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Chapter 16: Cassidy
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STay Chapter 17: Cassidy
##Chapter 17: CassidyBook One: StayI'm probably pushing the boundaries of what I can handle without having a small-or god forbid, huge-freak-out. I don't want Cole to see me like that. He's already witnessed enough.As I stand motionless, I realize that everything has quieted downstairs. My gaze slides from his to the queen-sized bed. My nerves ratchet up a couple hundred notches. I've spent the last nine months pushing people away and yet, somehow, Cole has managed to sneak past all my defenses.The last thing I want to do is put myself in a situation that ends badly. I force my gaze back to Cole who silently watches me.It's as if he can read my thoughts, which is disconcerting on an entirely different level."I could pile pillows in the middle of the bed like a wall if that would make you feel better." He pauses. "Or I could sleep in the chair. I don't want you to be uncomfortable."His earnest gaze holds mine before he offers a lopsided smile. "I promise, nothing will happen. We
STay Chapter 18: Cassidy
##Chapter 18: CassidyBook One: StayMy brows are knit tightly together as I glance suspiciously around before asking, "What are we doing here?"It's a few minutes before five o'clock in the morning, and the ice arena is closed. The lights are off, the concession stand is locked up tight, there's not even a maintenance guy on duty to question our presence.Even though this isn't the first time I've posed the question, Cole remains tight-lipped. The only thing he said is that it's a surprise.The first wave of questions fell from my lips as we stood outside the arena, and I realized it wasn't open. That's when Cole had produced a key. I'm not going to lie, it had struck me as a little bit sketchy. The last thing I need is a police record to go along with the other crap I put my parents through. They'd probably disown me.Officially.But I trust Cole.I do.He doesn't strike me as a guy who engages in criminal activity. Right now, I can only hope I'm not wrong about that. Then again, he
STay Chapter 19: Cassidy
##Chapter 19: CassidyBook One: StayI tip my face toward his and wait for his lips to settle over mine. He caresses them gently, making me forget where we are. Just as I sink further into the warm embrace, he draws away before untangling himself from me, leaving my body to pulse and throb with need."Okay, let's try that again." He motions for me to skate toward him. Slightly disorientated from that kiss, I pick up each skate as if clumsily trying to walk across the ice."No, not like that," he patiently instructs. "You have to glide. Just remember, long smooth strokes."Long smooth strokes.Now that's a distracting thought. Maybe even more so than his kisses.It doesn't take long before I'm imagining Cole caressing my insides with long smooth strokes. God, I bet he's good at it. I mean, come on, of course he is. His kisses are literally mind-blowing. Even thinking about them has me clenching my inner thighs together, which is something I've never felt compelled to do."Cassidy?"I bl
STay Chapter 20: Cassidy
##Chapter 20: CassidyBook One: Stay"It's nice to see you looking so happy. Things must be going well," Dr. Thompson says with a smile as she continues to study me.Her thin black framed glasses are perched on the bridge of her nose. Every hair of her blonde, shoulder-length bob is in perfect place. Her beige suit is carefully tailored and form-fitting. A thick strand of creamy pearls clasped around her slender neck completes the picture. She sits back, looking pleased with my progress.I have to admit, I'm happy with it as well.Her comment has a small smile blooming across my face. I can't remember the last time I've felt this good. Even thinking back to before my life imploded, I'm not sure I was happy. I spent my high school years stressed out. There was always another game to excel at. Another test to ace. Scouts sitting in the stands that I needed to perform for like I was a circus act.There's no longer the same pressure to succeed.But it's more than that. A lot of my happines
STay Chapter 21: Cassidy
##Chapter 21: CassidyBook One: StayCole eases his Mustang over to the side of the familiar tree-lined street before cutting the engine. For a moment we both stare at the red brick, two-story house situated on a pretty corner lot.My breath hitches as I contemplate my childhood home.I'm having some serious second thoughts about what I'm intent on doing. And, truth be told, I feel guilty for dragging Cole into it with me. He's aware that there's tension with my parents, but has no idea how bad the situation is."Ready?" The softly spoken question slices through the thick silence of the car.I straighten my shoulders before turning to meet his gaze.At this time of the day, both my parents should be at work, leaving the house empty. I've spent the previous week going round and round with myself about this. What I keep coming back to is that it's my hockey gear and I want it. I'm tired of wearing crappy rental skates.What I don't know is if my equipment is still here or if Dad got rid
STay Chapter 22: Cassidy
##Chapter 22: CassidyBook One: StayI inhale a deep breath and squeeze my eyes shut again. I'm irritated at myself for allowing all this garbage back inside my head. Maybe I disappointed my family, but they let me down me too. When I needed them to stand by me, they'd taken the easy way out and shipped me off, leaving me to deal with the fallout by myself.My eyelids fly open when Cole wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me against his hard body. He doesn't ask any questions. He simply holds me until I'm strong enough to move forward again. I don't understand what it is about Cole that makes me feel so safe."If they kept my gear, it would be here." As we step into the back room, Cole looks around the shelving units my father built to house all of our old equipment. It's crammed full of clear bins that contain skates, socks, gloves, pants, shoulder pads, and jerseys. Fiberglass sticks take up a whole shelf as do the oversized bags."Holy crap, it's like a hockey store in her
