PUCKED (A Standalone Romantic Comedy) (The Pucked Series Book 1)

ALEX

Violet tastes like chocolate and wine. Her lips are soft, and she does this thing with her tongue—there she goes again. I remind myself we’re in my car, in a parking lot; it’s not okay to get her naked.

Violet breaks the kiss. “Um, hi.” Her hand is on my chest, her face flushed. I’m almost all the way out of my seat, on top of her.

“Shit. Sorry. You taste really good.” Because that’s an excuse for jumping her in my car.

She licks her lips. “Thanks. So do you.”

I rearrange myself, and put the car in gear. “Let me show you where I live.”

In the past five years, I’ve been on a handful of dates where I’ve been interested enough to go on a second one. Of those, very few made it to the third date. Even fewer stepped foot through my door. While I might appear in the tabloids frequently, I prefer privacy in my personal life. I take back roads to the outskirts of the city.

“You said you didn’t have a lair,” Violet says as I turn into my driveway. The house is almost completely obscured by a bend in the drive.

I laugh. “I don’t. I promise.”

“You better not. I’m not into lairs.” The house comes into view. “Oh, wow. This is definitely not lairish.”

I pull into the four-car garage where I store my toys. There’s a Torino Fastback painted flashy orange with black stripes, a speedboat, two Sea-Doos, and a pair of four-wheelers.

“You have a lot of things with engines.”

“This is just the stuff I keep here. I have lakefront property an hour away and a cottage in Ontario with more water toys. It’s where I spend my time in the off-season.”

“Sidney has a cottage. I always picture them as being kind of run-down, like a shack or something. His is more like a house on a lake.”

“Do you ever go?” Maybe Butterson’s Facebook pictures came from a vacation there.

“We try to make the trip once a summer. I’m not very good at water sports.”

“Water skiing isn’t hard. I’m sure I could teach you.”

Violet snorts. “Yeah. I can barely get the hang of yoga, and you want to strap boards to my feet and drag me across water?”

“You make it sound dangerous.”

“All sports are dangerous. Especially hockey.”

Once inside, I hang up her coat. Her dress is killing me. It’s one of those wrap things with a tie at the waist. I try not to stare; it makes her tits look fantastic. I don’t want her to think the only reason I invited her here is for sex. I haven’t spent the past month trying to get her to go out with me to screw it up. However, I can appreciate her stunning cleavage.

To avoid jumping her immediately, I give her a tour of my house. I don’t take her upstairs, seeing as my bedroom would be a bad place to end up right now. I show her the main floor, then the game room in the basement. It’s as far from my bedroom as we can get.

“You’re such a dude.” Violet snort-laughs, covering her mouth with her hand.

Maybe the eighty-inch flat screen, movie style recliners, gaming consoles, and accompanying chairs are a bit much. “I don’t get a lot of down time, but when I do, I like to play.”

“I’m not making fun. This is great. Buck would be in heaven here. So would Sidney.” Violet checks out my wall of trophies.

I hope they don’t make me look like an arrogant ass. I worked hard for them; I’m proud of my accomplishments. My figure skating trophies—I have a lot of those, too—are all at my mother’s house in my childhood bedroom.

“You don’t need to look at those.”

I stand behind her, admiring her ass. It really is nice. Soft. Plush. Good for grabbing. I’d like to feel that curve against my dick again. Later. Maybe.

Violet turns around, her tone teasing. “Yeah, I’m sure you have them all out here so people ignore them.”

“They work with the room, don’t they?”

“They’re impressive. I only ever won the participation ribbon on Track and Field Day. If I had these, I’d highlight them with a flashing neon arrow. In my personal opinion, you’re understating your awesomeness.”

“You don’t think flashing neon is too overt?”

“Not even a little.” She scans the room, pausing at the posters hung on the wall. “Wow! Look at all those ads. Ohhh. You’ve even done one for Tim Horton’s. I finished that tin in like a week.”

“I must look like a narcissist, eh?” I rub the back of my neck, more uncomfortable about these than I am the trophies.

She glances over her shoulder. “Are any of these hanging in your bedroom?”

“Uh. No.”

“Not even the milk ad?”

I grin. “Not even the milk advertisement.”

“Then you’re not a narcissist as far as I can tell. By the way, if you happen to have a spare copy of the milk ad lying around and you weren’t sure what do to with it, I’d be happy to take it off your hands.”

“I might be able to get you a copy.”

She gestures to the posters. “Do you have to do a lot of these?”

“It depends on the season. We’re doing well this year, so there’s more demand. They’re good for exposure. I’ve had some interest from some big campaigns recently, so we’ll see what happens.”

“What kind of campaigns?”

“Sports companies. It’s something I’ve been working toward.”

“I hope you get it, then.” She moves away from the posters. “You have an air hockey table! Sidney has one. Buck used to try and hustle me all the time.” She claps excitedly. “Let’s play!”

