Face Off (D.C. Stars, #1)

by Chelsea Curto

I don’t care how pretty or famous he is. I’m not touching that with a ten-foot pole.”

Famous last words

“That’s because you’re prickly, not because you’re a woman. You’re my little cactus.”

If she’s the sunshine, I’m the storm cloud.

I’m not a big believer in soulmates, but I think Piper might be mine.

The only thing I want to do with you, pretty boy, is kick your ass on the ice,”

“You think I’m pretty?” “You would only hear that part, wouldn’t you?”

“That’s my fu—freaking dream girl,” I whine, making sure I don’t drop any f-bombs in front of June. “We had a horrible first meeting, and now I have to play next to her with my tail between my legs.”

“Pretty sure I wanted to bark when I saw her for the first time,”

“Besides, how hard can it be to play on an NHL team? Boys do it.”

That earns me another half smile from her, and I want to collect them all. Shove them in my pocket and keep them for myself.

“Says the guy who follows people around like a lost dog.” “I’m just looking for an owner I guess.”

I love when she’s sassy. All tough girl and independent woman

A thought I’ve been having more and more lately these last few weeks, but becomes solidified right now: this woman is fucking incredible. Special. Changing the future of the sport and inspiring girls and women everywhere, all while wearing ribbons and mascara.

I’ve always considered myself a feminist, but there’s something so goddamn sexy about a man in a backwards hat that has me ready to drop to my knees for the patriarchy.

What a fucking mood

I might not like him, but I can’t deny Maverick has a calming presence. The ability to help me settle in a way I haven’t settled in days.

Maybe your dick will make me hate you a little less.”

like you a whole lot more if you got on your knees like a good boy and showed me you know how to use your tongue and fingers for something less annoying than running your mouth. If not, I have no problem making you sit in a chair and watch while I get off from eight inches of silicone.”

“It’s okay to think I’m hot, Hartwell. You can tell me about it when I’m on top of you.”

“What are you doing?” I ask. “You said you wanted me on my knees.” He drops a kiss to my shin, then kneels on the ground in front of me. “And I’ve always liked being a good boy.”

The things I want to do to this woman. There’s a list a mile long and not nearly enough time. I want to wrap my hand around her throat and finish all over her chest. Smear my cum down her stomach and paint a picture. Maybe write out the word mine so everyone else stays the fuck away. I might only have her for one night—an hour at best—but I’m going to ruin her so badly no one will ever measure up to me. The next time someone kisses her, she’s going to wish it were my mouth on hers. The next time someone touches her, she’s going to wish it were my fingers trailing down her body. The next time someone fucks her, she’s going to wish it were my cock buried inside her.

“Such a good boy. You can touch me wherever you want.”

“I’m going to make a mess of you, Emmy girl.”

“Open your legs nice and wide. Death by your pussy is the only way I want to go, and I’m not going to stop until you come on my tongue.”

“Come for me, Emmy girl. Let me taste you.”

“You can claim you hate me all you want, Red.” He slides one hand under my thighs and lifts me off of him, only to slam me back down. “But we can both feel how your pussy clenches around my cock. You love it when I make you come.”

“Don’t make things weird, Emmy girl.” “You’re the one making it weird by calling me that when you’re not inside me. I’m going to go back to pretending like you don’t exist.”

“Did you miss me, Hartwell?” Maverick grins and kicks off his shoes. “You’re very eager to see me.” “I’m hungry.” “For what, exactly?” I narrow my eyes and take the bag from his hold. “French fries.” “Weird synonym for my dick, but okay,” he jokes.

“When it comes to your pussy, Red, I’m Bill-fucking-Nye.”

“Maybe my next tattoo will be the word mine on the back of my right hand.” His fingers dance up my neck and curl around my throat. “So you know who you belong to when you’re with me.”

“Take me to church, Emmy,” he murmurs. His hands run up my thighs and squeeze my hips. “Please.” “I didn’t think you were a religious guy,” I whisper, and I sink down on him in a bleary fog. “I’m not.” Maverick bites the soft skin near my shoulder as I take him another inch deeper, and my breath catches in my throat. “But I imagine you’re what heaven feels like, so I’m a converted man.”

“See something you like?” he asks with a sly grin. “No.” I shake my head. “Not a damn thing.” “I love it when you lie.”

“What happens if we win again?” “I guess we’ll have to fuck a third time, just to be sure,” he says, putting on his clothes. “And if we lose?” “Is it really losing if we fuck away the disappointment?”

