The Pucking Wrong Date: A Hockey Romance (The Pucking Wrong Series Book 3)

The dressing room was a familiar suffocating chamber of self-doubt and despair. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my hands trembling as I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from my gold-ringed eyes.

Why had I agreed to this?

Walker’s face immediately came to mind.

Not that I’d known he would be a part of this weekend.

The room felt too small, like the walls were closing in around me. My mind raced, and it hit me, that craving.

One pill and I’d be able to go out there and not feel anything.

One pill and I could pretend in front of all those faces that there wasn’t anything wrong with me.

That I was having the time of my life.

One pill.

I squeezed my eyes closed and counted to ten. And then I counted again. Over and over again until it felt like the desperation had diminished.

At least a little bit.

At least enough to say no.

Fuck, I was glad Walker wasn’t in here to see me like this.

The door opened and I didn’t have to look to see who it was. It’s not like anyone else but she and Marco would just barge into the room.

The smugness was emanating off of her like toxic fumes.

Jolette.

Her presence alone was enough to make my blood run cold. She wore that cruel smile that always made my skin crawl, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she spoke. ‘Do try and not embarrass yourself out there,’ she purred, her words laced with venom. ‘Who knows, you do well enough, and maybe the public will forgive you for being such a pathetic excuse of a human.’

I didn’t respond.

The words carved at my insides, like they always did, but I wasn’t going to show her that. She had always been the vampire, sucking out every ounce of love I’d ever had for creating and singing until I was left hollow and broken. I didn’t know if there would ever be a time when she couldn’t hurt me, when the little girl inside me—the one that still held out hope she was worthy of love from someone—didn’t want that someone to be my mother.

But maybe I was feeling a little bit stronger after a weekend in Walker’s arms, where he’d memorized every dip and curve of my body like it was his sole mission in life. Because for once, I was able to keep my face perfectly blank.

After an awkward minute, where she just stood there, waiting for me to fall apart…she finally made a hmmph kind of sound and walked out without another word.

As soon as the door slammed behind her, I released a breath, leaning over the vanity in front of me, trying not to be sick. I felt dizzy, overwhelmed by the memories and the emotions that only she had the power to summon with just a few words.

Shaking my head, I finally straightened up and reapplied some red lipstick, slapping it on like it was war paint and had the ability to transform me into someone else.

As I stared into the mirror, I forced myself to become Olivia Darling.

However much I hated her.

Stepping out onto the stage, I felt like an imposter in my own skin. The lights were too bright and the crowd too loud, their energy draining, like a succubus taking my life force. This was the kind of crowd that I’d told Walker I hated. The kind where they took from me without giving anything back.

The band that accompanied me was a far cry from the familiar faces I used to perform with. My old crew had moved on obviously. I couldn’t exactly ask them to wait for me after I’d said I’d never perform again as long as I was under the conservatorship.

The fact that I’d said that made me feel like a liar as I pasted on a smile for the screaming fans.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to find my voice and my composure.

“Hi y’all. How’s everyone doing? My name’s Olivia. And I’m going to sing some songs for you tonight,” I said into the mic.

It was a phrase I’d said countless times before, but it had never felt so wrong.

Even with the monitors in my ears, I could barely hear the first chords of the music filling the air—the crowd was screaming so freaking loud. I almost missed my cue as I had to force myself to sing. The lyrics felt foreign on my tongue, and I stumbled through them, the weight of my past destroying the fact that these lyrics had been dragged from my bitterest depths.

That these words were me.

I wanted to look for Walker in the crowd. I wanted to see what he thought of this version of the girl he said he was falling for. If he understood the pain that bled from my lyrics like a blade tearing through my skin.

But the stage lights were blinding, the deafening roar of the crowd ringing in my ears as I sang. And I didn’t have it in me to do anything but sing.

Survive.

Each song feeling like a weight around my neck, dragging me down into a sea of discontent.

Things only improved when I strummed the first chords of my acoustic set, a sense of calm washing over me, the familiar strings of my guitar soothing my frayed nerves without the clang of the other instruments barging in on my peace.

I closed my eyes, letting the music wash over me like a gentle wave, the soft strains of my guitar filling the air with a bittersweet melody. And as I opened my mouth to sing, the words spilled out like a long-forgotten prayer, each note tinged with longing and regret.

