The Season: Rush (Austin Arrows #1) (44 page)

Ellie

The second Kingston pulled into the parking lot, I knew exactly what he was up to. I can’t lie. It lit a spark deep inside me. The idea of having sex at the practice arena… It’s definitely taboo.

Probably not nearly as taboo as it could be. There are no people around, which makes it safe. I’m not sure I’d be willing to do this otherwise. Then again, as I slide my hands up underneath Kingston’s shirt, I’m not sure that’s the case. This man… God, he makes me do crazy things, want crazy things.

“You know how hard it is to keep my hands off you?” Kingston asks.

I don’t have a chance to answer because his mouth is on mine. Within seconds, we’re generating enough heat to possibly steam up the windows in this small room. It is a real possibility considering the air on the other side is considerably colder.

While Kingston thrusts his tongue into my mouth, I reach for the button on his jeans. I don’t want to waste any time. We spent far too many weeks apart… We have a lot to make up for. A lot
more
.

“I really like when you wear dresses,” he mutters against my mouth as his hands slide up my bare legs.

“It’s a skirt,” I tell him, smiling against his lips.

“Pot-
a
-to, pot-o-to. I call it easy access.”

His fingers reach the apex of my thighs, and I see the instant he realizes I’m not wearing any panties.

“Heaven help me,” he groans before crushing his mouth to mine.

I work open his jeans and slip my hand inside, wrapping my fingers around his cock as best I can. I stroke him slow and easy, while he pushes a single finger up inside me.

“Oh, yes.” God, I love when he does that. The way he touches me…

Kingston pulls back and looks down at me. I see the desire churning in his eyes.

“You know, I’ve had this fantasy…” I say.

“Yeah?” He’s breathing hard because I continue to stroke him while he gently thrusts one finger inside me.

“Yep.” I widen my stance, urging him to continue.

“Tell me.”

“I’ve fantasized about going down on you in an empty hockey arena.”

He groans and I take that as permission. I shift, causing his finger to fall from inside me, which is pretty disappointing but definitely necessary. While he pushes his jeans and boxers down over his hips, I lower myself to my knees and lick him slowly.

Kingston holds his shirt up with one hand and puts the other on the glass window behind me. “Fuck… Ellie.”

Sometime in the next few minutes, his shirt comes off and his fingers are in my hair while I bob up and down on his cock, trying to drive him wild. The idea of being in such a public place, despite the fact that it’s empty, is thrilling. I think about what it would be like to do this when there are people on the other side of that glass. They wouldn’t be able to see in…

“Stop,” Kingston hisses. “Not yet.”

I don’t want to stop, but as usual, Kingston helps me to my feet. I would try to fight him, but I already know how that will turn out, so I simply stand and kiss him when he lowers his mouth back to mine.

“Woman, do you know what you do to me?” he rumbles against my mouth.

I do know and I love every second of it. But I don’t tell him that; I simply meld my mouth to his and sigh. I love this man more than words could ever express.

“Turn around,” he insists, once again lifting my skirt.

I turn and plant my palms on the glass, looking out at the darkened rink while he moves up behind me.

“I’m not going to last long,” he says, and I can tell it’s a warning.

“That makes two of us…” He enters me in one swift thrust and I inhale sharply. “Oh, fuck, yes.”

Kingston’s hands slide around me, cupping my breasts while I keep my hands on the glass, pushing so that I don’t get crushed against it.

“Damn, Ellie… I’m never … going … to get … enough … of you.” He punctuates with punishing thrusts of his hips. His hands roughly grip my breasts, as though he doesn’t realize he’s doing it. It’s not painful, but it proves to me that I do have the power to make him lose control.

“Fuck me,” I say, merely for his benefit. And mine, too.

His hands release my breasts and travel down to my hips. His fingertips dig into my flesh as he drives into me over and over, deeper, harder. My hands squeak down the glass as I lose my grip. He’s pounding into me, driving me higher and higher. I can see his reflection in the glass, and the animalistic look on his face is enough to send me careening to the precipice, scrambling to hold on for just a little while longer.

“Fuck… Kingston… Yes, yes… Fuck yes.” I explode around him, unable to keep from crying out.

His answering roar sounds from behind me. I feel him pulsing inside me.

It’s all I can do to keep from melting into the floor.

And to think…

This man who has promised to love me—as well as kinkify me—is all mine.

Epilogue

Thursday, April 13
th

Game one of the play-offs — Austin Arrows vs. Minnesota

Ellie:
Good luck tonight. You’re gonna be amazing.

Kingston:
Thanks, baby. With you there in the stands, I’ll be at my best.

Ellie:
Is that right?

Kingston:
Of course.

Ellie:
Too bad. I was thinking of offering a little incentive.

Kingston:
What I meant to say was with you in the stands and with a little incentive, I’ll be at my best.

Ellie:
That’s what I thought you meant.

