Page 45 of Lucky Shot (Moonshot Hockey #1)

Ruby’s expression is dazed and her tone hard to read as she says, “They’ve increased the print run, and two bookstores have asked to do a special edition.”

“I don’t know what any of that means, but I’m guessing that’s a good thing?” I seriously can’t tell by the shocked look on her face.

Slowly it morphs into a huge smile. “Better than I could have imagined.”

“I told you they’d love the book.” I’ve seen how hard she’s worked this summer, and I know how good the book is – at least what she let me read.

I binge-read damn near the whole thing in one sitting.

Would have finished it too if the rest had been ready.

She left me on a cliffhanger. It feels sort of fitting.

Not knowing the ending until after ours.

Poetic even. Or maybe that’s my current sappy mood coming through.

“They want to add a tour, possibly including international stops.” She’s still smiling but looks genuinely baffled by it all.

“That’s fantastic, Red. You deserve it.”

“I think I’m in shock.”

I watch as the excitement finally hits her full force. “I can’t believe it. I’ll be traveling nonstop. I’ll have to make sure none of it interferes with Olivia’s due date. I can’t miss that. And my grandma’s seventy-fifth birthday is coming up and we’re throwing a big party for her.”

She prattles on as if she’s thinking through her schedule for the next six months and reimagining it.

“I’ve never been to Italy though. That would be fun. Pasta and wine and…” She stops and shakes her head. “I’m sorry. This is all stuff I can figure out later.”

“No, Red. It’s great news. I’m really happy for you.” And I am, but it hits me again how big of an ask it is to suggest she stay. Maybe after she’s done all these incredible things, she’ll come back. But it needs to be on her terms. I’m not going to be the guy to hold her back.

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Sure, you could have, but I’m happy I got to be a part of it.”

“What were you going to say before?”

“More sappy musings about not wanting you to go.”

“About that…” She lifts one shoulder and grins. “I was thinking about what Travis said.”

“Which thing? Because he talks a lot.”

She lets out a quiet chuckle. There’s a pause before she continues, and my heart is hammering in my chest.

“Maybe I could come back next summer or even visit some weekend and catch a hockey game.”

“I’d love that.”

“Really?” She seems surprised by my answer.

“Hell yeah.”

“And you have an open invitation to Arizona too. It’s gorgeous in the fall and winter. You could meet my family. They’ll love you. My sister refers to you as the ‘hot hockey player’ though, be forewarned.” She talks fast and animated.

“I’m sure I’ll love them too,” I say, and what I mean is I’ll love them because I love you. Is saying the words before she leaves cruel or romantic? I can’t decide.

“Let’s make a plan right now.” Her eyes flash with that determined optimism I recognize from the day she showed up at the rink to ask me to help her. “That way we’ll know we’re going to see each other again.”

“All right.” I like this game. “We have several home game weekends in October and November, but the first long break I’ll have is December.”

A little of that optimism drains from her expression. “December?”

It’s a kick to the gut to admit it’ll be that long. “Yeah, and I’ll have Aidan so I probably can’t come to you.”

“I don’t mind coming back here.”

“It’ll be cold,” I warn her with a grin, but the logistics of it all is making my gut swirl with unease. “Real cold.”

“Then you better make it worth my while.” She closes the distance between us and tips her head back, an open invitation to kiss her, which I do.

“December, then?”

“December,” I agree. Four months away. But I’d wait longer, if it meant holding on to her.

“If for some reason you change your mind and this doesn’t work, this was the best summer of my life.”

“Yeah, me too.” I brush her hair back from one side of her face and kiss her again. It’s smart to leave an out for either of us, but I can’t help but wonder if she’s the one that needs it.

Who knows what she’ll want once she gets back home. She has her entire family there and this incredible opportunity at work. I’m not going to put it all on her shoulders because I can’t go anywhere. That isn’t fair to her. It reinforces to me how selfish it would be of me to ask her to stay.

She nods and we fall quiet, perhaps both realizing this isn’t likely going to work no matter how much we want it to. After a few seconds of silently staring at each other, she asks, “What should we do now?”

I take a breath, releasing thoughts of the future for later. I want to be here with her. For as long as I have her.

“For starters, take off this fucking jersey.” I fist the material in one hand.

With a playful smirk, she lays a hand on my chest and pushes me back. It catches me off guard and I fall back onto the chair. My grip on her jersey loosens and she steps back a foot, then two more.

