Rook POVHis smirk widens, knowing he’s landed a hit. “I’ll scream his fucking name so loud you’ll hear it for weeks,” he continues “And you’ll finally learn that you. Do. Not. Own. Me.”The last of my patience burns away, incinerated by the fucking audacity of him, by the way he’s looking at me like I don’t already own every single fucking part of him. I thrust into him, my hands gripping his hips like a vice, and his taunting words break apart instantly.He groans, a sound torn from his throat before he can stop it, his fingers clenching into the sheets beneath him. I press him into the mattress, my weight locking him in place, making sure he feels every inch of what he just asked for.“You think you can—”I slam into him again, cutting him off. His body arches, another deep sound spilling from his lips before he bites down into the sheets, trying to muffle himself.“You don’t own—”Another thrust. Another ragged, helpless fucking groan.“You can’t fuck for—” I push deeper, harder,
Rook POVHis breathing is wrecked, his body completely still, and I know it’s killing him that he let it happen, that he let me see him like this. The fact is, he wanted it and he asked for it in so many ways before actually saying the words. So I gave it to him, even if he hates himself for letting me touch him.Slowly, I drag my fingers down his back, my touch softer now, teasing, and almost lazy. He flinches, but he doesn’t pull away. No, he doesn't try to escape and he doesn’t say a word either.I grin, pressing my lips against the back of his neck, letting the weight of what just happened settle between us. “You don’t have to say it,” I murmur, my voice is deep, low, and possessive. “We both already know.”His fingers twitch, his wrists still bound to the bed, but he still doesn’t answer. He's not going to, maybe because he's still too fucking stubborn to admit the truth? Too stubborn to accept he wanted this and wants me.I pull out slowly, watching the way his body reacts, the
Kade POVWaking up, my body feels heavy, and everything comes flooding back instantly. I fucked up. I should have stopped pushing and taunting him, but when do I ever fucking learn? I know that, in his mind, me telling him not to fucking stop was just me making myself his.Opening my eyes, I see him asleep beside me, that smug fucking expression still somehow plastered on his damn face.Moving carefully, I ignore everything and search for my clothes, but there’s no sign of them. Slowly pulling open a door, I grab some of his instead and throw them on, noticing my shoes in the corner. Moving quietly, I slip them on, trying not to wake him.I swear it feels like he’s awake and just waiting to laugh, but maybe that’s just my fucking paranoia. Glancing around, I spot his jacket. Walking over, I search his pockets and grab my phone.Reaching the door, I place my hand on the handle and smirk back at him. “You’re fucking delusional,” I whisper, turning the handle, only to find it locked.Fuc
Kade POVI need to stop thinking. I need to fucking stop.“Jesus, Mercer, you good?”The voice snaps me out of it, and I slow slightly, glancing over my shoulder to see someone skating toward me. Jensen. He eyes me like I might lose my shit at any second, which, yeah, fair.“Fine,” I mutter, straightening up and forcing the tension out of my shoulders.Jensen snorts, coming to a stop beside me. “Yeah, that’s convincing. You’ve been skating like you’re trying to outrun the fucking devil.”I roll my neck, exhaling slowly. “Just needed to move.”He studies me for a second, his gaze sharper than I’d like. “You look like shit, though. Long night?”My muscles lock up automatically, and it takes everything in me not to react. I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t even want to think about it. “Something like that,” I say, keeping my tone flat.Jensen doesn’t push, just nods and starts skating alongside me. We fall into an easy rhythm, gliding across the ice in silence, the only sound the scr
Rook POVThe first thing I notice when I wake up is the emptiness beside me. The second is the faint chill in the air, the kind that doesn’t belong inside.I shift onto my side, eyes opening lazily, scanning the room. The bed is empty, but I already knew that. The sheets are rumpled, the space still holding the lingering warmth of where Kade had been. My gaze drifts toward the door, but it’s still locked.Then my eyes catch on the window that is slightly open.A slow smirk spreads across my face as I push up onto my elbows, amused despite myself.He climbed out the fucking window.I laugh under my breath, running a hand through my hair as I swing my legs over the side of the bed. Of course he did. It’s exactly the kind of thing Kade would do, desperate, reckless, but still strategic enough that he actually managed to pull it off without waking me.Smart, but not smart enough.He can run all he wants, but we both know where he’ll end up.Yawning, I roll my shoulders before standing, st
