Page 56 of Breaking the Pucking Rules (LA Vipers #1)

CASEY

A fter warming up my cold bagel, Kodie brought it over and sat beside me as I ate. We were silent, but it was perfect, and I had the most incredible post-sex glow.

Once he was happy that I’d been fed, he swept me into his arms and, with my direction—not that it’s hard in my small apartment—he carried me to the bathroom and sat me on the counter as he filled the tub with hot water and bubbles.

Then, and only then, did I get my wish, and he stripped down to nothing, giving me a nice little show.

He then peeled my jersey off and carried me to the tub.

I wasn’t lying when I told him that I had an average-sized tub, and it was a very, very snug fit. But I wasn’t complaining. I was snuggled up with a very naked, very hot Kodie Rivers. I was living my best life.

He made sure to clean every inch of me, and despite me trying to heat things up again, he was the perfect gentleman, telling me that I needed to rest before he took me again. It wasn’t an if, it was a when, and I couldn’t freaking wait.

So instead, we talked. He told me about his trip, about his game, and the guys, and in return, he asked me about work, and Parker, and Freya.

He listened to every single word I said as his fingers trailed up and down my arm, ensuring that my desire for him continued to bubble just under the surface .

My addiction to my hockey god is officially off the scale now, and I don’t stand a chance of quitting.

By the time the water got cold, I was curled up on his chest, fighting against sleep.

As soon as Kodie noticed, he lifted me out, wrapped me in one of my huge, fluffy towels, and carried me to my bed.

Naked, he crawled in with me, and with his big body wrapped around mine, I drifted off to sleep, happy, content, and very, very satisfied.

I wake who knows how many hours later to the most incredible sound.

Kodie laughing.

A smile tugs at my lips. I wish I could bottle that sound and keep it forever. Right alongside his scent. Needing another hit, I roll over to the pillow he was lying on and breathe in deeply.

Addicted. Utterly addicted.

I’m unable to make out what he’s saying as his deep tone rumbles through my apartment, and while I don’t want to eavesdrop, my need for him is too strong to deny.

Throwing the covers back, I swing my legs over the edge and stand up.

My muscles pull in the best kind of way, and as I move, tenderness between my thighs makes itself known.

Worth it. So freaking worth it.

After swiping my robe from my chair, I make my way to my connected bathroom to freshen up.

“Dude, are you serious right now?” Kodie barks as I slip silently into the kitchen, although the second my eyes land on him, my movements falter.

He’s standing in front of the windows in only a fitted pair of boxer briefs. The fall sun lights up his body, making his tattoos almost look like they’re glowing and highlighting his incredible muscle definition.

I stand there unnoticed, completely ogling him. The thing is with Kodie, he’s not only beautiful on the outside. It’s the man I’m getting to know who hides beneath the surface who’s really taking my breath away.

The dedicated athlete, the caring father, the thoughtful lover, the supportive friend.

All of it.

Shit. I’m falling harder and faster than I can control.

This wasn’t meant to happen.

It was meant to be a bit of fun. Knocking off the top item on my bucket list. I wasn’t meant to fall for him.

“No, I know.” He sighs. “She’s going to fucking owe us.”

Whoever’s on the other end of the line speaks.

“Oh, great. Yeah, I’ll really look forward to that.”

He nods.

“Yep, okay. Sure.” He laughs again at it hits me right in the chest. “Yeah, I will. Yes, she will too.”

I frown; surely he’s not talking about me?

“You got it. Bye.”

As he hangs up, another huge sigh passes his lips. I want to ask him and help fix whatever’s bothering him. But are we there yet? Will we ever be?

Wanting to announce myself before he turns around and finds me listening to him, I surge forward.

“Hey,” I sing a little too chirpily. Could I sound any guiltier?

He startles before spinning around, making my breath catch all over again.

How is this real?

I’m still convinced that this is all a dream that I’m going to wake up from at any moment.

The smirk on his face points to the fact there isn’t actually anything wrong, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Everything okay?”

He continues studying me for a few seconds before stalking toward me.

“Yeah, it was just Linc.”

After placing his cell on the kitchen counter, he comes to a stop right in front of me. His hand wraps around the back of my neck before he ducks to brush a sweet kiss on my lips.

“He knows about us,” he confesses while we’re still connected.

Ice floods my veins as his words register.

I pull back in a panic and stare up at him with my heart pounding.

“H-He?—’

“He won’t say anything,” Kodie assures me with confidence.

I shake my head. Linc is one of the biggest gossips I’ve ever known. As soon as he learns anything, he spreads it far and wide. Okay, sure, he’s usually chirping about rivals, doing his best to rile them up and cause drama, but still.

The fact he knows…

Fuck. It makes me nervous.

“Did you tell him?” I ask. I hate that it comes out sounding so accusatory.

I’ve told Parker. Hell, I needed to tell Parker. I’m pretty sure I’d have exploded by now if I hadn’t confessed. I’d be a hypocrite if I was angry at him for doing the same thing.

Sure, Kodie and Linc might have built a friendship since Kodie’s transfer, but how close could they really be. They’ve only known each other a year.

It’s fine. It’s going to be fine.

