Two Minute Penalties
by be287m

--Game Five--

Detroit won.

I just shook my head in disbelief.  I’d stayed up late on a Thursday night for a Detroit game.

What was happening to me?

I’d also spent the day musing about what Steve’s penalty could be when Detroit lost.  ‘Anything’ opened up a lot of possibilities!  Of course the Red Wings hadn’t cooperated, rendering the point moot.  Maybe Saturday.

For a while I fantasized that I could find something that Steve hadn’t done with Katherine.  Something new that would be exciting for him.  Then I remembered his words.

Not the acts, the people.

Steve was looking for the connection.

Oh my.

Steve wasn’t wagering just two minutes, I realized.  He was playing for bigger stakes.  Much bigger.

That scared me.

That tugged at me.

What were my stakes?  I took a deep breath and looked around my apartment.  It was pretty empty, I realized.  Not as spartan as Steve’s bedroom, but still.  Utilitarian furniture accumulated in bits and pieces through my college years.  The scatter of books and papers and a few houseplants.  My prized hockey possession—the autographed Joe Sakic jersey from the 2001 Stanley Cup Championship Season hanging framed on the wall.  I wondered what Red Wings memorabilia Steve had tucked away.

My eyes fell on the pictures on top of the bookcase.  Vickie and me on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  Sandy, in full hockey gear, holding the trophy she’d won that year in high school.

And Dad.

God I missed him.

When I was a kid, he’d take us to the park just about every weekend.  That turned into ski trips and hikes as we got older, until he was too sick to go.  When I was ten, he took us to my first hockey game—the University of Denver versus Minnesota.  I was enthralled.  Vickie didn’t think much of it and shortly it became just me and Dad.  Our special time.

Afterwards, we’d go to a diner for ice cream or a slice of pie.  I’d take the longest time reading the menu before looking up to see him smiling at me.

“What can I have, Dad?” I’d ask each time.

“Anything you want, Elizabeth,” he’d reply.

“Anything you want.”

God I missed him.  

What were my stakes?  I realized I just wanted something simple.  Just Steve’s arms around me, like in the locker room. 

My eyes caught the clock.  It was way past my bedtime.  Morning would be here soon and I needed my rest.

Friday it snowed again.  Not much—just enough to ensure the mountains would be muddy.  For once, I didn’t mind missing a weekend outside.  Pete and Steve had invited Sandy and me over to watch the game.

This time, Steve greeted me at the door with a big hug and a kiss.  It wasn’t a toe curling one, just a brief warm hello that made me tingle.

Steve led me directly to the couch and we snuggled during the pre-game.  We might have snuggled longer, but c’mon, who can stay seated during a power play?!?  With shot after blocked shot after blocked shot?!?

Unfortunately, Adam Foote screwed up and gave the Sharks a 5 on 3 at the end of the first period.  They didn’t blow it.  We entered the first intermission with the Avs down by a goal.

Sandy grabbed my hand and pulled me into the kitchen.

“Liz,” she began, “I need to ask a favor of you.”

“Sure.  What’s up?”

“You know the league championship game is this next week, which means Pete and I are going to start openly dating.”

“Yes. . .” 

“Well, when Pete heard that I’d let Steve come into the locker room after the game, he started teasing me.  He wanted to know when I was going to invite him into the locker room.”  She was blushing a little.

“So you want a different locker room guard after the next game?” I mused.

“Oh no!  We won’t have time to do anything after the game because we need to get to the post-game party!  Besides, win or lose, that’s not a good time to be doing anything.  We’ll still be too pumped up from playing and we’ll want to rehash the game with our teammates.  You know what I mean—you’ve been to those parties.”  I just grinned at her.

“So,” Sandy continued, “I was thinking of surprising Pete and inviting him into the locker room after tomorrow’s practice.”   Wow!  That was bold!

“Sounds great!” I replied,  “I can just head home after the practice.”

“Ummm.  I was hoping you’d do more than that.  I want this to be a surprise for Pete.  Kind of my way of paying off our bet.  I was hoping you’d lure him over to the women’s locker room.”

