Line Mates & Study Dates (CU Hockey, #4)

by Eden Finley

Why, why, why did Ezra come visit my brother while I was all … I shudder, vulnerable? Eww, that’s gross. Go away, you useless emotion.

Note to parents everywhere: don’t judge your kid based on what you like.

Asher Dalton just gained a new best friend. Whether he wants it or not.

Kole’s head pops up from a table near the door as I enter, and … whoa. Kole’s wearing glasses. Black, square ones that frame his eyes, and all my blood flows south. If you’d asked me two seconds ago if I had a nerd kink, the answer would have been hell no, because someone like Foster’s boyfriend, Zach, would have come to mind. But this … tall, chiseled features, and glasses? I’ve found my new weakness.

“This better work. Because if they kill each other, your dad will kill me, and then my boyfriend will dig me up and kill me again for leaving him.”

“What about emotionally unavailable guys who treat people like shit? Because I’m that too. Don’t pigeonhole me, dude.”

“What if I promise not to fall in love with you? Then will you let me suck your dick?”

I’m the type of guy who loves giving head. I could do it all day … or until my jaw aches, at least.

Cum coats my fingers, and I do my best to catch it all. I’m a gentleman like that.

I’m not going to look. I’m definitely not going to turn my head and check out his round ass. I’m not doing it. Nope. Damn, that’s a biteable ass.

Not shockingly, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to hide after sex.

“But I think I hurt my dick out there.” He pretends to pout. “It needs to be kissed better.”

“You can go out with whoever you want.” As long as their name starts with A and ends in sher.

A whine comes from Hades, and I glance down as he starts to hump Asher’s leg. “Aw, another thing he gets from his daddy,”

Not going to lie, I’m totally a domestic fucking goddess right now.

“You can tell me to go away if you want. Tell me to leave you alone. But I wanted you to know that I’m here. If you need me.”

Is a heart-on a thing? I’m making it a thing.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” he murmurs against my skin. “And you’re mine. All mine.”

“Kole …” He cards his fingers through my hair and tugs me up to look at him. A weighted silence passes between us before he whispers one word. “Mine …” I nod. “I’m yours.”

Christmas is not a day for dying.

And now that I see him … I want to keep him. Possibly forever. Definitely forever.

“Can’t you give me a freebie? Is hooking like drugs? Give the first one for free and they’ll keep coming back?”

It’s the first time I think I’ve actually been glad to be outsmarted by jocks.

“I’m not. You plus me equals perfection.” “I think I’m beginning to understand why you were failing math.”

“Even in the hard moments, being with you is easy.”

“Because with you, I don’t have the need to hide who I am. I don’t have to pretend to be strong. I don’t need to do stupid shit to prove I can’t be hurt. All of that excess anger I was keeping inside that would erupt in forms of self-destruction aren’t there when I’m with you, and it’s not because of anything you do or say. It’s because I’m my true self around you. No pretenses.”