16. Obsessed
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
OBSESSED
TARYN
“Who is it?” I ask as Colsen grunts a string of curses.
He’s looking at the digital screen that replaces the traditional peephole on our room’s door. I can’t see anything from my spot over his shoulder, since I’m facing the other way.
If it’s Coach Harrison, or Carole, or one of my coaches, we’re screwed. Or at least I am.
“It’s the biggest cock blocker on this side of the Pacific Ocean.”
Colsen opens the door and I hear Nash’s voice before I see him.
“What are you doing to Taryn?” he asks.
“I was about to take her to bed before some rude a-hole interrupted us,” Colsen bites out. “Now either fuck off or get inside before someone sees us. Whatever you want, it’s better to discuss it behind closed doors.”
Colsen steps back to allow Nash in. I finally get to see him with my own eyes when Colsen slams the door shut and turns around to step into the living room portion of our suite.
“So, can I know what the fuck do you want?” Colsen has turned again so all I can see is the marble countertop of the living room’s minibar.
“What are you doing here with Taryn?” Nash’s tone is full of blatant hostility.
Colsen responds with a sarcastic chuckle. “What does it look like? We were about to start playing Go Fish. Seriously, dude, why the fuck are you here? I got us a room so my girlfriend and I could spend some time together.”
“In here? With Coach and all the Shooting Star coaches downstairs? What if anyone saw you sneak out? Are you trying to get Taryn kicked out?”
“We were careful.” Colsen bites out. “No one saw us.”
Nash sounds more furious with every word he utters. “Bullshit. I fucking saw you.”
“How? I checked, and we were alone when we left the party.”
“Obviously you weren’t careful enough. I was standing right next to you, getting some money out of my wallet to pay the valet, and I saw you.”
“Were you hiding behind a piece of furniture like a creep?” Colsen snickers.
I squirm under his hold. He has been carrying me over his shoulder the entire time he’s been arguing with Nash, as if weighed nothing.
“Hey Colsen,” I raise my voice to make sure I’m louder than their constant bickering. “Would you mind putting me down?”
He immediately complies, grabbing me by my waist and sliding me down his hard body until my feet touch the carpeted floor of our suite.
Nash’s eyes rove over me, as if to check that I made it onto my own two feet in one piece. His green eyes are intense, and a wave of heat rises to my face.
I know I’m blushing, but two can play this game; if he can check me out, so can I. Nash is drop dead gorgeous in the charcoal gray suit provided to the Cove Knights.
“I’m not a creep.” I have no idea who he’s saying that to. “You might not believe me, but I care about you.”
Ok, he’s talking to me.
I open my mouth to say something, but Colsen is faster than me.
“If you cared about her, you wouldn’t act like a jealous asshole and you wouldn’t ask her to choose. Or is that your excuse for walking away?”
“Why would I need a fucking excuse?” Nash bites back.
Colsen barks out a mirthless laugh. “Because you’re scared to risk your starting spot on the team if we get caught and Coach decides to bench you.”
The accusation hits its intended target. “I’m not scared. But I’m new here and I didn’t transfer to Star Cove to ride the bench. Besides, what kind of asshole would I be if I risked Taryn’s chance to make the team when I’m not sure I can deal with you and Prescott dating her too?”
“Aww,” Colsen provokes him. “How selfless. Drop the act, Belkin. You just don’t have the balls to admit that you don’t care enough to put everything on the line.”
Nash clenches his fists at his sides, his jaw ticking. “You know nothing about me.”
I’ve been watching them argue like you watch a tennis match. “Nash, I told you before. I might have not liked your decision, but I understood the reasons behind it. Why are you here?”
“I don’t know. I just…”
The look in his eyes is furious and desperate at the same time.
For one moment, I feel those same emotions coursing through me too. I’m falling for all three of them, but I can’t have them. Not without losing my chance to be a Shooting Star or without risking losing my freedom if my mysterious stalker decides to act on his threats.
But even if I weren’t being blackmailed, how can I ask these three men who could have anyone they wanted to love me? How can I ask them to put their reputations on the line to embark on an unconventional relationship when I can’t even be totally honest with them?
The truth is that I don’t know if I did that horrible thing I’m running from. I’ve been racking my head to try to remember, but there’s a lot of nothing where my memories should be.
If they knew what I might have done, though, would they stay?
“I don’t know either, Nash.” I swallow the tears that well up in my throat, hot and bitter.
“I know.” The look on Colsen’s face is just as furious. “I know that I want you, Taryn. No matter what.”
