Kade POV
I don't know why I'm hesitating, I came here because I wanted this. Pushing away the doubts, I reach up, grabbing the back of his neck and dragging him down until our mouths meet, and the second my lips crash against his, Darren takes control, his hand fists into my shirt. He yanks me closer, his body heat pressing into mine. The whiskey on his breath mixes with mine, and the taste of it is sharp between us. I expect him to ease into it, to test the waters, but he doesn’t, he isn't waiting around for any other sign of confirmation, he has everything he wants.
He devours me. His teeth scrape my bottom lip, tugging just enough to make my breath stutter my body reacts instantly and his tongue flicks against mine, demanding more and consuming me.
I don’t hesitate, I meet him with the same intensity. My body pushes his back against the bar while my hands grip the front of his shirt, dragging him closer to me.
Darren exhales a quiet chuckle against my mouth, like he’s amused by my urgency, by the way I can’t seem to slow down. But I don’t care. My skin is burning, my pulse erratic, and all I can focus on is the way he moves against me. All I want is to be devoured, to have everything in my mind disappear, even just for a moment.
His fingers slip under my shirt, slowly sliding up my muscles, tracing the lines of them, his touch is firm. He presses me back, guiding me toward the bed with slow and steady steps. I don’t stop him. I let him take me there. His body pushes mine onto the bed as he bites against my lip harder.
Slowly, his fingers curl around the waistband of my jeans, his smirk still in place, but there’s something darker behind his eyes now, something deliberate, I don't give myself chance to consider it. The cool air hits my skin as he drags them down, slow, watching me like he’s waiting for me to second-guess myself.
There's no second-guessing, I lift my hips, letting him strip them off completely.
“Not shy, are you?” he muses, his hands gripping my thighs, sliding up, teasing but firm.
I exhale sharply. "I wouldn’t be here if I was.” That's the truth, I wouldn't be near him, near this room if I was.
He shifts back up my body while laughing quietly. I feel his body pressing into mine, his mouth moves against my neck and my jaw as his hands stroke along my body. It feels like he's trying to memorise every part of me. My head falls back against the pillow, and I let myself sink into the heat of his touch, the way his hands and mouth feel as they pull me apart piece by piece.
My body arches up into him, desperate for more of him. My hands lift, and I drag my fingers down his back, feeling his muscles shifting as he moves against me. My hands grip his hips, pulling him closer, and I gasp at the friction as I feel his hardness pressing against my own through the denim of his jeans.
His lips crash onto mine, hungry and insistent. Darren kisses like he’s trying to devour me, all teeth and tongue and urgency. I match his pace, pouring weeks of anger, frustration and desire that I hid into every movement of my lips against his.
Suddenly Darren pulls back, his chest heaving as he looks down at me, his eyes are dark and hooded. He says nothing, just stands and deliberately removes the rest of his clothing. My eyes drink in the sight of him, lean muscle, golden skin, and I'm glad I came here.
Slowly, he moves back onto the bed, his body covering mine. The feel of his skin against mine sends heat coursing through me, we kiss again, but this time slower. It's still just as passionate, and I run my hands along the muscles of his back as he begins to move. He grinds against me in a maddening rhythm.
Grasping into his mouth, I groan as Darren slides his hand between our bodies. He wraps his fingers around our lengths and strokes us against each other. My hips buck involuntarily as his hand moves quicker, we're already slick with both of our arousals. The dual sensation of his length sliding against mine, and his hand working us together is almost overwhelming.
His lips drag down my neck, biting as his warm breath teases me.
The sound of a door swinging open is loud, followed by a sharp click and a flash of light.
Darren instantly jolts upright, and my body tenses. My instinct kicks in too late as I whip my head toward the doorway, my eyes blinking against the sudden burst of light. It was a camera, a fucking camera!
And the man holding it, standing there looking smug, has my stomach drop, my entire body going cold and rigid. Nikolai Volkov.
Shit.
Nikolai stands just inside the room, his phone in his hand and his face is unreadable, except for the slight, knowing smirk that curls at the edges of his lips. Darren moves quickly, pushing up onto his knees, his body still half-draped over mine. "What the fuck?" he shouts.
Nikolai though, doesn't answer, hell he doesn't even look at Darren, his gaze is fixed on me. It's slow and calculating.
