This is the first book in an 8 book series of hockey romances. All 8 books have an underlying theme of ‘life after loss’. My first book is about Natasha, a librarian in her 40s who lost a sibling as a teenager and never healed, preventing her from ever finding/committing to love…and the hockey coach who is twice divorced and has given up his dreams of ever finding his match and having a family-until he meets Natasha…. Will Coach Alex's love (along with his superior skills in the sack) be enough to break down the walls Natasha has held firm for over two decades? The 8 books go through the different players of the team, all having their own versions of loss to overcome, with the captain (Adam) being married to a woman (who happens to be a teacher at Natasha's school) who has a terminal illness and will eventually commit suicide in book 6 and the series ends with Adam's own second chance love story….
Lihat lebih banyakThe ice-cold water splashed against my knuckles as I scraped the fabric against the washbasin. I watched in satisfaction as the soil of the day washes clean in the river, making me wish I could do the same and wash the filth of my life away. Since the day I was born, of unknown origin, I was taken into a house of horror and abuse with the Emery family.
Magnus Emery, Alpha of the Rafina Pack, is the worst of them all. I was found outside the Alpha house as a newborn, with no note or explanation as to where I had come from. I was given the name Sevika, which I learned later in life was a name that meant ‘slave’. Pretty fitting.
I cooked and cleaned like a slave, even some of the servants were treated better than me. They had their own quarters available, while I was awarded the shed out back. There were rare times I slept in a comfy bed, but I never got any sleep.
Those were the nights that Magnus took me to bed and used me in any way he saw fit. He defiled and traumatized me beyond any man could ever, taking away experiences I wanted to save for only the loveliest in my life, but I was a fool to ever think I would meet a person like that.
Because it is on this day that I learned the last sacrifice I would make for this family.
“Sevika, enough with the laundry! Alpha wants to see you, now,” a voice called from behind. I turned to see Faye Thurlow, the supposed future Luna of the Rafina pack, with rumours circulating that she was discussing marriage to Magnus.
Despite this, it hadn’t stopped him from calling me to his room time and time again.
“I’ll be right there, I’m almost done,” I called back.
Faye stomped over and swatted me in the back of the head.
“Did you not hear me? I said now. Don’t make him wait.”
Why me? I dropped the clothes back in the basket and left them there. If he wanted to see me that badly he could send someone else to finish my job, I assumed.
I followed Faye back to the Alpha House where it looked like every one of the family members had gathered in the living room. A disturbed feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.
“There she is, finally,” I heard Alaira Emery call out. She was pouting on the couch next to her father.
“Welcome, Sevika, have a seat,” he said.
There weren’t any seats available, but Magnus quickly tapped his lap with a grin. I wanted to scoff at him for his actions with his future wife standing right behind me, but nobody objected which forced me to follow order to avoid causing a scene. As Alpha, Magnus could’ve easily commanded me to do whatever he wanted, but he liked it better when I submitted myself.
I sat down on his lap and ignored the glare that Faye gave me.
“We called you here because we have something we wanted to offer you, and as a member of our family, we have taken care of you as well as we can,” Sir Emery started speaking. “We recently received a marriage proposal for Alaira here, but as you may know, we have already made plans for her marriage.”
I hadn’t heard anything about her marriage or who she was betrothed to. It was obvious that they wanted to avoid sending their daughter off to an unknown place and wanted to use me as a backup.
But this was also my chance to get the hell out of here. Is there anywhere else worse than here? If so, maybe I would finally be put out of my misery and have this horrid life end.
“What is it you want me to do?” I asked.
“I want you to take my place.” Alaira snickered, enjoying every moment of this.
“You want me to marry instead of you? Is that allowed?”
“The proposal is only for the daughter of the Emery family, I guess they failed to realize we now have two daughters and didn’t specify which one,” Sir Emery said.
I held my tongue in reminding them that he mentioned mere minutes ago that the proposal had come for Alaira. Regardless of what I said, it seemed they had made up their mind.
“May I ask who it is that I am marrying?” I asked.
Magnus tightened his grip on my waist. “Don’t worry about that, sweetheart. You’ll find out tomorrow when we send you off.”
Despite his words, I felt I needed to be very concerned.
It is Lady Emery who spoke up for me. “She at least deserves to know where she is going, this is a rather large sacrifice she is making, and she won’t be returning. Her service over the years here has been spectacular, it’s best to prepare her.”
Sir Emery waves her off. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.” He turned to me with a sombre look. “The marriage proposal has come from the Alpha King, Caspian Eros.”
The Alpha King? The rumoured tyrant king who has slaughtered every wife before and torments any of those who defy him?
It is clear now what their motive was; I was being sent off to die in place of Alaira.
