Chapter 2
Seb
Audrey, cute brunette sitting beside me, looks positively forlorn. I’m overcome by the urge to pull her into my arms and tell her it will all be okay. I’ll fight off every one of her negative thoughts like I fight off pucks each night. I’m a goaltender; I’ll tend to her heart.
I always thought love at first sight was a fairytale. Something made up. But from the moment I laid eyes on her, my heart thumped nearly out of my chest, trying to fit itself to hers.
Audrey Turner is the love of my life. Sure, I barely know her. There’s plenty of time. We have the rest of our lives to get to know each other, though.
But when the plane lands and I pull out my phone to ask for her number, the damn thing rings with a call.
Heaving a sigh, I answer. “I can’t talk right now. I’m still on the plane.”
“Dude, Dad is about to blow a gasket,” Luke says. “You need to get here, like, ASAP.”
“We’re literally on the tarmac waiting for our gate,” I tell my brother. I send Audrey an apologetic look, but she’s not looking at me, putting away her Kindle and getting ready to go.
Luke jammers on in my ear. I grimace, trying to speed him along.
We’re in the third row, so we’re let off the plane right away. Audrey stands and extracts her carry-on suitcase from the overhead compartment, then walks off the plane.
She doesn’t look back.
Fuck.
I hang up on Luke in the middle of his sentence, shoving my phone into my pocket. I jog down the jet bridge, trying to catch sight of my future wife.
But Audrey must have rocket fuel in her shoes because she’s nowhere to be found.
With a dark cloud over my head, I head to the baggage area. She’s not there, either. Grabbing my suitcase out of the carousel, I grab a ride-share and head to the hotel.
We’re in LA for the NHL draft. My brothers Luke and Joe are already playing in the league with me.
This year, it’s time for the youngest brother, Michael, to be drafted.
He’s projected to go high in the first round.
After all, he’s a Henry. Our grandfather, our dad, and two of our uncles all played at the highest level.
There’s photos of me as a newborn sleeping in the Stanley Cup.
I’ll be up close and personal with the Cup again. Soon. My team lost in the first round of the playoffs this year, but next season, that’s going to be our year.
When I get to the hotel, I head straight to the suites my dad reserved. Luke and I will be sharing a room while Mike and Joe have another. This isn’t a fun, relaxing trip, and there’s definitely no time to go cruising for a hookup; this week is for work.
While I’m in town, I have a meeting with my agent plus a few interviews to do. The NHL loves our family. After all, we’re basically a dynasty. And with Mike joining the ranks…
Luke gives me a one-armed hug and Joe gives me a nod from across the room. Dad is on his phone, barking away. Through it all, Mike is sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat, his eyes closed as he meditates. He’s always been good about blocking things out. Including us.
“How’s he doing?” I ask.
Luke shrugs. “Pretty good, all things considered.”
The night before I got drafted, I threw up. Twice.
And then when I was selected eighth overall, I nearly threw up on stage. I didn’t—but it was close. I had to do a lot of press after to assure them the nausea clearly visible on my face was actually excitement.
Which it was. Mostly.
There’s never been an option other than hockey. I love it, don’t get me wrong. I never had a chance not to love it. But it has always been the plan. I don’t know who I am without it. It’s a lot of pressure for me now at twenty-two. At eighteen, it was nearly overwhelming.
“I need a shower,” I mutter to Luke, who nods.
“We’ll grab a drink after,” he says.
After a quick refresh to get all the plane germs off of me, I head down to the bar. There’s a familiar brunette sitting at the end of the bar, reading.
My heart leaps. Could it be…?
She’s changed her clothes, too. Her dark brown curls have been let out of her ponytail, hanging loose down her back. She’s wearing denim shorts now, showing off her shapely legs, and a cotton tank top that highlights her generous curves.
If I thought she was hot on the plane, wearing sweats and a hoodie, she’s absolutely fucking gorgeous now.
My mouth goes dry as I make my way over to Audrey. Sliding onto the barstool beside hers, I wait for her to look over at me. Her eyes widen in shock.
