Three Skid Marks

by April Ryder

  "Settle, settle," he said but glanced at the piece of paper he had been handed and finally read the result. "The winner, by one point is…the Selby Slammers!"

  Celebrations started early. Someone brought in a carton of beer. It didn't matter that I didn't like beer. I was still flying high from the win. Our early celebration was time limited as we all wanted to get back out and watch the guys win their game. Many of us took showers with our bottles of beer. I was honoured to be allowed use of the disabled access shower. Sadly I could not partake in Jake the Shower's services, but I did find a use for the rest of my beer. Apparently it's good for your hair.

  We spilled out of the changing room and found seats at the front. Some of the crowd had changed out while we were toasting our success and more beer—this time in plastic cups—was handed around. I declined. The last thing I wanted to do was puke on the rink in front of my derby sisters and the hunky guys.

  The home side skated onto the rink and we stamped and cheered along with the crowd. Kilty wolf-whistled, almost deafening me when Adam appeared. The rest of the girls joined in as the players approached for their second lap. Jake peeled off from the group and slowed enough to take my hand and kiss it.

  "For luck!" he called as he picked up the pace to rejoin his team.

  Rick trailed behind. His ominous glare hit me like a brick and the silly grin I'd worn for Jake morphed into a spiteful tongue poke. What can I say, the Dick brings out the worst in me.

  The visiting side took to the rink and the game started. It soon became clear that this would be a close match. I didn't know much about hockey but even I could see that our guys were in trouble. Rick had no trouble gaining the puck, but the forwards were having a more difficult time keeping it. Add to that every time Rick looked at Jake, two men were marking him. Rick had no choice but to pass the puck to the other guys on the team. By half-time no points had been scored.

  Half-time ended with the shrill tweet of the whistle. I automatically passed the cups of beer down as they were handed to me. Not one of us said a word as we sipped our drinks—Coke for me—and watched in awe as the players returned to the rink. The tension was so thick you could spread it on a pancake with cream.

  Jake and Rick brushed against each other, their bodies taut and tightly wound, ready to snap at any moment. I might have imagined Rick's growl, but seeing him radiate such pure primal energy made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

  "This isn't good," I murmured.

  "They're going to kill each other," Kilty agreed.

  It took ten minutes before they tried. Jake, fed up with not seeing any action, decided to take matters into his own hands—or more accurately out of Rick's.

  "Oh my fucking God," I breathed.

  All I could do was watch as Jake dropped back on the rink and attempted to wrestle the puck from Rick. A member of his own team. For a moment it looked like Rick was going to let him, but a sudden change in body language from both men told me otherwise.

  The barrier gave under my weight and ran out onto the rink as the two men laid into each other. I've never seen two grown men fight, other than on TV. This was real though. The blood coming from Jake's nose was real. The stick breaking over Rick's back was real and the crowd chanting for more was sickeningly real.

  "Stop it!" I yelled, horrified at the brutality of it all, that two passionate men could devolve into such mindless, violent creatures. Well, I kind of expected it from Rick—but not Jake!

  Of course they didn't listen.

  "I said stop it!" I screamed and kicked.

  My toe connected with something hard and I gasped when Rick's gaze turned my way. At least I had his attention. Or was it because I had distracted him and now Jake was taking advantage? Dammit!

  I kicked again and this time two sets of anger-filled eyes settled on me.

  "You kicked me?" Jake asked, confused, and in my imagination he sounded betrayed.

  "She kicked me too," Rick said, not blinking once.

  I was surprised that had worked but quickly plonked my fists on my ample hips and glared back. "Yeah I did, and I'll do it again if you don't quit fighting. What are you, five? You're both on the same team for fuck's sake. Do you think a scout is going to want guys who fight on the—"

  Jake pointed an accusatory finger at Rick and interrupted me. "This is his fault."

  "I didn't tell you to hit me."

  "No he didn't," I agreed as I got between them, just in case they got any funny ideas to start fighting again. "Let's just take a break and a deep breath and calm down."

  I could feel them glaring at each other over my head but that was fine, at least they were keeping their arms and legs to themselves. It took several breaths—angry air out, calm air in—for the intensity in Jake's eyes to waver. I couldn't see Rick as he was behind me, but figured he was letting it out as well.

  There was something dizzying about being between two men who had just tried to violently rip each other a part. I think the masculinity was getting to me. I really needed to spend a long time in Shawn the Shower when I got home tonight. This was too much manliness for a woman to take.

  "Okay, now kiss and make up—I mean shake hands and…yeah."

  A grunt tinged with what I decided to be amusement told me Rick had done like Elsa and let it go. I briefly wondered if he'd seen that movie with his daughter, but the thought unsettled me so I quashed it.

  "It's okay, Princess," Jake said softly. "I…overreacted."

  I nodded and stepped aside so the two men could settle their grievance in a more civilised manner. You know I really should have seen this coming. I don't know what they said to each other, but one moment Jake's on his feet and the next he's flat on his back with more blood coming out of his nose.

  "Jake!" I yelled and dropped to my knees. As if that was the cue they needed, the guys from the St. John's ambulance rushed over. I was gently moved aside so they could assess and administer first aid.

  Red was all I saw as I pushed my way through the crowd that had spilled onto the rink and tracked down my prey. He had his back to me as he walked away.

  Without thinking—it seems to happen a lot—I grabbed the Dick by his arm and yanked hard. The asshole barely moved but he did at least acknowledge me. With a grunt. Of course.

