Puck Battles: A Complete Sports Romance Series

by Kristen Echo

  “This memory will replace that awkward one.” He bent over her and kissed her spine. “You are amazing. I’ll grab a cloth and be right back.”

  Meagan had no words to describe how she felt. Elated, sore, overjoyed, exhausted, and confused all seemed fitting. Her breathing had yet to return to normal when Cameron got out of bed. She shook her head and pinched herself as she stared at his ass. She’d just made love with Cameron Smith, again. It didn’t seem real, but the tenderness between her thighs proved it had happened.

  He returned with a wet cloth. He cleaned her with the rag and followed the wet trail with kisses. Once he was satisfied, he crawled under the covers. She settled against his chest. The gentle beat of his heart lulled her to sleep.

  Chapter 11

  She woke up alone. An empty bed was an unpleasant and unexpected greeting. Meagan rolled over; the sheets were cold. He’d left a long time ago. Her mind raced to replace the used feeling that came over her. Deep down, his departure made sense because if April woke up and found her and Cameron together, she’d be confused. Regardless of his reason, she was hurt.

  Covering her naked body with the covers provided little comfort. She should never have expected more than sex. She blamed the cuddle and sweet talk for confusing her. He’d gotten what he wanted. A quick and easy fuck. She pounded her head against the pillows. She was an idiot. Hailey and her family believed she was naïve, and her actions proved them all right. She’d been giving him her heart when all he wanted was an orgasm. He’d told her as much, but she hadn’t been listening.

  “Stupid girl!” She screamed into the pillows.

  A cheeky smile and the best buns on the planet had clouded her judgment. They hadn’t even known each other a week, and she’d opened her legs. She wished it was her day off, but she had to face him. The pillows smelled like him. The musky scent of sex lingered in the air and on her skin. Meagan rolled out of bed to escape the memories. She needed a shower.

  Wrapping the blankets around her torso, she walked to the closet to retrieve her robe. Her thighs ached from overuse and the muscles in her arms and quads burned from her workout. An entire body reminder of their time together. She padded her way to the washroom and turned on the shower. The warm water soothed her muscles but did little to calm her mind.

  She sat down and let the water wash away her sins. It was dumb to get so worked up over his absence. They weren’t a couple. Yet it bothered her because she was falling for him. Her efforts to remain aloof had failed. She loved every minute of his company.

  The sex was mind-blowing, but she loved the times when they were playing with April the most. That made it all worse. If it was only the sex, she could cut that part out and not do it again, but it was everything. He was the complete package. She loved the way he laughed, the way he joked around with his daughter and doted on her. She loved his smiles and how he said inappropriate things. He had so many remarkable attributes, not to mention the hockey star status.

  What the heck was she supposed to do?

  “Meagan, I have to go potty.” April knocked on the door.

  She turned off the water and wrapped a towel around her body. “Sorry,” she said, unlocking the door and opening it.

  April rushed in, pulled her panties down and sat on the toilet. “Ahhh.”

  She laughed and left to give the girl some privacy. The house was quiet, except for the banging in the kitchen. She tightened the towel and raced to her room. The last thing she wanted was to see him while she was half naked and wet. She chuckled at her own foolishness as she closed the door to her room. He’d seen her fully naked and wet already. A good laugh helped ease her inner turmoil.

  Once dressed, she made her way to the kitchen. Cameron wasn’t there. It was for the best, but disappointment followed. She wasn’t sure what they’d say to each other, but she wanted to see him. April sat at the table, coloring in her book with a bowl of half-eaten cereal beside her.

  “Where’s your dad?”

  “He left for a run while you were getting dressed,” she said.

  Meagan poured a cup of coffee and eyed the schedule. Travel day was circled in red and double underlined. She expected to be watching April for the next few days, but it would depend on whether he trusted her. His decision would have a major impact on their relationship moving forward. No matter how much she liked him and wanted to make love again if he didn’t trust her then she wouldn’t do it. It would be like a smack in the face after all they’d done.

  She joined April at the table and helped her finish her breakfast. Once the picture was complete, they taped it to the wall and got her ready for the day. April sat on the floor completely still while Meagan tied her hair in a French braid.

  “Do I look like a princess?”

  “Not at all. I’d say super hero ready for her next mission. Is that okay?” Meagan sat back and admired her work as April zoomed around the room. “You know your dad’s hockey team is playing away from home tomorrow.”

  Her arms lowered, and she shrugged her tiny shoulders. “I know. I go to all his games. He says I’m his good luck girl.” Her smile filled her entire face.

  “You’ll always be my good luck girl.” Cameron leaned against the doorway. His head was covered with a toque and his cheeks were reddened from the cold.

  “How was the run?” The question was inconsequential, but better than blurting out her emotions. The sting from his cut and run routine was still too fresh.

  “Great. I’m ready to take on the world.” He batted his fists against his chest like a gorilla and April giggled. “I need to get out of these wet clothes.” He left and Meagan exhaled the breath she’d been holding in.

  They’d made love more than once, he’d seen her naked and he still made her nervous. She ran her sweaty palms on her jeans. She hated that she couldn’t school her emotions like her sister. One look at her and everyone could tell she was a love-struck fool.

