Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Ulterior Motives


I've been thinking of making a blog for just my one-shots and short stories for a while now and today I finally got the ambition to do so! As of right now I have one story posted... I will be posting some others as the weeks go by and I get them proof-read. Obviously this is just a space for the extra things I write which might not all be on hockey players... we shall see... click on the link, check it out and follow!! :o)

www.needabreakdownhere.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Don't Give Up On Me

Well, I said I wouldn't do it. I said I wouldn't be writing full-stories, but this article and a talk in Philly with K and RebelHeart made the gears begin to turn on a player that people either hate or love. I can't say he's gorgeous, but I can't say he's ugly... I guess I want to say that he is intriguing and makes for a good story character. I am not a Capitals fan, so please don't think of me as one. However, with some help from some willing people, I've had some help in making this story seem as authentic as possible.

I am sure I will have some readers that won't be willing to read this because of the character, and that is fine, but I ask you keep an open mind (like me) and remember I have yet (at least I hope) to steer you in the wrong direction with my random pick of guys... Enjoy and please let me hear your comments (whether you like it or not)!!

www.dontgiveuponme8.blogspot.com

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Check It Out!!

Posting one of my archived stories... www.loveandflowers19.blogspot

Check it out!! I'd love to see you all over there and hear your comments!! Also keep on a look-out... I am planning on making a page that will just be my short-stories and one-shots... some will be old and some will be new as the year goes by! I'll let you know when and where! Hope you're all well and thanks again for the support!!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Chapter 14 - The End!

Well... we quickly come to a close with our story! I really appreciate all your comments and I hope you enjoyed it!! This is definitely one of my faves!!  I will most likely be posting another one of my back-stocked stories, so stayed tuned, but in the mean time if you aren't reading www.ifnotnow89.blogspot.com then you better check it out! We're just starting out, so you haven't missed too much!! :o) Cheers!!


Ch. 14



Olivia started her new job as Eric’s home-care nurse on Tuesday, the 14th.  Most of her bruises had faded to the point that she could just add a little make-up and you wouldn’t notice them.  They were both excited to have each other for company. 

Mom and Sarah headed back home, but with promises for being back in several days for Christmas, along with my dad.  It ended up being a nice week home with Liv.  I had a game on Wednesday that she attended, sitting with Heather and some of the other WAG’s.  She announced to the women that she would be staying in the States for good and of course they were all excited and began signing her up for all kinds of events.  I was glad that she would have another support system when I was away on the road for games.

On Thursday after practice, we headed over to her apartment with Downie in tow so that we could get her apartment cleaned up and move the rest of her things into my place.  She didn’t have a lot of things, so it only took one trip, for which I was thankful.  I could tell she was not comfortable being back in her apartment.  Every little sound seemed to make sure jump and she was literally shaking when we first stepped foot into the place. 

Thursday night was the team Christmas party at a club in downtown Tampa.

“Holy shit,” I breathed when she came walking into the bathroom to finish her make-up.

She blushed as she looked up at me in the mirror and asked innocently, “What?”

“That dress makes you look like you have legs that go on forever,” I drooled, sliding behind her and running my hand up her smooth leg.  It was a silver sequined dress that reminded me of a go-go dancer outfit, yet classy.  This was a fun, team party, so she wouldn’t look out of place with it.  “When did you get this?”

She giggled at my reaction and said, “The girls helped me pick it out on Black Friday; I figured this would be a good event to wear it to.  I think the silver sequins make it festive.”

“And make you look like a million bucks,” I said as I pressed my lips to her neck after I brushed her tousled hair away from it.

“Do you think the half curled hair looks okay?” she asked sincerely looking for an opinion.

“It makes you look like we were just having sex all day.”

“Sheisse, is that bad?”

“Nein.  Sex ist gut,” I growled.  I ran my other hand up her thigh and over towards her cleft, finding a thin pair of panties.

“You are a dirty minded boy,” she scolded, as she took a step, but only to part her legs farther apart to coax me on in touching her.  I just smiled while I moved my fingers higher, hooking one around the string holding the material together and slid them down until they just fell down, resting on her ankles that were strapped into a pair of silver stilettos.  She teasingly pushed her ass back, rubbing it against my hardening cock; I was still only in my boxers so she easily felt me becoming turned on.

“You’re just as evil,” I growled into her ear as I pushed off my boxers and lifted her dress.  I backed her up against me and placed my hand on her back so that she would bend down and lean on the counter.  I pushed a finger up into her, finding her already wet and to the satisfaction of both of us, I slowly entered her warm depths with my length.  I enjoyed watching her facial expressions in the mirror as I fucked her uninhibitedly; something about it was a huge turn-on.  It was raw and to the point, knowing we both had a time schedule to be following yet I wanted her too bad to just walk out the door and hope for the best later.

Between the fast, hard pace and how damn good she felt in this position, I soon emptied myself into her as she cried out my name while looking at me thru sex hazed eyes.  After helping her clean-up and kissing her deeply to thank her for the unscheduled session, I walked out of the bathroom, smiling at her flushed skin and glowing smile that I had obviously caused.





“Are you seriously going to wear that suit?!” I squeaked when he walked by the open bathroom door as I was fixing my makeup after the impromptu session.

