Chapter Twenty

This chapter isn't super long, but I think that is should be enough to hold you over for a bit. Comment to let me know that you're reading and let me know what you think of Kris and Nikki's budding relationship. Enjoy, and thank you for reading.

Kris and Nikki woke up at almost the same time, about thirty seconds separated when they returned from dreamland. Nikki snuggled further into Kris’ chest hoping that somehow she could be closer to him. “Good morning, beautiful.”

“Good morning, handsome.” She angled her head so that her lips could meet the ones that awaited them. The soft, sweet kiss was innocent, yet still channeled their feelings for each other. The night before had been filled with passion, even before they made it to the bed in Kris’ hotel room. Being apart had definitely brought them closer. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. 

Nikki lay back onto Kris’ right arm and as she did the sheet that covered them slid down. The air in the room was cool and only being covered by a sheet Nikki was a bit cold. She grabbed the sheet and pulled it up to her chin and cuddling deeper into both the bed and Kris. “Are you afraid to have me see you naked?” 

Nikki was already cold, but the hint of sleep still in Kris’ voice along with his sexy French-Canadian accent made her shiver. “No,” she said, “It’s cold in here.”

“Good, that might have been a problem after last night.” He ran his hand along her bare side, savoring the feel of her skin against his. When they had gone to sleep they were both sated and content, but being awake and naked in bed together was causing their need for each other to return. He rolled to face her and just before their lips connected he saw the bright numbers on the clock. Their lips met and as they did Kris sighed. “I’ve gotta go to practice,” he said after pulling away. “But I promise after practice and a stop in the gift shop down stairs we can repeat last night.”

After a quick shower together they got dressed and walked across the street together, their fingers laced. The players’ lot was about half full when they arrived which meant that either only half the team was there or a lot of people had carpooled. ‘Cars,’ Kris thought. ‘If I’m going to be here for a while I’m going to need to get mine here somehow.

The locker room was only half full, which made sense, if anyone was going to carpool it would to a game and not to practice Max was one of the ten or so guys in the room and upon seeing this Kris felt Nikki’s fingers sliding from his. Clearly she has seen him too. And she really was going to thank him for what had happened the night before.

“Hey Max,” Nikki said when she reached his stall.

“Nice to finally actually meet you.” 

Nikki had been wishing the team luck for a few years, but she had only talked to them from the wall above the players’ entrance, or a few brief conversations with a few of the guys at the fence when she had been there for morning skate. She had never been in the locker room before. The previous year Kris had only played seven games for the Penguins and he and Nikki had only been friends. Now that they were together he could bring her into the locker room with him, at least as long as he was playing in the NHL.

“You too. Um – I just wanted to say thanks.”

It took Max about five seconds to figure out what he was being thanked for. He didn’t think that he had done anything; that is until he remembered his conversation with Kris from the night before. Max had given Kris the condom that he kept in his, in case Kris got lucky. Apparently, he had. When it finally clicked a goofy smile came to his face. “Oh, you’re quite welcome.” Nikki walked away in the direction of Kris’ stall and Max finished pulling his skates on before heading the same way. “Way to go, mon ami,” he said as he passed.

 

Chapter Nineteen

Happy Birthday, Kristopher!

Chapter Nineteen

                The first two weeks that they were apart were the hardest, they had just gotten used to spending time together for more than a week. The month that they had spent together in Pittsburgh had brought them closer and Kris was glad that he had gotten to Pittsburgh early. 

                November came and with each passing day and no call-up to Pittsburgh Kris and Nikki though that it would be the middle of December before they were able to see each other again. Kris was happily surprised when two weeks into the month he was told that he was being called up to the big league. “Baby, what are you doing tonight?” Kris asked when Nikki answered the phone.

                “Um, watching the game? Is there something else I should be doing?”

                “How about sleeping in the arms of your beau petit ami?”

                “You got called up? Kris that’s great!”

                “The best part is that I get to see you.”

                “That is the best part, oh Kris I can’t wait until you get to Pittsburgh.”

                “I can’t wait either. I have to go so that I can get there though, but I wanted to let you know. I love you, Nicolette.”

                “I love you too, Kristopher. I can’t wait to see you tonight.”

                “I’ll text you my room number when I get there and I’ll leave a key for you at the front desk. See you tonight.”

                Nikki had been on her way to class when her phone had gone off. She had been walking towards the math building for her least favorite class and had not been looking for it. Now after the phone call from Kris and the thought of seeing her later that day, nothing could bring her down. 