Rook POVI lean back in my chair, fingers tapping against the armrest, only half-listening to the plans being laid out in front of me. I don’t give a shit about this part of the business. Not really. But I listen anyway because I know how this game is played, and pretending not to care is just as dangerous as being too invested.Oliver steps into the room, his presence barely registering until he leans down and murmurs something into my father’s ear. Whatever he says is enough to make my father rise from his seat without hesitation. Without a word to me, he turns and walks off, disappearing down the hall, leaving me alone with him.Axel shifts, adjusting his posture slightly before chuckling under his breath. “You really don’t like that I’m deep in your family’s business, do you?” His voice is filled with amusement, like my discomfort is just another source of entertainment for him.I smirk, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees as I meet his gaze. “Deep? That right there,” I
Kade POVI haven’t left my apartment other than for training. Every day, it’s the same routine, drive to the rink, train, and drive straight back home, avoiding anything that might put me in Axel’s path. He’s a complication I don’t have the time or patience for, one that’s only going to make things worse if I give him the chance. But today, something feels off. It isn’t the usual pre-game nerves or the weight of expectation pressing on my shoulders. This is something deeper, something unsettled, a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach that refuses to leave no matter how much I try to push it aside.By the time I step into the locker room, the team is already fired up, laughing, talking shit, slamming their gear into place like they’re ready to tear the other team apart. I can’t blame them. They lost the last game, the one I bailed on. They should have won without me, but they didn’t, and now they’re ready to prove a point.Tyler claps me on the back as he passes. “We’ll give you yo
Kade POVThe game moves on, and I push harder, skating faster, focusing on anything but him. Rook crosses into my vision, passing by in a blur of black and red, cutting across the ice with a fluidness that seems calmer tonight. We aren’t locking heads for once, aren’t pushing each other into the boards or shoving at every opportunity. It’s a shift I don’t have time to fully process, but it’s there.Axel, though...Axel won’t fucking stop.He skates close again, barely a whisper of contact as he lines up beside me. “You know, I could have knocked. Walked right in. Pushed you down. Watched you break in real-time instead of waiting for after the game.”Something in my chest tightens. He chuckles, the sound low and private, like this is some inside joke between us. “Maybe I still will.”It happens before I even register moving. One second, I’m skating, hands locked on my stick, vision locked on the play. The next, my gloves are off, and I’m grabbing Axel by the collar of his jersey, shovin
Kade POVAfter a while, she grabs my hand and tugs me toward the edge of the dance floor. “Come on, let’s sit. I need a drink, and you need to tell me why I’ve never seen you before.”I let her lead me toward one of the small lounge areas near the bar, keeping my expression relaxed even though I don’t like the way her fingers press against my wrist. It’s light, barely there, but I still feel it, a reminder that I don’t like being touched by anyone book Rook. I don’t let it show.She slides into the seat first, crossing her legs as she leans back, completely at ease. I follow, keeping enough space between us to make it look natural but not enough for her to think I’m uncomfortable.“So,” she drawls, reaching for her drink. “Are you going to tell me your name, or am I going to have to keep calling you mystery man?”I smirk, taking a sip of my own drink before answering. &ld
Kade POVI glance between the men, weighing my options. Who can pull this off? Who can get close without looking like exactly what they are?Before I decide, Nikolai sighs and gestures toward them. “They all look too much like capos to do it.”He is right. None of them blend in. They all carry themselves like what they are, dangerous men who make people nervous when they walk into a room. I need someone who can pass as harmless. Someone she won't see coming.“Rook could work,” Nikolai glances at me.“I’m not getting him involved in this.” It’s too much of a risk.“Plus, you have to remember, Declan knows Rook, so his daughter will as well.” Jaxon looks at us.Good, because I didn’t want Rook in the center of this. “I’ll do it,” I say, and Nikolai stares at me. “No one knows me yet, not enough to know who I am, which was proved by your friend and
Kade POVThe clock on the wall reads just past two in the morning, but neither of us has moved from our seats. The only sound in the room is the faint hum of the security system and the occasional click as Nikolai skips through the footage frame by frame.I lean forward, elbows on my knees, staring at the screen. We have been at this for hours, combing through every angle, every possible lead, trying to figure out who the hell took the shipment.“Pause it,” Nikolai says suddenly, his voice sharp. My eyes snap to him as he leans in. “Zoom in on that.”One of the men in the frame shifts slightly, turning just enough for the camera to catch his profile. The image is grainy, but it is enough.Nikolai exhales through his nose, his expression unreadable. “That'ss Declan Voss.”I recognize the name the second he says it.Declan doesn't live here. He is from out of town, from another city and doesn't come h
