell of disinfectant made my nose wrinkle, but the office was warm and I was thankful for that.

The girl behind the desk seemed friendly enough in holiday themed scrubs, “Hi, welcome.”

I almost surprised myself when I spoke first, “Hi, yes my boy… my boyfriend just called. This is the puppy I found.” It was harder than I thought, saying that word.

She frowned, “The one you found in a trash bag? Let me take it back immediately. We’ll assess the poor dear and let you know what needs to be done.”

I tried to wrap my sweater around the puppy more securely before I handed it over across the desk. She took the bundle and cooed as she walked to the back, “Aren’t you darling? We’ll get you all fixed up.”

Joel and his father had taken up residence in the three empty seats, leaving the middle one for me and I pulled the peacoat closer around my body as I plopped in the plastic chair. “I can’t believe you own a four thousand dollar coat, Eddy. I can’t believe I am WEARING a four thousand dollar coat; four thousand dollars is like a year’s worth of car payments for me.”

He put his arm around me and kissed my temple, “Lady, I’m in a tax bracket that’s just a little higher than yours.”

“A year’s worth of car payments, Joel… A YEAR.” It was clear that I was going to be stuck on the coat for while.

“No offense Princess but it sounds like you need a new car.” HIs big hand rubbed my arm, trying to create friction and warmth.

Bob gave his son a dry look over my head, “Don’t let him bully you into buying a new car Adelaide.”

Joel started rubbing the back of my neck, which was becoming a habit. “Don’t you work for Mercedes?”

I scoffed, “In HR. And why would I spend half my paycheck on a stupid expensive car that is even more expensive to maintain. Just to get like a 10% discount?”

He made a face. “Really? Your company discount is that low?”

“You probably get a better deal as a professional athlete than I do as an actual employee,” I sighed.

The receptionist came back out front and looked at me, “Are you taking responsibility for the puppy?”

I stood and went to the desk. “Yes. What do I need to do?”

She slid a clipboard towards me, “Just fill this out and we will get started on her.”

“Her!? It’s a her! Is she ok?”

I received a warm smile, “Yes, she’s lucky you found her. She’s malnourished and dehydrated, suffering some hypothermia and probably some other things, but for being found in a trash sack and separated from her mom at such a young age she should be just fine. She will probably have some pretty bad diarrhea for a few days.”

“Is she really young? I thought she was pretty big.”

“She’s barely six weeks, if that. She’s gonna be a big girl. Probably some sort of LGD and malamute, husky, german shepherd. Something like that. We’ll send you home with some puppy food.”

I looked over the form in front of me, only half paying attention to it, “What’s an LGD? How big will she get?”

“Livestock Guardian Dog like a Great Pyranees or Anatolian Shepherd. She will probably be around 70lbs.”

I sighed, “Of course I couldn’t find a Chihuahua in a trash bag.”

“Go ahead and fill out that paperwork to the best of your ability, she is just old enough to get the first round of distemper and parvo, do you want to do that?”

I nodded, “Yeah I mean, I guess just do everything you need to.”

Both men were buried in their phones when I plopped back into my seat. “I think I have a puppy,” I said it to no one in particular, but a thought occurred to me, “Oh my god, Bob. I’m so sorry. We can find a shelter or something to take her to, if she can go.”

He patted my knee and didn’t reply, just asked me a question, “What’s her name?”

I answered before I even knew the question had an answer, “Tinsel.”

“Why don’t you stay here and wait for Tinsel and Joel and I will go across the highway, I’m pretty sure we passed a Pet Valu. Just text Joel anything you need.”

“Ok, let me get my emergency credit card,” I said as I dug around in my giant purse trying to find it. Joel gave me a dry look and I sighed, “If I check this later there won’t be a charge on here will there?”

He shook his head.

Bob just looked at us with a big grin on his face. “Best Christmas ever.”

Soon I was alone in the waiting room, barks, yips, meows, and yowls coming from the back room and I tucked Joel’s coat tighter around me. I actually swam in the thing, but I didn’t have time to process that.