STay Chapter 23: Cassidy
##Chapter 23: CassidyBook One: StayMy father has always been blunt, and he cuts right to the heart of the matter as he stabs a finger at me. "That's no longer your equipment to take. You forfeited it when you got kicked off the team and flunked out of college."The razor-sharp comments leave me wincing, but I keep my face an emotionless mask. I'll be damned if he sees how much his words and attitude are still able to inflict damage. Sometimes it's difficult to believe we were ever close. I'm his eldest and the only daughter who followed him into hockey. He used to be so proud of me and my accomplishments.Both on and off the ice.Miranda and Lexie had refused from the beginning to take skating lessons. He didn't bother trying to get them to play hockey. I, on the other hand, had loved it from the very first lesson. Sometimes I wonder if the reason I'd loved it so much was because we were the only two who shared it. Hockey was a bond that neither my mom nor my sisters could penetrate
STay Chapter 24: Cassidy
##Chapter 24: CassidyBook One: Stay"What's up with your hockey hottie?"Ever willing to force her nose where it doesn't belong, Brooklyn swipes some bright red lipstick on before shoving a finger into her mouth and dragging it out again.My brows slide together as I watch her. "Maybe you'd like to be alone right now?"She rolls her eyes before giving me a you're so clueless look. Since it's nothing out of the ordinary, I'm not offended by it."That's how you remove excess lipstick from the inside of your lips, so it doesn't end up on your teeth." She bares her sparkling white teeth in the mirror to make sure they pass inspection."Huh." Impressed with that beauty tip, I tilt my head. "Neat trick."She winks before brushing out her thick blonde mane. Normally, Brooklyn leaves her hair loose so it can flow freely down her back because guys go crazy for her long glossy strands. They love it in a way that makes them want to wrap it around their fist and yank her head back (Brooklyn's wor
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STay Chapter 92: Cole
##Chapter 92: ColeBook Two: Don't LeaveFour years later..."Hurry it up, babe," I call from the living room of our high-rise apartment in downtown Chicago. "Or we'll be late."I just got home from a team practice with the Blackhawks, and now we're heading out to meet up with friends for dinner. Austin and Brooklyn are in town for the weekend. And so is Luke and his new girlfriend. It might have taken time for the two of us to iron out our friendship, but it happened.Eventually."I'm coming."A low whistle escapes from me as she walks out of the bedroom wearing a little black dress that clings to her every curve. Even after spending a couple of hours on the ice, my dick stiffens right up.Damn, but my fiancée is hot."Is it possible to cancel our plans for the evening?" There's a beat of silence. "Because I'd much rather stay here and strip you out of that gorgeous dress. It would look perfect draped over the chair in the corner of our room."Color stains her cheeks as she do
STay Chapter 91: Cassidy
##Chapter 91: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveTwo hours later, we finally leave his room to scrounge up some food.After making love three times, I'm famished. I'm so hungry that my belly is rumbling and growling in protest.Once in the kitchen, Cole fills two bowls with cereal before saturating the flakes in milk."Eat up," he says with a wink before shoveling a spoonful into his mouth. After he swallows it down, he adds, "You're going to need all your energy."A giggle slips free as I spoon Frosted Flakes into my mouth. As we finish our bowls, his phone chimes with an incoming message. He picks up the slim device and glances at the screen.His gaze flicks to mine. "It's my mom. She's going to drop off some laundry I left at the house over the weekend."My heart stutters as my eyes widen.Dr. Thompson, who also happens to be Cole's mother.My teeth sink into my lower lip as an internal debate gets waged in my brain.Do I tell him that his mother was my psychologist?Or do I bury i
STay Chapter 90: Cassidy
##Chapter 90: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveOnce we're inside his room, he twists the lock and pounces, catching me around the middle and pressing me to him. When his hands settle on my ass, he hoists me up so that my legs can wrap around his waist. A growl rumbles up from his chest as I grind myself against him.His lips crash onto mine, and there is nothing gentle about how this kiss unfolds. "Too much clothing," I gasp."Agreed."His hands leave my bottom as I drop to the floor. My palms stroke over the solid planes of his chest before my fingers grip the hem of his T-shirt and I whip it over his head, tossing it over my shoulder. In the blink of an eye, my shirt also disappears. He removes my bra as I work the button and fly of his jeans. Even though his erection is still covered by his boxers, it springs forward. My thighs clench as I stroke my fingers over the hot length.I've missed this so much.Impatiently, he pushes the thick denim material down his hips and thighs b
STay Chapter 89: Cassidy