                When he arrived in Pittsburgh and at the Marriott it felt like he was home. He checked in, told the women behind the desk to set aside a key for a Ms. Nikki James, and quickly made his way to his room. He sent a text to Nikki with his room number, put his bags down, and drank a glass of water before it was time to head to the arena for the game. 

                Nikki had driven straight to the Marriott after her last class and made it to the arena in time to wish the last few guys luck. After the last of the players arrived Nikki crossed the street and decided to watch the game at the restaurant in the lobby. 

                “Welcome back Kris,” Max Talbot said just before the team took the ice for the pre-game skate. “You spending the night with your girl?”

                “I am.” A smile took over his whole face.

                “Well, you might need this then,” Max said digging into the pocket of the suite pants that he had worn into the arena for his wallet. He pulled the packet out and handed it to Kris. 

                “I really don’t think so; we’re not at that point in our relationship.”

                “Keep it man, just in case.”

                Kris put it into the pocket of suit pants and completely forgot about it as he and the rest of the Penguins took the ice. They Pens beat the Islanders which added to Kris’ crazy amount of emotions brought on by this whirlwind day. Getting called up to Pittsburgh was great, and a win was always nice, but more than anything Kris couldn’t wait to get back to his hotel and to see Nikki’s smiling face.

                He quickly showered and got dressed in his suit before hurrying across the street. Nikki was waiting on a bench in the lobby and she saw him before he saw her. Her face lit up and she stood before he came through the door that was being held open by the door man. “Nicolette,” he said when he finally saw her. He quickly closed the ten feet between them and dropped his bag on the floor before throwing his arms around Nikki. “Oh, baby I’ve missed you so much.”

                “I’ve missed you too, Kristopher, I’m so glad that you’re here.” She rested her head against his muscular chest and took in his scent. He didn’t smell like Irish Spring and Old Spice like he normally did, he smelled of locker room soap, but he still smelled good.

                After a few minutes of being content in each other’s arms they headed for the elevator. Once the doors closed Kris took Nikki in his arms again and their lips came together. They both had intended for the kiss to be passionate yet still somewhat innocent. However, after having not seen each other for six weeks the innocent kiss quickly became passionate and intense. Tongues grazed lips and were soon swirling in a dance of lovers reunited. 

                As intense as the kiss was it was ended when the chime dinged to indicate that they were at their desired floor. Nikki picked up her overnight bag and they walked hand-in-hand to Kris’ room. When they made it to the door Kris couldn’t push down the desire to taste Nikki’s sweet lips again. 

                He pushed her against door and his lips crashed down on hers for a rough, passionate kiss. While the kiss was rough Kris’ lip were soft against hers, as were hers against his. As much as he wanted to kiss her gently, to place soft kisses along her jaw-line before moving onto her neck, there was so much emotion on both sides of the kiss that it forged their lips together. 

His hands were on either side of her, pressed against the door holding himself far enough away from her so that she wasn’t squished. The intensity of the kiss was ten times that of the one from the elevator and more passionate than any kiss they had shared in the past.  She was still a bit in shock, but her hands no longer cling to his suit jacket but pushed it back enough so that she could run her hands up his chest, taking in how muscular he was. When she reached the collar of his shirt she began to loosen his tie. She had no idea what color his tie was and at this point it was the least of her worries.

Since the kiss began her eyes had been closed and she didn’t care if someone happened to walk down the hall past them. The only things she cared about were the man that she was connected to at the lips and the passion that they shared. She moved her hands to the back of his neck and ran her hands through his soft brown hair. As each strand slipped through her fingers more of her weight was pushed against the door and her knees began to grow weak; she was unable to stand on her own two feet.

Kris brought one arm behind her, helping her to keep her balance. Neither of the two wanted it to end, and it would have taken an earthquake to bring them completely to a stop. There was so much urgency in the kiss, need for each other after being away from each other. His lips felt so right against hers, as did his body, he had brought her closer, needing to be near her. The kiss was so intoxicating as was the softness of his hair and the need to be closer to him even though their bodies were touching.  The overall rightness of the situation made Nikki feel as though she was in heaven, may be dreaming. She had had dreams like this before, but she knew that this time, this kiss, and this need was real.

Kris’ arms and both his and Nikki’s legs were growing tired so after an unknown amount of time they broke apart. “We should probably go inside,” Kris said as he reluctantly took one arm away from Nikki and reached for the room key in his pocket. 

