He sighs, and then his eyes close for a few seconds. And when he opens them again, he kisses me like he wants to devour me, hungry and desperate as if he’s afraid this will be the last time and doesn’t want it to end. The two of us sink so far into each other that neither of us wants to come up for air. The more I kiss him I feel myself crashing hard and fast, our bodies fused as one.
With each kiss, he grows harder for me, tenting his jeans to the point he’s digging into my thigh with his length. As he massages my breasts, he takes his time with each one and then peels his lips from mine. He stares into my eyes as if truly seeing me for the first time. I feel his love and warmth wash over me. He pins me down with one look, his blue irises burning a hole through me.
“Kitten,” he whispers between kisses.
Now more than ever, I love his nickname for me. It sounds so sexy when it rolls off the tip of his tongue. His skilled hands and tongue have me so on edge I feel as though I could come undone at any second. And when he kisses me again, this time it’s as if he’s conquering my body, ruling over me as his hands trace every surface of my skin.
We kiss for so long I lose track of time until someone knocks on the door, scaring me half to death. Instinctively, I jump off Dean and fix my clothes, worried someone will burst into this room without giving it a second thought. For all we know, the frat dudes were keeping track of how long we were in here together.
I’m somewhat nervous about leaving this room. We can never go back to what we had. Our friendship has become something more than I had anticipated.
When the person on the other side stops knocking, my pulse slows to a normal rate. Dean looks equally on edge, fidgeting with the seam of his shirt. He must notice the tension in my body.
I sit next to him, unsure of what to say, which is a first for us. The vibe is off. Because of one dare, we changed our lives forever. And now, nothing will ever be the same.
Chapter Four
Dean
Thump, thump, thump.
I wake to the most annoying sound on the planet, my head throbbing from how much alcohol I consumed last night. After heading downstairs with Kat, we could barely look at each other. She made an excuse about not feeling well. Kat’s had a weak stomach for as long as I’ve known her, but I knew she wanted to get away from me. And after that kiss, I needed to drink my feelings.
“Come in,” I tell whoever’s knocking on my bedroom door.
Theo strolls into the room and gives me a disgusted look. “Did you hook up with my sister last night?”
Fuck me.
“It was a dare. We just kissed. It was nothing.”
Yeah, right. It was everything.
I loved every second of the kiss I shared with Kat. I didn’t want it to end. But we’re friends. If anything, the kiss only complicated our relationship.
Travis appears in the doorway, shaking his head in irritation. “Don’t let it happen again.”
I laugh. “What are you going to do about it, tough guy?”
Travis makes a fist and holds it up. Since Theo is closer he punches me in the arm, leaving a sting behind.
I rub the spot where Theo hit me. “I guess I deserve that.”
“You’re lucky we don’t kick your ass,” Travis says, crossing his arms over his chest, glaring at me from the doorway. “No one touches Kat. You know the rules.”
“C’mon, Trav, you’re acting like I went to the party with the intention of hooking up with Kat. It wasn’t like that. We were dared. It’s not a big deal.”
“It is to us,” Theo says.
“Fine. Whatever.” I sigh. “Sorry, it won’t happen again.”
I wish it would.
Growing up with no siblings and a single mother who worked three jobs to keep me in skates, I never knew what it was like to have a big family. My mom did her best, and she still busts her ass to make my pro hockey dreams become a reality. But I always wanted brothers. I can’t fuck up my relationship with all of the Baldwins over a kiss.
“Nah, it’s cool,” Theo says. “We’re just fucking with you. We know you wouldn’t do Kat dirty.”
A beat passes between us before Travis’ phone dings with a new message. “Kat wants us to meet her at the SAC to play air hockey. You guys down?”
“Yeah, I guess. I’m hungry,” Theo says. “Tell Kat to meet us in the cafeteria first. And make sure she brings some cash with her. I’m out.”
“If dad finds out that you’re placing bets, he’ll kick your ass,” Travis yells. “You’re such a dumb ass. Don’t go gambling away your trust fund on sports betting. Remember what happened to Uncle Steve?”
