Chapter 26

Karen and Vero had both had their hair cut and styled. They each had a massage and got groomed for their men. Now, they were getting their nails done.
"Have you enjoyed yourself today?" Karen asked.

"I have and thanks again for inviting me."

"Oh you're welcome."

"But I still have to wonder, why did you ask me and not one of your other friends?"

"I like you Vero. The few times we've gotten to sit and talk at the arena, I knew you would be a perfect friend. Besides, you understand a lot of things I go through with Sid that my other friends wouldn't."

"Really?" she said almost on the verge of tears.

"Plus, I've seen your face when you leave the lounge to go to sit with the other wives and girlfriends. Its like you dread going there. This was my way of reaching out and opening a friendship with you" she said smiling at her new friend. Vero smiled back and they finished getting their nails done.

A half hour later, the girls were sitting in the comfy chairs getting their feet done.

"Marc never really tells me much. How did you and Sidney hook up?"

"He never told you?"

"Well he said that some girl faked him out in an impromptu game but that was it."

"Ah yes, memories" she said as they laughed. "A few of my friends came in for a visit from out of town and we went to the Igloo to see if we could play around. Sid, Marc, Geno, Staalsy, and Whit were still around when we came in. I guess we interrupted them" she said rolling her eyes "and they obviously noticed we had skillz so they felt threatened and decided to challenge us. It felt pretty good to score on Marc though."

Vero laughed "he's not really giving in that department. If we play at home, he gets so mad and sulks if I score on him."

"I think all hockey players are like that. But they liven up when you make them feel better later on."

"I know Marc will certainly liven up when he sees what I did" she said laughing.

"You've never done that down there before?"

"Not like that. I mean I keep it groomed like all women but I have never, I mean never ever done that. It's all gone, there's nothing left. And let me tell you...I am cold" she said as Karen busted out laughing.

"I know, but think about Marc's reaction and you'll warm up. Then you'll definitely make more and more trips to Brazil." The girls sat there laughing and having fun "can I ask you something?"

"Yeah sure."

"Do you think Marc's going to propose at any time?"

"We've been together for so long, it already feels like we're married. But I don't know. We're both still young, so I don't know if he's been thinking about it or not."

"You guys haven't talked about it?"

"Off and on. Maybe seeing Sidney married and Max engaged will spark something. Do you know anything about it?"

"No, I just wondered. Marc seems like a stable guy and I see you and him joining the Penguins marriage group."

"Why did you marry Sidney?" Vero asked as Karen looked at her "I don't mean it to be rude but you are older than him."

"I'm guessing a lot of talk has been around with the other wives/girlfriends?"

"There had been some. I haven't been one of them, but its what a lot of us had been thinking."

"That I married him for his money or just because he's Sidney Crosby?"

"Karen, please don't think I'm only asking to get information for the others. If you want to be friends, I would like you to know what I've been wondering and get the truth from you."

Karen saw a sincerety in her eyes "when I first met Sidney, I was awe struck by how sexy he was in person" she said with a light laugh. "After I asked him out that night we met, there was this connection like I'd known him for years. It felt right to be with him in that atmosphere of just being two normal people. He wasn't Sidney Crosby the Penguins hockey phemon, he was just Sidney."

"Wow."

"Yeah, he knocked me over with a ton of brincks. But it wasn't me pursuing him, he wanted to be with me."

"Really?"

"I fought tooth and nail about being with him. I was hung up on the age difference and he made me realize that we both had feeling for each other and to look at it through that and not how much older I was."

"I could tell how he felt about you when he would talk to Marc about you. It wasn't an image thing or to get people off his back because he never really went out and dated or had a girlfriend since he's been here. I guess since you're the first one and older at that, of course there's been talk." Karen sat there quiet and staring at her feet "I'm sorry if you're angry for me bringing it up."

"I'm not, I guess I've just been ignoring the whispers all this time to think that the talk was actually real. What's funny is I fought to be with him when his parents were against it, I guess I forgot about the other wives and girlfriends."

"Well I knew your love was genuine from what Marc had said and what I saw for myself."

"To be honest I don't care what others think. I love him and he loves me no matter what lifestyles we live or how much it costs to live it."

"I think a couple are just jealous because he's turned down their offer to fix him up with their friends."

"Well I know what he's up against and I think that made a perfect match. He doesn't have to explain the game to me or why he's feeling down after scoring 5 goals but yet they lost. I understand every pressure he goes through or will endure. He can come home and just stay quiet yet I know what he's thinking. I won't badger him to find out to piss him off more."

Karen looked over when she heard Vero snicker "I learned that lesson the hard way. When I first started dating Marc, he was upset over his game yet he won. I kept asking question after question until he screamed at me. After that, I just watched his mood and learned from that. Knew when to speak and when to listen."

"Good girl" she said as they both giggled.

"I hope you're not mad I brought this up."

"I'm not. I faced the firing squad of my friends, his friends and teammates, Mario, and his father, I'm over it. If someone wants to have an opinion when they see us, so be it. Sidney and I know what we have and that's all that matters. I'm glad you asked so you know and it doesn't have to hang over us as we're working out this new friendship" she said smiling. They finished up at the salon and headed out for lunch. Karen invited Vero over to watch the game with her and her friends but she had other plans. After lunch, they headed their separate ways and Karen went to the store for a few things before the girls got there later that day.

As the game went on, the girls were doing their normal ritual of eating, drinking and commenting on the sexiness of hockey players.

"Can I ask you guys something?" Karen said muting the tv "What were your true thoughts when you found out Sid and I were together?"

"You know we were happy for you" Diane retorted.

"I know you guys were happy for me for finding someone the opposite of Rick, but I mean, what were you really thinking about it?"