  “You are all set for whatever the day has in store for you,” she said. She returned to the kitchen to check the schedule for the millionth time.

  Cameron was bent over, rummaging through the fridge. Her steps halted and drool formed at the corner of her mouth. Her new obsession, his ass, was on display. She sucked back her spit just as he turned around.

  “Good morning.”

  “Yeah.” Her cheeks flushed as he stared at her. “So, about the schedule. I don’t see what you have planned for April. Is she going with you? Is she going to daycare?”

  “She’s been coming with me. I assumed we’d do the same. It will give you a chance to go through the resumes and start interviewing.”

  His words confirmed his lack of trust and that he wanted her gone. Yesterday, he’d told her not to rush and now he couldn’t get rid of her fast enough. A blow to the stomach would have winded her less.

  He moved towards her and she backed up. The island prevented her escape. He touched her arm, and she flinched. “What’s wrong?”

  “You don’t trust me.” She straightened her spine and looked him right in the eyes. “How am I supposed to feel about that?”

  Cameron closed his eyes and exhaled. “It’s not you.” He caressed her chin, and she pushed his hand away, refusing his playful touches. “Is this about last night?”

  “Either you trust me or you don’t. This is not complicated. I’m here to take care of April, not massage your ego. If you have a flight to catch, then I’ll go pack her bags.” She turned and marched away.

  “Meagan. Meagan, wait!”

  She was too angry and hurt to stay there. Making love hadn’t brought them closer. It was just sex. She’d been a fool to think it had been anything else. Meagan entered April’s room and headed for the closet. At the top of a shelf she couldn’t reach, she found the luggage. When she came out of the closet Cameron was kneeling next to his daughter.

  “I will take you to daycare in a bit, and I won’t see you for a couple of days. It’s time for you to stay home, baby.”

 
; “No. I don’t want to be away from you,” April cried.

  The waterworks followed. Cameron tried to ease her fears, and he had a great answer for everything, but April wouldn’t listen to reason. Her arms wrapped around his neck and Meagan could tell she never wanted to let go.

  “You’ll have way more fun here with Meagan. Traveling with Dad and the team is no place for little girls.” He wiped away her tears and used a tissue on her runny nose.

  “But I’m your good luck girl. You need me.” She sniffled again and rested her head against her dad’s shoulder.

  “I love you, April. You will always be needed and loved no matter where I am. Damn, this is hard.” He hugged her close.

  “You know I have a special surprise waiting for you after daycare today. I wasn’t going to tell you about it until your dad left, but maybe I’ll spill the beans now. Do you want to know now or later, April?”

  April perked up at the mention of surprise. “Now. I want to know now, please.”

  “It involves your favorite food in the whole wide world.” She stretched her arms wide.

  “Ice-cream!” She let go of her dad and jumped up and down. “Can we have some now?”

  Meagan laughed. “Not until later. It’s a special treat on travel days only. Do you think you’d like that after daycare?”

  “Yes.” April launched herself into Meagan’s arms.

  She cradled the little girl and smiled. Her eyes landed on Cameron.

  “Thank you,” he mouthed, but she snubbed him.

  This wasn’t about him. She had said those things for April. Meagan couldn’t stand to see the little girl cry. He’d made it clear he didn’t trust her. Changing his mind, hadn’t changed his initial reaction or lessened her pain.

  The next hour, Cameron played with his daughter. His travel gear was ready to go; he only added a few clean clothes. She offered to drive April to daycare, but he turned down her offer. He left, and she opened her laptop. Working from the kitchen table, she opened the emails from the agencies. He wanted a new nanny, and he’d have one sooner than later.

  She sorted the resumes into various piles, narrowing down the list of potential candidates. She created a questionnaire and emailed it to the ten most qualified individuals. With any luck, she’d have her replacement within the week. All he’d have to do would be to interview her top picks, and she’d be out of his hair forever.

  Cameron returned and slammed the door. He looked livid. “What the hell is with the cold shoulder?”

  “Have a good trip,” she said, returning her focus to the screen.

  The laptop lid closed, and he gripped her chin, tilting her face towards him. “I missed something major here, and I need you to fill in the blanks. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing. There is nothing going on. Not anymore.” She removed his hand and stood. “I can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me.”

  “Shit.” He removed his toque and tossed it on the table. “I’m trying. I am fucking trying, Meagan. Cut me some slack.” Cameron shrugged off his jacket and hung it on the back of a chair.

  She didn’t answer. She stood there incapable of moving as if concrete had been poured over her feet. Her heart shattered as he paced the room.

  “I have a hard time trusting women. It’s even worse when it involves my kid. It’s not personal.”

  She snickered. “We shouldn’t have slept together. It was a mistake that won’t happen again.”

  “I want it to happen again,” he said, closing the gap between them.

  “I’m not the person you want. You were clear about no expectations and no relationship. That’s not me. We’re better off stopping before anyone gets hurt.” Before she got hurt.

  His fingers wrapped around her arms. “You’re the woman I want. I told you that already.”

  “But you don’t trust me. How can you make love and want someone you don’t trust?” Her eyes burned with tears.