He stopped and walked backwards until he was by the doorway again.  “What is wrong with this suit?!” he practically whined.  “Why does everyone have a problem with this suit?!”

The suit in question was a silver, almost shimmery suit that completely washed out his features.  I give him props for trying to be fashion forward, but it did absolutely nothing for his pale skin and light blonde hair.  The only thing that did do something for his features was the bright blue tie, which made his eyes shimmer like the suit.

I sighed as I walked over and took his hands as he pouted.  “For one, I already have enough silver on for the both of us.  Second, I think this material completely washes you out.”

“So what should I wear Miss Fashion police?” he chirped, seeming slightly annoyed that he didn’t pick out the best suit the first time.

“The black one,” I blurted out as I led him down the hall to the closet.  “I love the black one with the black skinny tie.  I saw a picture of you in it on the internet and I think I stared at it for an hour or two when I was working and not having anything better to do.”  He chuckled at the declaration and began undressing as I dug through the closet and found it hanging.  “Here it is!” I exclaimed only to turn around and find him back in just his boxers again.  I stopped and stared, taking in the sight of his beautiful body.  He had gotten used to my reaction over the last couple days, yet he still would blush as he would shoo me away.

“Go, finish getting ready before we end up being late because of the way you are looking at me with those hungry eyes.  We should really be okay without having sex twice before heading out.”

“But…”

“Liv,” he growled in a playful, warning tone.

“Ja,” I said, as I leaned in to quickly kiss him before turning around to sashay out of the room.  I laughed when I heard him groan; knowing that my exaggerated walk had caught his attention.





“Holy Fuck!” Downie gawked as we walked into the party, only a few minutes late due to the fact that I couldn’t help but run and catch her down the hall after she walked away from me like a complete tease.  “You two look like a million bucks!!!” he exclaimed, taking Liv’s hand and dramatically kissing it.

“Danke,” Liv blushed.

It felt so natural to have her by my side for the evening.  It was actually our first team function together, and I didn’t realize how much more comfortable it made me feel to have a woman with me.  Downie and I went stag to most of the functions.  I did it because I didn’t need the WAG’s getting the wrong ideas if I brought a date.  This time I didn’t care if they made assumptions, Liv was mine.

She had been out on the dance floor with Heather and Karine for a while, shaking her beautiful little body to the beats the DJ was playing.  I just stood with Marty, Gags, and Downie, watching them laugh and have fun.  When the slow song came on, I just moved across the dance floor to capture her.

“Steven!” she gasped happily as she wrapped her arms around me.

“Olivia!” I mocked her as I kissed her lips.  “May I have this dance?”

“Mmm, you may,” she cooed. We moved in close, not leaving a centimeter of light between us.

“Are you having fun?”

“I needed this,” she answered honestly.  “I still can’t believe that only a few weeks ago we were total strangers, and now…”

“Now here we are,” I finished for her as I kissed her forehead.





A Year Later…Christmas Eve.



“Liv, do you have everything packed yet?!” Steven yelled from the living room of our condo.

“Almost…”

“Our flight leaves in a little over an hour and we need to get there a little earlier because of the crazy holiday travelers,” he practically whined.

I walked down the hall with my over sized suitcase dragging behind me, stopping in front of a photo of the Magic Kingdom Castle.  The picture had been taken on New Years of last year when a group of us, including Eric, went and spent the day at Epcot and Magic Kingdom.  The weeks before Christmas had been too cold for us to go any earlier, but it finally warmed up enough on the 31st of December.  It was a day I will never forget.  Eric and I had our picture taken together in front of the castle first and then the next picture taken was of Steven officially proposing to me.  When I gave him a look to remind him what we had talked only a few weeks prior, he spouted off about how it didn’t matter if we got engaged so early because his feelings were not going to change.  I stood there for a moment to let the thoughts sink in and realized he was completely correct.  Of course I didn’t think we’d start planning a wedding for a while, but that too took me by surprise because a few weeks later I began planning our wedding that occurred this past July in his hometown.  Looking at the next photo, I still couldn’t believe that I was now Olivia Stamkos, Canadian citizen and wife of NHL top scorer, Steven Stamkos.

Eric walked me down the aisle that beautiful day, two weeks later his soul left the earth and we were devastated.  Of course I knew it was coming and actually we expected it a lot sooner, but Eric was one tough kid, sticking it out until after our wedding.

“I promise to be there for your wedding, Olivia.  Besides, it’s all because of me that you two found each other,” Eric said brightly one day while we sat outside on the swing-set behind his house.

“Ja, you definitely can take the credit for it; you and Diggity,” I said as I mussed his hair.  Every now and then I swear I could still hear his laughter when the boys did something funny.

“This will be the first time we are home since the wedding,” Steven lamented, wrapping his arm around me to pull me into his side.

“I’m excited about going home,” I said with a smile, even though the tears had joined them as my thoughts of Eric were still fresh in my mind.

“I’m happy to know you consider it home,” Steven said before he pulled me into a deep kiss.  He still put my heart on alert and I still got butterflies everytime he walked into the room.  “I just can’t wait til our little guy comes into the world to be apart of our family holidays,” he whispered as he rubbed his hand of my swelling belly.

