Playing for Keeps (Hot Jocks, #1)

by Kendall Ryan

Her eyebrows dart up. And then she bursts out laughing. “Rah, rah love? Seriously?” “Yeah, sorry. That was probably a little much,” I laugh. “But seriously Becca, think about it. Why can’t I fuck around and have fun? The guys do it all the time.” Understatement of the year. My brother and his friends make an Olympic sport out of no-strings sex, and they are all gold-medalists—many times over. I thrust my shoulders back. “And if anyone needs a redo, it’s me and Justin.” That part was true at least. I needed to erase the memories of that night and replace them with something sweeter. It’s more than a desire, it’s practically a necessity. I need this. I need to be the one in control this time. And I need Becca to see that.

I hold up one hand. “I promise you, I’m in it for the orgasms. That’s it.” Becca finally breaks into a smile. “Girl, he better deliver or I’m going to tell Owen and we’re both going to kick his ass.”

Oh, I think he will. And there are already feels involved.

Everyone’s here tonight. Owen, the entire team, Coach Bryant, several players I don’t recognize out of their gear, Becca, me, and most distracting of all—Justin. He’s dressed in a finely tailored black tuxedo, crisp white shirt and enough sex appeal to thaw an entire ice rink in three seconds flat.

God, I bet he looks sexy as hell in a tuxedo.

We’d ridden together in a limo over to the event. I sat between Becca and Owen, but with Justin seated across from us in the dimly lit interior, my mind had immediately scrambled in sixteen different directions and my heart beat so hard I was scared everyone in the limo could hear it. It had taken some serious level of Jedi strength to force myself to not stare at him the entire ride, and based on the way his eyes smoldered, he appreciated my dress.

There’s a faint dark bruise beneath his left eye, and I have the strangest impulse to kiss him there. My lips twitch with that secret knowledge. “What is it?” he asks, amused by me. I shake my head. He’s way too perceptive. “Nothing. It’s not important.” “Tell me.” His voice is steady, and sure when I feel anything but. “I just had this strange reaction—I wanted to kiss your black eye and make it feel better.” His gaze locks onto mine, his blue eyes dark and filled with emotion as he watches me. “My eye feels fine, but I could think of a few other places that I’d like your kisses.”

He pulls me closer, under the guise of dancing. “Because when I suddenly get an erection while dancing with you, Owen is going to beat my ass. And I’ve been in more fights on the ice than I can remember, but I’ve never gotten into a brawl wearing a tuxedo.” I can’t help the laugh that tumbles from my lips.

He presses his hips closer, and the laughter dies on my lips. In fact, all the breath leaves my lungs at once. Because holy shit. He wasn’t kidding about being hard. There’s a steely rod pressing behind his zipper, and all we’ve done is dance—at a safe enough distance to make any middle-school chaperone happy. I grin up at him, feeling a little cheeky. “Hey there, big boy.” He chuckles darkly, gaze hot. “Don’t.” “Is that a hockey stick, or are you just happy to see me?” I tease. “Elise,” he warns, voice now tight. I’ve never felt quite so powerful, quite so desirable. He wants me. This sexy, god of a man wants me. The feeling is quickly becoming addictive.

And just like that, I’m immediately picturing all the ways Justin Brady can take care of me tonight. Most of them are while I’m naked and horizontal, but Owen doesn’t need to know that.

Owen gives Justin a solemn look, nods once, and then returns to his date, placing his hand against the small of her back as he ushers her to the exit. I’ve never seen the girl he’s with before, but I don’t bother asking her name, because I’m also certain I’ll never see her again. My brother the manwhore, ladies and gentlemen.

Fucking finally. My ovaries do a happy dance as we climb into a car for the ride home. I’m not sure what happened to the limo—if it took others home or was just a one-way thing, but it doesn’t matter. Sitting in the back of a car alone with Justin feels incredibly intimate and I like the closeness. It smells like leather and him, and oh my God, I can’t believe this is real.

He looks so sexy standing in front of me in his tux. He lifts both my hands and places them against his waist. Then he puts his hands on my hips, gripping me lightly.

I never found the right moment to press the pause button and say oh by the way, I’ve never done this before, but I always dreamed you’d be my first.

I’m glad he doesn’t press the issue further. I’m really glad he doesn’t ask why I wanted to share my first time with him, because I’m afraid I’ll admit the extent of my feelings, and since I’ve vowed to turn them off, it’s not a piece of information I can divulge. Those days are done and behind me, I just want to forget about it and have a hot fling with a hot man.

Warning: there will be feels.

He pulls the shirttails from his pants, and then shrugs it off, dropping it to the floor. A half-naked man in front of me would be an exciting thing. A half-naked pro athlete ratchets everything up to a whole other level. His chiseled muscles and smooth, tanned skin are perfection. His pec muscles and abs are downright lickable, and those biceps would have no problem supporting my weight while he fucked me. The nude-colored lace thong I’m wearing instantly grows damp at that thought. His body is built for sin and whatever qualms I had about tonight vanish in an instant. I want this. I want him. I damn well deserve it.

