I chuckled at his use of my own words against me. No, stop laughing Hayden. Head. In. The. Game.
Shaking my head, I forced the smile from my face. This was investigative journalism, not actual flirting. I needed one of them to get me entry into the Puck Games.
Me: Ahh that's good. Cause I was totally going to say no. How was training?
Vinnie: I'm always playing Scoop. The game is what I live for.
I sucked in a breath. Did he mean Hockey or the Puck Games?
Me: Well I will see how good you are on Sunday night ;) What are you up to?
Justin: Just finished up at training. Heading home. You?
Me: I'm at my dorm working on an assignment and getting some studying done. Training? For what? Do you have plans for tonight?
Christian: Haha nah you weren't. Training was good, lots of blocking and sprints today. Legs are burning.
What wasn’t I? I quickly scrolled back up, oh that’s right, I wasn’t going to say no to a date, got it.
Me: Tots was! No pain no gain, especially if you are planning on going pro.
Vinnie: Just got in the car and heading back to our place. Can’t wait to just crash on the couch, thighs are burning from training.
Me: I hope you aren't driving and texting Mr. Our place? Do you have a roommate? And no pain no gain, especially if you want to go pro :p
A sinking feeling started pulling at my stomach. They couldn’t be, surely? The world wasn’t that ironic was it?
Vinnie: Nah Scoop, I don't roll like that. One of my roommates is driving. He is on the team with me.
Me: You have more than one roommate?
That sinking feeling was turning into an anxious stomach roll.
Vinnie: Yeah got two. We are all the first-string forwards. Best wingers a center could ask for.
My heart had started pounding in my chest, and my face going slightly numb. Was I having a heart attack? I anxiously reopened Christian's message, but he hadn't read it yet. Could they all live together? Was he the one driving the car? It would explain why he hadn’t read the message yet.
Justin: Hockey :) None at this stage. Probably end up playing video games with my roommates.
Me: Roommates? Do you live on campus?
Justin: Yeah, I have 2. And no, live in an apartment about a five-minute drive away. Just pulled into the carpark.
I could feel my pulse pounding in my head, that little vein that ran down my forehead ticked with all of the extra pressure. Justin had to drive home, and he didn't seem like the type to text and drive.
I reopened Christian's message and saw the little bubble appear.
Christian: Sorry for the delayed reply, was driving me and my two roommates home. Just pulled into the carpark.
I felt faint. They lived together. How did this happen to me? How did I meet three, really good looking, drool-worthy hockey players, two by chance, who were all first string forwards, who were all best friends, and who all lived together? This just got a little more complicated.
Chapter 11
Saturday 2nd December – 23 days until Christmas
Justin
I snuck the warm muffins into the study hall in my backpack. I felt like I was smuggling uranium or something, gripping the strap of my bag tightly and furtively looking around for anyone who might ask me what was in my bag. I stopped and took a deep breath and reasonably argued with myself that no one had ever, in the three years I had used this study hall, asked to check my bag.
The only reason they are going to ask this time is because you are acting like a crazy person. Deep breaths.
On the way over it had started snowing, the light fluffy kind that only fell at the beginning of the season, so I had a fine layer covering my shoulders and the top of my hoody. I dusted it all off as I pushed my hood off my head, leaving my grey beanie on and started down the center aisle of the study hall.
As I approached my usual table, which I had actually reserved for the entire years’ worth of Saturdays, I wasn’t surprised to see that Hayden had beaten me to our session. She studied the screen of her laptop intently; a little frown formed on her gorgeous face.
Reaching up, I adjusted the back of my beanie, a habit that only occurred when I was nervous. Hayden looked fucking amazing today. She had knee high caramel colored Ugg boots on with white laces that crisscrossed up the front ending in bows with white pompoms. Tucked into the tops of the boots were white, jeans that from this angle looked like they were a second skin. Her aqua mittens were discarded on the table by her laptop, and her beanie was still on her head with her long, brown hair done in some sort of fat braid hanging over the front of her shoulder. She had a Boston College hoodie in pale blue on, the emblem over her chest.