“No one plays air hockey here without putting something at stake.”

“You mean a bet? I’m gonna warn you, I’m good.” Violet taps her fingers on the lip of the table. “I beat Buck all the time.”

I suppress a smirk. “Oh? In that case, if I win, I get to take you out again after this series of away games.”

This is far from fair; there’s no way Violet will win. But I want something beyond the glory of beating a woman who reads during hockey games and refers to the penalty box as the “time-out box thingy.”

Violet blushes. “And if I win, I get to take the cool car in your garage for a ride.”

At first I think she’s joking. Violet has no idea what my car is worth or the time and energy spent having it painstakingly restored. I’m not worried. I’m going to wipe the floor with Violet’s ass. Well, I’d like to do something to Violet’s ass—maybe while she’s on the floor. In the context of the game, I’m going to win.

“You’re on.” I reach across the table to shake on it.

Violet’s smile is pure calculated innocence as she slips her hand into mine and yanks, pulling me forward unexpectedly. Her grin becomes a sneer, her eyes narrowing with something like malice.

“Be prepared to have your balls handed to you, Waters.”

“You think so, eh?”

This is going to be fun. I remove my tie and toss it on the chair in the corner. Next I unbutton my shirt and shrug out of it.

“Is this strip air hockey?” Her eyes drop to my chest. All distractions are good distractions if they work in my favor.

“No. I’m just getting comfortable.” My T-shirt is less constrictive than a button-down.

Violet takes a ready stance. The deep V of her dress gapes slightly, and the luscious swell of her breasts press together to create amazing cleavage. I’d love to fuck her tits—dammit, now I’m distracted.

My competitive nature comes out, and I practically growl, “Get ready to be spanked, sweetheart.”

Her neck goes blotchy. “Nice try. That’s not on the table.”

“You don’t think so? I could put you over the table.” I wag my eyebrows suggestively.

Violet scoffs. “Check your ego, Captain.”

At the beginning, I go easy on her and let her believe she’ll win. It quickly becomes apparent Violet is far more adept at this game than I assumed. She scores two goals within the first two minutes, punctuating each one with a Take that!

“Best out of three.” I sneak the puck by her goalie and smile condescendingly.

“If you feel the need to be beaten twice.”

“You’re going down, baby.”

“If that’s what you wanted”—the puck ricochets against the side of the table and heads toward my goalie—“you should’ve put it on the table.”

She pokes the inside of her cheek with her tongue. The image of Violet’s lips wrapped around my cock, her warm, wet tongue swirling around the head diverts my attention from the game.

“Take that!” she yells.

I blink, confused. Damn! She scored again. She’s thrown my game with blow job references, making it impossible for me to recover the win. Violet prances around, fist pumping the air, boobs jiggling. Though I’m irritated she’s beaten me—unfairly—she’s still entertaining to watch.

“I. Am. Awesome!” She props a hand on her hip. “You obviously don’t want another date if you’re going to play like a girl.”

“Enjoy the high, baby. It won’t happen again.”

I up my game during round two. The harder I try, the harder she tries. She’s good. Better than good. I might even lose. She’ll have to go out with me again to drive my car, so I suppose I win either way.

“On your knees, motherpucker!” she shouts when she scores the winning goal. She grabs the puck and kisses it. Wearing a huge smile, she rubs it on her boobs.

I can’t believe she beat me. Again. Her cheeks are flushed and her breath comes in pants. Even I’m worked up.

“I want a rematch.” I take a step to the side, coming around the table.

“You’re a sore loser.” Violet moves in the opposite direction. “I won fair and square.”

“I still want to take you out again when I get home.” I take another step toward her and she takes one back.

“You didn’t win.” She shifts right, preparing to bolt.

I fake right and go left, mirroring her movement. I’m faster and more agile. She may have beaten me at air hockey, but she can’t outrun me. She shrieks when I grab her around the waist and pull her against me.

“I know.” My palm glides along her rib cage. “But you cheated.”

“I did not!”

“This dress is very distracting.” I skim her collarbone and follow the V of her bust line with my fingertip.

I dip my head down and press my lips to her neck. Sucking lightly, I kiss a trail from her jaw to her lips.

“I didn’t cheat.”

“Debatable.” My lips hover over hers. “I’d accept a victory kiss in lieu of a rematch.”

“I still get to drive your car.”

“If you’re good with stick, sure.”

“I’m great with stick.”

“I’m not talking about the one in my pants.”

Her outraged gasp turns into a sigh as our lips meet. Violet’s hands move up my arms and her fingernails bite into my shoulders.

Cupping her ass, I lift her onto the table, and then turn off the air. Her dress rides up her thighs as I step between them and she hitches a leg over my hip. I keep reminding myself not to have expectations for tonight. I don’t. What I expect and what I’d like are two very different things.

I hold her soft body against me, splaying my hand between her shoulders. “Tell me if I’m moving too fast.”

