by Kristen Echo
PUCK MASTER
PUCK BATTLE SERIES
BOOK SIX
A Holiday Hockey Romance
By: Kristen Echo
PUCK MASTER
Puck Battle Series Book Six
Copyright © 2018 by Kristen Echo and Kristen Publishing
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of the above copyright owner of this book or publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Website: https://www.echoromance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkristenecho/
eBook ISBN:978-1-7753433-1-8
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
EPILOGUE
AUTHOR NOTE
SNEAK PEEK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PROLOGUE
T he night was young and filled with possibilities. Hailey had only agreed to hit the bar after dinner because she had to get out of her parent’s house. Their constant questions about her future were tiring. Plus, she had to get away from the memories that plagued her. Booze worked well to keep them back, but she only allowed herself to indulge on rare occasions. Like tonight, when thoughts of what life should have been like slapped her in the face.
A decent buzz rolled around her brain as her friends kissed then downed their shots. Happiness surrounded them like a colorful aura or maybe that was the lighting from the bar. Either way, their smiles were genuine and huge. They looked like a slice of life she didn’t recognize. The easy and carefree version she should have lived. Instead tragedies followed her like a dark cloud. She smiled back at them before she tossed back her shot. The liquor spilled down her throat never touching her tongue.
“Let’s dance!” Her best friend, Mellie, shouted as she grabbed her partner Richard’s hand. Her long blonde hair billowed behind her as she pulled him away from the bar. He didn’t protest and slapped her behind as they blended into the crowd.
Hailey stayed put. The pair needed alone time. Being the third wheel wasn’t her idea of a good time. She looked out at the sea of bodies and found a group of attractive young men enter the bar through the side VIP door. It was like the sea’s parted and in walked a group of Gods. There was something so sexy about a man who held his head high as he charged into a room. These men weren’t followers. The way people surrounded them, you’d think they were celebrities. Hailey leaned against the bar and watched.
“Want another drink?” The man beside her wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. They’d been chatting for the past hour. His name was Lyle, and he thought he’d be getting lucky tonight. His eyes rarely ventured above her neck. Each drink gave him more courage to move closer until their stools touched. She’d refused to let him buy her a drink but being alone sucked more than his company.
“More alcohol sounds good,” she said, turning back towards the bar. “Add more to my tab.”
The bartender set up another round. Her eyes counted six which was way more than she needed. Lyle stole one and spilled half down his chin. He excused himself to use the restroom. He actually called it the little boys room, which made her want to gag. She kept her mouth shut and nodded as he stepped away. The night had to get better. She downed another shot. The tequila no longer burned, which meant it had already worked its magic.
“Tell me that’s not your man?” A deep drawl resonated beside her.
“He’s not mine, but he’s vying for the opportunity,” she responded, not looking up from the next shot.
“That’d be a mistake. A woman like you should be appreciated. That guy wouldn’t even know what to do with you.”
Hailey laughed. “Let me guess, someone like you would be a better choice because you’d be the perfect boyfriend. You want the chance to sweep me off my feet and steal my heart?” The question was rhetorical. She didn’t give a shit what anyone else wanted. Her fingertips danced around the rim of the next glass as she debated having another. It was probably time to slow down and let those last few take effect. She lifted it towards her lips and inhaled before setting it back on the wet surface of the bar untouched.
“Far from it; I’m the last guy you want to give your heart to.” His voice was close, and she caught the first whiff of him. Clean like a spring rain with a hint of spice and sex. A masculine scent. He smelled good. Way better than the cheap cologne and BO she’d been subjected to for the past hour. Still, his lines weren’t any better than Lyle’s. Men often thought because she had big breasts, she had a low IQ. They were wrong.
“Next, you’ll ask me to be your girlfriend. Tell me to ditch what’s his face and spend my time with you, because you’ve got the largest…” She turned and nearly swallowed her tongue. “Cock,” she finished as her eyes collided with his. Dark as midnight with the hair to match.
A flash of white followed as a cocky grin spread his lips. Lips that looked more inviting than a bed after forty-eight hours without rest. “I won’t ask you to be my girlfriend. I can guarantee that.”
“There are no guarantees in life,” she shot back.
His smile widened, and she couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth. He licked his lips. Slowly. The soft pink of his tongue contrasted against the red of his full lips. He leaned closer until they were close to touching but not quite. This man was a smooth operator and knew the effect he had on women.
“True. In that case, you will most definitely ask me to marry you once you see how right you are about my cock,” he said loud enough for his friends hear. They chuckled, but she didn’t laugh. His thick eyebrows rose, challenging her to find out if his statement was true.