Rook POV“Is there anything I can do?”He shrugs slightly. “Until we get a name of who took the shipment, nothing can be done. Then it is up to Kade.”I roll my eyes.“Are you really not going to ask him?” He leans back and laughs.“No.” I will not ask Kade if there is anything I can do.“Why?”“Because I told him if he needs me, he should ask, and I will be there instantly. So me asking if there is anything I can do to help him is unnecessary. It also makes it sound like I am checking in on him or trying to say he cannot handle it alone.”He laughs and lifts his glass. “You are delusional if that is what you really think.”“Maybe he would not, but that is how I feel.” I rub my face, feeling exhaustion pull at me.“Look, I am going to see him. Go to bed and get some sleep.”I watch him stand and grab his jacket. “Why are you going? You do not need to.”“Because you are worried about him and will not
Rook’s POVI don’t usually worry about Kade when he’s working. Okay, I do, because I know how quickly things can change. But today? It feels different. There is something heavier about it, something I do not like. He has done his usual thing of messaging me every few hours with an I’m alive! like he thinks it is a joke.Still, the time between those messages? Torture. Normally, my dad is around, so I can ask him for updates, and he has them. But even he is gone today.I place the box down, and Rose smiles at me. “He will love it,” she says.I am not so sure. Buying for Kade is hard. He is weird. His only real interests are hockey and work. Outside of that, he has no hobbies.He is not picky when it comes to gifts, but every time I ask what he wants, or at least for an idea, I get the same response. I do not want anything.That response caused an argument last month. I told him if he really did not care enou
Kade POVRook smirks as he flips another pancake onto the growing stack. “You look like you’re plotting something.”I set my coffee down, crossing my arms. “Yeah, I’m thinking about throwing you out of your own damn house.”He bursts out laughing, and it's loud, like I just told the best joke he’s ever heard. He tilts his head, still grinning. “You think that would stop me?”I arch a brow. “Pretty sure it would.”He scoffs. “Kade, come on. I know this place better than you do. There are secret ways in. I could be in here before you even realize it. You’d go to bed thinking you’re safe, and then…” He leans in slightly, lowering his voice. “Bam. There I am, watching you and waiting.”I stare at him. “You do realize how creepy that sounds, right?”Rook shrugs, completely unbothered. “Yeah, but that just makes it better.”I shake my head, picking up a pancake from the plate and taking a bite straight from it. “You really don’t have
Kade POVI’m late, and I can’t afford to stay in bed with Rook any longer. “I need to move,” I murmur, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before slipping out of bed and heading straight for the shower. I hear him moving around the room, and moments later, he joins me.“When I said I’m late, I meant I need to get going,” I say, turning to face him.Rook just shrugs like it’s nothing. “You’re fine. My dad said he’d keep things moving and let you sleep.” His gaze locks onto mine, waiting for me to argue. “So slow the hell down and actually spend time with me. Or is this just going to be a case of you fucking me and running off after like always?”I tilt my head, frowning. “You know that’s bullshit.” The words come out firm, meant to be the truth, but even I know there’s some weight to what he’s saying. More often than not, I barely stick around for five minutes after.Rook leans into me, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. “So, what’s
Kade POVI tilt my head back into him instinctively, surrendering just enough for him to notice, because beneath the bickering and banter, lies an undeniable connection that binds us tighter than any words could capture.His hold on me tightens, and I push back more, my ass rubbing against his cock. Groaning, he bites at my neck, his hips bucking.“You realise all that time you spent bickering and refusing could have been spent in pleasure, right had you just accepted you were going to give in sooner?”I groan and nod. “I didn’t plan to give in, you wore me down. Now shut up and fuck me,” I mumble.“You don’t need to tell me twice,” he whispers and I feel his cock pushing against my ass. The sensation of him pushing in slightly has me groan. I squirm beneath him, trying to force him to do it quicker, but he remains slow.“Rook,” I warn, my voice low and needy. His name is a plea on my lips, a desperate call for him to quicken his pace.
Kade POVA nudge pulls me from sleep, and I groan, barely registering the fingers trailing down my spine. When they stroke lower, I thrash slightly, trying to shake them off.“Rook, behave,” I grumble, voice still thick with sleep.Instead of listening, he climbs onto me, his chest pressing against my back, his warmth seeping into my skin. “No can do,” he mutters. “Time to wake up. You slept through the whole damn day, it’s nearly dinner.”“Shit.” I slept that long? I try to push up, but he shoves me back down, pinning me.“I’m bored,” he mumbles against my neck, his teeth scraping before he bites.Sighing, I try again to roll over, but he keeps me pinned. “Then go play with yourself. I slept in,” I mutter.His fingers trace slow, teasing lines down my sides, sending a shudder through me.“I’d much rather play with you,” he whispers.“Of course you would. For fuck’s sake, Rook, I’ve barely even got my ey