“Lure him??”  I was almost laughing, picturing Pete as a fish chasing bait dangled before him.  Sandy looked a little exasperated so I sobered up.  At least a little.

“Yes, lure him.  Tell him you need to talk to him after practice and to catch you before he hits the showers.  Something like that.”  I started chuckling.

Just then Pete walked into the kitchen.  We both broke off and looked at him.  He became a deer in the headlights.

“What??” he asked.  We both burst out laughing.  Pete continued to look bewildered.

“Nothing!” I replied.  “Just girl talk!”  He looked warily at us.

“I though women normally went to the bathroom to do that,” he said.

“Not enough room!” Sandy shot back.

“Uh huh,” Pete replied.  He edged past us and got another beer out of the fridge, before escaping back to the other room.  We gave him a few minutes head start before grabbing our own drinks and heading out.

Steve lit up when he saw me.  He scooted back to one side of the couch, making space for me.  I snuggled into him and he once again wrapped his arm around me.  Firm, strong, and warm.

Yes, this is what I wanted.

The puck dropped and the game got tense.  The second period looked all too familiar.  The Avs got shot after shot but Nabokov was a wall for the Sharks.  The second period ended with the same score.

At least in our game.  During the second intermission, the network cut over to show Calgary scoring on the Red Wings.  Steve got tense and quiet.  A little pale too.

That’s when it hit me.  He was watching the Avalanche game.  His favorite team was playing at the same time and he could have been watching them at a sports bar if not here in his own place.  Instead, he was watching their biggest rival.  

And he’d done it last weekend too.  What did it take for a die hard Red Wings fan to give up watching two playoff games and instead sit and watch the Avalanche?

Wow.  I just looked at Steve, impressed.  He caught me looking at him.  Steve smiled inquisitively and I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss before we turned back to the TV. 

Then the intermission report showed the Red Wing’s Captain Steve Yzerman getting hit in the face with a puck, which had apparently happened before the score.  When he fell to the ice, the room quieted.  I saw Pete reach out and squeeze Sandy’s hand.  I wondered how Detroit would do without him—in many ways he was a pillar of strength for his team.  I looked at my Steve.  His face was unreadable.  I continued to hold him tight until the Avs game was back

Midway through the third period, my man Sakic came through and scored.  Sandy and I were yelling and slapping high fives.  I looked over at Steve and he was just shaking his head in amused disbelief.  I blew him a kiss before returning to the couch and a hug.

Then Sakic did it again in overtime!  I turned and grinned at Steve.  He was just shaking his head again.

“So much for doubling the stakes,” he said.

“I still owe you four minutes,” I replied.

“And now I owe you two,”  he said.  The Red Wings hadn’t recovered after Yzerman’s injury and were now facing possible elimination by Calgary.

“Maybe I’ll collect tonight!” I exclaimed.  Steve just raised his eyebrows, daring me.  Oh, I was giddy!  A win by the Avs, an afternoon with Steve, what more did I need?

Unfortunately, the afternoon did need to end.  I had to go get ready for our date!  Steve walked us to the door and once again leaned in for a kiss.  He didn’t quite knock my socks off this time—the shoes yes, but not the socks.  I realized he was holding back deliberately when he nuzzled my ear while I was still recovering my breath from the kiss.

“Remember,” he whispered, “I want to see your legs.”  Oh gawd.  The desire dripped from his words.  Then he let me go and Sandy and I were out the door.

See my legs, hm?  He wanted to see my legs?  As soon as I got home I marched over to my lingerie drawer and pulled them out.  Yup, no runs.  Black thigh high stockings with the seams up the back.  I still had the perfect dress to go with them.  I’d show him my legs!

I was actually ready when Steve knocked on the door.  Right on time, good.  I opened it and stepped back.  He looked stunning dressed up and was holding a single red rose.

