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Prologue

Taylor – Twenty-Eight Years Old

I breathe heavily as I bend forward, holding my stick before me, trying to ignore the sweat dripping down my face and back. I keep my eyes on the center opposite me as the ref stands between us with the puck in hand, ready to drop.

I drown out everything—the cheers, the screams—my sole focus is on what is happening before me. Knowing Anders here has a weak left due to an injury at the beginning of the season, I need to act fast.

If I can get the puck to the left of him, shoot it to Levi, my right winger, and then get to the goal with the help of my right defender, Leo, I should be able to get the goal we need to win. But again, I need to move quick, especially considering my left defender and best friend, Ezra, is currently sitting in the sin bin with their right after a fight broke out.

The fucker goaded him after admitting he fucked his girl last night, which wasn’t a lie. She came onto him, so he took her to the staircase and bent her over. The fucking screams of ecstasy echoed in the bar– I’m surprised their right didn’t even hear it– though in his defense, he had no idea she had a man.

I try and steady my breathing while eyeing the ref, waiting for him to drop the puck, keeping my legs strong.

I’ve been skating since I could fucking walk. My mom used to joke that I was born with a hockey stick in my hand. Growing up, I was thrust into this world. Every camp and game was centered around my life.

My brother, who is two years older than me, couldn’t stand the ice and preferred football, becoming the Hawks quarterback. Ice was my beckoning, as was for my little sister Hannah, who’s twenty-five.

She lived and breathed figure skating until she fell pregnant with my niece Kaylah at nineteen.

It was her first college party and her first one-night stand. The fucker she slept with refused paternity, and last I heard, he dropped out of college while my sister had to change her passion with the help of our parents, our brother, and me; she went into fashion, gaining her a career with a top fashion magazine, Shines.

The fucker before me curls his scarred lip to try and intimidate me, but I don’t react and stay calm. I am not willing to lose this for my team.

The Vancouver Rebels are undefeated, just like we are. There are fifteen seconds left on the clock, and we’re currently tied 4-4.

We need this win to get to the next round of the finals, and fuck me, do I have a lot of pressure on my shoulders to get us there.

It’s been three years since the New York Red Lions have been in the finals, three long fucking years and we nearly got there last year, but three of our guys ended up in the sin bin for starting fights on the ice, fuck our left defender, Jack accidentally hit the fucking ref when he was in a rage.

We need this win, add to the fact my whole fucking family is here cheering me on, I need this win.

I blow out a breath as the ref blows his whistle and drops the puck, and without thinking, instead using my instincts, I fucking move, and I move quick before the fucker can even react.

I grab the puck with my stick and go left, causing him to tumble a little, not expecting it, and as the home crowd cheers, I let my stakes glide me across the ice.

I notice their players coming toward me as I look up, and I react, smacking the puck to Levi, the large fucker getting it instantly, and I move straight, heading to the goal. Leo smacks into one of their guys, heading toward me while I spin, using the figure skating moves my sister taught me to dodge their defenders on the other side and get into place just as Levi makes it near their goal and shoots the puck my way.

I feel it hit my stick for a split second before I smack it towards their goal, and hold my breath for what feels like minutes when it was only half a second before the horn sounds to end the game as the light shines above the net and my team bashes into me.

Fuck we won ….

“Uncle Tay-Tay,” I hear a squeal as I leave the changing room. Flashes nearly blind me from the press as I catch my little niece.

“Hey squirt,” I gasp with how hard she smacks into me.

She grins as she wraps her arms around my neck, her green eyes sparkling with happiness. I can’t help the grin when I notice she’s wearing a black, red, and green headband, the Red Lions colors in her red curly hair.

If you put her and my sister together, you wouldn’t think they were mother and daughter, especially with my sister’s black hair, taking after our father and light brown eyes, like our mother. Kaylah is a double of her father but still beautiful.

She cups my cheeks and demands, “Did you win for me?!”

I chuckle and mumble, “Of course.”

She grins wide, then kisses my cheek hard, making me chuckle again as I look at my family.

