Ice Dreams

Disclaimer: Characters in this story are my creation, as is the city of Bannen, (as far as I know, Canada doesn’t have a city named Bannen in it), and the hockey team is fictional as well. They are not based on any specific person, so any similarities are purely coincidental. I do not own any rights to the Stanley Cup, and I don’t make any money off my stories.


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I tried to keep the hockey facts as truthful as possible, so please excuse any slip-ups. While this is a story based on a sports team, it’s not my intention to focus completely on it, but instead on the romantic story. I also don’t bash hockey players in real life, as I’ve met a few and they are lovely people. It just works in my story for now. I was inspired from the recent playoff games, when this plot bunny jumped into my head. Please enjoy.

Warnings: angst, lemon, oral, death, fluff, language, m/f



Chapter Four

Denise stood in her underwear on the scale, brushing her teeth. She had set her hair into a messy bun. Tiredly, she peeked open her eyes to glance down at the digital numbers.

121.

“What?!” She nearly spit the toothbrush on the ground. She tried the scale again. The same numbers glared back at her. She stepped off the scale, depressed.

*I’ve always been 115 pounds. Why 121? I’m never drinking alcohol again. Or eating cheetos. Or doughnuts. It couldn’t have been the doughnuts, could it? Maybe I’m having my period soon*

She rinsed her mouth out with water, and stared at her reflection. Even without make-up, and her hair in a hazardous state, she was still beautiful. She knew that she was attractive, but she also knew that in the real world, looks wouldn’t take you very far at all. She didn’t rely on them the least. Some people had called her beauty exotic, that she had ‘movie star’ good looks, but that really hadn’t helped her, had it?

Denise was single, and had been celibate for close to a year. She was beginning to think that true love was indeed just a fairytale, meant for the movies or stories, and not real life. Hilary slept around without much of a second thought, and Denise was thinking that maybe there wasn’t a point in falling in love to have sex.

*Maybe that’s what I need to get me out of my funk. Just a good romp in the hay*

She looked back at her reflection. The face there was saying, ‘cmon, you’re kidding me right? That’s probably the last thing you need’. She just didn’t know anymore.

Leaving the bathroom, she trotted downstairs to the kitchen, fetching herself a glass of water. She would go jog then, a couple mornings a week, just to make sure her weight didn’t continue to climb.

*Sometimes I hate being a woman*

She went to the living room and reclined on her favourite piece of furniture- the sofa. Clad in only a tank top and panties, she wasn’t expecting to go anywhere for awhile, and definitely wasn’t expecting any visitors. She enjoyed the mornings where she could just relax and not have to think about anything.

Her thoughts wandered back to the previous evening, when she had met Graham Kelly for the first time.

*Asshole*

He had been sexy, strong, and an utter annoyance. Denise tried to convince herself that he was nothing more than a pest, a danger to be avoided, but every time she thought of that wolfish grin he gave her, her stomach fluttered.

*Yeah, I probably feel the same way every woman does when he looks at her. God, I’ve got to watch it or I’m going to be eaten alive. He is just one man among many*

Denise trailed her fingers along her flat stomach, her mind still on Graham. It was hard to shake his face from her memory. Going into a daydream, she recalled the events of last evening, with a critical eye for detail.

Graham Kelly was a handsome man. She wouldn’t be the first to think it. It had been printed in magazines long before she knew he existed. There was not even one ounce of boyish features in his face- Graham was about as manly as anyone could imagine. He had a long face, wrinkles just around his eyes and mouth from laughing and smiling so much. They were hardly obvious, you had to really look to see them. He didn’t have bushy eyebrows, nor were they too thin. They were a perfect match for his face. His eyes were always captivating, a blue that was easily compared to a clear sky.

He wasn’t pale, nor overly tanned. His skin tone was a healthy colour, something that spoke of a healthy body and some time in the sun. From what she could recall, Graham had been one of the taller players on the team, standing over a foot taller than her at 6’4. He didn’t seem to have any fat on his body either, from what she had seen. He had been wearing a dark t-shirt at the time, cut just above the middle of his biceps. It only proved to accentuate them more.

He was in peak physical condition, his muscular structure evident even while wearing a shirt. He had impressive biceps and broad shoulders, and from what she could see, his chest and abdomen would have to be as chiseled as the rest of him. Even while trying to ignore his impressive physique, she couldn’t help but think about it. What unnerved her was the warmth in her lower body spreading to her legs.

*My God, don’t tell me I’m getting turned on by that arrogant bastard!*

Denise sat up and climbed the stairs to her bedroom. Perhaps that jog was needed today. She tried to push the thoughts of Graham Kelly, his perfect face and gorgeous body out of her head. While doing it to an extent, his eyes and that grin would sneak into her mind.


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Graham had slyly gone to Bobby’s office the next day, intent on getting the information about Denise Woods that he desired. She was a little firecracker that he wanted to get more of, even if he had to work hard at it.

Knuckles rapping on the wooden door, he waited for Bobby to answer. The door opened, and Bob smiled back at him.

“Hey kid. What are you doing at the rink so early? Practice doesn’t start for another couple hours, doesn’t it?” Bobby asked. Graham gave him one of his trademark smiles.

