The Risk Read online

  I caught up with Shelly about school, learning that they had been rooming together since the start. I knew that Shelly was making the most of her freedom on campus and it made me feel better that Holly was there to hopefully tame her down some. Shelly was smart, and she was going to ace college, without a doubt. I just didn’t want her to do anything that she regretted. I was a little crazy when I was in college and felt a bit guilty about some of my antics. Not that pro hockey was much different, just another setting. The women were aggressive, and some didn’t take a hint very well. Not at all. Thank fuck for normal girls like Holly.

  The check was paid, and I left a generous tip on top of the one they already charged me. We all stood, and the girls led the way to the front door as I watched Holly’s juicy ass sway back and forth. I was with my parents and turned to look at Mom as she asked me something, keeping my head down. I wanted to get out of here and get the hell back to my house on the other side of town. I was aching and needed a release after seeing such perfection all night.

  On the way to the car, a girl approached me wearing a jersey with my name on it. I glanced at her, seeing a flash of dark hair and eyes before my raging desire took over. I made sure that my family was leaving before going to her place, ripping her clothes off as soon as we were moving to her bedroom.

  I didn’t picture dark eyes in my mind as I fucked her relentlessly. I saw light green eyes begging me for more as I drove myself inside of her, seeking my release.

  Chapter Three

  Holly

  I walked to the car with Shelly as she chattered on about the game and dinner. I had to admit that the restaurant was gorgeous, and the food was the best I’d ever eaten. I wondered what the bill was as Logan paid so casually with a card. Then again, he was beyond rich from what I knew about sports. All the stars were.

  I didn’t tell her that I thought her brother was beautiful. No, not beautiful. He was gorgeous in a way that most men could never be, with rough edges around the surface. He wasn’t the model type at all but a rugged, intimidating hulk of a man. Now that I’d seen him play, I found him to be more hotter than just seeing him. The way he skated with ease and chased the puck turned me on. The way he took in the view of the ice in front of him made me envious of his focus since I never felt like I had that degree of it ever. I wish I did. I was a great student but not the 4.3 GPA kind that my parents wanted me to have. I had enough to cover my school costs and dorm, but I worked at the campus coffee shop to make a little extra money. They blamed that for my lack of perfect grades, but it was just who I was. I was doing well enough with my graphic design degree so far to get a solid job somewhere and make a life for myself, preferably in Canada.

  I got into her car and glanced back as she started the car. It was packed, and we’d be stuck here for a while, but Shelly turned on some music and sang along as she bounced in her seat. I wondered how Logan and the guys were getting out of here and what he was doing. It wasn’t difficult to notice the response that he got from women, making me wonder if he slept with a lot of them.

  I almost snorted. Of course, he did.

  We got out of the parking lot about a half hour later and she pulled onto the main road. Shelly asked me if I wanted to go back to the dorms or stay with her parents for the weekend. I agreed to either before we left, so we drove to their place just out of town. Now that I knew how great they were, I wasn’t as nervous as I had been when we left. Shelly made the drive outside of the main city and then took a windy road to a secured neighborhood, punching in a code before the iron gate swung wide open.

  The driveway was long, and I gasped as we pulled up to a large, stone house. It had to be three stories with light slabs of rock covering the front of it and a ton of windows. Shelly parked in the large garage and turned off the car as I gaped at her.

  “This is where you grew up?” I asked her as Shelly smiled.

  “Yes. It was the best childhood, Hol.” She beamed, and I knew how close she was to her family as she hopped out of the car. I joined her as we grabbed our bags and headed inside through a warm, modern kitchen. There were a few lights on as I looked around, finding the inside of the house to be comfortable and welcoming. It was beautiful in there but not in the way that a museum might be. It was a home.

  Shelly led me through the sunken living room and up some stairs, calling out to her parents. They called back from the first floor as she switched on the light in a room. It was painted a soft gray with a large bed, a dresser and a door that I assumed led to the bathroom.

  “This is the guest room. Mine is right across the hall,” she told me as footsteps made me look back. Her mom Linda approached her and gave Shelly a hug before pulling me into her arms for another one.

  “I’m so glad you two decided to come here for the weekend. It feels like Shelly is a whole world away from us now.” Linda gave her daughter a fond look as she smiled. “Did you enjoy the game, Holly? I was so hyper that I didn’t think to ask earlier.”

  “It was amazing. I’ll bet it was great growing up with hockey,” I noted as they both laughed.

  “I loved the boys like they were all my own. God, they had my heart. However, there were a lot of cold and early mornings and so much driving. I’d never trade those years for anything, but I like that your dad retired and we can relax a bit. It’s a nice change.” I widened my eyes at that. Linda and Shelton seemed too young for that. Linda told us that she was going to get some sleep and that we’d do something in the morning.

  “He’s retired?” I asked Shelly as she chuckled.

  “He owned a business. It’s a successful shipping company here in Calgary and did well, so he was to retire at fifty-five. He is still somewhat involved but my cousin Caden is running it now. Mom never worked. She stayed home with us.” I envied Shelly in that moment. She had the perfect memories and all I could think about was Dad working long hours at the bank while Mom either worked the desk or spent time with friends. We weren’t close like this family was. Shelly showed me her bold violet room that still had pictures from the school as well as of her family everywhere. They didn’t change a thing though that was less than two years ago.