Theo nods. “Yes, Dad. I won’t do it again.”
Travis snorts. “You know I’m right. Stop jerking off and focus on the team.”
Theo rolls his eyes at his brother. “My game is fine, thank you very much.”
“What do you think happens to players that take bets on their team? Think with your head for once. If you get kicked off the team, there goes your shot at the NHL, and Dad will kill you if you blow it over a stupid bet.”
“Okay, enough fighting, boys.”
Sometimes, the Baldwin twins go at each other like this for hours. I’m usually stuck in the middle and have to break up their arguments. The Baldwins all seem to have one thing in common—their tempers. Must be what makes them such good hockey players.
I slide my legs off the edge of the bed. “Let me take a shower first.”
At least for now, my relationship with Theo and Travis is secure. My heart is still racing from the twins bursting into my bedroom, waking me from a sound sleep. I can’t handle the stress of keeping my feelings for Kat from her brothers.
I have to forget about last night. Maybe it’s best if we both pretend it never happened. We can’t kiss like that ever again, not if we want to remain friends.
Chapter Five
Dean
We have this game in the bag. When my team stepped onto the ice today, there was never a doubt in my mind. Maintaining possession of the puck for the last few seconds of the game, I move left and past my opponent, switching to my weak side. My teammates bang their sticks against the player’s bench, the sounds echoing from a distance. A beat passes where I freeze-frame my surroundings, taking a mental picture so that I can relive this victory forever.
Ten, nine, eight seconds…
I dodge the man to my right and pass the puck to Theo to take the shot. He makes it in time, the goal horn blaring as the game ends. Once again, the Strickland Senators are the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey champions. All year, my team prepares for the Frozen Four, and for the last three years, we have earned the bragging rights that come with sweeping everyone in the league.
I skate over to my teammates to celebrate another title. Slapping them on the back, I pull each player into a hug and take in this moment. This is my last year as their captain.
While I was confident we would win, there were a few plays made by the other team that had me doubting a three-peat. But only for a split second. It’s hard enough to win a championship once, let alone three years in a row. The last time the Senators strung this many victories together Nick Baldwin was the captain.
“We did it, bro. Another championship.” Theo flashes a smile at me and wipes the sweat dripping off his forehead with the back of his hand.
“That shot off the post will go down in the record books for one of the sickest in NCAA history,” Travis adds.
I shake my head, laughing. “I doubt that. Watch me do something like that in the NHL and then maybe people will talk about it.”
“Stop being so modest. You’re a shoe-in for the Draft,” Travis says, releasing me from his grip. “Dad even mentioned you last night.”
Nick Baldwin is a commentator for the NHL Network. Travis’ words bring a goofy smile to my lips. Hoping you have a shot at the NHL is one thing but having Nick confirm those beliefs is another. And hearing news like this on a day like today makes it even sweeter.<
br />
“Nice,” I say, nonchalant, even though I’m beaming on the inside.
After I finish up with the twins, I skate over to the bench, where Kat is waiting for me. She throws her arms around my sweaty neck and smacks a kiss on my cheek.
“You did it again, Dean. I’m so proud of you. You were unbelievable today.”
I strip the gloves from my hands and drop them onto the ice. “Thanks, Kitten. I couldn’t have done it without you cheering me on in the stands.”
Kat pins me down with her bright blue irises. “I was sending you positive vibes the entire game.”
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Well, I felt them.”
“We have reservations in one hour.” She smacks me on the back. “Go take a shower. I’ll meet you at my hotel.”
“You’re such a bossy kitty,” I joke.
She purrs, and we both laugh.
Kat walks with me to the locker room, where we part ways, promising to meet in the lobby at her hotel. As I watch her go, I wish I could attend dinner as her boyfriend instead of her best friend. If only our lives were that simple.