“Yeah, practice isn’t starting for quite awhile yet. Listen, I talked to Denise Woods yesterday about setting up a meeting with her. I have some of my own ideas for events that would be good, but she was in a hurry and didn’t have the time to give me her contact information. I was just wondering if you could give me her number?” Graham asked, trying his best to look serious. He hoped that Bob couldn’t see a hint of mischief in his face.

“Absolutely. I think that she’s going to be great. She’s so serious about doing a good job with us, and I’m pretty sure I’m right when I say that she has a soft spot for kids. Here ya go.” Bob handed a piece of paper to Graham, Denise’s phone number scrawled on it.

“Thanks a lot Bob. I really appreciate it.” Graham gave Bob a mock salute before disappearing, Denise’s number in hand. He opted to call her tomorrow, to give her some time to cool off before he got in her face again. After tomorrow, she was going to have a hard time shaking him off, Graham would make sure of it.

Graham sat in his car, and pulled out his cell phone. He programmed Denise’s number into the phone book. He flipped his phone shut, pleased at what he had done. He was smooth for sure, but now he had her number, which was far better than an email. He would be able to hear her voice, and that was all he needed to tell what she was feeling. Judging by how easily she lashed out at him yesterday, she didn’t have a long fuse, which made it all the more entertaining.

Placing his phone back in his pocket, Graham put the car into drive and sped out of the parking lot, thinking of ways to burn a few hours before practice.

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*Ugh, the cut on this dress is terrible. Anyone that wears this is going to look like a bag*

Hilary had persuaded Denise to come out shopping with her, even though Denise had all the clothes she could possibly need. Working backstage at runway shows, and being a known designer, Denise got several articles of clothing free after each show. Sometimes, when a designer admired her work, they would give her gifts from their own collection.

She was content with all she had. Hilary, on the other hand, would continue shopping even if she owned every article of clothing in the universe. She refused to buy any outfits from Denise’s collection, which she couldn’t understand. Denise had several clothing ideas that would flatter Hilary to no ends. Whenever she mentioned it though, Hilary would bark at her, saying, ‘you stick to the designing, and I will stick to the shopping’. Not exactly kind words, coming from someone that was supposed to be your friend.

Denise browsed the women’s collection, trying not to show disgust on her face. She couldn’t believe that real people actually designed the clothes hanging up on the racks. They were atrocious. The colours too- who would ever want to wear puke green?

Hilary came out of the change room occasionally, modeling some of the outfits she chose. Denise was fairly supportive- Hilary didn’t really pick ugly clothes- but she strongly disagreed with some clothing choices. Hilary listened with one ear, and in the end, she purchased everything.

*What’s the point in taking someone along to shop with when you don’t even listen to their opinion?* Denise wondered to herself.

They stopped at Starbucks and grabbed a coffee, Hilary covering most of the conversation. Denise partially listened, but was in her own head too. What Hilary had to say didn’t really hold much substance, it was conversation for the sake of having a conversation. Nothing really important ever came out of it.

Denise’s daydream inevitably wandered to Graham Kelly again. He was a real nuisance. Denise wondered if there was any way that she could avoid ever seeing him again. Aside from being at the same functions, they never really had to communicate, right?

Even that seemed unavoidable. He was the one that chased her down yesterday to talk to her. That meant that he wanted to see her, she thought.

“…and then I said to her, ‘you have to be joking right? I wouldn’t date him if he was the last man on earth’, and she said….”

Denise tuned into Hilary’s conversation for a moment, and realizing that it was much of the same thing, she got back to her own thoughts again.

It had been a long time since she had thought about a man so much. The last boyfriend she had, she was certain she was going to marry. They had been dating for two years. Things seemed to be going so well. He told her he loved her, and she had loved him. They made love constantly, went on trips together, did the special little things that couples do. He had been so sweet. It came as a complete shock and surprise that he had been having an affair for almost as long as they had been dating.

She didn’t know how to react at first. He had acted like he couldn’t live without her, that she was the only woman he could ever want. Then she found out about the other woman. The fact that he was having an affair was painful enough, but then she discovered that the other woman knew about her the entire time, and still continued on seeing her boyfriend anyway. She felt like her heart had been torn out.

She ended that relationship as soon as he admitted to the affair. He looked crushed, but he would recover. Denise wasn’t too sure about herself. She was devastated. She couldn’t believe that someone could betray her like that.

Ever since that relationship ended, Denise hadn’t given much thought to being with another man. She hadn’t given much thought to men in general. Graham Kelly was throwing her for a loop though. In one end, she felt aggravation for the athlete, and in the other end, it almost felt like attraction. A different kind of attraction. Not the dreamy ‘I can’t wait to marry him’ attraction, but something powerful, strong, and needful. It was a fire deep in her belly. She supposed it was a lustful feeling, and she feared that. She couldn’t cave into it, then she would just be another notch on Graham Kelly’s bedpost. Another victory won by the super-star hockey player.

She had to avoid him. She recognized he was doing something awful to her, without him even knowing. One meeting, and she was thinking about him like this. If they got that close again, the sexual tension would be almost unbearable.

