Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 131271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 656(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 656(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Jacob rolls his eyes, but he hands me a burger with a grudging smile. “Happy Valentine’s Day, big shot.”
I take it, grinning like an idiot. We settle onto the couch, the four of us crammed together in the tiny hotel room. Jacob complains about the limited legroom, Hayes critiques the hotel’s “terrible lighting,” and Riley keeps sneaking bites of everyone’s food.
It’s chaos, and it’s perfect.
The room fills with the scent of greasy, cheesy perfection, and I swear it’s the best meal I’ve had all season.
“Did you pick this up on the way?” I ask between bites.
“Of course,” Hayes says. “Only the best for you, superstar.”
“Superstar,” Jacob mutters, rolling his eyes. “His head’s big enough already, dude. Let’s not make it worse.”
“Hey, I earned this big head,” I shoot back, grinning.
Jacob smirks. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t let it weigh you down on the ice.”
I toss a fry at him, and he looks at me with the same disdain that Dad used to shoot my way. The air shifts for a moment, a flicker of something heavier passing between us. But before I can press, Riley clears her throat.
“So,” she says, her voice light. “I’ve been thinking about doing a special Valentine’s episode for my channel.”
“Oh yeah?” I lean back, curious. “What kind of episode?”
She hesitates, her eyes flicking to Jacob and Hayes before landing back on me. “Maybe… a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the perfect Valentine’s Day.”
“And we’re part of this?” Hayes asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” she says, grinning. “Would you mind it if I took some photos?”
Jacob groans. “Do you have to? I’ve gotten used to being Shawn Draytons less impressive lookalike. I don’t need the exposure.”
We all laugh, and just like that, the heaviness lifts.
After the food is demolished and the sugar high starts to fade, the room falls quiet. Jacob stretches out on the bed, his arms behind his head, while Hayes lounges in the chair, scrolling through his phone. Riley leans against me on the couch, her head resting on my shoulder.
“You know,” I say, breaking the silence, “this is the best Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had.”
“Really?” Riley asks, tilting her head to look at me.
“Yeah.” I brush a strand of hair out of her face. “Because you’re here. All of you. I didn’t know how much I was going to miss you guys.”
Riley smiles, her cheeks pink.
“Okay, that’s enough mushiness for one night.” Jacob sits up. “Let’s watch something.”
“What do you want to watch?” Hayes asks.
“Something with explosions,” Jacob says. “Or hockey. Or exploding hockey.”
Riley laughs. “You’re impossible.”
“That’s why you love me,” Jacob says with a wink.
Hayes rolls his eyes, but as we settle in for the night, I glance around the room, my heart full. This is my team. My family. And no matter where hockey takes me, I know I’ll always have them.
Riley’s warm in my lap, her arms wrapped around my neck as I kiss her, slow and deep, tasting the sweetness of frosting on her lips as I let the distance and the weight of longing melt away, and we lose ourselves in each other.
“You’re hogging her,” Jacob says, his tone half-serious, half-teasing.
“Damn right, I am.”
But Riley, ever the peacemaker, slides off my lap and stands, holding her hands out to both my brothers. “There’s plenty of me to go around.”
Hayes is the first to take her hand, pulling her close and kissing her with the same steady intensity he brings to everything he does. Jacob moves behind her, his hands on her hips, his lips brushing the curve of her neck.
As they take turns with her, I enjoy the view, heat pooling low in my stomach and thickening my dick. The tension in the room shifts, heavy and charged, and when Riley finally looks back at me, her eyes full of fire, I think I know exactly how this night is going to end.
Then Jacob pulls something from his pocket and hangs it from his fingers, and I get a whole new set of ideas!
JACOB
The pink fluffy handcuffs I slipped into my pocket before we left hang from my finger. Riley’s eyes widen, already imagining my plans for her. They’re exactly the kind of playful indulgence she’d teased me about in passing weeks ago, not knowing I’d take her words to heart.
“Thought these might come in handy,” I say, my voice low and teasing.
“Oh my God,” Riley breathes. “You didn’t.”
“Oh, he did,” Shawn chimes in, straightening with a grin that’s equal parts wicked and amused.
Hayes chuckles, crossing his arms. “Guess it’s too late to run now, Riles.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t move away. Instead, her lips curve into a smile that sends heat straight through me.
She bites her lip, her trust in me written all over her face as she holds out her hands. When I shake my head, she frowns, confused.