She refused to take the bait and look down. Her eyes remained locked with his. Her body leaned towards him. Something she hadn’t done with Lyle. She was drawn to this man, but his arrogance needed to be brought down a level or ten. “I won’t ask you to marry me.” The ring dangling against her chest felt heavy. Hailey reached for it and watched as his eyes followed and zeroed in on her breasts. She toyed with the plain gold band, teasing him by rubbing it back and forth over her cleavage. “Only men with small dicks say things like that. Too bad for you, I don’t mess around with—”
“Challenge accepted.” He closed the miniscule distance until their shoulders touched.
The softness of his dress shirt caressed her bare skin. The subtle contact affected her more than it should. She exhaled and straightened her spine. “I haven’t challenged you to anything. That wasn’t an invitation into my panties. Trust me, you couldn’t handle me.” She pushed the shot away and stood. If the stool made any noise it was swallowed by the loud thump of the music. The fast-paced beat matched her heart rate.
His friends laughed loudly at her response. Inside she gave herself a high-five for her witty comeback. The bartender scurried to fill their orders. She hadn’t seen him move that fast or look that flustered all night. She took one step
back and her legs wobbled. Hailey blamed the booze; not his commanding height or nearness. She had a thing for tall men and this guy was a solid six four at least. Damn.
He moved into her personal space. His tanned hand gripped her bicep. The heat from his touch traveled directly between her legs. “Are you even wearing panties?” His voice lowered so only she heard his question.
“Yes. The kind that turns see-through when wet,” she breathed. Why she told him that she wasn’t sure. It wasn’t like her to flirt. She hadn’t been with a man since her injury a few months earlier. Maybe the time had come to break the dry spell?
He growled in her ear. The primal sound sent a wave of arousal through her. “I want you,” he said without pretense.
“Is that so… what if I don’t want you?” Her words were choppy and laced with desire. The entire bar could tell she wanted him. Her words played hardball, but her body language was practically humping him right there. It was likely any single woman in the place would swap places with her in a heartbeat. She scanned the bar, and all eyes were on them.
He kept his face next to hers. “We both know what we want. You could keep this game up all night, and I’ll play along, or we could cut the bullshit and fuck.” He shrugged his shoulders as if it was a done deal. Reaching past her, he pressed his firm chest against her side and stole her last shot. He shook his head as the tequila slid down his throat. “That’s the drink of a woman on a mission.”
Hailey laughed. His bluntness turned her on as much as his handsome face. This man wasn’t pretty. His features were manly and rugged. His nose had been broken and reset more than once. He had small scars through his left eyebrow. The hair had grown over it, but she noticed tiny details like that. It’s what made her a good soldier and hopefully a good investigator.
“What’s so funny?” Lyle, asked, stepping next to her. His body odor once again accosted her senses. He wasn’t a bad looking man but compared to Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Arrogant, he looked like a chump.
“The lady and I are going to dance.” His hand slipped down her arm. Mr. Arrogant threaded their fingers and tugged her forward. He never gave her a chance to respond before pulling her towards the dance floor.
Dancing was a good idea. She let him lead the way as she waved goodbye to Lyle. If a man couldn’t dance, it was a deal breaker. Hailey wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship, but she liked sex. With everything she’d been through in the past year, she needed a vice. Something to take the edge off her craptastic life. It was easy while on tour. No one wanted anything serious. Since she’d come back from her mission, she hadn’t hooked up with anyone because every man she’d met wanted more than she could give. Someone told her once, if a man can dance upright, he’ll be even better horizontally. So far, the statement held true.
As they slithered through the crowd, Hailey admired his ass. The suit hugged it perfectly, showcasing the roundness. Asses weren’t her thing, but he had a nice one. He glanced over his shoulder and caught her staring. A cocky half-smile tugged against his lips, making her roll her eyes.
“Like what you see?” He moved them with ease through the people until they were in the middle of the dance floor.
People surrounded them, forcing them closer together. “It’s an all right view. I’m wondering if you know how to work it or if it’s just for show?”
His laugh bellowed over the crowd, turning heads their way. “Hips don’t lie.” He chewed his lip and her nipples hardened as he pulled her flush against him.
Their bodies molded together. His hand planted firmly against the small of her back, leaving her nowhere to go but to follow him. She looked down and watched his dress shoes move next to her black army boots and she stepped back with him. This man moved like a professional dancer. Hailey wasn’t the best dancer, but she could hold her own. Years of ballet as a kid had taught her how to keep up, but her injured foot forced her to lean on him more than she should have.
He didn’t seem to mind the close contact. His hands moved to her hips as they swayed against each other. They moved with ease like a couple who’d been dancing together for years. Like how she used to dance with… Hailey didn’t want to think about him. She closed her eyes and let the beats take over.
The alcohol coursed through her veins, making her extra horny. Each time their bodies pressed together his erection poked her. She wasn’t the only one turned on. “What brought you out to the bar tonight?” Her question failed to lighten the intensity.
