Until I Get You (Fairview Hockey, #1)

by Claire Contreras

“Because you don’t give it up freely.” He met my gaze. “But when you do, it’s fucking magical.”

I wasn’t even fully in the room when I caught sight of Lachlan. Every time I saw him, he took my breath away, and this time was no different.

“Oh, my God. You actually like him,” she said. I groaned, which earned me a sympathetic look from her. “He likes you a lot. You know that, right?”

“I mean if he needs me to pull all the weight.” I shrugged and walked over to where he stood. Mason laughed loudly. “Oh, she’s cocky.”

“I know exactly what I saw,” I said, lowering my voice since I was pretty sure I was yelling now, but I wasn’t going to let him gaslight me on top of everything else. “It’s fine. You don’t belong to me.” I blinked at my own words, the truth in them hitting me for the first time and making me realize how stupid all of this was. Lach’s jaw twitched when I said that, but I continued because I needed to end this right now. “We’re not together. We’ve never even. . .it’s fine. You don’t owe me an explanation.”

“I should’ve pushed her away sooner. I didn’t even know who the fuck was next to me. I wasn’t paying attention to her at all.”

“I did.” He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “I fucking did. As soon as you walked away and disappeared into the crowd, I stood up and looked for you everywhere. When I finally found you, you were playing beer pong. I watched you the entire time from the kitchen window like a fucking stalker because I didn’t want to miss a second of

“This has never happened to me before. I don’t

know what the fuck to do. I don’t even know how you feel. I just know I never want to feel the way I did when I saw him with you again.”

“Seeing her all over you like that was a nightmare. I hated it. I hated it so fucking much, and I hated that I hated it.”

“God, Lyla James,” he breathed against my head. “What the fuck am I going to do with you?” “What do you want to do with me?” I asked, my face squished against his chest. His body went rigid. His arms held me a little tighter. I put my hands on his chest and slightly pulled back to look up at him. “That’s not a trick question, you know.”

“Not unless I’m also drunk,” he said, searching my eyes. “And you’re not just a girl to me.” Ugh. Why did he say things like that? “I’m only a little drunk. Your temper tantrum sobered me up some,” I said, feeling myself smile. His gaze softened. Our eyes remained locked as he cupped my face with his large hands. He got closer. My pulse raced in anticipation. He set his forehead on mine and shook his head. “I can’t,” he breathed. “Why?” I brought my hands up and wrapped them around his wrists. He groaned a sound that vibrated through me. “You’re making this really difficult.”

“I don’t bore you.” I couldn’t confirm or deny it, so I said nothing. I cared too much. That was the problem.

He didn’t kiss me last night, but he remained glued to my side the rest of the night.

His hand on my lower back as we spoke to his teammates. His fingers brushing against mine

as Marissa very loudly told a story about the time I locked myself out of my car in high school. His arm flush against my side when we were standing around. His wide stance caging me when he sa...

“You sure you don’t want to come out tonight?” I blinked. “I can’t believe you want to go out tonight after the way last night ended.” “Oh, stop. I wasn’t that bad.” “Marissa! You threw up three times before Lachlan dropped us off.”

I laughed. “I’m not even with him. How would I tame him?” “Lyla.” She shot me a droll look. “What?” “He practically declared his love for you in front of everyone.” “No, he didn’t.” “He totally freaking did.” She laughed, shaking her head. “Just let it play out. You know you want to.”

“I hate it, but you’re right.” She smiled sadly and nodded her head slowly. “Why don’t you see him in private until we leave?” “I don’t understand why he’s so adamant about me.” I threw my head back and closed my eyes. “I’m broken. Why would he want me?”

“He’s never chased a girl or picked a fight with a teammate. Pres said, ‘Especially Mason, who roomed with him for three years.’” My heart skipped. “I’m scared.”

I laughed. “That’s not true. I still smile sometimes.” “Oh, God.” She laughed harder. “What you consider a smile is not what the rest of us consider a smile.”

“She’s still doing her makeup.” “She’s not the reason I’m here.” His words made me freeze midstep. I whipped back around. “Why are you here?” “Really?” He let out a soft chuckle. “That’s how you wanna play it?”

“Are you a vampire?” I asked. “You need permission to walk inside all of a sudden?” He bit his lip as he walked inside and shut the door behind him. “No apology flowers?” I asked when he faced me again.

“I would have brought some if I didn’t think you’d toss them.” I loved flowers. They were one of the few things that still brought me genuine happiness. I shrugged. “Flowers die anyway.”