Once they finally made it into the room after fumbling with the room key Kris removed his jacket and Nikki her jersey. Both were thrown onto the desk before shoes were quickly kicked off, well at least in Kris’ case. Nikki always wore Converse and their need to be untied was an enormous hindrance. Once her shoes were finally removed she looked up to see that Kris had also taken his tie off. 

They made their way to the bed and Kris helped Nikki to lie back against the pillows. He leaned onto his side next to her and ran his free hand along her soft cheek before bringing their lips together again. Just like that the spark ignited again. The need that they had both felt in the hallway was now greater and only one thing could quench their thirst for each other. 

Both Kris and Nikki knew what their bodies wanted and needed, but they needed to take things slow. They had only been dating for five months and had only really spent just over a month together. Were they really at that point in their relationship? Were they really ready to take that step?

This passion, this heat was not what Kris had intended or expected when he enveloped his love in his arms in the hotel lobby. Life however, has a way of giving you what you need when you need it, even if you didn’t know that you needed it in the first place. Right now what Kris needed was to be closer to Nikki. He had wanted to take things slow, but things had escalated quickly and his emotions and his need had taken over. Logically thinking was no longer a possibility. He needed to silence the ache that he felt, both in his mind and his groin. 

Nikki was in the same boat. She had never been with anyone in the way that she knew she needed to be with Kris. She should have been scared, having sex for the first time. For some reason though, she wasn’t. She wanted this more than anything. She knew that the feelings she was having were both right and real. She loved Kris and she knew that he loved her in return. Love is all you need, isn’t it?

Without even actively thinking about it Kris moved his hand that had rested on Nikki’s stomach slowly upward. The soft, strong hand came to rest on her breast and their kiss muffled the soft moan that escaped.

The kiss was broken and Kris came to sitting position, helping Nikki into one too. His hands rested at the hem of her t-shirt, but he didn’t have to ask. Nikki’s hands moved to his and helped him start to bring her shirt up, revealing more and more of her creamy skin. When the black t-shirt came to rest on the floor Nikki’s fingers fumbled with the buttons on Kris’ shirt to slowly reveal his smooth chest. Once the shirt was removed her hands unconsciously traced the strong muscles of his chest and stomach.

Soon his suit pants and her jeans were also on the floor and the two lovers were once again lying back against the pillows. “I love you, Nicolette.”

“I love you too, Kristopher.” She leaned up to kiss him again and as she did Kris trailed his fingertips over her shoulder and he tried to make his way to the clasp of her bra. “What,” she said, reality finally hitting her. “We can’t do this.”

“I’m sorry, mon amour. I wasn’t thinking, believe me I’m not trying to pressure you.” He quickly removed his hand from her and sat upright.

“That’s not what I mean. Believe me baby, I want this just as much as you do. I’m saying we can’t do this right now, we don’t have protection.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” He kissed her cheek gently before he remembered his brief pre-game conversation with Max. “Wait, we can do this.” He was off the bed before Nikki could ask him what he was talking about. He found his suit pants on the floor and the foil package that awaited him in the pocket. “Thank Max,” He said, holding the packet up for her to see.

Soon the remaining clothing was shed and the latex covering Kris’ aching appendage. Nikki lay back against the pillows and Kris took a moment to take in the scene as well as her beauty. Everything about the scene was perfect. “Are you sure about this?”

“Positive.” Kris placed a kiss on Nikki’s forehead before slowly connecting them at the waist. Nikki winced in pain and Kris did his best to enter slowly, kissing her softly to take her mind from the discomfort. Soon the pain was gone, completely replaced by pleasure. 

The pleasure did not last very long, but both Nikki and Kris were content and trying to catch their breath. Nikki’s head rested on Kris’ chest where it met with his shoulder and she ran her hand over his chest. It had been a long and eventful today for both lovers, with the most recent event being the most tiring; so after ten minutes of lying contently in each other’s arms Kris pulled the sheet over them. “Je t’aime,”Kris said before gently kissing Nikki lips.

“Je t’aime aussi, Kristopher, je t’aime aussi.”

Chapter Eighteen

Wow, it has really been a long time since I wrote anything. Two nights ago I found some motivation and sat down and wrote two chapters. So, I'm not sure if anyone is actually going to read this, but if you are reading this I hope that you enjoy it. As I said, I wrote two chapters and the second of the two is my favorite so I will be posting another chapter within the next week... well that is if I receive feedback that lets me know that people want to read more. 

