Jersey Girl (Sticks & Hearts #1)

by Rhonda James

  "Hrrumph." The groan falls from my mouth before I can stop it. Using one hand to cover my junk, just in case her elbow starts flying again, I roll over onto my back. "Why the hell'd you do that?"

  "Me?" she squeaks, frantically rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "I don't recall giving you permission to feel me up."

  "Yeah, well, I wasn't expecting to find a hot girl in my bed this morning. Thought I was dreaming, wanted to see if you were real."

  I've had my fair share of women in this bed. Women I've known. I don't recall meeting this one, but one glance tells me I'd like to rectify that.

  The comforter's been pushed away, and she's wearing a pink lacy top over the skimpiest pair of shorts I've ever seen. She's really tiny, not only in body weight, but she must be a foot shorter than my six-three frame. Long, blond hair falls to the middle of her back, and this morning it's a hot mess of tangles, almost as if she went to bed with it wet. Before I know it, I'm picturing her naked in my shower, and suddenly my morning wood becomes a raging hard-on.

  "You're not supposed to be home for two more days," she grumbles.

  "Yeah, well, plans change, sweetheart. So, how'd you get in here, and why haven't we met before? You're really sexy. Are you aware of that?" My eyes skim over her once more before settling on the nipple I touched only moments ago. I find myself wondering how long she's been in my bed and which one of the guys I'll need to thank later.

  "Ohmygod! Why are you naked? And why the hell are you aroused?" Her mouth gapes open in complete surprise. I glance to where the covers have been pushed down to my knees and can't help smiling when I see that not only am I hard, but my boy is so straight he's practically saluting us. I burst out laughing and link my hands behind my head, proudly leaving myself on display.

  "Relax, sweetheart. I'm naked because this is my bed, and this is how I usually sleep. And, for the record, it's called morning wood, though the sight of you in that skimpy outfit doesn't hurt the situation." I smile smugly but she only glares in return before reaching down and grabbing the corner of the comforter to cover me. As her arm swings over me, her hair tickles my chest, sending another shock wave to my already aching lower half. I catch her by the wrist and can't mask my smirk when I ask her my next question. "So, any chance you wanna help me out?" My eyes dance between her and the obvious issue at hand.

  She yanks her arm from my grasp and recoils as if I'm some sort of leper. This one is definitely not like the other women trying to make it into my bed. I normally have to fight them off. "No chance in hell."

  "Okay, then. Guess I'll just have to take matters into my own hands." I reach beneath the comforter and give myself a stroke. Big mistake, seeing as how I never had any intention of going through with knocking one out while this chick sits only inches away. Wait a minute. She hasn't taken her eyes off me. In fact, she's looking at the space between my legs as if she's hungry for it. The tip of her pink tongue sneaks out to moisten her lips, and I picture what those lips could be doing. I give myself one more slow stroke. "You going to sit there with your mouth hanging open, or do you want to join in?"

  She blinks a few times and shakes her head back and forth, not saying a word. "Is that a no?" I tease once more, but only because her eyes are still focused on the movement beneath the comforter.

  "Are you really...? I mean... Would you actually do that while I'm sitting right here? You don't even know me." Her voice is soft and shaky as she offers me a shy, telling smile. One that reads both nervous, young woman and curious sex kitten. I for one would love to meet the latter of the two.

  "Oh, yeah. I've got no problem beating off in front of you, if that's what you're into. However, there are other things we could be doing. One in particular comes to mind." I stroke myself slowly, and the way she's looking at my hand tells me I need to stop. If I'm not careful, I'll spew all over the sheets before she makes up her mind.

  "Ew. Did you seriously just ask me to give you a blowjob? You don't even know me. That's just... gross." At this, she moves toward the edge of the bed, yet she still doesn't leave entirely, instead choosing to sit cross-legged and watch from further away. Unfortunately, her comment kills the moment. I've never had a woman look at me and utter the word Ew. Definitely an ego deflator.

  Ego being my dick in this case.

