Chapter 4
Miller
Why hasn’t she called me yet? This is ridiculous and definitely not how this game is played. I give a girl my number and she calls me the next day. Simple. But no, this chick has got me so wound up with her rejection, it’s killing me. I mean, Miller Cain does not get rejected. It’s just fact. She hasn’t even sent a text telling me to fuck off, that I can work with, but radio silence is not going to help me get her into my bed.
It’s been a few days since Dani first graced us with her presence and so far, the girls have come to a few of our training sessions and I must admit, I am enjoying their audience and I know the rest of the guys are too. They have all been killing it during practice, giving 110% and I know for a fact that’s not because they're listening to Coach’s demands.
The girls have been keeping to themselves so far, sitting up in the grandstand taking photos and scribbling notes before packing up and heading out. They even took Johnny for an interview for their ‘Hockey Hottie of the week’ Bio and man, I have never seen a kid look so stoked about chatting with a bunch of girls. They really must have worked their magic on him. I know I’ve got Dani’s attention, but whenever I glance her way she makes a show of being busy, searching through her bag or taking another pic, but I don’t get it, she didn’t strike me as shy that first day, so there is another reason she is avoiding me and don’t doubt me, I will figure it out.
I sit with Tank as our Business professor wraps up the lecture. I grab my bag from the floor and begin to stuff my pens and notepad inside. “What’s the plan for tonight?” Tank asks, getting up from his seat.
“Don’t know,” I say following him out the room. “Maybe a few drinks at Micky’s. I was planning on hitting up the gym early in the morning,” I say, thinking a quiet one at our local bar would probably be the best idea.
“Cool. Might hit the gym with you.”
“What? You never go to the gym on a Saturday. What’s the deal? No date tonight?” I ask, glancing at him out the corner of my eye.
“Nah, man, not tonight.”
We walk out of the building and cross the campus in search for some lunch when a head of thick golden hair darts into a café. “Let’s go in here,” I tell Tank, turning into the café without a backwards glance.
Tank grunts in disapproval behind me as I know he hates this café after he spent four days hunched over the toilet after eating their chicken sandwich last year. But, fuck him, I’m not letting this opportunity go to waste.
We enter the café and I watch as Dani finishes giving her order then steps off to the side to wait. I make my way up to the counter and order a coffee and salad hoping that shit won’t make me sick. I pay my bill while I watch her out the corner of my eye and notice the exact moment she realizes I’m here. She gasps and quickly turns away, making a show of studying the artworks on the wall as if she hasn’t seen me.
I make my way over and notice how her jeans are perfectly plastered to her skin. I come right up behind her, close enough that she can feel the heat from my body and gently place my hands on her hips. I slide them up under her shirt, letting them rest against her firm waist. I give a little squeeze and watch as a shiver takes over her body, leaving goosebumps across her creamy skin. God, I’ve been needing to touch this skin, to feel it’s smoothness under my fingers. I gently pull her into me and whisper in her ear. “You never called.”
She takes a slow deliberate breath as a satisfied smile rips across my face. Yeah, she wants me. “I lost your number,” she explains.
Nah, there’s no way. I made sure that number wasn’t coming off. Hell, I used permanent marker just to be sure. I reach around her sexy body and take her hand in mine, holding it out while I use my other hand to slide her sleeve up to her elbow. “You’re a liar,” I tell her, as I see a slightly faded version of my number, which I must say is still clear as day.
“Oh, I didn’t see that there,” she smiles, knocking me right off my feet with her beauty. Fuck.
I tug her sleeve back down into place and turn her in my arms. She looks up at me, her green eyes confused and unsure. Her eyes lower to my lips then dart back to my eyes. I smirk at her, knowing I have an effect on her and lower my face, stopping an inch from her lips, an open invitation, if she wants it, all she would have to do is take it. She catches her breath, “Come to my place tonight, we’re having a party.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she tells me.
“Baby, it’s the best idea. Besides, the whole team will be there, it would be good for your assignment if you knew us all on a more… personal level.”