“Fancy meeting you here,” I say casually.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” Her voice comes out hardly above a whisper. “Did you follow me?”
Quickly, I shake my head. “My family is staying here.”
The hotel is across the street form the LA arena, where the draft will be held tomorrow night.
“Me, too.”
“I’m glad to run into you again, though,” I admit.
“Oh?” Her eyebrows go up.
“I’d like to see you again.”
Audrey’s brow furrows. “But—you live in Minnesota. I’m in Boston.”
“Yeah, and for at least a little while, we’re both in LA. We should make the most of it.”
She looks me up and down with an assessing gaze. Finally, she closes her Kindle and takes a long gulp of her wine.
“Okay, then. Take me up to your room.”
“Really?” My voice cracks. I cough to cover it. I didn’t think that would work.
“Well, I’m sharing a room with my dad, so we can’t go back to mine,” she says seriously. “I’m presuming you have a room?”
Nodding, I reach for her hand. She laces her fingers through mine and I help her up. Drawing her close, I inhale the fresh scent of her perfume, something flowery and sweet. It’s been taunting me all day.
I cup her cheek. “Is this okay?” My mouth hovers above hers. I can feel her breath on my lips.
We need to be on the same page. If all she wants is one-time sex, I’ll happily give it to her. If she wants more… yes, please, sign me up.
Audrey rises to her tiptoes and seals her mouth over mine. Her lips dance over mine, a soft, sweet kiss.
I can’t help the groan that rumbles through my chest. I slide my hand into her hair, desperate to touch her.
She wrenches herself away, breathing hard. “Take me upstairs, Seb,” she whispers.
Her hand in mine, I practically drag her to the elevator—except she’s coming willingly. I punch the button for the eighth floor and, as soon as the doors closed around us, I’m on her again, kissing her breathless.
She shoves me against the elevator’s wall. She can bodycheck harder than some of my defensemen. I let her get all up in my crease in a way I don’t allow with just anyone. It takes everything in me not to strip her naked right then and there.
The bell chimes and we pour out of the elevator. My room is halfway down the hall. It takes me three tries to swipe the keycard before she takes pity on me and pulls the card from my grasp.
She gets it on the first try. I knew she was a genius.
Tumbling into the room, I fuse my lips to hers again.
She shoves me forward onto the first bed and I pull her down with me, our legs tangling until she maneuvers to straddle me. Audrey tugs at my t-shirt and I pull it over my head, tossing it somewhere on the floor.
She swallows loudly. “Oh, fuck.”
Worry ricochets through me. That’s not a woman’s usual reaction to me taking my shirt off.
“What’s wrong?”
She trails her fingers over the divots of my abs. “You’re fucking hot,” she says. Her hand moves lower, over the bulge in my athletic shorts. The stretchy material does a poor job concealing my erection.
“And that’s bad?” I ask carefully.
A devious smile spreads over her face. “It’s very, very good.”
She reaches for the hem of her tank top, pulling it over her head. She shakes out her hair, the curls bouncing. Her bra is cherry red lace. My cock jerks at the sight and her eyes widen. I have the inexplicable urge to bury my face in her chest. I think I might drool.
Audrey cocks her hip, thrusting her breasts forward. “See something you like?”
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” I blurt.
Drawing her down, I kiss her roughly. She settles over my lap, shifting over my cock. My hips flex up into hers and she lets out a shuddery breath before kissing me again.
My hands move to her hips, grinding her denim-covered pussy to cover my aching dick. Her hands rove over my chest and down my abs, then my arms. I flex for her, wanting to show off a bit. Her happy sigh makes all the hours sweating in the gym worth it.
As I slip my hand up towards the strap of her bra, she reaches behind her and unsnaps it, flinging it off. I cup her breasts in my hands, the perfect softness overflowing my palms.
Breaking the kiss, I lower my head and catch her nipple in my mouth, sucking until the bud pebbles beneath my tongue.
Audrey gasps and clutches the back of my head to her breast, grinding down on my cock.
Her hips swivel as she searches for friction, sending blood rushing through me to my throbbing erection.
I bite down gently on her nipple and she cries out, her head tossed back.
