Empty Net Read online

  A game to win.

  Tate turned, dropping his mask over his face before setting up for the faceoff. Within seconds the Bruins’ relentless offense was throwing pucks at speeds that were hard even for Tate to keep up with, but he did. Tate moved to the side as Tyler Seguin crashed the net, blocking his shot, Tate deflected the puck to the wall where Adler took possession and sent it up to Anderson. Anderson then took off, moving around the defensive men and before Tate knew it, the lights went off, signaling a goal.

  Throwing his arms up for his team, Tate watched as his team mates wrapped Anderson up in a hug, congratulating him. Tate turned, reaching for his water bottle as his stomach settled a little. Ignoring his desire to check out his girlfriend, he looked down at the ice, the nervousness still lingering in his stomach. Taking a deep breath, Tate moved to the front of the net again and dropped into position when the puck dropped. Unlike before, the Bruins were now desperate. So desperate, they pulled their goalie so they could have the extra man advantage.

  Two Bruins stood in front of him, but his eyes were on the four who were the points. His heart was pounding, the crowd’s cheering was ear spitting, and Tate could see the drive on his teammates’ faces. Coach Baxter was screaming. Adler was yelling something about the point. But Tate could only keep his eyes on the puck and what the person who had the puck was doing. In his head, he was going over what he had to do.

  Puck, slide, tip to Adler, glove hand, toe, top-self grab, blocker, stick, push the idiot in front of him, whack the other guy in the leg, scream for defensive, blocker, stick, tip….

  FUCK!

  The lights went off behind him as the Bruins all gathered in a hug for the goal they had scored.

  The first goal on the Assassins in twelve games!

  To add insult to injury, the Bruins scored another goal, winning the game.

  It was a great way to end his streak.

  Just fucking great.

  ~*~

  After the horrible loss, Tate slowly made his way down the hall to the room number Audrey had given him. His body was aching, and his head was a mess. He didn’t want to be anywhere but with Audrey. He just hoped she hadn’t planned anything important because he didn’t want to do anything but hold her in his arms. Reaching the door, Tate knocked and waited until she answered. When she opened the door, she smiled a sad smile before wrapping her arms around his middle.

  “Well that blows,” she said when they parted; “it wasn’t your fault though. They had you blocked and that damn Chara and his 108 mph slap shot took it. I’m sorry, babe. You had one hell of a run though, and you sure aren’t done.”

  Tate smiled as she weaved her fingers in his, bringing him inside. “Yeah,” he muttered as he followed inside. “You can’t win them all, I guess.”

  “Yeah, but that’s okay, you’ll get ‘em next time. Let’s forget all that. I have a great night planned. I made cupcakes and brought them with me. But before that I thought we could go down to the hotel restaurant to eat.”

  Tate wrapped her up in his arms, resting his forehead against hers. She moved her hands up his arms before wrapping her arms around his neck. “I am really tired, love. I know you came to see me and probably expect more of me, but I’m dead on my feet.”

  “Oh, I understand,” she said quickly, nodding her head, “that’s fine, wanna order in?”

  “Yeah, and you know what else would make everything better?”

  “What?” she asked, nipping at his lip, causing him to smile.

  “Spending the whole night in bed, holding you.”

  With a grin, she said, “Then, you got it.” Reaching up, she kissed him again before saying, “I’m gonna go slip into something a little more comfy, will I be meeting you in bed?”

  Tate nodded, moving his hands down her body before resting them on her ass, “Yes, I more than likely will be naked.”

  “Fantastic,” she cooed moving out of his arms to her bag. She took what she needed and walked to the bathroom. Tate watched every move she made. Once the door was shut, he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he rested his hands on the back of his head. It felt great to come home to someone who was there to build his spirits back up. Letting out the breath he had taken in, Tate moved around the room, removing the clothing he had on. When he was completely naked, he slid under the covers, cuddling into the down comforter. His body was stiff and aching, but it wouldn’t keep him from making love to Audrey. He had missed her just as much as she had missed him, and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. Leaning back in the covers, he closed his eyes, but then the bed started to vibrate. He opened his eyes, sitting up before pulling the blankets back and looking around the bed. He found that the culprit was Audrey’s phone, signaling a text message. He didn’t mean to look at the display. He only meant to accept the text message so it would shut off, but in a way he was glad he looked at it.

  Levi Moss: Cupcake, call me. I really do miss you. I’m done messing around. This is for real.

  Tate blinked a few times and then the bathroom door opened. Looking up from the phone, he saw his girlfriend in a little blue lace set. She was mouth watering, her hips wide, her thighs thick, her curves the sight of perfection, but Tate couldn’t enjoy it. Anger was bubbling inside him.

  “What’s this?” he asked holding the phone out.

  Audrey dropped her hands from her hips as well as her sexy grin as she looked at her phone and then back to him, “My phone?”

  Tate shook his head, “Levi is still texting you?”

  Audrey froze. Her eyes darted from the phone to him, “I never answer him.”

  “I don’t care. I thought you said you were done with him.”

  “I am,” Audrey said coming towards the bed, “He just doesn’t know how to leave someone alone.”

  She reached for the phone but Tate moved it away, looking deep in her eyes, “So delete him. Block his number.”

  Audrey narrowed her eyes, “Okay, but why do I have to do all that? Do you not trust me?”

  Tate shook his head, “I never said that. I don’t understand why he is still sending you this. If you were done with him and you let him know that, then why would he still text you? Did you not make it clear?”

  “I did and it’s because he’s crazy,” she said, snatching the phone from him. She typed quickly, and then held the phone out for him to see.

  Me: Leave me the hell alone, Levi. I told you I am seeing someone. Someone who makes me forget every single thing you did to me, so just leave me alone.

  Looking from the screen into her eyes, he felt beaten. Had it really happened this quickly? After only three weeks, he was this insanely jealous? Because he felt he was. Jealously ate at his heart as the idea of Levi even texting a word to Audrey came to mind. His stomach dropped at the idea of Levi touching Audrey. Tate wanted to kill someone and he had a prime candidate in mind.

  As Audrey knelt on the bed she took Tate’s chin in her hand. “Baby, I don’t want anyone but you. I would never cheat on you, I respect you too much. I will delete his number, block it, but you have to trust me, you have to believe I would never hurt you.”

  Tate took in another long breath, he was so fucking tired. It had been a rough season so far. Being the new team member had been stressful. His family’s death was still heavy on his heart. When he had thought all was lost, he found it wasn’t, because through all that darkness came this beautiful, special light.

  Audrey.

  Nodding, Tate moved his hands around her, looking deep in her eyes before he said, “You are right. I’m sorry. You drive me wild, love. I don’t want anyone to have you but me.”

  Audrey nodded, her lips dusting his, “And I don’t want anyone but you.”

  Moving her fingers through his hair, she pulled him close, her lips inches from his. Tate closed his eyes, taking in her scent as his hands teased the lace of her bottom. Looking deep into her eyes, he reached up, moving a piece of her hair out of her eyes before he ran his thumb over he