Page 14

Chapter 14

Ginny

“ D o you think the plan will work? It seems kind of crazy and there’s a ton of moving pieces to put into place.” I pick up a chip, dunking it in the queso dip. I can’t help the moan that escapes my mouth once the delicious taste of spicy goodness hits my tongue.

“Without a doubt. We’ll have to do some work to make sure everything is set. But that’s the easy part. It’s going to be getting them both there that will be hard, but I already have an idea for that, too. I just need to talk to Henley and get him in on this,” Carter says excitedly as he rubs his hands together in a diabolical fashion, reminiscent of Dr. Evil.

He’s the perfect male specimen with his sparkling green eyes and just a hint of a yellow fleck in his right one. His hair falls around his face, having grown out some since the holiday break when we first met. It still escapes me how I thought he and Chase were the same person that morning. It’s so clear to me now how very different they are, even though they’re a carbon copy of the other.

“Are you sure no one will be around for the whole weekend?” This plan of ours goes to shit if someone shows up and lets them out before they can work through their issues. I need them to fix whatever is wrong with them. One relationship out of this has to survive. It’s the only thing that keeps me from truly drowning in misery.

“Yep. No one will be in the building. I even confirmed with the administration. All it took was a wink and smile and Mrs. Strong was putty in my hands. She didn’t even question why I was asking.” He gives me a smile that has my panties melting and a wink that has my core aching.

“Such a ladies’ man,” I tease him, reaching out, giving his shoulder a gentle shove as I laugh. He covers my hand with his before I can pull away, squeezing it, then scoots over on the couch closer to me and my breath hitches as I bite my lip. Everything in me yearns to have his hands all over my body, exploring every inch of my skin as he edges me closer and closer to orgasm.

“Nah, I only have my eye on one woman.” He gives my hand another squeeze before letting go, and I’m finally able to pull away, instantly missing the feel and warmth of his body.

Shit, there he goes again. If he keeps that up, all my control is going to go right out the window.

“Are you sure my dad doesn’t know or suspect anything?” I ask, hoping to change the subject and remind him at the same time why there isn’t ever going to be anything more between the two of us, or the four of us, for that matter. There’s no way I could be with one of them and not all three. It would kill me.

“Nothing. The only problem will be one of them swiping their key card to get out, which I’ve found a solution for. It’s why I need you to help me get everything ready. Then I’ll make sure to get them both there and lock them in before we need to be out of the building.”

“Anything to help. Chase and Blake belong together. They’re soulmates.”

“Soulmates?” Carter asks, raising his eyebrow. “You believe in that shit. Like that’s really a thing? That there are people who are meant to be together from the moment they are born. Isn’t that like some trope in a paranormal book and not in actual reality?”

“Maybe. I mean, is it so far-fetched that there’s two people out there meant to be together and that no matter what, they can make it happen?” I lean over, pick up another chip and dip it in the queso, avoiding his gaze at all costs.

“Or what about someone having three people? That I can get behind.” He moves even closer, resting his arm along the back of the couch as his fingers lazily drag along my intertwined ones.

“I guess that’s a possibility.” I clear my throat and shift, pressing my thighs together. I need to change the subject— now . “We’re talking about a whole weekend. They’ll need a lot of things: food, blankets, a couple of air mattresses, clothes.”

“One air mattress; let’s not let them be able to separate themselves from each other even more. As for clothes, I was thinking maybe just one change. I mean, if they’re naked, it may help the situation move along quicker. It can remind them what attracted them to each other in the first place.”

I can’t argue with him there. My mind drifts back to being pressed between Blake and Chase as we all make out, edging each other until we can’t take it any longer and one of us ends up begging to be fucked. Typically me.

“Okay, you have a point. So how do we do this without anyone knowing what we’re doing?”

“We don’t have practice on Friday. Do you?” he asks as he picks up his beer and takes a swallow.

“Yes, that morning, but only for an hour. Dad just wants to run through our routine one time.”

“So we’ll do it then. Leave and then come back an hour later. I’ll give Chase some reason why I need the truck and that I have to go alone. We’ll meet back here. I’ll pick up everything. Then once we’re done, I’ll set up step two of the plan, which involves Henley. I’ll let you know when we’re on the way there so you can hide inside. We’ll get them inside the locker room, then shut the door, locking it from the outside.”

“Foolproof plan, but what about their phones?”

“Simple, it's a phone free meeting. All phones will have to be dropped in the basket before entering. I’ll set up one of those nanny cameras so we can keep an eye on them, just in case something drastic happens and we need to get them out.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Drastic like one of them kills the other?” Carter just shakes his head and smiles.

“Well, it looks like we have everything sorted out, so I guess it’s time for me to get out of here.” I lower my feet to the floor and scoot to the edge of the couch. The selfish part of me desperately wants him to stop me, tell me not to go, to stay with him. But I can’t let that sliver of hope bloom. I need to stay firm. Any kind of relationship between us won’t work. They’re on my father’s team and, more importantly, I don’t date hockey players.