*Oh, how I have fallen from grace* Denise thought woefully.

Hilary was looking at her expectantly. Denise gave her an apologetic look.

“Sorry, I dozed off for a minute.” Denise said sheepishly. Hilary gave her a unsympathetic look.

“I noticed. Would it hurt to pay attention next time?” Hilary spoke. Denise looked affronted.

“I apologized. I can’t help that I have a lot on my mind.” Denise wasn’t bothering to defend herself, she was just stating the facts. Hilary waved it off.

“Whatever, let’s get out of here. It’s starting to get crowded.” With that, both women stood and left the small café.


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Graham stretched languidly after climbing out of bed, not really set on doing anything except going to practice. Thankfully, it wasn’t until later in the afternoon. He made his way to the kitchen to make coffee, scratching his chin tiredly.

When they say that hockey players take constant naps, they aren’t bluffing. Doing all that physical activity could tire anyone out, and they always have to be at the top of their game. If that meant taking a daily afternoon nap, then so be it.

Stepping into the kitchen, Graham’s eyes traveled across the countertop, coming to rest on the piece of paper beside the telephone.

*Denise’s number* He mused, picking it up.

“Well, my pretty, I’ll be calling you today.” He spoke to himself, a grin tugging at his lips. Preparing coffee and toast, he set out to do his usual morning routine. When breakfast was prepared, he sat at the kitchen table, munching away. He had an idea of what he would say to Denise, and what he would say if she initially refused. It was a little mean, but he wanted what he wanted, and she was at the top of his list.

Finishing breakfast, he placed his dishes in the sink, and reached for the phone. Holding Denise’s number in this left hand, he punched it in the telephone.

Holding the phone up to his ear, it rang a couple times before picking up. Denise spoke on the other line, her sweet, feminine voice filling his senses.

“Hello?” She said. He took a deep breath before speaking.

“Hi Denise, this is Graham Kelly. We spoke before?” He hoped that she remembered that. He didn’t see why she wouldn’t, but she was a different kind of woman, one he wasn’t used to dealing with. There was a pause before she spoke.

“Yes, I remember. I don’t think I gave you my number.” Denise didn’t sound very impressed. Graham knew what she said was more a question than a statement.

“I got it from Bobby. I had some things to talk to you about, so he let me have it.”

“I see.” Denise replied. Graham thought this might be a little harder than he would have liked. Not a worry though, as he wasn’t going to give up on her.

“Listen Denise, I have some ideas for functions as well as the children’s hospital Christmas party. I’d like to discuss it with you in person.” Another pause.

“I don’t really have a lot of time today, and my afternoon is pretty much busy for tomorrow as well.” Denise spoke. Graham smiled.

“Well, we’re playing a hockey game tomorrow evening, starting at 7. I have two free tickets. Why don’t you come, bring a friend, and I’ll meet up with you after. We can discuss my ideas after we win.” Graham had an ace up his sleeve, reserved just incase she declined.

“I don’t know….” She began, but Graham cut her off.

“Great! I’ll leave the tickets with Bob. You can pick them up before the game. They’re good seats. Catch ya later.” With that, Graham hung up the phone, smiling in victory. If she didn’t accept, she would feel bad, and leaving the tickets with Bob, he would know if Denise came or not. She would feel pressured enough to cave.


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“WHAT?! You got tickets for tomorrow’s game?? I’m so excited! You’re the best!” Hilary howled over the phone line. Denise pulled the receiver away from her ear.

“Well, technically, I didn’t get the tickets- ” Hilary interrupted her.

“Doesn’t matter. What matter’s is that we’re going to the game tomorrow! Woohoo!!” Hilary shouted, nearly destroying Denise’s eardrum.

“Listen Hil, that’s not the end of it. Graham Kelly wants to meet with me after the game tomorrow to discuss some of the Christmas functions, along with his own ideas.” The line grew silent for a minute. Hilary spoke quietly.

“You’re meeting with Graham Kelly? Privately? Oh my God Denise, you’re the luckiest girl alive. You have to look hot then, and I’ll drive.” Denise was puzzled.

“Why are you driving?” Denise asked. Hilary laughed.

“Because when I leave, Graham will be forced to drive you home!” Hilary replied, cackling evilly. Denise grew pale.

“No, no, no. You can’t desert me like that. If he finds out where I live, that’ll be the end of it.” Denise started to feel a little queasy. Hilary only laughed some more.

“Where do you think you’re going to hold your little meeting then? The game is going to go past 10pm, and at that time, all cafes are closed. It’s either your house or his.” Hilary said. Denise felt even more ill when she thought about going to his house. Then she would be entirely in his domain, and he would have an advantage over her, whatever it was.

“Fine, fine. I don’t care. It’s not like there’s anything going on between us anyway. He’s just an arrogant prick.” Denise tried to shake it off.

“Maybe you just want to see his prick.”

“STOP IT!!!!”



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A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Trying to update on a regular basis, though it's going to slow down a little soon because I'm fairly busy this coming week. I will try to keep 'em coming as frequently as I can though. :)