Colsen closes the distance between us. He’s so handsome. And he’s looking at me as if he saw me. Really saw me. Beyond all the lies, the trauma, my fears, my hope and dreams. He’s looked at me like he saw the real me since the night we met.
His lips crush mine, hot, hungry, searching.
It’s a soul-stealing, knee weakening kiss. He’s claiming me, like he really wants me. Dark side and cracks included. No matter what.
I kiss him back with everything I have. My hands are clawing at the buttons on his shirt. For a hot, dizzying moment, I forgot that we’re not alone.
“Stop.” Nash’s livid voice cuts through the haze of lust that made me forget he was standing right there.
But if I forgot that we had company for a second, Colsen didn’t.
He breaks our kiss, but keeps me plastered against him, a possessive hand wrapped around the back of my neck.
“Why should we stop?” The question is directed at Nash.
“Because I fucking want her.” Nash growls. “I want you, Taryn. Even if it’s dangerous, even if it’s stupid. Even if it’s fucking wrong. I want you and I don’t know how to stop. I’m fucking obsessed with you.”
Nash looks angry, devastated, and scared.
“I want you too.” It comes out softly, barely above a whisper. “But nothing has changed since the last time we talked about it. I want you, but I also want Colsen and Tucker.”
Colsen lets me go, but just for a second. Just long enough to step behind me and pull me against him so that my back is against his chest.
He brushes my hair away from my shoulder and lowers his head to kiss that same spot he was tormenting earlier.
My body reacts with a wave of intense desire. My nipples strain against my strapless bra.
Even though I can’t see him, I know that while he’s kissing me, Colsen is looking at Nash.
The reason I know is that Nash is staring back.
The air in the room crackles with electricity, and I’m caught in the middle of this staring contest.
“You heard her, dipshit.” Colsen says. “Taryn wants you. You know that Tucker and I won’t stand in your way if you really want her too. But we aren’t going anywhere. And if you even try to break her heart, you better run.”
Nash runs a hand over his face. “I’ve tried running, and it doesn’t work.”
“Then what are you going to do about it”
I’ve seen Nash move faster than lightning on and off the ice. This time, he moves slowly, each step determined.
His gaze moves from Colsen to me, his eyes searching my face. He keeps looking down to my lips, and I think he might kiss me. I hope he will.
I don’t move a muscle, waiting for Nash’s next move. Colsen is still behind me, solid and steady with his hands on my waist.
“I’ve wanted to tell you how beautiful you look all night.” Nash murmurs before kissing me.
It’s as claiming and demanding as Colsen’s kiss a moment ago. I’m grateful for Colsen’s steadying hands because Nash takes my breath away and my knees feel more wobbly than Jell-O.
When Nash breaks the kiss, I’m more winded than after hours of rehearsal in the dance studio. My body is like a live wire, but I know kissing me affected Nash just as much as it did me.
It is obvious from the bulge in his suit pants.
And Nash isn’t the only one who’s hard. Colsen’s hard-on is pressing against my back.
“That was hot.” Colsen’s breath fans over the side of my neck. “Right, pretty girl?”
I nod and Colsen’s mouth hovers over my ear before descending the column of my neck. “Let’s see if he really means it.”
Nash’s eyes are set on us. He’s still close enough that I can feel his body heat. “I… Maybe I should go. We can talk tomorrow a little more.”
Colsen stops kissing my neck. His hand cups the side of my face as he encourages me to turn and look at him. “Do you want Nash to go, pretty girl?”
My eyes flit from Colsen to Nash. “No. I would love it if you’d stay, Nash.”
There’s another moment of silence. You could cut the tension with a knife.
When Nash shakes his head, I think that he might walk away.
He doesn’t.
NASH
I’m fucked.
If I were smart, I’d tell Taryn that I’ll text her tomorrow and go back to training camp.
I’d get some much needed sleep and reflect on what I just agreed to with a fresh mind.
Dating Taryn with Colsen and Tucker. When I think about it, I wonder if I’ve taken too many pucks to the head.
And yet, here I am. I want Taryn so much that I don’t care if she wants Tucker and Colsen. As long as she wants me too.
But agreeing to date Taryn with my two teammates in the picture is one thing; staying here with Colsen is another.
I’m frozen, rooted to my spot.
My mind is reeling as I try to decide what to do.
Taryn’s eyes are huge as she looks at me, her pretty face flushed, her lips swollen by both mine and Colsen’s kisses.
And speaking of the devil, the ghost of a smile appears on his face. His eyes are on me when he turns Taryn in his arms again.
He kisses her and begins to lower the zipper in the back of her pink dress.