by Kristen Echo
“Yes,” he said without hesitation.
“Do you want me to stay and take care of April?”
“Yes.”
“Then I say yes. Heck, ya!” She gripped his arms, pulled him closer and kissed him. She loved working for Mr. Northcote and Connie, but they didn’t need her. Cameron and April did, and that’s where she wanted to be.
They walked back into the kitchen all smiles and Cameron’s mom noticed. “You staying?” She asked, rolling her suitcase towards the door.
“I am. It was great meeting you Mrs. Smith. I wish you could stay longer.” They had started off on the wrong foot but found their way. Cameron was right about his mom being amazing. Her love for her son and granddaughter were evident. She was a straight shooter and Meagan respected her.
“I’m glad you’re staying, and I’ll sleep better knowing my family is well looked after. Mrs. Smith is for strangers. Call me Mom or Nana from here on out,” she said and pulled Meagan into a big bear hug. April and Cameron joined in, creating one big family hug. There was enough love in the room to blow the roof off the house.
“Mom, are you sure I can’t drive you to the airport?” Cameron offered for the tenth time that morning.
“Nah. Spend time here.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek and smoothed her lipstick away. “I like the swanky limo service better than your driving and your dad will be picking me up when I get home. Happy Easter. I love you.”
April cried as she closed the door, and Cameron cradled her in his arms. “I don’t want her to go,” she sobbed, wiping her snot on his shoulder.
“Nana will be back soon, and Papa will be with her. So, that will mean even more hugs.” He squeezed her tight while tickling her.
“But, Easter’s not over. We have nothing fun here.” April wriggled out of her dad’s arms and pouted at the table. Her little arms crossed over her chest in the most adorable way.
“I have an idea. Let’s go somewhere you’ve never been,” Meagan said. She paused to gain more courage because she wasn’t sure what Cameron would think about her suggestion. “My parents are hosting a humongous Easter celebration dinner. There’s lots of food. Tons of decorations. Plenty of treats and extra goodies. My mom also knows all the best Easter Bunny hiding places. What do you think?”
In light of the key giving and their new permanent living arrangements, she wanted them to spend time with her family. The Rylen’s were a lively bunch. Fun and loving when they weren’t being overprotective jerks.
April stopped pouting and looked at her dad. “Can we, Daddy?”
Cameron shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “If it will make you happy, I am always game. Meagan, do you think they’ll have us?”
“At this point, I could bring the entire city and they’d be overjoyed as long as I’m there.” Meagan grabbed her phone off the counter and scrolled through her text messages. She’d reread the apology from her mom at least a dozen times already. “My mom said she was sorry for the way they behaved and begged me to come. I’d really like for us all to be together this holiday.”
“Then, we’ll all be together,” he said, sitting down at the table with April. “What time should we go?”
“Anytime. It’s an all-day event.” Meagan felt the excitement bubbling inside her. Her boyfriend and his daughter were about to spend the holidays with her parents and her sister. She felt like she’d crossed the threshold into adulthood.
Her family was often domineering, but they had hearts of gold. Her parents loved kids and their home always had an open-door policy wherever they’d lived. Kids from all over the base would visit. It was total craziness, but she couldn’t wait for Cameron and April to get to see another side of her.
When they arrived at her parent’s house, Cameron let the girls go in first. Cars filled the driveway and half the city block. The nineteen-fifties bungalow was similar to Cameron’s only much older. Meagan didn’t knock and walked right in. The house smelled amazing with a mix of turkey, all the trimmings and sugar pie. As expected, the walls were covered in their childhood Easter creations. Every picture had been painted with love and an unskilled hand. It was far from magazine beautiful, but it was homey.
“Hello, I’m here,” she announced, helping April take off her coat.
Her mother flounced out of the kitchen, wearing an apron covered in chocolate. “I am so thrilled. Hi, baby.” She gave Meagan a friendly rub on the arm and crouched down in front of April. Her brown eyes lit up like the Christmas lights still strung outside their house. “And you must be April.”
April wrapped her arms around her neck and hugged her. “I am and I like your house.”
“Thank you for having us over,” Cameron said, hanging up all their jackets in the closet.