I couldn’t believe how hung up I already was on this girl. I’d brought her muffins for our study session. I don’t even remember doing that for Vanessa, ever. Was probably why she ended up sleeping with my buddy Stephen. That fucker had probably taken her muffins.
As I approached the table, Hayden let out a huff as she stared at her computer and leaned her cheek into one hand, elbow resting on the table; her face was adorably smooshed on one side. I dropped my textbook on the table, a soft thud echoed throughout the hall, disrupting the classic Mariah Carey Christmas tune of All I Want for Christmas is You.
I wouldn’t mind having Hayden alright, naked, down on her knees staring up at me.
Hayden startled at the noise and gazed up at me with unfocused eyes, still clearly engrossed in whatever had annoyed her just now. Her unfocused eyes not helping to dispel the image I had of her.
“Hey,” I greeted her; my voice caught on my arousal, as I placed my backpack on my chair, unzipped it and withdrew the package of goodness. I opened the brown paper bag and pulled out a muffin offering it to her.
“Aww you didn’t have to actually get me a…wait is this blueberry?” She asked, with a quizzical expression.
“Yep,” I replied with a smirk, “I thought you were naughty enough, and could do with some sweetening instead.” I had to clench my jaw to stop from laughing out loud at the stunned look on her face. Serves her right for starting the naughty texts last night.
After a few seconds, I couldn’t contain it anymore; my chest vibrated with the effort. A rumble of laughter worked its way up, erupting from my mouth. I used the table to support me as I reached and plucked the blueberry muffin from her hand and fished around in the bag for her real muffin. Triple choc chip like she had requested.
I placed it in her outstretched hand and watched her face convert from shocked, to stunned, to radiantly happy. Her smile transformed her face, and sent a sucker punch to my stomach, sucking my laughter back into my body. I felt so powerful in that moment, knowing that I’d made her happy; the glow from her smile warmed me from the inside out, better than any hot chocolate could.
She brought the muffin up to her lips and without any self-consciousness took a bite right out of the side. Her eyes closed as she savored the taste, only to pop back open and look up at me. Hayden covered her mouth with her hand, “Is this heated?” she asked around her mouthful.
“Yep, I thought since it was so cold today it might be nice to have something warm.” I replied. Was I being too forward? What if she didn’t like her muffins heated? After having had a girlfriend for four years, it had been a while since I’d flirted with a girl. Suddenly feeling embarrassed after my little self-assessment, I could feel the tips of my ears going pink and was thankful that they were covered by my beanie. I tried to hide my discomfort by unpacking the rest of my things.
Her small hand snaked into my view and covered my own, gently squeezing it. I glanced back up at Hayden, she smiled at me, “Thank you, it tastes even naughtier warm,” she winked at me.
A chuckle escaped me as the tension left my shoulders. Without registering what my hand was doing, I reached over and was using my thumb to wipe away a smudge of melted chocolate from her lower lip, as if she were my girlfriend and I had the ri
ght to touch her like that.
Her mouth popped open, forming a little O as I stood there, leaning over her, hand cupping her jaw, thumb rubbing her lip. My ears were suddenly full of my pulse as Hayden’s eyes flickered down to my lips, and her tongue darted out to moisten her own, and the tip of it flicked across the edge of my thumb.
The small sounds of the room faded away, all of my focus zeroed in on Hayden like she was the goalie keeping me from sinking the puck. I wanted to taste her lips, to lick the chocolate from the inside of her mouth. To pull her beanie from her head and run my fingers through her hair. I wanted to lift her out of that chair, sit in it myself, and place her straddled across my lap and devour her mouth until she made breathy moaning sounds, grinding herself into me.
I had just started to lean down to her when her computer dinged causing us both to jump a part like wayward children caught doing something naughty. Her eyes cut from my face and locked onto the notification that had destroyed possibly one of the most intense moments of my life.
When did I turn into this romantic sap? I barely knew Hayden. But I wanted to; I really, really wanted to.