Kingston:
So, what’s the incentive?

Ellie:
Remember when you mentioned chocolate syrup?

Kingston:
Heaven help me…

Ellie:
Like I said, good luck tonight. I love you.

Kingston:
I love you, too. And I love you even more if you’re wearing nothing more than chocolate syrup tonight.

Ellie:
I’m sure that can be arranged. Win or lose.

Kingston

Pacing the floor, I keep my attention riveted on the stick in my hand and nothing else.

“Good luck,” someone calls from behind me.

Focus. Puck, patience. React. Focus. Puck, patience. React.

I shift my feet, slap my stick against my leg pad.

The roar of the music fills the arena. The lights dim, then snap off with a dramatic shattering effect.

Focus. Puck, patience. React. Focus. Puck, patience. React.

A throbbing bass reverberates from the speakers overhead. Slow, steady. I take a deep breath and work on keeping my heart rate in time with the music.

Focus. Puck, patience. React. Focus. Puck, patience. React.

Suddenly, the lights flash off, then back on.

Off.

On.

Off.

On.

Fa
ster. Brighter.

Focus. Puck, patience. React. Focus. Puck, patience. React.

Strobes kick in and the Jumbotron lights up with our logo, then the image shatters as music continues to pulse, slowly fading, then changing to a faster beat. The light show syncs to the music, immersing the ice and the fans in white and teal. Directly in front of us, a giant LED skull slowly descends from the ceiling. Three officials emerge onto the ice, skating back and forth.

Focus. Puck, patience. React. Focus. Puck, patience. React.

Energy. Excitement. It’s all buzzing around me now. The fans are ready, cheering for us. The Jumbotron flashes one face after another. I don’t watch. I don’t care. I’m in the zone.

Focus. Puck, patience. React. Focus. Puck, patience. React.

The music comes to a dramatic, screeching halt, the lights go off once more, and a deep, rumbling voice comes over the speakers:
Okay, hockey fans. Let’s give it up for this year’s Western Conference Champions! Your Austin Arrows!

The line shifts forward and we fall in together as we head for the rink. One guy after the other emerges onto the ice, directly in the spotlight, while the crowd calls out names of their favorites. The second my blades hit the ice, I’m in the zone. The players scatter and I go right for the pipes. I block everything out.

Focus. Puck, patience. React. Focus. Puck, patience. React.

As is my normal routine, I rough the surface of the ice, moving left, then right, then forward. I shift, dropping to my knees, readjusting my gear. I’m ready for this.

I know everyone will be watching me. I’m the goaltender. It’s my job to stop the puck. If I don’t, a red light flashes and the whole arena knows I fucked up. With any luck, that won’t happen tonight.

After all, I’m aiming for a shutout.

Focus. Puck, patience. React. Focus. Puck, patience. React.

From this moment on, my only job is to keep the puck out of the net.

And that’s what I intend to do.

For a brief moment, I allow myself to think about Ellie. The woman I love. The woman I plan to spend the rest of my life with. And I
am
going to spend the rest of my life with her.

I know this because tonight when I asked her to marry me…

She said yes.

Acknowledgments

First of all, I have to say thank you to my brother, Bryan. I still remember all of your hockey games, all of the times I sat in the stands and watched in awe as you stood sentry over that goal. I might’ve been a hockey fan before that, but you definitely made me appreciate the game all the more. You will forever be my favorite goalie. And thank you for hanging out and watching the Dallas Stars with me. Those are moments I will cherish forever.

Of course, my amazing husband who puts up with me every single day.

And Chancy Powley… I don’t even know where to begin. Without your input, without you spendi
ng hours on the phone with me, helping me hash out this story… I don’t think I would’ve completed it.

Denise Sprung, I can’t even begin to tell you how much your feedback helped throughout this book. Being the hockey buff that you are—with your three hockey guys in your house—your input was priceless.

I also have to thank my street team, the Naughty & Nice Posse—Jenna, Annette, Traci, Maureen, Alison, Karen, Missy, Joy, and Kathy—for all of their hard work and dedication.

I can’t forget my copyeditor, Amy. This was a tough one for me since I’m not used to writing in 1
st
person present tense, but it was fun. Thank goodness I’ve got you to catch all my punctuation, grammar, and tense errors.

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.

♥▫▫▫▫♥▫▫▫▫♥

I hope you enjoyed Kingston and Ellie’s story. For the longest time, I didn’t think I would get this book finished. I knew exactly what was going to transpire between these two characters, I simply couldn’t figure out what it looked like on paper. All in all, I had a blast writing this book, especially since I got to do so much hockey research. In case you haven’t checked it out yet, the Austin Arrows originally made an appearance in my standalone novel, A Million Tiny Pieces.

Want to see some fun stuff related to the Austin Arrows 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, including the
writing progression of what’s coming up for the
Austin Arrows
.

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