“Awww!  Thank you!” I gushed as he handed me the rose.  I invited him in while I found a vase for the flower.  He just stood in the entryway smiling.  Finally done, I approached him again, stopping a few feet away.

“I believe, Sir, that there was a request to see my legs?”  With that I did a slow pirouette.  

“Oh. Wow.”  When I finished the turn, Steve’s mouth was hanging open, his eyes wide.  Yippee!

“You are stunning!” he exclaimed.  Aww.  I just melted with his admiration.  He offered me his arm and I smiled.  Grabbing my purse, we were off.

Dinner was excellent.  We took our time, laughing, flirting, and telling stories.  Steve shared how he’d met Pete and I told him about growing up with Sandy.  We exchanged stories of college and embarrassing antics we’d committed then.  We were having such a good time that after dinner we just went walking up and down the 16th Street Mall, holding hands and continuing the conversation.

Of course we people watched while we walked.  We even stopped and gave directions to two short-haired women who were looking for the LoDo Tattered Cover store.  We asked where they were from and one said Ft. Collins, the other Oregon.  When we’d parted from them, Steve was smirking.

“What?”  I asked.

“Lesbians.  Met online.  First time together.  They were cute,” he replied.

“You sure?” I asked.

“Not entirely.  But think about it.  Remember their body language towards each other.”

I played back the scene in my mind.  Yes, it was subtle, but it was there.  They’d resisted touching each other, but there was clearly attraction and affection.  The banter about books and the ability to navigate around Denver had also been new; they weren’t an established couple.  And the way the shorter one had looked at the taller one . . . delight mixed with surprise.

Just the way I was looking at Steve.

“You are an amazingly observant man,” I said.

“I try,” he mused.

We’d been walking for some time and I was getting a little tired.  Steve checked his watch.  

“So what now?” I asked.

He smiled.  “I take you home and kiss you goodnight.  We see each other at Pete and Sandy’s game, we arrange another date.”

“Not going to collect on your four minutes?” I teased.  He chuckled.

“Oh, I’m going to collect,” he said. “ Just not tonight.  The series isn’t over and I want to collect all my time at once.”  That sent a delightful shiver down my spine.

“You sure?  The Avs were looking pretty good.  They could go the distance!  Might be a while before you could collect.”

“Or they might be out with the next game,” he teased back.  

“Besides,” he continued, “what I want to do with you will require more than a mere four minutes.”  Ohhh, the tone in his voice promised I would really like those minutes.  I decided not to let the matter drop.

“You sure?  Might be a while!”

“I’m sure.”  Steve said firmly.  Then inspiration hit me.

“You know,” I began, “you owe me two minutes since Detroit lost today.”

“Yes. . . .”

“What if I collect those two minutes tonight?” I asked.

Steve laughed.  “You can do that if you want, I suppose.  What do you want for your two minutes?”

“I want a preview of what you’re going to do to me with your time!”

Steve started cracking up laughing, grinning at me.  I just smugly smiled back.  After a moment, he recovered, just shaking his head in amusement.

“Okay.   One two minute preview, coming up.”

We were walking by a courtyard plaza that had outdoor tables for various nearby restaurants.  Steve pulled me into it and then steered us into a darkened alcove.  He backed me up to a wall and stepped in close, pressing his body against mine.  There was a fire and a power in his eyes.  It almost frightened me.  Almost.

“Please keep your hands by your side,” Steve commanded.  I shivered and complied.

Steve stepped in and lightly cupped my cheek in his palm.  Then he slid it around my neck, holding my head firmly in place.  Then he leaned in and kissed me.

Oh. Wow.  Socks—knocked off!  

Steve kept kissing me.  I started to raise my arms to embrace him, but he caught them and pushed them back down to my side.  Steve kissed my lips and my cheek.  He kissed my neck and behind my ear.  He used his hand to turn my head as he willed, bringing each inch of my skin within the range of his lips, one agonizing tantalizing moment at a time.

Meanwhile, he’d pressed into me with his body.  My breasts pushed against his chest and he slid one thigh between mine.  He even slid his feet so that they touched my own.  Every place we connected, his body was warm and solid.