We found out I was pregnant just a few days after Eric’s funeral.  Last week we found out that we were having a boy; of course we already knew that we were going to name him Eric.  I just hoped he was the spitting image of his father.

We were back to kissing when there was pounding on the door.  “Dude!  We are going to be late and my mother will kiiiiillll me if I miss my flight!” Downie yelled when I opened the door with my suitcase in hand.

He leaned in, kissed my cheek, rubbed my belly and then went back to yelling.  “Jesus Stammer!  I thought you were a gentleman but no, here is your prego wife pulling around her own heavy luggage!” he complained as he took the not so heavy suitcase out of my hands, wheeling it over to his Range Rover.

“She complains that I don’t let her do enough around the house,” Steven defended.  Which, he was completely correct, I hated the fact that everyone treated me like I was going to break; I just attributed my stubbornness to my German roots.

“So what!?” Downie shot back before twirling around and putting a finger in my face.  “You are carrying my Godchild, so I would appreciate if you just let us pamper you for the next 9 months so nothing happens to him.  Okay?!”

I huffed and nodded my head.

“Thank you and I’m sorry for yelling at you, I just am amped up to get home,” he spouted.

“You are just amped up to see Sarah,” I joked back, knowing that Steven was within ear shot.  He was still not overly happy with Diggity dating his little sister, but I did a lot to smooth things over since he caught them making out behind the bushes during our wedding reception.

Downie just shot me a look and said, “Soooo Stammer, I think your wife has called shotgun…”

“I’m calling for a shotgun for your head, but since its Christmas and we’re all supposed to be happy, I will wait until the New Year to go out and purchase one,” Steven growled and he helped me into the passenger seat.

Once I was in, I grabbed his cheeks and kissed his lips.  “Now, now,” I cooed.

“Don’t try and schmooze me with your kisses,” he grumbled with a sparkle in his eye.

“I am not trying to schmooze you,” I giggled.  “I am just kissing you because we are under the mistletoe together,” I said, nodding my head for him to look up above us.  Hanging from the visor of Downie’s SUV was a sprig of mistletoe.

An easy smile crossed over Steven’s lips as he leaned back in and kissed me deeply.

“Come on!” Downie whined.  “I did not put that in the car for you two to make out under…”

Steven pulled back and chirped, “No, you put it in there for when my sister comes back with us to stay for a week or two before she goes back to college!  I know your sneaky ways and I’m going to make you pay by making you watch me make out with my wife.”

Steve slammed his door and bounced up and down in the front seat as he covered his eyes and complained, “I don’t need to see this shiiiiiiit!”

Steven and I just laughed before kissing once more.

“Time to go,” I whispered with Downie was still grumbling loudly.

“But I love using mistletoe as an excuse to kiss you,” Steven whispered back.

“You do not need mistletoe for an excuse, silly boy,” I said as I pinched his cheek.  “Santa has allowed you to keep me forever.”

His cute, easy smile brightened as he said, “Yeah, and it’s definitely the best Christmas gift I’ve ever been given.”

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Chapter 13

Hey!! Just wanted to drop a note to check in and let you all know I've been reading and enjoying all your comments!! The common thread seems to be how much we all hate Andy-Ass... He is pretty shitty, isn't he? :)

Obviously I haven't had a ton of songs attached to the this story, but this is one that I felt was perfect for this chapter... and for Liv and Steven. It's an oldie-but-a-goodie in my book! The accoustic version is what the link is to...


if you'd accept surrender
I'll give up some more
weren't you adored
I cannot be without you
matter of fact
I'm on your back

if you walk out on me
I'm walking after you




Ch. 13



The conversation I had with my mom earlier in the week was a complete disaster.

“Olivia! You have a role to fulfill and you are promised to Andreas.”

“Mother, he abused me so bad that I was put in the hospital.”

“You cheated on him,” she hissed.

“How do you know that?”

“Because he came here as soon as he arrived back home and told us everything.  He also told us how you broke his nose.”

“Lies!” I cried into the phone.  “All lies.”

“Even if they are, you still cannot change your future.  You are his.”

“I’m becoming an U.S. citizen, Mother.  I’m not coming back home.”

“You are better than that,” she spit and hung up the phone on me.

I have to say I was shocked when my father agreed to Skype with me.  However, he probably thought I was confessing that I had been wrong and that I would be coming home.  Honestly, my heart was torn in pieces.  My family’s approval was so important to me.  My heritage was so vital and I knew by becoming an U.S. citizen, I would be going against everything I was ever taught and I would never be able to return home to the family I loved so much and my friends.

“Daughter,” my father said sternly over the computer.

“Hallo, Vater,” I said in our native tongue.

“I see you are making a bigger fuss than what should have been made about your bruises,” he said harshly in English.  I felt Steven fidget next to me, but I just laid a hand on his thigh, warning him to shut his mouth.

“They were a lot worse; I actually had a severe concussion, from which I still have vertigo.”

“Don’t use your big medical terms on me,” he growled.

I just sighed and decided I better turn it over to Steven.  “Father, I have someone here that would like to speak with you.  His name is Steven and he speaks English, so please be polite to him and speak English back to him.”

