Easy Puck

by Belle, Melissa

  I unlock the door and type in the security code. I walk into the living room, taking care to be quiet when I notice Winter asleep on the couch. Her laptop’s on the floor, and Theo’s curled up at her feet. They make a nice picture—a lot better picture than the nightmare flashback from my past that’s been circling through my head.

  I put down my bag.

  I need Winter too badly right now to just walk on by and go to my bedroom, but I’m not going to try to wake her.

  All right, maybe I am.

  I sit down on the couch next to her and gently run my hand over her midnight-colored hair that’s tangled in a messy ponytail at the nape of her neck.

  She’s always been a light sleeper, and she opens her eyes. Those blue eyes that could cut diamonds. And that always see right through me.

  She blinks.

  She can tell. She knows I’m wound up about something, and worry crosses her face.

  A silent acknowledgement passes between us. I’m sure she’s wondering why the hell I haven’t called her at all. The truth is, ever since Liam told me about the “person of interest” in our dad’s case, I’ve been shutting everybody out. I get that’s probably not the healthiest way to handle it, but I haven’t felt capable of doing anything else.

  Winter’s gaze stays focused on me, and just when I’m sure she’s going to pepper me with questions I’m not prepared to answer, she reaches a hand up and snakes it around my neck.

  “I was tired of missing you,” she says softly.

  I exhale. Like always, Winter gets me. She knows when I need to talk, and she sure as hell knows when I’m not ready to.

  I lean down and kiss her on the lips.

  I mean for it to be light. A hello kiss.

  It’s not light, and it doesn’t come off like a greeting. The kiss is raw and hungry and unfiltered. It’s filled with pain and vulnerability.

  Winter takes all of it, and she gives me nothing in return but care and love.

  And God, I’m fucking falling for her all over again. But it’s different now. It’s better.

  She shifts on the couch so I can lie next to her, and then she raises her leg over my waist and urges me closer. I’m rock hard, and I let her know it when I line myself up between her legs. She moans and starts tearing at my jeans.

  Within seconds, we’re both half-naked, and she’s on her back, begging me to come inside her. I climb over her and pause.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m positive.” Her eyes are hazy with lust, and I want her more than I’ve ever wanted another woman.

  With a groan, I push inside her slowly. She’s warm and tight and wet, and her nails dig into my back as she urges me to go deeper.

  I’ve just spent ten days on the road in different hotel beds, all of them uncomfortable. I played in multiple hockey games where I fought guys against the boards and on the ice. My body is bruised, sore, and exhausted.

  But the moment I sink into Winter and feel her arms around me, I feel rejuvenated. Most importantly, I feel.

  If it were anyone else beneath me right now, I’d be using sex tonight to try to forget. To stop thinking for a little while, to stop feeling so that, for a short time, I can’t hurt.

  But I can’t do that with Winter. I can’t stop feeling with her. I never could. Winter Allen’s not the kind of woman you fuck to forget. You don’t fuck her to block out your life and all its problems. She’s the kind of woman you make love to over and over again because she makes you feel alive. She makes you want to be alive. To reach for the stars.

  Winter rotates her hips, and I nearly come right then.

  I take hold of her waist and try to slow her motion somehow.

  “I’m not gonna last, Princess,” I bite out. “I’m so close.”

  “Me, too.” Her blue eyes glaze over as she stares up at me. “Take me there, Hunt.”

  I pick up my pace as I start pumping in and out of her lightning-fast. She meets my every thrust, and my mouth covers hers as we cross the threshold together.

  She moans out my name as my own orgasm hits me. Hot waves of ecstasy start at the bottom of my spine and explode throughout my body. I hold tightly to her hips as I come for so long I can barely hold myself up by the time I finish.

  That wasn’t just an orgasm. That was…shit. I don’t know what that was.

  I pull out and curl up next to her. “That was pretty intense.”

  Her laugh is muffled as she buries her face in my neck. “It always is with us.”

  “I know, but—“ But that was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. “That felt more so.”

