Broken Hearts

by Rebecca Jenshak

  His words mixed with the desire to be certain he doesn’t doze off and mortify us both makes me bolder in my movements. His hand threads through my hair and holds the back of my head tenderly, slowly guiding me down his thick length.

  “Need to be inside of you,” he says, gripping me by the neck and pulling me to him.

  Clothes are stripped and tossed and then it’s just the two of us, naked and wrapped up in each other’s arms.

  His fingers brush along my skin tenderly, but his kiss is possessive and demanding. He lays me down and worships my body until I’m writhing and panting under him. I can’t even make a witty comment about the glow-in-the-dark condom he covers himself with.

  I have no idea how he can move so slowly when my heart races for more. I arch my hips to get more of him, but he chuckles and pulls back.

  “There’s no rush tonight, angel.”

  But every cell in my body wants to rush. I want him—all of him and I want him now.

  His brow furrows as he keeps up the slow rhythm, feeding his cock into me and pulling back. I’m whimpering and tears prick my eyes. It’s emotionally and physically overwhelming being with this man.

  Finally, he gives me what I want. Picking up the speed, his kisses are harder and his moans match mine.

  “Come for me, angel,” he whispers. “Give me what I want.”

  And I do. I shatter underneath him.

  * * *

  “My heart is still racing,” I say after we’ve cleaned up and gotten ready for bed.

  His arms tighten around me. “You good? Anything I can do?”

  “I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.”

  “It’s been a long week. Sleep. I’m going to grab some water and food in case you wake up later and need something.”

  “Thank you.”

  I doze off while he’s gone, but stir when he slides back into bed behind me. His arm cradles me and he kisses my shoulder.

  “‘Night, Sienna.”

  I’m so tired I don’t respond. I’m almost asleep again when his deep voice sounds again. “I think I’m in love with you.”

  I keep my breathing even, by some miracle, and stay silent.

  * * *

  “Why didn’t you say anything back?” Josie asks me the next morning when I fill her in before practice. We stretch in the tunnel outside of the locker room. I wasn’t going to tell anyone about Rhett’s late-night confession, but I needed to tell someone before I burst.

  “He thought I was asleep. I didn’t want to ruin the moment for him. Besides, he said I think. That’s not the same thing.”

  Her blue eyes light up. “It’s so sweet. I love this for you. I love him for you.”

  “Let’s not get carried away,” I mutter, more to myself than her.

  The hockey team has a full day of practice, skills, film, and who knows what else so I don’t hear from Rhett until I’m studying later in my room.

  He sighs, laying back on the bed, the phone perched in his hand hovering above his face. He looks freshly showered. The ends of his hair are wet and he pushes the long top over to one side.

  “I thought it was going to be a light practice.”

  “It was supposed to be until we started getting sloppy.”

  “Nerves, probably.”

  “Yeah, I guess. Hope we can work that shit out of our system before we leave.”

  “You will.” I close the lid of my laptop. “What are you doing tonight?”

  “Uh,” he starts in a tone that makes me nervous. That one syllable sounds like guilt. “The guys wanted to have a chill night, just the four of us, at Prickly Pear. I could probably bail.” He makes a face—an expression I can’t read.

  “Why would you do that? Go have a chill night with your boys. I have a quiz tomorrow anyway and I need to pack for the weekend. I should go to sleep early and rest. It’s going to be a busy weekend.” My body is tired. All of the traveling and practice, late nights with Rhett.

  There’s a beat of silence on his end. His brows raise.

  “What?” I ask, finally.

  “Sorry. I just realized this is what this feels like.”

  “What feels like?”

  “One second,” he calls away from the phone, then sits up. “I have to go before they leave my ass. I’ll call you later, okay?”

  “Yep. Have fun.” I kiss the air and he winks before ending the call.

  23

  Rhett

  “Just like that. Have fun. See you tomorrow.” I wave my hand. “Fuck. I was speechless.”