  "What the what?" I demanded as I walked around and stared him down. When he looked away I almost fell over, I was that surprised.

  I tried again, "Aren't you going to say something?"

  He was silent for so long that I'd opened my mouth when he finally spoke.

  "I was right."

  "Right about what?"

  "I did do something I'd regret."

  My brow furrowed at his response. Before I could ask him to elaborate on whether he meant hitting his teammate or something else, Rick skated away from me…

  Kilty appeared at my side and said, "Your boyfriend is asking for you."

  "Huh?"

  "Jake?" she said. "Dark hair, killer smile, calls you Princess. Remember him?"

  "Oh, him. He's not my boyfriend."

  "He's not?"

  "He's…" I started but trailed off. What was Jake? The guy who took me out to dinner and kissed me senseless? A hot guy whose pants I want to remove and do illicit things to and with?

  "Well whatever he is, he's asking for you."

  I followed Kilty to the stretcher Jake sat on at the side of the rink. She left us alone and Jake waved the St. John's workers away.

  "H-how are you?" I asked, suddenly shy.

  "I'll live," he said and tried to smile. His lip was split and I noticed him wince.

  "So are they taking you to the hospital?"

  "No. I can go home as long as someone is there to keep an eye on me. But I don't have anyone except…you."

  "Oh," I said. "Oh. Well, I guess you could come home with me then. If you want."

  This time he smiled without showing pain. What a brave man. "I'd like that."

  "Oh, wait! What about the match
?" I asked, suddenly remembering we were in a sports centre in the middle of a game of inline hockey.

  "As much as I want to finish the game, I can't," he said, and this time look of anguish on his face had nothing to do with physical pain. "That bastard made sure of it."

  There was nothing I could say to alleviate that hurt. He was right. Not only had Rick cowardly punched him, he had ruined Jake's chances of playing for the national team. What I could do was take Jake home and look after him. I cautiously took his face in my hands and gently pressed my lips to his. It wasn't as magical as it had been in front of the restaurant, but it was sweet and comforting and all I had to give while we were in a room surrounded by his and my teammates and a slightly boozed-up crowd.

  Seeing as I can't drive, we left his car at the sports centre and took a taxi back to my apartment. Paul was fortunately out, although at this point I didn't really care where he was. Tomorrow I would find him and turn down his proposal. The few weeks we had spent apart was more than enough to show me we wouldn't work. We had never worked. I could now see it was familiarity and routine that had kept us together. Not love. And let's be clear, while I don't love Jake, I do feel something for him—even if it was a feeling of wanting to rip his clothes off and lick him over—it was more than what I had ever felt for Paul. And that's a good enough start for me.

  "Nice place," Jake said. "Do you live here alone?"

  "I do now."

  "That ex-fiancé you mentioned?"

  "He's gone," I confirmed. "Now, let's get you out of these clothes. Dried blood is not a good look."

  Jake scowled at the reminder of what had just happened. If he and Rick hadn't fought, he might have had another chance with the scout. But since they had, I doubt another scout would ever look at him.

  "You're not getting naked," I pointed out.

  He laughed. "Ah Princess, you only have to ask."

  I grinned, pleased with myself for successfully taking his mind off his troubles and for getting a free show. It was totally worth it. Let me tell you, his smile isn't the only perfect part of his body.

  "Oh my fucking God…"

  TO BE CONTINUED

  Thank you reader

  I hope you enjoyed reading Three Skid Marks. I certainly loved writing it!

  If you did, please post a review and rating as it will help others find this book and also enjoy themselves.

  Want more Hayley, Jake and Rick? Then say so in your review.

  The more people who want them, the more incentive I have to give you what you desire :)

  Don't forget to show One Skid Mark and Two Skid Marks some love too.

  Four Skid Marks

  A fun BBW Roller Derby Romance - Part Four!

  Hayley's second derby saw her spend time in the sin bin for fighting. The North Shore Marauders looked set to win as they scored heaps of points while the Slammers were without a jammer. Instead of giving in to defeat, Hayley pulled on her big girl pants and—with the help of the other Slammers—turned things around for a nail-biting win!

  More hilarity ensues as life continues to throw Hayley some very hairy curveballs. From losing her job to dealing with the difficult—yet so dammed hot—men who still seem to be fighting over her. Toss in three days of mandatory practice in the lead up to the Auckland Roller Derby Final. However will she cope?

  "I can't believe I punched that chick, just because she said she'd slept with my boyfriend. Why the eff did I think she meant Rick? WTF is wrong with me? Happy thoughts Hayley. Think happy thoughts: pancakes with cream and Jake doing that thing with his tongue…Excuse me, I need to do something in the shower!"

  — Hayley

  About the Author

  Rock star, catwalk model, ventriloquist—April Ryder is none of these things. She is, however, a BBW housewife looking to spice up her sex life with her hardworking and supportive BBM (is that even a thing?) husband. April enjoys living on the beach and plans to further explore her sexy, sensual side writing romance.

  Also by April Ryder

  A Very Skid Marks Christmas

  This Christmas Skid Marks

  Last Christmas Skid Marks

  Lady Godiva

  Biker Babe

  Grim Reaper

  Third Wheel

  Highway Heaven

  Lady Godiva 1

  Skid Marks

  One Skid Mark

  Two Skid Marks

  Three Skid Marks

  Four Skid Marks

  Skid Marks and the Selby Slammers

  Watch for more at April Ryder’s site.