Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

S asha’s mind whirled as she tried to reconcile what was happening to her. On one hand, she wanted to spend a quiet evening with Wyatt before warmups and the meeting for competitors. On the other, she also wanted to spend time with her friends, if they still considered her such, and reconnect. Instead of doing either, she was hiding in her room, afraid if she stepped outside, she’d run into Trent again.

Or worse, Julian.

She wouldn’t say she was jealous of the skater. But a niggle of something brewed below the surface at the mention of his name. She pushed the feeling aside and closed her eyes. God, what a day. She wished she was back in her bed, turning off her alarm. If granted the redo, she’d also make sure she didn’t run into the guy who ended her career or meet her current partner’s ex in such a horrific manner. Maybe then she wouldn’t have embarrassed herself by puking up her guts.

A soft knock came at the door before it opened, then closed. Awareness skittered across her skin as the person drew near. She knew it wasn’t Wyatt. Their footsteps didn’t match, so it had to be one of the guys. She rolled over, opening her eyes as Archer stopped and knelt beside her. Worry filled his gaze. She couldn’t believe he was there. He looked so much older now. Tired too. Gone was the little boy with the tussled auburn locks. Gone was the naive glitter in his eyes whenever he talked about Hockey. Determination lit his topaz gaze.

“Hey,” he whispered, pushing a lock of her hair from her face. The corner of his mouth lifted in his patented smirk. “You grew up on us.”

“So did you,” she murmured, unable to look away. “All of you did.”

“I missed you—we missed you, Rogue.” He brushed his lips across her forehead and her breath hitched. “Thought I’d never see you again.”

“I’m sorry.” Tears blurred her vision. “I should have called. I should have told you the truth. Should have said we moved.”

“None of that,” he replied. “We deserve some of the blame, too. We could have called.”

“I missed you every day,” she murmured, reaching for him as the words tumbled from her. All the pain and regret. All the fear and uncertainty. The sorrow and heartache. He was there, though, taking her hand in his. “I thought, if I told you the truth, he’d hurt you guys, or you wouldn’t believe me.”

Archer snorted. “We saw it happen. We knew. You’re right, though. Even when our parents demanded Trent leave the league, his parents had more influence. So did coach.”

Because of course they did. “I don’t even know what to say about that.”

“Ice dancing, huh?” Archer changed the subject. She was grateful for that. “Do you like it?”

It wasn’t the same. They weren’t there, but she did love being on the ice again. Wyatt’s quiet confidence and pride made every day easier for her. “Different muscles. Music. You know, it’s not bad once you get the hang of it.”

He chuckled softly. “That’s our girl.”

“So,” she said, swallowing hard. “Did you and Janey ever get together?”

“Oh, so now you’re curious about my personal life...” A wicked glint darkened his eyes, turning the yellow-hued topaz, amber.

She lifted her shoulder. “I want to hear about everything I missed. Don’t leave any details out.” It was like old times. As if the past ten years was in another reality in a far-off galaxy.

“Can I ask you one question?” he hedged.

“You can ask me anything, Archer.”

“You and Wyatt... You a thing or...?” The delicate way he worded the question, like he didn’t want to seem hopeful, but also guarded and curious.

“Complicated. Not exclusive, if that’s what you’re asking,” she replied. “I don’t know if I could explain our connection properly.”

Archer exhaled. “Right. Makes sense.”

“You never answered my question, though,” she said.

“Nope. Not in a relationship. Hard to find someone who isn’t interested in my money or fame.”

Although watching a sport she loved was hard on her, she’d known about Archer, Cam, and Brody’s rise to fame in the NHL. Wasn’t surprising considering how good they were in the junior league. However, they didn’t all play on the same team. Archer went to Seattle. Cam headed to Los Angeles while Brody was traded to St. Paul and the Thunderbolts .

“I bet it is,” she said, half teasing while understanding the truth of his statement. “I’m sure when you find the one, she’ll be everything you’ve waited for.”

“Speaking of,” Archer said, tugging her toward him. “Want to hear a little secret?”

