Tell Me Lies (New England Bay Sharks, #1)

by Hannah Gray

I’m nobody’s dad. I’m Logan Sterns—right winger for the New England Bay Sharks. I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated last year in a briefs campaign. A photo shoot that got me more ass than an airport toilet seat. I’m fierce on the ice. Feared even. But I’m a good time off of it.

Her. As in my baby. A baby I didn’t even know existed until an hour ago.

She feels bad for me because she thinks I lost someone today. The way she’s looking at me, she’s hurting for me. When I’m so much of a piece of shit that I can hardly remember hooking up with this woman.

“It’s all going to be okay, baby girl. I promise.” I kiss the top of her head, feeling tears spill from my eyes and down my cheeks. “I don’t know the first thing about taking care of a baby, but I promise … I’m going to protect you with all I am.”

Goddammit, I wish my mom were here now to tell me how I’m going to take care of this baby.

That’s the thing with Poppy James. She’s ride or die. If she considers you a friend, she’ll do anything she can to help you out. And that’s why I know deep down that this Maci girl is good.

Even though he’s at least four feet from me, I can smell him. And I hate to admit … he smells scrumptious. When I’m writing characters, it’s always hard to articulate in words exactly what they smell like. In my mind, I know what I’m trying to explain on the pages, but it’s sort of up to the readers to use their imaginations to think of the scent.

“I need my daughter to have structure. I need her to be here, in her own environment. And I’d feel like a dick, making you wake up at the ass crack of dawn to drive over here every morning, especially when Amy sleeps clear until eight.”

They share the sort of love that I’ve written about. The kind I’m scared I’ll never get to experience.

Logan Sterns has this way of making me blush, even when he hardly says anything.

“And, Miss Maci, I somehow don’t think you could ever take advantage of me,” he

Part of me didn’t want to leave. The part that genuinely enjoyed hanging out with Amelia and didn’t hate spending time with her dad tonight. But I know that’s inappropriate. So, instead, when I get home, I will try to use the inspiration from the hot dad and write some words.

“If I write romance, it’ll be a lie. I don’t believe in fairy tales anymore, Winter. And that makes me a fraud.”

When he sees the surprise on my face, he shrugs. “What? Think the big meathead hockey player can’t enjoy a little scenery? I’m more than just a big stick and pretty face, you know.”

“Or they’d eat that shit up, and you’d be forced to write a hockey romance about a hot single dad.” He winks. “Now, that’s got a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

“You can totally use me as inspo, just FYI. I give my permission.”

He might not know it—and I’ll never admit it out loud—but he is already my inspiration. Because … hello … he’s Logan freaking Sterns.

No matter how attractive or charming I find Maci McKenzie … I. Must. Not. Fuck. Her.

This girl has slipped seamlessly into our lives, and to be honest, Amelia isn’t the only one who enjoys having her around. I like it too.

I probably sound a little flirtier than I should, but what can I say? She’s an attractive woman, and I’m a dude.

There’s a hint of sadness in her voice, that I understand. There are memories from my childhood that I cherish, yet they are hard to think about because my mom’s not alive anymore, and I miss that woman more than anything.

“I don’t think it ever goes away. Some days—hell, even months—are better than others. But I think we learn to adapt, you know?” I lean my head on the back of the couch.

This isn’t me. I’m never the guy to get deep into my feelings and shit, especially with a girl I don’t even know that well. But for whatever reason, I feel like she gets it. Like she gets me.

I need to close the door—quickly. But all I can do is stare at the clear glass as Logan’s sculpted body stands under the spray of water coming from the showerhead, one hand on the wall and the other … gripping his cock. His exceptionally large cock.

“I don’t really care what you saw. I’m a busy dad who has needs. And sometimes, those needs need to get met with my imagination and my hand.”

“You watched me jerk my cock for longer than you’re letting on, didn’t you, Miss Sweet and Innocent?”

“If watching me fuck my hand didn’t turn you on, why are your cheeks so red, Mace?”

