Pucking Around: A Why Choose Hockey Romance (Jacksonville Rays Book 1)

Aspen Fucking Albright. As if this night can’t get any goddamn worse. I didn’t even want to come out tonight. I’m exhausted and I hate big crowds. Jake made me come, and then the asshole abandoned me the second Hurricane came waltzing out of that elevator.

Fuck, that outfit she’s wearing should be illegal. I mean, I guess it covers everything. It’s more fabric than most of the bunnies’ entire wardrobes. And yet it leaves nothing to the imagination. Her body is dynamite. I’m not surprised Jake was all but tripping over himself to get to be the one to take her arm.

They’ve got great chemistry and they’re not even trying to hide it. They’re like a pair of magnets. He moves when she moves. I’m happy for him if chasing Rachel means he’ll move on from his Seattle Girl. I don’t want him hung up waiting for a ghost.

And yet, I can’t help the feeling of jealousy growing in the pit of my stomach. He could have picked anyone. Why did it have to be Hurricane? I watch them down on the dance floor all but fuck with their clothes on. They’re hypnotic. I can’t look away.

I don’t know what the fuck is happening to me. Rachel Price is so far out of my league. Girls like her don’t fall for sulking, washed up, former pro athletes with bad knees and a drinking problem. No, she falls for guys like Jake. All-American hockey stars at the top of their game, rolling in the money and the accolades.

Power couple; that’s the term, right?

I’ve drained my glass of club soda twice, praying it might miraculously turn to vodka. And then Aspen flounces up.

I can’t believe I wasted a year of my life on her. Jake tried to warn me, but I was a stupid kid. I was so busy with hockey and going to class that I missed all the signs…or I just chose not to see them. We never had much in common, honestly. She was extroverted and fun and so damn sexy. Not to mention she sucked my cock like a hoover vacuum. What else could a nineteen-year-old kid want?

“What are you doing here, Aspen?” I mutter, pulling my gaze away from Rachel and Jake. My hard-on is shriveling up like a worm on a hot sidewalk now that Aspen’s blocking my view.

“I can’t believe you’re here, Cay. You work with the Rays now? How are you?” She’s talking so damn loud.

“Tired.”

“You’re such an old grandpa, Cay,” she teases. “Hey, you wanna dance?”

“I’m good,” I say, swirling the ice in my drink.

I hate that she’s using my nickname. We’re not dating anymore. We’re not even friends. We’re nothing. I don’t want her saying it.

She flicks her ponytail over her shoulder again. “So, why don’t you introduce me to your friends?”

I glare up at her. “I’m good.”

Before she can reply, a new voice has us both turning. “There you are! God, I’ve been looking everywhere for you, baby.”

My eyes go wide as Hurricane comes striding up, that low cut in her top showing off a dainty little sternum tattoo. I don’t even register her words before she’s swooping forward, all but knocking over Aspen as she sinks down onto my lap. Her arm goes around my shoulders and then she leans in, kissing my temple with those fire engine red lips.

Behind us, the guys hoot and holler.

“Yeah, Sanny!”

“Get a room!”

“Kiss her good, Sanford!”

My arm wraps around her waist on instinct, holding her in place on my lap. I’m faintly aware that this outfit has no back. We’re skin on skin, my fingers brushing her lower ribs.

She laughs. “Oops. Sorry, babe.” She dips her thumb in my club soda and rubs my temple, wiping away the mark of her lipstick.

Holy fuck.

“Uhh…who are you?”

We both glance up to see Aspen standing there, one hand on her hip.

Hurricane shifts, her half-exposed boob all but in my face. The softly floral scent of her perfume is warm against her skin and she’s holding me so close. Shit, I’m gonna get hard if she keeps this up.

“I’m sorry?” Rachel says, one dark brow raised.

No, she’s not. She’s a fuckin’ hellcat. I glance over in the direction she came from to see Jake and Langley standing there, Langley holding a beer and a cocktail. He’s grinning like an idiot. But Jake’s look is shuttered, impossible to read.