I coughed, trying to work my suddenly thick throat. “So, uh, I thought we could start off running through the cards I have so far? And if we make it through all of those, then we can make some more?” I asked, as I started arranging everything on the table.
“Um, yeah, sure. I downloaded an app on my computer that is supposed to help with your study system,” she said as she turned her computer to face me. It had a big digital clock on it, ready and waiting.
“That’s great, I’ve been meaning to look into something like that, will be a lot better than just using my phone.” I responded, trying to keep my tone light, and not let my semi hard dick roughen my voice.
I sat down in my chair directly opposite Hayden, thankful it stopped her from seeing my lap. As I adjusted my legs, I felt the inside of my foot brush her leg. I peeked under the table to see that both of her legs were stretched out under the table between mine. I looked up to see her watching my face.
Instead of moving my leg away, I let it rest against hers; her left knee bumped into my right leg. She just smiled at me and reached forward for my cards. I let her take them and relaxed into my seat, placing my left foot on the outside of her feet, trapping them between me. She just continued to smile as she sorted the cards.
I watched her as she set everything up to her satisfaction. She was seriously beautiful, and not in a flashy kind of way either. She barely had any makeup on, unlike Vanessa who I’d barely recognized without it. Hayden’s lips were full, begging to be kissed until they were swollen and red. She had bedroom eyes, a deep brown with lashes that were touched by the lightest amount of mascara. She was smart, quick, and had a killer humor.
I needed to find another way to hang out with her, to get to know her more. This girl was seriously getting to me, and I could see a potential Whip status in my future.
Chapter 12
Saturday 2nd December – 23 days until Christmas
Hayden
“Done!” I exclaimed, as I flipped over the last card. I beamed back at Justin so proud of his effort with the final round of flash cards. “That was awesome! You nearly got all of them, and we got your time down to twenty minutes.”
He flashed me a quick smile, but was already scribbling notes in his notebook. “Thanks, need to do better though. Finals are in a week and a half, need to meet that three point zero or no more hockey.”
Okay, play it cool Hayden.
“Oh yeah, you mentioned that last night. I picked you more for a football guy,” I said as I gave him a playful wink.
He looked up at me and smirked, “Football nah, those guys are whimps. All that padding and all they do is run into is each other? Me, I smash my opponents into walls and eat ice for breakfast. Hockey is for real men.”
A laugh escaped me as an image of him eating a bowl of ice for breakfast suddenly flashed up in my mind.
I was just about to respond to his terrible imagery when my stomach let out a loud growl. I clapped my hands to my torso, and smiled sheepishly up at Justin; my cheeks roared with my blush.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” I chuckled.
Justin checked his watch – who wears watches these days – and raised his eyebrows before looking up at me, “Our session was over an hour and a half ago. Why didn’t you say anything?”
I sat there dumbfounded for a second. Why hadn’t I say anything?
“To be honest, I didn’t even realize that much time had gone by. I was enjoying helping you,” I admitted, both to him and too myself, as I fiddled with Justin’s cards stacking and squaring them off.
Suddenly Justin’s hand came into my view, reaching to hold my hands still, “I enjoyed you helping me.”
My gaze flicked up to him to see that he had an earnest smile on his face, causing my heart to melt a little.
Just as suddenly, my inner voice started screaming at me in my head.
Hayden, what are you doing? He just admitted to being a hockey player; therefore, he is a part of the Puck Games. He is PLAYING you. Get your head out of the clouds, and back in the game!
I sucked in a breath and pulled my hands away. Justin’s eyes dimmed a little, but he kept his smile in place. It took everything in me to start casually packing my laptop up instead of reaching across the table to comfort him.
Just as I finished zipping my messenger bag shut, my stomach let out another embarrassing growl, which echoed off the silent walls of the almost full study hall. I gasped as I covered it with my hands.
Like that would keep the sound contained. I could literally see my Inner Voice rolling its eyes at me.
Justin’s deep chuckle reached me, and I glanced up at him.