  “I like Sienna,” Adam says.

  “We all like Sienna,” Maverick adds. “Don’t fuck this up.”

  “You know what the real mindfuck is?”

  “What?” Heath asks.

  We’re having a low-key night at Prickly Pear before we head to the Frozen Four in two days. Just a couple of beers to clear our minds and help us sleep. The place makes me think of Sienna now and our speed dating adventure, but it’s empty tonight, save a few locals sitting at the bar.

  “Now all I want to do is go see her. Is this some sort of reverse psychology she’s using on me?”

  They laugh at me. Damn, it feels good. Phone tucked away, hanging with the guys, not a single worry to be found among the lot of us.

  “And Carrie?”

  I lift my beer and take a sip before answering. “I blocked her.”

  Adam is the first to speak after several seconds. “You blocked Carrie?”

  “Yep.”

  “Well, damn. I’m speechless.”

  “It was time,” I say by way of defending myself because in all honesty, it doesn’t feel great. But neither did ignoring her calls and feeling like an ass every time Sienna was around.

  We spend the next couple of hours hanging out at the deserted bar. We’re slow to finish our beers, but it doesn’t matter. We’re all feeling good when Jordan shows up at the bar to give us a ride.

  “I can’t believe you assholes didn’t invite me and then called me to drive you home.”

  “It was a roomie thing,” Mav says, climbing into the passenger seat.

  “Then why did you come?” I ask jokingly.

  “Oh, Rauthruss, you’re going to miss me next year. Don’t even pretend otherwise.”

  “Someone’s buying me chicken nuggets,” Jordan says as he pulls away from the bar.

  We make a stop for fast food and then Jordan takes us to the apartment. I catch the door before Maverick closes it. “I think I’m going to the dorms.”

  Heath makes a sound like a whip cracking.

  “Oh please, like you have any room to talk.” Adam shoves at his shoulder.

  “See you guys in the morning.”

  “Don’t be late for practice,” Adam calls over his shoulder.

  Sienna answers the door, eyes half open. “What are you doing here?”

  “Surprising you.”

  “You look nice.” Her eyes are slits. “And I look like this.” She waves a hand in front of her baggy T-shirt and bare legs. Her hair is piled on top of her head, making her look a foot taller than she is.

  “Nice shirt.”

  That gets a sleepy smile out of her. “I got it from this boy who gave me a black eye.”

  “Now, that sounds like an interesting story.”

  I close the door behind me and follow her to her bed on the left side of the room.

  “Oh shit.” I lower my voice to a whisper when I see Josie sleeping in the bed on the opposite wall.

  “Don’t worry. She sleeps like the dead.”

  I kick off my shoes and take off my jeans and T-shirt before climbing into her small bed.

  “Now I understand why we always stay at my place,” I say, moving closer to her.

  I cuddle her against me, breathing her in. Damn. I had no idea it was possible to miss someone like this. Carrie and I were always apart and I still didn’t miss her the way I missed Sienna today.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Better
,” she says, grabbing my hand and pulling it up under her tits.

  I was already sporting a semi just from being in the same room with her, but thanks to her soft, perky boobs I’m now jabbing her in the ass with my dick. And her ass is covered by some silky panties that are absolutely not helping the situation.

  “Sorry, I didn’t come here for that, but my dick doesn’t care about my good intentions.” I close my eyes and try to think of anything but sex, but when Sienna grinds back into me, I lose that battle completely.

  “Neither do I.”

  * * *

  The next afternoon, I corner Maverick in the weight room. “I need your help with something.”

  Lying back on the bench press, he finishes his set before racking the barbell and sitting up. “Anything. What’s up?”

  After I’ve got Maverick on board, I head to campus to find Sienna. I wait outside of Moreno Hall where she has class. When she comes out, her head is downcast and her phone in hand.

  Mine pings in my pocket and I retrieve it as I continue to watch her.