Hannah is pushing her black hair out of her face grinning while my parents look fucking giddy, but my brother, he looks fucking sour, and I’m guessing it’s because of the look on his wife’s face.

Dylan married his wife Xanthe two years ago after ‘dating’ her for six months.

They looked like they could belong together. His dark brown hair and dark blue eyes matched her light blonde hair and light blue eyes.

He’s over six foot, whereas she’s five-five.

I thought they were in love, which is why I didn’t question when he announced they were getting married, but it turns out she was a jersey chaser who informed him after six months of fucking that she was pregnant.

He found out after the wedding that she lied, and ever since, she’s been begging him for a child, but he won’t go there because it is glaringly obvious that she wants the child for the pay check and not to make a family with him.

Right now, she’s glaring at Kaylah and it’s pissing me off.

She hates that my sister had a child at nineteen, yet Dylan won’t give her what she wants. She’s working at a bar, earning her own money apparently, but he’s not budging yet. He loves her; he wouldn’t have married her if he didn’t, or at least I think he wouldn’t; I mean, spending that long sleeping together was bound to create feelings, he just doesn’t trust her yet, and her attitude towards his family doesn’t help her case, something my mom has tried telling her, not that she has taken any of her advice.

In my eyes, the woman shouldn’t have lied just to get the man, especially after it came out that she was one of the biggest jersey chasers – a woman wanting the player for status and not love.

My brother was player number nine and he fell for her tricks, now I think he regrets it but wants to try to stick with his vows or at least I think he does, I mean, he is still married to her.

“Nice goal, son,” Dad says as he comes over. “Thanks, Dad,” I reply, grinning as he pats my back and tickles his granddaughter who giggles.

Out of the three of us kids, I look the most like Dad, with black hair and dark blue eyes, whereas my brother has his eyes and dark brown hair, a mixture of Dad’s black hair and Mom's light brown hair.

“How does it feel knowing you’re going back to the finals?” Mom asks as she kisses my cheek.

I smile and reply, “Surreal….” As Ezra hangs his arm over my shoulders and I continue, “We just have to keep this one out of the sin bin, and everything will be all good,” making him snort.

My sister links arms with mom and side-eyes my friend, and I try to hide my smirk.

Since meeting Ezra four years ago, she’s been adamant that he’s a playboy. Every time they’re together, she starts an argument with him without any fault from his end, but I see through her.

“Have you not chopped your hair off yet?” My sister sneers and I lock eyes with Dylan, whose scowl has turned into a smirk, and we both look at my friend.

Ezra smirks at her, running his fingers through his shoulder-length hair just to goad her before he takes my niece from me, who happens to love the man my sister tries her hardest to hate.

Hannah scowls as Kaylah hugs Ezra extra tight, and I chuckle.

She’s in love with him, and I don’t mean my niece. The problem is my sister has kept herself single since that fucker wouldn’t take responsibility, and she’s scared he’ll hurt her, but he won’t.

Don’t get me wrong, he loves sex, he fucks around, but he is in love with my sister. He just doesn’t think he stands a chance.

Dyl and I have a bet on when they’ll finally give in to their feelings, and when that day happens, it will be the day Ezra turns down pussy.

Ezra throws Kaylah up in the air, making her squeal before kissing her cheek and passing her back to me. I squeeze her tight as he walks over to my sister, kisses her on the cheek, and whispers, “When you are ready to give in, just say the word, and you’ll be the only one I see.”

I bite my cheek to stop my grin while my parents just look the other way. Dyl, on the other hand, smirks openly.

“Tay, I’ll meet you by the car,” he says. I nod and he walks off, the team all following after high-fiving Kaylah and kissing my sister and mother's cheeks while patting my brother and father's backs, showing love for their captain’s family.

None go near Xanthe, knowing her temperament, making her scowl deepen, and I chuckle under my breath.

If she wants to act like a bitch, then she’ll be treated like one besides she’s already tried it on with Jack and Seth.

“Alright, squirt. I’m off to celebrate with the team,” I say to my niece, who pouts but soon smiles when I remind her, “Don’t forget tomorrow night. It’s you, me, and Elsa.”