He scoots closer, our legs touching now as he brushes a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “Why are you rushing away? I thought since we’re rekindling the spark between Chase and Blake, we could work on doing the same with the two of us.”

“Carter,” I breathe, his name slipping effortlessly across my lips.

The tips of his fingers trail down my jaw until he takes hold of my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Ginny,” he whispers moments before pressing his mouth against mine. I try to pull away, but he only moves with me, deepening the kiss as his free hand cradles my head. “Remember how good we are together,” he mumbles against my lips.

I open to him, any attempt to fight what's happening slipping away. My hand cups his face as our tongues dance seductively, swallowing each other’s moans. But then that evil bitch of reality worms her way back into my mind and I pull away, breaking the connection, each of us left panting heavily.

“Why did you stop? Weren’t you enjoying it? Did you remember how amazing we are together?” His questions fly out, one behind the other.

“We can’t do this.” My words come out colder than I intend.

“Do what? Make out? Restart what should have never ended over the holidays? I want you, Ginny. All three of us want you. Did you know that we were planning to ask you to make us an official thing the next morning? We didn’t want it to end, Ginny. We were ready to do a long distance relationship or whatever it took to be with you.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. If I had stayed and just told my father to fuck off, then we’d be together still. They wouldn’t be fighting to be with me and maybe, just maybe, the rift between Blake and Chase would have never happened. I could’ve stopped it before it got to the point it is now. Slapped some sense into the both of them.

But it would never have worked. Because that would entail us learning more about each other and I would’ve found out where they went to school. That they played hockey. And that my father was their coach. It would've ended before it ever had a chance to begin.

“We can’t, Carter. It doesn’t matter how much I’d love for there to be an us, to see the four of us happen, my father would never allow it. He would never let me date one of his players, much less three.” I let out a heavy sigh, hating the fact that my father gets to dictate so much of my life. Fuck, I’m twenty and he still treats me like I’m a six-year-old.

“Then we hide it from him. We fix the strain between Chase and Blake and then we all repair our relationship. Keep it quiet, and then, when we are sure about us, we tell him. We tell everyone. You’re a grown woman, and if we have to prove to him how much we love you, then we will. But I can tell you one thing for sure, Ginny Lein, I’m never letting you go again. I’ve been miserable since you left, so have the other two numbnuts.”

“Carter—” He places his finger over my lips, shushing me.

“No. Tell me you’ll do it. That you’ll fight for me, for Chase, for Blake. For us.” Tears well in my eyes. He’s telling me everything I want to hear, and he’s right. I’ve been just as miserable as he says they’ve been.

My heart and mind finally agree. “Yes. Let’s do it,” I blurt out around his finger.

“Really?” he asks again and I nod.

“God, Pixie, I can’t tell you how much I’ve longed to hear those words. But right now, I need you.”

“I need you, too,” I tell him as I reach down, taking hold of the bottom of my shirt and pull it over my head, dropping it to the floor beside me.

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure,” I tell him.

“Then let’s go to my room and rekindle the spark between us. Plus, I don’t want Chase to know about this just yet. Not until he and Blake have fixed things between them.” He stands, taking hold of my hand and leads me to his bedroom.

The room is dimly lit, the golden glow of the bedside lamp casting soft shadows across the walls. I stop at the entrance, leaning my body against the doorframe, my lips curling into a teasing smile as Carter moves across the room toward the bed, unaware that I’m not right behind him. He turns to face me, a quiet intensity in his gaze, his eyes roaming over me like a slow caress before he even lays his hands on me.

He slowly pulls his shirt over his head, before taking hold of his jeans and undoing them, gingerly sliding them down his leg, leaving his body on full display for me. His cock springs up, slapping against his muscular stomach, already hard and dripping with precum.

I move across the room toward him, cutting the distance between us as I slip my fingers beneath my leggings and begin to slowly work them down over my hips. Once I’m standing before him, I slip them the rest of the way down my legs, and gracefully pull my feet out of them, kicking the fabric to the side.

His fingers trace lightly along my arms, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver down my spine. I tilt my chin up, anticipation crackling between us like an unspoken promise. Carter brushes a strand of hair from my face, his knuckles grazing against my cheek, before his lips find mine—soft at first, searching, then deeper, hungrier.

I melt into him, my hands slipping around his waist, feeling the firm lines of muscle tense beneath my touch. His breath hitches, and I smile against his lips. “I want you now,” I whisper.

He grips me tightly, spinning us around before tossing us both down on the bed. He extends his hand, bracing his body from slamming down on mine, never once breaking our kiss. His lips trail from my mouth down to the curve of my neck, where he lingers, peppering soft kisses along my skin.

My hands move up his back, trailing along his spine until my fingers tangle in his hair, pulling him closer as heat pools between us, the rest of the world fading away. In that moment, nothing else matters—only the rhythm of our breaths, the pressing of our bodies against each other, and the electric thrill of what's to come.