“I said who are you,” Aspen repeats, her smile falling.

“I’m Rachel,” Hurricane replies, holding out a hand. “Caleb’s girl. Who the fuck are you?”

I don’t know who’s more surprised—Aspen or me. I work quickly to school my emotions.

Aspen crosses her arms under her boobs. “Oh, yeah? And how did you two meet—no, wait—let me guess,” she says with simpering sweetness. “You were his nurse? Or maybe his physical therapist?”

Not missing a beat, Rachel laughs, flicking her dark hair over her shoulder in a mirror move to Aspen. “I’m a doctor actually. Sports medicine. But Caleb has never been my patient. Well, except for sometimes when we’re in the mood for a little role play. Right, Snuffy?” she says, nuzzling her nose against mine with a sultry little laugh. “But the physicals we give each other would definitely be unethical,” she adds with a wink up at Aspen. “I mean, not that I’m complaining. The man is great with his hands,” she says in a fake whisper.

Then my soul leaves my body as she wiggles around on my lap, straddling me with her ass pressed against my crotch. She takes my hands by the wrists, splaying my palms over her hips, weaving our fingers together.

With the way we’re sitting now, it’s nothing for me to brush my lips against her bare shoulder. I feel the way she tenses, and it’s not in hesitation. Oh god, what the hell are we doing? I shift my arm, pulling her a little closer, until her back is brushing fully against my front.

Aspen scoffs. “Oh please, you can drop the act, honey. I know you’re not his girlfriend.”

Rachel narrows her eyes, her fingers brushing lightly down my tatted forearm. “Oh yeah? And how do you know that?”

Aspen purses her lips. “Because I know Cay. We’ve been friends for years.”

False. We were casually dating until I broke my knee. Then she was fucking my teammate before I signed the hospital discharge papers.

“And I follow him on all his social media accounts,” she adds.

News to me. I blocked her years ago. Besides, I never use social media.

“I’d know if he was dating some mystery doctor girl.” She narrows her gaze at me. “Whose girlfriend is she really, Cay? Compton’s? Novy’s? It’s sweet of them to loan her out to you so you don’t have to look pathetic in front of your ex. But really, honey, I got that message a long time ago.”

Rachel goes impossibly still in my lap. One might think she was just turned to stone, but I know the truth. Hurricane just went full cobra mode, and she’s about to fucking strike. Her hands tense on my arm, even as she doesn’t let the smile drop from her face.

“What was your name again? Apple?”

“Aspen—”

“Yeah, whatever.” She waves her hand in dismissal. “Look sweetheart, this is just sad, okay? We all know you didn’t wiggle your way past the bouncer by offering him a handy just to come up here and reconnect with your old college flame.”

Aspen snarls. “Bitch, you don’t know me—”

“I do know you, Asphalt. I’ve known girls like you all my life. Caleb broke his knee, and you took him out with the trash. Well, lucky for him, hitting your curb is the best thing that could have ever happened to him. Because now he has me.”

She leans forward, which presses her ass even harder against my crotch. “You had your chance with a great guy, and you blew it, Asteroid. He’s gone, and he’s not coming back. You’re so far off his radar now, you may as well be lost in space. And don’t for one second think he’s going to waste his breath introducing you to any of the great guys sitting behind us either,” she adds “My advice? Go orbit another VIP section. This one is private. Rays only.”

Aspen’s cheeks burn pink, her eyes flashing with rage. “You’re a rotten bitch!”

Hurricane just laughs, her hands stroking down my arms. “Yeah, I am. A well satisfied one. Right, Snuffy?” She twists on my lap, kissing the tip of my nose.

“Control your girl, Cay,” Aspen snaps. “She needs a muzzle and a leash!”

Feeling a lightness in my chest, I brush Rachel’s hair back, laughing against the warm skin of her shoulder. “That’s not a bad idea. You’d look good with a leash, Hurricane. Something with spikes.”

She flashes me a sultry smile. “Oh, daddy, don’t tease me.”

“God, you’re both psycho!” Aspen shouts, storming off in her mile-high heels.

