Slap Shot (D.C. Stars, #3)

by Chelsea Curto

I say into her neck. She smells like vanilla and the sand on the beach on a warm summer day.

You girls. There goes my damn heart again, skipping a beat. Fucking traitorous thing.

Hudson is wearing a tuxedo that hugs every curve of his body. His blond hair is styled neater than it is when he’s around the house, and his beard looks freshly trimmed. There’s a silver watch clasped around his left wrist, and his white bowtie is decorated with dozens of Christmas trees.

He’s staring at me like he wants to devour me, and my skin burns hot at the thought of his mouth on my body. Kissing the space below my ear. Running his tongue along my collarbone then moving lower to my thighs.

“Shit, Madeline. You’re beautiful. Fucking gorgeous.”

“When I said green, I meant that exact shade. You in that outfit, really.” His cheeks are flushed, and his Adam’s apple bobs. “No other variation is ever going to do.”

“All kidding aside, though, I know what you mean. I’m not sure I could date one of the players. I know so much about them. I’ve seen their asses and heard them make stupid jokes to each other when they’re on the trainers’ tables.

“Our organization does good work. Speaking of holiday spirit, I thought we could pick out a Christmas tree this week. You, me, and Lucy. It’s been a few years since I put one

“Are you a hockey girl now?” Hudson asks, his voice an octave deeper than it was a minute ago. “Are you staying up and watching my games?”

“I’ve watched a few of your matches, Hayes,”

He dips me, a squeal escaping from my lips when the ends of my hair graze the floor.

“Think I could convince you and Lucy to come to a game?” “I’m not sure it would take much convincing. We’d love to come if the schedules lined up.”

“Gosh. You really are something else, Mads. A sight for sore eyes.”

“This is the most fun I’ve had in a long, long time.”

I don’t care about the clean up, because I swear this is the most alive my kitchen has ever been.

When Liam ended up with a pink dildo, Coach put a stop to it.” I grin. “He still doesn’t know I’m the one who gave it to him.” “Damn, Bombshell. Look at you being funny.” “Watch it, KG. I’m plenty funny.”

“Want a taste, hockey guy?” Fuck, do I ever. “Yes.” I swallow. “Please.”

My tongue brushes against the tip of her finger, and I swallow. I know I’m playing with fire, but for once, I don’t give a damn.

“Lucy wants you there.” Her eyes meet mine, and her smile is soft. “And so do I.” “Then that’s where I’ll be.”

“They’re drawings. Of you and her and the dogs. Of you and me at the stove while she watches us make dinner. Of you playing hockey,” Madeline explains as I flip through the pages, and my chest feels impossibly tight.

SOBBING

“She wants you to know how much she loves being here. How much she loves the dogs and how much fun she has when you’re around,” Madeline tells me.

“I don’t know how long y’all plan to stay, but my home is your home for as long as you’d like it to be. For another year. For five more years,” I say. “You’re both welcome here. If this is what Christmas looks like from now on, I can’t wait to have a whole condo covered in Lucy’s drawings next year.”

The admission that not a single woman has caught my eye, because I’ve been thinking about her lately. Nonstop, really. Wanting to touch her. Wanting to taste her. Wanting to wrap my arms around her and kiss her until she’s dizzy and forgets her name.

I’m not sure why I inch closer to her. I’m not sure why I get in her space, but I’m drawn to her like a magnet, and I can’t stop myself.

“Maybe we should kiss,” I tell her, not fully knowing what I’m saying. But those lips… and the corner of her mouth… “To see if it brings us good luck.” “You want to kiss me because you want good luck?” “Yeah. But I also want to kiss you because I’ve been thinking about it for weeks.”

“You,” I say. “In every way I shouldn’t want you. In every way I can’t have you.”

How her fingers fan out over my shirt and she twists the cotton, pulling me toward her. As if I wouldn’t go willingly. As if I wouldn’t fucking crawl or run or climb a mountain to get there.

“I’ve been thinking about you, too,” she whispers again.

She’s so soft, and when she kisses the corner of my mouth, I whimper. It’s torture—hell on earth—but when she huffs out a laugh at my patheticness and kisses me fully, I’m a lost cause.

A man gone, because she’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted, and once isn’t going to be enough. A million fucking times won’t be enough.

I curse myself for being patient, but none of the things I’m imagining make me a good man at all.

I’m thinking about her mouth, about how well we’d fit together, and when I move my lips back to hers, it’s the most alive I’ve felt in fucking years.

Nice. I don’t want her to feel nice. I want her to feel like she’s on top of the damn world. Like she’s never experienced something so good, and I want to be the one to get her there.

“I did something, and I’m not sure if what I did was wrong.”

“What do you mean she ran away?”

“Are you a bad kisser, Hayes?” “I never thought I was. She liked it, I think. That’s the impression I got based off—”

“Now I think she might r...

“She kissed me first.” “Now we’re talking. Sounds like she has feelings for you. Those feelings probably scare her because she doesn’t think she’s allowed to have them, and that’s why she ran away.”

“I couldn’t help it. I’ve been thinking about her for goddamn weeks now, and it felt like the right moment to do it.” “Wow.” Maverick chuckles. “You’re down bad, aren’t you?” “Yeah.” I put a pillow over my face and groan. “I might be.”

Hudson kissed me the other night, and it was the best kiss of my life. It was a full-body experience. Toe-curling. Heart-stopping. Goddamn magical. It was like he wanted to consume me. Like he wanted to possess me.

“Like I could forget that. I just wanted you to speak it into existence. We kissed, then you ran away from me. Did I do something wrong? Was it not good for you?”

“Good. I was starting to think I’m a terrible kisser.”

“Thanks for not damaging my ego.” “You’re definitely not terrible. You… you took my breath away.” “Huh. Sounds a lot better than nice,”

“You are. I see your selflessness and adoration for Lucy. It’s tangible, Madeline. I feel it when I’m around y’all, and it’s the most beautiful thing in the world.”

“You’re fast, but not as fast as me, Maddie.” The nickname sends a shiver down my spine.

I hope she’s getting enough sleep. I hope the dogs aren’t bothering her, and I really hope I’m not bothering her.

What is she thinking about? What speed does she like to use? Is the toy enough to get her off, or is it just to tease? Does she use it during sex? What kind of stimulation does she prefer? Does she fuck herself with it, or is it only for her clit?

I’d make it so good for her. I could be gentle. Rough. I could fuck her like I hated her or I could make love to her and kiss her soft and sweet. I’d get on my knees and beg, or I’d ask her to say please if that’s what she liked. I’d call her perfect. I’d tell her how well she was doing, how pretty she is when she’s taking two of my fingers then three.

would do anything she wanted.

This is the best kind of torture.