3. Riggs

From the corner of my eye, I notice Stella's date has cornered Garret Akeman, one of the senior guys on the team and is yapping his damn ear off. From the irritated expression on Akeman's face, he's not happy about it and is looking for a way to escape.

A smile twitches around the corners of my lips.

I get along with most of the guys on the team—we're more like brothers than anything else. Garret Akeman is the exception. Most of us can't stand the dude. He thinks he's god's gift to hockey.

Newsflash—he's not.

On top of that, he's an asshole.

I tow Stella through the crowded living area where most of the party has congregated before turning into a smaller room that has a big screen television. A couple guys are chilling out and playing video games while others are settled on the couch and chair.

"Riggs, get your ass over here. We're just about to play a game of truth or dare," Ford says, flashing a grin at Carina like it's some kind of inside joke.

I glance at Stella and raise my brows in silent askance. When she shrugs, we squeeze in next to Ryder and Juliette. Shocker—there's a girl perched on Colby's lap.

A couple of our younger teammates are also playing. Puck bunnies hover around the players, hoping to get chosen for a dare. I'm sure if you asked them to strip down and do the nasty in front of everyone, they'd oblige without question.

Thank fuck Stella's never been into any of my teammates. I'm sure that's because she grew up with a famous brother who played professionally. She's not impressed by these guys. Not even the ones who'll get picked up by the NHL.

A few more people trickle into the room and join the game. I notice a couple of the younger guys checking Stella out. I can't blame them. She's gorgeous with bright blue eyes, long blonde hair, and an hourglass figure. That being said, I shoot them dark looks before throwing my arm around her shoulders and hauling her close.

Damn but she feels good tucked against my body.

When she glances at me, I flash a tight smile. My muscles loosen when she makes no attempt to shrug off my hold. We've always been affectionate with each other. But for some reason, something feels off tonight. There's an electricity that crackles in the air like an impending storm. The confusion that flickers in her eyes tells me that she's just as aware of it as I am.

"Truth or dare, Stella."

She rips her gaze from me to glance at Colby.

Almost immediately, I feel the loss of it.

"Dare."

I tense, afraid that he'll goad her into doing something with another guy. If that happens, I'll take him out during our next practice.

See if I don't.

"I dare you to lock lips with our boy, Riggs."

Even though the music is blaring from the other room and the babble of voices surrounds us, I'm so attuned to the girl next to me that I hear the slight intake of her breath. My heart drops before slamming into overdrive. It takes effort to keep my face carefully blank so it doesn't give away the churn of my private thoughts.

Her movements freeze before she turns her head just enough to meet my eyes.

We've held hands and hugged plenty of times. The one thing we've never done is kiss.

It's a line I've never dared to cross.

Have I wanted to?

Fuck, yeah. A million times. But I've been too chickenshit to do it. Now that the opportunity has presented itself, I'll be damned if I don't take full advantage of it.

When Stella remains silent, Colby's grin grows wider. "Well, what's it gonna be, McKinnon? Taking the dare or drinking a shot?"

Her tongue darts out to moisten her lips. "I'll take the dare."

I can practically feel the blood that rushes through my veins as she swivels toward me. Even though questions don't fall from her lips, they lurk in her gorgeous depths. I nod to let her know that I'm down with this.

The knowledge that I might never get this chance again pounds through my head. It's what has me wrapping my hands around her waist and hauling her onto my lap so that she has to straddle my thighs. Her wide eyes stay pinned to mine as her hands drift to my shoulders. Only then do mine lift to cradle her cheeks.

Even though everyone in the room is focused on us, I block them out.

It's just her.

And me.

My attention stays locked on Stella as I draw her close enough for my lips to ghost over hers.

Once.

Twice.

On the third pass, my mouth settles over her plump flesh. My tongue sweeps across the seam of her lips, begging for entrance. When she doesn't immediately open, I tilt her head just a bit and come at her from a different angle. When she inhales a breath, I delve inside so our tongues can dance.

The movement is languid.

Erotic.

As if we have all the time in the world and my teammates and our friends aren't watching our first kiss unfold. Her sweetness explodes on my tongue. It's so damn tempting to crush her against my chest, but I've spent years listening to her talk about the guys she's dated. As much as it killed me to hear it, I've taken a shit ton of mental notes.

I know exactly what this girl likes.

How she wants to be touched.

What she craves in a partner.

What turns her on and what she doesn't like.

When she presses closer, becoming more of an active participant in the caress, everything around us fades to the background. I want to eat this girl alive. A groan rumbles up from my chest as my tongue slides against hers. Slow sweeps that have my cock stiffening in my joggers. There's no way she doesn't feel the thick length with the way she's pressed against me.

The game is long forgotten as my lips rove hungrily over hers.

I'm so wrapped up in her that I barely hear the asshole who clears their throat, breaking the delicate spell woven around us. My heart slams against my ribcage as if trying to break loose from the confines.

Stella jerks away with a small gasp. Her breath comes out in short, sharp pants as she searches my eyes as if seeing me for the first time. The dazed look that fills hers drives me fucking wild.

Know what I like even more?

That I'm the one who put it there.

Me.

"Ummm…wow. I think I just orgasmed," Carina murmurs.

"The hell you did, pretty girl," Ford says. "You're loud AF when you come."

She whacks him in the chest as a smile twitches around her lips.

"He's right, you totally are," Juliette adds with a laugh.

Color stains Carina's cheeks as she turns her attention to Ryder and jerks a brow. "I suppose you have something to add to the convo?"

Ryder smirks and pulls his girlfriend closer before pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I'm not saying a word. The only person's orgasms I'm concerned about are hers."

A few puck bunnies sigh.

"And that would be my cue to leave," Maverick McKinnon, Juliette's brother, grumbles as he stalks from the room.

I block out the conversation that swirls around me as my tongue darts out to swipe my lips. I've spent years contemplating what Stella would taste like. What I've just discovered is that reality is way better than I imagined.

The other thing I figured out?

One taste will never be enough to satiate the deep well of need that lives inside me where this girl is concerned.