Page 18 of I Could Be Yours (The Toronto Terror #6)

NATE

T he text conversation keeps rolling over in my head.

It doesn’t matter how many vodka sodas I consume, they don’t dull my awareness of Essie’s proximity and all the things we could do this weekend when no one is looking.

The memory of her hands on me and the taste of her mouth is all I can think about.

How good would it feel to have those pretty, soft lips of hers wrapped around my cock? How much would I love to suck on her clit piercing while I bury my fingers inside her? How much do I want to be the one to make her come?

“Are you a nervous flier?” Flip asks.

“Huh?” I drag my brain out of the gutter and look his way.

He glances at the armrest, which I’m gripping so tightly my knuckles have turned white. “Oh. Yeah. Sort of.”

I stop drinking and try to ignore Essie. I’m zero percent successful.

She spends the entire flight fully focused on making sure everyone is comfortable, being sweet to the flight attendants, and reviewing her unbelievable spreadsheets.

The more I see Essie in action, the harder it is to ignore what’s right in front of me.

Yes, she’s otherworldly gorgeous, but she’s also thoughtful, amazingly organized, and intelligent.

I’m relieved when we finally land and are forced to take separate limos to the same hotel. “You and Essie for sure didn’t plan this?” Tristan asks for the tenth time.

“No, man. This is supposed to be your bachelor party, not a couples’ retreat.” I thought I’d have a three-day reprieve from Essie—not because I don’t want to see her, but because I do.

I had this idea of who she was and what mattered to her, and the more I learn, the more I realize I was wrong about all of it. Except for her obsession with love and weddings. But that makes her an outstanding maid of honor and the main reason I put this much effort into Tristan’s boys’ weekend.

“It’s just wild, right? Who would have thought we’d end up on the same flight and at the same hotel?” Dallas can’t stop grinning.

“I’m not complaining.” Kodiak’s phone is in his hand. He’s probably texting his wife. He spent ninety percent of the flight trying to get her to link pinkies with him across the aisle.

“I’m actually glad we’re in the same city—you know, in case Shilpa has any issues,” Ash adds. Of all the guys, I can’t blame him since his wife, who is also the team lawyer, is pretty damn pregnant.

“I’m with you on that,” Roman agrees, although Lexi isn’t as far along.

I want to remind them this is supposed to be about the boys, but seeing as the uncoupled people are outnumbered three to one, and all their partners are here, it’s pretty much a lost cause.

The girls have just finished checking in when we arrive at the hotel. Most of the guys beeline over to them, while Flip follows me to the front desk.

He glances over his shoulder and drops his voice to a whisper, “I hope you don’t mind, but I got myself a separate room—you know, since it’s Vegas and all.”

“Sure, man, whatever works for you,” I say.

He claps me on the shoulder. “And there might be someone here you want to spend time with.”

I grunt. I spent the entire flight spinning fantasies in which Essie ended up back in my room. Hell, I even thought about joining the mile high club, and I try my best never to use plane bathrooms because they’re disgusting.

By the time we’re done checking in, the girls have disappeared up to their rooms. Ironically, we’re on the same floor, though thankfully at the other end of the hall. According to Tristan, they have a spa afternoon planned, which means they can’t be a distraction.

After everyone has dropped off their stuff, I corral all the guys so we can do some necessary bonding. At the racetrack.

“This is fucking awesome, Nate.” Tristan slings his arm over my shoulder a little while later, grinning from ear to ear.

Pride swells in my chest. Racing cars is way cooler than a spa. “I thought you’d like this. Obviously, you get first dibs on whatever car you want to drive.” I motion to the lineup of sweet rides.

“Tristan’s definitely picking the one with the most balls.” Flip fist-bumps my brother, and they share a chuckle.

Kodiak snaps a bunch of pictures, thumb-types for a few seconds, then tucks his phone back in his pocket.

“Everything good?” Tristan asks.

“Yeah. Everything is awesome. Just checking on Lav. Thanks for the invitation. It’s nice to see you guys somewhere other than the ice when we’re playing against each other.”

“Right? I’m glad you and Lavender could swing it,” Tristan says.

“Me too. Lavender has been super busy with work. I’m thankful this fell between productions. She really needed a break, and this is the perfect getaway for us.”

