LOGINWhen Bailey Carter walked in on her boyfriend tangled in bed with someone else, she swore she was done with love, and with hockey players.Now she’s back in Michigan, working nights just to pay her grandmother’s hospital bills, trying to stitch her life back together one piece at a time.Then he walks in.Orion Hayes—the arrogant, infuriating captain of Michigan’s hockey team, and her ex’s biggest rival. The same man she once swore she’d never speak to.He’s cocky. Ruthless. Too damn gorgeous for his own good.And when he finds her again, he offers her a deal she can’t refuse—pretend to be his girlfriend to get his family off his back, and he’ll make sure her grandmother gets the best care money can buy.But what starts as a fake relationship soon blurs into something dangerously real.Because under the swagger and smirk, Orion isn’t who she thought he was.And the more he pulls her into his world, the harder it gets to remember why she should stay away.Her heart’s already been broken by one hockey player.Falling for another, especially her ex’s rival, might just be the biggest mistake of her life.
View More“Eugh, pelan-pelan, Pat. Kau bisa merusak gaunku.”
“Aku akan membelikanmu gaun baru,” sahut suara pria yang terdengar serak. “Kita tidak punya banyak waktu, Klara sebentar lagi akan sampai.” Wajah Klara memucat ketika mendengar namanya disebut. Percakapan yang diiringi desahan-desahan itu terdengar menggelikan di telinganya. Ketika erangan itu semakin meliar dan terdengar keras, Klara pun tidak tahan untuk membuka lebar pintu kamar hotel yang kebetulan tidak ditutup rapat. Brak! “K-kalian?!” Dugaan Klara ternyata tepat. Patryk, kekasihnya terlihat sedang menguasai Claudia, sepupu yang paling dia percaya selama ini. Dua sosok yang dia pikir setia, justru terlihat begitu mesra bahkan nyaris telanjang bulat dan menempel bagai lintah. “Klara, aku bisa jelaskan. Ini salah paham.” Patryk buru-buru menghampiri Klara. Pria itu mencoba meraih tangannya, tetapi Klara menepisnya dengan cepat. “Jangan sentuh aku!” geramnya. “Jadi, pengkhianatan ini yang kau sebut hadiah ulang tahun?!” Patryk terdiam, sementara Claudia berjalan menghampiri mereka setelah membalut tubuhnya dengan selimut. “Sudahlah, Klara, tidak usah drama,” kata Claudia sembari melipat tangan di dadanya. “Kau memang tidak pantas mendapat hadiah indah dari Patryk. Kau tidak lebih dari gadis culun yang hanya dimanfaatkan!” Sontak mata Patryk membola mendengar ucapan Claudia tadi. “Claudia!” ujarnya memperingatkan. “Kenapa, Sayang? Memang begitu adanya, kan?” ucap Claudia sambil tersenyum licik. “Dua tahun, Patryk! Dua tahun kita bersama dan kau mengkhianatiku? Dan apa tadi? Kau hanya ingin memanfaatkanku saja? Apa maksudmu?!” pekik Klara tidak terima. “Klara aku—” Klara membuang muka. Wajah memelas Patryk hanya membuatnya mual. Meski rasa sakit di hatinya membuat matanya terasa panas, tapi Klara berusaha agar air matanya tidak tumpah. Dia tidak sudi menangis di hadapan dua orang yang telah mengkhianatinya. “Silakan lanjutkan kegiatan kalian yang menjijikkan itu!” Ia menatap Patryk, mengultimatum dengan tegas. “Mulai sekarang, hubungan kita berakhir, Pat!” Tidak membuang waktu, Klara meninggalkan kamar hotel dengan langkah cepat. Ia menyetop taksi di lobi, lalu menyebutkan nama sebuah tempat. Satu-satunya yang terpikir oleh Klara adalah melarikan diri. Dan, di sinilah dia sekarang. Di sebuah kelab malam. “Tequila, satu!” pintanya pada bartender. Ia terus meminta gelasnya diisi tiap kali minuman pahit itu tandas. Klara tidak sadar, seorang pria berjas rapi, tampan, punya tatapan setajam elang sedari tadi menatap ke arahnya. Tepat ketika Klara ingin menambah cairan memabukkan itu lagi, pria itu menghentikannya. “Apa kau gila, huh? Kau bisa membunuh dirimu!” Klara yang sudah merasakan kepalanya berat, memicingkan mata ke arah pria tersebut. Ia terkekeh, lalu berusaha duduk tegak meski sempoyongan. “Hei, tampan. Siapa kau?” racaunya sambil memperhatikan wajah pria di hadapannya itu. “Ah, itu tidak penting … bukankah semua pria sama saja? Sama-sama brengsek!” katanya lalu memberikan pukulan ke dada pria itu. Tenaga Klara yang sudah mabuk tentu bukan masalah. Badan tegap dan atletis itu tidak merasa sakit ataupun goyah karena pukulan-pukulan kecil Klara. “Di mana kamarmu? Ayo, biar kuantar,” ajak pria itu. Ia mengaitkan tangannya ke bawah ketiak Klara, lalu memapah gadis itu. “Tidak mau! Aku tidak sudi kembali ke sana! Si Brengsek Patryk pasti sedang melakukan hubungan menjijikkan itu di mana-mana!” Klara berontak. Ia berhasil menghentikan langkah pria yang akan membawanya. “Kalau begitu, ayo kuantar pulang.” Lagi, pria