“You don’t waste time, do you, Mercer?” His voice is smooth and amused, like he’s not standing here with the kind of evidence that could rip my entire career apart.
Kade POVI'm too drunk to move quickly and blood is rushing in my ears, my body still too wired to process the shift from pleasure to panic.“What the hell are you doing here?” My voice is hoarse and breathless, and I hate how wrecked I sound right now.Nikolai tilts his head, pocketing his phone with an infuriating ease. “Just checking in on one of our rising stars.”“Checking in,” Darren repeats, voice sharp. “By breaking into my fucking hotel room?”Finally, Nikolai looks at Darren and whatever Darren sees in that looks has him falter, his expression goes from angry to worried. My mind finally forces me to move, and I yank the sheet up around my waist as I try to push up on my elbows, the room spins slightly, and my pulse is still hammering in my ears. The panic is clawing it's way through my skull now that the reality of this entire situation is hitting full force. What the fuck have I done? This isn't just bad, this is career-ending. "You don't want to do this," I say, trying
Kade's POVI can feel the sunlight against my eyelids, warm and bright, and I stretch against the sheets. My body is sore, but in a way that feels good. It's a dull ache in my muscles, but deeper than that is the hum of satisfaction, it's the the kind of feeling that only comes after a night of drinking and celebrating because we won. Yeah, we won again, and the thought settles deep in my chest, and it pulls a lazy smirk from me. My mind replays it all, the game, the crowd, the moment I lifted that trophy above my head, it's all still fresh, still running through my veins. Other than that, I don't remember much from last night, but I don't need to. The details are a blur, twisting together. Booze, laughter, and the feel of hands dragging me deeper into the club as bodies pressed too close. I remember the heavy bass shaking the floor beneath my feet. Exhaling, I drag a hand over my face. I feel good, no, I feel better than good. The weight of responsibility, the constant pressure an
Kade POVI ignore everyone, I ignore the talk of the reporter, I ignore it all, at least I try, that is until across the table, Alex’s phone buzzes. I watch as he glances at the screen and frowns. “What the fuck?” He tilts his phone toward Tyler. “Why is Mercer dropping in the draft rankings?”My grip on the glass tightens, no, fucking no, that better be a joke. I don't move, I just watch as Tyler grabs his phone.He begins scrolling fast, his brows pulling together. “Holy shit. You dropped two spots.”Ben snorts at his words, his eyes flick to me briefly. “Yeah, that makes no sense. You just won us the fucking championship.”A few of the other guys begin to pull out their phones, they are all murmuring to each other. Someone curses under their breath and my ears start ringing because this isn't just some minor slip. It’s noticeable, players don’t just drop after a game like the one I just played. Not unless something behind the scenes is scaring teams off. This isn’t a coincidence,
Kade’s POVThe Regent Hotel seems to almost come alive today under the afternoon sun, its glass reflects the bright sky, making it look even more expensive and high end than it already is.Standing outside for a moment, I adjust my jacket, inhaling slowly. I should walk away, I should turn around, go anywhere but here. But I don’t.Instead, I push through the revolving doors, stepping into the cool, perfectly controlled lobby of the hotel.The lobby is everything I expected from a place like this. It has high ceilings, polished marble floors, and there's the quiet hum of wealth mixed into every inch of the place. Staff move efficiently behind the front desk, while the guests linger in expensive suits and designer dresses, but I don’t stop. I already know where I’m going.A woman in a black dress steps into my path, smiling in that professional way that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. "Sir, may I assist you?”I meet her gaze, keeping my voice steady. I didn't need someone to help me, thi
Kade POVI hate this.“I want you to throw your next game,” he says finally. “A very specific game. Against my son’s team.”Rook.The name alone is enough to send a spark of rage through me. We’ve spent years going at each other on the ice, tearing into every game like it’s war. We fight. We push each other. He pisses me off more than any other player in the league, and I live for every second of it. And now, Nikolai wants me to lose to him.A bitter laugh slips from my throat before I can stop it. “You want me to throw a game against Rook?” I shake my head. “You think I’m gonna let that asshole win without a fight?”“You won’t be letting him win,” Nikolai corrects smoothly. “You’ll be making sure he wins. There’s a difference.”I clench my jaw so hard it hurts. Every instinct in me screams to tell him to fuck off. But I don’t because I can’t.I exhale sharply, rubbing a hand over my face before dropping it back to my lap. “And if I agree?” My voice is sharp, biting. “That’s it? You d