  “I said the wrong thing. That happens all the fucking time. I trust you. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be leaving my daughter with you, day in and day out. I wouldn’t have fallen asleep with you.”

  “You didn’t sleep with me. You hot tailed it out of there faster than a speeding bullet. It’s okay; I get it. You don’t want to get close. It all makes sense.” She blinked back the moisture.

  His lips covered hers. The kiss was hot, hard and demanding. “Listen to me and don’t interrupt. You fell asleep in my arms and I drifted off, listening to your soft snore. I left an hour before April woke up. That’s the first time I’ve slept with anyone since Nicole. I trust you more than I have anyone else in a long time. Meagan, I like you and I want to keep exploring this relationship. There I said it. Are you happy? What do I need to say to fix this?” His chest heaved and the vein in his neck throbbed. He’d said his piece and her eyes nearly bugged out.

  “So, you like me.” She placed her hand on his hips and smiled.

  Cameron laughed. “Yeah. I do.”

  They lunged for each other and kissed. He picked her up, and they twisted into a tangled mess of body parts. Their lips mashed together, their tongues collided and their hands roamed everywhere. He’d called their workout a quickie, but that was slow and controlled compared to the ravage speed with which they tore each other’s clothes off now.

  Her ass hit the table, and he thrust inside her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he plunged deeper. Each time reaching further until her toes curled. Their mouths never separated as they chased their climax. Meagan found it first when his fingers pressed against her clit. She soared and gripped him closer. Cameron doubled his pace and came all over her stomach and thighs.

  “That was intense,” he breathed against her ear.

  “Yeah,” she replied, while attempting to catch her breath.

  He hugged her for a long moment before pulling away. His lips brushed over hers and he smiled. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I am not ready to tell April about us. My girl has been through a lot and she means everything to me.”

  Meagan pressed her lips to his again. “We don’t have to tell anyone. At least not until I find you a new nanny. I want no one to get the wrong idea. I like you and we’ll figure it out. Our relationship; our rules.”

  “I like that. So we’re one hundred percent clear, I like you too.”

  The kiss that followed was hungry, but tender. A kiss that declared the beginning of something. Labels be damned. Her heart filled with hope and maybe love.

  Chapter 12

  The first night had been miserable for April and Meagan. The little girl had two nightmares and ended up sleeping in Meagan’s arms. Even then, the pair had only managed a few hours of rest. When Cameron called the following morning, she spared him the horror story. He had to concentrate on the game he was being paid to play.

  With him gone, the house felt empty even though he called constantly which was nice and annoying. The flirting was even more over the top on the phone and she was counting down the hours until she’d see him again. Their day unfolded as any other. April behaved like a typical three-and-a-half-year-old. A little cranky, but otherwise unscathed by the lack of sleep. Meagan’s curiosity grew about the dreams and whether April remembered them. She hadn’t asked, but if things continued, she’d have to find out.

  The west coast game was televised past April’s bedtime, but Meagan watched Cameron and his team skate their hearts out. The defense had their hands full, and Martin Thomas let in two goals in the first period. Trailing behind for most of the game, their frustration got the better of them. They played like a different team. At the top of the third, they were down; four to two. They switched the goalies and Benjamin Wilder covered the net. In the first thirty seconds a shot landed in the upper corner, widening the gap. The team didn’t need the win to secure their playoff seat, but every game and every point counted. They lost, unable to turn things around. An hour later, Cameron sent a text saying he’d call in the morning and wished her sweet dreams. />
  That never happened.

  Their nights got progressively worse without Cameron. When April woke up screaming, nothing Meagan tried helped to console her. Her tiny body shook with fear and the tears poured non-stop. She debated waking Cameron, but there was nothing he could do from hundreds of miles away. Something bad had happened to this perfect little angel. Each sob sliced into Megan’s heart.

  As the sunshine streamed into April’s room, Meagan opened her eyes and stretched. Her arm was asleep, and she removed it carefully so as not to rouse the sleeping child. Her phone sat on the kitchen table. She wavered on the best course of action. She went back and forth for over an hour, trying to decide. They both needed a good night’s sleep. Her fingers danced over the keys and she pressed down.

  “Hey.” Cameron answered after the fourth ring. “What time is it?” His voice was laced with sleep, making her regret her decision.

  “Seven-ish. I stopped looking at the clock after April’s third nightmare. We had a rough night.”

  “Shit. Is she okay? How are you holding up?”

  She heard the ruffling of sheets as she played with the handle on the cup of coffee in front of her. “We’re sleep-deprived but otherwise fine. What’s going on? I can’t help if I don’t know all the facts.” She waited a moment, but he said nothing. “Cameron, she’s scared of being alone. What caused her separation anxiety?”

  Silence filled the line, and Meagan thought he’d hung up. “Hello? I imagine it’s not a beautiful story, but I care about her, and I want to help. I swear I’m not trying to be nosy. Everything you tell me is strictly confidential.”

  “This isn’t a conversation I want to have over the phone. I’m in Detroit for the game tonight. Do you have a passport? If I send you guys tickets, would you mind flying down and spending the night?”