bersuara bariton itu mencoba membujuk Klara. Klara terkekeh. “Pulang ke mana?” Ia menjeda lagi dengan tawa. “Aku bahkan tidak punya rumah. Ehm, atau … bolehkah aku ke tempatmu? Aku janji akan jadi gadis manis.” Ia mengerjapkan kedua matanya kemudian terkekeh lagi. “Kau sepertinya sudah benar-benar mabuk, Klara,” ujar pria itu. Ia berusaha merogoh saku untuk mencari ponselnya. Namun sayang, belitan tangan Klara yang tiba-tiba mencegahnya. “Kau kenal aku?” tanyanya heran. “Pertanyaan bodoh, tentu saja aku mengenalmu!” sahut pria itu dengan nada tegas. Klara memiringkan kepalanya, mencoba mengingat sosok pria di hadapannya itu. Namun, kesadarannya yang menipis sama sekali tidak membantu. Selama beberapa detik, gadis itu terus menatap dalam pria yang jauh lebih tinggi darinya itu. Posisi mereka yang begitu dekat, membuat keduanya merasakan panas di sekujur tubuh. “Badanmu bagus,” puji Klara. Tangannya mulai bergerilya di atas dada tegap pria itu. “Kau juga harum…,” lanjutnya lagi. Kali ini ia menempelkan hidungnya ke ceruk leher pria itu. Embusan napas Klara yang hangat, sentuhan lembut yang terasa di antara nyata dan tidak itu justru mulai membuat tubuh pria itu terbakar. Klara yang sudah mabuk benar-benar semakin liar tidak terkendali. “Hentikan, Klara, atau kau akan menyesal….” Andai saja Klara tahu, ia adalah pria yang sangat normal. Gerakan Klara yang seduktif membuat pria itu sangat tidak nyaman. “Aku tau kau menikmatinya juga. Aku bisa merasakan milikmu mengeras di bawah sana.” Klara berjinjit lalu menempelkan bibirnya ke bibir pria itu dan berbisik sensual. Entah apa yang merasukinya saat ini, tapi yang jelas, sesuatu dalam dirinya seolah baru saja meledak. Tanpa berpikir panjang, Klara kemudian memagut lembut bibir pria itu. Klara bisa merasakan, pria itu semula tidak merespons. Namun, kelihaiannya membuat sang lawan lama kelamaan membalas dengan sama panas. “Klara, kau masih punya pilihan jika ingin menghentikannya sebelum–” Cup! Klara membungkam pria itu dengan sebuah kecupan. “Aku menginginkannya.” Dan ketika persetujuan itu terucap, dua insan itu pun bergerak semakin dalam. Pria itu menarik tangan Klara dan membawanya ke kamar hotel yang sudah dia pesan. Begitu tiba di sana, tidak ada lagi jeda di antara mereka. Klara mencium brutal pria tampan itu dengan desahan yang membuat pria itu mengumpat kasar. “Sial!” Klara menjadi begitu agresif karena pengaruh minuman. Namun hal itu justru semakin memantik hasrat sang pria. “Ahh….” Pria itu tahu, ini adalah yang pertama untuk Klara. Miliknya kesusahan menerobos, membuat Klara menitikkan air mata karena perpaduan rasa perih dan asing. “Rileks, Sayang. Aku akan melakukannya perlahan.” Sesuai janjinya, pria itu benar-benar lihai membuat Klara terbuai. Tubuh Klara yang semula menegang, perlahan melentur dan sanggup mengikuti ritme pria itu yang tidak beraturan. Erangan dan decakan tidak berhenti terdengar di kamar hotel president suite itu. Klara menyerah lebih dulu, baru diikuti ejakulasi sang pria yang tidak lagi tertahan. Di akhir pergulatan, Klara langsung tertidur pulas. Sementara pria itu langsung menghubungi seseorang melalui telepon. “Cari tahu informasi mengenai Klara.” Mata pria itu menatap penuh ke arah Klara yang masih pulas. “Terutama sudah sejauh apa hubungannya dengan… anakku!”Bailey POV “ What do you think you are doing?” I eventually ask, unable to stop myself.Orion turns to look at me and gives me a grin that has my heart drumming so loud I'm afraid he might hear it.“ Helping, of course.” He replies as if that's the most normal thing to do.I can't help but shake my head helplessly.“ You don't need to do that, you know.” I try talking him out of it. It's a small gesture, maybe something to pass time for him but to me? Let's just say it warms my heart.After being with Nolan for years, I can attest that this isn't something he would do.“ I know that but still, I am doing it because I want to.” Orion answers.“ You don't want free labour?” He adds and I can't help but smile.“ As long as you don't expect anything in return, I'm happy to have an extra hand.” I reply.My words have Orion pausing.“ Is that what scares you? Giving something in return?” He asks, walking to me.Our gazes meet and lock and while my body screams at me to retreat, I stay root
