Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Bad Boy Craves For Me- Hockey Romance: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

For example, I—as someone whose pants he’s actively trying to get into—don’t need to or want to know that women attach themselves to his body wherever he goes. I certainly appreciate the clarification that what I saw Friday between him and the strawberry blonde wasn’t as it seemed, but the truth was somehow as intimidating as the belief had been nauseating.The tallest man in the group turns around, and I recognize him immediately as Adam Lockwood, Vancouver’s superstar goalie. He spreads his arms wide, stepping in our direction.“Where’d you go? I thought maybe you went to buy a cock…” His eyes slide my way, and his cheeks flush. “Sock…” He clears his throat and gives me a shy wave. “Hi. Me Adam. No. Fuck.” He claps a hand to his face and drags it down before offering it to me. “Adam. I’m Adam. I’m sorry. I’m just embarrassed because I don’t know you but I said cock sock in front of you.”Oh my God, he’s adorable. He’s also insanely beautiful, bright blue eyes and dark, tousled curls

“Shut up.” I smile up at him. “I’ll see you on New Year’s Eve.”He nods. “Not a date.”“Not a date,” I repeat.Then he shuts the door, hits me with two finger guns, and yells, “It’s a date!”CHAPTER 9DOGS > GIRLFRIENDS AT CHRISTMASCARTERI have a love/hate relationship with Christmas.Growing up, it was my favorite season. Yeah, it wasn’t just a holiday; it was a whole damn season.It started in November when the Vancouver air would chill enough for my dad to kick on the furnace. Christmas music started playing from the stereo speakers in our living room out through the whole house as soon as Remembrance Day passed. We’d barely have our Halloween decorations down, and Mom would pull out all the bins labeled Christmas from the attic.She’d kick her holiday baking off with chocolate peanut butter balls, even though the Christmas before she swore she’d wait until later. The earlier she baked, the more we ate, and two weeks before Christmas, she’d be a mess in the kitchen, freaking out

“Oh, Jennie.” Mom presses a hand to her forehead. “Would you quit calling your brother a fuckboy?”“He prefers ladies’ man,” Hank supplies.“Yeah, I do.” I whoop. “That’s my guy!”“And ladies’ man is just a nicer name for fuckboy.”Jennie snickers and leads Hank out of the kitchen, leaving me and my mom alone.“You know, Carter, I’ve never said anything about your choice to…to…” She’s got this flail-y hand thing going on, flapping around her face like she’s trying to figure out a nice way to say her son sleeps around. “To do whatever it is you’re doing with so many different women,” she finally settles on. “But I hate to think you’re missing out on something incredible, something special.” She lifts one shoulder, wearing a smile that manages to be sheepish, sad, and nostalgic all at once. “Something like me and your dad had.”Tugging gently on her hand until she shuffles forward, I pull her into me, winding my arms around her and holding her tight.“How are you doing today, Mom?”“I’m

Emmett pulls one bill free and stuffs it in my hand. “Ollie gets one of these since she made it happen.”Cara steals a bill. “And I get one because I brought her.”“Stupid stipulations,” Garrett grumbles, tucking his money away before anyone else can claim some.Cara pats Adam’s shoulder. “Did you know you’re Liv’s favorite Viper?”His face lights up as he stands a bit taller, running a palm down his proud chest. “Really? Me?”“Yep.” I ignore the look of shock and betrayal Carter wears. “You’re like a brick wall out there.” I’m also pretty sure Adam’s the sweetest man in the league. Every time he’s complimented in a postgame interview, he gets all shy and looks away from the camera.“Ollie played hockey for fifteen years,” Carter tells him.“Really?” Adam eyes me up and down. “I want you to tell me you were a goalie, but you’re fucking tiny.” He folds his lips into his mouth. “I’m sorry. Tiny’s not a bad thing, it’s just—”“Not good for a goalie, I get it. I tried for a year when I wa

“Looks more like constipation to me.”Adam slings an arm over my shoulders, pulling me closer. “Leave my guy alone. He’s got a crush, that’s all.”A crush? My throat squeezes again. “Psssh. No I don’t.” Do I?“You do, Carter. That’s why you haven’t left the bar with a single woman lately.”“Maybe I needed a break. I’ve been tired.”“That’s why you bought Olivia cinnamon buns and cheesecake and talked her into getting her face painted with you last week. That’s why you stood there with your arms around her during the tree lighting, just because she shivered, and that’s why you invited her to a party at your house, even though you never have meaningless hookups at your house. Because Olivia means something to you, and you, my friend, have a crush.”Well, fuck me sideways. He might be right.What the hell do you do with a crush?You follow her into the bathroom, that’s what you do with a crush.Well, I didn’t follow her in. She’s already inside, and I’m waiting out here to surprise her.