Wicked Games (Denver Rebels) (43 page)

“That’s why we’re so happy you came along, Nadia,” Avery chimed in warmly. “You’re really good for Reid. You make him see the bigger picture. I don’t think he realized just how much he was missing until he met you.”

Nadia’s throat tightened at Avery’s words. “I feel the same way about him.”

“Aww,” Avery and Aria cooed, tears misting their eyes as they shared a sentimental look.

“We love our brother so much,” Avery said, a husky catch in her voice. “He’s always been there for us. Whether we needed financial support, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a stern pep talk—”

“Or we needed him to kick some loser’s ass,” Aria added.

Avery gave a teary laugh. “Yes, that too.” She sniffled and sighed, then smiled softly at Nadia. “The point is, we’ve always been able to count on him. So it’s wonderful to know he has someone special in his life, someone who can be there for him in every way. Whether you know it or not, Nadia, you’ve been a godsend. Any woman who loves Reid and makes him happy is our sister for life.”

“Amen,” Aria heartily concurred.

Now it was Nadia’s turn to blink back tears. “Thank you,” she said, giving the sisters a look of warm gratitude. “I really appreciate hearing that.”

Avery grinned. “I think this calls for a group hug.”

They rose from the sofa and wrapped their arms around one another, laughing as they hugged long and hard. When they pulled apart, all three were dabbing at the corners of their eyes.

“Where’s Oprah when you need her?” Avery joked, drawing more laughter.

Just then there was a firm knock at the door. “Room service,” a male voice announced.

Aria clapped her hands together. “Food’s here!”

They ate in the sitting room, chatting and laughing nonstop. Avery and Aria asked Nadia about her family and growing up in Denver. Then they regaled her with tales from their childhood, humorously recounting the pranks Reid and Ryder had played on them and the creative ways they’d gotten revenge.

Nadia was having so much fun she lost track of time until the door to the suite opened. When she turned around, her heart gave a thrilled bump at the sight of Reid stepping across the threshold.

When their gazes met, his eyes lit up and a broad grin swept across his face. He looked just as happy to see her as she was to see him.

She got to her feet, but she didn’t rush headlong into his arms like she wanted to. She hung back to let him greet his sisters first, which seemed only fair given that she’d seen him more recently than they had.

“Reid!” Aria jumped up from the sofa and raced across the suite toward her brother.

He caught her, lifted her off the floor and spun her around, laughing at her girlish peals of laughter.

“Hey, baby girl,” he said affectionately, setting her down and tweaking her nose. “Good to see you.”

“You too.” Aria playfully punched his arm, beaming up at him with almost childlike adoration. 

Avery was more restrained, but no less excited to see her brother. As he approached, she rose from the sofa and gave him a big warm hug, then stood on tiptoe to skim her fingers through his hair.

He grinned at her. “Don’t say it.”

“You need a haircut.”

“I thought I told you not to say it.”

“Since when do I listen to you?” she quipped.

They both laughed and hugged again.

Nadia smiled as she watched them. Hearing about the siblings’ close bond was one thing. Seeing it with her own two eyes was downright heartwarming.

She was still smiling when Reid turned to her.

“Hi,” he murmured.

Her stomach fluttered. “Hi.”

Stepping forward, he kissed her forehead and then pulled her in close, giving her one of those hugs that was all broad chest, masculine heat and protective strength. She sighed and closed her eyes, snuggling against him as he murmured endearments for her ears only. His sweater was soft under her cheek and he smelled wonderful.

“Wow,” Avery marveled. “Talk about an epically romantic greeting.”

Everyone laughed.

Reid reluctantly pulled away. Holding Nadia by the shoulders, he let his eyes run over every inch of her until she melted under his gaze.

Missed you
, he mouthed.

Missed you more
, she mouthed back.

His eyes glinted.
That’s not even possible.

She smiled.

He winked at her, then turned to grin at his sisters. “Thanks for looking after Nadia for me.”

“No problem,” Avery said easily. “It was our pleasure.”

“Yeah,” Aria agreed. “We really like her, Reid. You did good.”

Reid and Nadia laughed.

There was a sudden knock at the door.

“That’s probably the fellas,” Reid said. “They wanted to stop by and say hello.”

When he went to answer the door, Nadia watched in amusement as Avery and Aria fussed with their hair and checked each other’s teeth for leftover food.

As Viggo, Logan Brassard and Hunter Duchene entered the suite, the sisters beamed at them and called out flirtatiously, “Hey, guys.”

“Evening, ladies,” a chorus of deep voices responded.

Nadia smiled, watching as the hunky hockey players sauntered forward. Like Reid, the newcomers were well over six feet and powerfully built, with wide shoulders, massive chests and long legs. They were dressed similarly in muscle-hugging ribbed sweaters, dark jeans and heavy black boots.

The sight of them filled Nadia with feminine appreciation, and she found herself appraising them one by one.

Logan’s black hair was cut military-short, and he had gorgeous brown eyes and full lips. Stubble darkened his square jaw, and his heavy-lidded appearance all but screamed sex.

Hunter had wavy dark hair and sported a meticulously trimmed short beard and mustache. His piercing green eyes were startling in their intensity. His skin was swarthy, making Nadia wonder if he had some Italian ancestry running through his veins. All she knew was that he was French Canadian. And he was fine.

And then there was Viggo, who had the kind of looks that made a woman’s lungs collapse from lack of oxygen. He was, quite simply, breathtaking.

Reid escorted his teammates across the suite, the four of them exuding so much testosterone that it had a dizzying effect on Nadia.

Holy hell. These white boys were hot as fuck.