  Angel: Hey, handsome. Want to grab dinner? I’m starving.

  Me: Sure do. You look good in red.

  She stares down at the message for a long time, then her head pops up and she scans until she finds me. I push off the bike rack and meet her halfway.

  “Stalker much?”

  “I’m one of the friendly ones.” I take her backpack and sling it over my shoulder. “I have a surprise.”

  “Does it include food? Because that wasn’t a lame excuse to make plans. I really am starving.”

  “I’ve got you covered.”

  24

  Sienna

  “Where are we going?” We’ve been in Maverick’s SUV for thirty minutes and I have no idea where we are.

  “You’ll see,” Rhett insists.

  Everyone else is grinning. They’re all in the know and I’m not.

  “Have I mentioned that I don’t like surprises?”

  “You’ll like this one.” He leans over and presses a kiss to my lips. “Promise.”

  “We’re here,” Maverick calls from the front seat.

  Eagerly, I peer out the front window. Color lights up the night sky as we’re waved into a dirt lot to park.

  “A carnival?” I can practically smell the popcorn and funnel cake from here.

  Rhett holds my hand, swinging it lightly, as we walk toward the sound of rides and games intermixed with happy squeals of delight.

  His friends push ahead of us to get tickets.

  “Be right back.” Rhett joins them and Ginny looks back and notices I’m alone.

  “Are you excited?” She beams at me, and I want to be as excited as she wants me to be.

  “Yeah. This is amazing.”

  “He really likes you,” she says, looking over my shoulder. I follow her line of vision to Rhett. “And so do I.”

  She hugs me and then bounces off to Heath. Rhett’s headed back with a Cheshire cat grin.

  “Rhett, this is the nicest thing. I love it really. Thank you.”

  “It’s not over until we ride all the rides, angel.” He holds up a long string of tickets.

  I scan the carnival. Tall rides that spin and rock. We’re standing next to the octopus and a girl is screaming loudly while she holds her hands over her eyes. My stomach dips with unease.

  “Let’s do this,” Maverick calls, heading off toward the rides.

  “I think the Ferris wheel is about all I’m good for. Go with your friends. I’ll watch.”

  “Are you kidding me? I’m not leaving you to ride shit with my friends.”

  “I can’t—”

  He stops me with a kiss. “Trust me.”

  “We’ll meet up with you guys later,” he tells Adam, and we head in the opposite direction. I’m not paying any attention to where we go. My stomach aches and I’m upset that I can’t do the things he wants. That’ll always be the case and there’s nothing I can do about it.

  “All right.” He drops my hand and rubs his palms together. “What’ll it be first, the roller coaster or the slide?”

  I glance up to see we’re standing in the kid’s section. A roller coaster made out to look like a caterpillar and one of those slides you go down on a burlap sack.

  I can’t help but laugh and the knot in my stomach loosens. Rhett has a charming, knowing grin on his face.

  “Rhett.” My voice cracks.

  He steps forward and cups my cheek. “I know it isn’t the same, but I figured we could try it out anyway. It’ll be good for a laugh.”

  “It isn’t the same,” I agree. “This is better because of you. And also because fifteen-year-old me wouldn’t have had the balls to tell you that I’m so going to beat you down that slide.”

  “You wish.” He scoffs as we rush to the line.

  We climb up a tall staircase, smiling and laughing.

  “On three,” he says when we’re in position.

  I nod and he starts to count. “One, two—”

  I push off, giving myself a head start. He roars behind me and then chases me down.

  Giggling as I finish, I look over at Rhett expecting him to threaten a do-over, but he’s smiling just as big.

  We go on every single kiddie ride, which is particularly hilarious when Rhett tries to squeeze his long legs into the mini rollercoaster. He’s so large we can’t even sit together. He wins me an orange unicorn at the horse races, and I win a goldfish which I give to a little girl at the ping-pong toss.