There’s a glint in her eye that tells me she’s up to something, but before I can ask, she lowers herself to the floor on her hands and knees.

Fuck me.

Slow and deliberate, she crawls to me. My dick presses against my zipper, eager as he’s ever been. When she reaches me, she sits back between my spread legs. “Now what?”

I grip her chin between my thumb and finger. “Take my cock out and wrap that gorgeous mouth around it.”

She doesn’t waste any time obeying me. I’m already leaking for her. When her tongue flicks across the head, I guide her down over my length.

“Eyes on me, baby.”

Her gaze flicks to mine and holds as she sucks me. Up and down, torturing me in the best fucking way. Trav’s number on the side of her arm catches my attention and I let out a low growl, then gently pull her off me. I lift her onto my lap and then pull his jersey over her head.

“I didn’t even have to beg,” she says, looking all too pleased with herself.

“You’ll beg, all right.” I take the jersey and tie her wrists, one at a time, so she’s effectively bound with it. Ruby’s face flushes and pupils widen.

Standing with her in my arms, I walk her over to the bed and lie her down on the mattress. I move her suitcase onto the floor and then strip. She shifts onto one elbow and stares intently as I take my time removing my shoes, socks, shirt, pants, and finally boxers.

“So many inside thoughts,” she says, gaze locked on my dick.

“What’d I tell you about those?” I pull off her shoes, then her shorts and panties.

“Sometimes I can’t believe you’re real.”

“I’m real and I’m about to fuck you so hard you can’t look at this jersey without thinking about me.” I move onto the bed over her.

She falls back, grinning up at me. I raise her arms over her head.

The movement has her tits straining and spilling over the top of her black bra.

I hook one finger in the lacy material and pull until one nipple peeks out the top.

I cover it with my mouth, nipping and sucking. I do the same on the other side.

I had plans to drag this out all night, but the sweet little moans coming from her tell me she’s already as needy for me as I am for her.

I peel her out of her bra and toss it with the rest of our clothes.

“Nick,” she says my name on a ragged breath as I trail kisses over her chest and stomach, then lower.

“Hmm?” I hook one arm around her right leg and push her legs farther apart.

“Please fuck me.”

My dick twitches in response, but instead, I flatten my tongue over her center. She gasps and her body jolts, then she pushes her pussy against me for more friction. I keep going until she’s grinding all over my face. When I pull back, she mewls in frustration.

“Please?”

“I don’t think you’re ready yet,” I tease.

Her expression is predictably annoyed. “I’m so ready I could come just looking at you.”

“Now there’s an interesting challenge.”

She gives me another haughty, exasperated glare.

“But not tonight.” I crawl back over her, inadvertently the head of my cock nudges her entrance and we both still.

Her expression pleads even before she does. “I’m begging you, Nick.”

I push into her tight pussy, just the tip. Holding back is probably torturing me more than her. I keep it up, giving her just enough to have her climbing toward an orgasm but not enough to get there.

“Nicholas Galaxy!” She screams my name more like a threat than a beg, but it gets my attention.

“There you go, Red.” I drive into her.

“Really? Your name was the magic word?” She starts to laugh but when I push fully inside her, the sound is lost to a whimper.

“Needed to make sure you knew which hockey player you were fucking.”

I find her mouth and communicate all the things I want to say but don’t through kisses that feel soul deep. She keeps begging. “More.” “Harder.” And again, “Nicholas Galaxy.”

I never want to stop. My heart is in my throat and my pulse pounds in my ears. We come together in a scream of words and moans that make little sense.

She clings on to me as we catch our breath. I bury my head in the nape of her neck and I breathe her in, promising myself I’ll remember all of it.

By the time we pull apart, I’m wrung out physically and emotionally. And judging by Ruby’s heavy lids, I’d say she is too.

I get up and go to the bathroom, then come back with a washcloth to clean her up.

When I’m done, I untie her hands and throw Trav’s jersey in the direction of her suitcase.

I probably just guaranteed she’ll wear it again, if only to get a reaction.

That’s fine. I’d gladly fuck her wearing every single one of my teammates’ jerseys to get the message across. She belongs with me.

I leave her once more, this time to grab something I left in the kitchen. When I reenter the room, she’s sitting up. Her cheeks are flushed and lips puffy. I toss it into her lap, and she holds up the jersey I brought with me in front of her. Mine.

“Maybe next time I should tie you up.” She tries for a smirk but the sadness in her expression doesn’t quite allow for it.

If there’s a next time, she can have whatever she wants.