Page 55

Valentine’s day on the road sucks.

Don’t get me wrong, playing in the NHL is everything I’ve worked for, but nights like this make it hard to enjoy the grind. I’m in a beige-on-beige hotel room with nothing but ESPN highlights for company and the memory of the team dinner lingering like stale coffee. I usually eat like a horse, but tonight, I picked at my food, missing Riley and my brothers and craving one of our simple nights together where we kick back with takeout, watch stupid quiz shows, and slowly get our girl naked.

Everyone else was FaceTiming their girlfriends and wives between bites of steak. I got a few texts from Riley, sweet and teasing, but it’s not the same as having her here. She’s with Jacob and Hayes tonight, and as much as I try not to feel jealous, there’s a sharp pang in my chest anyway.

I lean back in the armchair of my hotel room, scrolling aimlessly through my phone. Social media’s a minefield of hearts, flowers, and couples smiling like they’ve won the lottery of love. It’s not jealousy. I’ve got everything I could ever want waiting for me back home. But being away from them on a day like this? It’s a reminder that I’m missing the little moments. As I scroll, I debate whether to go for a late-night skate when a knock at the door makes me pause. It can’t be room service because I didn’t order anything, and the place is clean enough.

I shuffle to the door, tugging my hoodie tighter against the chill of the air conditioner. When I open it, the last thing I expect to see is Hayes holding two bags of takeout, Jacob balancing a cake box, and Riley—my beautiful Riley—beaming up at me like sunshine.

“What the—” My brain short-circuits as I stare at them. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Happy Valentine’s Day.” Riley steps forward and wraps her arms around my neck before I have a chance to blink.

The smell of her shampoo and her body's warmth envelope me. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more relieved in my life. I clutch her to me like a kid who found his lost teddy bear on the floor at the mall, breathing her in, kissing her forehead, her cheek, her lips. Jesus. This is the best surprise ever.

“We brought you dinner,” Jacob says, pushing past us into the room like he owns the place.

Hayes follows, setting the takeout on the desk with a smirk. “And dessert. You’re welcome.”

My hands stay on Riley’s waist as I try to process what’s happening. “You drove all the way here?”

“Of course,” she says, her smile softening. “You didn’t think we’d let you spend Valentine’s Day alone, did you?”

I glance at Jacob, who’s unpacking the takeout like it’s a mission-critical task, and Hayes, who’s leaning against the desk with his arms crossed, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

“You guys are unreal,” I say, shaking my head.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jacob mutters. “Save the gratitude for after you try the food. It’s not our usual burger place, so...”

“Hence why the fries for the road were so important,” Hayes counters, smirking. “It was a taste test, and they passed.”

Riley laughs, the sound light and sweet, and I can’t help but grin. My mood lifts instantly, the loneliness evaporating like ice under the heat of a power play spotlight.

“So,” Hayes says, straightening up and gesturing to the cake box. “We should probably talk about this.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Talk about what?”

“The cake,” Riley says, easing out of my arms and walking over to the desk. She opens the box with a flourish, revealing a masterpiece covered in frosting hearts.

And in each heart? A tiny printed picture of each of us.

“Are you kidding me?” I say, choking on a laugh.

“Go ahead,” Riley says, grinning. “Admire the artistry.”

I lean in, studying the cake. The pictures she’s chosen are totally representative of us. There’s me with a cocky smirk and finger guns, Jacob with his perpetual grumpy face, Hayes’ even expression, and Riley’s beaming perfection.

“This is insane,” I say, shaking my head. “Who came up with this?”

“Me,” Riley says proudly.

Jacob snorts. “Yeah, she spent hours making it. Be grateful.”

“Oh, I am grateful,” I say, grabbing a fork. “This is the best cake I’ve ever seen.”

“She insisted on taste testing the frosting, over and over and over,” Hayes says, shooting Riley a sultry expression. When she blushes, I get the impression that I missed out on something hot.

“Interesting,” I say. “I think I’m going to need to hear more about that part. I might also require a demonstration.”

“Don’t you want to eat your burger first?” she asks.