#joel edmundson #carolina hurricanes #montreal canadiens #canes #habs #joel edmundson imagine #joel edmundson fic #habs imagine #habs fic #canes fic #canes imagine #nhl imagine #nhl rpf #nhl fic #hockey fic #hockey rpf #anssc #jadelaide #a not so southern christmas

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myhockeyworld87 · 3 years

Text

Bubble Wrapped - Part 12

Word Count: 2,510

POV: Reader

Warnings: Same as always, Language, Smut, NSFW, Please see the note in the Masterlist

Teams: Bruins, Caps, Flyers, Lightning, Pens, Jackets, Canes, Islanders (more to come)

Notes: I literally have no clue what happened the frist time, but let’s try this again. When last we left this story, (Y/N) had just had a steamy encouter with Joel. Now with Svech back at the suite hurt, let’s find out what happens. As always feedback is greatly appreciated and wanted…hahaha! Luv ya all!! Happy Reading to all!

A quick run downstairs and a check-in with Carly told you that everything at the hotel was running smoothly. You gave her a recap of what had happened with Svech and told her that you were heading back upstairs to be with him at least until Joel and Dougie got back from practice. By the time you got back up to the suite, the boys were just heading out the door. "Ready to head up to bed?" You asked Svech and his eyebrow shot up. Obviously, you didn't mean it that way as the man was in no way able to perform. Or was he?

"Sure," he said eagerly then hobbled on his crutches to the elevator with you. It took a few minutes to get him into his shared bedroom with Joel, but once you did you propped his foot up on a stack of pillows, making sure to take extra care with it, so as to not cause him any more pain than necessary.

"Comfy?"

"Yeah," he mumbled and you could see the tiredness in his eyes.

"Do you need anything else?"

"I don't think so."

You dug through your bag and placed the bell you'd found in one of the offices on the nightstand. "Here, in case you need me, just ring this. I'll be downstairs doing some work, but will be up in a flash." He looked so young and innocent just lying there and you swept a bit of hair that had fallen onto his forehead away. "Get some rest."

You went to leave, but he grabbed your wrist, tugging you back in his direction, which caused you to stumble and land awkwardly on his chest; your face a mere inches away from his. He didn't say anything, just cupped your cheek with his free hand and brought your lips to his. It was soft, yet with the right kind of pressure, and he sought entrance to your mouth with a simple glide of his tongue to your lips. You opened for him, deepening the kiss. Svech was gorgeous there was no denying that, but at the same time you felt a little bad after doing what you'd done with Joel last night and now you were kissing his teammate. Though when he moaned into your mouth all thought of that left.

Gently you pushed back from the kiss. "Svech, what are you doing?"

"I want you, (Y/N). I have from the moment I saw you in this bubble a few weeks ago." You tried to think back about running into him at any point before the Canes had actually transferred to your hotel but couldn't recall a time that the two of you met. "Don't worry, I don't expect you to remember. I would come here to play tennis. Well, not really, it was just an excuse to see you. You're so beautiful." His hand caressed your body lightly as he spoke and it ignited a fire deep within you. "I know I'm younger than you, but it doesn't mean that I can't satisfy you."

"Svech it's not that..." For really it wasn't. You had no doubt that he was good in bed, it was just, well, his injury and all.

He must have caught on to your hesitation. "I'm fine I swear, though you'll have to be on top. I just think this is really the optimal time. The guys are gone and won't be around for a couple hours. Say you want me too."

There was a pleading look in his eyes, this sort of need to be wanted. Your body definitely couldn't deny that you craved him. It was just your head that wasn't in sync. You threw caution to the wind and decided to just give in to what your body wanted this time; not that you hadn't been doing that all along. "I want you too."

His hand went to the back of your neck and he drug you down to his lips again for a hard and searing kiss. "Undress for me, beautiful." He whispered out and you stepped back from the bed. Slowly, you unzipped your skirt, then shimmied it down your hips to fall on the floor. Your hands worked each button on your blouse revealing your soft supple skin to his gaze, and look he did. There was a hunger in his eyes as the top fell to the floor and you stood there in only a bra and thong. "Fuck you're gorgeous." He sat up and shucked his shirt over his head before propping himself up against the headboard a bit. "Don't stop now."