My father just nodded, obviously annoyed.

“Hallo, Pflazgraf Meier,” Steven said politely.  “My name is Steven Stamkos…”

“Are you the boy my daughter is messing around with?” my father blurted out.

“I wouldn’t put it that way, sir.”

“How would you put it then?  Would you rather I just ask if you are fucking my daughter?”

I cringed and heard Lesley take in a sharp breath.

“You have no business being involved with Olivia.  All you do is fill her head with American ideas.  You Americans are all the same,” my father continued, allowing me to realize that Andreas sounded exactly like him. Or maybe it’s the other way around…

Steven cleared his throat and spoke up.  “Sir, I am not American.  I am Canadian and there is a big difference.”

Of course my father just scoffed at this.

“I have an offer to make you.  If we promise not to press charges on Andreas, will you allow Olivia to stay here in the States and live her life the way she pleases?”

Again my father laughed evilly, causing me to shutter at his harshness.  “You wouldn’t be able to afford to fight this in the courts.”

“Ah, that is where you are wrong.  I think our salaries are evenly matched; I make a few million in just endorsements.  I will be able to hire the best.”  This was absolutely the first time I had ever heard of Steven talk about money.  He was never one to flaunt it or use it for power…until now.

The talk of money made my father’s ears perk up.  “Are you threatening to use your money against me?”

“I am.  All I want is your daughter,” Steven said in a grown up voice as he squeezed my hand.  “She deserves the world and I will give it to her.  I’d just rather do it without the hassle of fighting with you, but if I have to, then I will.”

I watched as my father sat back in his seat, obviously a little uncomfortable with someone talking about their feelings, especially when it came to his daughter.  My father never told me he loved me, mainly because I was a girl and basically meant nothing to him.  In truthfulness, I doubt my father even knows the meaning of love.

“For not being American, you sure do have that whole attitude of believing in fairytales Mister Stamkos.”

“This has nothing to do with fairytales.”

“So are you asking me for permission to marry my daughter?”

I sucked in a breath and looked over at Steven who never seemed to be thrown off kilter by the question.  “Yes,” he said solidly.  “I want to marry your daughter, whether it is tomorrow or several years from now, I’m going to marry your daughter.”

“If I give you my permission, you will make sure she never steps foot on my land and promises to never make contact with my family?”

Before Steven could say anything I pushed back in front of the computer and said, “Wait, do not bargain with him like I am not here listening to this!”

My father just crossed his arms and looked into the computer and I could tell that there was no choice because he wouldn’t give me any other options.  It was either go home to Germany and marry Andreas and possibly end up on my death bed within a few weeks or stay here with Steven.  To an outsider it would seem like an easy choice.  To a woman who loved her family and country, it was the hardest decision I ever had to make in a split second.

I took a deep breath and blew it out, willing the tears to stay away until I finished my piece.  “I’m sorry it has to end this way, Daddy.  Even though you have never loved me, I have always loved you.  I just wish you understood what that word meant and that you could have loved my mother the way she should have been loved.  Please tell everyone goodbye for me and as much as I am not a malicious person, I hope my decision haunts you forever.  Know that I have found what I deserve in life in Steven and that I will make the best of the new life God has given me a chance to pursue.  One day I hope to look back at this decision and realize it will probably be the best Christmas gift I have ever been given.”  As soon as the words were out of my mouth I leaned over towards the coffee table and flipped the lap-top closed.





The whole room was silent except for the beating of the 4 hearts that occupied it.  It was the best and worst moment life had dealt me.  I stared straight ahead for a few moments, giving Liv some privacy.  When I looked back over at her, I found a pale faced blonde who was turning a terrible shade of green.  Before I could say anything she was up off the couch and running to the bathroom.  My mom, sister and I just sat still, listening to her puke and cry.

I stood up to go to her when I heard the sink faucet turn on, but I only made it halfway to the her by the time she walked out of the bathroom and the look on her face made me stop in my tracks.

“Nein, I just need some time alone,” she mumbled as she held up her hand to stop me.  “I’m sorry,” she said, turning towards my bedroom and walking towards it, shutting the door behind her.

My heart ached for her because truthfully, I had no clue what she was going through at this moment.  I just knew how thrilled I was about the fact she was going to be here with me forever, but I couldn’t imagine making the decision to never see my family again.  I knew how much they meant to her and I could only imagine begin to visualize how devastated she was from making the decision to walk away.

I walked back out to my living room, plopping down on the couch next to my mom.  I leaned into my mom as she wrapped her arm around me, whispering words of encouragement and love.

“I think I’m going to head over to Downie’s for the rest of the night,” I said, hoarsely after I sat and stared at the TV, not able to concentrate on a damn thing.  What I really needed was to go for a run, but since my best friend was probably sulking about still being laid up, I decided playing video games was probably the next best option.

“Hey buuuuudddy,” Steve chirped as I walked into his place.  “Why do you look like you just lost your favorite stuffed animal?”

I just rolled my eyes and shook my head.  “It all came to a head tonight,” I said as I walked over to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.

“What did?”

“I talked to Pflazgraf Meier,” I said, leaving the sentence open, looking over at him.

“No shit,” Steve breathed, reaching over me to grab his own bottle of water.  “What happened?”