“Bye, Avocado!” Rachel calls after her, waving like a total bitch.

It only takes 2.7 seconds before the booth behind us explodes. The guys whoop and cheer, slamming their fists on the table. Several shout and wave bye to Aspen.

“Later, Alligator!”

“Bye, Asteroid!”

“No bunnies allowed!”

Langley comes rushing forward, sloshing Rachel’s drink as he hands it over. “Hoooly shit! That was the single hottest thing I’ve ever seen. That was like an Animal Planet shark attack, but with heels and hair flipping—”

“You destroyed her!” Novy jeers.

“We bow to the master,” says Morrow with a fake bow.

Novy elbows him. “It’s mistress, jackass.”

They exchange a few more punches as Gerard steps around them. “Sanford, marry her, or I will,” he says, patting my shoulder.

Sully slaps him in the chest. “J-Lo, dude. You’re already married.”

“Right? That’s what I mean. That’s how much I am serious,” Gerard replies in that French Canadian accent, his eyes wide with innocence as he shrugs.

The guys settle back down, waving down a waitress to pay their tabs, and Rachel leans in. “Sorry about all that,” she murmurs over the music. “Jake thought you might need the save.”

I glance sharply to my left to see Jake still standing there, leaning on the edge of the low wall that boxes in our VIP section. He’s got his arms crossed and he’s just watching us.

She’s still on my lap. I like the feel of her in my arms. I like her scent. I like the way she’s touching me, the way she sticks up for me. Sure, she and Jake have some kind of magnetic chemistry. But she and I have…something. I don’t know what it is, but it’s something more than nothing.

Before I can ponder it any longer, Jake crosses over to us, his gaze carefully veiled. “Wanna dance?” He offers out a hand to Rachel. It’s such a dick move. He’s taking her away from me, making her choose him in front of me.

I knew they were flirting, but this feels different. This is territorial. Man, he has it bad. The idiot has fallen for the team doctor, and it’s barely been a month. What the hell is he doing? First his Seattle Girl, now Hurricane?

She glances back at me, hesitation in her eyes. There’s a question there too. I sit perfectly still, offering nothing.

Your move, Hurricane.

The devastation is coming either way.

She takes his hand, letting him pull her up off my lap, and I exhale. Fair enough. He’s the better choice. Hell, I’d choose him too. Hotshot NHL star. Rich, handsome, shining in his golden spotlight. I’m just the guy with a limp who changes his blades.

But then she surprises the hell out of me as she immediately turns, offering out her other hand. “Come on, Snuffy,” she says with a smile. “Come dance with us.”

My eyes flash to Jake. He’s just as surprised as I am. He glares down at me, his emotions roiling. He’s always been so easy to read. He wears everything right there on his damn sleeve. Frustration, hunger, jealousy, need. I see it all.

Slowly, his shoulders relax, and he huffs a laugh. “Snuffy…that’s the kind of shit that sticks.”

Rachel laughs too. Snatching my hand off my knee, she gives it a pull, bringing me to my feet. One hand on Jake’s shoulder, her other linked with mine, Rachel calls out to Novy, “Hey! Keep an eye on Poppy! Switch her to Shirley Temple’s at midnight!”

Novy nods, his eagle eyes already on the PR manager cutting loose down on the dance floor.

Jake leads the way towards the stairs and Rachel brings me along behind them. My heart is racing. I have no idea what the fuck I’m doing. I don’t dance. I especially don’t dance with Jake fucking Compton. I may be queer, but I’m more of a blowjobs-in-the-bathroom queer. Secretly-pines-after-his-best-friend-but-will-never-admit-it queer.

But Hurricane has me by the hand, and there’s no way in hell I’m letting go.

“Bust a move, Sanford!” Morrow calls after us.

“Have fun, Snuffy!” Langley adds.

The other guys all laugh.

And that’s fine. I’ll give them tonight to laugh it up. But I swear to fuck, the first guy to call me ‘Snuffy’ tomorrow is gonna get his bag conveniently ‘lost’ on every flight for the rest of the season.