‘In the stillness of the night, I search for you in dreams,

But you’re just out of reach, like a whispered memory,

I wonder if you feel it too, this ache that won’t subside,

Or if I’m just a fool, lost in the high tide.’

My voice wavered slightly as I glanced out and somehow caught Walker’s gaze in the crowd, a few rows back, his eyes burning with an intensity that left me breathless.

I stumbled over a word as we stared at each other, my heart pounding in my chest as I began to sing the song…to him.

‘And though the distance may divide us,

And time may steal our days,

I’ll keep holding onto hope,

In this tangled maze.’

The words flowed effortlessly from my lips as I sang of love and longing, of heartache and redemption. It was easier to sing when I pretended like it was just us, and I was sharing a piece of my heart with him.

The only piece I had to give.

The final chords rang out, and the crowd erupted into applause, their cheers bringing me back to reality and the fact that I was playing to a sold out crowd…and not just Walker.

But that moment was enough to keep me going.

A few songs later and I was done, the final notes of my last song fading away and the applause filling the air. I offered a shaky smile and a quick wave to the crowd before darting off the stage. The adrenaline that had fueled me through the performance began to ebb away, replaced by a gnawing sense of unease that clawed at my insides.

With each step, the panic rose within me like a tidal wave threatening to engulf me. My heart pounded in my chest, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps as I fought to hold myself together long enough to make it to my dressing room.

The corridors of the backstage area blurred around me as I stumbled forward, my vision swimming with a dizzying haze. I could feel the walls closing in on me, suffocating me with their oppressive weight.

I burst into my dressing room and slammed the door behind me…just in time for my panic attack to hit me with full force. My knees buckled beneath me, and I sank to the ground in a trembling heap, the world spinning wildly around me.

I clutched at my chest, my fingers digging into the fabric of my dress as I struggled to draw in a lungful of air. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t regain control.

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the panic to subside, but it only seemed to grow stronger with each passing second. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, hot and bitter against my skin.

And then…he was there…

Walker.

His strong arms wrapped around me, holding me close, and immediately a sense of peace thrummed in my heart. His chest rose and fell with the steady rhythm of his breathing, and I found solace in the warmth of his embrace.

And suddenly, everything didn’t seem so bad anymore. Like somehow he was my own personal…good thing.

I turned in his embrace and buried my face in his chest as the tears streamed down my cheeks. I couldn’t even find it in myself to be embarrassed at how I was acting.

‘Shh,’ he whispered softly, his palm cradling my head, his voice a soothing balm to my shattered nerves. ‘It’s okay, Liv. You’re okay.’

I clung to him tighter, my body trembling against him. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me,” I choked out, refusing to let go of him.

“It’s the adrenaline, you’re not used to it. And on that scale. Fuck, angel. That was incredible. Insane. But incredible. I’ve never seen a crowd like that.”

I was still shaking, but at least my heart didn’t feel like it was going to beat out of my chest anymore. Instead…something else was taking over.

Something that felt a lot like…lust.

Before I could think too hard, I lifted my head and pressed my lips against his. He didn’t respond for a second and a throb of panic lanced through me.

“I’m sorry,” I choked out, moving my head away. I’m sure he was experiencing the worst kind of whiplash from me right now.

“I don’t want to take advantage of you—” he started and I shook my head, reaching between us to rub against his already hard dick.

“I need you,” I told him, totally aware of how desperate I sounded.

“Fuck. I’m going to hell,” he growled, but his lips crashed against mine as he lifted me, forcing me to wrap my legs around him.

Walker’s fingers pushed under my dress, sliding up my leg and along the edges of the shorts I was wearing to make sure no one in the crowd saw something under my dress that they shouldn’t.

He cursed as he briefly set me down, ripping off my shorts and my underwear before he lifted me again, walking towards the wall and pressing me up against it as his fingers glided over my sensitive flesh.

I moaned, my head rocking back into the wall as he rubbed my clit slowly.

“More,” I begged, and he laughed wickedly, like he was enjoying seeing me like this.

Desperate for him in a way I hadn’t been for anything else in my life.