“Well, basically Olivia is never allowed to go back home and is not allowed to make any contact with her family ever again.”

“Well that’s a good thing right?  That means she can stay here…”

“It is a good thing, but you know how she feels about her family.”

Downie sighed as he hobbled back and flopped down on the couch, grabbing an X-Box controller off the coffee table.  “Yeah, I’m sure she’s devastated.”

I just nodded quietly.

“So why are you over here and not at your place consoling her?” he asked curiously.

“She said she just wanted to be alone for the rest of the night.  She ended up puking in the bathroom after she told her father goodbye and I think she needs time to let things set in and grieve,” I informed him honestly.

“Well, I guess I can understand that.  Your mom and Sarah are still over there, right?”

“Yeah, I just figured some time with my best friend was needed,” I said, regretting the words right after I said them.

Soon his arm was around my neck and he was roughly rubbing my head with his fist.  “Aww, my little buddy.”

“Jesus, Downie!” I growled.  “Can we just play Call of Duty here?!”

He just laughed obnoxiously, let go of my neck and flipped on the TV allowing me to immerse myself in the fantasy land for a while.





I somehow fell asleep.  I’m assuming I was able to fall asleep because my body was just so tired from crying.  When I awoke, I rolled over to see the clock reading 0300hrs.  Stewie had curled up next to me where he had slept every night since we moved into Steven’s place and groaned as I slid past him, placing my feet on the cool carpet.  I grabbed one of Steven’s sweatshirts from his drawer, threw it over my head and padded out to the kitchen for a glass of water to hopefully solve the terrible case of cotton mouth I had accrued.  I was half way out into the semi-dark living room; it was dimly lit by the lights of the Christmas tree in the corner of the room, but I never saw Steven on the couch.

“Liv,” he said hoarsely, causing me to basically jump out of my skin. 

“Sheisse!” I squeaked.

In two steps he was standing in front of me, his hard, warm body just inches away from mine as he looked down at me with a worried face.  His hair was tousled in that sexy, no sleep way. He was wearing just a pair of boxers and a t-shirt; the scent of him comforted me.  “I didn’t mean to scare you, love.”

I looked up and just stared at him for a moment.  He must have known my tears were coming because he suddenly reached out and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against him so that I could sob into his chest.

“Sssh,” he cooed.  “I promise it will be okay.  I love you and I promise to make everything okay my beautiful.”

“I know it will be okay,” I sniffled in between sobs.  “But ist meine family…und Ich just feel so alone right now,” I continued, mixing my Deutsch and English. 

“But see, that is what you have all wrong.  You have a new family here that is willing to accept you for who you are and already loves you.  We are going to make our own family some day and we are going to be here for each other forever,” he murmured as he soothingly rubbed his hands up and down my back.  “I know this will all take sometime to come to terms with, and I am here for you if you want to cry or scream about it.  That is what a relationship is about, Liv.”

After a moment of silence I mumbled, “How is it that you are only 20 years old but you seem to have the wisdom of an old man?”

I smiled when he laughed his easy laugh and said, “You can thank my mom for that bit of advice.”

We stood there in the glow of the lights, holding onto each other.  I just focused on his breathing and the beating of his heart, enjoying how it relaxed me by just being near him.  After a while he pulled back to my reluctance and took my hand to lead me back to the bedroom.  I crawled back in, over top of Stewie and snuggled myself under the blankets as Steven crawled in beside me.  I sighed happily when he pulled me back against him and wrapped himself around me.  Things weren’t going to be easy, but I knew that I had the perfect partner to help me make it through as his warmth enveloped me.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Chapter 12

 

Deep in another dream
Thinking about you
Sailing through the city streets
Thinking about you
It's only been a little while
But I'm thinking about you
Can't hide another smile
I've been thinking about you







This road trip was going to be pure hell in my mind.  It was long and it was in Western Canada where winter was already rearing its ugly head.  Truthfully the first half of this season has been total torture.  We were not lucky to have a nice balanced schedule where we were home for a little and away for a little, instead, we have only played roughly 18 games at home this year and have logged over 5,000 miles of travel already.  The end of January couldn’t get here soon enough in my mind, we only had one away game in February and that was on the very last day of the month.

I was a complete wreck not being able to be home with Liv for more than 12 hours before I had to leave with the team to head to Calgary.  I knew Steve would take good care of her, but the protective side of me was running in full force.  So I did what any guy would do; I called my mom.

“How is Olivia?” she asked, already knowing what had happened because I had called her while Liv was still basically unconscious in her hospital bed.

“She’s good,” I said with a grimace, knowing that she wasn’t as good as she should be.  “She’s staying with Downie until I get home from our Western Canada tour.”

“Do you want me to fly down so that I can be there for her?” my mom asked.  I swear she could read my mind at anytime.  It used to piss me off when I was a teenager, debating if I should do something she might not approve of, but now it was 98% of the time a wonderful thing.

“You are coming down at the end of the month for Christmas…I couldn’t ask you to do that,” I said slowly.

“I’m going to wash your mouth out with soap, Steven Stamkos.  There is no reason why I can’t be down there with her this week, especially after watching you play in Calgary; I’m thinking you need a little peace of the mind.