Natasha I roll to my side and can feel the heaviness on my eyelids. As much as I want to jump right up and put on my swimsuit and head down to the hot springs, even I can realize my limits and admit I need at least a short little snoozer before I am going anywhere.“Alex?” I use my whiniest voice in hopes he will comply with my request. “Yeah?” he asks as he pulls me toward his body, positioning my head on his chest. “Will you promise to wake me up in thirty minutes so we can go check out the hot springs?” Then I add an extra whiny, “Please,” just so he knows how serious I am. ……….I feel an elbow nudge the side of my waist. It's Alex, he’s still laying beside me. “Hey you still want to check out the hot springs or do you want to keep laying there snoring all night?” “I do not snore.”“Ok tell that to the bears you woke up out of hibernation,” he says laughing. “So dumb,” I say as I roll my eyes and throw my legs over the edge of the bed and walk across the room, bending over t
Alex You absolutely cannot take a trip to North Pole, Alaska without stopping by the Santa Claus house, especially in the midst of the holiday season. When Natasha told me hadn't been there, I knew immediately I had to add it to our itinerary. Even though she told me that she hates Black Friday shopping, this is a completely different experience. I grab her hand as we walk into the building which is sectioned off into three separate but blended areas. There is a coffee/cafe area where you can order espressos and baked goods, even sandwiches but their specialty is different flavored fudges There is a reading area where Santa Claus himself sits and reads books to children and adults. Unlike the shopping mall Santa claus’, this Santa is present during all open hours. The rest of the building is set up like a holiday themed store selling anything from Christmas ornaments and decor to toys and books for gift giving. Outside, holds a giant sleigh for a photo opportunity that families l
Natasha “Hey big brother,” Bobby says as we walk in the front door. Alex stands beside me, hand on my lower back. “Hey kid. You better give me that niece of mine,” Alex spots the baby and reaches out to grab her out of Bobby’s wife's arms. “Hi. I’m Bella,” Bobby’s wife introduces herself, “and you must be Natasha.” “Yes, thank you for inviting me to your home,” using my best manners. The home is beautifully decorated but cozy with that lived in feeling. There are some carefully placed pumpkins and cornucopia around the fireplace. I look over at Alex who looks so comfortable with that baby in his arms. If my ovaries weren’t so old they'd seen the days of rotary telephones, they'd be doing flips right now. Bobby is practically crowding him as if he’s afraid his brother will drop the little bundle but Alex just straight-arms him and tells him, “Back off papa bear. I can handle a six month old. I used to take care of your ass, didn't I?” Bobby looks at him with uncertainty but bac
Alex I picked her up at seven am sharp. I go to the door fully expecting her to be loaded down with luggage like my other two ex wives but Natasha surprises me again with one small carry on size case. I really need to quit comparing her to other women because she is nothing like the ones I have encountered in the past. It's a little over a six hour drive to North Pole from Anchorage, not considering stops to use the restroom, get gas, or pull over to admire the sights along the way. Sure we could have easily flown, it's only a forty minute flight. But then we would have had to rent a car and with the roads covered in ice the way they are, I would much rather be in my truck; it's safe with four studded snow tires and all wheel drive. I even have chains I can wrap around the tires if we need them. I throw her carry on in the back and jump in and stop at a drive through coffee shop on the way to the highway. Alaska is known for its drive through coffee shops and there's practically
Natasha I'm going to have to be careful with this one I think as I sink down into my comfortable bed. I can still taste Alex on my lips and feel his hardness between my thighs. So much hardness. I can’t say for sure since I didn't get my hands on it, but from what I could tell from over the pants, the coach is packing. I can't even remember the last time I've been so turned on. There's something about this guy. I've dated hot guys before, well, maybe not quite Coach Alex Anderson hot, but hot nonetheless. Damn, if he can make me come with my clothes on, imagine what he can do when we’re both naked. I fall asleep to the sweet dreams of the truck shenanigans running through my mind. I wake up and already know it’s going to be a busy week at the school with the yearly battle of the books competition. This week our school is hosting the inter-school competition for all elementary and middle school students in Anchorage which means both early mornings and late nights in the library
AlexWhen we arrive back at the truck, Natasha bends, stretching her legs and I realize what a mistake I made. I was trying to be polite by leading the way when what I really should have been doing was watch her lead so I could stare at that fine ass on the way down. No, then I would have had to walk down with this boner that is rapidly filling my thoughts and any extra room I once thought I had in my pants. The bottom of my jeans are covered with mud from a puddle I slid into on the way down and I’m just thankful it was me who hit that slick spot so Natasha didn't get hurt. That would be a sure fire way to hang a big loser sign on a first date that so far seems to have gone pretty damn good. I hit the quick start on the truck so it roars to life as I move to the passenger side of the truck to unload my backpack and open the door for Natasha. I need to take the jeans off so my truck doesn’t get covered in mud. “Don’t panic. I’ve got pants on under. I just need to take these jeans
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