  "Annnnnddd, on that note..." I move to sit up but am immediately pushed back as she clambers up my body and plants a kiss on my lips. It's not the best kiss, but only because it's unexpected and clumsy. She smells sweet, kind of like strawberries or some shit like that. It's feminine, and I find I want to keep breathing her scent in. She pulls back, and we both stare at each other for a few seconds before either of us dares to make a move. I shift beneath her and study her expression. Her brows are drawn, as if she's trying to decide where to go from here, and her lips tremble slightly with each breath she draws in. I lift my hand to her cheek and trace my thumb over the swell of her bottom lip.

  "Let's try that again." My words come out as a whisper between us as I cup my hand around the back of her neck and slant my mouth over hers. Her lips are soft, tentative at first, and I'm instantly caught up in the way she feels against me. It's like we meld together in perfect unison. We take our time, kissing, breathing heavily, learning each other's next move. And it's good. Really, really good. Her lips press firmly against mine, then part as my tongue glides along the seam. As our tongues brush together, she makes this soft keening sound I love hearing. My lips move of their own accord and I work my way over her delicate skin, feathering soft kisses along her jaw and down her neck. Chicks love it when you do that. Her pelvis rocks slowly, teasing me with a quiet promise of something more. The soft cotton of her shorts glides over my length, and it feels so incredibly good. It goes on for a few seconds until I grab her by the hips and still her before I lose it.

  Since when did dry humping ever feel this damn good?

  "Sweetheart," I murmur between wet kisses. "You never told me how you got in here." I kiss my way down her neck, intending to make my way down her gorgeous body.

  "Scotty let me in last night," she answers breathlessly, arching her body until her breasts press firmly against my chest. "He didn't think you would mind."

  "Trust me, honey, I don't mind. In fact, remind me to thank him later." I can see the outline of her nipples, and my mouth waters as I think about her squirming once I start licking and sucking them in the next twenty seconds. "How do you know Rivers?" I hum as my tongue prepares to get down to business.

  She straddles my legs, grinding her pelvis over me, and it's driving me out of my everloving mind. Her hair falls softly around her sweet face, and while everything about her paints a perfect picture, the only thing I see are her breasts as they bounce less than three inches from my parted mouth. Then, without warning, she utters three words that would stop even the strongest of men in their tracks.

  "He's my brother." My hands come up, shoving her off me as I scramble away. I can't get out of bed fast enough. I'm standing beside the bed, sporting a semi, while she's still kneeling, all sexed up and waiting to be taken. Only, I can't touch her.

  Bro Code #1... NEVER EVER HAVE SEX WITH YOUR FRIEND'S SISTER

  Bro Code #2... NEVER KISS YOUR FRIEND'S SISTER

  Bro Code #3... DON'T EVEN CONSIDER CODE ONE OR TWO

  I am so screwed...

  "What's wrong?" She looks up with innocent, blue eyes, and all I want is to finish what we started. But there's no way I can. Rivers is my best friend. I would never do that to him. We both received a scholarship to play hockey and met on our first day of classes. Rivers is our goalie, and a damn good one too. Me, I'm a defenseman, one of the best around. He guards the net, and I guard the puck. We're protectors; it's what we do. Last month he asked all of us to watch over his little sister. Somehow, I don't think this is the type of protecting he'd intended.

  Technically, I've already broken two codes, but in my defense, I had no idea who she was. Note to self, always get a name before you shove your
tongue down a girl's throat. It's also obvious girls are completely ignorant to the whole friendship code guys have established. Maybe that's why guys with sisters are so quick to enforce it when they meet new friends. Me, I don't have any sisters, but if I did, I know I would lay that shit down within the first ten minutes of meeting a guy.

  "What's wrong?" I choke out. "Rivers is my best friend. There are rules guys live by, and I just broke two of them in less than five minutes. And I would have broken another if I hadn't asked how you got in here." I drag my fingers through my hair and give it a yank as I pace the room. "Shit. He's going to kill me." Reaching for my pants, I pull them on and tuck myself inside, leaving the buttons undone.

  Meanwhile, she remains in a kneeling position. Her hair is tousled a bit more from me burying my hands in those silky strands, and her nipples peek at me through the scrap of material covering them. I can feel her staring, and no matter how hard I fight it, I turn to face her. Her legs are slightly parted, and my eyes rake down her body, coming to rest on the juncture between her thighs. Fuck, is that moisture on her shorts? Suddenly, my hand is in my mouth, and I'm biting down hard on my fingers to keep from screaming.