Bailey’s POVTalia is already awake when I walk into the kitchen the next morning.She is sitting at the counter, sipping coffee and scrolling through her phone. The smell of pancakes fills the air.“Morning,” I mumble, rubbing my eyes. I slept like a baby last night after I arrived from the event. I didn't even realise when Talia came home.She looks up and gives me a smile.“Good morning, beautiful. You are glowing today. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you've fallen in love.” Talia teases me.I roll my eyes and reach for a mug. “ Fallen in a ditch maybe.” I snicker and Talia chuckles.“So, are you going to tell me what exactly happened yesterday? Or do I have to check social media for it?” I almost groan at that question.I sigh and lean against the counter. “ What's there to tell? Orion took me to one of those events they always attending.We came across Nolan. No, I should say, Orion dragged my ass there because he knew Nolan would be there.”Now that I think of it, I re
Orion POV “You didn't have to do that.” Bailey whispers as we walk away. I hide my smile and decide to play dumb.“ Do what?”She chuckles. “ Thanks anyway. That was satisfying to watch.” She looks amused and impressed.Seeing her smile makes my heart flips, and I find myself craving to see more of it.I have craved her for years, watching her smile for that asshole from afar.He never deserved her, I knew that but Bailey was so smitten by him. I clear my throat, forcing my gaze away before she catches the shift in my expression.She doesn’t need to know that one smile from her can throw me completely off balance. It always did. The difference now is, she is by my side.She can keep thinking this is a fake relationship. Truth is, she is not getting away from me. Not now. Not ever.“Guess you’re not as big of a jerk as you pretend to be,” she says. She is clearly teasing me.“Don’t spread that rumor,” I reply, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets. “I have worked hard on my reputat
Bailey POV A week later. The hospital doesn’t feel so heavy anymore like it did that day when the doctor informed me about my grandmother’s urgent surgery. Grandma looks stronger with each passing day, her smile returning bit by bit. Watching her talk to the nurses and tease them about their uniforms almost makes me forget the panic of last week. I almost lost her. The surgery had gone well, better than we hoped actually. For the first time after that call, I feel like I can breathe with ease. “You should go back to Chicago,” she says, adjusting the blanket around her shoulders. Her voice is soft with that warmth that always makes me melt. “Don’t let me hold you back, I am doing better. You have your boyfriend waiting for you. I don’t want you neglecting him because of me.” Her words slice through me, reminding me of that painful heartbreak I had almost forgotten. I stare at her, trying to find the courage to tell her the truth — that there is no boyfriend anymore, th
Bailey POV My healing journey was going well until I received an alarming call.“ Miss Dawson, can you come to the hospital immediately?” I had been in the middle of arranging my small bakery shop when the call came.At first, I was confused and then dread followed.When I arrived at the hospital, my grandmother was already laying in the ICU.That's when my world started cracking again.“ Your grandmother’s condition worsened and she needs a heart surgery as soon as possible.”I trembled and took a step back as I felt like my world was running in circles.A heart surgery? When I had drained my savings to set up my bakery?Desperate, I pleaded with the landlady to give back the six months down payment I had made but my efforts were proven futile.I mortgaged the house my parents left me but it was not enough. That's how I found myself here, in a club serving drinks to earn money.The bass thumps so hard through the velvet-lined walls I could feel it in my bones. I clutch my tray a li
Bailey The flight back to Michigan felt endless. My body was in the seat, but my mind was stuck in that bedroom in Chicago, replaying the sounds, the smirk, the way Nolan had looked at me as if I were nothing.After seven years of dating and giving it all in our relationship, I was slapped with betrayal and mockery.I had grabbed my hand bag, booked a flight to Michigan with trembling hands. I didn't look back. I had nothing to look back to. Nolan was the reason I moved to Chicago to begin with and with our relationship shattered, I couldn't stay there.Three years of devotion were reduced to an ugly joke by his betrayal. The man who has vowed to always love me looked me in the eye and said that my love was suffocating him, that I couldn't offer him anything. By the time the plane landed, it was already morning. I shuffle down the aisle with nothing but the bag I had grabbed in my rush to escape the bitter reality my life has unraveled into.Stepping out into the cool Michigan air,
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments