First Shift

Maine Marauders Hockey #3

by Rebecca Norinne

I’ve spent my whole life doing what’s expected of the son of a hockey legend—keep my head down, outwork everyone else, and never crack under the pressure. Now that I’m in the pros, the bar is even higher.

Which makes Mikey Porter a serious problem—he’s loud where I’m quiet, relaxed where I’m wound tight, and comfortable in his skin in a way I’ve never been. He’s also the only guy in camp who reads the ice the same way I do.

But his conditioning is a disaster, and he’s going to get cut unless someone steps in.

That’s why I offer to help him—for the good of the team. At least that’s what I tell myself. Not because I think about him constantly. Or that I’m low-key obsessed with the guy.

Definitely not for that reason.

What starts as a favor quickly turns into the first real friendship I’ve ever had, and between the extra ice time and shared dinners, we become roommates. When a nightmare sends me to his bedroom at three o’clock in the morning, lying next to him is the closest thing to peace I’ve ever known. The next night, I’m at his door before the nightmare even comes. The night after that, he leaves it open. And somewhere along the way, he becomes my person.

So when he kisses me after a win on the road, I stop pretending I don’t want him. When he suggests we continue hooking up—keep it casual, no big deal—I agree. Having some part of Mikey is better than none.

Until one careless moment in public makes pretending impossible.

Now, I have to decide if I’m willing to keep being the person everyone expects me to be, or if I risk burning it all down for the one thing I actually want—him.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 14, 2026

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Norinne writes sexy romance from the heart. When not banging away at the keyboard, she is watching rugby, playing board games, or drinking a pint of craft beer.

Originally from California, she now resides in New England with her husband and two cats where she is renovating a house built in the 1700s and trying valiantly not to be eaten alive by mosquitos.

For more information, please visit http://www.rebeccanorinne.com.