  She raises her head and strokes the week-old facial hair I’ve grown. “It did.”

  We both go quiet, but I don’t take my eyes off of her.

  Finally, I say, “What are you doing tomorrow?”

  She narrows her eyes. “Why are you asking?”

  I inhale sharply. “Because I have to go possibly ID my dad’s killer.”

  Winter murmurs my name as she runs her hand up and down my arm. “Is that why you’ve…”

  “Yeah.” I kiss her head. “That’s why I’ve been a shit friend to you this past week. I wasn’t ready to talk about any of this, and I can’t lie to you.”

  “I understand. But Hunt? You could have told me that by phone, and I wouldn’t have pushed you to say more.”

  “I should have. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “It’s not okay to shut you out without an explanation. But that’s what I’ve always done, especially when it comes to family shit.”

  “I know.”

  “But I’m working on changing that.”

  “Hunt.” Winter sits up and looks at me seriously. “I don’t want you changing for me. I want you changing if that change makes you happier in your life.”

  She’s wearing my Fire sweatshirt and nothing below the waist. Her black, shiny hair is half out of her ponytail after our vigorous lovemaking. Her cheeks are flushed, and she looks like a woman who’s just come hard. She’s never looked more beautiful.

  I wrap my arms around her and stand up with her snuggled against my chest. “I get where you’re coming from, but you’re worth changing for, Princess. Let’s go to bed. I’m not done hearing you call out my name when you come.”

  Chapter 18

  Winter

  A part of me wants to have access to the part of Hunter Storm that no one ever gets to see.

  A part of me is terrified because I’m broken, too. I don’t know that I’m strong enough to stand by this man—whose energy is so powerful—and help him heal when I’m still trying to heal myself.

  But when he asked me to come with him to the police station, I didn’t hesitate.

  I know what it means for Hunter to let someone in even just a little in regards to his father’s death. I was touched he reached out for support and more than a little surprised.

  But I’m determined not to let him down. I’ll be strong for him, and I’ll be there for him as much as he’ll let me.

  * * *

  I wake up before Hunter the next morning. I glance at the clock. Only eight a.m.

  But Theo’s hungry. Every morning, he waits for me to open my eyes. As soon as he sees I’m awake, he starts purring. And moving. He stands up, stretches, and makes his way from the foot of my bed up to my head where he stops and lets out a full meow. If I don’t get up and feed him, he meows again. Yes, he has me well-trained.

  Hunter’s heavy arm over my side is keeping me pinned firmly against him, so I lift his arm and slip out from under it. I’m completely naked, so I grab one of Hunter’s oversized hockey jerseys from his walk-in closet. It reaches my mid-thigh and is seriously comfortable.

  I’m going to miss stealing Hunter’s shirts when I’m back in Manhattan.

  The thought comes out of nowhere, and it makes me nearly stop in my tracks. The idea of leaving him is getting harder and harder.

  I push the unpleasantness of it all out o
f my mind and walk into the kitchen to get Theo his breakfast.

  After feeding the kitty and cleaning his litter box, I head back down the hall where I bump into a sleepy Hunter. He’s wearing nothing but gray track pants that hang low on his hips, exposing the dark trail of hair leading to an impressive bulge. His dark hair sticks up on his head, and his green eyes look at me hungrily.

  “Hey.” He snags the hem of his jersey I’m wearing. “I was looking for you.”

  I steer him toward his bedroom.

  “Still early. Let’s go back to bed.”

  “Exactly my line of thinking.” He follows me into the bedroom, and we snuggle under the covers together.

  He slips his hand below his jersey where he finds me bare.

  “Christ, Winter.” He dips his head to kiss my mouth. “A Fire jersey and no panties? Are you trying to kill me?”

  I lift the jersey to give him better access. “I love wearing your clothes,” I tell him. “Especially your hockey stuff. Does that make me a jersey chaser or something?”

  His other hand tangles in my hair as he kisses along my jawline. “No,” he murmurs. “You’re a jersey catcher, maybe.”

