The Keeper (Playing to Win, #1)

by Bella Matthews

“Don’t settle for the one you can live with, wait for the one you can’t live without.”

I remind myself, again, that Lindy’s off-limits. She always has been. She always will be. I look over again at Lindy and see red. She’s laughing at something Pace is whispering in her ear. Fucker. She might feel like mine, but that girl deserves more than me.

A big, warm, deliciously callused palm wraps around my waist and presses flat against my stomach. My very bare stomach. Butterflies take flight, and every nerve-ending in my entire body stands alert. And that’s before I’m pulled back against

an incredibly firm chest, and the man that chest belongs to groans. A man who shouldn’t be in my bed. Why is he in my bed? Wait . . . is this my bed? “Unless you don’t want to sleep,” Easton murmurs as he buries his face in my hair as that question hangs in the air. Fuck me.

Nowhere in my plan was I supposed to end up in a bed with anyone this weekend. Especially. Not. Him.

I look from the beautiful diamond and platinum band to the mouthwatering man now standing at the foot of the bed, shirtless and in a pair of navy-blue boxer briefs. Every inch of his golden chest is on beautiful display. Muscles stretch under taut skin. Veins bulge. It’s a sight I would love to savor if it weren’t for the shock I’m pretty sure I’m going into. Because there’s a plain black band on his left ring finger too. “My eyes are up here, princess.” I snap my head up to his stupid grin and throw a pillow at his face as I climb up to my knees. “Wanna tell me why I have a wedding ring on my finger, Easton Hayes?”

“Pretty sure because you’re my wife, Madeline Hayes.”

Because Easton pulls away, leaving my body cold and my heart racing. “Like I said, princess. Like it or not, we’re married, and we’re going to stay that way until you remember last night. Once you can tell me you remember marrying me, if you still want to annul this, I will. But for now, go pack your bags.” He smacks my ass and turns me toward the door. “See you soon, wife.”

“I said you can stay in my house. Not in my bed, hockey boy.” He cups my face in his hands and presses his lips to my forehead, sending a wave of warmth straight down my spine. “We’ll see about that.” I dip out from under his arm. “Is that a challenge?” “No, baby. It’s a promise.” Why do I think those words are going to haunt me?

“Loud and clear, Max. But it goes both ways,” I tell him as I stand from my chair. “Pretty sure I’ve already proven I’d die for your sister. How about you let her live her life like the intelligent, independent woman she is, and you try not hurting her? Because I’m pretty sure she’d be hurt if she knew you were assuming she couldn’t stand up for herself.”

She’s wearing my rings, and she’ll see me at home. She might not remember, but it’s a start.

I spin around and shove him away. “Listen, hockey boy. Fighting is your thing, not mine. I don’t like confrontation. I don’t like arguments. And I really, really don’t like violence. I’ve dealt with all three today. Now, I’m not saying they’re all your fault, but they’ve all centered around you and our marriage, and if that doesn’t scream something is seriously wrong, I don’t know what will.” I close my eyes, refusing to cry. Not now. Not in front of him.

“It’s always been you. The answer to all those questions is you, Madeline Kingston. It was you when we were too young for me to admit it was you. It was still you when I wasn’t a good enough man for it to be you. It’s been you every night in my dreams, when I’m not strong enough to save you. When you slip through my fingers and I lose you before I wake up in a cold sweat, unable to shake the image of you dying in front of me from my brain.” He rests his forehead against mine. “And for one night, it wasn’t just you. It was us.”

Good Sean

Everly cocks her head. “If you don’t, then set the man free, and don’t come crying when someone else snatches him up. Because drunken wedding aside, that man is a keeper.

Everly advise

“But I’m just saying, if you let him go, you better be sure that’s what you really want because you won’t get a second chance.”

More from Everly

I’m not ready to let him go,”

“Do you want him? Or do you just not want anyone else to have him, Linds? Because if it’s the second, you’re a better person than that.”

More advice from Everly

He looks so damn good in worn blue jeans and a white thermal shirt stretched tight across his chest. Strong and sexy. This man is every fantasy I’ve ever had, and he’s standing right in front of me. But I don’t handle being trapped all that well, and I’m feeling cornered right now.

“I hope your girl’s worth it.” “My girl’s always been worth it, dick,” I tell him and throw my napkin at his face. “I knew she was your girl.” Yeah, deep down, she’s always been my girl.

The quiet of the night is almost deafening as I listen to her breathing even out. “Did you mean what you said before, E?” The weight of her words hangs heavy in the air.