  I wondered where Logan slept as I closed the door to the guest room after telling her good night. Was his room the same? Was it covered with hockey pictures and trophies lining a shelf?

  I needed to get control of myself. It was easy to see why I was caught up in this for tonight since the game was such a big event. Live sports were exciting in general, but there was a certain aggression to hockey that the baseball my dad watched when I was a kid was lacking. I had a moment where I wondered if he’d go to a Rangers game with me sometime. Dad could get great tickets to almost anywhere.

  I changed into pajamas and plugged my phone into the charger before slipping under the covers. This bed was comfortable as I stretched out, smiling to myself. I felt so far away from New York right now as I played back the night as well as the year.

  I wanted Logan. I’d only slept with one guy in high school and wasn’t impressed. We dated for a few months and did it the night of Senior Prom. I seemed to graduate five minutes after that and certainly didn’t keep in touch with him. Over the last year, I’d been busy with school and no guys caught my attention. Logan didn’t only catch it, but he made my world spin out of control. The way that he looked at me as I crossed the room to get to Shelly was heated and made his eyes look stormy.

  I told myself that he had that effect on all women. He could probably smile that confident, crooked grin that I saw so much of tonight and they’d strip on the spot. I considered it for a fleeting second before I remembered that I was there with his sister. Shelly was my best friend now and brothers were off limits though it made for a great plot in a book. I sighed and felt my nipples harden as I imagined Logan over me, sucking them into his mouth as he slipped a hand over my underwear.

  I moaned as moisture flooded the lace between my legs and moved my hand down my cotton pants to touch myself. This wasn’
t something I did all the time living in a small dorm but hell if I didn’t need it right now. I felt the slick heat between my thighs and stroked the needy nub as I closed my eyes. I knew that I needed to do this with another person at some point, but it wouldn’t be Logan. He was a great fantasy as I stroked and imagined the dirty things I wanted him to do to me. I came hard as I held in my cry, jerking against my hand as the waves pulsed through me.

  If it felt this good just thinking about him, how would it feel to have Logan inside of me? I imagined his eyes on mine as he drove himself deep into my pussy, growling my name. I was losing my mind, and I forced my eyes open in the dark, bringing me back to reality. It was never going to happen, and I needed to get over that.

  I slept in a bit late the following morning, given the silence of the house and my exhaustion from getting myself off the night before. When I looked at the clock to see that it was close to half-past eight, I blinked and looked at the sun shining through the windows. I knew that it was chilly out there even with the beautiful skies and stretched with a yawn.

  I took a shower and dressed in comfortable jeans and a soft cashmere sweater in a dark red. I slipped socks on my feet and headed downstairs after fixing my face. I heard voices in the kitchen and walked inside to see Linda and Shelly talking to some other women, one younger and one older.

  “Good morning, Holly.” Linda jumped up and poured me some coffee as I greeted her softly. She introduced me to Shelly’s younger sister Moira and her aunt Brandy. They all looked alike, and I smiled as I joined them at the large table. There was a series of windows offering a view of trees and what looked like a small lake as I sipped the steaming liquid, taking it all in.

  “The view is amazing,” I told Linda as there was a pause in the conversation.

  “We love it. Where did you grow up?” She asked as she smiled at me.

  “New York. City not state, so it was nothing like this,” I replied with a small smile.

  “That must have been exciting, though. I have always wanted to visit,” Brandy told me as she smiled. She must be a few years younger than Linda although they were both gorgeous and looked under forty. Shelly had some great genes.

  “It is something in itself. I have enjoyed living here though. The town with the college is so quaint and I love the fact that I can hike and see a tree when I want to.” I laughed, and they all joined me as we moved into another topic. Within an hour, it was decided that we were all going to get some breakfast and do some shopping. Shelly rushed upstairs to get ready since she came right down after waking up. I took my second cup of coffee to the back deck, gazing at some family photos along the way. They all looked as close as they acted, and Logan was cute even as a little boy. Shelly was gorgeous even though she trashed her brown hair constantly. They were a perfect family as far as I could tell. I slipped open the sliding glass door and looked over the endless scenery as a cool breeze blew around me.

  “It’s calming, isn’t it?” I glanced back to see Linda step outside to join me.

  “I would spend a lot of time out here,” I assured her, glancing down to see a generous yard that the kids must have spent hours in. While Moira was now in high school, I knew that it wasn’t that long ago that she came out here for some alone time. I would have.

  “Shelton added a hot tub a couple of years ago just down the steps. We love to come out here when we can bear it and wind down after a long day,” Linda said as I smiled brightly. “There're suits in the house if you want to hop in before you go. It isn’t that cold right now.” We both laughed. It was chilly but if Logan were asking, I’d jump in immediately.

