Iced Out: A Rival’s Sister Hockey Romance (Heston U Hotshots Book 1)

By morning, I haven’t moved from guarding Maya’s door. My stick lays across my lap, ready for Wiener to come back. I wish he wasn’t still on the injured list this season. If he was on the ice, I’d put his ass right back on it.

My fists close around my stick, wishing it was his fucking neck. In my mind, I’m checking his ass so hard all his teeth get knocked out.

Cameron texts me to remind me about practice this afternoon since I didn’t come back last night. I let him know I’ll be there. The door opens behind me when I’m sliding my phone back in my pocket, making me catch my balance so I don’t fall when Maya leans into the hall.

She’s wearing dark gray leggings and my faded green Heston University t-shirt.

“You’re still here.” Her words are teasing, back to her usual self. There’s a hint of warmth beneath them. “When I didn’t find you on the couch, I thought you left last night after I went to bed.”

I tip my head back to grin at her. “You’re sharp. I told you I wouldn’t leave. I sat out here all night ready to handle any trouble.”

“You don’t have to babysit me.” She leans against the door frame with a sigh, offering the steaming mug of coffee she has. “I doubt he’s coming back to do anything again. He’s not a follow through kind of guy. He gets bored and moves onto the next thing pretty quickly. Anyway, I’m sure that you answering the phone like that was enough to make him back off.”

I frown, not liking her implication that she was something Wiener got bored of. That guy’s a fucking idiot.

“I still think you should report this to campus security at least. There are cameras all over, so there should be a feed from the parking lot they can check for proof he was here when he almost ran me over.”

“Okay, I will. Right now I’d rather forget about him.”

“Does your brother know? I’d never stand for any of my teammates pulling shit like this if I had a sister.”

She gives a sharp laugh, waving me off. “I’m not dealing with Ryan this early. It’s fine, okay?”

Setting aside the coffee, my fingers grip my stick tightly. “For real, though. If he bothers you again, tell me.” I blow out a breath, shooting her a lopsided smirk. “At least now everyone on your floor knows not to mess with you. I think I scared the shit out of your neighbor two doors down when he came back last night and saw me out here with this.”

She lifts her brows. “You could’ve been asleep in my bed. All warm and comfortable.”

“If I did that, I don’t know if I could’ve kept our promise. You’re too tempting.”

I rake my gaze over her, heat rushing south as my need for her reignites. Her blush is gorgeous.

“Thank you,” she murmurs.

“For what?”

“Everything. Coming here without question. Watching out for me.”

“Watching out for everyone is a captain’s job.”

She smirks. “I’m not one of your teammates, but I appreciate it.”

I pull her down, guiding her to sit on my lap, careful not to spill the coffee. She rests her head on my shoulder. Something warm tugs in my chest as I rub her back, enjoying the small, content sound that escapes her.

“No, you’re my girl. I’ll protect you from anything.”

“It’s morning now,” she murmurs after a beat.

“Yeah?” My fingers sneak beneath the hem of the shirt she slept in, seeking skin.

Before I capture her lips for a kiss, we’re interrupted by Reagan’s arrival. She peers between us with an amused hum, eyeing my hockey stick with a raised brow.

“What’s going on here?”

Maya catches my eye to give me a pleading look. I think Reagan should know about what happened last night, but for now I’ll keep it quiet if that’s what she wants.

“Just having coffee.” I pick up the mug, smirking as I take a sip.

“Uh huh,” she says doubtfully. “Well, watch out. I’ve got class soon and I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

“Here.” I help Maya up, then take Reagan’s bag and follow the girls inside. “I’m making breakfast. What do you have?”

“Sorry, you’re going to cook for us?” Reagan leans against the island with a broad grin. “That changes everything. You can stay forever.”

I smirk while Maya rummages through the cabinets, pushing up the sleeves of my warm up jacket. She falters, attention lingering on my forearms. I flex my hands while I wash them, chuckling when her lids grow heavy as the corded muscles in my arms tense.

“We haven’t gone grocery shopping yet since we were both gone for break,” Reagan says.

“Our options are cereal, instant oatmeal, and I think we have some eggs,” Maya lists off.

“I make damn good omelets. Do you want cheese?”

“When don’t I want cheese?” She sets out the egg carton. “You’re lucky I get free eggs from Marnie.”

“No cheese on mine.” Reagan starts an electric kettle and gets out a comically large mug.

Maya sets me up with a bowl and a pan. We move around each other in the tiny kitchen.

While Reagan isn’t looking, I sneak over to Maya to kiss her neck. She smothers a gasp, catching my hands when I hold her waist. My tongue swipes across her skin.