“You’re so fucking wet, angel. You’re desperate for my big, fat cock..aren’t you, baby?”

I whimpered in response, crying out loudly as his fingers speared into me.

“That’s it, baby. Give me one just like this, and then I’ll give you what you want. I’ll fill you up, let that sweet pussy choke my fucking dick.”

“Yes,” I breathed, riding his fingers as he pressed me into the wall, holding me in place like I weighed nothing.

He lowered me to the ground as he tugged down my dress enough to free a nipple, his perfect fingers still thrusting in and out of me. I sobbed as he took my peak in his hot, wet mouth, suckling it with the perfect amount of pressure.

It was only seconds before I was coming, panting and shaking against him.

“Fuck yes,” he hissed, his blue eyes watching me. The dressing room was dimly lit, nothing on but a small lamp in the corner. A lock of his hair had fallen into his face, and I’d never seen anything more beautiful.

More beautiful, or more dangerous looking.

He pulled his fingers out of me and licked them, moaning as he took in my taste.

I wasn’t sure why that was so hot to me. Maybe it was because he was taking part of me inside that perfect body. I liked knowing that my essence was inside of him now.

Hopefully forever.

He unbuttoned his jeans, his gaze feverish and wild looking as he pulled out his cock, the mushroom head red and angry looking, milky cum already seeping out of it.

I dropped to my knees in front of him, finding myself starving all of a sudden. I waited for the panic to creep in, the sense of dirtiness and despair that I’d always gotten when Marco had made me do this.

But there was nothing as I knelt in front of Walker. Only pure, aching, desperate lust to make this beautiful man cum.

“Fuck, what are you doing?” he gasped, his hand gripping his cock and slowly sliding up and down while he stared at me.

“What does it look like?” I murmured, my tongue darting out and licking at the head, moaning as I took in his musky taste.

“Please,” he begged, his voice thick with arousal, and my pussy gushed at the thought of having this gorgeous alpha male desperate for me.

My tongue lapped at his slit, enjoying the sounds he was making as I finally pulled the head into my mouth.

My lips sucked him deeper, my tongue caressing his length as I tried to get as much of him in my mouth as possible.

The feel of the beads on the underside were a little weird, but they somehow made the whole thing even hotter.

“Yes, suck it. Please don’t stop.” I sucked harder, craving more of that ache in his voice.

I tried to work more of him past my gag reflex…but I wasn’t exactly sure how to do that. He was so fucking big.

I pulled at his length, finding a rhythm that had him gasping as I pushed to open my throat more.

“Enough,” he growled a moment later, yanking me off his dick and into his arms, his cock thrusting into me a second later.

My head fell back as he stretched me open, the ridged underside of his cock hitting all the sweet spots as he slid into my core.

“Fuck yes,” he murmured, grabbing my bare ass as he slammed in and out of me at a punishing pace like he was trying to batter into the entrance of my womb. I was delirious with pleasure, tears gathering in my eyes because it felt so fucking good.

“Walker,” I cried out.

“I know, baby. I know,” he answered in a strained voice as his thrusts grew faster.

He captured my lips in a fierce kiss, his tongue thrusting against mine, aggressive, deep licks that I felt all the way to my cunt.

It felt too good. I couldn’t take it. I thrashed against him, trying to keep in my cries as he fucked me hard and fast.

My pussy throbbed around him and I chanted his name against his lips as I violently came.

He ripped his lips away from me, licking down my throat until he was marking me with his teeth in his favorite place in the crook of my neck. I whimpered as he licked away the pain of his bite.

One of his hands moved to my stomach and he applied pressure right above my pubic bone, immediately igniting another round of pleasure. Walker pressed his forehead against mine, staring deep into my eyes as he fucked in and out of me, still pressing on that perfect spot.

“What is that?” I gasped as I spun closer to another orgasm.

“Relax, angel. Give me one more,” he coaxed, and the sweetness in his tone was my undoing. My body jerked and shook as I came, the pleasure so intense I couldn’t breathe.

“Fuuuuck,” he growled as I milked his length, his hot cum exploding inside of me in bursts until it was once again dripping down my thighs.

My head fell back and I was a mindless, weak mess, completely held up by his strong arms.