Did she? This close to him, the earthy scent of his cologne washed over her in warm notes of vetiver, bergamot, and sage. The newest Haught Line fragrance. The same he’d done a spread for at the beginning of his career. The scent suited him.

“I love secrets,” she said, tucking her bottom lip between her teeth.

Archer lifted her chin. Her breath lodged in her throat. Sasha’s heart gave a silly little thump of anticipation. Because she’d spent most of her mornings and after school skating with her team, she never really made many friends besides the guys. So, having a crush on Archer seemed natural. What wasn’t natural was taking a liking to each of her friends. What made everything more complicated, or added to the complication was the fact Wyatt had been the first guy she could actually see herself happy with—before Archer, Brody, and Cam step back into her life.

“Good,” he replied, lowering his voice to a sensual rumble while running the tip of his tongue across his bottom lip. “Because it’s time for us to make up for lost time.”

He kissed her then. The way he brushed his lips across her in the most tender of ways, had tears burning the corner of her eyes. Her heart squeezed. A sob lodged in her chest. Too many thoughts filled her mind, and he was there to silence them with a swipe of his tongue and a groan at the back of his throat. She curled her fingers in the shoulder of his hoodie, clinging to him for dear life.

Sasha always wondered if he was a good kisser. Always thought the girls each of the guys dated through high school were lucky. She on the other hand she had stayed to herself. She emersed herself into her studies and worked hard for a scholarship to her top five college choices. When she woke up after surgery, the regret of not putting herself out there stung. All her hard work and dedication, meant nothing if she didn’t have someone to share the riches with, right?

She’d lost everything.

“Wait,” she whispered, pulling back, hating the twisted turn her of her thoughts. She touched her lips before swallowing around the lump of emotion in her throat, placing her hand to his chest. The steady yet quick beat of his heart matched hers. “Why aren’t you mad at me?”

Archer tugged her to him, burying his face in her neck. He inhaled. The expanse of his body dwarfed her. “I could say the same for you, Rogue. Why aren’t you mad at us for not stopping Trent?”

They were kids. All of them competing for places on teams, hoping some college would give them a chance. She supposed in some respects she had an easier time, while Archer was always competing against the best of the best. “I never blamed you. I could never blame you for his actions. You didn’t make him hurt me. He did that because he’s an asshole with a giant inferiority complex to rival Napolean’s.”

Archer chuckled. “Exactly. None of us blame you for healing on your terms. I just wish you would have let us help you deal with Trent.”

Looking back on it, so did she, but hindsight was twenty-twenty and she was ten years removed from that fateful day. “If I couldn’t be out there with you on the ice, the one thing I could do was keep Trent from messing up your lives, too.”

“I should beat his ass for pulling you away from us,” Archer said, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Or help you give him the beat-down of his life. I’ll even give you a stick to help.”

Sasha chuckled softly. “Tempting... However, revenge is best served cold. Ignoring him the whole time we’re stuck here... Chef’s kiss.”

“There she is,” Archer said, gathering her up in his arms. “Come on, the guys said something about a hot tub.”

“I’m completely dressed, Archer.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan for that, too.” He gently lifted her, tucking her against his chest. “Could you get the door for us?”

She obliged, turning the knob. The second Archer stepped out of the room; his features turned feral, excited to boot. “Look who’s joining us in the hot tub, boys! Last one in pays for dinner tonight.”

He hurried toward the balcony door, leaving everyone to catch up. “Ohmigod, Archer!” The frigid air shocked her system, freezing her lungs and burning her nose. To the right of their room was the hot tub, already uncovered and turned on. Had one of them prepped the jacuzzi while Archer was with her?

“Cold air is good for you. Reminds you that you’re still living.” He set her on her sock covered feet. The chill of the concrete seeped into her toes, and she shivered. “Hurry now, don’t want to get frostbit out here.

“You want me to get into the hot tub in my bra and panties?” He’d gone absolutely mad if he thought she’d get in with little more than a thong and cotton t-shirt bra.

“Naked would suffice. However, I’m willing to take this slow, too,” he replied, yanking off his hoodie and shirt.