“We are happy to have you all here. Meagan, your father, sister and most of the city are downstairs. Make yourself at home. April, I am certain that the Easter Bunny knew you were coming here and left a trail of treats for you. Would you like to find them?” Her mother took the little girl’s hand and led her towards the kitchen.
“Are you ready for this?” Meagan hip checked the hockey player until he smiled. “Relax.”
He tossed his arm over her shoulder. “Let’s do this.”
They walked down the stairs and the volume increased with every step. There were over six families crowded into her parent’s basement. She recognized all of them and smiled at her father who was knee deep in conversation. She spotted her sister by the bar and dragged Cameron over with her before the men could pounce on him and start the hockey inquisition.
“Hailey, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend.” Meagan loved being able to say that out loud.
Her sister turned and her eyes widened. She rubbed her chin and smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.” She held out her hand and Cameron shook it.
His face showed an equal spark of recognition, but he repeated Hailey’s words. Meagan sensed something was fishy, but never got the chance to ask. All too soon, they were bombarded with questions from every angle. People asked Cameron about the playoffs and his points this season. While she got questioned about school and her job.
The evening was a blast, but there was an awkwardness between Cameron and Hailey. Meagan couldn’t shake the feeling they knew each other or something because of the way they avoided each other all night. She never got the opportunity to ask Hailey because she left shortly after dessert and they followed not long after.
Once they tucked April into bed, Meagan rounded on Cameron. “What’s up with you and my sister?”
“Nothing. Why, what did she say?” He walked into his bedroom and pulled off his shirt.
“Don’t distract me with your sexy body. I want to know. Please don’t tell me you’ve slept with her?” She bit her nails and closed her eyes. She’d die if he said yes.
Two large hands caressed her arms. “I have never and will never sleep with your sister. The truth is we met before tonight, but it’s her story to tell. Not mine. Booze may have been involved. I’m not saying anything more on the subject. So, you may as well get naked and let me lick some of that chocolate sauce off your tits.”
“Cameron, really?”
He dropped his pants and his hard cock bobbed against his stomach. “Yes, I really want to smear your entire body with that stuff and lick it off you. Why do you think I asked for an extra container to bring home?”
Meagan chuckled and didn’t stop him from unzipping the back of her dress, or from kissing her shoulder after he pulled the straps down. “You’re seriously not telling me,” she whined as he lowered the dress over her breasts and his hands cupped her globes. She felt the scruff from his chin against her shoulder blades as he shook his head. “Fine, I’ll ask Hailey tomorrow.”
Tonight, she planned to make love to her man. Over and over again. Her dress hit the floor and his tongue drew a line down her back. He removed her panties and stockings while kissing and licking every exposed inch. He paid extra attention between her legs. T
he back and the front. By the time she collapsed on the bed, she’d already had two orgasms.
“I love you,” he said as he crawled on the bed and in between her open legs.
She lifted her hips as he sank deep inside her. “I love you more.” Meagan’s hands roamed his backside. Their bodies pressed together, and their lips joined. Every part of them was connected. “I’m on the pill, you know. You could finish inside. If you wanted to.”
“You feel so good.” Cameron rocked into her until she couldn’t feel anything but him. “I’m coming soon.”
“Oh… Ohhh,” she moaned as his thrusts reached a place of pure delight. A moment later, he exploded inside her, filling her with his release. Another wave of euphoria cascaded over her. She’d never come harder. She clung to him and kissed him again.
“We’re together from here on out. This is your home, and this is your bed. Are you good with that?” His eyes stared into hers as the meaning of his words registered.
He intended to keep her there all night, every night, and she was good with that. She had a permanent place in his bed and in his heart. She nodded and smiled. He wrapped her long hair around his fist and pulled her face closer, sealing their fate with a kiss.
Can’t get enough of Cameron and Meagan’s story? An extended epilogue is available on my website in the Bonus section: Bonus Extended Epilogue.
AUTHOR NOTE
Thank you for reading High Sticking. Each book in this series has been a blast to write, and I hope you had fun reading it.