“You’re so perfect,” he whispered as he slid in and out of me slowly until I was whimpering from the sensation. A second later he pulled out and his fingers were replacing his dick, pushing his cum back into me.

“Why do you do that?” I murmured, still not opening my eyes as I let him hold me up. “You know I’m on birth control.”

“Wishful thinking, I guess,” he drawled.

And my eyes did fly open at that.

Before I could question him about what he’d meant by that…there was the sound of voices from nearby.

“Fuck,” Walker murmured, pulling his fingers out and setting me down carefully before adjusting my dress so my breasts were once again covered. He tucked his dick back into his pants and stepped away as a knock sounded on the door.

I breathed a sigh of relief because that knock was a good thing. That meant that Jolette had gone to celebrate the money she’d made tonight and I was dealing with one of her underlings instead.

“Yes,” I called out, proud that my voice didn’t sound like I’d just been fucked against a wall.

The door opened an inch and Becky, one of Jolette’s assistants, peeked her head in. “Your car is waiting outside to take you to the hotel.” Her eyes widened when she caught sight of Walker, her gaze darting back and forth between us as she connected the dots about what had obviously just happened in here.

“Thank you,” I said, still feeling oddly calm even knowing Becky was definitely going to tell Jolette about this.

It was like Walker had fucked all the panic out of me.

I could get used to that. It was much more effective than the drugs had ever been because it didn’t have the nasty aftermath and self loathing attached to it.

At least not yet.

The door closed behind her and a second later Walker’s arms were wrapped around me. “Ready to go back to the hotel?” he asked, and I nodded, savoring the feel of his warmth.

Walker tangled his hand in mine as we walked out of the dressing room. I still couldn’t get over how good I felt. I never felt like this after a performance. It was as if the dread I’d felt throughout it, had never actually happened.

We walked down the tunnel that led to the exit door.

“What are you hungry for?” Walker asked as the door to the outside swung open and⁠—

Flashes.

What seemed like a million of them. Coming from all directions.

I came to a complete stop, not able to see where I was going because of all the cameras blinding me.

‘Olivia, over here!’

‘Is that Walker Davis?’

‘Give us a smile, Olivia!’

“Are you high, Olivia?”

‘Did you have a panic attack?’

‘Hey, Walker, how do you feel about dating someone with so much baggage?’

“Olivia, smile!”

I hadn’t expected this.

Not at all. I’d gotten comfortable—forgotten what it was like to be stalked, and hounded by the leeches of the entertainment world.

I put up a hand to try and block out the flashing lights.

A familiar feeling of helplessness fell over me as my heart started to race.

Everything was chaos.

“Don’t let go,” Walker yelled to me, reminding me that for the first time…I wasn’t alone.

He wrapped his arm around me, holding me close as he walked us through the sea of photographers towards the waiting SUV.

I squeezed onto his arm, holding it like it was a lifeline.

“Olivia, are you pregnant?” one of them called and I stumbled, caught off guard by the question.

“Keep going, sweetheart,” Walker urged as the photographers rushed toward us, their cameras clicking and flashing with an almost deafening intensity.

Walker continued to position his body as a shield between me and the advancing horde.

“Back the fuck off,” he snarled as they continued to yell out questions.

Finally, we reached the car. Walker threw open the door and practically threw me inside as he slid in behind me. It was quieter inside, but the cameras continued to flash through the windows, capturing our every move, our every expression.

A cameraman battered on the window as the driver cursed and pulled away, trying to avoid running them over and causing another news story.

I sank back into my seat, my hands trembling in my lap as the adrenaline slowly began to ebb away, leaving behind a hollow sense of disbelief. That had been a…nightmare.

Except…

I stared down where my fingers were still intertwined with Walker’s, his presence beside me a comfort I’d never had before.

“Fuck, sweetheart. That was intense,” he muttered, and a giggle slipped from my lips. Because I wasn’t sure that “intense” was the right word for what had just happened.

Bedlam perhaps?

“Welcome to my world,” I told him, searching his face for a sign that he was about to run away screaming.

Instead, he brushed a kiss against my lips and then our connected hands.

“Happy to be here,” he told me.

And the funny thing was…I thought he was telling the truth.