“You haven’t brought anyone to your hotel room? Or your apartment?” “Between our hookups and the text messages you send me, when would I have time to bring someone to my hotel room? You ride my cock so well, Red, and I can’t keep my eyes open after you’re finished with me. I don’t have the physical capacity to fuck someone else, nor do I want to.”

I just assumed based on your past that you’re not a one-woman kind of guy.” “I wasn’t before, but you’re taking care of me just fine, Emmy girl. Fucking yourself on my thigh? Making me watch you use your fingers before you finally let me touch you? Those pictures of you in my shirt?”

“I love the nicknames you have for me, but I’m partial to god. Particularly when you’re on top of me.” A flush creeps up my neck, and I’m glad none of our teammates are paying enough attention to listen to our conversation. “I might call you Satan next time, just to keep you balanced.”

“I’m not just saying that so I can slip my hand under your dress later.” “You can, by the way.” “Oh, I’m planning on it. I’m going to lose my mind otherwise. But I’d say the same thing even if I didn’t get to bury my head between your legs. I mean it, Emmy. Every word.”

“You’re absurd.” “You like it,” I toss back. This time when she smiles at me, I feel it in the center of my chest. There’s a hollow part behind my ribs where I’ve never felt an ache before. It spreads through me until everything boils down to a single entity: her.

I know it’s fictional, but it’s making me believe in love again. Is that silly?” I climb off the couch and walk toward her. “It means you know that kind of love is out there, and you’re worthy of it. There’s nothing silly about that, even if the words are make-believe. They can be real to you.”

“What if I want to figure out how you take your coffee? See what plants you buy for your place and make fun of you for sleeping with eight blankets?”

my nose stings. I blink away tears, and I hide my face in her hair. “You sweet man. You’re the furthest thing from a horrible person. You have a gentle soul that’s been beaten up and broken through no fault of your own. I’m so sorry anyone’s ever made you feel like you weren’t worth keeping for more than a night. You are and you’re wonderful and… and one day, when you want to settle down, you’re going to make someone really happy, and they’re never going to leave. You know why?”

“Because you love everyone fiercely. You put your whole being into the people you care about, and a woman is going to come along who sees that. Who knows what a gift you are, and it will be an honor for her to fall in love with you. She’ll protect your heart, and it’s going to be okay.”

I don’t know what to fucking do because this is my fuck buddy not my fucking forever buddy. But the idea of fucking her forever doesn’t scare me when it normally would, and I think I might be having a stroke.

“Are you sure?” I let go of the drawer and wrap my hand around her neck. “You have to be one hundred percent sure, Emmy, because when I sink into you and fuck you raw, that’s it. You’re mine for good. I’m not sharing you with anyone else. It’s my cum that’s going to fill you up. It’s my cock that’s going to take care of your pussy. I’m going to have you wherever the fuck I want, and I’m a needy man, baby. I’m going to need you a lot.”

I want you to fuck me like I’m yours.” Everything turns blurry after that. Mine.

I never really felt like I had a home. But with Emmy next to me, I think home is wherever she is. A place I’d like to stay forever.

“You might want to call the commissioner and start apologizing, Coach. We’re going to be in a heap of fucking trouble when we’re finished here tonight.”

Being on top of Cole helped me realize something. I don’t want her as a teammate or someone I fuck multiple times a week. I want her as so much more—a partner. A girlfriend. My best friend. I don’t know if we lose the game or not. I really don’t fucking care, because I’ve already won. I have her, and she’s the greatest prize of all.

A single punch wouldn’t have worked. It was obvious he wanted to go in for the kill. And, gosh, he did. I’ve never seen so much blood. I’ve never been so turned on, and I’ve been questioning my sexual preferences since he got ejected. Watching Maverick punch the ever-loving shit out of Cole was hot as hell, but the icing on the cake was when he was escorted off the ice. He looked back at me, bloodied and bruised, and smiled. Fucking smiled, and mouthed, I’d do it again. I know he would.

single punch wouldn’t have worked. It was obvious he wanted to go in for the kill. And, gosh, he did. I’ve never seen so much blood. I’ve never been so turned on, and I’ve been questioning my sexual preferences since he got ejected. Watching Maverick punch the ever-loving shit out of Cole was hot as hell, but the icing on the cake was when he was escorted off the ice. He looked back at me, bloodied and bruised, and smiled. Fucking smiled, and mouthed, I’d do it again. I know he would.

“God. You’re going to take it all, aren’t you?” I do. Every drop, including the cum that trails down my leg. He wipes his fingers through it then presses it back into me, an intimacy I’ve never experienced before.