Page 22 of Play It Sinful

The pesky thought just serves to remind me of that crazy evening. But it doesn’t matter. I won’t change tonight’s plans. I meet Kadence and Scarlett in the courtyard in front of my dorm building. Because the weather is nice, they suggested we ride the campus bikes, and we’ll meet Blair at the arena.

“Hey. Have you been waiting long?”

“Nope, we just got here. I can’t believe we finally get to hang out again,” Scarlett replies. “The first few weeks of classes have kicked my butt.”

“Don’t remind me,” Kadence pipes up. “I’m ready to see some hockey eye candy.”

“Oh yeah. Can’t wait,” I reply sarcastically.

“Oh, come on, Ash. Even you can’t deny those boys are fiiine,” Scarlett says.

“It’s hard for me to see them as sex objects when my stepbrother is one of them.” I’m shocked how easily the lie rolls off my tongue. I wish it was true.

Scarlett and Kadence trade a look, then Kadence replies, “If I had a stepbrother who looked like yours, I’d be tempted to sin every damn day.”

My heart speeds up a little. If she only knew the wicked things I already did to Sean. My traitorous body awakens with desire, remembering them. Hell. If I’m getting turned on by memories alone, what will happen when I see him again?

“Oh shit. Look at Ash’s face. I think we just opened her eyes to Sean’s hotness.” Scarlett laughs.

I shake my head, but my face is in flames. “You’re nuts. Let’s get going. I don’t want to make Blair wait.”

SEAN

Staying away from Ashley has been more difficult than I thought. But the way I lost control the last time we were together scared the shit out of me. I’ve never felt such irrational attraction to anyone before. Getting involved with her is a complicationneither of us needs. It’s better to stop things now before it’s too late.

Despite the hardship and the intense first weeks of training and classes, I’m excited about my first game as a Warrior. I’ve been playing with these guys for over a month, but training camp isn’t the same.

The crowd in the arena is insane, and the jitters I felt when I entered the ice for warm-ups haven’t left me yet. We’re playing Fairbrook University. They aren’t our biggest rivals, but they’re good, and obviously, we want to win our first home game.

I’m on the second line with Alex and Logan Kaminski, which surprises me. As freshmen, I expected us to play fourth, maybe third if I were lucky. I’m not complaining; playing with the twins is fun. Alex is on D, and Logan and I are wingers; he’s on the right, and I’m on the left.

Alex intercepts the puck in the defensive zone and takes off. Logan and I keep up with him, expecting a pass, which happens when a D-man from Fairbrook applies pressure. I control the puck close to the boards. From the corner of my eye, I see a fast-coming D-man. I tense, bracing for the check. It’s not hard—this is a first game, after all, and no one wants to get hurt this early in the season.

My face hits the glass nonetheless, stunning me for a second. I shake my head, and when I turn, my eyes connect with Ashley’s. I freeze. I wasn’t expecting to see her here. Someone shouts my name, and I peel off the side of the boards and head back to the bench.

“Are you okay?” Assistant Coach LaRue asks.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

Normally, I’d pay attention to the game, but my gaze travels across the ice toward Ashley’s seat. The surprise of seeing her has worn off, but my heart is still hammering inside my chest, and not from physical exertion.

I’m...happythat she’s here, and for all the wrong reasons. The memory of her sweet taste on my tongue comes to the forefront of my mind, making my cock stir in my pants.

“Dude, who are you looking at?” Logan asks me.

“No one.”

I force my attention back to the game. Now that I know Ashley is watching me, I can’t fuck up. If I do, she’ll tease me to no end, and I want to impress her. It’s nuts that I’m having these thoughts about her.

It doesn’t take long for me to go back into the game. Line changes in hockey happen fast. I zero in on the puck, but I can’t help being aware of Ashley’s presence whenever I skate near her seat.

The whistle calls an icing for the other team and the play stops. Unable to control myself, I glance at Ashley and notice for the first time the guy next to her. He leans closer to whisper something in her ear, but her body language tells me she’s not happy with the proximity.

Anger erupts from the pit of my stomach. I skate up to the boards and hit the glass with the side of my closed fist. “Back the fuck off!”

The guy jumps to the side, his face going pale. I glance at Ashley and find her staring at me, mouth agape and eyes round. Her surprise lasts only a few seconds before her gaze turns volatile. I skate away before she can say anything.

No surprise, I’m called back on the bench. I don’t even bitch about it.

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