Sasha swore she swallowed her tongue. Holy shit, he was gorgeous. His chest was thick, muscular and stood out against his trim, washboard abs. He even had a pronounced adonis belt, directing her gaze to the fly of his jeans. Archer’s tattoos didn’t stop at his shoulders, either. He was covered in them. The intricate patterns and loops enticed her to lick and taste every inch of him.

She was so damn screwed.

He knew it too.

“Fine.” She removed the long sleeve shirt she’d pulled on, then the sleep pants she’d tugged on after Wyatt left her side.

The heat of Archer’s gaze pushed back the nasty chill blanketing the mountain side. Goosebumps formed where his eyes touched her, turning her on. This was all such a bad idea, yet she couldn’t tell him no. Nor any of her friends.

“Holy shit, Sunshine,” Cam said, coming to an abrupt halt a few feet from her. “You’re ripped.”

It was one of the things Jenny insisted upon—being physically fit. Sure, she could race around the track with the guys and hold her own up front as a winger, but being with Wyatt, she had to learn control. Balance. Grace. Everything for her started in her core and spread outward. If she couldn’t center herself out there on the ice, Wyatt and she were doomed to fail before their music even started.

“Flex,” Archer said, his hunger gaze devouring her. “Flex for us. I want to see your sexy stomach.”

She rolled her eyes, but did as he wanted. She didn’t have pronounced abs, but they were defined. Obviously, she was proud of the way she looked, shocked too. The plan Jenny and Evgeni put together for her, really worked. “Happy?”

“More than fucking happy,” he said.

“Showing off again?” Wyatt teased. “I thought we were past that, sweetheart.”

She snickered, glancing up at him. “Jealous?”

“Never,” he murmured. “Not when I’ve got abs for days.”

Did he ever. Wyatt took care of himself. They worked out together in their home gym and while she took online college courses, he went on runs to aid his endurance and took MMA lessons. Not that she ever saw any issue with his stamina. Sasha hummed in delight as she walked over to the stairs. As she went, she took off her socks, the last barrier against the cold then jumped in, feet first to warm her icy soles.

Heat enveloped her in a warm embrace, and she shivered, reveling in the scalding hot water massaging away the ache in her muscles from being in a car for too long and eased the twist in her stomach from seeing Trent again. “Oh yeah, this was just what I needed.”

“Groan like that again, Rogue, and I won’t be able to control what happens next.”

Her eyes flashed open as shock filled her. There they stood in just their briefs the four most gorgeous men in her life, come to life like a wet dream she hadn’t even realized she craved. She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve the delectable buffet of men, but she’d take it.

“If I’d known everyone would be here, I’d have dressed more appropriately,” Julian said, his gaze eating up each of the guys while lingering on Wyatt.

Before today, she’d have let Julian’s words roll off her. Jealously wasn’t even a term in her vocabulary. However, the second Julian started for Archer, the green-eyed monster sat up inside her, ready to pounce. No way in hell she’d allow some hussy to step foot in her territory. “Good thing you weren’t invited then, huh?”

Julian cut his gaze in her direction and smirked. “Come now, darling. We can share. Besides, these three will be more than enough for you. You won’t even miss Wyatt.”

A lower, menacing chuckle passed her lips. “Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, Julian. Wyatt belongs here with me, just like do they. Go poach somewhere else. You’re stinking up the place.”

“Bitch,” Julian sneered.

“Queen Bitch, to you, Julian. Don’t you forget that.” She gave him a finger wave as he stormed away.

Damn... Sunshine has claws,” Cam teased getting in beside her then looping his arm around her shoulders. “It’s good to see you, babe. You look amazing.”

The same could be said for all of them. “You’re not so bad looking either, Mr. Hockey Pro.”

“Please don’t inflate his ego,” Brody muttered, sitting across from her. “His head is big enough. Don’t need it any bigger.”

“So, babe,” Cam said, “catch us up on everything. We have ten years to make up for.”

“As long as we can have pizza and beers tonight,” she said, “you’ve got yourself a deal.”