I sighed and cursed myself once again for having such a terrible game.  “I’ll order the ticket now,” I said quietly into the phone.

“Just text me the time I need to be at the airport and tell Steve I’ll call him when I get into town so that he can pick me up.”

“Okay.”

“Get your head out of your ass and play like I know you can,” my mom said in her ‘mom knows best voice.’”

“Mom, I love you.”

“Love you too, kiddo.”

I was actually able to sleep a little better that night; it probably could have just been for the fact that I was exhausted from not having slept or just the stress I was feeling from worrying about Olivia.  The next morning I found a text on my phone from Olivia.

Liv: Your mom and sister are here.  You are amazing.

Steven: Don’t let them fill your head with non-sense about me.

Liv: Too late.

Steven: I’m glad you aren’t mad at me.

Liv: I am glad you are obviously thinking of me.

Steven: Always.

Liv: I am in your bed.

Steven: Damn, I wish I was there.

Liv: I will be waiting for you here when you return. Your smell on the pillow is making me homesick for you.

Steven: God, I miss you. There are so many things I want to do to you in that bed, but I’m afraid I would hurt you.

Liv: You would never hurt me.

Steven: I love you.

Liv: Ich liebe dich.





The one thing I had found was that I was always so tired.  I likened that to the copious amount of pain medications I was still taking.  I was already cutting back as much as possible, but at night I needed them to sleep.  Steve and I joked that we could do a lunch trade swap with all the lovely drugs we were on to see what would make us the most loopy.

Monday evening was topped with talking to Eric.  He was very sad that I wouldn’t be at his home for at least a week, but together we planned out the day we were going to go to Epcot for lunch and the day we were going to head over to Magic Kingdom to get our pictures taken in front of the castle.

As fun and entertaining as it was to hang out with Steve, I was still in need of some girl time.  After-all, I had been through a lot and needed to talk to a woman.  My prayers were answered when Heather, Karine and Caroline came over Tuesday afternoon while Steve was at the training center working out.  At first it was a little awkward because I felt like they pitied me.

“So, how are you doing?” Caroline asked worriedly as she leaned down and gave me a hug while I was sitting on the couch.

I just shrugged and said, “I am okay.  My body ist beginning to heal.”

“How is your heart though?” Karine asked.

I sighed, “It hurts, a lot,” I admitted.  “Even though he did what he did, he ist still someone I have cared about for a long time.”

The three of them nodded like their heads were on bobble sticks and their eyes were wide open.

“Don not pity me,” I said firmly.  “I just need to be around people who are not going to bring up the past.  I think I have a lot to talk about when it comes to my future.”

I looked at Heather who just smiled and nodded as she pulled out a folder from the bag she brought along.  “I was hoping you would say that!”

At that she showed me all the paperwork that I needed to fill out to start the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.  “We’ve got a lot of paper work to fill out,” she said as she nodded to Karine who got up and walked over to the kitchen to put a pot of hot water on for tea and we got down to business.

Later on that evening I must have fallen asleep during the game against Calgary because the next thing I knew I woke up in Steve’s arms as he carried me back to his guest room.

“You shouldn’t be carrying me,” I mumbled half asleep.  “I am going to be in trouble if you end up off the ice longer because you are carrying me around.”

“You are the weight of a feather.  I think I can handle carrying you, Olivia,” he said quietly.  “To tell you the truth, I don’t know how Stammer doesn’t break you in bed.”

This caused me to blush as he set me down on the fluffy mattress.  “You have such a subtle way with words, Steve.”

He puffed out his chest and smiled broadly, making me giggle when I noticed he didn’t have his fake tooth in.  “The chicks dig it.”

“I’m sure they do,” I laughed before I threw a pillow at his head.  “Gute Nacht, Steve!”

“Gute Nacht, Olivia,” he chirped as he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him, causing the darkness of the night to encompass me.

I slept fitfully, waking up often to the sound of me yelling.  Twice, Steve came in and held me until I would fall asleep again.  After the second time he just stayed with me and I woke up with my head on his chest and his arm draped across my back as he snored lightly.

I was still getting a hold on my surroundings when his cell phone began vibrating across the bedside table.  He jumped, but suddenly seemed to remember that I was still in his arms, causing him to abruptly slow his movements to not bother me as he answered his phone.

“Hello?” he whispered into the phone.

I heard a woman on the other end, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying.

“Are you here in Tampa now?” he asked, sounding slightly surprised.  “Okay, I’ll be there to pick you up in about 20 minutes.  See you then, Lesley.”  After he laid the phone down he rubbed my back and I rolled my head back onto my pillow.  “Ah, so you are awake?”

I smiled shyly and nodded.  “I’m sorry that you had to stay with me last night.”

“No problem, I got more sleep being in here with you than I would have if you were alone.  I’m glad Lesley and Sarah are here…”

I looked at him confused.  “Lesley and Sarah? Steven’s mom and sister?”

“Yup.”

“They are here?!” I asked, sitting up abruptly, regretting it as soon as I did because I was still feeling the effects of my concussion.

“Don’t get yourself all worked up.  Yes, they are here,” he said getting out of bed and stretching towards the sky.  “Stammer told me they were coming.  He figured you would want some lady company.”