  "No, he won't. He doesn't have to know about this. It can be our little secret. Come back over here and join me." She grins devilishly, revealing two beautiful dimples, and it's all I can do to swallow the knot forming in my throat. Girls with dimples drive me absolutely wild, though this girl managed to do that all on her own. I can tell she's turned on by the breathless sounds that fall past her perfect lips and her pert breasts rise and fall with each labored breath. Like an idiot, I remain rooted, unable to turn away. I stand there, my erection thickening, and stare as she slowly draws her hand between her legs and begins touching herself.

  I practically choke on my next words as I fight for control over my own body. "Can you please stop doing that?"

  "Why? Doesn't this turn you on?" The devilish gleam in her eyes tells me she knows exactly how her little show is affecting me, both mentally and physically.

  "Why?" My eyes squeeze shut and it's all I can do not to scream as I answer her insane question. "Because your brother is an early riser and these walls are paper thin." I stomp into the bathroom and close the door on the entire scene.

  "That's ridiculous," she scoffs, and as if on cue I hear Rivers' voice outside the outer door. I button my jeans as my mind scrambles for a way to talk myself out of this.

  "Cass? You up yet?" he calls out, before knocking once and throwing open the door. This is his trademark entry. However, I don't see what happens because I've made the decision to dive into the tub and feign sleep.

  CHAPTER THREE

  CASSIE

  Even though my insides are shaking with laughter, I do my best to put on a calm front when I face Scotty. My girly bits are still tingly, but his friend's words ring loud and clear in my head when I see the look on my brother's face. It's quite clear he barged in expecting to find something going on between the sheets. I'm guessing he saw this guy's car outside and put two and two together. I'm thankful he didn't barge in five minutes ago when I was rubbing on his teammate like a stripper grinding up against a pole. It appears in my haste to get over Justin, I've bypassed kissing and jumped right into trying to have sex with a stranger. A stranger who just happens to be my brother's best friend.

  "Hey, what were you doing in here? I thought I heard voices." His eyes scan the small space just as he turns to the closed bathroom door. My heart thumps wildly beneath my tank, and I pray to God he doesn't hear it.

  "What are you talking about? I just woke up." I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stretch my arms up over my head. "Boy, I sure slept like a baby. This bed is so comfortable. I'm sure after this, the dorm beds are going to be a huge disappointment." I fake a yawn.

  "Yeah," Scotty replies distractedly, then opens the bathroom door. I cringe inwardly, prepared to lie if necessary. Without warning, he starts laughing his ass off. "Cage, what the hell are you doing sleeping in the bathtub?"

  "What?" my handsome stranger asks, groggily. "Oh, hey, man. Why am I sleeping in the tub? Maybe because you gave away my bed."

  "Sorry about that, buddy. You've gotta be stiff as hell. Here, let me help you up." I hear movement, then the sounds of someone stumbling, before they come out of the bathroom together. "Cassie, I hope you're seeing this. My buddies love me so much they'd choose a tub over climbing in bed with my little sister." He slings an arm around his buddy's shoulder. "Sis, I'd like you to meet my best friend, Brantley Cage."

  "Hey, Cassie. Nice to meet you." Brantley raises his hand shyly but refuses to make eye contact.

  "Hi," I wiggle my fingers at him, trying my best not to let my facial expression reveal what I'm thinking. "It's nice to meet you as well."

  Then our eyes connect, and it's as if little jolts of electricity are firing inside me. His gaze lingers for a few seconds before my brother rudely interrupts our connection.

  "Cass, you have to see this guy on the ice. I swear watching him skate is a thing of beauty. One of the best damn defensemen to ever grace this campus." Scotty grins broadly while Brantley remains silent. "Go on, tell her about your big play last season."

  "Nah. She probably doesn't want to hear about that," he replies all too quietly.