  I needed to stop. I might still be under twenty, but I wasn’t in high school. I needed to stop this silly crush that I had going on. We chatted until everyone appeared in the living room, ready to go. Brandy drove in her huge SUV and we went into Calgary, first stopping at a little diner. The five of us sat at a table in the middle of the room, sipping more coffee as we looked over the menu. I made a mental promise to myself to work out a bit more than normal as I took a bite of my blueberry pancakes slathered in real maple syrup.

  After a fun meal, we hit the streets to shop. The city was small enough to get around on foot for the most part. We took a cab if we went any further, but it wasn’t like New York. I had a little money from a recent birthday and work and found a nice scarf and another sweater along the way. I didn’t have a lot of memories like this with my mom and I observed how they all interacted.

  Chapter Four

  Logan

  I woke up late in my own bed the following morning, feeling the whiskey that I drank upon arriving home. I was disappointed in the sex with the puck bunny and made up a reason to leave as soon as it was over.

  I slept with a lot of girls since high school, but it felt like the casual thing was getting old to me. I rose and went into my kitchen to get some water, feeling the sting of a hit that I took last night. I groaned as I sipped the bottle and slowly made my way to the coffee maker to brew some. I had a rare day off today after our big win last night and dropped to my couch as I sipped my steaming cup. I ran a hand through my hair and wondered what to do. I thought about Shelly, wondering if she was still in town. I didn’t feel like working out today or skating, so I reached for the phone and dialed my dad. He assured me that Shelly and Holly were there and shopping with a few other family members. They should be home later in the afternoon and I told him that I’d shower and come over. My phone vibrated as I dropped it to the couch beside me, seeing a text from a girl I’d hooked up with about a month ago. I tried to keep my info private with women, but some were more aggressive than others.

  It would not get her anywhere.

  I took a shower and dried my hair, leaving it to dry in loose waves. I spent most of my time with a helmet on and covered in sweat. I didn’t care too much about appearances when it came to family or a quick trip into the city. I cleaned up and gazed at the clothes in my closet for a moment, knowing that Holly was there. I selected a good pair of jeans and a new Henley that brought out my eyes, finishing the ensemble off with some heavy black boots. I slipped a thick jacket on before leaving, calling in an order for everyone’s favorite pizza place on the way. I made the order for around five and assured them I’d pick it up before ending the call.

  I drove through the neighborhood that I grew up in, smiling as I made the winding curves. I bought my own house three years ago after rooming with some of the guys for most of my time playing hockey. I needed my own space, having something to do with being twenty-five or just sick of the constant rotation of women. I just wanted peace and I rarely brought women to my own house.

  When I pulled into the driveway, I parked near the garage. I didn’t see my aunt’s monster of a vehicle yet and assumed they got caught up. The women in my family could shop like it was a job. I headed inside to catch up with Dad after last night, watching scores and talking hockey with him until the sound of feminine laughter filtered through the house. We glanced up as Mom headed the group with her arms full of bags. She saw me and smiled, dropping them on the counter to come and hug me. Shelly followed, and I ruffled her hair as she laughed.

  Holly stood in the kitchen, watching me with a wary expression. She looked beautiful today, and I smiled at her as Brady and Moira walked over to greet me. Everyone was at the game last night, supporting me, but I liked this more intimate setting much better.

  Holly joined us in the large living room and sipped a bottle of water as we talked about the game. Mom amazed me with her knowledge of hockey as she asked questions, making me proud. She was so much more than just a driver back when I was a kid. She was involved and passionate about my future. Shelly sat on the couch beside Holly, laughing at old stories as her friend seemed to shift uncomfortably in her seat. I’d noticed her tight jeans and fitted sweater the second that she walked in, enjoying her curves in the brighter light of the house. Her face was stunning, and her eyes were bright with the colors I’d noticed last night. I not
iced that she blushed when she caught me looking at her and sipped my vitamin water slowly, focusing on Dad as he asked about one of the other players.

  I mentioned that pizza would be ready around five and Moira asked if she could go with me to pick it up. She wanted to get some ice cream at the shop nearby and I agreed as I gave Holly a long look. I’d love to go alone with her and get to know her a bit. She drew me in closer with each furtive glance my way. Mom shooed us out of the house, telling me that she’d make a quick salad to go with dinner as Brady offered to help. Her husband and two kids were coming to join us, and I told Moira to remind me to order another pizza. The boys could eat a lot.

  Moira chattered about her first year of high school and her friends. She had a good group that went back to elementary school and I was happy to see her so settled in. When she mentioned the boys, I held in my sigh. It was bound to happen, but I wanted to protect her just like I had Shelly.

  “Mo, you know I don’t want to hear about boys. I had a hard enough time letting Shelly go off to college. Don’t make me worry about you too,” I joked as we carried the pizzas to my car, setting them in the back seat. Moira looked at me with Dad’s green eyes and wrinkled her nose.

  “Shelly is so happy. She has that nice friend, too. I think she’s doing great.” Moira defended our sister as I nodded in agreement. I was sure that she didn’t know as much as I did about the antics at college and was not about to fill her in. I also wholeheartedly agreed with her about Holly.

  “Do you like Holly?” I asked as Moira nodded enthusiastically.

  “She’s nice. Quiet, but she told us that she had a small family. This was a lot different for her.” Moira was open with her conversation and I made some mental notes.