  “Are you saying I caught you?”

  “Absolutely.” He’s got the jersey up over my breasts now, and I raise my arms so he can take it all the way off.

  He lowers his mouth to my bare nipples, which are taut with need. When his lips close firmly over one nipple and he starts rolling the other one between his thumb and forefinger, my eyes drift closed from the overwhelming sensation.

  I arch beneath his touch, and when I feel his thick length against my thigh, I start rocking into him.

  All of a sudden, he flips us so I’m on top and straddling him.

  “What are you doing?” I ask as I brace my hands on his ridiculously ripped abs.

  “Do you want to lead?” His green eyes are hot with desire as he keeps his hands on my hips.

  “Um…” Yeah? God, it’s been so long since I’ve felt in control of anything.

  “You prefer me to be on top,” he says like he knows what I’m thinking.

  “Okay.” I move to climb off of him, but his hands lock onto my hips and hold me in place.

  “Wait. Winter.” His tone is serious. “I think you want this.”

  I think I do, too.

  “I’m just not very experienced with different positions,” I admit. “I slept with a few guys in Manhattan, but it wasn’t…” Like this. “It was always very vanilla.”

  “Vanilla?” His mouth quirks up.

  “Yes.” I shove at his shoulder, and he grabs my wrist and laughs. “You know what I mean—it wasn’t very passionate.”

  “Why’d you date those guys then?” His tone is almost possessive, and I could swear he sounds…

  “Are you jealous?” I say in disbelief.

  “No.” He says it fast. Superfast. Too fast.

  “You are.” I give him a look. “I heard about your partying side and all the women. So don’t act like you could date and I couldn’t.”

  “I’m not.” His tense jaw relaxes. “Okay, maybe I was. I just don’t like thinking of you with anyone else because I don’t think anyone else gets you like I do.”

  The rawness of the confession catches me off-guard.

  My irritation with him disappears.

  “That may be true,” I say.

  “May…be?” he asks me, taking my chin in his hand.

  “Is.” I swallow. “That has always been true.”

  And with that confession, I lift my hips, take Hunter’s hard length in my hand, and sink down onto him.

  “Holy…fuck, Winter.” Hunter growls out a slew of curse words as I take him all the way inside me.

  “How’s this?” I ask him.

  “Princess, this is…” His fingers dig into my hips. “Incredible.”

  I don’t move at first. My body isn’t used to this angle, and Hunter’s not exactly small.

  “You can ride me.” Hunter’s emerald green eyes glitter with heat.

  So much heat between us—I can’t stop staring into his eyes.

  “Ride me, Winter. At your pace.”

  With my gaze still locked onto his, I shift upward slowly and then back down.

  “Jesus.” Hunter shifts his hand to my ass. “You feel so damn good.”

  I shift up again, but this time I come down harder. The pressure inside is so intense that I let out a moan. A long moan. It sounds obscene, honestly.

  I glance down at Hunter, whose eyes are squeezed shut. He looks tense.

  “Are you sure you’re enjoying this?” I ask him.

  “Win, if I enjoyed it anymore, I’d be erupting inside you right now.” He opens his eyes like it’s an effort. “I love literally every fucking thing that you’re doing. If you like it, don’t stop.”

  His obvious pleasure breaks the dam of hesitation inside of me. I start riding him in earnest, moving up and down so his hard cock hits me over and over in the exact right spot. Hunter’s hands on my ass urge me forward as he says in a halting tone, “Touch your breasts.”

  I pluck at my nipples which are hard as glass, and Hunter groans.

  “So hot,” he murmurs as he runs his hand down to my thigh.

  I keep riding him furiously. “I’m so close. So close.”

  “Come for me, Win.”

  “I can’t…” I need you closer. “I want to kiss you.”

  “Come here.” Hunter tugs me down to his chest, and then he puts his arms around me. “Can you ride me this way?”

  “I think so.” It takes me a second, but soon I’m back in a rhythm.

