Consider Me (Playing For Keeps, #1)

by Becka Mack

“It’s gonna be a no from me.” I watch that smug smile melt right off his handsome face before it disappears behind the door I slam. Damn, that felt good.

Regardless, it doesn’t matter. He’s Carter Beckett, millionaire hockey captain. I’m Olivia Parker, broke high school teacher. We’re worlds apart. Hell, we’re not even in the same orbit.

The last thing I want to do is blush over a man who probably calls out the wrong name when he comes.

His grin is explosive, handsome, sexy, infuriating. Leaning over the boards, he stares down the length of his stick at me, the tip resting on top of the glass. “Hi.”

He skates by the bench. Smiling at me. Squirts water into his mouth. Smiling at me.

Of course it feels good, my hand in his.

“Please, Ollie. Please, please, please, please.” One gentle cheek poke for every please. He grips my chin, giving it a little shake. “Pleeease.”

“A-ha! I’ve fucking cracked her!” He grips my waist, spins me in the air, drops me to my feet, and … peppers my entire face in kisses. His fingers lace through mine, tugging, before I have time to comprehend what’s happened.

My lady bits are excited, my vagina rubbing her metaphorical hands together because she thinks she’s getting some tonight.

“I have your damn jersey number on my cheek, Carter!”

He’s incredibly persuasive, especially when he pulls those dimples in, or when he gives me those puppy dog eyes. That’s how I wind up standing next to him nearly two hours later—well after Adam’s smooshed not one, not two, but three pies into his face—as the sun finishes dipping into the horizon while we stare up at the massive tree, waiting.

“Shut up.” I smile up at him. “I’ll see you on New Year’s Eve.” He nods. “Not a date.” “Not a date,” I repeat. Then he shuts the door, hits me with two finger guns, and yells, “It’s a date!”

Oh my. Mr. Beckett is jealous.

Because when I haul Olivia into me, when her hands slip up my arms, over my shoulders, fingers plunging into my hair, when our lips touch—fucking finally—my entire body comes alive. My world explodes with color, my hands on her face trembling with desire and need, with shock. I want more. Need more. I don’t see how I’ll ever get enough of this, of her, of us. She’s a drug, and I’m addicted off my very first hit.

I’ve never had a woman here who I wanted something from. Never allowed a woman to be vulnerable enough in my space to fall asleep. Never had to work so hard to push down the longing that makes me itch to climb in behind her, pull her into my chest, and just fucking … be. Until Olivia.

Upset with her? I’m not upset with her. I’m just fucking staring at her, this breathtaking masterpiece, so wildly contradicting with the way she spits fire and sarcasm while simultaneously caring too much about what people think. And honestly? I fucking adore her.

For Olivia.

It hasn’t. I do a lot of shit with Olivia I’ve never had a desire to do with anyone else. Emmett dives

Who am I? I don’t know. A girl who’s going to take life by the balls, I guess. Or rather, Carter Beckett. I’m going to take Carter Beckett by the balls.

“I’m sorry I can’t say the same. But I can tell you honestly if I only had sex with people I cared about, I’d be losing my virginity tonight at the age of twenty-seven.” Surely that can’t be right. There’s no way I’m the only person he’s ever— “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Never, Ollie. I just want you to consider … consider giving me a shot. Consider me. That’s all I want, Ol. A chance with you.” A gentle kiss sweeps across my knuckles. “We can talk more about it in the morning.” He lifts me off him, pulling me against his chest as he settles us beneath the blankets, stuffing his face in the crook of my neck as he murmurs, “Banana bread.”

“Can I keep you?” he asks. “Yes.” My heart skitters to a stop at the simple answer spoken without thought, and only when Carter tilts my chin and captures my mouth a kiss does it restart. It’s in this moment that I realize how earth-shatteringly fucked I am.

sword of thunder

and

Her wide eyes lock on mine, cheeks blazing, hand hanging there in midair, holding on to a … A goddamn Oreo. Woman’s my fucking soul mate.

“Yes.” It’s strange what a simple three-letter word can do, one spoken with so much certainty, the weight that lifts with the epiphany that comes with it. Yes, I want to choose Olivia, over and over again. I want to work for it, for us. I want to be better, not only for her, but for myself too.

My God, he’s freaking adorable.

A teenager appears at my door, two pizza boxes in his arms. “Uh, Cara …” He clears his throat when Cara appears behind me. “There’s a message here … it says he, uh … can’t wait to destroy your kitty when you get home.”

“Why are you smiling so big, Auntie Ollie?” I fix the Vipers toque on my niece’s head, covering her ears. “I’m just happy, honey.” She grins up at me. “Happy looks good on you.” Feels damn good too.

Ah. Dimples. That’s why you’re so popular with the ladies.

She licks her lips and takes a tentative step forward, hands wringing at her stomach, and when she opens her mouth to say something, I beat her to it. “You came.” A beam like sunshine explodes across Olivia’s face, and I swear she’s radiating from the inside out. “Hi, Carter.”

i just fucking kicked my feet 😭😔

“I really like you, Ollie.” Tenderness swims in her eyes as her shoulders drop. “I really like you, too, Carter. Thank you for being patient with me and giving me some time.”

sword of thunder,

NOT AGAIN

Not walk. He prowls. He prowls forward, and I slink backward until I’ve slinked all I can slink.

Oh look. The feminism has left my body.

“I bet you’d like to rub something else off on me.”

“Been fixated on the way these thighs fell open for me, eager to let me taste you. On the way they shook when you came all over my face.”

Oh crap. I’m horny. My lady bits are buzzing.

“Guess you’re stuck with me this afternoon. I’ve never been a cockblock until now.”

God, I love when she rolls her eyes. So tiny and ferocious. “You’re so ridiculously full of yourself it’s ridiculous, Beckett.” The tip of my finger dances up her thigh. “You can be full of me too if you play your cards right.”

“Mama Beckett would take offense to that, Olivia.” She’d apologize profusely and tell me to keep my filthy mouth shut.

I’m ready to rub something, that’s for fucking sure.

I accidentally put a fist through the drywall when I violently come inside of her. Oops.

“Are you limping? What kind of freaky shit did you get up to this weekend?” I shove

“What if I fall in love with you?” “Then I’ll fall with you, too, Ollie

His expression says duh but his mouth says, “All I wanna do is fuck you into tomorrow and fall asleep with my girlfriend in my arms.” Oh look, there’s my heart, beating in his hands.

“How about my everything?”

“I think I love your smile more than anything in this world.”