He started caressing me with his other hand while his kissed me.  It was hard to keep track of all the light touches when I was so overwhelmed with what his lips were doing to mine.  Just dances of electricity on my hip, then my outer thigh, then my side.  I was starting to gasp as Steve played my body, strumming me however he chose.

Then Steve pulled back from the kisses and gazed into my eyes.  There was an incredible hunger there.  He wanted me.  He wanted me badly.  Just as I wanted him.

Steve stopped caressing my body and slid his hand between us.  He paused, gently resting it on my lower ribs.  Then he slid it up an inch.  A question formed in his eyes.  I gave a short nod.

His hand continued upward until it covered my breast.  He began to gently massage and caress me through my clothes as he returned to kissing me.  Oh wow.  Once again Steve knew exactly what to do.  I was dripping and he hadn’t even touched me below the waist!

But that appeared to be next.  Not stopping the kisses, Steve released my breast and dropped his hand to my leg.  He caressed inwards until his hand was on my inner thigh.  Then he began slowly sliding it up, under my dress, making small circles with his fingertips as he moved.

Steve let out a small “mmmmm” when his fingers found the bare flesh at the top of my stockings.  I almost giggled in response.  We just looked at each other, grinning, before he began kissing me again, his hand resuming its journey.

Steve had to shift his body around and his hold on me in order to push my panties aside with his fingers.  His first touch of my folds sent little shocks through my body.  I once again raised my arms to put them around him and he once again caught my hands and pushed them back to my side.

Unfortunately, the fabric of my panties kept pushing back against Steve’s fingers, limiting his motion.  After a few fruitless tries to caress me more intimately, Steve disengaged and pulled back.

“Please take them off,” he commanded.  

I took a deep breath.  Looking past Steve’s shoulder, I could see the lights of the courtyard.  There was no one present, but it reminded me of how vulnerable to getting caught we really were.

“Please,” he asked again.  I looked in his eyes and saw his desire was muted something else now.  Softer and more awe filled.  I started to melt once again.  I took a deep breath, reached under my dress and yanked my panties down.  When I’d stepped out of them, Steve took them and shoved them in a pocket.

“Hands by your side again, please.” he asked.  I complied instantly.  Steve stepped forward, placed one hand back behind my head again, and returned to kissing me.

This time, his other hand did not linger as it slid up my thigh.  Like a seasoned traveler, it paused only as if remembering the way.  He found my folds and began to caress and tease once more.

I was starting to moan.  Little jolts of pleasure kept flying through my body.  Steve’s fingers eventually parted my lower lips, just as his tongue did with those higher up.  He took a breath, then kissed me hard, and slid his finger inside.

Oh Gawd!  I was delirious!  Steve stroked and touch me inside in places I didn’t even know I could be touched!  My body bucked forward into his and he caught me, never letting up his strokes.  I moaned, I gasped.  Steve didn’t stop!

Then in a flash, he withdrew his finger and slid it up, placing it squarely on my clit.  The hell with it—I threw my arms around him for balance.  He held me, kissed my neck, and began to caress me.

It only took a few strokes for me to explode!  My entire body rippled as wave after wave cascaded through me!  I nearly passed out!

When I drifted back down into my body, Steve had released my clit and was holding me tightly in both arms.  I clung to him until I was done gasping and had recovered my breath.  Finally, shakily, I pulled back.

“That’s the preview?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied, grinning and nodding.

“And I have to wait for the rest????”

“At least until the Avs lose,” he replied.  I playfully punched him on the arm.  He helped steady me on my feet and guided me out of the alcove.

We walked back into the light and the bustle of the mall, holding hands. Steve steered us in the direction of the car, never saying much.  He’d just look over at me from time to time and smile. 

As for me, I was flushed and happy.  I loved the feel of his hand holding mine.  I was also a little confused.

For the first time in my life, I was hoping my favorite team would lose.

--End Game Five--
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