Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Operation Take Down Zeke was going to be the best thing ever.
I’d been at the arena for all of the Badger’s practices. Until now, I’d stayed high up in the stands and kept my hoodie and sunglasses on. Most people probably thought I was a bodyguard for one of the players, and I was fine with that.
I couldn’t see Zeke well from my position, but that didn’t matter. I had his image emblazoned in my mind. His long, dark hair and his damn smile that held both wickedness and uncertainty, a combo that never failed to do it for me. I’d learned everything I could about him online, and when I lay in bed, I fantasized about how he’d looked stripped out of all his hockey gear, ready and waiting for me to do whatever I wanted with him.
I continued to have plenty of time on my hands since Val rarely called me anymore. He’d been my best friend my whole life. I’d always counted on him when I wanted a drinking buddy or someone to come over and watch a game on Sunday afternoon. Our upbringing hadn’t allowed us to have many friends outside the family, not when the two of us were on the streets together or after our father, Dominic Marchesi, brought us into the family.
I knew Val wasn’t maliciously ignoring me. He deserved time with Liam, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t lonely and restless. I’d never been good at sitting still, but without focus, I’d really go off the rails. That’s why I needed a game to amuse me.
The more I watched Zeke, the more certain I became that he was meant for me. He was going to be mine for more than just a night or two. The time had come for me to move closer to the ice. I wanted to catch his attention. I was ready for him to know I was watching him.
He was a damn fine player when he wasn’t distracted like he’d been at the start of practice today. I had every intention of finding out what had upset him and fixing the problem. Once he’d gotten over whatever had him making mistakes, he threw his whole self into playing. I could feel his passion for the game, and I could only imagine what he would feel like under me, or over me, sharing that intensity.
My interest in him went beyond lust. He intrigued me in so many ways. I learned plenty about his hockey career, but not much about his childhood. I considered having my hacker friend do some digging for me, but I’d decided I wanted to hear Zeke’s story from his own lips, preferably while lying in bed naked after I’d made him come so hard he couldn’t move. I’d bring him water and a snack to replenish himself, then hold him while we talked.
Val thought I didn’t know how to take care of myself, much less someone else, but that wasn’t true. It was true that normally I didn’t give a shit about eating regular meals, getting up on time, or cleaning my apartment, but I knew how to take care of someone else. I’d learned that from the way Val had taken care of me when I was a kid and what he did for Liam now. He thought I didn’t pay attention, but he was wrong.
He and our father thought I would never really grow up, but I wanted to be a person someone else could count on. I’d never been one to lead or take charge, except in bed. I’d gone along with what Val or our father said, even if I often ignored them afterwards and did what I wanted to do. I was ready for more now, ready to take charge of my own life. I couldn’t live in Val’s shadow forever.
My pursuit of Zeke wasn’t going to go over well with the family. An NHL player was too high profile for someone in my role in our business. I needed to stay off the radar, not be splashed all over social media. And worse—one thing I did know about Zeke was that he had a gambling problem and a hell of a lot of debt back in Vegas. He owed money to men the family wouldn’t want trouble with, but I could fix everything if they’d let me.
I caught Zeke’s attention several times while he was on the ice, but he’d looked away quickly. When practice was over, I was ready to turn things up. It wasn’t time to approach him yet, but it was time to let him know what I wanted.
I could already hear Val scolding me, telling me I was stalking the guy, and I needed to either ask him out or back off, but what was the fun in that. I deserved some entertainment.