“Want to grab something to eat?” He asked with a slight smile tipping the pierced corner of his mouth, “I know a great little café just off campus.”
How was he so gorgeous? Weren’t hockey players supposed to be missing teeth and have permanently broken noses or something? I was dying to know what that piercing would feel like pressed into my lip, or as I sucked it into my mouth, or as I felt it trail down my body as he kissed his way to my…
SNAP OUT OF IT! I mentally slapped myself.
“I can’t, I have things I need to get done this afternoon,” I replied, knowing my eyes were as wide as saucers and the blush on my cheeks had definitely spread down my neck.
“Come on Haddy the Elf, everyone has to eat. I promise, I won’t keep you long,” he fired back with another smirk.
Was Justin asking me out? This is what I wanted right? For one of them to make a move?
I watched his face as I hefted my strap up onto my shoulder, noticing how he tracked the movement and how his hands clenched the back of his chair causing his knuckles to turn white. He was nervous!
I chewed on my lip, even as I continued to ignore my racing heart, “Well, I do need to grab something to eat…” I started.
He instantly relaxed, his shoulders dropped with the draining of his tension, a quick smile kicked at his lips. “Great, it’s a quick walk from here,” he grabbed his bag and slung it over one shoulder as he held out a hand, gesturing for me to go in front of him.
Justin and I left the study hall and walked across campus in a surprisingly comfortable silence. I felt like every now and then, he would glance at me out of the corner of his eye, but I just kept looking straight ahead. I was lucky I didn’t walk into a tree since my peripheral vision was getting such a good workout.
Half way across campus my hands couldn’t take the cold anymore, so I riffled through my bag for my mittens. I had just managed to get one on, when the other one slipped through my fingers and landed in the snow. Less than a second later Justin had scooped it up, rescuing the mitten from becoming a frostbite incubator.
I reached out to take it back from him with my gloved hand. Surprising me, he brushed my hand away.
“He
re, let me,” his voice rumbled as he held the mitten out.
Slowly, I reached my hand out and let him work the mitten on. As he adjusted it to each of my fingers, I watched his face. He had a slight furrow across his forehead and he pulled on his piercing as he concentrated on getting the mitten on, lining up the fingers and then pulling the cuff down to my wrist. He threaded his fingers through mine to push the fingers right down.
My heart thundered so loudly, I was afraid he would hear it. Besides my parents, no one had ever looked after me like that before. Most guys my age came up short in the chivalry department. He glanced from my hand to my eyes, our fingers still linked.
His eyes weren’t black. They were really dark blue. I hadn’t noticed before in the study hall, what with the desk and the lighting. But being this close in the sunlight I could see that his eye lashes were thick and framed navy-blue eyes. Eyes that stared at my lips.
Did he want to kiss me? Did I want him to? Would just a kiss be enough to enter me into the Puck Games?
Justin glanced up suddenly over the top of my head, eyes widening before he tugged me to my left and into him. I was so shocked that I didn’t brace and kind of just fell. A snowball went flying passed both of us.
“Sorry!” Someone in the distance called out.
I quickly pulled away from him, “Thanks.” I was getting too emotionally involved here. I needed to dial it back. Cool. Calm. Analytical. Not emotions and feelings. This story was massive and so important for so many reasons. No falling for my sources.
There was a pause for just a moment before Justin replied, “You’re welcome.” I swear his tone was almost regretful, but I was still too scared to look up. I couldn’t develop feelings for him, or for any of them for that matter. I had to withstand all of their charms.
They were all in on the Puck Games. I was investigating the Puck Games. Besides it was a massive conflict of interest. Even if each of them had me hot under the collar and imagining dirty little scenes.
Justin started walking again and I quickly caught up. I had an odd mix of regret and satisfaction mixed inside of me. I attempted to squash the regret, but was ashamed to admit that I basked in the satisfaction. The knowledge that he was interested in me had my inner goddess proudly smiling seductively.
All We Want For Christmas Is You: A Reverse Harem Christmas Story Page 7