Chapter Six
Kat
I care how I look now. Before I kissed Dean, I never worried about my hair or makeup or even my clothes. Now, I stop to take a second look in the mirror. I try harder, something I haven’t done since I liked a guy in my English Lit class sophomore year. Of course, my brothers cockblocked the hell out of him, and Dean wasn’t much help either. He was happy to see him go. I think Dean has always secretly liked having me to himself.
After messing with my hair for far too long, I give up on the curls that refuse to stay in place and rush downstairs to the lobby to meet Dean. Last night, he stayed with his team a few blocks away at a more affordable hotel. But tonight, he said he would hang out with me at The Peninsula.
The elevator doors open. I step out to find Dean in the lobby, dressed in a black oxford and slacks. Waiting with his palm against the wall, as if he’s holding the damn thing up, Dean looks like a Greek god. His wavy hair is styled to perfection, and one look at his muscular body makes me think about how good every hard ridge of him felt.
Our situation is complicated, to say the least. Regardless, I have no regrets. We haven’t spoken about it since that night, and nothing has changed. I told Dean we could kiss and still be friends. I proved Silvia wrong. My friendship with Dean can survive anything, even the most amazing kisses on the planet. When his lips met mine and his tongue slipped into my mouth, I felt alive. Like I had been waiting for that kiss all of my life. And now, I need to stop thinking about his lips and tongue and…
Stop it, Kat.
“You clean up good,” Dean says with a wink and his usual cocky grin. “I haven’t seen you in a dress in a long time.” He eyes up every curve of my body, from my face to my legs, making me feel somewhat self-conscious in this tight red dress. “For once, you look like a girl.”
I roll my eyes at him. “If you weren’t my best friend, my fist would be connecting with your jaw right now.”
Dean gets away with things no one else could manage.
“It was supposed to be a compliment.” He extends his hand to me, smiling like an idiot. “Ready for dinner, Kitten?”
Once I’m snuggled against his side and on our way to the steakhouse, he takes my hand and massages my skin. Before we kissed, I never thought much of this. Now, I find myself studying everything Dean does, wondering if he wants the same things as me.
The restaurant has a Western theme, decorated with wood accents and leather. My dad loves this place. Whenever all of us are home he insists we meet for dinner.
I tip my nose up as the smell of yummy steak fills my nostrils. My stomach growls from the delicious scents. Steak is one of the few things my dad can cook on the grill. We practically lived on it as kids until my dad hired a chef to cook for us when he was out of town. Duke almost burnt the house down once with a grease fire, and that was the end of him touching the stove.
I stop in front of the long, wooden hostess desk, where we’re greeted by a pretty brunette that’s checking out Dean. What is wrong with her? She can clearly see we’re together. It never used to bother me when women looked at Dean. But now, I’m… jealous. No, I can’t be. I’ve never felt that way. How could a few kisses change my feelings almost overnight?
Ignoring her, I say, “Hi, we’re here for the Baldwin party.”
The hostess leads us upstairs to a private room at the end of the long hall. Theo and Travis are already here, fighting over something as they look down at the phone in Travis’ hand. Duke, my oldest brother, sits at the head of the table with his dress shoe propped up on his knee, drinking a glass of whiskey. He shares the same love for the liquor as my dad. I can’t even stomach the scent. It reminds me of rubbing alcohol.
“We’re here,” I announce, as we step into the room.
“About damn time,” Duke says with his usual scowl.
He gets up from his chair and sets the glass in his hand on the table. Palming my head with his big hand, Duke pulls me into a bear hug that crushes my insides.
“Denny,” I say, kissing him on the cheek.
I missed my brother so damn much. Sitting with him during the game wasn’t enough time. The stolen moments I get with my dad and brothers is never enough. Duke lives in Washington D.C. where he plays for the Capitals. Austin is one state over in Missouri, playing for the St. Louis Blues.
Duke wipes my lipstick from his face, acting as if he’s disgusted by my nickname. “You’re lucky I like you, Kit-Kat.”