She cringes as she realizes I’m right and I know I’ve drawn her in. She gazes at my lips once more and I’m almost sure she is about to kiss me when the barista calls her name, making her jump in my arms. Damn it, what I wouldn’t do to feel her lips on mine. She lets out a small huff. “Fine, we’ll be there,” she says, stepping out of my arms. She turns her back on me and grabs her coffee, looking back once before heading out the door.
My coffee and salad come up next and I grab them and turn to find Tank starting at me. “What the fuck was that?” he asks.
I shrug my shoulders and pull my phone from my pocket and send a group text.
Miller – Party at my place. Get your asses there and help me clean up. Bring booze.
Tank pulls out his phone and reads over the message, shaking his head at the same time “You’ve got it bad for this chick.”
“I don’t,” I tell him. “I just want to get her in bed.”
“Nah man, that’s bullshit. I haven’t seen you try this hard for a woman’s attention since we were freshmen. You’ve had your eyes glued to the grandstand all week,” he laughs.
“You’re one to talk, you haven’t even looked at another woman since you were with Sophie.”
He shrugs and continues forward. “She’s in my head,” he confesses.
WTF! “What do you mean ‘She’s in my head’? You like this chick?”
He scoffs at my question but grows serious a moment later. “Yeah, I think I do. I mean, don’t you think about having a serious girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend?” I ask in shock. “That’s not how we do things, bro,” I say, slapping him on the back. “We’re heading to the NHL, we don’t need chicks holding us back.”
He shakes his head at me once again. “I think you’re wrong. I think things are changing and I think this thing with Dani is about more than sex, you just haven’t realized it yet. As for me, I’m going after Sophie,” he smiles, proudly.
“Alright man,” I laugh in shock. “Tonight’s your night, Dani is bringing her along.”
He nods in understanding as we walk the rest of the way back to my place in silence. I contemplate what Tank has just told me, more than just sex? There’s no way. I did the whole girlfriend thing and to say that was a major fuck up would be an understatement. I don’t need that shit holding me down and besides, I’m heading to the NHL, who knows where I’ll even be next year.
We get back to my place where I find a few of the boys waiting out front for us. “Alright, we’ve got a few hours to make me not look like a lazy ass slob. Get to work,” I say unlocking the door and letting everyone in. “Oh, and get the word out, this is going to be the best party this college has ever seen.”
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I sit out the back surrounded by my teammates as the party rages around me. Bodies fill every spare corner of my place, inside and out. Girls dance upon each other as the guys kick back with a beer, watching the show. Empty red cups litter table tops and benches as the music vibrates through the walls and into the ground.
I head into the kitchen to grab another beer when a hand shoots out to my chest. “Hey baby, come and dance,” the soft voice says, I look up into the pleading eyes of Natasha, the beautiful leggy blonde that I may or may not have used over the past few months, though I think it’s fair to say, that so has every guy in the room.
I shake her hand off and smirk as she pouts for my attention. “Sorry babe, not tonight,” I tell her as I slide away.
I grab a few beers and make my way outside, taking my seat beside Tank who is trying to shoo away some chick from taking possession of his lap. I reach out and hand him a beer which he greedily takes and pretends to listen in on the guy’s conversation.
I sit across from Jaxon, a Junior and most likely the guy who will take over Captain next year, if he can get his shit together. He has a promising future ahead of himself but needs to pull the reigns in a little. His eyes light up as he looks over mine and Tank’s shoulders. “Ah, there’s our girls,” he smiles, then rises out of his chair. “Fuck, Dani is hot, she’s mine tonight.” Rage instantly fills me and my fists clench beside me. This little prick better watch his next words.
“Sit your ass down,” Tank murmurs as he notices my fists.
Jaxon stops in his tracks and looks at Tank in confusion. “What’s the big deal? Those girls are too hot to pass up,” he smirks.
Tank stands up and gets in his face. “I told you to sit the fuck down,” he scowls as Jaxon’s face turns white at the monster of a man before him. “There are hundreds of chicks around here willing to suck your dick. Sophie and Dani are off limits,” he explains then looks around at our rowdy group. “That goes for all of you.”