  I’m eating my second cotton candy of the night when we wander back over to meet up with his friends. I can’t stop smiling.

  “Thank you.” I kiss him.

  He wipes a hand over his mouth. “Sticky.”

  I kiss him again, but this time he captures me and holds me tight as he devours my mouth.

  “Now we’re both sticky.”

  He smooths a hand down my hair and pulls me farther onto him so my head rests in the center of his chest.

  My heart flutters. I think I love you too.

  * * *

  The drive to Kansas City for the Frozen Four takes two days. Ginny’s dad has to hate us by now. We’ve taken over his radio and the excitement for the upcoming games has us all loud and giggly.

  When we pull into the hotel parking lot, he checks us in while we load up the luggage onto a trolley. We brought enough bags to stay a week instead of the three days the tournament runs. Mr. Scott lets out a long breath and stretches. “I’m assuming you girls have plans for dinner?”

  “We’re going to crash the team dinner,” she says, holding her hand out for the room key.

  “I’ll be at the hotel bar if you need me. Tell Adam to stop by and see his old man later.”

  Ginny kisses his cheek. “Can you take up the bags? We’re already late.”

  He shakes his head. “Have fun, girls.”

  The team is at a local restaurant next door to the hotel. Allison calls as we’re about to walk in. There’s a small waiting area between the doors and hostess stand.

  I hang back. “It’s my sister. I should answer. I’ll meet you guys in there.”

  “I’ll save you a seat,” Dakota says.

  “Hey,” I answer, holding the phone in front of my face.

  “Save me. Dad’s decided to get in shape and wants me to run around the neighborhood with him while he listens to nineties music from a speaker which he carries while we run. Why can’t he just use headphones like a normal person?”

  “Because then you couldn’t share the experience together.” I laugh, but there’s a little twinge of sadness. I haven’t seen my family in a few months and that never seems to get easier.

  “Where are you? Out to eat with your friends? You can call me later.”

  “Yes, but not in Valley.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Okay, don’t freak out, but I’m in Kansas City.”

  Her brow furrows. “What’s in…” Her mouth falls open. “No!”


  I nod. “Yes.”

  “Oh my gosh. I hate you. You’re at the Frozen Four, really?” There’s a whine to her tone. “What are you doing there?”

  “I came with some friends.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?” Her gaze narrows. “You don’t like hockey that much.”

  “I’m dating a hockey player,” I mumble.

  “I’m sorry. What was that?” Allison has some serious sass when she wants to, and right now—she wants to.

  “I’m dating a hockey player.”

  She’s grinning. “Don’t tell me. Let me guess which one.” She puts a finger to her chin. “Adam Scott.”

  “No way.”

  “Okay, okay. Don’t sound so offended. He’s cute.”

  “He’s dating one of my friends.”

  “Okay, then, Johnny Maverick?”

  “Rhett Rauthruss,” I say before she continues guessing.

  “Oh, hey, he’s from Minnesota.”

  “I know.”

  “Right,” she says. “How long have you been dating him? And can he get me a last-minute ticket to the final game? If you’re there, I bet Mom and Dad would let me come.”

  “Did you need something or were you just calling to catch up?”

  “Both, but I’ll cut to the chase since you have more exciting things to do.” She stops. “The first game is starting soon.”

  “Valley doesn’t play until later.”

  “You’re not even watching the other teams?” She sighs. “You so do not deserve to be there.”

  “Noted. So what did you want to tell me? I’m standing outside of the restaurant where the team is having dinner.”

  “Jealous times one thousand,” she mutters. “I was calling because I wanted to see if you were ready for your competition next weekend?”

  “Oh.” I expected her news to be something bigger. “Yeah. I’m so ready. I’m disappointed it’s the last one, but I’m adding a double—”

  “We’re coming!” She grins and looks around, then leans closer to her screen. “Mom and Dad want to fly down and surprise you. Don’t tell them I told you.”