Over the next few minutes, more hugs and pleasantries were exchanged. Viggo, Logan and Hunter greeted Nadia warmly and took turns kissing her hand with a gallantry that rivaled the knights of Arthurian legend. Their attentiveness reduced her to a blushing, simpering idiot, which had Reid narrowing his eyes and looking disgruntled.

She wasn’t surprised when he took her hand and led her over to a plush armchair near the fireplace, set slightly apart from the group. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms tight around her waist. It was such an alpha male move that she could only laugh and shake her head at him.

When Logan plopped down in the middle of the sofa and draped his arms over the back, Avery and Aria giggled and sat on either side of him. Ignoring the empty loveseat, Viggo and Hunter chose to remain standing. It would have been a tight squeeze for them, and Reid had probably warned all of them not to get too comfortable.

“So how was the team dinner?” Avery asked conversationally.

“It was great.” Logan rubbed his flat, hard stomach with a satisfied grin. “We ate like kings.”

Aria grinned. “Really? What’d they feed you boys?”

“Everything. It was a buffet dinner. So we had…”

Nadia tuned out the conversation as Reid rubbed his nose against her nape, breathing in her scent. “God, I love the way you smell, baby,” he whispered. “Thank you for not skinny-dipping in cheap perfume.”

She grinned, amused by the odd compliment. “You’re welcome,” she whispered back. “That was kinda…random.”

“I know. Long story.” He nuzzled the skin at the curve between her shoulder and neck, making her shiver. “In case you couldn’t tell, I love this outfit you’re wearing. You look gorgeous.”

She smiled. “Thank—”

“Can’t wait to get you out of it though.”

Heat bloomed between her thighs. She looked over her shoulder at him and whispered, “Shh.”

He muffled a low laugh against her skin. “They’re not paying attention to us.”

He was right, Nadia realized. The others were chatting and laughing raucously, seemingly oblivious to the horny couple in the corner. She watched as Aria batted her lashes and tossed her head, causing her long hair to cascade over one shoulder. She was in full-on flirt mode.

Feeling naughty, Nadia turned and brought her lips to Reid’s ear, the warm tickle of her breath making him shiver as she whispered, “Guess what?”

“What?”

She flicked her tongue against his ear. “I’m not wearing any panties.”

He shuddered, his cock instantly hardening beneath her bottom. “Jesus, Nadia,” he rasped.

She covered her mouth to smother a laugh as his hand slid over her hip. When he felt the waistband of her bikini panties, he chuckled deep in his throat. “Little tease.”

She grinned and squirmed against his massive erection, teasing him some more. His breath hissed out between his teeth and his arms tightened around her.

“What’re you doing?” The rough need in his voice tightened her nipples and made her pussy warm and wet.

“What do you mean?” she whispered.

“Why are you playing games?”

She gave him a saucy smile. “Because I’m wicked.”

“You are.” He nipped her earlobe. “Very wicked. And I’m gonna make you pay.”

Just then Nadia caught Logan’s amused glance. She blushed, wondering if Reid’s words had carried across the room. Clearing her throat, she straightened on his lap and shifted her attention back to the group.

Aria was beaming flirtatiously at Viggo and Hunter. “…a Swede and a Canadian. See, that’s another thing I just love about hockey. It’s so international!”

The airhead remark met with silence.

Then Avery frowned in puzzlement and looked at her sister. “You know, if we didn’t come out of the same woman’s vajayjay, I would have sworn you were born a blonde.”

Aria scowled as everyone burst into laughter.

At that moment Reid’s phone rang. Grinning, he dug it out of his back pocket and looked at the screen.

Nadia glanced back at him. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. It’s Kyle. I’m supposed to be shooting the Nike commercial soon. He probably just wants to confirm some last-minute details.” Reid leaned close and brushed a kiss across her mouth. “Be right back.”

“Okay,” she said smilingly. “I’ll be waiting.”

He winked at her, then lifted her off his lap and stood. As she dropped back into the chair, she didn’t miss the way he tugged down his sweater to conceal the bulge in his pants before he headed for the bedroom to take the call. She watched him go, admiring the view of his strong back and juicy ass.

When he was out of sight, she sighed and returned her attention to his teammates, who were still laughing and joking with Avery and Aria.

Just then Viggo turned his head, his gray eyes meeting Nadia’s. When she smiled, he came over and stood next to her chair.

“How’s your cousin doing?”

“Scarlett?” Nadia grinned. “She’s fine.”

“She certainly is.” Viggo’s eyes glinted with unmistakable appreciation.

Her grin widened.

“When’s their next album coming out?”

“Sometime next year,” Nadia answered. “They’re going back into the studio in January.”

“That’s great. I can’t wait to hear their new work. They’re really good.”

“Thank you, Viggo. I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying their music.”

“Definitely.”

Viggo was so tall she had to crane her head back to stare up at him. As if sensing her predicament, he smoothly dropped to a crouch beside her, hitting her with the full force of his hotness.

Her mouth ran dry and her brain felt scrambled. Good God. Was any woman safe from the power of this man’s magnetism?

“So, listen, Nadia…” When he began speaking, she found herself sitting forward in the chair. He had one of those deep, hypnotic voices that made women lean closer so they wouldn’t miss a single word.

“Now that you and Reid are back together,” he continued, “I was hoping you could introduce me to Scarlett.”

Nadia smiled, staring at him in fascination. He was a gorgeous hockey superstar who could have any woman he wanted with a mere crook of his finger. And here he was practically begging for an introduction to her cousin. It was unreal. And totally adorable.

“Tell you what, Viggo,” Nadia said warmly. “When we get back to Denver, I’ll talk to Scarlett and bring her to your next home game. Then maybe afterward the four of us can go out to dinner. How does that sound?”

A pleased smile curved his lips. God, what a panty dropper he was.