They all nod their understanding, not one of them willing to go up against Tank.
Jaxon though, still has a bit to learn. “Aren’t you already messing around with Sophie? Share her around,” he smirks as he falls back into his chair.
“I don’t share. The girls are spoken for,” he says finishing the conversation.
Tank turns back to me with a knowing smirk on his lips. Yep, he just staked our claim. Well, sort of. But damn, it feels good to know none of these idiots are going to try and mess things up for me. Dani is mine. A few of the guys send me curious glances as they try to work out who has claimed Dani, but they are not stupid, they all saw me get naked for her in the locker room. Hell, I coped it for that, but it was worth it to see that shocked and needy look on her face.
Tank and I hang back for a while, letting them get themselves a drink and look around. She can come to me tonight.
Twenty minutes later Sophie makes her way into our circle. “Well, hello boys,” she smiles and it’s clear she’s a few drinks in already. A smirk comes over Tanks face as she flops herself down onto his lap. His arm immediately circles her waist and she relaxes into him.
“Sorry about her,” Dani says from above Tanks shoulder. My eyes immediately take in her sexy body, covered in nothing but a little black dress. “She gets a little too relaxed when she’s drinking,” her eyes go around the circle and stop when they land on me.
“No problem at all,” Tank says as Sophie readjusts herself on his lap so she is straddling him.
Dani scoffs at her friend's performance. “So much for that,” she grumbles to herself.
“So much for what?” I ask forcing her eyes in my direction once again.
She begins to fidget as she feels the force of my gaze on her but she remains strong. “Sophie here, made a big declaration about no repeat performances,” she says indicating to her friend who currently has my best friends tongue down her throat and is grinding into him.
“Yeah, I’m not sure she meant it,” I say getting up and offering my chair. “Why don’t you sit down and meet the boys properly,” I tell her.
She moves across our circle and takes a seat. “Thank you,” she smiles as I notice her drink is nearly empty. I swipe the beer from Bobby that he is struggling to open and offer it to Dani.
She twists the cap off instantly with a smirk at Bobby as I go around the circle introducing a few guys “This is Bobby,” I start indicating to my left and making the way around “Shorty, Jaxon, Johnny who you already know, Aaron and of course Tank. The rest of the guys are scattered around, though I’m sure you’ll probably meet them at some point tonight.”
“Right, ok, I’m not going to remember any of your names tomorrow, but hi,” she smiles sweetly, instantly getting the approval of the guys. I steal a chair and sit opposite her so I can keep my eyes on her. We all fall into an easy conversation, mostly is Dani asking us questions about Hockey and classes, which the boys practically fall at her feet with answers. She is just that kind of girl.
I watch as she talks with the guys and notice her eyes keep coming and landing on me. “Tell me more about this calendar thing?” I ask to selfishly keep her attention.
“Oh,” she says, her cheeks flushing pink. “Well, I don’t really know too many details yet, but pretty much you’ll be butt naked and getting cheeky for the camera.”
“And who will be the photographer?” I ask.
Jaxon cuts her off answer. “Yeah? I’m not getting naked for a dude.”
She lets out a laugh that wraps around me. “Don’t stress. I’m studying photography so I’ll be doing it… If that’s ok with you guys?” she adds as an after thought.
They all nod and give enthusiastic agreements which have her cheeks turning red all over again.
“God, you guys are boring. Let’s go dance,” Sophie says, jumping up off Tanks lap and grabbing a few of the guys by the hands and dragging them inside, Tank gets up and follows behind, shooting death glares at the guys, who look back at him nervously.
“Guess we’re all dancing,” I say, getting up. I grab Dani’s hand and pull her to her feet before she has the chance to decline. I walk inside with her trailing behind me and find the rest of the hockey team. Tank dances behind Sophie as she grinds her ass into him. Match made in heaven.
Dani comes up beside me and I throw her into the middle of our group, the guys immediately begin chanting her name. She is completely embarrassed but has just enough liquid courage to keep moving.