Since we were kids, our dad has called Dennis Duke, after his favorite movie actor, John Wayne. My dad and Duke would watch old Westerns together, with Duke pretending he was in the movies by re-enacting the scenes with my dad. He knows every movie by heart, and to this day, he can still quote True Grit verbatim. It’s something Dad and him did together, and even more so after our mother’s passing.
We all have special traditions with my dad. He made it a point to have something for each of us to look forward to when he was home. For Duke, that was old movies. With Austin, he collected bottle caps. Theo and Travis liked comic books. And as the only girl, my dad always treated me differently. We had our traditions, too, though they weren’t very girly. I wanted to learn how to play hockey. That was a given with my brothers, but the thought had never even occurred to my dad before I asked him to teach me how to shoot a puck.
He had no idea how to raise an eight-year-old girl so that suited him just fine. Hockey he knew like the back of his hand. Menstrual cycles and makeup were like something out of the Twilight Zone for him. He didn’t even know how to braid my hair. Duke was the one who figured out how to make me look presentable for school. I bet he can still do a mean French braid. Austin went over my homework with me every night. He would even make practice tests for me to take. My older brothers raised me while Dad was on the road with the Blackhawks. Without them, I would have been lost as a kid.
“Look who Kit-Kat brought with her,” Duke says staring over my shoulder at Dean. “I see you’re still following around my baby sister.”
“Stop that.” I smack Duke on his thick, muscular arm and peel myself from his grasp. He growls, and I nudge him in the arm with my elbow. “Dean and I are friends.”
Duke shakes his head. He moves his hands to his waist, puffing out his thick chest. “No, you two are more than friends.”
Annoyed, I roll my eyes at him. We’ve gone over my friendship with Dean a million times.
“As usual, you’re wrong, big bro.”
Duke smirks. “Men don’t have women friends.”
“This man does,” Dean says, interrupting this stupid conversation.
“Dean kissed Kat,” Theo says.
My entire body goes rigid from his confession.
Travis shakes his head, looking repulsed by the fact we kissed.
Dean had mentioned my brothers gave him shit about the kiss. But this is the first time the
y have mentioned it in front of me. Why would he say that in front of Duke, of all people?
“You did what?” Duke narrows his eyes at me and then glares at Dean.
“It was a stupid dare,” Dean says.
“Yeah,” I agree. “It was just a dare. We were at a party. Don’t freak out, okay? It meant nothing.”
Liar, liar pants on fire. Kissing Dean shattered my world.
Duke’s mouth twists in disgust. I’m between him and Dean, hoping Duke won’t reach around and start a fight.
Before Duke can decide what to do, my dad strolls into the room. He clears his throat to gain everyone’s attention. As usual, he looks like a million bucks in a navy pinstripe suit and brown wingtips. He cleans up well when he’s working. Otherwise, Dad sports the same T-shirt and track pants my brothers and Dean usually wears.
“Who let the riffraff in,” Duke says to my dad with a rare smile he reserves for when he’s with family.
My brother has anger issues. Ever since our mom passed away, he hasn’t been the same. None of us are the same. Duke was the closest to our mom, and he took her death worst of all. We all tiptoe around him because of his problems he won’t talk about. He needs to see a therapist, but every time my dad tried to get him counseling, he would sit there and stare at the doctor until the time ran out.
Duke lifts two highball glasses from the table and hands one to my dad. I roll my eyes because I know what’s coming.
“I hope you don’t think I’m going to keep you in whiskey,” Dad says to Duke, taking the glass from his hand.
“I don’t buy that, I confiscate it,” Duke says, quoting John Wayne, accent and all. “And a touch of it wouldn’t do you any harm against the night air!”
They clang their glasses together and tip their heads back in laughter.
When Duke is around my dad, it’s one of the few times he looks truly happy. Otherwise, I imagine he stews inside the apartment he shares with his teammates in Washington D.C. He’s an enforcer for the Washington Capitals and one of the best in the league. Hockey has always been his outlet. It’s how he copes with all of the shit he bottles inside.
Dean (Face-Off Series Book 6) Page 3