“Okay,” he says. And then his lips are back on mine and he gives me a playful shove. I fall onto his bed, resting on my elbows as I watch him stand in front of me. He tugs the belt free and drops it onto the floor. And then he reaches one hand inside his pants to adjust his stiff length and I almost groan.

He lowers himself to his knees on the side of the bed, grabs onto my ankles, and pulls me until my butt is close to the edge of the mattress. Planting his mouth on my inner thigh, he leaves wet, sucking kisses as he moves lower, until he’s nuzzling me, softly biting me, right over the lace of my panties. I let out a moan of frustration and thread my fingers into his dark, silky hair. Tonight could not be going any better, even if I’d scripted it. Eat your heart out, Becca.

God I could eat her all night. Elise squirms on my bed, her pale curves so beautiful against my bedding. I plant chaste kisses along the lace of her panties and appreciate the way she whimpers and thrusts her hands into my hair. After one last open-mouthed kiss right over her center, I peel her damp panties away, tugging until she lifts her ass and I can remove them completely. Her natural instinct is to close her knees, but I shake my head.

“Don’t hide this perfect pussy from me.” My voice comes out so deep and husky, but I don’t bother clearing my throat because I doubt it will help. I’m so fucking turned on right now, my dick is leaking pre-come in my boxer briefs and she hasn’t even touched me yet.

She lets out a squeak of surprise that turns into a moan the second my tongue touches her sweet flesh. “Oh my fuck,” she gasps, gripping the back of my neck with one trembling hand. “That’s it,” I murmur, tongue lapping against her in a slow, steady rhythm. “Let me make this pretty little pussy come.” I bite her inner thigh and give her perfect cunt a light slap. “Would that be okay with you?”

“Oh fuck,” Elise moans, shivering from the pleasure when I return my mouth to its rightful place and take a long, deep suck of her clit. If I weren’t so incredibly turned on right now, I could almost chuckle at her responses. She’s so primal and needy, grinding against my face, pressing my head closer with her hands, and pushing her hips off the bed to get my mouth closer—which I am not opposed to—trust me. I love how into this she is, and I really love that it’s me causing these reactions from her.

I reach into my pants and give the base of my cock a warning squeeze. I’m so heavy and hard, I need to calm myself the fuck down before I embarrass myself. It’s like my dick knows how good the sex is going to be and it’s eager to blow this for me. Actually the word blow is not helping matters. The visual of Elise on her knees before me, those pouty lips taking my cock is to...

I give her another gentle nibble before adding one finger, pushing my middle finger slowly inside her hot, tight heat. I groan again when I feel how warm and wet she is and my cock jerks behind my zipper.

I take my time, licking and sucking her in time to the steady movement of my finger. I could do this all fucking night. I made a lot of mistakes the first time we were together. I don’t intend to make any tonight. In fact, I vow to make it my mission to see to it that she has as many orgasms as she can handle. I increase my tempo and Elise pants.

Letting her ride the high of her orgasm for as long as possible—until her body twitches with overstimulation—I finally withdraw my finger and plant an open-mouthed kiss on her inner thigh. “That feel good, baby?” “That was …” She pants and lifts up on her elbows, mouth lifting in a satisfied smile. “Get up here.”

My tongue still tastes like Elise’s delicious pussy and her brother is standing on the other side of my door. My unlocked bedroom door.

With superhuman strength, I leave the warmth of her on my bed and stand. I have to adjust myself again, tucking my cock beneath the waistband of my pants because there’s no way my erection is going to fade after what I just experienced. Fuck, I don’t know how I’ll ever not be hard again. Elise’s gaze tracking my every movement is not helping matters. There’s still a want in her eyes that’s hard to ignore.

I don’t feel like a genius, I feel like an asshole. An asshole who needs to blow my load. We exit the elevator and then leave our building, walking toward the little dive bar that’s closest to our place. Tonight feels like the punchline to a bad joke. I’ve waited three months for this and all I get is the taste of her perfect pussy on my lips and the world’s worst case of blue balls. My fingers are busy typing out another apology to Elise.

In my haste to get out of the apartment, I’m dressed in a pair of tuxedo pants, a Nirvana t-shirt, and my Vans with no socks. And apparently no wallet. It’s quite an ensemble.

I bet he still looks like a snack though.

My chest tightens as I lean forward in my third row seat, watching the action on the ice unfold. The guys have only been playing for a couple of minutes now, and as nice as it is watching Owen play, my eyes are on someone else tonight. Justin Brady. Number thirty-six. And my own personal walking, and skating, fantasy come to life. God, he’s perfection.

Watching him skate and move almost defies logic. He’s so quick and agile, but so aggressive at the same time. It’s kind of a turn on if I’m being honest. His broad shoulders twist as he angles his body away from the opposing player charging at him, managing to stay upright in the process.

He no longer has a black eye and he looks so damn good on the ice. His discipline over the off-season has paid off tremendously. The dude is in perfect shape. He simply grins at me once more before skating away to rejoin the pack of players.