She grins wide, and I kiss her cheek before passing her over to my brother just to piss his wife off and he snorts but takes Kaylah willingly, then adds, “Don’t forget me as well. I love myself a little bit of Frozen.”

I pat his back, then say bye to my parents and sister, lightly kissing Xanthe’s cheek just so she doesn’t make my brother's life hell and walk out.

I’m ready to have some wings, a beer, and to get my dick wet completely oblivious that I’m about to lose my balls.

Penelope – Twenty-Two Years Old

My sister smiles at the man who pushed her against the wall in the far back corner of the bar we’re in about thirty minutes ago, not caring that she’s wearing a ‘bride’ sash and that the man is not her future husband.

My sister, my sweet, caring sister, is only two years younger than me and yet is about to be married, though you wouldn’t think it right now as she looks at the tall man before her like he’s a piece of meat she wants to conquer.

Her dark red hair, like mine and our mother's, is straightened down her back, unlike mine, which is curly and half up in a twist. Her blue eyes, like our father’s, shine with lust before the guy leans down and presses his lips against hers, and of course, she kisses him back.

Ah, crap ...

I clear my throat and look around the club, making sure no one can see the darkened corner they are in, knowing full well she’s about to lose her virginity that our parents have ensured she’s kept intact just so her husband-to-be won’t get it.

Now, normally, I’m the one who rebels; I mean, I haven’t lost my virginity yet, but I’ve done everything opposite to what my parents want for me, including making sure they don’t try and use money against me.

I’ve been working as a waitress in the local café down Main since I was sixteen, starting as a pot washer and then working my way up while working my ass off at public school, something I pushed for, again so they couldn’t use it against me, unlike my sister who has had the best of the best education.

Whereas my parents paid for her to attend law school—something she didn’t want to do but agreed to go anyway—I got a full scholarship to college and just finished my undergraduate nursing degree. Next week, I’ll be starting at Havens Medical Centre children’s department in Brooklyn as a registered nurse.

My parents wanted me to follow in their footsteps, just like my sister has within the law firm they own, representing murderers and rapists, while I want to help people.

I notice the guy pull back from my sister before he drags her out the fire exit door. She grins, willingly following him without a care, and I sigh.

We’re here to celebrate, and I use that word loosely, her soon-to-be nuptials. Heck, even Harry’s cousin is here, for Christ’s sake, though she looks to be busy making out with some blonde girl on the dance floor, so hopefully, she won’t notice the bride is gone.

I swallow hard and turn but nearly bump into a couple dancing very erotically and wince before quickly going around them, my eyes catching the guy the girl is grinding on.

My pulse races as I take in his black hair, long on top and short on the back and sides, and the way his large muscular body moves, his tattoos over his bare arms looking extremely hot, is making me itch to grab him from her.

What the hell?

Shaking my head, I move around the couple, berating myself for being attracted to a man who is clearly very taken.

I can feel my heart pound, and jealousy fills me like no other, which is ridiculous.

I shake my head again. I have always stayed away from men; I mean, I’ve kissed and fooled around but never got that physical reaction from them, so I tried to kiss a girl once when I was seventeen, wondering if that was my problem, but it just felt wrong.

That man is the first to make me feel anything and I don’t know how to take it.

For as long as I can remember, my strict parents have ingrained in my sister and me that we will be married to a man of their choosing and my sister instead of saying ‘go to hell’ she’s basically rolled over and agreed.

Harry Calvins was chosen by my parents for my sister. He’s thirty-five, a woman beater and head of the Branches Law Firm, and the marriage is supposed to bring both firms together, whereas, for me, they want me to marry their best friend’s son Zayne who is the biggest walking STD, which my parents are aware of, but they don’t care. As far as my parents are concerned, Zane’s family paid a lot into the firm and I’m collateral.

The man is a perv, and it’s never going to happen as far as I’m concerned.

