Speechless (Pier 70 #3)

by Nicole Edwards

  While everyone else headed toward the tables where the food was being placed, Hudson remained where he was right beside Teague.

  “I hope you know I’m gonna pay you back for this,” Teague whispered.

  Promise?

  “Absolutely.”

  I can’t wait.

  Teague smirked.

  Hudson had no idea what Teague had in mind for him, but if he had to guess, it pertained to some sort of sexual activity. Since he was still trying to come up with creative ways to make Teague beg for more, he welcomed Teague shaking things up.

  Then again…

  He thought about Teague’s comment in the truck. Did the kid seriously want to top him? He’d never considered it with Teague, but … he was a little intrigued, he wouldn’t lie.

  He would definitely have to think more about that later.

  However, he did have to keep his eyes open for what Teague had in store for him. Teague could be incredibly bratty when he wanted to be. That was something that hadn’t changed—for which Hudson was grateful—and he knew the kid would give him a run for his money.

  I’m going to go wash up.

  “I’ll come with you,” Teague said.

  Hudson grinned to himself as he led the way back into the house, then down the hall to the guest bathroom. When Teague followed him inside, Hudson pushed the door closed, then flipped the lock.

  Teague shot him a sideways glance. “Don’t you think one surprise is enough for the day?”

  Turning Teague, Hudson pushed him up against the door, then went to his knees before him.

  “What are you doing?” Teague questioned, his voice low.

  Apologizing.

  “Oh. Well, in that case…” Teague reached for the button on his shorts.

  Hudson didn’t even have to do the work; Teague took care of it all for him.

  Happy birthday, baby.

  Epilogue

  Saturday, October 8th

  “I NEVER WOULDA pegged you for a hockey fan,” Teague told Hudson as they made their way out of the stands.

  Gannon had managed to get them all tickets—fucking fantastic ones at that—for the first home game of the season for the Austin Arrows. Turned out Gannon had an in with the Arrows’ owner, Phoenix Pierce.

  Who doesn’t like men on skates chasing pucks with sticks?

  Teague chuckled. That certainly wasn’t how he saw the game, but whatever.

  “We really goin’ to meet the players?” he asked, glancing over at Roan, who was walking along beside him.

  Teague was pretty sure Roan had a stick lodged up his ass tonight. He’d been incredibly weird, and no one seemed to know why. Granted, Roan wasn’t the most talkative all the time, but when he was having a good time, he could get carried away. That didn’t seem to be the case tonight.

  “Yep,” Dare said. “We get to meet ’em all tonight. You probably don’t remember, but a group of ’em came out to the lake back in June.” Dare glanced over at Roan. “I remember that because you suddenly had something come up, and I got to hang with them for the afternoon. Definitely your loss.”

  Roan didn’t even acknowledge Dare, which was interesting.

  Teague followed the group, walking close to Hudson as he did. Although he liked the idea of meeting the players, he really wanted to get home. He missed Charger and hated leaving the little guy for too long while he was out. Granted, Charger probably enjoyed being alone for a little while, but still. Teague wasn’t fond of it. Charger did have full run of both apartments since, as of last week, Teague had officially moved into Hudson’s bed. He hadn’t moved his things over, and they were still paying rent for both apartments above the marina, but he was sleeping like a baby right next to the big guy every single night. It was working out nicely for them just to utilize both places as they needed.

  “Hey, guys,” Phoenix greeted them when they made it to the corridor they’d been advised to go to. “Glad y’all could make it. Enjoy the game?”

  “Immensely,” Cam replied. “Your boys are lookin’ good out there this year.”

  Everyone knew that the Austin Arrows had had a shit season last year. Like, totally fucked up. They’d gone from winning the Stanley Cup the year before to not even making the playoffs last year. In fact, Teague was pretty sure Cam had said they’d come in last place. First to last. It’d been brutal. Teague only knew because Roan and Cam were hockey fans and they’d talked about it.

  “Not too shabby,” Phoenix agreed. “A shutout is definitely the way to start a season. Come on, I’ll introduce you to those that I can.”

  Everyone followed behind Cam and Gannon, but Teague noticed that Roan was slowly working his way to the back of the group. Before he could slip past him, Teague elbowed him in the arm.

  “Going somewhere? Looks to me like you’re trying to hide from someone.” Teague made a show of looking around, trying to see what, or who, Roan could possibly be running from.

  “Shut the hell up,” Roan muttered.

  Teague chuckled. “Not all that fun to get your balls busted, huh?”

  Phoenix spoke up. “Guys, I’m sure he doesn’t need an introduction, but this is Spencer Kaufman, the Arrows captain.”

  Cam shook Spencer’s hand, his face lighting up like this was Christmas or something.

  “And that over there is Kingston Rush, the man in the net.”

  All eyes slid to where Kingston was currently talking to a reporter.

  Phoenix started walking until he stopped at another group of men. He began rattling off names, introducing them to the players as his friends.

  “And this right here is the man of the night,” Phoenix noted. “Colton Seguine, defense. Colton, these are some friends of mine. They own a marina out on Lake Buchanan.”