“Oh,” I mouthed.

“Would you like to come along?  You can just stay in the Range Rover, my windows are dark tinted.”

I bit my lip and thought about it for a moment, “Um, I think I would rather get a shower so I feel a little more presentable and meet them when they get here.”

“Okay, suit yourself,” he chirped and out of my room he went.



Steven and Sarah could not deny that they were siblings.  Sarah was tall and lean, like her brother.  She had thin, long beautiful white, blonde hair like Steven and blue eyes to match.  Her smile was contagious, something they both seemed to have gotten from their mother, Lesley.

With the help of Steve, we moved my things over to Steven’s condo and made lunch.

“It is so wonderful to finally meet you, Olivia,” Lesley pulled me into a hug before we sat down to eat.  “Steven is so in love with you,” she said in a matter of fact tone that also told me she approved.  “He needs a good woman to stand by him.”

“Hey, what about me?!” Downie chirped as he took a sip of his drink.

“He does have a point,” Sarah giggled.  “You do have the personality of a moody woman, Downie…”

“Shut-it, Sarah,” Steve shot back at her.  I noticed immediately that there was definitely more going on between them than what met the eye.  But I figured it hadn’t gone too far because of the age difference between the two of them (5 years) and the main factor was that she was Steven’s little sister.

After lunch, Steve went back to his place and we began talking about the serious stuff.  Lesley did not beat around the bush when it came to talking about what had happened with Andreas.  It was so hard to recall the memories, causing me to cry our in anger more than once.  However, once I spoke through the whole ordeal I felt a ton better.

We then talked about Steven.  Lesley and Sarah had no problem dishing out the dirt on him and she even brought something along to share with me.

“I figured you might want to see some pictures of him growing up,” Lesley laughed as she came over and sat down next to me on the couch.  She set the large photo album on my lap and the rest of the evening was spent laughing or cooing on and on about how cute he was.





I finally broke my scoring drought in Edmonton; unfortunately we lost in a shootout.  In Vancouver we turned it around and I had a huge multi-point night.  It was great to salvage the away trip with a big win against a good team like the Canucks.  The flight back home took forever and we got home around 6am EST.  We were all a little shocked by the cold temperatures when we got off the plane and I found myself shivering the whole ride home to the complex.  However, I think I was more excited to see Liv than I was cold.

The place was quiet when I got inside and I made sure to keep it that way.  I tip-toed into my room, locking the door behind me as I shucked off my suit and closed the blinds so that I could bid the day time to come later.  Before moving the blankets, I stopped and looked at Liv as she slept.  She actually had a peaceful look on her face and I couldn’t help but smile at this finding.  Steve had told me that he ended up sleeping with her the other night because she was having such fitful sleep.  I was slightly jealous that he was the one to hold her, but I couldn’t thank my best friend enough for being there for her.

I gently lifted up the sheet and comforter and slid underneath them, pulling myself against her.  She automatically curled into me, allowing me to easily spoon with her and within minutes of smelling her sweet hair and skin, I was fast asleep.  I could get used to coming home to her like this.  This is what I want for Christmas.

I awoke some time later to her laying on top of the comforter, with her chin in her hands just staring at me with a silly grin on her face.  Her purple cast and was a grim reminder that not everything was happy.

“Guten Morgen, Steven.”

“Mmm, Guten Morgen Liv,” I stretched before pulling her up towards me so that I could kiss her.  Her face was healing surprisingly fast.  The bruises around her eyes were diminishing up and most of the swelling had gone away.  “What time is it?”

“Noon.”

“Shit.  I didn’t plan on sleeping that long,” I mumbled as I kissed her face again.

“You needed the sleep.  You were totally out,” she said as she ran her hand through my hair.

“I need you,” I whispered, causing her to blush.

“I need you too,” she whispered back, looking into my eyes.

I gently lifted her on top of me, so that our lengths were pressed together and I could feel the warmth of her body through the comforter.  I wrapped my arms around her and slowly began kissing her.  The initial kisses were light and gentle but that quickly changed when she began nipping at my lips for entrance.  I opened slightly and soon our tongues were wrestling and drinking from one another.  I groaned when she left out a sigh into my mouth and laced her fingers through my hair.

I felt her begin to move, pressing her hips down against mine, allowing her to feel that I was becoming very turned on.  She always turned me on, even with the smallest of kisses.

I pulled back from one of her kisses and croaked, “Why are you on top of the blankets?”

She just giggled, rolled off of me and stripped out of my old t-shirt and a pair of her yoga pants.  I tried not to focus on the bruises that still showed, but it was so hard not to when they were on her skin like a declaration of the war she was fighting in.

“Stop looking at them and look into my eyes, Steven,” she whispered as she lifted back the comforter and crawled towards me.  “They will fade soon enough, right now I just need you to make love to me.”

I gulped as she slid her body back over top of me, allowing me to feel her soft, smooth skin against mine.  “Is my mom and sister around?”

She just giggled softly as she ran her tongue along the outline of my ear, making me shiver.  “They are out doing some Christmas shopping.  I am getting the feeling that maybe you do not want me?” she pouted.