“She works off Broadway, right?” Tristan told me she’s a costume designer. That tracks since the dress she was wearing on the plane was a real head turner.

“For now, yeah.”

“New York will probably renew your contract when it’s time, right?” Tristan says.

“They might, but our parents are out in Chicago, and with her dad opening a satellite campus for the Hockey Academy in Toronto, we’ve been talking about options. We want to start a family eventually, and we want to be closer to our parents when that happens.”

“You’re still young, though. You’ve got time and a lot of years of hockey left to play,” Hollis assures him.

“I know, but Lavender’s happiness is more important than anything else. She’s my world. Has been since I could say her name.” He smiles fondly. “I’ve loved her my entire life. I want what she wants.”

“Even if that means you end your hockey career prematurely?” I can’t fathom having that kind of faith in someone else’s love.

He nods. “Nothing is as important as she is.”

He means it.

The attendant comes over with the paperwork, and we all pair up and pick our cars. Tristan takes the wheel, and I take my place in the passenger seat since the Ferrari is a top choice for both of us.

“You sure you’re cool with me driving first?” he asks.

“Yeah, absolutely. This is your weekend.”

Tristan and I switch places after a few laps. It’s a real rush driving a car with as much speed as this one. It’s an awesome first pick for the afternoon. Then we break for a few minutes while we wait for the next car to be free. We lean against the rails, watching the cars zip by .

“Thanks for this, Nate. I know the wedding stuff isn’t your favorite, and having the girls at the same hotel isn’t what you expected, but I appreciate you putting this together. I know you’re juggling work to make it happen.”

“I don’t mind. It’s been fun, and I needed to get out of the grind for a bit.” I’ve been putting in long days at the office, and if it wasn’t for my brother and Flip, I’d have no social life. Which is why I was looking forward to this weekend with him and the guys.

“How is the skate prototype coming along, anyway?” he asks.

“Good. Great. The 3D printers make all the difference in getting things right. I think we’ll have something testable in the next few weeks.

” I leave it at that. It’s easy to get overly excited about this and start talking above people’s heads.

The guys in my office understand, but most other people glaze over when I nerd out.

“You know I’m all for helping test them.”

“Yeah, I appreciate it. We should be at that stage soon.” If things go well, we could have a cutting-edge hockey skate in our fall catalog, and I could end up with an awesome bonus.

We’re called up for round two. This time it’s a Lamborghini, and I get behind the wheel first. Car racing is a blast. We trade spots after a while, and then we switch to the final car.

Afterward, we return to the hotel to shower and get ready for dinner.

The guys can’t stop talking about their racetrack exploits.

You’d think they were pro drivers, not hockey players.

They’re like giant twelve-year-olds. I mean, me too, I guess. It was pretty great.

When everyone’s ready, we all head out together. I check my phone and find a new message. The guys are busy either texting their partners or sharing videos they took of the cars they drove.

Essie

Where are you going for dinner?

Nate

Where are you going for dinner?

Essie

I asked first.

A picture of her holding a banana pops up. Her fingernails are a pretty pale pink, and they feature stars in yellow that shoot across her fingers.

Nate

Is this a bribe?

Essie

Is it working?

Nate

No.

It absolutely is. I’m already picturing my cock sliding through her hand, thumb rubbing the crown.

Two more pictures pop up. One is a neck-down shot of Essie standing in front of the bathroom mirror wearing a sparkly, black dress with little pink hearts edging the hem, and a plunging neckline that highlights her cleavage.

The second shows off the back of the dress, which dips low in the back.

There’s no bra. There can’t be. Which means her nipples are just a thin piece of fabric away.

Essie

*eyelash batting GIF*

Are you sure you don’t want to give me a hint?

Nate

So you can torture me for two hours in that dress? Not a chance.

Another picture comes through. This time it’s a close-up of her mouth, and her lips are wrapped around the banana.

Essie

Suit yourself.

“Everything good, man?” Tristan asks.

“Huh?” I click the side button and my screen goes blank.

“Everything cool?” He glances at my phone.

“Oh, yeah, just checking on dinner reservations.”

I booked a table at a steakhouse. And of course, because this seems to be a weekend of six degrees of separation, we’re seated next to the girls.