  Something sparked in Colton’s eyes as he looked from face to face. Teague was fascinated watching as he searched for … something. Rightfully so, because those eyes continued to roam until they suddenly stopped.

  Right on Roan’s face.

  Well, son of a bitch.

  There was definitely some recognition there.

  Teague glanced over, noticing that Roan was staring at the floor, not making eye contact.

  Definitely something going on between those two.

  “Again, thanks for coming out tonight. Tickets for the games are yours whenever you want them,” Phoenix said to the group. “I’ve gotta go catch up with my husband and wife. I’m sure they’re looking for me.”

  Teague glanced at Hudson, trying to figure out if he’d heard Phoenix correctly.

  Husband and wife. Damn. How crazy did you have to be to sign up for that shit?

  Hudson shrugged as though reading Teague’s mind. Teague looked at Hudson’s hands when he signed: You ready to head out now?

  Teague smiled, then signed back so that he could keep the conversation between the two of them. The only thing I caught was head. Is that an offer?

  Be careful, kid. You don’t want to taunt me too much.

  “Oh, but I do,” he said, still grinning up at his man. “I most certainly do.”

  And that was exactly what Teague did for the entire drive back to the marina.

  He did it with a smile on his face, in fact.

  Oh, and also with Hudson’s dick in his mouth.

  Not for the first time, they’d both been speechless.

  In more ways than one.

  ♥▫▫▫▫♥▫▫▫▫♥

  I hope you enjoyed Hudson and Teague’s story. Speechless is the third book in the Pier 70 series. I started writing their story shortly after I finished Fearless because I felt it needed to be told. It wasn’t easy for me, but at the same time, it ended up being therapeutic during a particularly low point for me.. You can read more about Pier 70 and the sexy boys who run the marina here.

  Want to see some fun stuff related to the Pier 70 series, you can find extras on my website. Or how about what’s coming next? I keep my website updated with the books I’m working on, inc
luding the writing progression of what’s coming up for the Pier 70 series.

  Want a simple, fast way to get updates on new releases? If you’re in the U.S., you can also sign up for text messaging - just text NICOLE to 64600 or fill out the form here. I promise not to spam your phone. This is just my way of letting you know what’s happening because I know you’re busy, but if you’re anything like me, you always have your phone on you.

  If you want to see what’s going on with me each week, sign up for my weekly Hot Sheet! It’s a short, entertaining weekly update of things going on in my life and that of the team that supports me. We’re a little crazy at times and this is a firsthand account of our antics.

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  And, as always, thank you so much for reading. I hope you’ll be able to leave an honest review as this is the best way to share your thoughts about the book with others.

  ♥▫▫▫▫♥▫▫▫▫♥

  Dear Reader,

  This book touched on some very sensitive subjects, including suicide and depression, all of which should not be taken lightly.

  If you or someone that you know suffers from depression or has thoughts of suicide, please, I encourage you to seek professional help.

  If you are in crisis, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

  http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

  For more information or resources on suicide prevention:

  American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

  http://www.afsp.org

  Acknowledgments

  I have to thank my family first, for putting up with my craziness. From my sudden outbursts when I think of something that needs to be added or when I question why one of the characters did what they did, to the strange hours that I keep and the days on end when I’m MIA because I’m under deadline or just engrossed in a story… Y’all are incredibly tolerant of me and for that, I am forever grateful. I love you with all that I am.

  My street team – The Naughty & Nice Posse. Ladies, your daily pimping and support fills my heart with so much love. You are a blessing to me, each and every one of you.

  My beta readers, Chancy and Denise. Ladies, I’m not sure thanks will ever be enough. However, not only are you the ones who catch the weird things and ask the bigger questions, you’ve both become my friends and you keep me going.

  My copyeditor, Amy. Punctuation and grammar… well, that’s not my strong suit. But it is yours and you are truly remarkable at what you do. You simply amaze me and I am so glad that I found you.

  Nicole Nation 2.0 for the constant support and love. This group of ladies has kept me going for so long, I’m not sure I’d know what to do without them.

  And, of course, YOU, the reader. Your emails, messages, posts, comments, tweets… they mean more to me than you can imagine. I thrive on hearing from you, knowing that my characters and my stories have touched you in some way keeps me going. I’ve been known to shed a tear or two when reading an email because you simply bring so much joy to my life with your support. I thank you for that.

  About Nicole

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nicole Edwards lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, their three kids, and four rambunctious dogs. When she’s not writing about sexy alpha males, Nicole can often be found with her Kindle in hand or making an attempt to keep the dogs happy. You can find her hanging out on Facebook and interacting with her readers - even when she’s supposed to be writing.

  Nicole also writes contemporary/new adult romance as Timberlyn Scott.

  Nicole would love to hear from you!

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from:

  Never Say Never

  Sniper 1 Security, #2

  Nicole Edwards

  Gay romance

  M/M interaction

  Release Date: August 18, 2015

  Ryan Trexler has devoted his entire life to his family’s security business. And now that he’s slated to take over the reins for the company, RT knows that his life is only going to get more complicated. Add in the fact that he’s lusting over one of the men who works for him and RT knows that there are some serious tough times ahead.