I have always gone against everything my parents wanted of me, including wearing posh fancy dresses and doing ballet. They’ve tried to micromanage my life and that of my sister’s growing up, and at first, I was all for it, wanting to keep my parents happy. However, when I took up street dancing, they demanded I quit and actually took everything out of my room except my bed until I listened. In their minds, they bought it so they could take it away, but the final straw was overhearing my dad on the phone. I saw a different light and realized I didn’t want to be what they were, and I rebelled whereas my sister, despite going off with some tall man, has agreed to everything because she has had everything handed to her on a silver platter.

She has no dreams of her own and relies heavily on my parent’s money.

I get to the bar and try to flag down the bartender, needing a drink. My sister is gone and most likely for the night, so I need to drink; I need to get drunk and pretend that she’s gone home early and be the rebellious daughter everyone knows me to be and hopefully make enough of a scene that I’ll be the talk of the party instead of the missing bride.

She knows if Harry finds out about this, he’ll hurt her; it is widely known he’s a woman beater.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asks.

“Double vodka and coke, please.”

He nods and quickly takes my order before placing it in front of me. I grab my small purse to pay, but a large, tattooed arm leans over, and a deep voice says, “Put it on my tab, Tom.”

The bartender, Tom, nods, and I blink in shock. Leaving the drink on the bar, I turn only to meet a chest, a very large chest covered with a black shirt showcasing muscles.

I swallow hard as I slowly look up before meeting the darkest blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and my mouth goes dry.

It’s the guy who I nearly bumped into.

He smirks, a dimple popping out on his right cheek, and I clear my throat and say, “I, uh, thank you for my drink.”

He nods before tilting his head, then demands, “Dance with me,” my eyes widen in shock, my mouth parting.

I look around him and notice the blonde glaring my way. I wince before looking back at the hot guy and mention, “I don’t think your date will be happy with that.”

He grins and, oh my god…

“She’s not my date, just a girl who threw herself at me. It’s good to know you’ve been watching me, though,” he replies, his eyes taking in my short black dress, which shows more cleavage than I am happy with. My sister begged me to wear it just so she could wear the same one but in white, which is kind of funny considering she won’t be pure after tonight.

My eyes widen, and I stutter, “I uh, no, I just,” I clear my throat, “I nearly bumped into you both on my way to the bar.”

His intense eyes come back to mine, then repeats, “Dance with me,” as he takes a step closer, his body pressing against mine, and yes, my libido pours out of me for the first time, his body heat making my mind scramble.

I lick my bottom lip, his eyes following the motion before I slowly nod, wondering if I’ve lost my fricking mind.

This man is a Greek god and so out of my league.

He grins and takes me by my hips before moving backward into the crowd, not caring if he bumps into anyone, his eyes only on me. I can feel that blonde-haired girl’s eyes on us, but I try to ignore them and focus on the man before me.

His eyes pierce into me as he drags my body into his, without my permission, my arms lift and go around his shoulders as he grips my hips. Our bodies move together, and not once does he break eye contact. The electricity is sizzling between us, and I don’t know how, but I know this man will overcome me.

He’s going to become my everything…

Song after song, he continues to keep me with him, and it doesn’t matter if it's fast or slow; our rhythm doesn’t change.

I can feel my breathing pick up, my chest sweating as he brings his hand up and cups my cheek, my eyes race between his before his mouth hits mine, and everything around us disappears. My only focus is the feeling of his soft lips against mine, and I can’t help my reaction as I lean against him, giving him my weight as he licks the seam of my lips.

I open before his tongue enters my mouth, tangling with mine, and my whole body lights up like fireworks.

His hand grips tighter on my cheek while he brings his other arm around my waist, holding me close as he deepens the kiss and oh, wow , what an amazing kiss it is.

I don’t know how long we kiss, but breathing becomes difficult before he pulls back and places his forehead against mine.

I breathe heavily, keeping hold of him as we make eye contact.

He licks his swollen lips and rasps, “Come home with me.”

My breathing halts as my eyes race between his. Can I do that? Can I go home with a complete stranger, not knowing his name, and give him something I’ve held onto as a screw you to my parents because staying pure and not doing as they ask by marrying a perv angers them.

“Please, beautiful, I don’t want this night to end,” he whispers and gently kisses my lips, and again, everything fades, I realize then, damn, I’m really going to do this.