“No,” Kodie confesses, nervously rubbing at the back of his neck.

“Then how?—”

“He figured it out.”

“Shit,” I hiss.“How?” I repeat.

A laugh tumbles from his lips. “Turns out your disguise that night wasn’t actually all that good.”

“Oh my god,” I breathe. “He’s known all this time?”

Kodie shrugs one shoulder. “Seems that way. He’s only just confessed that though.”

“I knew he was my biggest risk that night,” I mutter under my breath.

Out of all the players on the Vipers roster, Linc is the one I’ve known the longest, although we’ve never been close. But if anyone wasn’t going to be fooled that night, it would have been him.

“It’s going to be okay, baby. He’ll keep our secret. ”

I stare up at him, my heart in my throat.

Is that all I am? Kodie Rivers' dirty little secret?

Once upon a time, I would have said it would have been everything to me. In a way, it is. But is hiding what we’ve found as if we’re doing something wrong really what I want?

No.

I want to shout and scream from the rooftops that I’m with this incredible man. I want to nestle my way deeper into his life and ensure he keeps smiling and laughing like he does when he’s with me. It’s a heady feeling, a high like no other, and I’m not ready to lose that yet.

I nod as I force the emotion down. I don’t want to ruin what we’ve found here because of my insecurities and fears.

He doesn’t want a serious relationship. He isn’t looking for anyone to join his family. I get that; I really do.

I just have to find a way to be okay with it.

“Yeah, okay.”

Reaching out, he cups my jaw and brushes his thumb across my bottom lip.

“I don’t know about you, but I like what we’ve got going on at the moment,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Me too,” I agree softly.

“My life is complicated, and most days I feel like I’m being pulled in a million different directions. I won’t lie, adding you into the mix adds a whole new one, but as complicated as it might be, I can’t imagine it any other way at this point.”

“Kodie,” I breathe.

“I can’t put a label on this, and I’m nowhere near ready to figure out how we move from the place we’re in right now. I’m not sure there even is another place, if I’m really being honest. But that’s not to say that I don’t want to see if there might be.”

My eyes burn with tears, and I fight as hard as I can to stop them.

It might not exactly be what I want to hear, but it’s something.

It’s a start.

It’s him trying to reassure me without freaking himself out by moving too fast.

“I’m sorry, Casey. I wish I could offer you more, but right now?—”

Reaching up, I press two fingers to his lips, cutting off his words.

“It’s okay. I understand,” I promise before stretching up on my toes and replacing my fingers with my lips.

“ Y ou look different,” Parker says. I shrug as I walk toward my kitchen with her hot on my tail.

After Kodie left earlier to pick Sutton up from school, I messaged Parker with a brief update, and she told me that she was coming over the second she finished with her final client of the day.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you don’t,” she mutters as I reach into the cupboard to grab two glasses for the wine she brought with her. “You’re glowing.”

“I’ve barely slept, so it isn’t through rest.”

“I hate you,” she teases.

“I know. Getting banged six ways from Sunday by a hockey god is a hard job, but someone’s got to do it.”

“Was it that good?” she asks, her eyes locked on me as I turn around and begin pouring.

“It was better than that.”

“Gimme,” she says, making little grabby hands for her glass.

With a chuckle, I slide it closer and watch as she swallows a large mouthful.

“I need to get laid,” she complains.“I’m torn between needing all the details and wanting to shove my face into a pillow and scream with jealousy.”

“Just know that every time with Kodie has been a million times better than any other guys I’ve ever been with. He’s…” I ta ke a moment to think. “Gentle yet rough, demanding yet giving.”

“Sounds confusing,” she muses.

“It’s perfect.”

“Jesus. You have legit hearts for eyes. You are so gone for him.”

I take a sip of my wine, needing a little liquid courage for what I’m about to say.

“Yeah, and it’s a problem.”

“Case, you’re happier than I’ve ever seen you. How is that a problem?”

“Because I’m going to end up with a broken heart.”

She stares at me, and in her eyes, I can see that she knows I’m right. But those aren’t the words that spill from her lips.

“But you might not.”

“I appreciate the positive thinking, I really do. But let’s be honest here.”

“There is nothing to say that this will all end badly. If he feels even half of what you do for him, he might surprise you.”

“Parker,” I sigh. “He’s a father. He doesn’t have time for me in his life. His job is…as demanding as they get.”

“He came home from Vancouver early to see you. He still saw Sutton and took her to school, and then came back to spend the day with you. Those aren’t the actions of a man who can’t make time for you.”

“Today was an exception. It was a travel day. Once training starts up again tomorrow, I’ll be pushed aside.”

“Or you might not.”

I love Parker to death, I really do, but I’m not sure I can cope with much more of her positivity. She’s usually the more level-headed one out of the two of us. I’m the dreamer, the one whose glass is always half full, but for the first time in as long as I can remember, we’ve switched roles.

“Anyway, how did he react to you being Sutton’s new coach?”

My teeth sinking into my bottom lip is all the answer she needs.

“Casey,” she chastises.

“It’s fine. Hailee has sent them to some community outreach thing tomorrow afternoon, so he can’t make it to training anyway. It buys me a few more days to figure out how to tell him.”