Scoring Chance (Carolina Comets)

I took Miller’s virginity.

I took Miller’s virginity, and he told me he loved me.

He was half asleep when he said it, but I heard it all the same.

I’m sure it was nothing, though, sure it was just an in-the-moment kind of thing because hello, I’d just taken his virginity. I’m sure he would have said it to any woman at that moment.

Besides, Miller can’t love me…can he?

If he does, do I even want him to?

As I peel my eyes open, I try to bury the thoughts, tucking them away to deal with later. The sun is just barely beginning to brighten the sky, and I know I should probably get up and go help Rosie at the truck, but I can’t muster the energy. I’m too exhausted from last night.

I didn’t have the intention of the night ending in sex and don’t think he did either, but it happened. It happened, and I’m freaking out about it like it was my first time having sex. I can’t imagine how he’s feeling.

I roll over to check on him, and my stomach drops.

The bed is empty.

Oh god.

Bile rises in my throat at the realization that he’s not here.

Does Miller regret it? Does he wish he could take it back, find someone else? Someone better? Thoughts race through my head so fast and so loud I barely register the room around me.

Which is why I don’t notice Miller is still here until he pulls open the bathroom door and grins down at me.

“Hey, you’re up,” he says, his voice still scratchy from sleep. He climbs back into his bed, scooting close but not quite touching me.

I smile at him and wait for the awkwardness to settle in, but it never comes.

“How are you feeling?”

It takes all of two seconds for us to burst into laughter.

I cover my face. “Oh god, I don’t know why I said that. It sounds so stupid, but I swear that’s what they say in movies after someone loses their virginity, so I thought that was what I should say.”

He tugs my hands away from my face. “It’s fine, and I feel fine. The same, really. But also…lighter? If that makes sense. I mean, I’ve been building up that moment for the last twenty-four years. It was…nice.”

“Nice?”

“Incredible.” He rolls until he’s on top of me, fitting himself between my legs like it’s the most natural place in the world for him. “Amazing. The best thing I’ve ever done, and that includes when I lifted the Stanley Cup over my head.”

I raise my brows. “That’s quite the compliment to my vagina.”

“It’s a great vagina. But seriously…” He places a soft kiss on the tip of my nose. “Thank you. I’m…I’m really glad it was you, Scout.”

“Thank me? Thank you. I had not one but two orgasms last night.”

I don’t know why there’s emotion building up in my throat, causing it to burn, or why my eyes begin to sting, but they do.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

He grins and then gives me a soft kiss, which soon turns into more.

I should probably worry about my morning breath, but at this point, I don’t care. Kissing him is just too addicting.

I feel his stiffening cock against me, pressing right between my legs, which are sore in the best kind of way, and I lift my hips to brush against it.

He groans, then pulls his mouth from mine. “As much as I’d love a repeat—and I really, really would because I think I could blow your mind for an entire five minutes this time—I have practice. You’re more than welcome to stay as long as you want, though. There’s no rush for you to go.”

“I appreciate it, but I should probably get to the truck. Rosie is great and all, but I’m still not sure I trust her to open by herself just yet.”

“You work too hard. You should stay here. Rest—you deserve it.”

Resting does sound nice…

But I also want to get home and grab my laptop before heading to the truck. I have an idea for a new chapter, and I want to get it out before I forget it.

I don’t tell him that, though. Instead, I say, “The public needs their donuts. Do you mind if I take a shower before I go? That rain head feels like heaven.”

“Funny…I thought the same about your pussy last night.” I blush at his crassness and squeeze my thighs because I like the way the word sounds rolling off his tongue. He gives me another quick peck before rolling off me. “But yeah, feel free. The shower’s all yours.”

I fly out of bed, entirely too excited about it. He laughs, but it fades fast.

I turn to figure out what made him so quiet.

Apparently, it’s me.

I can’t even find the energy to be embarrassed about being so naked in front of him as the morning light slowly begins to brighten the room. I’ve never felt so comfortable being naked around someone before, but I do with Miller, and it’s because he’s looking at me like he is right now—like he wants me, like he can’t get enough.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, looking down to where his eyes are fixed.

It’s hard to miss what he’s looking at. On each of my thighs are five tiny bruises from where he was gripping me last night.

He swallows hard, then drags his eyes to mine. “Is it weird that I find that hot?”

I shake my head because if it’s weird he finds it hot, it means it’s weird I find it hot.

I like the idea of Miller marking me. It makes me feel like I belong to him…and I don’t entirely hate the idea of it.

Careful, Scout. You’re treading in deep water.

“You know…I could just drive fast,” he says, his eyes still raking over my body.

