Offside (Rules of the Game, #1)

“Breaking news on the sex tape scandal for NHL player Matthew Stevens,” the announcer said. “Stevens allegedly recorded a second unidentified woman without her consent while they were engaged in sexual activity. Criminal charges are now pending.”


Matthew Stevens was an up-and-coming hockey prodigy one year older than Chase. He was on track to be the next Sidney Crosby in terms of his skill and style of gameplay. Now it looked like his career might be over before it started.

“Yikes.” I turned down the volume quickly. Definitely didn’t need to think about that right now. Or ever.

“No kidding.” Chase grimaced as he pulled into the lone vacant spot. “Something like that could end his career.”

And hers too—whoever she was. The news was keeping her identity anonymous for now, but if criminal charges went ahead, it would be revealed eventually. Then his lawyers would probably drag her name and reputation through the mud any way possible.

Not to mention that everyone she knew could go to PornPlace—or whatever it was called—and watch her most intimate moments. Horrifying.

A prickle of anxiety crept back into the corner of my brain. I’d pushed the sex tape blind item to the back of my mind until now, but I was getting paranoid again.

There was no way that had anything to do with me.

Couldn’t.

I hoped.





Fifteen minutes later, Chase pulled up in front of a blue two-story house in a newer development. It wasn’t as impressive as the one he lived in with Dallas and Ty, but it was still nicer than the average college student accommodations.

He parked against the curb and killed the ignition. Unbuckling my seat belt, I shifted in my seat, moving closer to him and placing a hand on his thigh.

Payback time.

“Before we go in,” I said, “tell me more about your truck sex fantasy.”

His gaze fell to my hand, then lifted up to my face. He gave me a devilish smile. “What about it?”

“Where would this take place?” I slid my palm higher up his jean-clad leg. “I mean, in theory.”

“Lots of quiet areas out where my mom lives. Maybe around Thanksgiving, we could take a little detour…”

“Mmm,” I hummed, moving higher. “We should definitely do that.”

Chase shifted his weight, drawing in a breath; now I had him going.

“Dammit.” He shook his head.

“What?”

“You know what. You’re making me horny before we have to go inside.”

“Call it payback, Carter.” I gave him a look. “Besides, you’re always horny.”

“Of course I am,” he said. “Look at you.”





Everyone was bombed by the time we showed up. Dallas and Siobhan had gotten drunk on expensive wine at dinner with his parents—Shiv in particular, and she was talking so loudly I could hear her from the next room. And reportedly, the majority of the guests had been playing beer pong for a good portion of the night. Based on the noise level, it showed.

Chase steered me into the kitchen and quickly introduced me to Kyle Penner. He had wavy, reddish-blond hair and didn’t look familiar to me, but a lot of the guys looked different off the ice.

But the girl with him did look familiar. Dark hair, very pretty, petite. She was the girl hanging off Chase at the rink after the game against Callingwood. Kristen. I wasn’t her biggest fan, and there was definitely history between her and Chase.

After an awkward exchange, we headed into the living room where a group of people was playing a drinking game with cards. Tyler and the girl he’d brought were making out on a couch in the corner while his hand crept dangerously high underneath her short skirt. I had to avert my eyes to avoid seeing straight up it.

“Bailey!” Shiv squealed, waving us over. We squeezed onto the couch beside her and Dallas. “Are we still going shopping for the gala this weekend?”

Right. The gala. In the chaos of the move, I had forgotten. It was a big charity event that the hockey community put on for the Children’s Hospital Foundation. We were sharing a table with Dallas and Shiv, Ty and his date, and another couple.

It sounded nice—and fancy, which was a slight issue for me in terms of the dress code. But I would figure it out. Maybe via Zara or Noelle’s closet.

“Yup.”

By we, I meant I would accompany her and watch while spending zero dollars.

“I can’t wait,” she said. “I love dress shopping.”

Dallas chortled. “You love shopping, period. Even grocery shopping with you is an event.”

Shiv rolled her eyes, taking a sip of beer. “You have more shoes than I do, Dal.”

Chase nudged me. “Are you going to buy something sexy for me?”

Yeah, with my negative-balance bank account.

“Uh, no.” I cleared my throat. “I’m sure I have something. Just going for Shiv.”

We joined in their drinking game, playing together and sharing a beer because I didn’t understand the rules and didn’t want to get drunk. A few rounds later, I excused myself to use the bathroom. The one on the main floor was occupied by someone throwing up, so Kyle directed me upstairs to the other bathroom.

After drying my hands, I opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. A wall of solid muscle with mischievous dark eyes stopped me.

Chase gave me a crooked smile. “Hi.”

“Hi.” My breath caught as he placed his hands on my hips and took a step forward, steering me into the bathroom. “What are you doing?”

“Getting you alone.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?” He closed the door behind him and locked it, then flipped on one set of lights, bathing the bathroom in a dim glow.

“But there are people downstairs.”

“Not sure if you noticed, but they’re all too plastered to even realize we’re gone.” His eyes danced. “Besides, that’s what makes it hot.”

I drew in a breath. “I—”

“Unless you don’t want me to make good on all that teasing.” Warm hands slid under my shirt, fingers digging into my skin. Liquid heat pooled between my legs. “But teasing you gets me worked up too, so between that and the truck, I really need to fuck you. And I’m pretty sure you feel the same way.”

I bit my bottom lip and nodded.

Chase backed me up against the counter. “Can you be quiet for me, baby?”

“I don’t know if I can.”

“Guess you’re going to have to try.”

With his lips on mine, he leveled me with a demanding kiss. Time sped up, our mouths and hands moving in a blur. Desire crashed over me as I fumbled with his belt, unfastening it and his jeans. His hands slid down the curve of my hips, taking my pants and underwear with them.

Grabbing the backs of my thighs, he set me on the counter and spread my legs. I splayed my hands across his lower back, trying to pull him closer to me, but he stopped short.

He dipped his head, mouth beside my ear. “Say it.”

“Say what?”

“Say fuck me, please. Or maybe I want your cock buried deep inside my pussy. I need specific instructions about what you want me to do.”

The throb between my legs verged on painful. I wanted those things. Very badly. Verbalizing them was another story.

“I can’t say that,” I breathed.

“Oh, I think you can.” He palmed my breasts and squeezed. “Otherwise, we’ll both be left hanging. And I don’t think either of us wants that.”

“I…want you.”

His gaze held mine, predatory and expectant. “Want me to what?”

Breath coming out in tiny pants, I watched him for a beat. He placed his hands on my bare upper thighs, waiting. My heart pounded against my ribcage. I was too turned on to be self-conscious. I needed him.

“I want you to fuck me.”

“Good girl.” He gripped my hips roughly and pulled me closer to the edge of the counter, simultaneously pushing inside me. Pleasure instantly surged through my body, going from zero to sixty for the third time today.

“Oh god,” I whispered, arching my back against him.

One hand spanned my lower back, holding me in place, while the other slid up the back of my neck and grabbed a fistful of hair at the roots. I tried to stifle a moan as he moved against me, staying deep and hitting the perfect spot.

“Can I pull your hair a little harder?” he asked, voice low.

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