Chapter Eighteen

Kris did well in camp, but his name appeared on the list of guys that had been cut from the team and were being sent to Wilkes-Barre. Having been cut from the again was painful, but not as painful as it would be to be away from Nikki again. They had said good-bye before, but each one had been hard. Kris was looking forward to finally getting to be able to spend some quality time with the girl he loved.

Nikki was in glass when Kris came to his name on the list, but having to be apart again was not something to be discussed in the form of text messages. She would be coming to the Marriott after her last class of the day, so Kris decided to break the bad news to her when she arrived at the hotel. A simple text arrived on her phone when there was still an hour left in her last class. ‘I love you, Nicolette.’

They often expressed their love for each other, but it was not normally how their conversations began; something was wrong. She would find out what was in two hours. So a reply of, ‘I love you, too, Kristopher.’ was sent.

Class finally ended and Nikki left Kris know what she was on her way to see him. Parking spaces were hard to come by where Kris was staying, except for in the paid garage, so Nikki parked at the fire station that her dad had worked at and walked the few short blocks back to the Marriott. 

The elevator doors closed and slowly moved towards Kris’ floor. It had been a few days since Nikki had gotten to see Kris and she had missed him. She couldn’t wait to see his face light up when he saw that it was her at the door and to be back in his arms. When the gold doors slid open Nikki made her way down the hall towards her destination. Knocking twice to let Kris know that it was her she waited for the door to open and her boyfriend’s smiling face to appear. When the door opened her smile disappeared; she was right, something was wrong. Kris was always happy to see her, even after loss, but now his perfect smile was nowhere to be seen and in its place was a look of sadness. “Kris, baby, what’s wrong?”

Stepping aside and opening the door wider Kris let Nikki enter the room before sitting on the large bed next to her. “I didn’t make the cut; I’m leaving for Wilkes-Barre tomorrow afternoon. I would have told you sooner, but I didn’t think this was something that I should tell you in a text.”

“Oh Kristopher, I’m so sorry baby. “ She turned sideways and wrapped her arms around him.

 Kris pulled one of his arms free and returned the hug. “Promise me that we’ll be okay when I’m not here.”

“Kristopher, we have spent our first few months together apart. I love you so much and I only want to be with you. You are my life mon amour and I promise that while you are in Wilkes-Barre nothing about us will change.”

“I love you too,” he took her hands and placed a gentle kiss on her check. “I’m sorry that we spend so much time apart, I tried my best the past two weeks.”

“Kristopher, look at me.” He was looking down at the patterned carpet, but not taking the shapes or colors in. Nikki ran her hand along his check to turn his face towards her. Kris’ hair fell into his face and covered his right eye; he was too upset to move it, but Nikki ran her fingers through the soft brown locks and held them away from his face as she spoke. “I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to go out with a professional athlete. We will be absolutely fine, nothing could come between us. Just remember, there’s always a chance of getting called up.”

“Stay here with me tonight?” He asked moving his hand to hers that was still in his hair.

“Of course, baby.” She moved as close as she could to the man she loved and gently kiss his lips.

***

Nikki skipped her morning class so that she could spend every possible moment with Kris. She helped him pack and once everything was in his bags they laid on the bed, Nikki’s head on Kris’ chest until it was time to go down to the lobby.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Kris said his arms wrapped around the women he loved. 

“I’m going to miss you too. I promise, if you haven’t been called up by the start of my Christmas break I’ll come see you in WBS.” They stood in each other’s arms in the lobby of the hotel for a few minutes until a taxi pulled up outside the front door. Kris would be flying into Wilkes-Barre instead of driving. “I love you, Kristopher.”

“I love you too, Nicolette.” They both squeezed tightly one more time before looking into each other’s eyes. Both his chocolate brown ones as well as her ice blue ones were filled with sadness. All of their emotion was poured into the last kiss that they would share for at least a few weeks. “Au Revoir, mon amour.”

“Au revoir.” Kris left a kiss on Nikki’s forehead before picking up his bags and turning towards the cab that awaited him. Once his bags were in the trunk and he closed the car door he blew Nikki a kiss and got one in return before the car drove away.