“Hell no. I’m all about getting a taste of the sweetness first.” I wiggle my eyebrows, staring at Riley’s thighs suggestively, and she laughs, swatting me on the chest like she doesn’t love it when I’m an incorrigible flirt.

Riley slices a piece of cake for me, and as I take the first bite, I can’t help groaning.

“Good?” she asks, her eyes sparkling.

“Amazing,” I say through a mouthful of cake.

Hayes grabs a fork and digs in, nodding his approval. Jacob avoids the parts with his face on, but doesn’t complain about the taste.

For the first time in weeks, I feel completely at ease.

Once the remains of the cake are safely stowed in the mini-fridge, my eyes linger on the takeout. “You gonna hog that all to yourself,” I say.

Jacob rolls his eyes, but he hands me a burger with a grudging smile. “Happy Valentine’s Day, big shot.”

I take it, grinning like an idiot. We settle onto the couch, the four of us crammed together in the tiny hotel room. Jacob complains about the limited legroom, Hayes critiques the hotel’s “terrible lighting,” and Riley keeps sneaking bites of everyone’s food.

It’s chaos, and it’s perfect.

The room fills with the scent of greasy, cheesy perfection, and I swear it’s the best meal I’ve had all season.

“Did you pick this up on the way?” I ask between bites.

“Of course,” Hayes says. “Only the best for you, superstar.”

“Superstar,” Jacob mutters, rolling his eyes. “His head’s big enough already, dude. Let’s not make it worse.”

“Hey, I earned this big head,” I shoot back, grinning.

Jacob smirks. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t let it weigh you down on the ice.”

I toss a fry at him, and he looks at me with the same disdain that Dad used to shoot my way. The air shifts for a moment, a flicker of something heavier passing between us. But before I can press, Riley clears her throat.

“So,” she says, her voice light. “I’ve been thinking about doing a special Valentine’s episode for my channel.”

“Oh yeah?” I lean back, curious. “What kind of episode?”

She hesitates, her eyes flicking to Jacob and Hayes before landing back on me. “Maybe… a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the perfect Valentine’s Day.”

“And we’re part of this?” Hayes asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Maybe,” she says, grinning. “Would you mind it if I took some photos?”

Jacob groans. “Do you have to? I’ve gotten used to being Shawn Draytons less impressive lookalike. I don’t need the exposure.”

We all laugh, and just like that, the heaviness lifts.

After the food is demolished and the sugar high starts to fade, the room falls quiet. Jacob stretches out on the bed, his arms behind his head, while Hayes lounges in the chair, scrolling through his phone. Riley leans against me on the couch, her head resting on my shoulder.

“You know,” I say, breaking the silence, “this is the best Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had.”

“Really?” Riley asks, tilting her head to look at me.

“Yeah.” I brush a strand of hair out of her face. “Because you’re here. All of you. I didn’t know how much I was going to miss you guys.”

Riley smiles, her cheeks pink.

“Okay, that’s enough mushiness for one night.” Jacob sits up. “Let’s watch something.”

“What do you want to watch?” Hayes asks.

“Something with explosions,” Jacob says. “Or hockey. Or exploding hockey.”

Riley laughs. “You’re impossible.”

“That’s why you love me,” Jacob says with a wink.

Hayes rolls his eyes, but as we settle in for the night, I glance around the room, my heart full. This is my team. My family. And no matter where hockey takes me, I know I’ll always have them.

Riley’s warm in my lap, her arms wrapped around my neck as I kiss her, slow and deep, tasting the sweetness of frosting on her lips as I let the distance and the weight of longing melt away, and we lose ourselves in each other.

“You’re hogging her,” Jacob says, his tone half-serious, half-teasing.

“Damn right, I am.”

But Riley, ever the peacemaker, slides off my lap and stands, holding her hands out to both my brothers. “There’s plenty of me to go around.”

Hayes is the first to take her hand, pulling her close and kissing her with the same steady intensity he brings to everything he does. Jacob moves behind her, his hands on her hips, his lips brushing the curve of her neck.

As they take turns with her, I enjoy the view, heat pooling low in my stomach and thickening my dick. The tension in the room shifts, heavy and charged, and when Riley finally looks back at me, her eyes full of fire, I think I know exactly how this night is going to end.