We break apart before her roommate catches us, and I enjoy the shy way she ducks her head while peeling oranges to go with breakfast.

“This kitchen isn’t big enough for two people,” she says.

I take her hips from behind to shift her to the side, murmuring in her ear. “You could have breakfast at my place instead. The kitchen is way bigger.”

My old no sleepovers rule flies out the window when it comes to the idea of Maya in my bed.

It hits me how much I’d want that. Waking up with her soft warm body tangled with mine. Taking care of her.

“Go sit over there, I said I’m cooking for you.” I give her hips a squeeze, reluctant to let go.

She retreats to the other side of the small island, ears pink. Reagan nudges her, wriggling her brows while sipping her tea. The pan crackles on the stove when I pour the first omelet on it.

Keeping the smug grin off my face is impossible when my girl keeps sneaking those cute little glances at me while I cook for her and her friend.

“This is nice, you serving me for a change,” Reagan jokes.

I laugh. “You work hard to keep all of Heston Lake happily watered when you bartend.”

She turns to Maya. “How was your break?”

“Good.” Maya smiles softly, propping her cheek against her fist. “Grandpa’s up on his feet again after the hospital scare.”

Reagan hugs her. “I’m so glad to hear that.”

“What about yours?” Maya asks.

“Can’t complain. I wrote a new song. It’s rough, but I’ll show you later.”

I finish the first two omelets and give them to the girls. Maya’s expression when she takes a bite sends a wave of satisfaction through me.

While I’m cooking my eggs, Reagan points her fork at me. “Maya, you need to keep him. He understands that girls need to eat. Stop bringing home emo bassists who don’t get that cigarettes aren’t a food group.”

Maya covers her face. “Oh my god. Can you not tell him the story about Luke?”

“Who’s this?” I move the pan to the back of the stove to cool, switch off the burner, and take my plate to stand next to Maya on her other side.

“The last guy she was seeing at the beginning of spring semester. Total emo boy with the tortured soul thing going on. He was hot,” Reagan says.

“He was hot,” Maya echoes.

“But the dude didn’t believe that girls needed to eat.” Reagan rolls her eyes. “Took her out to a small show he was playing, but while his band ate pizza backstage, he didn’t bring any out for her or offer her anything.”

Maya groans in annoyance. “God, I was fucking starving. I left before his set to eat since the venue didn’t serve food. Thankfully there was an all-you-can eat wings buffet on the corner.” She laughs. “When he found me eating my weight in teriyaki wings, he looked so shocked and said that’s not a salad.”

She breaks down in giggles, leaning heavily on me.

“He sounds like a complete idiot,” I say. “Do all your ex-boyfriends suck?”

“To be fair, they never made it to the boyfriend-girlfriend stage,” Reagan says.

“To be fair, I only wanted to sleep with him, not marry him,” Maya counters in exasperation. “It wasn’t serious or deep.”

“You can forget about other guys. I’ll take good care of you.” I drop my voice, my words only for her. “In every way you need, baby.”

She bites her lip, her shoulder brushing mine.

“Oh, shoot. I need to leave, like, five minutes ago.” Reagan puts her dishes in the sink and hurries to her room.

Once she’s gone, I trap Maya between my arms for a kiss. She melts against me, mouth opening with a needy sound that goes right to my cock.

“She won’t be long,” she mumbles against my mouth. “When she’s late, she gets ready in about five seconds.”

“Let me make them count, then. One, two…”

A soft sigh escapes her. She tips her head to grant me better access. I pull her hair out of my way, trailing my lips over her skin.

“Three, four…” I count with each grazing kiss.

She shudders, slipping her arms around my waist. “Easton.”

My counting makes it to a little over two minutes before I hear a door open.

“Okay,” Reagan announces pointedly before she emerges from her room.

Maya gasps, pushing me away. I grab a towel to wipe the counter with, gaze burning into her back.

“Thanks for breakfast. I’ve got class and a reserved production studio calling my name. Have fun, bye,” Reagan finishes in a rush, grabbing her bag on her way out.

I stop pretending to wipe down the counter. “Later.”

After the front door closes, Maya gives me a look I have no trouble interpreting. Her gorgeous features broadcast her desire.

“Are you tired? You were up all night.”

I shake my head, staring at her mouth.

As much as I want to devour her, I’m enjoying savoring this. I want to know if it’s making her as crazy as I’ve been with my obsession for her.

She leans against the counter. I close the distance between us and brace my hands against it on either side of her. My chin dips to bring our faces closer together. She closes her eyes, looking so damn inviting.

“Looks like we’re all alone.”