Page 37 of Sin Bin (BU Hockey Season 2, #1)

“Welcome to the family, Fallon. Not sure why you hitched yourself to this guy’s wagon, but maybe you can help him get his head on straight, huh?” Louis chuckles, and his wife absently joins him. Ollie’s smile is tight, but he lets out a brief huff of a laugh.

I stay quiet as we watch them pull out of the parking lot, and for most of the walk home.

When we turn left onto Chapel Lane, Ollie turns to me. “ Did you like your breakfast? ” he asks.

“ It was delicious ,” I tell him, signing and speaking as we walk. “I don’t know why you’re always eating blueberries when you could have strawberries instead. ”

He smiles. “ I like them both, but I think peaches are my favorite fruit. ”

“ Is that a comment about my ass? ” I ask, pretending to be scandalized.

Ollie glances behind us with exaggeration. “ Actually, it was a comment about mine, but we’ve both got junk in the trunk to be proud of.”

I giggle because he’s not joking. Ollie taps the code into the pad by the back door, and we step inside.

The house is quiet, and I know he probably wants to nap before his game this afternoon, but something about breakfast has left me unsettled.

Ollie fills a water bottle at the fridge while I lean against the counter.

He screws the cap on and hands it to me.

“ My dad is a lot, I know. And I’m sorry . ”

“I’m sorry your dad’s an asshole ,” I say, maybe a little too bluntly.

But when I look up to see Ollie’s crooked smile, I know my words were right on the mark.

“ I know a thing or two about asshole dads ,” I continue.

“ And I can say with complete authority that he’s wrong about you.

If your dad hasn’t figured out how amazing you are by now, then he’s not worth your time . ”

“ I think you and my dad have different definitions of ‘amazing’. Believe me, when he’s telling me I don’t have what it takes to be successful, that no one will ever take me seriously? That’s not so amazing. ”

“ You do realize you don’t need him, right? You built a brand by yourself with a major following, and you don’t even show your face. You understand marketing and promotion. You built one successful business, so I believe you can build another .”

My words are meant to be helpful, but Ollie laughs. “ Can you imagine the look on my dad’s face if he found out about my account? He’d lose his mind. He already thinks I’m a joke, so I think I’ll keep the MyFans experience off my resume .”

Regardless of the platform, what you’ve done is pretty amazing, I sign.

Ollie tucks a wayward strand of hair behind my ear.

You’re right, but it’s not always that simple.

He’s my dad. And as crazy as it sounds, part of me just wants to make him proud, you know ?

On a consistent basis, of course , he jokes.

Because consistency is the key to success. At least, that’s what I hear .

He’s making light of things, and we should probably talk about what’s really going on, but I’m so new to his family dynamic, and to marriage as a whole, that I keep my mouth shut instead of pushing the subject.

I think Ollie needs something to shake him out of his gloomy mood, and I have the perfect remedy.

Actually, I think consistency is one of your strengths , I say, leaning in close to press my hand to the center of his chest.

Oh, really? Please elaborate , he says, that unmistakable twinkle in his eye.

Letting my hand trail over his chest and abs, I look directly at him and smile. I’ve found your performance to be quite consistent, actually. Some might even say you have a knack for getting the job done every single time .

Ollie’s smile is wicked. It hardly feels like work when you love what you’re doing .

He brushes his thumb against my lip and my heart skips a beat. I know he’s teasing me. I know he hasn’t just made a declaration of love—it’s way too soon for that, but I can’t deny that I’m feeling more and more connected to Ollie.

I hear muffled noises in the front hallway and share a look with Ollie. Without missing a beat, he clasps his hand in mine and leads us back to our bedroom. Who wants to stand around and make small talk with your housemates when you could be having sex?

Seconds later, he has me pressed up against our bedroom door, his hands in my hair as he holds my face still.

“Have I told you yet today how fucking beautiful you are?” he asks, voicing the words because his hands are otherwise occupied.

There’s no way I’m not blushing. I’m wearing leggings and an oversized, open-stitch sweater. It’s a step up from the hoodies I like to wear, but I’m hardly looking like a model or anything.

Ollie extinguishes my doubts when he presses his lips to mine.

The way this man kisses should be illegal.

He does it like he does everything—full throttle.

He’s thorough as hell in the way his fingers grip my neck, the way he gently bites at my lip before diving in and consuming me.

His body is leaning into mine and his heat surrounds me.

We’re both fully clothed, and we need to fix that, fast.

Peeling his lips away for just a moment, Ollie looks me in the eye. “I want you,” he says. He could dress it up with pretty words, and he often does, but that’s unnecessary. I can feel his already hard length pressing against me. I can see the desire building in his eyes.

“I’m all yours,” I answer, absolute truth in every word.

His eyes shutter closed, and he takes in a breath before wrapping his hands around my waist and lifting me up.

I’m average height, but I’m not a tiny girl. I’m not the kind who gets hoisted in the air or tossed over a guy's shoulder. I have to admit, though, that there are distinct advantages to dating someone with muscles like Ollie’s. “What are you doing?” I squeal.

Ollie doesn’t answer me until he’s laid me gently on the bed. “You’re gonna want to be comfortable for what I have in mind, Fallon. I’m planning to worship every inch of you, and I’m going to take my sweet time doing it. Does that work for you?”

I bite my lip and clench my thighs. “Mmhmm. I like this plan.”

“Good. But I obviously owe you a fuck against the door. You can cash that one in any time you like.”