The way they gyrated against each other was one stop from dry humping. Oh hell, they were doing exactly that in the center of the crowded dance floor. She needed something to stop her from ripping open his pants and feeling the beast pressed against her stomach. At that point, she didn’t need to see or feel it to know he wasn’t lying earlier.
“Having a celebration drink,” he replied.
She never asked him what he was celebrating. The less she knew about him the better. As the songs blurred, she wanted to kick things up. Pretending sex wasn’t in their future wasn’t doing either of them any favors. Her hands moved down his muscular back to his ass. She squeezed the firm globes and was rewarded with a surprised grunt. It felt even better than it looked. Every cell in her body exploded like tiny fireworks being set off each time their lower half came together.
The teasing had to stop. She wanted him inside her. “Let’s get out of here. I’ve got condoms in my purse and there’s a room in the back we can use. Are you up for something like that?”
“I’m up. What’s your name? I usually like to be on a first name basis with women I sleep with?”
“We won’t be sleeping together.” She grabbed his hand and tugged on his arm, but he didn’t budge. “I don’t need to know your name. This is a onetime deal.”
“You really have no idea who I am?” His question left her wondering if he was serious or boasting. One of his friends stepped next to them on the dance floor and she responded before he could speak.
“Should I? Okay, let me guess… you’re a movie star.” She eyed him over, but the scars and the broken nose weren’t Hollywood enough. He was hot enough to set off the fire detectors but acting didn’t seem right. “Nah, you’re not pretty.”
He chuckled and squeezed her hand. His friend laughed even louder. “You’re funny,” a man with dimples deeper than the Grand Canyon said. He was hot, but too boy next door for her taste. She’d also vowed no more blonds.
She contemplated another option. “You don’t look familiar. Either of you. To be honest, you look like any other guy to me.”
“I assure you, I’m like no one else you’ve ever met,” he replied with a cocky half-grin.
Her pulse kicked into fifth gear. Those same words she’d heard before; a lifetime ago. Only this guy looked nothing like Ryan. The love of her life had been more slender, pale with light hair and baby blue eyes like the color of the sky on a sunny day. The man before her had tanned skin, and eyes so dark it would be easy to get lost in them. He had broader shoulders, a tapered waist and corded muscles everywhere.
“I’ve heard that line before,” she breathed almost falling over. That one sentence sobered her completely. “So, what do you want? I’ve made an offer, take it or leave it.” Hailey was seconds from running out of the building and vomiting on the sidewalk.
“I’ll take an orgasm. Nothing more; nothing less.” He licked his lips and cocked an eyebrow.
She should have known he’d say something like that. The part that pissed her off the most was it sounded just about perfect. It had been a long while since she’d had a good release. This guy looked like he’d be able to deliver.
“Fine. I know the manager of this club. Follow me.” She let go of his hand and walked past him. Her breasts rubbed against of his arm as she squeezed between him and his friend.
“Sounds like fun times here,” the man with the dimples said. “Look I’m—”
“I’m not talking about a quickie in the back room,” Mr. Arrogant cut h
im off. “Come home with me. I have a feeling we’ll need lots of room.” His large fingers wrapped around her small wrist. Again, the heat poured over her like an elixir promising to cure all her pains.
She looked at each man and shook her head. “I don’t have the time or the desire to play games. No names and no houses.” A long, slow seduction was out of the question. She had no wish to find a boyfriend or anything remotely close to a relationship.
He chuckled. “I’m all about games, baby. I—”
“Guess I have your answer. My way or nothing.” She paused, letting him look her over one last time. He didn’t respond. “Your loss.” She removed his grip from her wrist and stepped away. The heat lingered on her skin from the contact and she missed it. Too bad.
A chorus of laughter followed. She knew his friend was no doubt laughing at him and that added a small pep to her step. Too bad it didn’t ease the ache between her legs. She’d reached the edge of the crowd where Mellie was making out with her boyfriend, correction: fiancé. Their tongues battled for dominance and neither looked ready to concede. They’d been dating since high school, and their love seemed to grow with age. The diamond on Mellie’s finger spoke of a promise Hailey would never get to experience. She envied her.
“Hey.” She cleared her throat and tapped her friend on the shoulder when they didn’t break apart.
Mellie turned and smiled, her bright, pink lipstick smeared all over Richard’s mouth. “What’s up?” Her speech slurred from too many shots. She swathed an arm around her fiancé’s shoulder. Her ring sparkled in the disco lights.
Richard had his arms around Mellie’s waist, holding her up. “Time for more shots,” he declared with an even more pronounced slur.
He’d been buying rounds since they finished dinner. It had been his idea to hit the club, and she tagged along. He was celebrating an internship he’d landed at one of the top law firms in the city and their new engagement. Soon he’d be making bank and marrying the love of his life. The couple would finally tie the knot in the next year after six years of dating.
