Page 54

PUCKING VALENTINES

RILEY

The prospect of celebrating Valentine’s Day without Shawn is too sad to contemplate. Hayes and Jacob have been amazing at liberally dolling out foot massages, takeout nights, and the kind of mind-blowing sex I used to think only existed in romance novels. But no matter how much they spoil me, there’s still this little Shawn-shaped void in my chest, like I’ve baked a cake without the sugar.

So here I am, cross-legged on the couch with a blank notebook in my lap, determined to plan the perfect surprise. “Okay, Riley. Think,” I mutter under my breath. “What’s Shawn’s favorite thing in the world?”

“Your pussy,” Jacob says, earning him a glare from me and a snort laugh from Hayes. He’s probably not wrong, but it’s not something I’m prepared to write on a romantic list. He disappears into the kitchen, and I stare at the blank page, feeling like Cupid’s boring, heartless older sister.

“Burgers,” Hayes says without looking up from his phone, his voice calm and confident. He’s sprawled in the recliner like a man who has all the time in the world and not a single worry on his mind while I’m over here spiraling. He’s still wearing his navy slacks and a white button-up, open at the throat, looking all kinds of delicious and distracting. It’s taken me a while to get used to dating professional working men and resisting them in their business attire is like trying to eat just one potato chip—impossible.

“Burgers aren’t romantic,” I argue, tapping the end of my pen against the notebook.

“Burgers are delicious. That’s all that counts.” Jacob calls out from the kitchen, his voice muffled by the clatter of the fridge closing.

I roll my eyes. “You brought me flowers last week, Jacob. You’re not exactly the poster boy for anti-romance.”

He reappears with a can of soda in hand. His shirt is completely unbuttoned, revealing his swirling tattoos and the impressive musculature of his chest that he’s managed to maintain despite not attending practice daily anymore. Watching him tackle press ups, pull ups and sit-ups like a Navy SEAL from the comfort of the sofa with snacks is my new favorite pastime, especially when he does it shirtless. I drool a little at the memory.

“They were wildflowers. There’s a big difference.”

Hayes smirks. “She’s got a point. Those flowers were borderline sappy. Almost Shawn-level.”

Jacob glares at him. “Says the guy who bought her lavender candles like we’re living in a fucking spa.”

Hayes shrugs. “Lavender’s relaxing. It’s called being thoughtful, Jacob.”

“Okay, stop,” I cut in before their bickering descends into violence. “Burgers are great, but we need more. Something fun, something memorable.”

“Cake,” Hayes says, finally looking up from his phone. “Red velvet cake. It’s Shawn’s favorite.”

“That’s a good start,” I say, jotting it down. How did I not think of cake first? Maybe it’s because I bake so much that it’s the last thing I want to do when I’m not making an episode for my hockey-baking channel.

Jacob frowns. “We’re not just showing up with a cake and calling it a day, right? Even I can see that wouldn’t really hit the right note.”

“Of course not,” I reply. “We’re showing up with a cake decorated with our faces in frosting hearts.”

Jacob stares at me like I’ve grown a second head. “Our faces?”

“It’ll be adorable,” I insist, sketching a rough design in my notebook. “Each of you in your own little frosting heart. Trust me, he’ll love it.”

“It’ll be horrifying,” Jacob mutters, shaking his head.

“It’s genius,” Hayes counters, grinning. “Shawn’s going to eat that shit up. Can you give him finger guns?”

“Maybe,” I snicker.

Jacob sighs, his lips quirking into a reluctant smile. “Fine. But if I see my face on that cake, I’m not eating it.”

“Noted.” I grin as I flip to a fresh page in my notebook. “Okay, we’ve got burgers, cake, and a surprise visit. Anything else?”

“Your pussy wrapped in something pretty.” Jacob eyes me suggestively as he flops onto the sofa.

“Something pretty,” I repeat, writing lingerie on the notepad and encircling it with a heart.

“We should bring something personal,” Hayes suggests, leaning forward. “Like a little memento or inside joke. Or a surprise. I dunno. Maybe something to remind him of home.”

“Like what?” Jacob asks, crossing his arms.

Hayes shrugs. “You’ll think of something.”

“I’ll bake the cake tonight,” I say, my excitement building. “And we’ll hit the road first thing tomorrow. It’s a three-hour drive, so we’ll need to leave early.”

“Three hours there, three hours back,” Jacob grumbles, flopping onto the couch beside me. “Hayes can handle gas money.”

Hayes laughs, standing and stretching all the man perfection that sends my mind spiraling into the gutter. “No problem. I’ll handle the burgers and gas. Riley’s got the cake and her pretty pussy. And Jacob?” He raises an eyebrow. “You handle your attitude.”

