Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80045 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80045 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“He just went to set up Cards Against Humanity for us,” Monroe answers, nodding to Blakely. “This one wanted to see if you were in.”
“Is that so?” I smile at Blakely, but quickly notice her other best friend, her eyes peering past me and into the room where Nash is still chatting up the two blondes. Her dark eyes flare wide, a blush dancing over her cheeks before she brings her attention back to our conversation.
“You must be Reese,” I quickly say and reach out my hand. “Blakely has told me a ton about you, but I haven't run into you at all. What, you don't want to get any shots of me on the ice?” I ask, knowing that she's our social media manager.
Reese shakes my hand, smiling at me kindly. “It's not officially preseason yet,” she says. “Don't worry, number one draft pick, I'll get plenty of shots of you when you actually take the ice.”
“And plenty of shots of my teammates?” I ask, unable to help myself as I glance toward Nash.
Blakely gapes at me, but I ignore the look. “So, we're playing Cards Against Humanity?”
“Only if you're in?” Blakely says, the first word she’s spoken to me, and I swear I can breathe easier.
What the fuck is happening to me? Is it because we haven't officially crossed that line yet? Because we have insane chemistry, and I still don't know what it feels like between her thighs? Or is it something more?
“Oh, I'm in,” I say, then glance over my shoulder at Nash. “Nash, do you want to play Cards Against Humanity with us?” I ask, and I swear Reese does a little yelp next to me and somehow finds her way behind Blakely. Not at all casual, but definitely interesting.
“Nashi, we want to go to the pool,” one of the girls says, and the other enthusiastically agrees.
Nash hits them with a celebrity-worthy grin and says, “You two go ahead and swim. I'll catch up with you later. I can never turn down cards.” He hops off the couch, heading toward our group, and Blakely quickly loops her arm through Reese’s and heads back down the long hallway, us following behind them.
And I'm going to fucking lose it because that lavender skirt falls perfectly over the glorious globes of her ass, and swishes back and forth as she walks. Jesus, I want to slide my hands under that skirt and feel her silky skin beneath my fingertips.
But I can't.
I can't, I can't, I can't.
Not only for all the reasons that are logical, like her being my skate coach and her just getting out of an abusive relationship, or all the not-so-subtle warnings that my captain has given me about mixing business and pleasure. No, I can't because Blakely has given me no indication that she wants that.
She definitely isn't a one-night stand kind of girl, I’ve learned that much about her. And that's fine. But she sure as hell kisses like she’s desperate for more, but I won’t cross that line unless she asks me to.
And fuck me, what if she does? All the logical reasons be damned, I’ll give her anything she wants.
The girls weave through Kiplin's house like they're familiar with it, saying hi to several of the players along the way until we make our way into a somewhat formal dining room, with a giant mahogany table resting in the center. The walls are decorated with more art pieces, and I'm starting to notice that they all look like they're by the same artist. Some are oils and some are watercolors, but they all have that same almost dark academia vibe to them that totally fits Kiplin’s personality.
The Cards of Humanity box is already on the table, Pax having already dealt five hands face down. The community stacks are set up in the middle of the table.
“Nash, are you in?” Pax asks as we all take seats around the table, Monroe sitting on Pax’s right, me on the other side of her, Blakely on my right, Reese on hers, and Nash on the other side of her.
“You know I never miss a chance to play this game,” he says as Pax deals him in.
“I thought you'd already be indisposed at this point,” Pax says, scooping up his cards to look at them. We all take that as our cue to do the same.
“It's way too early in the night for that,” Nash says.
“Since when has it ever been too early for you?” Pax teases him.
Nash looks at his cards, then tilts his head from side to side. “Fair,” he says.
“But still, are we going to play or keep talking about me? I'm good with either.”
“Isn't that usually your line, Lawson?” Blakely asks, flashing me a mischievous grin.
“Oh, so tonight's going to be like that, is it?” I fire right back.