##Chapter 89: CassidyBook Two: Don't Leave"Pass it to me!"I wind up and hit the puck to Cole who flies across the ice. The rubber disk lands right on the end of his stick as he races with it to the goal and flicks it into the net. We've been here for about thirty minutes, and it feels just like it used to. I love spending time with Cole on the ice, and over the last month, I've missed it.Missed him.As difficult as it was talking with Luke yesterday, I'm so glad I cleared the air. Even if nothing changes with Cole, I know that remaining friends with Luke is what's best for both of us.After I thought about it, I decided that maybe Cole was right, and I was allowing what happened last year skew my feelings for Luke. I didn't want to believe that was a possibility, but when I tried to separate my emotions for him, I wasn't able to do it.They were too deeply intertwined."Water break?"I nod as we skate to our water bottles on the bench. After removing our gloves, we toss them
STay Chapter 88: Cassidy
##Chapter 88: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveA smile lights up Luke's face as he pulls me into the warm circle of his arms. "I have about thirty minutes before I need to be at practice. What's up?"For a heartbeat I allow him to hold me before untangling myself from his embrace. "Do you mind if we grab a coffee and talk?""Sure."After we order our drinks, Luke hands the barista a few bills before I can grab the money from my purse."I've got it," I say, quickly digging through my wallet. "I'm the one who invited you for coffee. I should pay.""You can get the next one." When he winks at me, the barista sighs. "Don't worry, I'll hold you to it."A few minutes later, he grabs our coffees from the counter, and we head to a table nestled in the corner. Once settled, we both take a few sips from our mugs. The weather has only grown colder, and it feels good to warm up."How are classes going?" he asks. "All caught up?"Luke understands how stressful my breakup was with Cole becaus
STay Chapter 87: Cassidy
##Chapter 87: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveI've spent most of today camped out at the library, with the exception of two classes. Now that Christmas break is right around the corner, it seems like almost every course has a paper due. My books are spread out all over the table as I tap away on my laptop.Every time I begin to feel overwhelmed, I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath. Once it no longer feels like my heart is being squeezed in a vise grip, I look over the list I've compiled to prioritize all my assignments.It's taken a lot of hard work to get my grades up to where they were before Thanksgiving break. I refuse to blow it now that we're in the homestretch. After my breakup with Cole, I'd let some of my classwork slide. Thankfully, Brooklyn was there to slap some sense into me, and I've been able to bounce back.Getting through that experience was tough, but it made me realize that life will always have its ups and downs. What's important is that you push through t
STay Chapter 86: Cole
##Chapter 86: ColeBook Two: Don't Leave"So, what's the deal between you two?" Austin asks. "You two aren't together, are you?"The suspicion in his voice is clear.My gaze flickers to his. "No, we're just friends." Sort of. I guess. Maybe. It's all a bit tentative right now. And weird. But it's much better than hating her guts.His brows furrow as we walk to class.I'm aware of how Austin feels about Jackie.And none of it is good.He might not know her personally, but he was there when shit hit the fan last fall. He's the one who encouraged me to get back out there again. Up until that point, I'd never been with anyone else but her. For a couple of months, I made up for lost time in that department before deciding that random hookups weren't for me.He gives me a bit of side-eye. "You sure about that?""Yup." I have zero desire to travel down that road again.When I say nothing more on the topic, his muscles gradually loosen. "Glad to hear it."To fight off the wicked
STay Chapter 85: Cassidy
##Chapter 85: CassidyBook Two: Don't Leave"I know exactly how long it's been." Even though I'd thought I was completely over her and what happened, I realize that it's still festering inside me like poison."I screwed up." Her eyes turn pleading. "And I hurt my best friend in the process."What sucks most is that Jackie had been my closest friend.I'd been ten years old when my dad died, and she's the one who sat up in the tree house with me for hours while I sobbed like a little girl. I still remember what it felt like to have her scrawny arms wrapped tightly around me, holding onto me for dear life as if I might float away if she didn't anchor me to the earth.I can picture her sitting on one of our lawn chairs while I slapped thousands of hockey pucks at the net in our driveway, attempting to channel all of my anger and rage toward something other than the drunk asshole who stole my father from me.In middle school, I made sure no one messed with her. Even though I wasn't a f
STay Chapter 84: Cole
##Chapter 84: ColeBook Two: Don't Leave"Someone's at the door, can you please answer it?" Mom yells from the kitchen where she's baking Christmas cookies.Already.That's not a complaint.It means I'll have more food to take back to school when I leave tomorrow afternoon. I pause, unable to rip my attention away from the big screen TV as the final seconds of the first quarter play out. The bell rings for a second time as the ball is being passed and-"Cole?" she shouts again.Except this time there's exasperation lacing her voice.And that's never good."I'm on it!"But not really.Fumble.Damn.With a shake of my head, I jog to the door and throw it wide open. Almost immediately, I wish I'd ignored it."Hi, Cole." The edges of her lips lift tentatively.When I remain silent, she shifts from one foot to the other before stuffing her hands into the pockets of her jacket."Hey," I force myself to say. If she thinks enough time has passed for me to forget about what happened betwee