Jacob flips him off, but he’s grinning. “I’ll handle the surprise.”

***

The kitchen smells like butter and sugar, a warm, inviting scent that instantly calms me. The stand mixer hums softly as I fold the red food coloring into the batter, watching it swirl into a deep, velvety crimson.

“Why is the cake red?” Jacob asks, leaning against the counter with a skeptical look.

“It’s red velvet, ” I explain, rolling my eyes. “It’s supposed to be red, and red is romantic.”

“Looks like blood,” he mutters, sticking a finger into the batter.

“Hey!” I swat his hand away. “That’s unsanitary.”

“Relax, Riles. I’m clean.”

“Debatable,” Hayes says as he wanders into the kitchen, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the cake. “Smells good. You need help?”

“Nope. I’ve got this.” I take the bowl from the stand and pour the batter into pans. “But you can help me with the frosting later.”

“I can?” Hayes asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, because Jacob’s banned from the kitchen.” I glare at him. “He already tried to eat half the batter.”

Jacob smirks. “What can I say? It’s good batter. Not as good as mine, but…” He stares down at his junk suggestively.

Hayes chuckles, grabbing a stool and sitting down to watch me work. “You’re really putting your heart into this, huh?”

I pause, my hands hovering over the bowl of frosting. “Of course I am. It’s Shawn. He deserves something special.”

Jacob sobers, his teasing expression softening. “He’s going to love it, Riles. Seriously.”

“Thanks,” I say, smiling. “That’ll take thirty minutes.”

“Just enough time to--” he tips his head back, looking at me with lowered lids, and when he bites his bottom lip, my panties practically melt from my body.

“If you can make me come before the timer goes off, I’ll finish you off by licking frosting from your dick.”

“Fuck,” is Jacob’s breathy reply, and he’s on his knees in front of me, lifting my skirt and pushing my panties aside before I can set the timer.

Hayes laughs, but the humor quickly dies as I rest a foot on Jacob’s shoulder, spreading myself open. He crosses the kitchen, lifting my shirt and tugging down my bra, freeing my breasts and pushing them together before he buries his face in the soft flesh. “Jesus, Riley,” he groans, tonging my nipple as Jacob sucks gently on my clit. I grip the counter, needing support, as my knees turn to jelly.

My men are nothing if not competitive, and they tackle the challenge I set with so much gusto that I barely make it three minutes before my pussy clamps down on Jacob’s fingers and my back arches, mashing my breasts into Hayes’ face.

As I come down from an orgasm that felt as fast and intense as a slapshot, Jacob rises to his feet, unzipping his fly. I’m a panting, disheveled mess, but I drop to my knees, ready to serve my men.

“This is definitely unsanitary,” Hayes says, following his brother’s lead.

Jacob reaches for the frosting bowl. “You’ll need to make a fresh batch of this,” he grins, scooping some out with his fingers and smoothing it around the tip of his huge dick. “Hands behind your back,” he orders as I reach to wrap my hand around his length.

If I hadn’t just come, I would have gotten close just from the roughness of his words. I clasp my hands behind my back and lean forward to lick the tip of Jacob’s dick. Hayes wastes no time, spreading frosting along his thick length.

This definitely isn’t a calorie-burning sex session, but I lap up the sweetness, relishing the way they shiver. Jacob reaches for the counter to stabilize himself as I gently suck his dick, moving slowly to take him deeper. “Jesus, Riley.”

He cants his hips, hitting the back of my throat and making my eyes water, but I moan loudly at the hint of dominance and the way his bare chest undulates with his motions. If my mouth wasn’t watering, I’d be dribbling just from the sight of him. I enter a zone where my body takes over, and my mind glitches at the sheer horniness of what we’re doing. In all of my wildest fantasies, I never imagined the amazing sexy times I find myself indulging in with these men. I never imagined I’d go from virgin to sultry sex goddess practically overnight. Their encouragement has been like an awakening.

When Jacob releases, triggering my swallow reflex, his whole body goes taut and his legs tremble. “Ah, fuck,” he groans, the sound of his pleasure making me squeeze my legs together.

He stares down at me along the bridge of his strong nose, a filthy smile quirking one corner of his mouth. “Suck my brother, Riley.”

I let his dick go with a pop of my lips as Hayes steps into position. Using the tip of my tongue, I lick away little blobs of the frosting, teasing him until his hand is in my hair, gripping but not forcing. The groan he makes when I take him deep is pained, but his eyelids droop with lust, and his cock swells in my mouth.

He grips his shirt and tugs it up, his deliciously undulating abs suddenly in my line of sight. I want to touch him, to trail my tongue around his indented navel and run my nose over his smooth skin, but in this position, all I can do is look my fill.