If you didn’t get enough of Cameron and Meagan then head over to my website and check out the bonus content area where you can claim your extended epilogue. It’s exclusively available to members of my mailing list. Subscribe and get access to all the bonus content.
I would be honored and grateful if you chose to leave a review. I read all my reviews and enjoy getting feedback about my writing. If you want more hockey stories then please leave a review and let me know you love the series and can’t wait for more.
The Puck Battle Series are written as standalone books that can be read in any order. That said, the characters do make appearances again in the other books. Book Six, Puck Master is coming out soon. Follow me on Amazon and Facebook so you don’t miss out.
Joe Larson is a hockey legend and a hero on the ice. Hailey Rylen is a hero off it. They both know what they want and how to get it. Their paths cross and the unexpected follows. This faced pace romance is bound to score.
Flip the page to find out more in the Puck Battle Series Book Six—Puck Master.
SNEAK PEEK
PUCK MASTER
Puck Battle Series Book Six
Puck Master is a New Adult Sports Romance and is intended for a mature audience. Follow the NHL team on their pursuit for love and the Stanley Cup.
One moment can change everything.
Hailey Rylen isn’t afraid of the unexpected. After spending four years serving her country, nothing scares her because she’s already lost too much. A one-night stand with a gorgeous, cocky know it all shouldn’t be life altering. He’s hot and thinks she’s a challenge. She is; way more than he can handle which is why she split.
She has no regrets. Life moves on with or without them. Her new job as an investigator brings her face to face with the man whose mouth she can’t forget. Only he’s not a random stranger she can ignore. He’s Joe Larson, an NHL legend and her sister’s hero.
Hockey playoffs should be his focus, but his eyes are on her. Neither want a relationship but can’t ignore the physical attraction. His swagger has women throwing their adoration his way, but they don’t know him. Behind the charm, he’s as broken as she is. The challenges mount, the surprises keep coming, and the pressure builds as she tries to solve a case while he shoots for the Stanley Cup.
Can they pull off the impossible and find love at the same time?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristen Echo is a lover of romance stories. She writes passionate love stories that are both sexy and dirty. Her books will make you feel more than a little naughty in all the right places.
She lives in Manitoba, Canada where she spends any free time with her two lovely little girls and the love of her life. When she's not writing, you can find her contemplating life’s mysteries with her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, or with her nose stuck in a sizzling hot romance.
The Puck Battle Series is a sports romance series and as mentioned, she’s a Canadian, so of course she loves hockey. The Winnipeg Jets are her home team and will forever hold a special place in her heart. But her true love is football. Sorry, Canadian Football League—she’s a diehard NFL fan. Blue and orange are her colors.
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Stay connected with Kristen at:
Website: https://www.echoromance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkristenecho/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KristenEcho
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kristen-Echo/e/B01KNDM63W/
Email: [email protected]
OTHER BOOKS BY KRISTEN ECHO:
Standalone book: Deceptive People – A Romantic Suspense Novella
Puck Battle Series Intro Novella: Player Substitution
Puck Battle Series Book One: Holiday Face-off
Puck Battle Series Book Two: Poke Checking
Puck Battle Series Book Three: Wrist Shot
Puck Battle Series Book Four: Lucky Goal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to all my friends and helpful folks in the online writer groups I’ve joined. We are making it happen and living our dreams. The indie writing community is full of amazing people, and Bobby K you are a shining star. This hockey series continues because of all the help and advice I’ve received along the way.
A special thank you to my street team for your fabulous feedback and for being in my corner. This book came together quickly and if it wasn’t for my hubby and Eryn B. it wouldn’t have turned out this great. You help me stay sane.
My book covers rock and they wouldn’t be so brilliant without Rebeca. She takes my imagination and brings it to life. Rebecacovers you nailed it again!
I make mistakes and Michael Pilgrim finds them. Your edits, comments and support help turn my books into the best version they can be. Thank you for catching all my errors. And…LOL
As always, thanks to my family for their enduring support. I love you with all my heart, forevermore.
A final thank-you to my ARC team and the fans. Your support makes writing fun! I never dreamed I’d be a writer who had fans, but your emails and reviews make my dreams come true every day.
Big Hugs
&
Happy reading to all!