A small giggle escaped you at his eagerness. Your hands went to the clasp of your bra, releasing the globes for their confines. Holding the bra with one hand, you let the straps slide off your shoulders, then dropped the garment. You cupped your breasts, gently squeezing them and pulling on the nipples. Svech sucked in a breath of air and you saw him bite down gently on his bottom lip. Your eyes dropped to his crotch, where you could see his erection growing even through his shorts.

Hooking the elastic of your panties, you wiggled them over your hips and glided them down your legs. There was a visible wetness in the crotch that you knew Svech could see, letting him know how badly you wanted him. You sashed back over to the bed, then slid your hand down his chest and abs to the waistband of his shorts. "We're going to need to do something about these." He lifted his hips up, using his upper body strength and you slid them along with his boxers down. It was a bit tricky getting them over his boot, but you managed.

Once that task was accomplished, you went back up and kissed him. "You know you're a really good nurse." He laughed and you joined in, as you straddled his hips.

"Well, I try. Gotta keep my patients happy." His hands went to your hips, while you used his shoulders to steady yourself. "Let me know if I hurt you in any way."

"You're killing me now because I want to be inside you." You chuckled, then took his cock in your one hand and guided it to your entrance. You coated him a bit in your wetness before sinking down on him. "Fuck you feel amazing. So wet...and..." He didn't say anything more as you began to move up and down on his length. "Oh...yeah...fuck..." There was an endless stream of moans out of his mouth. When you swiveled your hips, he almost lost it. "Do that again."

"You're quite the demanding patient," you hissed out as you rode his cock.

"Can't help...it..." he panted. "I've wanted...this...oh fuck...for...mmm...yeah just like that....so long...faster baby." His hips started to rise up, thrusting into you, and you were concerned that he would be putting pressure on his bad foot. Your mind was so lost in making sure that he wasn't hurt, you'd knew that you'd never get off. "I'm so close...are you?"

You weren't but you didn't tell him that. Instead, you grabbed his hand on your hip and moved it to your clit. "I need you to..." you moaned out as he started to rub your little nub, grabbing onto the headboard now to steady you both. "Mmmm...yeah." His movements got faster pushing you to that familiar crest you wanted.

You could feel him tighten his grip with the hand that still held your hip and knew he was close. "Come on baby," he encouraged you and flicked your clit more. It was all you needed, as you screamed out in ecstasy as your orgasm came over you. "Fuck," Svech moaned as your pussy spasmed around him and he thrust deep in you, cumming hard. You were both breathing heavily as you came down off your high and it took a moment for you to collect yourself. As you made a move to roll off him, he held you tightly. "Don't go just yet."

"You've got to be uncomfortable like this." After all, you were practically lying on top of him.

"Quite the opposite, really. Besides, I don't know if we'll get another chance at this. I plan on savoring the moment." His fingertips skated up and down your spine. "You're really something, you know that?"

"I don't know about all that."

"I know I wouldn't have a shot, but if I was a few years older and maybe had a bit more experience in the league. I'd try and steal you away from everyone else here."

“You make me sound like I’m ancient or something. I’m only a few years older than you.”

His hands skimmed up and down your body, fingertips gliding along your ribcage and making you shiver. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just…I can’t even take you out to dinner in Raleigh and buy a bottle of wine.” Damn, you forgot the boy was under twenty-one. You really should’ve thought about things before you jumped into bed with him. Why did your libido have to run rampant around these men? “These guys here are probably showering you with expensive gifts and I just can’t compete with them, though I wish I could. I’d give you the world if I could.”

“Aww Andrei, the fact that you want to do something like that, is just so sweet.” You placed a gentle kiss on his lips. You needed to diffuse the situation before things got too out of hand or the next thing you know he’d be asking for your hand in marriage or something. “I think you’ve had a little too much prescription medication.” He went to protest but you stopped him placing a finger to his lips. “This was fun, but you should rest. Besides I’m sure the others will be back soon.” He nodded as if he finally understood that nothing more was going to happen between the two of you. It was then that you climbed off him and out of bed, picking up your scattered clothes before kissing him one last time. “Get some sleep. If you need anything just ring the bell.”