“Yesterday, you told me it was always me. Did you mean it?” “More than I’ve ever meant anything in my life, baby,” I whisper back without a single fucking second’s hesitation because it’s maybe the most honest thing I’ve ever told another living person.

Lindy is quiet for a long few minutes that stretch on like fucking hours. So long I wonder if she’s fallen asleep. And I think she may have until she moves her head just enough to look up at me. Her

long lashes kiss her cheeks as she blinks away tears. “It’s always b...

Good page

She drops her head back down to my chest and wraps her arm around my waist. “It’s only ever been you.” I don’t move a fucking muscle after that. W...

She drops her forehead to my chest and shakes. “I have to tell you something, Easton.” I run my hands over her hair and cup the back of her head. “You can tell me anything.” Her shoulders lift and fall with a strong breath—in and out—and I brace myself for whatever the hell she’s about to throw my way because it can’t be anything good. Her Bermuda blue eyes lock on mine, and she runs her teeth over her lip. “I’ve never done this before.” “Done what?” I ask, confused. “Any of this?” she whispers but doesn’t look away. “I mean, a little under the shirt action years ago. But that was all . . . before. I’ve never really trusted anyone enough since that night. Not

enough to make myself that vulnerable,” she says softly as she shakes. I cradle her head in my hands. “Breathe, Lindy,” I whisper against her lips. “Do you trust me?” “With my life,” she tells me, and my chest swells. “That’s all that matters. There’s no rush for everything else. I’ve got to woo you first, right?” Lindy smiles and presses her lips to mine. “You’re going to make me regret using that word, aren’t you?” “Oh yeah, baby. But that’s gonna be the only regret. I promise.” “Okay.” She rests her head on my chest, and I know I just made the biggest promise of my life. Now I’ve just got to make sure I can keep it.

Great pages Easton and Lindy

Her breath shakes as she leans her back against the door and grips the collar of my coat. “Easton . . .” “Your speed, baby.” I pull the white hat off her head and tug on a lock of her long hair. “You’re in control, Lindy. This is your choice.” I run my hand along her throat and cup her chin. “You decide how tonight goes.” She shrugs off her own coat and lets it fall to the floor, then pushes my coat off my shoulders and wraps her arms around my neck. “I choose you, Easton.” She licks her lips and smiles. “I choose us.” And that’s it.

Beginning spicy 🌶️ scene

“I trust you, Easton.” Her cold hands reach under my shirt and press flat against my skin. “Like I’ve never trusted anyone else in my life. Make me yours.”

I swallow the emotion clogging my throat and rip my shirt over my head, then shove out of my jeans and yank hers down her legs. I need to see her. To feel her skin against mine. I drop a knee on the bed and wrap a hand around her throat. “You’ve been mine since the day I chose your life over mine, baby. All mine. Always mine. Even if you didn’t know it yet.”

“You are the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen, Lindy.” His tongue invades my mouth as his hands skim over my skin. A

callused palm cups my breast, and my nipple aches from the feel of his thumb brushing over it.

“I’ve fucking dreamed of this moment for years, wife. I’d do anything for you, but even you can’t convince me to rush it.” His tongue trails along my neck and down to my breast as he sucks my tight nipple into his mouth through the lace, and I cry out.

“Is this for me, Lindy?” he groans as he licks into my mouth. “Are you wet for me, baby? Have you been dreaming about me fucking you?” “Yes,” I cry out as his filthy words make my clit throb with need. My stomach quivers when nerves mix with excitement. “Give in, Lindy. Give me what I want, and I’ll give you everything you need.”

I reach down and press Easton’s cock against my entrance, then look up at him, not sure he’s going to fit. “It’ll fit, wife.” A muscle ticks in his jaw, and I brace my hands against his chest. “Fuck me, husband.” “As you wish,” he whispers against my lips and pushes himself inside me.

“I love you, Madeline Kingston,” he whispers, a quiet prayer from his lips. “You’re not allowed to die until we’re old and gray and lying in bed together. And then you have to wait until I’ve been dead for at least ten minutes, so I never need to know a world without you in it.”

Who’s been here, beside me, for a lifetime. “I promise to love you until we’re old and gray and surrounded by grandbabies who love to skate,” I whisper back. And my God, the smile that breaks out on his face is everything. It’s agony and ecstasy and relief. It’s excitement and love. So much love. “Princess . . . You remember?” I don’t bother trying to hide my tears, as I whisper in awe, “I remember everything.”