“Yeah, I’m going to need you to stop,” I tell her. My voice comes out low and rough like sandpaper.
Audrey arches an eyebrow. “Oh? You don’t want me to be loud?”
“Fuck, scream all you want.” My hands grasp her hips, pulling her down onto my cock. “Unless you want to ride me, I’m going to need you to stop bouncing on my dick before I come in my fucking pants.”
“What if I want to ride you?” She cocks her head.
My cock twitches, and I know she feels it against her core, because a slow smirk spreads over her face.
Tossing her to the bed beside me, I flick the button on her shorts and then the zipper, pulling the tiny tab down. She shimmies out of the denim. She doesn’t even let me get a chance to admire her little satin panties before she’s tossing them away, too.
Audrey is naked in my bed. This is not a drill.
Her tantalizing curves are on display. Greedily, I drink in the shape of her hips and the swell of her belly. There are silvery stretch marks on her curves and a surgical scar on her stomach—it looks like an appendix incision.
She moves to close her legs, but I settle between her thighs and push them apart.
Her pretty pink pussy is already wet. A light layer of hair covers her sex and her inner thighs, like she’s between wax appointments.
It’s softer than if she shaved. Hairy or bare, I don’t care. I love it all the same.
Lowering my mouth to her, I give her an experimental lick. Her musky flavor erupts on my tongue and my eyes roll back into my head as I dive in. Her rich taste makes my blood soar.
Audrey moans and relaxes her thighs, letting them fall open.
She threads her hands through my hair and adjusts me a little to the left.
I suck her clit into my mouth as I slip two fingers inside her.
Her silky channel pulses around me, stealing my breath away.
I can only imagine how good it will feel when it’s my cock.
She’s vocal and I absolutely love it. She pulls on my hair, grinding her perfect pussy on my face. When her pussy clenches and her walls start to flutter, she calls out my name. Loudly. Repeatedly. With a pleased smile on my face, I give her exactly what she wants, what she needs.
I kiss the inside of her thighs, nuzzling her soft skin. And when she comes down from her high, I pull my fingers out of her and bring them to my lips for one last taste of her honey.
Audrey lets out a soft moan. She grabs my wrist, drawing me up the bed until I’m laying beside her. Reaching for me, she wraps her body around mine, our legs tangling as she kisses me breathless.
Her hands fumble for my shorts, tugging down the material until my cock springs free. She wraps her hand around my length and it’s my turn to moan. Precum leaks from the head of my cock and she rubs her thumb over the slit, catching it and spreading the stickiness over my cock.
My hips punch forward automatically. I duck my head to kiss her. Her tongue tangles with mine. She shifts her other hand to cup my balls, stroking over the sensitive sack.
Electricity shoots down my spine and I have to force her hand away.
“Please tell me you have a condom,” Audrey says. She rolls onto her back, her fingers diving between her legs and delving into her core.
I hate every fucking moment I have to be out of the bed. Digging through my toiletry bag, I come up with a strip and tear off one before returning to her—where I belong.
Audrey grabs the foil square and rips it open. She slides the latex circle over my length and then gives me a slow, firm stroke. I nearly combust from that alone.
Nudging her onto her back, I brace myself above her. Her hand snakes between us and positions the head of my cock at her entrance.
“Fuck me, Seb,” she says, looking up at me with her doe eyes. “Please.”
“If you insist.”
Sliding smoothly inside her, it takes everything in me to get control of myself.
Her tight, silky heat feels so fucking good.
My heart thumps against my ribcage. I lower myself down until our torsos are pressed together, chest to chest. I swear I can feel the answering thud of her heart against mine.
As I withdraw and thrust back inside, her eyes roll back in her head. She arches her back and clenches around me. Her fingers dig into my back, her nails leaving sending little pinpricks of pain through me that only serve to make me harder.
I fuck her steadily, the bed frame banging against the wall. I almost feel sorry for whoever has the hotel room next door.
Audrey wraps her legs around my waist, her heels digging into the backs of my thighs as I pound into her. She calls out my name, letting everyone in this goddamn hotel know exactly who’s the luckiest guy in the world.