Play the Game: A New Adult Hockey Romance (Golden Boys Hockey Book 1)

by Emma Tharp

  My entire body stiffens with need. I’m more rigid and engorged than I can remember, yet if she told me that was all she wanted from me, I would still be satisfied that I took her to the brink.

  I kiss up her body until I hover over her.

  She winds her hand through my hair and pulls me close, bringing our lips together. Her tongue explores my mouth with so much passion and need, I don’t know how much more I can take. I want to be inside her.

  “Gavin, can you…” She drags her teeth over her bottom lip. “Go slow at first. I’ve only been with Hunter and he was…quite a bit smaller than you.”

  “I won’t hurt you.” I kiss the corner of her mouth. “Promise. You can tell me to stop if it’s too much.”

  It only takes me a minute to hop off the bed, find my pants, and get the condom out. I rip open the package, slide the condom along my shaft, and ease back onto the bed.

  “I’m going to go slow. Okay?” I stare into her big, trusting eyes.

  “Okay. I want you now.”

  That’s all I need to hear. I tease her opening and ease inside her inch by inch, watching her every second. Hurting her isn’t going to happen.

  When I press inside her, our bodies flush, my eyes locked with hers, something profound passes between us. I don’t know what it is, but I feel it deep in my chest.

  We both gasp when I’m all the way in, and my body goes still.

  “You okay?”

  She nods. “Yes. You feel so good.”

  “So do you.”

  Like our bodies were made for each other.

  We find a steady rhythm, me pressing into her and her grinding against me. She feels better than I could’ve imagined, and oh, there has been plenty of imagining.

  I’m drowning in this feeling. Our connection is intense and makes my head hazy with things I shouldn’t be wishing for. I want to give her everything, even though I have nothing. I’ll find a way.

  Heart pounding feverishly in my chest, thundering in a crazy rhythm, I grip her hips and thrust inside her.

  Her warm hands clasp my arms and she stares at my chest, my body as I ease in and out of her. Those eyes are so full of desire and appreciation, it somehow makes me harder, like steel.

  My chest heaving, I grip the soft flesh of her ass and slide all the way in. With her gorgeous naked body laid out underneath me, hair flowing across the pillow, pale green eyes locked with mine, she’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.

  I capture her pink nipple between my teeth and roll my tongue over the taut skin. Her eyes are wide as I suck her tender flesh into my mouth.

  A moan escapes her mouth, and in seconds, I hover over her again, capturing the sweet sound with my lips.

  She angles her hips and wraps her thighs around my waist. Her slick warmth has my balls tightening, but I won’t go until she does. I want her moaning and panting first.

  I reach down and circle her clit with my thumb. Her eyes pinch shut and she pushes her head into the pillow.

  “Oh, my God,” she says between pants. “Yes!”

  Her body arches up and begins to shudder and quake around me.

  “So good,” I hiss and pump inside her, my speed frantic.

  Watching her come apart has the telltale tingling that starts at the base of my spine. I’m so deep inside her, right where I want to be. I haul in a breath and tense before I convulse and let go.

  My heart races as I drop down next to her on the bed. I don’t know how long it takes to get my breathing under control, but what I do know is this girl has me turned inside out.

  “Stay with me,” she says with her head resting under the crook of my arm.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Wild fucking horses couldn’t pull me away from this girl.

  When the early light of morning coaxes me awake, I can’t help but squeeze Stella’s warm body close. Her sweet summer scent mixed with sex surrounds me and her hair tickles my chest. We’ve been like this all night.

  Last night could’ve been a disaster. I was afraid she wasn’t going to even let me in for a conversation. But she didn’t shut me out. Unbelievable. Stella and I are on the same page.

  It’s about damn time.

  This is all new to me. She and I, and whatever this is. It isn’t a one-night stand. Beyond that, I don’t have a clue. I do know that I really don’t want to fuck this up. It all feels so good, and a little unreal.

  I would be fine lying next to her like this all day. When Stella stirs, she looks up at me with those pale green eyes, heavy lidded with sleep. Her cheeks are pink and a shy smile paints her face.