"I thought you were crazy for wanting to get involved with another hockey player" Natalie said.

"But I think she means about Sidney in general" Sheril said getting Karen to nod. "I didn't want to see you get hurt by the media or fans because of the age difference. I know how protective you are about your life that I didn't want to see that destroyed."

"I wondered if Sidney would truly be able to make you happy with the way his life goes. I didn't want to see you sitting at home alone and wondering if he was cheating on you" Diane added.

"You know we all want the best for you Kiki" Natalie started "we just didn't want you to get hurt in any way. And when he did break up with you for those few weeks.."

"I did get hurt. But that was his parents doing, not his."

"But he did what they wanted."

"Where is all this coming from all of the sudden?"

"I told you guys that I invited Flower's girlfriend Vero to go to the salon with me."

"And she brought this up?"

"She wanted to clear the air and get the truth about why I'm with Sid. I guess there had been talk among all the other wives and girlfriends of the other players and she told me her first impression of me. That's why I asked you guys of yours."

"Karen, we told you the truth about him when you first told us about dating him. Nothing has changed since then" Diane said as the others shook their heads in agreement.

"Love is rare and you need to not worry about what others think and just live your life with who you want."

"Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I'm never the one to care about what someone thinks of me but I've always been curious about what they've said."

"And we've all been ready to kick some ass to whoever can't shut up and just let you two be happy" Sheril said to make everyone laugh.

"I knew we were friends for a reason."

They all clinked their glasses and finished watching the game. By the time the 3rd period started, the Pens were down 3-1 and Karen wondered if it was going to be a short post season. Soon, a couple goals were scored and the Pens tied it 3-3, staying that way as regulation ended sending the game into OT.

As OT began, Karen felt nervous. She wouldn't have minded a game 7 at home, but she wanted Sidney to move on to the next round. She saw in his eyes that he wanted the chance to repeat even if he had reservations. With almost have of OT gone, Karen's nerves left as she saw Pascal take a shot from Jordan and netted the puck for the win. The girls cheered and celebrated thankful the team lived for another round.

The girls left soon after the post game interviews as they didn't want to intrude on Karen's celebration with Sidney. She got things cleaned up and settled on the couch watching a movie until Sidney came home.

Sidney got home a few hours later and walked in to a dark house except for the flickering light coming from the living room. He put his bag down and went into the room seeing the tv on. He peeked over the back of the couch and saw Karen laying there with her eyes closed. Sidney smiled as he walked around and sat on the coffee table, brushing a stray piece of Karen's hair from her face.

"Congratulations stud" she said sleepily.

"You didn't have to wait up baby."

"It's Saturday night, of course I had to wait up" she said opening her eyes.

"Why don't we head upstairs so you can fall back asleep?"

"You don't want to celebrate?" she said sitting up.

"We can celebrate after we're both better rested" he said standing up and bringing her up to him "I can't have you falling asleep on me."

"I have never fallen asleep on you stud."

"Can't risk it baby" Sidney said leaning down for a kiss. "Did you get your hair done?"

"In more ways than one." Sidney knew that smirk and kissed her again before they headed up to bed.

Sunday morning and Karen woke up to the sunlight coming into their bedroom. She felt Sidney's arms around her and smiled as she turned around to be face to face with him.

Bringing her finger up and lightly touching his nose, Sidney stirred "wake up studly."

"But its Sunday and my day off."

"All the more reason to wake up so we can enjoy this day off together."

Sidney slowly opened his eyes "you do remember what time we went to bed last night?"

"Well remember I'm good to go on 4 hours so that's why I'm ready to get up. If you want to stay in bed, be my guest" she said kissing him and getting up. Karen walked into the bathroom and decided to get a shower.

Sidney laid there trying to fall back asleep when he heard the shower start up. He rolled onto his back and smiled "damn her." He threw the covers off and went into the bathroom, stripping off his boxers and opening the glass door, stepping in behind her.

"Thought you weren't getting up yet."

Pressing his growing erection into her ass "apparently picturing you in here all wet and naked, gets me up every time."

Karen turned around "I think its a proven fact that you get up every time you see me." She kissed him before turning back around and finishing her shower. Sidney grabbed the soap and began to wash himself, but also Karen's back. He moved his hands to her ass and then in front, cupping over her mound.

"Um baby?"

"Yes."

"Is this what you meant when you said you had your hair done in more ways then one?" he said feeling the hairless mound.

"Figured you would like a present to help celebrate your win last night." She said as her breathing began to quicken from him rubbing over her clit and sneaking a finger inside. "And you would have seen it last night if you weren't too tired to celebrate."

Sidney turned her back around "it seems like it was worth the wait to me." He pushed her up against the wall and attacked her lips. Karen felt him lift her up and instinctly wrapped her legs around his waist. Sidney reached inbetween them and grabbed his cock, finding her entrance and sliding himself in as slow as he could stand it. Karen broke the kiss and let out a gasp as she felt him stretch her to the fullest. The look in their eyes told each other what they wanted without words. Karen gripped on to Sidney's biceps as he began to move inside of her. Sidney moved his hands to under her thighs for better leverage as his thrusts got faster and harder. He felt Karen's fingernails dig into his skin as her orgasm rocked through her body. As the tightness took over his cock, Sidney moaned out his release before dropping his head down to regain his breath. When he could lift his head, he looked up and kissed Karen's lips. Sidney removed himself and let Karen down but kept his lips on hers until she let go.

"Now that was definitely worth waiting for" she said leaning in for another kiss. After a few minutes, they reluctantly let go of each other and got out of the shower. Karen went to get dressed eventhough Sidney kept trying to prevent her but she swatted him away so she could. She blew him a kiss before heading downstairs to fix them breakfast and to figure out what to do on their day off.