  Hunter’s mouth covers mine, and I keep up the pace until I tire. And then, Hunter takes over, fucking me from below while I just hang on for the ride.

  I clutch at his hair, and our tongues tangle together as he thrusts up, hitting me deep inside from this angle. His thumb drags down my tailbone and brushes between my ass cheeks, and…

  I go off like a bomb. I cry out my release into Hunter’s mouth, and he fucks me through my orgasm. Just as I’m coming down, he lets out a long groan, and I feel him explode inside me. And now I’m coming again.

  “Oh God. Hunt!” I hold onto the short hairs on his head like they can somehow ground me.

  I feel like I’m flying. In this moment, I really and truly feel invincible.

  Because of my connection to this man, who I knew as a boy. Who I’ve always lov…

  I cut off my own train of thought, nearly biting my tongue in the process.

  I don’t love Hunter Storm.

  He’s helping me out. He’s being a good friend. That’s it.

  “Fucking hell, Winter.” His hot lips land on my sweaty neck. “You’re so goddamned sexy. You know that?”

  “With you,” I murmur into his shoulder. “With you, I feel all those sexy things you say I am.”

  “With or without me,” he says firmly. “But I prefer with me.”

  I raise my head to look at him.

  “Just wanted to make that clear,” he says, his voice rough.

  I suck in a breath, unable to break the eye contact. I want to be with Hunter Storm for a lot longer than this temporary timeline we’ve put on whatever it is that we’re doing. I just don’t know how to make that work or how to tell him.

  All I can say is, “I feel the same.”

  * * *

  Hunter

  After reuniting last night with Winter, followed by this morning when she blew my mind in bed, I’m feeling slightly less edgy about what I’m about to do.

  I still want to take a bat to whoever killed my father, but having Winter beside me as we walk across the parking lot of the police station calms me in a way I don’t want to think too hard about.

  I take her hand in mine as we get near the front door, and we’re just about to enter when I hear, “Storm.”

  Still holding Winter’s hand, I whip around.

  Jared and Max are striding toward us. Their fac
es are grim.

  “What are you two doing here?” I ask in shock.

  “You seriously think we wouldn’t come to try to ID our father’s murderer?” Jared scowls at me.

  Clearly trying to break the tension, Max grins at Winter. “Must be because Hunt’s the youngest. He never seems to know as much as Jared and I.”

  Winter smiles, but she squeezes my hand, and I know she’s letting me know that she’s on my side.

  Like he’s just noticing, Max’s gaze goes to our joined hands. “You two together now?” He raises an eyebrow.

  “Seriously?” Jared says before Winter or I can answer. “You two are finally…”

  “No,” I say firmly. “I don’t know,” I add, and both my brothers crack up. “Shut up and focus on why we’re all here.”

  At that moment, Liam peels into the parking lot in the black SUV he bought after Lulu was born.

  He hops out of the driver’s side and shuts the door behind him. The SUV beeps as he flicks his remote to lock the doors.

  “Hey, Hunt. Winter.” Like my other brothers, Liam’s gaze immediately goes to Winter’s hand wrapped in mine. “About time you two made it official. Or are you two going to deny it?”

  “If no comment is a denial, then yes,” I say curtly. “Like I’ve already said, let’s stay on topic today.”

  Liam gives me a chin tilt before turning to Jared and Max.

  “What are you assholes doing here?” he says. “I told you not to come. You’ll get a team fine.”

  “We cleared it with Coach,” Max says. “He said, and I quote, ‘I hope you can ID that bastard and bring justice to your family.”

  Winter’s hand tightens in mine.

  I glance over at her. “You okay?”

  She nods. But as my three brothers turn toward the door of the station, Winter tugs at my hand like she’s trying to pull away.

  “I don’t belong in there, Hunter.” Her blue eyes are as still as the lake I used to fish in with my dad. “You four deserve to do this in private. It’s a family matter.”

  But I’m not letting her go that easily. “Do you want to come with me?” I ask her.