Power Play (Nashville Assassins: Next Generation Book 2) Read online

  “Tease me all you want. You know you like the idea of me being there.”

  She pauses, her eyes moving along my face. “I absolutely love the idea.”

  Looking into her eyes, I see the world in a whole new light. I may sound like a sappy slow song, but I am digging this chick for real. Like, really for real. I can’t stop thinking of her, of us, and I want so desperately to fall into her, lips first. Before I can say so, though, someone joins our little circle.

  “Hey, Mom is looking for you,” Shelli says, and I move over a bit so I’m not so close to Posey. “You okay?”

  Posey looks at her sister as if she weren’t just talking about loving the idea of waking up with me. “Yeah, I needed to cool off.” She takes her cup of water, downing it quickly.

  Shelli looks at me and then back to Posey before moving in, wrapping her hand around her sister’s waist. “Are you sure?” she asks.

  I try not to watch, ordering a beer.

  Posey waves her off. “I’m fine. Just feeling a little ick.”

  “Go back upstairs. Get some rest.”

  “I will. Come on,” she says, wrapping her arm around Shelli. She looks over her shoulder at me. “We’re gonna head back to the table. We’ll talk more about that formation tomorrow, okay? I’m not worried. You’ve got this.”

  I nod. “Thanks, Coach.”

  Shelli looks back at me, and I swear she sees right through us.

  As they walk away, I lean on the counter, tapping my foot to the pipe at the bottom of the bar. I absolutely hate this. I hate not being able to be with her. I almost want to go up to Mrs. Adler and tell her we’re together, but the unknown terrifies me. I don’t know what will happen. Will Posey’s parents be okay with us being together?

  I go back and forth with how I think they would take it. A part of me wants to believe they wouldn’t care since, according to Posey, they only care about Shelli. But I’ve been on the road with her mom for ten days, and yes, Mrs. Adler is totally engrossed in Shelli, but she also mothers the living fuck out of Posey. Posey is a grown woman, but Mrs. Adler acts as if she is two. It’s cute, sweet even, which makes me wonder if she won’t think I’m good enough for Posey.

  I grew up in a trailer with no father. The only reason I played hockey as a kid was thanks to the charity of a coach, and I didn’t finish college. My ex left me because I was emotionally unavailable. I feel like I’m doing better, and I am truly trying, but will they think I’m enough? I want to believe I am.

  When my phone vibrates in my pants, I pull it out to see that I have a message from Posey.

  Posey: I’m heading back to my room. 986. Meet me there?

  Me: How? Won’t everyone be there?

  Posey: No. They’re going out to a cigar club with the Wings’ coaching staff. My mom is going to play nice with the wives in case she wants to make a favorable trade, and Shelli is going out with the guys. Don’t stand me up, Hoenes.

  Wouldn’t dare, I type as I pull out a twenty and throw it on the bar. I head out as I text Wes.

  Me: Do me a solid. Make an excuse for me on why I’m not going out.

  It doesn’t take long for a response.

  Wes: Already got you covered. I figured when you didn’t come back, you were going up with her. I am meeting someone in our room. I expect to be reimbursed.

  I make a face.

  Me: You’re paying for sex?

  Wes: No, you are. Or I can tell everyone where you are.

  Me: I’ll ApplePay you.

  Wes: Good man. $550 is enough. Enjoy your night.

  Me: Damn. $550?

  Wes: Okay, it’s two girls. Or three. Not sure.

  I laugh as I send the money and then tuck my phone into my pocket. Man, Wes is living his best life. I rush through the lobby and then to the elevator, hitting the button for the ninth floor. When the doors open on nine, I head out and down the hall to Posey’s room. I’m almost out of breath when I reach her door. I rap my knuckles on her door, and when it opens, the biggest grin is covering Posey’s face.

  And while Wes may be living his best life, I think mine might be better.

  I take her in my arms, walking her backward before kicking the door shut as our lips meet. I draw the kisses out of her as my body vibrates with need. Fuck, she feels incredible in my arms. I squeeze her ass in my hands as I back her into the bed, laying her down and covering her body with mine. I tear my mouth from hers, kissing down her neck, sucking and nipping as she runs her fingers through my hair. I forgot how much I love the feel of her skin against my lips.

  “So, Shelli told me something interesting,” she almost moans.

  I lick her neck and then lift myself up so I can look at her. Her hair is fanned out on her pillow, a grin on her sweet lips, but her eyes are kinda dull. She’s still beautiful as all hell, but something is off. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she says, moving her hands up into my jacket. “Apparently she thinks Boon Hoenes has a crush on me. He won’t stop staring at me.”

  “What? No way.”

  She beams. “Apparently she thinks he looks at me like I’m his next snack.”

  “I didn’t confirm or deny that to her.”

  She curves her lips. “What about to me?”

  “For you,” I say, dropping my mouth to hers, “I will confirm I very much have a crush on you, and you are the only snack I want.”

  She smiles just as my mouth reaches hers. She arches up into the kiss, wrapping her arms around me, fulfilling every single need I have had these last ten days. When she suddenly tears her head back, I widen my eyes when she starts to cough. I sit up more so she has room, but her coughing stops just as quickly as it started. She waves me off. “I swallowed wrong.”

  That doesn’t make sense. “Posey, are you sure you’re okay?”

  She nods, cupping my face. “I’m fine. I miss you. Come on, it’s been like ten days. I want this.”

  But it doesn’t feel right. “Maybe we should just rest.”

  “But we haven’t done it in days—”

  “And? Yes, I would love to devour you, Posey, but I really think you need rest instead.”

  She swallows with difficulty as her eyes search mine. “I’m really sorry, but I do think I need to rest.”

  I fall to her side, gathering her in my arms. “Then we’ll rest.”

  “You won’t leave?” She looks scared, and it hits me square in the chest. I haven’t felt like the air has been knocked out of me in a long time, but the fear in her eyes does it to me. I realize that if she isn’t okay, I sure as shit won’t be okay.

  “Are you sure you’re fine?”

  “I am, really. I hate that you came here for one thing, and I’m like, can we just rest? It’s pathetic.”

  I narrow my gaze at her. “I didn’t come here to do you, Posey.”

  “Liar.”

  I flash her a guilty smirk. “Okay, maybe I did. But it’s more than that. I want to be with you.”

  She cuddles into my neck, tangling her legs with mine. “I want to be with you too. You make me feel better.”

  I want to say that makes me feel better, but I’m still nervous. I stroke my hand along the small of her back as my other hand tips her chin up. She meets my gaze, and I kiss her nose. “I’m worried about you.”

  “Don’t be. I’m just really tired.”

  “Then sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Promise?” she asks, her eyes searching mine.

  “I promise.”

  Shit, I don’t care who comes through that door and sees us. I’ll get caught. I’ll be traded or benched. I don’t care, because I won’t break that promise to her. I’m not moving until she wakes up and tells me to leave. I can’t. I won’t. Our hearts beat in time as I hold her, sliding my thumb along her jaw. Her eyes fall shut as her nose nuzzles mine. Slowly, her breathing evens out, and when she is asleep, I close my eyes. I do so with the hope that when I open them, I won’t be terrified of what is happening between us