Then Jacob pulls something from his pocket and hangs it from his fingers, and I get a whole new set of ideas!

JACOB

The pink fluffy handcuffs I slipped into my pocket before we left hang from my finger. Riley’s eyes widen, already imagining my plans for her. They’re exactly the kind of playful indulgence she’d teased me about in passing weeks ago, not knowing I’d take her words to heart.

“Thought these might come in handy,” I say, my voice low and teasing.

“Oh my God,” Riley breathes. “You didn’t.”

“Oh, he did,” Shawn chimes in, straightening with a grin that’s equal parts wicked and amused.

Hayes chuckles, crossing his arms. “Guess it’s too late to run now, Riles.”

She rolls her eyes but doesn’t move away. Instead, her lips curve into a smile that sends heat straight through me.

She bites her lip, her trust in me written all over her face as she holds out her hands. When I shake my head, she frowns, confused.

“First, I think you should cuff Shawn to the bed for his Valentine’s surprise. Then, we can turn our attention to you.”

Her grin is wicked as she swipes the cuffs from me and beckons Shawn with a crooked finger. His expression is a picture of uncertainty that I wish I could capture for future blackmail, but he rises from the couch and makes his way to the bed.

“Do you want him to strip first?” I ask Riley.

“Yes,” she says. “Definitely.”

Shawn tears his shirt over his head, dropping it casually to the carpet. Riley’s chocolate brown eyes turn the color of coal as he pushes his joggers over his hips and steps out of them, leaving him totally naked. The new team’s training regimen has changed his body since we last saw him. His thighs are thicker, and his adonis belt is more developed. He seems to have cut his muscles into sharper relief. Either that, or I’m used to looking at Hayes, who could be softening around the edges with the lack of training.

“Are you going to do terrible, wicked things to me?” Shawn asks, tipping his head to the side as Riley climbs onto the bed.

“That would be telling,” she says, patting the comforter.

My huge triplet lays down and lifts his arms to the headboard as Riley fixes his wrists with the cuffs. They click into place, fastening him securely to the headboard. She ensures they’re snug but not tight, her fingers brushing the skin as she adjusts them.

“You okay?” she asks softly.

“Just don’t let my brothers near me,” Shawn says darkly. “If this is some kind of prank, be aware that I can tear myself free with the right incentive.”

“You’re all mine tonight,” Riley says, tapping Shawn’s tense thigh. “And I’m not sharing.”

“Something we’re immensely grateful for,” I say.

She slides off the bed and opens the mini fridge, searching for the cake she then places next to Shawn on the bed. He stares at her with intrigue tempered by soft awe, and I’m pleased that my surprise is already proving so successful.

“When we were baking the cake,” Riley says, scooping a big dollop of frosting onto her finger. “I smeared frosting all over your brother’s big cocks and licked it off until they came. Would you like me to do the same to you?”

“Fuck, Riley.” Shawn’s dick twitches, the thick length of it tapping his abdomen.

“That wasn’t a yes.” She hovers a frosted finger over the tip and waits.

“Yes.” Shawn’s arms pull taught, his muscles bulging and straining the cuffs. “Fuck yes.”

“Beg.”

I jerk my head, surprised at how well Riley’s embracing the power she’s wielding.

Shawn’s abs draw tight, his belly hollowing as Riley’s finger is drawn away.

“Fuck, Riley. Please.”

Our girl’s soft laughter and Shawn’s desperation are an intoxicating mix, and I rub my palm over the head of my dick, already imagining pushing inside her.

“Seeing as you asked so nicely,” she whispers, smearing the frosting from the root of his dick to the tip as Shawn arches off the bed. Bending, she lets her tongue trail to capture some of the frosting, earning a pained groan from Shawn.

“Feels good, huh?” Hayes asks, already half undressed. I’m not going to get left behind, so I tear off my sweater and unzip my jeans, finding a reel of condoms and tossing them onto the bed.