  “Good morning,” she says.

  I rain kisses across her silky shoulder. “Morning.”

  “How’d you sleep?”

  We didn’t get much rest at all last night. “Great. What about you?”

  “Me too. Want me to make you breakfast?”

  I nod slowly. “You’d cook for me?”

  “Yeah. If you make the coffee.” She drops a single kiss on my chest and all I want to do is roll her over and ravage her. Again. But she sits up, stretching her arms over her head.

  It’s impossible for me to take my eyes off her, the curve of her hips and swell of her breasts. Sure, I had a front-row view last night, but she’s like a drug, and I’m already addicted.

  “Deal.”

  Stella pulls a sweatshirt on over her head and a pair of pajama shorts. “Good. I’m starving.”

  With some hesitation, I put my clothes on from last night and we go to the kitchen together. Surprisingly, there’s nobody else in here.

  “Where is everyone?” I ask.

  She pulls a pan off the pot rack and sets it on the stove. “They’re all still sleeping. I’m sure they all had a late night.”

  As if we didn’t. We had sex three times before we fell asleep. Somewhere around an hour later, Stella woke me up by rubbing her body against mine for round four.

  “I see.”

  “Do you like your eggs scrambled?” she asks.

  I take the coffee pot to the sink and fill it with water. “Sounds great.”

  “Perfect. They’re my specialty.”

  Stella makes us eggs and toast with strawberry jam that one of her sorority sister’s mother made, and I pour us mugs of coffee. There’s a crazy lightness in my chest while we work around the kitchen together. Stella and I are a great team.

  Once the food is finished, we take it back to her room for more privacy, in case any of her sorority sisters wake up. I would rather not have another run-in with Lexi.

  There are two chairs at Stella’s desk. Even though there isn’t much room, we sit side by side and eat together.

  “The eggs are great. Thanks for cooking for me.”

  She has a bite of her toast, and a dab of jam slips down her bottom lip. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re enjoying them. What are your plans today?”

  I reach up and swipe the jam off her mouth with my thumb, pop it in my mouth, and give her a wink. “I have a game at five. What about you?”

  “Just some homework, and I have to study for a history test. But I’ll definitely come to your game. I love hockey and watching you do what you love.”

  My insides light up. She’s coming to watch me play. I fucking love that. “Really?”

  She palms her mug of coffee. “Do you want me to come?”

  More than anything. “Absolutely. I’ve never had my own personal cheerleader before.”

  “Then I will be there in my mini skirt and pom poms up against the glass.” She smirks.

  I lean in and pull her close to me. “No need to wear a mini skirt. I can’t have the entire hockey team distracted by your sexy legs.”

  “Okay. My legs will be covered. But I’ll still be there cheering on my man.”

  Her man. My insides melt at her words, and the fact she wants to come to my game to support me.

  I lift her up off the seat and pull her onto my lap and into my arms. My lips are
on hers as I set her on the bed. We both have things to do today, but I can’t leave without having her one more time.

  Last night was perfect. I don’t regret a thing.

  Is it possible that I really can have it all? The girl and the game.

  Why does doubt start to rear its ugly head at a moment like this? I want to smack it away, tell it to leave me the fuck alone. But it just won’t. A woman like Stella has never cooked for me before, or supported me at games. Why now, all of a sudden?

  Why does this all feel too good to be true?

  Fifteen

  Stella

  The energy is electric in the ice arena. There are barely any seats open for today’s game. I used to love going to football games on campus. Not because of the sport as much as the excitement in the crowd, but now that I’ve been coming to hockey games, I think the high is more intense here.

  I’ve never dated an athlete before. Watching hockey now is on another level. I can’t take my eyes off Gavin and his gorgeous body as he commands the puck.

  "Oh, my God! Yes!" I scream and jump up and down, grabbing Harper as we cheer together.

  "I don't know anything about hockey, but that was awesome," Harper yells right before giving me a high-five.