My black heart turned red and pumped harder when he looked at me like that — like I was the only person he wanted to look at in this universe. I’d lost count of the times I was sure he’d kiss me. Honestly, I'd either jump him or kick him out if he didn’t do it soon. “Are you going to kiss me now?” I whispered. His eyes darkened. “I’ve been dying to fucking kiss you.” “Then do it.” I grabbed his t-shirt and pulled him to me.

His lips crashed against mine with a groan that vibrated through my body. Time vanished as he lifted me off the ground.

What the fuck was that? Was this how he kissed everyone? Was this how everyone felt when they kissed him?

“I thought you didn’t kiss? ‘Ever.’” Marissa arched a brow at him. I lowered my gaze and focused on his chest. I really didn’t want to hear this conversation right now. “I don’t.”

My head shot up. He was still looking at me. My heart dipped again. Fuck, this was a terrible idea. I turned to Marissa, who looked stunned to silence.

because I wanted it. I wanted him.

just wished we had more time together. I snapped that thought away. More time for what? To sneak around, as Marissa suggested?

His eyes were still burning into mine.

My heart pounded hard in my chest and ears. I wasn’t sure who moved first, but before I knew it, we were kissing again, my hands buried in his hair, his large hands holding me tighter each time I tugged. Kissing him woke up every nerve ending in my body...

Without breaking the kiss, he lifted me with one ar...

around his waist, my hands moving to the back of his neck. I didn’t want to exist outside the confines of his arms. He kissed me slowly this time, savoring me in a way that made me rock against him, searching for more. He groaned deeply again. We broke the kiss to come up for air, both panting. “God damn, Lyla James...

was still sore from weight training earlier, so my arms started to burn from carrying her for so long, but I couldn’t stop kissing her. Nothing had ever felt this good, this right.

The next time she pulled away, I reluctantly set her down.

found myself on my back, with Lyla’s lips pressed against mine again. I didn’t want it to end. It was like I was making up for the ten years I’d avoided kissing. When she pulled away, she nestled against my chest and let out a breath, one that sounded content.

And then, when we argued, she said I wasn’t hers, and I wanted to tell her to take the fucking words back. I’d never been anyone’s, but belonging to her didn’t sound so bad. What the hell was wrong with me? No one came up to us after the argument — not to flirt with either of us, anyway.

We lay silent for a while, and I took a moment to look around her room. “This isn’t what I expected,” I said against her hair.

forever remind me of Lyla. “Kissing me wasn’t what you expected?” She pulled back to look at me.

“Your room.” I nudged the tip of her nose with mine. I wanted to tell her that kissing her felt inexplicable. Like magic. But I didn’t want to push it. Not yet. “What did you expect?” She laughed lightly. I closed my eyes to relish it, wishing I could bottle it up. “I don’t know. Black walls. Spiders. Weird shit.” She pulled back again, mouth agape, and slapped my chest. “Rude.”

“Lyla.” My hands went to her waist to stop her movement. “What?” She set her hands on my chest and pushed herself back up as she ground her hips again, her eyes full of mischief. “Fuck.” I bit my lip hard and groaned. “Do you want to kill me? Or is your goal to make me come in my pants?”

“I like seeing you coming apart at the seams like this, Mr. Unattainable Hockey Star,” she said, sitting up again. “You always have me like this,” I breathed, keeping my eyes on hers.

Her eyes danced first, and then her mouth finally — finally — broke into the most incredible smile I’d ever seen in my life. The smile. Fuck. I thought I’d wanted it, but now that I’d experienced it, I couldn’t go back to seeing the perpetual scowl she wore.

Fuck. Her hips bucked, and her hands instantly grabbed my hair. Fun fact, I didn’t let women touch my hair. I usually batted their hands away and glared long enough that they knew not to do it again.

“Holy shit, Lach. . .” she gasped. “Holy shit. Don’t stop.” Don’t stop.

wanted to fucking devour her, to own this pussy, to make it so that she never wanted another mouth on it. She bucked against me, grinding on my face as she whispered a chant. I was already turned on, but fuck, I wanted her to scream whatever she was saying. I added two fingers again and sucked her clit into my mouth. “Ohmyfuckingod. Lachlan, oh my. . .oh my Godddd,” she said loudly as she came against my mouth, and her entire body began to shudder.

“Did you bring a condom?” she said, panting. “Are you going to be mad if I say yes?” “Livid,”

“Fucking hell, Lyla.” A growl ripped through me. “Lach.” She screamed, tears slipping out of her eyes. I stopped moving. She shook her head. “I’m fine. You’re just. . .huge.”