Page 6 of Home for the Hockey-Days (Cedar Rapids Raccoons)

CHAPTER 6

Rowan

T here are few people in the world that I’ve met and thought, “I want you to bend me over the nearest piece of furniture and fuck me senseless.”

To date, August Kade might be the first and only.

Strike that ‘might be.’

Fuck, he’s handsome as hell.

I thought he felt the zing of attraction too. That jolt of electricity that strikes in your veins and drives you to act without forethought. The crackle of your body dictating a deep and feral need to be with someone, sometimes before you even know much about them.

When he walked into the party, I thought all my Christmasses had come at the same time. This party is a bust. Not only am I surrounded by hockey players, but they’re all staring at me like I’m the enemy.

I might be imagining that. Perhaps. Maybe. But that’s what it feels like.

I can’t hook up with any of them either. Not only because I don’t want any of them, but my ex put a sour taste for athletes in my mouth. All he ever wanted me for was my brain, my intelligence, and to help him get good grades.

When he asked me to write a whole paper for him, I did, because I thought we were in love and that’s what people in love do for each other, right?

Except he didn’t love me. He loved that I could help him pass.

Bastard.

The shame of being taken for a fool drags its nails through my skin with ease.

I swore off hockey players, athletes of all kinds, until August.

When I crashed into him, literally, my heart stopped dead.

When he got out of the car, and I saw him, it felt more like he crashed into me .

I thought we had a moment. Granted, he was kinda pissed at me for destroying his beloved vehicle, but I thought the lightning strike of carnal attraction had hit both of us. I thought he wanted to rip my clothes off and give me a good pounding as much as I wanted him to.

He surveys the room, filling out his tux in a way that should be illegal. Broad shoulders, thick neck, bulging biceps… fuck. My panties are damp just from staring.

When his eyes graze over me from the doorway, I start to lift my hand to wave but stop when his rakish stare keeps moving.

What the fuck?

Maybe he doesn’t recognize me in my fancy dress. I wouldn’t blame him. My transformation from swamp witch to Christmas ball babe was impressive as fuck, even if I do say so myself.

But when his hard stare glides over me a second time, I know it’s not an accident, because it fucking lingers on me.

He’s ignoring me ?

What the hell?

I’m half tempted to walk right up to him, grab him by his shirt and kiss him senseless right here in front of everyone.

Does he not think I’m attractive?

I thought… I dunno, I thought I saw fire in his eyes when he looked at me.

Is he embarrassed by me?

He could at least have the decency to say hi, right?

As he stays on the edges of the room, a chill spreads through my bones as I realize the parallels between him and my ex.

Johnny only wanted me for one thing, my brain.

And the more I stare at the side of August’s unfairly beautiful face, I can’t help but wonder.

Is he just like my last boyfriend?

Does he only want me because I can help him get a passing grade?

I refuse to be used again. I refuse to be kept as someone’s dirty little secret. And I refuse to let August fucking Kade behave like he’s never seen me before.

Game on, hot shot.