  There's one period left of the game and Gavin just scored. He has been playing amazing today.

  "I'm so proud of him," I tell Harper, and sit back down.

  "Girl, you've got it bad, don't you?"

  I shrug. "I can't help it. Gavin and I just click."

  Today, when Gavin was leaving the sorority house, Harper saw him go. Afterward, she led me to her room where she made me confess everything. I told her all about how we seem to be drawn together like magnets, and our amazing chemistry in and out of the bedroom.

  Harper takes a sip of her Coke and then trains her eyes on me. "So, are you guys boyfriend and girlfriend now?"

  "I don't know. Gavin isn’t a labels kind of guy. But I made it clear to him that I am a relationship girl."

  I wish he would put a name to what we are because that’s what I’m used to, but it probably wouldn’t change anything anyway. I’m hopeful our relationship continues to progress.

  "I'm proud of you for telling him that. He needs to know that you aren't a Lexi."

  "Exactly."

  I pick up the tub of popcorn and take a bite. Every time Gavin is on the ice, I'm glued to the action and can't seem to wipe the smile from my face. He and I are completely unexpected.

  The first night I laid eyes on Gavin, I judged him, and I'm ashamed to say it. He's not just a pretty face, gorgeous body, and top athlete. He's smart, deep, and he lets himself be vulnerable with me. I can't wait to learn more about him.

  But there's also a part of me that still has my guard up. I worry that he will toy with my emotions and leave me when things get hard. He admitted he has never had a relationship before. This could be challenging.

  After last night, I'm up for the task.

  Watching Gavin's tall, muscular frame glide along the ice has me remembering all the things his body did to mine last night. Sex with him was next-level good. My only other sexual experiences were with Hunter and it was nothing like it was Gavin. Not only does Gavin know what he's doing, he was so attentive to my needs. A pulse begins to hum between my thighs, even though there's a slight ache from the multiple times we were intimate last night.

  He brought out a sex goddess in me that I didn't even realize was there.

  "Earth to Stella." Harper jabs my ribs with her elbow. "Are you seeing this?"

  She points to the ice.

  A player from the other team is crowding in on Gavin. He stabs his finger in Gavin's face.

  Gavin pushes the guy, and my stomach sinks when the jerk cocks his hand back and punches Gavin.

  I bolt up to stand for a better view, sending the popcorn flying to the ground, and cursing myself for thinking about sex last night and not focusing on the game. "What happened?"

  One of the referees pulls the guy away from Gavin. It's good timing because Gavin looks like he would like to hit the guy back but with a ref in their faces, that won't happen.

  "I'm not sure." Harper points in the direction of the asshole who just hit Gavin and is currently skating towards the penalty box. "I know there’s fighting in hockey, but that hit seemed uncalled for."

  I can't take my eyes off Gavin as he clutches his eye with his hand and skates off, leaving a trail of blood behind him. He doesn't even stop at the bench, just goes back toward the locker rooms.

  My pulse thrums faster. I don’t know what to do, but I want to help him.

  "He must be hurt badly if he’s skating off the ice," I say.

  "Why don't you call his phone?” She shrugs. “I'm sure he's going back to the locker room."

  I don’t know if it’s a good idea to call him already, but I have to know if he’s okay. I tug my phone out of my bag and press his number. The line rings and rings until it goes to voicemail. I hang up before leaving a message.

  Harper stares at me with concern in her eyes. "Text him."

  With sweaty hands, I jab out a quick text asking if he’s okay and hold my phone, waiting and watching for the telltale three dots that will let me know he's typing back.

  "Nothing." My tone is panicky. "Do you think he's okay?"

  "I don't know. Why don't you go down to the locker room? Pop your head in and see if he's okay."

  My foot taps of its own volition as nervous energy courses through my body. I don't even know what we are yet. “Wouldn't it be pushy for me to just show up?”

  She rests her hand on my shoulder. "Just do it, Stell. You aren't going to calm down until you know."

  I nod. "You're right. I'm going to see if I can find him."

  "Let me know what you find out."