The tile floor on the hallway felt cold as you made your way down to your room so that you could change into something more comfortable. Hearing Andrei’s declaration really made you start to think. Maybe you should be looking for more than just a fling here and there. Tyler was begging you to let him come to Toronto if the Stars lost or have you fly there if they continued on; maybe it was time to seriously start to consider his offer.

The rest of the morning you buried yourself in paperwork until Dougie and Joel got back early afternoon. Then they took over nursing duties, or at the very minimum getting their teammate food when he wanted. You were still in a cropped hoodie and leggings when you headed downstairs to see how things were going. Thankfully, no one had set the hotel on fire, which was a major accomplishment considering all the rival teams you had under one roof.

“So how goes it with your three roommates?” Carly asked you wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

“You don’t even want to know.”

“Of course, I do. I’m living vicariously through you now that Brayden and I are together. Spill the juicy details.”

“Juicy details about what?” You knew that voice, before turning to see that Mat Barzal was standing there, a sheer sheen of sweat lightly coating his forehead, telling you that he had been working out. His shirt clung to his body in all the right places. And those thighs. Ugh! It should be downright illegal to have thighs as muscular as his and shorts that tight.

“We were just talking about…” Carly started to say before you elbowed her.

“It’s just about someone that works here in the hotel. You probably wouldn’t know them, considering you’re staying at the Royal.” God, you sounded like a snob; a snob and a prick. “I mean it’s really just work gossip.”

“Oh well, hopefully, I’ll be moving in here soon. Then maybe you’ll let me in on your little secrets.” He gave you a little wink as if he knew you weren’t exactly talking about some indiscretion of a hotel staff member. Although technically you were. That member just happened to be you.

“I guess if you do get to move, I’ll have to reveal all the dirty laundry this place has going on,” you said flirtatiously, and suddenly you were throwing out that whole idea of settling down.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing what you’d got going on underneath everything.” Mat playfully bantered back, as his eyes roamed your body. His heated stare had your panties getting wet. You were really going to have to do your laundry after the day you had.

“Well, I can see I’m not needed here.” Carly chimed in as you’d completely forgotten about her being there. “I think I’ll go check on what Chef’s preparing for dinner.”

She sauntered off leaving you standing there alone with Mat. “Speaking of dinner. Would you like to get some, say maybe tomorrow night? We’re playing tonight or I’d say in a couple of hours.”

“I’d like that, but it’s not like we can go out to any restaurants.”

“True, though I do remember you mentioning something about a suite you’re staying in.”

Had you mentioned that? You couldn’t really be sure and it didn’t really matter at the moment considering you had roommates. “About that…You see there was kind of a little incident here. Let’s just say it involved a hockey stick and some busted pipes.” Mat looked like he was ready to bust out laughing but he took a deep breath regaining control. “So now I have three people staying there with me.”

“Oh well if it’s your friend there and a couple others I’m sure Tito and a couple guys wouldn’t mind coming along.”

“Yeah,” you said cringing as you told him this next part. “It’s not Carly. It’s three guys from the Canes. Dougie Hamilton, Joel Edmunston and Andrei Svechnikov.” Mat’s eyes widen and his jaw dropped a bit before drawing together to form a hard line on his jaw. He hadn’t seemed like the jealous type in your last encounter but then at the time, it didn’t seem like you were having a foursome every night in your suite. “It’s just temporary.” You were quick to add. “Their room should be fixed in a couple days.”

“I see.” It was a short response and you could tell that he wasn’t pleased. “I guess dinner is off.”

You didn’t want it to be. In fact, Mat was the first guy that you really were interested in more than just a fling with since Sidney. You just needed to come up with another place for dinner and maybe some sort of dessert that involved both of you being naked. That shouldn’t be too hard.

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