Page 132 of Pucking the Team
Lacing my fingers behind my head, elbows to the sides, I closed my eyes. I had a new way to live, here in Florida, with four gorgeous men who I needed and I believed needed me. I had a career that was at the stage I could pick and choose what jobs I took, and enough money to do and buy what I wanted.
Something inside me also told me the other women I’d met at the rink— Mae, Carly, Fiona, Gina—also got me. They were all successful in their own right. I wasn’t competition as lots of women saw me. Perhaps some of them would plug the hole Cheryl had left and be a much better fit.
I released my hands and walked around the room, unhurried, tracing my finger over the furniture. This really felt like home. I had no urge to go back to London, to the UK, not for now. Aunt Mary would understand, heck, I’d get her a first-class ticket and she could come and have a sunny holiday.
A smile tickled my lips; one I didn’t think would appear after that moment at the elevator. My pulse was steady and calm, and I realized I had everything I needed under this roof. The rest of the world could say and think what it wanted. Here, it couldn’t touch me. I’d never been one for online obsessing and I wouldn’t start now.
“Pippa.” Eduardo’s voice. “I’ve made your tea.”
“Be right there.”
Quickly, I freshened up in the en suite, added a squirt of perfume, and then went downstairs. I didn’t want my guys worrying about me, and they didn’t need to.
Except when I stepped into the kitchen that was exactly what I saw. Four anxious and tight faces. Dylan was stalking beside the island. Ben was standing with his arms crossed so tight his biceps were bulging over his knuckles. Theo was sat on the dining table kicking his legs back and forth, and Eduardo was stirring my tea so hard the mug was in danger of shattering.
“Hey, stop this,” I said and reached for my drink. “You look like you just lost the Stanley Cup.”
“If we lost you it would be worse than losing the Stanley Cup,” Dylan said, coming to a halt.
“Now you’re being dramatic.” I set my mug to one side and went into his arms. “I know how much that cup means to you all.”
“But do you know how much you mean to us all?” His dark eyes bored into mine. I swear they had roaring flames in their depths. “We can’t lose you, we’re all in agreement with that. And if the press, this intrusion makes it unbearable for you to stay, then—”
I set my finger over his lips. “No, don’t think that. I’ll never letthemdictate my life.”
“Do you mean that?” Ben was close behind me. He swept my hair to one side, his warm breath breezing onto my skin.
“Yes. I do.”
“It will blow over.” Theo was at my side. “We’ll be old news soon.”
“I know, and we’ll lie low for a while.” I smiled at Theo and was pleased to see some of the tension go from his features. “I’m not opposed to your idea of a deserted island in the Caribbean if practice allows.”
“Could definitely happen end of season,” Ben whispered by my ear and then kissed my sensitive spot.
“Yeah, all of us, could be fun.” Dylan kissed me on the lips.
The kiss deepened, his tongue found mine, and I leaned onto him. Ben was tracing my neck with his kisses, and Theo ran his hand down my arm, to my hand and took it in his.
“Mmm,” I murmured, feeling Ben pressing in closer.
His big body was hard and hot, as was Dylan’s, and I felt surrounded by their strength and love.
“Ma choue,”Eduardo said from my other side. “We all want you. We all want to show you how much we care, that you are the only woman for us.”
I broke the kiss and looked at him, and then at Dylan.
“Say yes,” Ben whispered. “We’ll make it good for you.”
Get naked and sweaty and down and dirty with all four of them? At the same time? Could I handle all that testosterone? All that passion?
“Nothing you don’t want,” Dylan said. “You have a safe word.”
“I want you all, too.” I licked my bottom lip and tasted Dylan’s dark flavor. “But I…”
“Won’t have to do a thing,” Theo said, his lips by my cheek, “if that’s what you’re worried about. We will do everything, give you pleasure, find pleasure, blow your mind with pleasure.”
That was an offer I couldn’t refuse. “So shall we go upstairs? To bed?” I swallowed, my throat tight, and wondering just what the hell I’d let myself in for.