Rook’s POVI watch as Kade Mercer moves through the streets like nothing can touch him. Staying a few steps behind him I trail him with my hands shoved into my pockets. I watch the way he walks, his head high and shoulders back. He's got that same cocky swagger like the whole damn world belongs to him. Still, there is something off. I've watched him enough now to know the difference in him. Normally, Kade moves like a damn storm, he's reckless, confident and always pushing forward without hesitation. But tonight? He hesitates. It's subtle, and most wouldn't even notice. I do though, I notice the way he glances over his shoulder, the way his fingers twitch at his sides before he shoves them back into his pockets. His steps also aren't quite as sure, his pace also not as steady as it normally is. He's distracted for some reason. That thought alone makes my stomach twist.Kade doesn't get distracted, he doesn't second-guess himself. So what the hell is going on with him right now?I fo
Rook POVIt’s a short walk, not as short as Kade’s would be if he were heading back to his place, but close enough. That was my father’s doing, making sure I stayed nearby even after I could have moved out on my own. Other guys my age, other players, have their own apartments, their own lives. Not me.Because when your father runs the city, you don’t just walk away.By the time I reach the estate, the sun is already dipping lower, washing everything in a dull gold light. The gates open as I approach, and the security stationed outside barely glances at me. They all know who I am. More importantly, they know what my father would do to them if anything happened to me.The house is as cold and impersonal as ever, a sprawling mansion that screams power rather than home. The moment I step inside, I hear voices coming from my father’s office, low murmurs laced with tension.I should head upstairs, pretend I don’t hear it, but I don’t. Instead, I step toward the heavy wooden doors and push o
Rook’s POVThe locker room is humming with the usual pre-game energy, the guys are stretching, taping their sticks and adjusting their gear. They are all going through the motions like this just any other game. It's not. At least for me it isn't. Sitting on the bench, I lace up my skates with slow deliberate movements, letting the anticipation settle deep into my chest. This game isn't important in our standings, and such, it's just a charity game. it's meant to be a time when we put on a good show, winning and losing means nothing. I don't care about the show, the only thing that matters to me right now, is that Kade Mercer is on the other side of the ice. For the first time in years, I don't know what version of him I'm going to get on the ice. Yesterday I felt it, the shift in him, something told me he wasn't himself. Mercer is always cocky, reckless and for some reason, he's always pushing forward like he doesn't give a fuck about anything but winning. Yesterday though? He was s
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
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’s POVHe’s laughing. Laid out beneath me, wrists still cuffed to my bed, completely at my mercy, and he’s fucking laughing.I feel it, a deep pulse of something dark, something dangerous, curling inside me as I watch the smirk play across his lips. He knows what he just did, knows exactly how far he’s pushed me, knows that I’m hanging by a thread, and he loves it.My fingers tighten around his hips, my grip bruising, possessive, it's the only thing keeping me from completely losing it. He feels perfect beneath me, like he was always meant to end up right here, pinned, unable to fight, finally fucking admitting he’s mine.“You really don’t fucking learn, do you?” My voice is low, almost calm, but I feel the way he tenses, the way his body reacts despite the smirk still tugging at his lips.I lean down, my weight pressing into him, my mouth hovering just above his. His breath is warm, uneven, his chest rising and falling beneath me, his skin flushed, his body so fucking wired from
Kade POV“Go on,” he murmurs, voice laced with a quiet threat. “Fight me. Push back. Watch what happens when I leak that fucking video behind my father’s back. You’ll be back in that trailer before you can even beg me not to.”My stomach twists, the air between us thick and suffocating. Shit.I wanted this,I wanted to push him, to taunt him, to make him snap and lose that thin grip he had on his self-control. But I also know exactly where my limits are, and I know damn well I can’t afford to lose everything.I can’t risk losing my career. I can’t risk my mother being stuck in that fucking trailer for the rest of her life, and Rook knows that.“Now open up,” he orders, his tone leaving no room for argument.Everything in me screams to keep fighting, to resist, to keep taunting him just to prove that I’m still in control of something, but I can’t. Not this time. Because in the end, it isn’t about pride. It’s about survival.So I obey. His fingers tighten in my hair as he thrusts deep, g