“We need to buy shares in those,” Hayes laughs as Riley bobs her head, taking Shawn’s dick deep into her throat. Her big, beautiful, juicy ass is in the air, the floaty skirt she wore revealing just a hint of the sexy red lace panties she bought especially for tonight.

I slide my hand up the inside of her warm thighs and brush my fingers over her lace-covered pussy, smiling as she loses rhythm and shudders. “Take off your top, Riley,” I say, sliding my hand up her arched spine.

Shawn groans when she reveals the lacy, red half-cup bra she’s wearing underneath her cute cupcake tee and even more when she gets back to blowing him. Our girl is relentless when it comes to blowjobs, something that pleases us all immensely.

I wrap my dick and get between her legs, flipping up her skirt so I can get a good look at the ass that drives me wild day and night. I slap her cheek lightly, making her squeak around Shawn’s dick. He looks like he’s going to tear the headboard from the wall. His whole body is braced; all tendons, sinew, and coiled muscle.

Hayes gets his palm around one of Riley’s breasts, taunting Shawn by touching what he can’t, and chuckles at his resulting frustration. My fingers find Riley dripping wet and ready, so I notch at her entrance, pushing in just an inch while I grip her hips. She pushes back, but I don’t give her more. If she’s going to tease Shawn, I’m going to have some fun teasing her.

“Fuck me,” she gasps before going back to work.

“Bossy little thing,” I laugh, giving her another inch. She moans and shoves back, but I’m ready and lean away just enough to stop my cock from going deeper.

“Gnnnnnaaaa.”

Hayes laughs at the frustrated noise she makes. “I don’t think that’s a word, Riles.”

I give her another inch, and her legs start to shake. “That’s only three,” I say. “Seven more to go.”

“Fuck,” Shawn groans as he tips his head back, eyes now laser-focused on his bound wrists. When he comes, it’s like a bomb has detonated, and the chain between the cuffs breaks apart, releasing him in a rush. Riley swallows him down like the good girl she is, and I give her the rest of my inches because she deserves it all, over and over.

Deep inside her, the rush is immense, and not for the first time, I’m awed at how right it feels to be on a bed with Riley Johnstone. I’m so in love with this girl that it’s hard to remember what it was like to feel empty inside. She stroked away my pain, chased away my demons, and filled my chest with warmth. Yeah, I’m still a grumpy fucker, but underneath it all, I’m totally content and luckier than the NHLs first-round draft pick.

Hayes scoops frosting onto the end of his dick, accidentally picking up the rice paper photo of his head in the process. When he looks down and finds his head on his head, he makes a hilarious choking sound which dies when Riley starts the laborious task of licking him clean.

Our girl is so fucking sexy, clapping back against me as she sucks my brother deeply. My blood thrums through my veins, and it’s all I can do to hold the rhythm I know she needs to send her into the stratosphere. It becomes a race to the finish, but I’m a competitive bastard, so Riley’s coming first.

Feeling her pulse around me in tight waves triggers my release, and Hayes jerks himself to the finish line, decorating Riley’s tits with more frosting than is left on the cake.

We all topple like a deck of cards taken by the wind, filling the mattress with our spent bodies.

Shawn’s the first to find a working brain cell. He raises his hand and scoops up a handful of cake, smooshing it into his mouth like a barbarian, and talking through it all. “Fuck, Riley. Our girl gives spectacular head, and she brings the after-blowjob snacks, too.”

“She’s the best.” I smack her ass lazily.

“Riles,” Hayes whispers, brushing a hand over her cheek, smearing a bit of frosting in the process. “I hope you know we’re never letting you go.”

Her lips part, and for a moment, everything fades, leaving just us, her laughter, her sighs, and the sweetness of this moment we’ll never forget.

Riley’s eyes shine with a mix of emotion and desire swirling in their depths. Her lips part as if she’s about to speak, but instead, she exhales softly, her breath hitching when Hayes leans in to press a lingering kiss to her collarbone, his lips warm and deliberate.

“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.

“For what?” I murmur.

“For this,” she says, her voice soft but full of certainty. “For being you. For letting me be a part of your lives. For... loving me.”

My chest tightens, and I reach for her hand, my voice barely a whisper. “Riley, we’re the lucky ones.”