  "Oh, I don't know about that. I think I'd enjoy hearing more about your moves." I give him a quick wink as I move to step in front of him. It may be just my imagination, but I swear I hear a noise when I get close. He swallows hard, and I watch as his Adam's apple bobs nervously up and down.

  "Holy shit, Cass, what are you wearing? Put some clothes on and I'll take you out to breakfast." Scotty steps in front of me, trying to prevent Brantley from seeing me, and I almost laugh. I'm beginning to get a clearer picture of what it's going to be like having my big brother nearby.

  "Get a grip, Scotty. I'm dressed perfectly fine." I flip my hair over my shoulder and give him a challenging stare.

  "Please, your ass is practically hanging out of your shorts, and I can see right through your shirt. And if I can see it, I know Cage can see it too." At this, Brantley's eyes fall to my chest and he snickers. Scotty snaps his head around. "You got something to say, Cage?"

  Brantley's lip curls between his teeth as his eyes dart between me and my angry brother. "Not at all. I'll just step out, so you can get dressed. It was a pleasure meeting you, Cassie." His tone is far too serious when he says this. A few minutes ago, we were flirting and about to have sex. Now, we've been reduced to casual formalities all because of some 'friend code.' Screw that. I like where we were headed better than where we've ended up.

  "Trust me, the pleasure was all mine." I'm trying to sound flirty, but it comes out sounding breathy and full of sexual undertones. Brantley visibly slows, clutching the doorframe before he walks out without looking back.

  "Stop that," Scotty growls. "I know what you're doing and it's not going to work."

  "Yeah? And what is that?"

  "You're flirting with him just to push my buttons. Well, knock it off. These guys aren't just my roommates. They're my teammates, and we don't need any shit between us. We need to be a unified team. I don't need to be worrying about one of them trying to screw my kid sister behind my back."

  I grind the heels of my hands over my eyes as I shake my head at him. "Scotty, I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm a woman now. And I have needs, just like you do. I can't have you scaring off all of my prospects. It's not fair."

  "Cass, as much as it pains me to say this, it's not the other guys I'm worried about. I just need you to stay away from my friends. Okay? They're not your prospects. You can hang around us and shit, but don't go acting all girly and dressing like this around them." He waves his hand in front of my shirt.

  "They're called breasts, Scotty. I have them. Ashley has them. All women have them. I'm not going to hide them under a sack just to make you feel better. I can't help that I have them, nor can I help it that your friends can't stop looki
ng at them. They're pretty spectacular." I glance down at my chest and rotate my shoulders back and forth.

  "You did not just shake your tits at me. That was so uncalled for. I can never un-see that. That was so wrong." He throws up his hands, muttering as he walks out the door. "Be downstairs in twenty minutes and I'll take you to Angelo's."

  ***

  After waiting in a very long line, we are finally seated at a small table in the center of the room. One by one, heaping plates of food are delivered to surrounding tables. The first thing I notice are the thick slices of homemade bread topped with powdered sugar and served with a side of warm maple syrup. My mouth practically salivates when a plate of it is placed on the table next to ours. I love French toast. Allow me to rephrase that. I am addicted to French toast. But this restaurant takes it to a whole new level by deep-frying it. By the time our waitress comes to take our order, I'm already speaking before she has a chance to ask what I want. When my breakfast is placed in front of me, and I take my first bite, it's clear it has been worth the wait.

  Scotty watches with great interest as I enjoy my food. With each bite I savor, his smile grows deeper before turning into full-on laughter once I start moaning my appreciation.

  "I've missed this," he says, moving his fork between us. "It's going to be great having you close by. We have a lot to catch up on."

  "I'm looking forward to that. Things were never the same at the house after you left for school, then last year at Minnesota was a joke."

  "Yeah? I was going to ask you about that. Did something happen between you and Justin? I mean, I know you followed him there," he asks, pausing to take another bite of his omelette. "Why the sudden need for change?"

  "We grew apart," I answer, trying to avoid further explanation. I know those two remained close, despite the distance. Their love of the game keeps them in contact, especially during the off-season when they don't have to play against one another. "I just needed a change, and Great Lakes has an amazing music department." He gives me a look that says he knows there's more to it than I'm letting on. "Can't a girl miss her big brother?"