  "I will. Thanks."

  Before I can think, I rush past all of the fans and jog down the stairs toward the locker rooms. There are so many and I have no idea which one he’s in. What if I walk into one and there are guys changing? That wouldn't be good.

  A loud thumping music is coming from one of the locker rooms. I wonder if he’s in there.

  Just as I am about to ease the door open, out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of Gavin's back—I would know his gait and posture anywhere—taking off in the other direction, toward the main entrance.

  "Gavin," I call out, but he keeps moving. "Please, Gavin, stop."

  He continues weaving in and out of fans hovering around the side of the rink.

  Why isn’t he stopping? I know he can hear me. Instead of calling out his name again, I run after him. By the time I make it to him, he’s in the hallway.

  I grip him by the arm. "Gavin. Are you okay?"

  He turns to me, clutching a towel to his eye while the uninjured one darts around the hallway. "Stella. What are you doing here?"

  My heart slows and I'd like to crawl under a rock. I had a feeling he wouldn't want me coming after him. "I had to find out if you were okay. I saw you get hit and skate off the ice. I was worried."

  "You shouldn't have come looking for me. I'll be fine."

  He's pushing me away.

  "Gavin. Don't do this. Let me see." I reach up and remove the towel from his eye. An angry purple bruise is forming around it and there’s a cut underneath. "That doesn't need stitches?"

  "Nah. Our trainer isn’t here tonight. It's just some intern. He told me to go home and ice it." Gavin looks down at me and chews the corner of his lip.

  "Let me take you home. I'll take care of you."

  Gavin squeezes the back of his neck and lets out a long sigh. "Stella. I don't want you to see me like this."

  "Why?" This makes no sense.

  He shrugs and even all sweaty, with a shiner, he’s as handsome as ever. "I don't know. I'm going to have a black eye. It’s not going to be pretty."

  This makes me smile. He’s self-conscious, and it somehow makes him more endearing. “It doesn't matter how hard you try, yo
u're always going to be hot."

  This grants me a small smirk.

  "Let's go." I crook my finger, and he follows me outside to my car.

  On the way to the hockey house, my face heats under the weight of Gavin's stare. It's all so confusing. I had to chase him in order for him to talk to me and now as I drive down the road, the heaviness of his gaze consumes me. One minute hot. One minute ice cold.

  We pull up outside the hockey house and go inside. He takes me to his room. It's the first time I've been here. His bed is made, and his small desk and closet are neat. A full basket of laundry sits on the floor, but I imagined it being worse than it is.

  Gavin points me in the direction of one of the bathrooms so I can see if I can find anything to put on his cut, while he takes a quick shower in the other.

  I’m grateful to find a first aid kit and bring it back to Gavin’s room. After a minute, he joins me with wet hair and droplets of water on his chest and back, a low-slung towel wrapped around his waist. He moves to a drawer and pulls out a pair of shorts. Dropping the towel, he gives me the perfect view of his tight, round ass. I almost look away, embarrassed, but then I remember how much of each other’s bodies we’ve seen and shamelessly watch him as he tugs on a pair of shorts.

  “Come sit down.” I pat the spot next to me on his bed.

  He takes the seat next to me and I almost lose my breath. He smells so good, like a fresh storm coming in, and his broad, muscled chest is bare. He’s too handsome and distracting.

  Focus, Stella. I’m here for a reason.

  I do my best to clear my mind of thoughts of yanking off his shorts and having my way with him, as I wipe off the dried blood and clean the cut. I apply ointment to the wound, but Gavin grips my hand, stopping my movement.

  "Does it hurt? Are you okay?"

  "No. I'm good."

  The intensity of his stare catches me off guard and I have to clutch the edge of the bed to steady myself. "Why did you stop me?"

  "I want to say thank you."

  His beautiful navy eyes seem to pierce through me and I have to look away.

  "For what?"

  He tilts up my chin so I’m forced to stare at him. "Taking care of me. I was raised by single mother who worked all hours of the day, sometimes at three jobs. Nobody took care of me but me."