Playing for Keeps (Hot Jocks, #1)

by Kendall Ryan

Normally—I see something I want—and I go and get it. It’s how I’ve always been. It’s how I’m wired. The one exception to that rule? Elise Parrish.

My heart starts to beat faster as she grins up at me. Well damn, I didn’t know I still had one of those.

“Tell me what you need,” I whisper, placing my hands on his waist. He feels so solid beneath my palms. “You,” he croaks out, voice raw. “On the bed.”

“Today, tears,” she says, patting my back. “Tomorrow, we plot his murder and take over the world.”

“Be careful with my little sister, she’s precious cargo.”

“I know, don’t worry. I won’t let anything bad happen to her.”

“I’m not pretending, Elise. I care about you. I always have.

Huge gray eyes look up at mine, and fuck, I’m done. I’m done resisting this girl, with her sweet personality and her quick wit. I’m all wrong for her, but she’s gorgeous and I want this. So fucking badly. Or maybe I just want redemption. Either way, I can’t go on like this.

She kisses me back and I’m in heaven. The taste of her, the softness of her lips eagerly moving under mine, brings me right back to the first night we kissed in my bedroom. The quiet sounds she makes, the feel of her trembling fingers skimming along my chest…nothing has ever felt more right.

“I remember, okay? All of it. Every whimper, every moan, every pant. How perfectly we moved together. How you taste, how your body felt around mine, how soft you felt beneath me. Shit, I remember every-fucking-thing. And I can’t seem to get you out of my head.” His

He kisses like he plays hockey—with complete confidence and laser focus.

“Turns out I get kind of stupid around you,”

Three dots appear that tell me she’s replying—and I’m smiling.

I chuckle to myself, enjoying this flirty side of Elise.

Straight to the point. I like it.

I fall asleep that night with thoughts of Elise and a smile on my face.

It’s doubtful, but if I can make Elise smile, I’ll try anything.

I’ve been dreaming of this moment for way too long.”

Damn, I love how determined she is.

That was—different. Amazing in its own way. I think because it was us.

But with Elise? Everything I’ve ever known flies out the window.

Back at home, I tidy up my bedroom, even though it’s a slim chance in hell Elise will even see it. But still, I have a girl coming over. A girl I like very much.

The idea of her wrangling a group of chaotic four-year-olds is one that also makes me smile.

I’m struck by a sudden realization. I don’t just like all the physical stuff with her, I like just hanging out with her too.

Almost as fast as I dared come in here and kiss her, I leave, my heart beating fast and my cock swelling against my thigh.

“You in these goddamn leggings.” His firm hands skim down over my hips. “It drives me fucking crazy.”

“Good. That means I get to have one of your firsts too.”

“You might not realize it, but you do already own a lot of my firsts.”

“We could have still hung out. Even if we couldn’t …you know.”

I have no idea when this happened, or when she started to become my whole world, but something has shifted.

Elise is all I think about. When I’m on the ice—it’s her I’m skating for. When I’m home in Seattle, she’s the person I want to spend all my free time with. When I’m travelling, my brain is constantly calculating the difference in our time zones and when I might get to talk with her. I hardly recognize the man I’ve become.

“What if I wanted to date her?”

“And in case you didn’t notice, I’m an adult. So you can either fuck off and leave me alone, or you can actually be supportive like the big brother I thought you were.”

Elise. Elise is my favorite.

“If you’ve got something you want to say, say it.”

“I would never hurt her intentionally. I lov—” He stops himself, but my smile is huge. Love. Justin loves me.

“Every word,” he says, voice gruff. “I’ve fallen for you. So fucking hard.”

I know I might not be boyfriend material, and it’s possible that I’ll suck at all of this, but I want to try. For you. Because the idea of living without you in my life?” His expression is pained. I lean in and press a soft kiss to his lips.

Justin laces his fingers through mine, as if to announce to the world that we’re together.

I secretly love that he’s not being shy about this. I love that we’re coming out as a couple to our friends. After months of hiding what happened between us and hiding my feelings, this is a very welcome change of pace.

There are whoops and hollers and catcalls from around the room.

“We made a bet. It’s about damn time you guys realized how perfect you are for each other.”

It’s crazy how the chill in the air, and even the smell of the ice can spark up nostalgia. This is us. Our history. And he planned the entire thing without me knowing.

“I love you.”

feel whole. For the first time in a long time. Maybe ever.

because my days of sneaking around with her are behind me. I want everyone to know we’re a couple.

Then I’d hunted through my walk-in closet until I found the box marked Home.

“I love you,” I say, pulling each mitten off and setting them aside.

Elise falls back onto the pillows and tugs me down on top of her. I love how confident she is, how she has no problem initiating physical intimacy between us.

“Please don’t hurt me,”