“Fuck, you take his cock so good,” Jacob hisses. He’s tucked his dick back in his boxers even though it’s probably still sticky. I think we’ll all need a shower once we’re done.

“She knows exactly what to do to—”

Hayes never finishes his sentence. Instead, he groans long and low as he fills my mouth, proving his point. I do know precisely how to please these men, as they know how to please me. We’re perfect together, even though our relationship setup is far from ordinary.

The cake buzzer sounds as I climb to my feet on achy knees.

I have just enough time to dash to the bathroom to wash my hands thoroughly and get the cakes on cooling racks before my Valentine’s surprise for Shawn is ruined. I guess women really are the best at multitasking, after all!

I make more frosting, and as I decorate the cake, Jacob and Hayes stay with me, cracking jokes and taste-testing frosting until the late hours of the night. By the time the cake is finished, my fingers are sticky, my back is sore, and my heart feels fuller than it ever has before. Only one more sleep, and we’ll be together again, the way it’s meant to be.

***

The drive is equal parts chaos and comedy.

Jacob insists on being the DJ, which leads to a heated argument over whether or not Creed deserves a place on the playlist. Hayes tries to mediate, but his suggestion to play country music only makes things worse.

“Okay, new rule,” I announce from the backseat. “No Creed, no country, and no more arguing.”

“Fine,” Jacob grumbles, flipping to the next song.

Hayes glances at me in the rearview mirror, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “You’re a natural diplomat, Riles.”

“Someone has to be,” I reply, smirking. Sometimes, having three boyfriends feels a lot like corralling a herd.

As we near the city, my excitement grows. I can’t wait to see Shawn’s face when we show up with his favorite cake and burgers. And whatever Jacob’s secret surprise is.

He’s going to love it. I just hope he knows how much we’ve missed him.

We hit a drive-thru just before the hotel, the smell of burgers and fries wafting into the car as Hayes pulls into the pickup lane.

“You don’t need fries for the road,” Jacob argues as Hayes places the order. “We’re eating the burgers with Shawn.”

“I do need fries,” Hayes counters, pulling out his wallet.

“You’re not an athlete anymore, dude.” Jacob retorts. “You need to watch your weight. Riley won’t appreciate a dad bod.”

“Need fries,” Hayes insists, turning to look at me. “Back me up here, Riles.”

“Fries are non-negotiable,” I say, leaning forward between the seats. “And I’m not an athlete either.”

Jacob groans. “We’re going to end up with greasy fingers and a mess all over Hayes’s car.”

“I have napkins,” Hayes says smugly, accepting the bag of food from the drive-thru worker and handing it to me to inspect.

“You just got outvoted, Jacob,” I say, waving a fry in front of his face before popping it into my mouth.

“Fine, but I’m not cleaning up the crumbs.”

“Noted.” Hayes is already digging into the fries as he pulls back onto the road. Laughter bursts out of me when Jacob grabs a handful and stuffs them into his mouth, all his arguing about the necessity of fries for the road forgotten.

As we near the hotel, the skyline lights up, a glittering reminder of the bustling city. My excitement builds, a fluttery mix of nerves and anticipation. I can’t wait to see Shawn’s reaction to our surprise arrival. I can’t wait to hold him in my arms and see his cocky smile again.

The hotel is far nicer than I expected. It’s one of those towering places with valet parking and a chandelier visible through the glass doors. Hayes whistles low as he pulls up to the entrance.

“Fancy,” Jacob says, raising an eyebrow.

Hayes shrugs, grabbing the bag with Shawn’s favorite cake. “He’s in the NHL now. Guess it comes with perks.”

I slide out of the car, smoothing my sweater and jeans as I take in the building. The lobby's marble floors and high ceilings make me feel a little out of place, but Hayes and Jacob stride in like they’re right at home.

We avoid the reception desk and head straight to the elevator. Jacob clutches the cake box, scanning the place like he’s sizing up the security detail.

I clutch the bag of burgers and fries, my nerves kicking up a notch.

“Okay,” Hayes says, his voice calm but firm as he presses the button for Shawn’s floor. “Everyone ready?”

Jacob smirks. “For what? Hand-delivering fast food and cake to Shawn’s palace? Nah. I need a few more minutes to psych myself up.”

“Don’t forget the surprise factor,” I add. “He has no idea we’re coming.”

Hayes smiles, his hand brushing mine as we step into the elevator. “Let’s make it a good one, then.”

The doors close, and the anticipation tightens in my chest. Whatever happens next, it’s going to be memorable. I can’t wait to be reunited with the missing part of my heart.