“So, like you normally drive?” I tease.

“Woman,” he growls.

“Dirty talk this early?” I tsk. “You’re incorrigible, Grady.”

His eyes spark when I say his name, and I know it’s his undoing.

“Fuck it,” he says, flying off the bed.

He scoops me into his arms and drags me into the shower with him.

He gripped her tightly by the waist and slammed his mouth against hers. The kiss was rough and bruising, but Charlie didn’t mind. She liked it a little rough, especially at the hands of the hot hockey player she’d been dreaming about nonstop.

When he finally released her, her knees were knocking together they were shaking so hard.

“Take my cock out,” Brady said.

Charlie was eager to oblige.

She dropped to her knees and

“Hey, Aunt Scout?”

I let out a startled gasp, and my laptop almost falls off the countertop when I jump at the sudden intrusion.

I manage to save it, but the same can’t be said for the three spatulas, the toothpick decorations, and the bowl of sprinkles I knock onto the floor.

“Oopsie,” my niece says. “Sorry.”

I peek up to find Macie standing at the end of the truck, a half-eaten donut that her mother ordered ten minutes ago in her hand. There’s icing on her face, and even though she just scared the shit out of me, she looks adorable.

She also looks like she wants something.

“It’s okay.” I close my laptop and set it aside, then start cleaning up the mess I made.

This is what I get for writing while I’m at work. I get so lost in the story that I stop paying attention to what’s going on around me. This is the second time this week I’ve been so focused on my fictional world that I’ve made a mess of things.

On one hand, it’s a good thing I’m so immersed in the story, but I’m definitely letting it get in the way of what I should be doing. I have to stop bringing my laptop to work with me.

I’ve been writing like the wind over the last few days with Miller being on the road again, and I am so, so close to having the first draft finished that I’m spending every single free second I have with my fingers on the keyboard.

Though I’m not sure I want to admit it out loud, I’m scared if I don’t finish this book while things are still hot and heavy with Miller, my muse may dry up, and it’ll never get done.

And I really want to get it done.

“What’d you need, sweetie?” I ask when I catch her lingering at the door.

She gives me a toothy grin. “You know how Christmas is going to be here soon?”

“It’s still over a month away, but yes, I’m aware of when Christmas is.”

“Now that Miller is your boyfriend, do you think he’ll get me Comets tickets for Christmas?”

I sputter out a laugh, grabbing a handful of toothpick decorations and tossing them into the trash can. “You can ask him.”

“Like right now?”

“Well, no. He’s at work, sweetie.”

“No, he’s not. He’s here.”

“A guy could get used to a welcome like this,” his deep voice rumbles.

I peer up to find Miller leaning against the entrance to the truck, smirking down at the sight of me on my knees, I’m sure.

I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sound appealing to me too.

I’ve never really enjoyed blow jobs in the past, but something about Miller makes me want to try all the things I never used to like again just to see if he’d make them better somehow.

“Hello,” I say, returning my attention to the mess, hoping like hell he doesn’t see how red my cheeks are right now because I am definitely thinking about things I shouldn’t be.

“Hello? That’s all I get?”

“Yes.”

He laughs and walks farther into the truck, the vehicle creaking under his feet. His shoes come into view before his hand does. He tucks a single finger under my chin, pulling my face up to meet his.

“That’s all I get?” he repeats, his voice deep and husky, sending a shiver through me.

Like my body is moving of its own accord, I rise to stand. Without a word, Miller hauls me closer, sealing his lips over mine.

Sprinkles crunch under our shoes, and I’m acutely aware that we’re standing in the middle of my truck where everyone can see us, but I don’t care, not when he’s holding me like he is, not when his lips feel so good against mine.

I’m getting attached to him. Dangerously so.

But I can’t help it. Being with Miller feels so good, so right.

He hasn’t told me he loves me again, so I’m definitely chalking that up to his sleepy brain, but I’m dying to hear him utter those words again.

And that fucking scares me.

I have no idea how long we stand locked together because when he’s kissing me, it feels like time is standing still. Not until someone clears their throat do I snap back to reality.

We pull apart, and I turn toward the window to find a very amused Harper and Ryan staring at us.

“Well, I have to say, I did not expect this,” Harper says.

“I don’t know, they were kind of giving off vibes at the fundraiser,” Ryan tells her. “It’s the romantic in me—I see things like this.”

“Do you, though? I’m pretty sure I was the one who had to tell you that you were in love with your own husband.”

“Well, technically…”

Harper rolls her eyes at her best friend. “Technicalities, my ass.”

“Are you two finished?” Miller interrupts them.

Ryan laughs. “That’s rich coming from you, Mr. Attack Her Mouth.”