Kade POVHe watches me carefully, waiting for something, waiting for a reaction that I refuse to give him.“You still think this is a game,” he finally says, his voice quieter now, lower, like he’s talking more to himself than to me. “That’s fine. You’ll catch up soon enough.”I scoff, shifting my shoulders, rolling the tension out as much as I can with the limited movement I have. “You keep telling yourself that,” I mutter.His smirk flickers, just for a second, and I know I’ve hit something. He doesn’t like that I’m still pushing, that I haven’t given him the satisfaction of backing down.Good.I settle in, relaxing into the position like I have all the time in the world. “What now?” I ask, voice dry, unimpressed. “You gonna keep me locked up here like some kind of pet? Gonna drag me around, tell everyone you finally broke me?”He leans in closer, so close I can feel his breath against my skin, so close that for a second, the air between us tightens, like the tension is about to sna
Kade POVThe pounding in my skull is relentless, a deep, stabbing ache that makes it hard to focus. My body feels too heavy, my limbs sluggish, weighed down by something I can’t place. The air around me is cold, pressing against my bare skin in a way that feels wrong, and when I try to shift, to lower my arms so that I can push myself up, something jerks me back, stopping me mid-motion.A sharp clank of metal rings out, the sound slicing through my haze like a gunshot. I blink, my breath catching as I force myself to register what just happened. My arms are stuck. My wrists are secured. Slowly, I lift my head, the dull weight of exhaustion dragging against me as I follow the pull of resistance, eyes locking onto the handcuffs wrapped tight around my wrists.Thick, heavy-duty steel glints under the dim light, the chain stretched taut, looped around the top bar of the bed behind me. The second I process what I’m seeing, my body reacts. My pulse kicks up, my muscles tensing as I yank, tr
Rook POVMy father watches me for a moment, his fingers tapping against the glass in his hand before he sighs, setting it down with a dull thud. “Enough about Mercer. There’s business to take care of,” he mutters, rubbing a hand over his jaw before pushing himself up from the chair.I arch a brow, stretching out lazily but already knowing where this is going. “Business?” I echo, amused. “That your way of saying you need me for something?”His lips twitch, but it isn’t a smile, just that knowing look that tells me whatever he’s about to say isn’t up for negotiation. “A shipment came in late. Someone’s been fucking around with my routes, and I need to send a message,” he says, cracking his neck before grabbing his coat from the back of the chair. “And since you’re so damn unbothered about Mercer, you can come along.”I sigh but stand anyway, shoving my hands into my pockets as I follow him out the back door of the villa. The air is crisp, the sky dark and quiet, but the silence doesn’t
Rook POVHe’s a fucking mess. I thought he was stronger than this, more resilient, more stubborn, more mine. I’ve spent years pushing him, chipping away at him, watching him almost break and rebuild himself over and over again, just to knock him down again. He’s taken my shit for so long that I thought he could withstand anything. But my father? Fuck. My father shattered him in a week. A week.That’s impressive, I can’t deny it, but it also pisses me off. I had a plan. A long, drawn-out, torturous plan. I was going to take my time with him, make him fight me every step of the way until there was nothing left to fight with. I wanted to watch him crack slowly, wanted to see him resist and resist until he finally begged for me to fuck him.Instead, my father sped up the process, ripped through him like it was nothing, and now Kade is already at the edge.It’s almost disappointing. I wanted to make him desperate, make him crave it, make him ask for it. I wanted to stretch him out on the h
Rook POV **Warning this chapter includes Dub-Con**His eyes widen, his breath hitching for just a fraction of a second. But then, just as quickly, he shakes it off, snapping right back into his anger, shoving the reaction away like it never existed.“You can’t just claim someone,” he bites out. “You can’t just say I’m yours when you have nothing from me! You kissed me, that doesn’t mean shit! That doesn’t make me yours!”I sigh, already bored of his little outburst.Then he makes a mistake. “Paul fucked me,” he sneers, his voice dripping with venom. “He owns more of me than you ever could.”My grip tightens on the wheel, my pulse slowing to something dangerous.He laughs, mocking, taunting, enjoying the reaction he thinks he’s getting. “Hell, even Darren owns more of me than you do.”I slam on the brakes, the tires screeching against the road as the car jerks to a sudden stop. Kade barely has a second to react before I’m out of my seat, yanking open his door and grabbing him by the co