“You’re good,” she says, shoving her fingers into my hair.

I kiss a path to the neckline of her dress. Her heel digs into my ass as I bite her collarbone. Violet gasps. I push the fabric of her dress aside. Red satin and lace overlay never looked so good on a pair of perfectly delicious tits. I cup them and squeeze, deepening the line of cleavage so I can bury my face between them. “I love your boobs.”

“They love you back.”

I pull the satin and lace down until her rosy little nipple peeks out. I circle it with my finger, before I cover it with my mouth.

“Holy hell.” Violet’s fingers tighten in my hair, holding me hostage. “Why’s your mouth so magical?”

The question seems rhetorical, so I keep sucking and kissing and nibbling. Her legs tighten around my waist and she shifts her hips, moving against me, seeking her own relief.

I finger the tie at her waist. One tug and I’ll find out if she’s wearing panties to match her bra.

I seek permission to continue. “May I?”

“By all means.”

The bow comes loose, one side of her dress falling open. It’s not quite as momentous as I anticipated. There’s a second tie on the inside, preventing a full revelation.

“Did you pick the color for me?” I kiss my way to the neglected breast, rolling her nipple between my fingers.

“You like?” Violet pushes her chest out, her words a breathy moan.

“Oh, I like. Seriously, I can’t get enough.”

I move between her tits until Violet’s arms start to shake and she drops down on her elbows. We’re panting, rubbing against each other, adding friction for my lonely dick. Her quiet gasps and sighs grow progressively louder until she sucks in a harsh breath.

“Oh, God. Alex? . . . I-I-I . . .” She sounds confused, maybe a little desperate. “There’s no way—”

I never get to ask what’s going on. It becomes self-evident, anyway. Violet trembles, eyes closed, lips parting on a sexy moan. Her body goes lax, and her legs drop from my waist.

“Did you come on my air hockey table?”

“Uh-huh.”

“From this?” I circle her left nipple with my tongue. I’m feeling pretty good about myself.

“And all the grinding.” Violet grabs me by the hair and pulls. “Careful. It’s sensitive from all the attention.”

“Sorry.” I’m keyed up, ready for speed and release. It’s the same feeling I get on the ice, only magnified and channeled into a very different, singular need.

I skim her side with my free hand until I reach the second tie. “Is this okay?”

Violet bites her lip and squeezes her eyes closed for a second. “Y-yes.”

Her uncertainty makes me pause. No matter how badly I want to get inside her again, I won’t push. “Are you sure?” I make no move either way.

“Yes.”

“I’ve been trying to get you to go out with me for a month. I’m not interested in forfeiting future dates, so you set the ground rules, okay?”

“Ground rules?”

“Do you want to instate a minimum number of dates before I get past second base?”

“You’ve already been past second base.”

“It doesn’t mean I automatically get to go there again, does it?” Man, do I ever want to.

“Why are you so sweet?” Violet runs a finger down the bridge of my nose.

If she knew what was going through my head, she wouldn’t be calling me sweet. I kiss her, soft and slow, telling her through actions I’m totally fine with it if this is as far as we go tonight. Violet makes the next move, freeing the tie on her dress. Satin slides down her arms and pools on the table. Her panties match her bra.

I run my hands up the outside of her thighs. “You are a wet dream.”

She laughs as she grips the hem of my T-shirt and pulls it over my head. “If I had wet dreams, you’d be mine.”

Her palms flatten against my chest and then drift lower until she’s cupping me through my pants. “God, you’re hard.”

“See what happens when a gorgeous, half-naked woman beats me at air hockey and comes on my table.”

Violet gives me a squeeze. “What else makes you hard?”

Slipping my finger underneath the elastic of her panties, I’m met with smooth, wet skin. Her eyelids flutter.

“Shit. You really did come.”

I go lower, finding her hotter, slicker, wetter. Twisting my palm, I slide my thumb under the fabric as well. Violet bites her lip, stifling a moan as I ease two fingers inside her. She holds onto my shoulders, closing her eyes tight as she rides my hand.

“Christ, you’re sexy.”

While I enjoy the feel of her hand on my dick—even if the sensation is muted by two layers of fabric—it’s impeding my view.

“Let go, baby—”

“I’m almost—”

“I want to see—”

She obeys my request and uses her free hand to brace herself on the table. Her whole body starts to shake. I look down to where my fingers disappear inside her. Her panties have shifted to the side, exposing more of what I want. For half a second, I’m in my own personal heaven. Then I’m not.

“What the fuck is that?” I jerk back.

Violet’s head lolls forward. “What?”

A huge purple mark mars the crest of her pelvis. I clench my jaw to keep from saying something I may regret and search my brain for a reasonable excuse for what I’m seeing. I can’t find one. It looks as if someone else has been touching my fucking pussy. I don’t understand why Violet would agree to go out with me if she’s been letting someone else get all up in there.

My voice is a nearly unrecognizable growl. “Is that a hickey?”