“I didn’t attack her. I kissed her, and she liked it.”

All three of them look at me like they’re waiting for me to confirm or deny it.

“I did like it,” I tell them.

“Ha! See!” Miller says.

I glare at him. “Go away. I have customers.”

“Ugh. Fine.” He throws his hands in the air. “I’ll go see what Macie’s up to.”

“She wants tickets to one of your games, in case you didn’t hear that earlier.”

“Tickets? Hell yeah I’ll get her tickets. I’ll go work it out with Stevie.”

He takes off out the back of the truck, and I don’t miss the Chocolate Nutty Butter donut he steals on his way through.

“Ladies,” he says to the girls as he walks past them.

They eye him as he stalks away, and the minute he’s out of earshot, they begin peppering me with questions.

“When did this happen?”

“Are you two dating?”

“Is Miller really a good kisser?”

“Does this mean you’re going to be coming to the games now?”

“Is his dick really—”

I hold my hand up, halting that last question from Ryan.

“Okay, fine.” She lifts her hands. “Too far. But…” I lift my brow in warning. “Does this mean you’re going to come to games? You’re a WAG now, and we cool ones have to stick together. Some of the others are just so…”

“It feels like high school all over again,” Harper explains.

Ryan nods. “Yes! Like that. Except worse because they all have money and look like clones.”

“It’s eerie even for me,” Harper says. And that really is saying something considering she makes horror-themed stuff for a living. Eerie is her specialty.

“I’m assuming a WAG has something to do with dating?”

Harper nods. “Wives and girlfriends.”

“Ah, gotcha.”

“If you decide to come, great. You’re definitely welcome. And if not, that’s okay too. We know hockey games aren’t everyone’s scene. Hell, I didn’t even like the sport until I met Collin.”

“And now you’re reciting stats in your sleep.”

“Oh my god, Ryan, that was one time!” Harper says. “Besides, you’ve done your makeup witchcraft and turned yourself into how many hockey mascots now?”

“Mind your business.” Ryan sticks her tongue out.

I laugh.

Maybe I should go to a game with them. I’m not sure a hockey game is really my scene, but it could be fun, and if nothing else, it’ll be good book research.

Not tonight, though. Tonight, all I want to do is go home and write, especially since Macie interrupted me just when it was getting good.

“I won’t be able to make the game tonight, but maybe the next one?”

Harper claps her hands together. “Yay!”

She gives me the details, and we make plans to meet up at her house so we can all drive over together for their next home game in two days.

With a promise to text them, I hand them their usual orders, and they say their goodbyes, making sure to scold Miller on their way out for not telling them about us.

“They’re kind of scary sometimes,” Miller says, coming back to the truck and leaning against the counter.

I laugh. “I think they’re sweet.”

“Did you guys make plans for a game?” I eye him. “What?” He shrugs. “I wasn’t listening in the whole time.”

“Just most of it.”

He has the decency to at least look embarrassed. “I won’t lie, I’m excited as fuck to see you at my game. You’re going to wear my jersey, right?”

“You mean the one you tried to literally rip off my body, but all you ended up doing was giving me a burn?”

“I said I was sorry! And I kissed it better. Besides, it’s not my fault they make it look so easy to rip off someone’s clothes in movies.”

I shake my head. “Has anyone told you lately that you’re exhausting?”

“You did just last night.”

I blush, thinking about what happened after he got back from being away. They won five to nothing, and a celebration was definitely in order after a shutout.

I tried to tell him it should have been me rewarding him for such an amazing night, but he insisted me sitting on his face was his reward. I wasn’t about to complain about that.

“Are we still on for our date tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir. Six?”

“Oh, say that again.”

I crinkle my nose. “Six?”

“No. The sir part.”

“I am not calling you sir.”

“Hmm…I don’t know. I’m liking the way it sounds.”

“Miller…” I groan. “Go away before I do something ludicrous like listen to you.”

He laughs. “All right, fine. I’m going.” He leans across the counter, pressing a kiss to my cheek before walking away backward. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir,” I tease.

He pauses, tipping his head to the side, just staring at me with those liquid gold eyes of his.

There’s something in them I haven’t seen before, something I can’t quite place my finger on. Whatever it is, it makes me tingle from my toes to my fingertips, and not even in a sexy way.

It’s something else.

Something different.

Something good.

“What is it?” I ask him, unable to take it any longer.

“It’s…” He shakes his head softly like he’s rousing himself from a dream. “It’s nothing.”

“You sure?”

“Yep. See you tomorrow!” he calls over his shoulder as he spins on his heel and practically jogs to the parking lot.

What the hell just happened?