Justin is right behind him and the second his gaze meets mine, I fill with nerves. Dear God. This hulking six-foot two of a man who’s so bulky and muscled is headed straight toward me. He thrusts a hand through his freshly styled hair and I have to force my eyes away. The perfectly tailored suit he’s wearing leaves very little to the imagination, as his powerful thighs carry him toward me, my eyes are drawn briefly to the bulge behind his zipper that hints at an exquisite package. I can barely stop my mouth from watering. My gaze wanders up and I note the way his white button down is open at the collar and the way the navy jacket really brings out his eyes. He looks so hot, but humping him in front of my brother is not an option I can entertain.

We pass by a group of female fans who are not at all dressed for the chilly temperatures inside the rink, and I grin as they shoot Becca and I dirty looks. Yes, we’re the ones leaving with the guys but we’re the furthest thing from puck bunnies you could ever get. Neither of us has ever dated a hockey player. And we probably never will.

🤣🤣 don’t bet on that.

Once at the bar, we find an empty table and place our order with the server. The guys are always starving after a game and so they order food along with our drinks. Soon Becca and Owen are enthralled in a story about the game, and I listen on while trying not to be distracted by how handsome Justin looks sitting there nursing his beer.

Soon their food is delivered, and they dig in with gusto and I’m thankful the conversation of my love life is forgotten because fries. At least my brother doesn’t put up a fight when Becca and I raid his plate for fries.

Mmmmm, fries...

“Oh you guys are cute together.” “We’re not together,” I snap. “We’re fuck buddies, Becca. I need to keep that straight.” The driver clears his throat and I can feel my cheeks turning pink. Whatever.

Keep telling yourself that, Elise...

But once I open the front door, none of that matters. I’m not sure how it’s possible, but he looks even better than before. His entire frame fills my doorway, and his features have transformed—his jaw set and chiseled and his eyes are dark with predatory desire.

I take three steps and then his strong arms draw me in close to his chest. His masculine scent washes over me as his mouth lowers to mine. His kiss is so soft at first, exploratory and sweet. But then I lift up onto my toes and bring my hands around to the back of his neck, threading them into his hair, and then Justin’s lifting me in his arms like I weigh nothing at all.

He lowers me down to the edge of the bed, and suddenly I’m eye level with his groin. I can see the material of his dress pants straining with his excitement. He looks down at me in amusement. “See something you want?” I look up and nod at him. “Very much.”

After removing his jacket, his hands span over my ribs and then slide up to cup my breasts. They’re small, but perky and he makes a pleased sound as he caresses me. His mouth latches onto mine, and we kiss deeply for several long moments as he caresses my breasts, lighting pinching my nipples. I feel his touch as though it’s between my legs instead of on my breasts, and I give a soft moan.

His lips move to my throat while his hands move down to unbutton my pants. He shoves them down over my hips and then works one hand inside my panties, rubbing me with soft touches that are teasing and gentle and make me hungry for more.

I bite my lower lip, nodding. Clutching his firm biceps while his fingers continue to do magical things to my body, I let out a soft whimper. “I need a taste,” he whispers, pressing one more brief kiss to my damp lips before dropping to his knees on the floor in front of me. With a hungry look in his eyes, he brings his mouth to my core and treats me to a slow wet lap of his tongue that makes my knees tremble.

Hands sliding along my waist, he reaches one breast and touches my nipple, lightly pinching it. And the mood I just ruined? Comes roaring back to life. Justin grabs my thighs and pulls me close. I fall back onto my elbows as he resumes his task from before—teasing me with light licks and kisses against my core.

His hands hold me in place—with my thighs spread for him—and he doesn’t stop until I’m panting in pleasure and moving beneath him, rocking my hips into his mouth shamelessly. “Oh God,” I groan, the sound long and throaty. He looks up at me, mouth still working and smirks. “You keep calling me that and I’m going to develop a complex.”

Pushing one hand into his hair, I thrust my hips up, rubbing myself all over his lips and tongue. I’m so close. Right there. And he’s fucking teasing me. But then he lightly bites my clit as his finger slides home...

Waves of intense pleasure pulse over me, one after the other while Justin watches me from beneath those dark lashes, his finger moving slowly and surely as if to draw out my pleasure. This man kno...

Finally, the waves subside and I lay back against the bed, body loose and languid. Rising from his spot on the floor, he leans over me, stripping his shirt off so we’re bare chest to bare chest. It feels divine. “You are so sexy when you come.” He kisses me deeply while I cling to him, bringing my arms around the tense muscles ...

Obeying Elise’s command, I strip out of my pants and boxer briefs in about three seconds flat and join her on her bed. I’m so hard and eager, it’s almost embarrassing. I’m visualizing my arsenal of mental images to slow this train down—you know, like your grandma at the beach in a bikini or an old man walking out of the sauna at the gym, butt ass naked—to keep myself in check so I can hold out for longer than a teenage boy losing his virginity.

Thankfully Elise doesn’t seem to mind. She chews on her lower lip as her gaze tracks down over my chest and abs to where a certain part of my anatomy is more than a little excited to see her. “Oh,” she says, smiling at me, as she reaches one hand out to lightly touch my cock. Even the slightest touches from her feel incredible.

Rubbing her palm along the length of me, Elise moves to my side where she perches on her knees. Knowing we have all night to enjoy each other, well let’s just say, my body has plen...