               

Chapter Seventeen

I apologize for taking so long to update, I had a lot of things going on for a while and some horrible writer's block. I hope you all enjoy this short chapter and that you also might consider reading my other stories if you don't already. I know that Broken Promises could definitely use some attention. Thank you once again for reading. Go Pens! <3


Chapter Seventeen

“On my birthday, he told me that he loved me. And you both know how I feel about him. We slept together.” Michelle’s expression changed to a somehow even more questioning look. “No not like that, we slept in the same bed.”

“Oh, that’s not as much fun.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” she said sarcastically. “There’s not much else to tell.”

***

Over the next few weeks Kris and Nikki talked as much as possible, and missed each other more and more with each day that passed. Nikki was getting ready to start college and had gotten a job at a local sports store to occupy her time, to keep mind off missing Kris. “Training camp starts soon,” Nikki said while talking to Kris.

“I can’t wait, I miss you.”

“I miss you too, are you still coming down early?”

“As long as you still want me to.”

“Let me see, well you could come down a day or two before camp starts which would leave next to no time for us to hang out, or you could come down two weeks before camp and we could spend an entire two weeks together before camp starts and you’re busy all day every day.”

As per their agreement when September first arrived Kris was boarding a plane for Pittsburgh. Nikki had to work for most the day or at least that’s what she had told Kris. Originally she did have to work that day, but she had gotten someone to take over her shift so that she could pick Kris up from the airport.

Since Kris was coming for training camp Nikki knew that he would be checking a bag. All she had to do when she could to the airport was find his baggage claim and wait.

She sat down near the baggage carousel and when Kris first came into view her heart skipped a beat. The time away from him and definitely made her love him more. As he got closer some of his silky dark brown hair fell over his left eye and Nikki anxiously waited for what always made her smile. He ran his fingers through the soft locks, pushing them from his face.

As she had hoped he would Kris came to stand in front of the conveyor belt facing away from her. He hadn’t seen her. The beeping started to indicate that the bags were about to start circling and Kris hoped that his wasn’t the last one off the plane. He wanted to get out of as quickly as possible so that he could get to the Marriott and wait for Nikki. Nikki took the beeping as her cue to sneak up behind her devastatingly handsome boyfriend. When she got to be about five feet away she could already smell his cologne. She couldn’t wait to be in his arms.

“Excuse moi, monsieur,” she hoped that he didn’t recognize her by her American accent. Normally it would be out of place for someone to be speaking French in Pittsburgh, but the flight that he was on did come from Montreal making the French not so uncommon.

“Ah, je regrette Madame.” He turned to look at who he had been apologizing to. “Ah, Mademoiselle,” he took her hand in his. “Enchanté.”

Nikki waited from Kris to place a kiss on her hand before she pulled it away and practically jumped into his arms. He held her tightly as he kissed her. This was where he was supposed to be. Not the airport, but with Nikki. Where ever she was. “Welcome back to Pittsburgh, Kris.”

“I’m glad to be back,” he flashed his dashing smile. “I thought you had to work today.”

“I did originally. I wanted surprise you though so I got someone to cover my shift.”

Kris smiled and kissed her again before saying, “I love you.”

“I love you too, Kris.”

***

During the two weeks before training camp Kris and Nikki were together whenever she wasn’t in class. He went to work with her so that she would have someone to talk to, well someone who didn’t annoy her. Since he had only played eight games with the Penguins the season before he was sure that almost no one who came into the store would recognize him.

Those two week however went by too quickly for Nikki and Kris’ liking. It was the day before the start of training camp and because of her classes Nikki would only be able to make it to one of the open practices. She was attending Robert Morris University and living in the dorms, making her farther away from the arena than she had been the year before, but she promised both Kris and herself that she would be there as much as possible. Sunday morning Nikki woke up in her favorite place, Kris’ arms. They had stayed at the Marriott together, getting the most of their time together. They had nothing planned for the day; they were just going to wing it. She snuggled closer, loving the feeling of being there with him. She kissed his wrist hoping that she didn’t wake him up. Her hopes were dashed when his grip around her tightened into a hug. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” she rolled towards him and returned the hug.

After they showered separately they went downstairs to Starbucks for a quick breakfast and then decided to go for a walk to and around downtown.

They spent the entire day together until Nikki had to leave to go back to school. “I’ll see you at camp on Wednesday.” Kris nodded. “I love you, Kris.”

“I love you too. I’ll miss you until then.”

“I’ll miss you too, bye Kris.”

“Good-bye Nicolette.” He pressed his lips to hers one last time before releasing the beauty from his arms.