My hands flew up and locked her hips against mine as she attempted to slide off of me.  “I am sorry that you have gotten that idea because I definitely have ideas of my own that involved me being inside of you,” I growled huskily into her ear, returning the shiver favor to her.  “I just don’t want to hurt you.”

“I trust you.  I will let you know if something hurts.”

So began the experiment.





A wicked, yet loving smile caressed his beautiful blue eyes as he began lightly running his big hands up and down my skin, beginning at my ass and tracing a line up to my shoulder blades.  I felt the goosebumps instantly pop up as he breathed lightly into my ear while he did this several times.

“How does that feel?” he whispered, causing me to shake my head from how it tickled me.

“You are tickling me.”

“Well then I guess I need to change my approach,” he humored.  He gently rolled me off of him and onto my back, creating a shelter with the blankets when he straddled himself over top of me.  I couldn’t help but cry out as he laid kisses down my neck and down to my collar bone.  I was intoxicated by his touch and the smell of his skin so close to mine.

“Steeeeveeennn,” I moaned when his lips found my hardened nipples.  He took one in his mouth and rolled it with his tongue and teeth for an extended time before switching to the other one, allowing it the same attention.  He then began his trek farther south with his lips and tongue.

“How does this feel?” he breathed against my skin, making me squirm.

“You are teasing me.”

“I’m just making sure I don’t hurt you,” he exclaimed as he looked up at me with wide puppy eyes.  “Honestly.”

“Liar,” I began to pout but instead a sigh was forced as he quickly moved down between my sensitive thighs.  “Okay, so you are a good liar,” I hissed through my teeth as my fingers latched into his hair, coaxing him to make good of his promises.

He teased me further by just blowing air lightly over my wet folds, he continued after looking up with his big beautiful eyes to find me more than amped up and ready for him.  I cried out his name again when his tongue finally tasted me and he hummed in pleasure.  “Mmm, I have missed the taste of you,” he murmured so softly that I almost did not hear him.  I was so focused on the light of the end of the tunnel that was quickly coming closer.  To bring me to the light he took my pearl in his mouth and sucked hard as he traced it with the tip of his tongue.  I screamed as my body quaked from the orgasm he had given me.

I was lying lifeless on the bed when he came up for air, chuckling at me.  “Well I now know not to do that to you if we have guests in the house.”

“It was your entire fault,” I playfully complained.

“I hope the next one is my fault too,” he drew out as he positioned himself between my legs again, this time slipping his hardened length inside of me.  He felt like home, not like the invasion of my last sexual encounter.  This felt right, this felt amazing, this was how it was supposed to feel like with the man I loved and wanted to marry.

He was slow and gentle, obviously afraid of hurting me, forcing me to grind down against him every time he pushed into me so that I could feel the friction I enjoyed when he was inside of me.  He finally got the hint and began stroking my core with more force.  “Pllllleeeeassseee,” I cried out.  “Fuck me, Steven.  I want to cum with you.”

He left out a grunt as he pushed fully into me, his balls slapping my skin as he did with sweat beads beginning to form on his face from his exertion.  I held him down against me so that he was close enough to kiss me when we weren’t panting for air.  He hit first, filling me with his warm fluid and putting me over the edge milliseconds after him.

We both came down from our highs by just lying still connected to each other.  I realized at this moment that I was never meant to be anywhere else besides here in his arms.  He was my present and future and there was nothing else in this life I could ever want more than him.





“You know now that I have you living here at my place, I’m never letting you move out?” I informed her as we still lay in bed.  I was lazily running my fingers through her soft hair, allowing them to trail down her smooth back.  It was relaxing for both of us it seemed.

“Oh, really?” she mused as she lifted up her head, holding it up with her hand cupped around her chin.

“Yup.”

“But what if I do not want to live here with you?” she said, obviously trying to hide her smile.

“You are a terrible liar.”

She huffed and rolled her eyes, “I know, I am not as gut as you.”

We laid there kissing for a few more moments until I finally made us both get out of bed and hit the shower.  We had a lot to talk and unfortunately it had to do with Andreas.

“They left him go?” I freaked.

“I didn’t press charges, so they didn’t have anything to hold him on,” Liv said evenly as I looked incredulously at her.

“Why wouldn’t you press charges?!” I freaked.

“Because if she pressed charges she would have had to go back over to Germany to have him tried and then who knows if she’d be able to come back over,” my mom interjected, trying to calm me down.

“Plus, it ist very expensive for me to fight something that in the end will not do much to him.  Our laws are not as strict about rape over there,” Liv pleaded.

“So he gets to go home without any punishment?!”

“He won’t be allowed back into the States,” Liv informed me quietly.  “He has lost his traveling privileges to here.”

“So where does that leave you?  Have you talked to your family?”

She sighed and attempted not to cry, but unfortunately she couldn’t hold the tears back.  “Yes.  They are threatening to have my VISA revoked if I do not voluntarily come back home.”

“Do they know what he did to you?!” I freaked out once again.

She just nodded her head.

I ran my fingers through my hair and took a deep breath.  “I want to talk to them.”

“I don’t think that will help anything.”

“I don’t care.  I want to talk to them,” I said stubbornly as I held out my hand for her to give me her cell phone.  “I won’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t try and talk to them.”