Good saying

“You gonna break my heart, princess?” “God, Easton. Do you really not know?” I close my eyes and decide there’s no going back now. “It’s you. It’s always been you, and it’s going to always be you. I have loved you . . . God, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. I want to be old and gray and sitting on our porch one day a million years from now, surrounded by all our grandchildren who love to skate.” He swallows a deep breath and smiles against my skin. “Hockey skates or figure skates?” “Mine are better. Sharper,” I tease. “Promise me something, baby,” “Anything.” I pull back and look deep into those green eyes that are growing darker by the minute.

“When we’re old and gray, you’ve gotta let me die first, okay? Because I don’t think I’d ever survive without knowing you were breathing on this Earth.”

“How about I promise that when we’re really old we’ll die in bed together like that couple in the movie you used to hate. The one Kenzie and I use to watch all the time. I’ll let you go first, but I’m gonna follow you, okay?” “You sure, Lindy?” The look on his face makes me hesitate for a second. “Marry me, Easton.” “What?” he chokes back. “I’m standing here, in front of the man I’ve already loved for a lifetime, and he’s promising to love me forever. There are twenty-four hour chapels all over this town. Marry me. Make me Mrs. Madeline Hayes.” I giggle. I used to doodle that on my notebooks when I was a little girl. “You’re fucking serious?” He takes a step back,

and I’m pretty sure my heart drops out of my chest.

“Madeline Kingston, I’m supposed to ask you to marry me. It’s supposed to be fucking romantic. Fit for a princess.” His tone is pointed, but his smile is huge, and my heart soars instead of cracking. “Fuck romance, Easton. We’ve already done life and death. We’ve already been each other’s person for years. I don’t need hearts and flowers and pretty words. I need you. And you say fuck a lot more than you say anything else.” I bite down on my bottom lip, and he gets all growly again. “You keep biting your lip tha...

“Okay. You find the chapel, and I’ll get the girls.” I step back, but Easton grabs my hand and pulls me to him.

“Not a chance, baby. Let’s get the girls, get some rings, and go find ourselves an Elvis together. Until you’re legally my wife, I’m not letting you out of my sight.” “Ahh . . . I love the sound of that.” He moves in front of me and bends his knees. “Hop on, princess. Let’s go get married.” Oh. My. God. I’m getting married.

Lindy remembers it all ❤️

“But I . . . I blamed you. I forgot . . . I forgot everything.” My chest tightens, and the all too familiar heavy ball of anxiety starts to grow in my chest. “I’m so sorry. I don’t have any better words to give you.” “Baby, I don’t care about your words. Give me you, and I’m good.” He plays with the rings I haven’t taken off since he put them on my finger. “Marry me, Madeline Kingston.” I wipe my face and run my hand over his heart. “I just told you I remember marrying you, E.” “Do it again. Do it the way we should have done it the first time. In front of our families. Our friends. You in a white dress. Let Dixon walk you down the aisle and give you to me.”

I wrap myself around my husband and lay my head on his chest, almost scared to close my eyes. “E?” “Yeah, baby?” “Till we’re old and gray.”

“Good. Now get out of here and warm up before I decide to bench you for good measure.” Then he starts mumbling about stupid fucking asshole players, and I start to wonder if maybe we broke Fitz.

“So, Jace, tell me. What did you get Easton and your sister for their wedding then?” Alex pushes with a slight edge to his voice. He knows we’re full of shit. And he wants to be the reporter to prove it. Jace laughs and looks at me, suddenly serious. “I gave them my blessing, Alex. Now get out of here so we can get dressed and on the bus.”

when she looks up at me through those dark fucking lashes, I’m no longer thinking with my head. Not that head, at least. “You look so good on your knees, baby.” I wrap her ponytail around my fist and tug, enjoying the quiet moan she gives me in return. Lindy pulls my sweats and boxers down to my knees, and her stormy eyes dance with excitement. “I love your cock, E.” “Then I guess you better show me how much, wife.” She licks her lips and fists my dick. And I swear, the tiny moan slipping past her lips as she swirls

Spice

her tongue over the tip of my dick is the sexiest fucking sound I’ve ever heard. She drags her tongue down to the base of my cock and cups my balls. And fucking hell. Blood roars in my ears. My wife knows exactly what she’s doing to me because she looks up at me with such an innocent smile before wrapping her pouty lips around my cock. Taking me deeper until she swallows me down her throat and fucking hums. “Fuuuuck . . .” I pull her hair until she stops. “Baby, you gotta stop or I’m gonna come.” “Good.” And this time when she takes me down the back of her throat, I don’t stop.

More spice

“Really, E? I just sucked your dick. Aren’t you supposed to be in a good mood?”