  Zachariah Tavoularis—nicknamed Z—has been employed by Sniper 1 Security for a decade. Despite being known as the most loyal enforcer outside of family, Z also has a reputation of being quite the playboy, though that was based more on rumor than fact. When an assignment comes up that forces the two of them to work together, Z knows it’s time to show RT he’s not the man he thinks he is.

  Can they complete the mission, despite the fact that it puts them in a tenuous situation, bringing them closer than either of them ever expected? And will Z allow RT to convince him that they can never be together, no matter how much they both want it?

  Prologue

  Three years ago

  “What the hell were you thinking?” Ryan yelled, unable to contain the anger that surged through him as he stared back at the man who was responsible for getting two of Ryan’s enforcers killed in recent days.

  Kevin’s answering stare was blank, lacking any emotion whatsoever.

  “You blew their cover and damn near got Trace and Z killed! Why the fuck would you do that?”

  Still no answer.

  Ryan thrust his hands through his hair, tugging hard on the shaggy blond strands as he turned on his heel and paced away from Kevin, hoping to keep from wrapping his fingers around the man’s throat and…squeezing.

  How could someone be so fucking reckless? So careless? So goddamn stupid?

  It was almost as though Kevin didn’t give a shit that he’d fucked up so epically. That was one of the main reasons Ryan had held off on having this conversation until today—four days after the shit had hit the fan.

  Unfortunately, he couldn’t put it off any longer or he’d likely do just that.

  “Are we done here?” Kevin asked, his tone hard.

  Ryan turned to look at him, stunned by how uncouth the man was being. “No, we’re not fucking done here, Kevin. Were you not thinking? Did you not consider what the hell you were doing? The lives you were putting in jeopardy?”

  When Kevin didn’t respond, Ryan had to hold back the frustrated groan that wanted to break free. Not sure what to say or do, Ryan walked behind his desk, but he didn’t sit down. He couldn’t. There was too much anger built up, too many emotions tearing him in a million different directions. Disappointment, fear, frustration. Incredulity. A fucking ton of incredulity.

  “Look,” Kevin began. “I’ve got shit to do. So if you’re done ripping me a new one, we can talk about this at home later.”

  Ryan stared back at the man standing before him, a man Ryan no longer recognized although they’d been dating for the better part of three years. He’d met Kevin in this very same building nearly five years ago when Kevin had come to work for Sniper 1 Security.

  “No, we won’t,” Ryan countered hotly. “I… Fuck! I don’t even know what the hell to say to you right now.”

  “Don’t say anything,” Kevin told him, a hint of concern echoing in the words. “Let’s talk when you calm down.”

  “That’s the thing, Kevin. You don’t fucking get it. I won’t calm down. You almost got two people killed.”

  Kevin’s usually pale skin heated, his cheeks turning crimson. “I did what I thought was best. Are you sure you’re not just pissed because it was Trace and Z?”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Ryan squared his shoulders and faced off with Kevin. “It wouldn’t’ve mattered who the hell it was.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Kevin snapped, his green eyes glittering with menace. “I’ve seen the way you look at Z. You’ve got a hard-on for the guy. Even I can see that.”

  “You don’t know what the fuck you’re t
alkin’ about.” Ryan knew this conversation was going nowhere, but leave it to Kevin to turn it around on him. For the three years they’d been dating, Kevin had grown more and more insecure with every passing day. He was jealous, so much so that Ryan had heard a few offhanded comments from others recently. It was clear that Kevin had allowed emotion to interfere with his ability to do his job and he could no longer be objective. That or… Holy fuck. “Did you do this on purpose?” Ryan took a step closer. “Did you fucking blow their cover because you’re jealous?”

  “What? No!” Kevin’s gaze dropped to the floor, a clear sign of guilt.

  “Christ. I can’t believe I didn’t see this before.” Ryan paced away from Kevin, fury causing his hands to shake. He suddenly didn’t want to be in the same room with him.

  “See what?” Kevin retorted, his voice louder this time. “You can’t see a goddamn thing, RT. You’re too busy worrying about your precious career, your stupid job, this stupid company. You don’t give a shit about me at all, do you?”

  Ryan stared at Kevin in disbelief. Three years. Three fucking years he’d given to this man, trying his best to make it work despite their differences, despite Kevin’s jealousy, his anger, his short fuse. “This is my company, Kevin! Those people”—Ryan stabbed his finger toward the door—“are my employees. I owe it to them to be worried about their safety.”

  “Them? What about me?” Kevin yelled. “Aren’t you the slightest bit worried about me?”

  “Of course I am.” Ryan couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. It was one they’d gone round and round about many times before. Kevin would never be satisfied with the fact that Ryan had to worry about someone other than him.

  They continued to stare at one another, and during those interminably long seconds, Ryan felt his world crumbling around him. Not that he hadn’t been anticipating it. For the last few months, he’d been trying to find a way to break things off with Kevin. He’d given the relationship everything he had. But now he no longer had anything left to give.