“Oh, babe, don’t be crazy.” He pauses. “I covered my hand in cum the second I caught you watching me.”

“You’re going to use a certain shower scene, aren’t you?” He nods his head proudly. “I gave you some solid material last night. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“I want you to come stay with us for a while. I don’t want you to be here alone, especially not until they figure out who did this.” The words come out quickly, and I squeeze my eyes shut, preparing for her to tell me absolutely

The thought of Maci in this apartment, alone, after this happened is stressing me the fuck out. And if I’m being honest with myself, I don’t think it’s just because she’s my kid’s nanny. But because maybe, just maybe, I’ve grown pretty damn fond of her.

“I’m sorry, Maci,” I mutter. “I’ll find whoever did this. I fucking promise you that.”

Option one, I can walk away and pretend I’m not a fucking perv who was eavesdropping on her phone call. But, yeah, being subtle has never really been my thing. I mean, for fuck’s sake, she caught me jerking off, and I didn’t try to hide it. Option two—and I really, really like this option—I rush in there and offer to help her through this pent-up stress.

“Baby, I’ve watched your ass sway every time you walk by me for days now. And when I caught you watching me fuck my hand, all I could think about was how much I wanted to cover your face with my cum.” I lean down, putting my hands on the armrests. “Use me, sweet thing. Make your wildest fantasies come true, using my cock. Or my face. Even my tongue.”

“Let me help you with that ache, Mace. Let me get you off right here, right now. And if you come to me, wanting to take it further, I’ll be here. And if you don’t ever want to talk about it again … I’ll do my best not to bring it up.”

“Do you think the girl knows that when he was fucking his hand, he was imagining it was her pussy?” I kiss her again, nipping her bottom lip. “Do you think she knows that when his hand was dripping with cum, he was imagining it was her soft cheek?”

“What can I say? This is what you’ve done to me, Maci. You look so good that I can’t help but tear your clothes off, and my cock is giving you a standing ovation.” I wave toward my erection.

“That’s right; you will. I can’t wait to bend you over this desk and drive my cock so far inside of you that you’re sore the next day. Every time you feel that pain, you’ll know it was me that did it to you.”

“It does to me.” He shrugs. “Just means I’m going to fucking devour you, Maci McKenzie. Because you see, I decided something.”

“That book of yours, it needs a scene where he eats her pussy like he’s starving and it’s his last meal on earth.” His eyes twinkle, and his smirk grows. “Hell, he might even be so hungry that he needs to eat her ass too.”

“Looks like it’s meant to be, babe. Because I promise you, you’re not going to find a filthier fucker than me.”

“That is, unless you feel like acting out another filthy scene, M. McKenzie. Because I’ll tell you right now, I have all kinds of ideas.”

“Maybe not in your books, babe. But in real life, it doesn’t have to turn into this big thing.” His lips brush against mine. “I know your greedy pussy is just begging for this. Let it happen. You can’t always be in control of every little thing, you know.”

“If you need to be in control, take control. I can lie back and let you do whatever the fuck you want to me. And I’ll fucking love every second of it and likely blow my load early because it’ll be so fucking hot.”

Stopping, he gazes up at me. “Prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen. And look at you, sprawled out on my kitchen counter, ready to be my next meal.”

“That’s it, baby. Take what you need. Let that greedy, tight pussy fuck my tongue,” he growls from between my legs.

“My cock is already dripping for you, and you’ve barely even touched me,” he grunts before he pulls my hand from him and brings my fingers toward my mouth.

“What are you waiting for, boss? Soak me. I want to feel you dripping down my thighs,” I grumble out, hoping my words make her come undone because I’ve noticed how much she seems to like dirty talk. I’m praying she’s going to come soon because with the sight of her riding me, I can’t last much longer.

“Lucky for you, I want to. Because if I’m the inspo behind this character, I’m damn sure going to do it right.”

But having the nanny sleep in my bed? That wouldn’t be what’s best for my daughter. And my daughter is the only person who truly matters to me.