The Play (Briar U Book 3)

I feel like I’ve run two marathons and gone to war all in one night by the time Hunter and I walk through his front door later.

His team won the game, so everybody is out celebrating tonight. But we decided to bail on the after party, along with Summer and Fitz. And Brenna, who said she’d rather Skype with her boyfriend than “deal with a bunch of horny drunk boys slobbering all over her.”

The house is pitch black and dead silent as the entire group files inside.

“Okay, this is fucking creepy,” Brenna remarks.

“It doesn’t feel right when they’re not here,” Summer agrees.

“Who?” I ask. “Hollis and Rupi?”

“Yeah.” Summer vaguely waves a hand over the shadowy hallway. “Listen to it.”

I wrinkle my nose. “To what?”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Exactly!”

As we enter the living room, the haunting, albeit tinny notes of a familiar song waft out of Brenna’s phone. It’s Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence.” I burst out laughing as she solemnly holds it up for all to hear.

She has a point, though. This is the quietest I’ve ever heard this house. “Where did they go, anyway?” I ask.

“No idea,” Hunter replies. “Hollis said it was a surprise.”

“A surprise for who?”

“For Rupi.”

“So then why couldn’t he tell the rest of you?” I counter.

“Because it was a surprise.”

I let out a sigh. “I don’t understand that guy.”

“Nobody does,” Brenna says frankly. “Don’t waste any more brain cells trying to.”

“Anyway, if you’ll excuse us,” Hunter announces, “Semi and I are heading up to bed. She’s had a tough night.”

“I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” Summer says sympathetically. She and I aren’t super close, but she surprises me with a hug tight enough to steal the breath from my lungs.

“Thank you. It was terrifying, not gonna lie.”

“I hope your friend is going to be okay,” Fitz says gruffly.

“Me too.” I wonder what the shrinks at the hospital will make of TJ’s mental state. I think he’s suffering from depression, and he definitely has dangerously low feelings of self-worth. I hope whoever he talks to will provide him with the help and guidance he needs.

I’m sure the school or the police already contacted his family, and I’m planning on seeing him the moment he’s allowed visitors. TJ was always there for me when I needed to talk, when I needed someone to listen, and I plan on doing the same for him.

But tonight I don’t want to spend another second reliving what happened on that roof. Dad and I discussed it at length over a cup of coffee in my kitchen, and the pride shining in his eyes when I described talking TJ off the ledge made my heart clench with emotion. I hope he eventually accepts my decision to forgo medical school. Maybe one day he’ll be proud of that too.

I check my phone as we enter Hunter’s room. A million messages await me. Pippa, Corinne, Darius, Pax, my mom, and even one from Nico, who I unblocked after Christmas. It says he heard about TJ, he’s glad we’re both all right, and that I’m a very good friend. It’s a sweet message, and I make a mental note to reply to him, and everyone else, tomorrow.

“Congratulations on your win,” I tell Hunter.

“Congratulations on saving someone’s life.”

“I feel so awful for him,” I admit. “He’s always been shy, reserved. But I didn’t think he was suicidal, Hunter. I truly didn’t.”

“I know, baby.”

“I wish he’d spoken to me about it and shared his feelings, instead of letting things get so bad that he felt like his only option was to kill himself.” I swallow the lump of sorrow in my throat. “I just…you know what, I can’t talk about this anymore tonight. Just distract me. Please.”

“Sure.” He flicks up an eyebrow. “Want me to tell you about the call I got from Garrett’s agent today?”

Panic flies through me. “Oh my God! No!”

“What do you mean, no?”

“Garrett says you’re not allowed to have an agent. It’s against NCAA rules—”

“Don’t worry, it’s okay,” Hunter interrupts with a smile. “He just called to say hello. A very unofficial hello. And, well, perhaps there was also an unofficial expression of interest on both our ends.”

“Both? You’re interested?” I try valiantly not to break out in a satisfied smile. I knew calling Garrett would be the push that Hunter needed.

He nods. “I mean, we don’t even know if any teams will want me after I graduate—”

“They will.”

“—but if one does, and it’s a good deal…” He trails off.

“You’ll sign?” I prompt.

“I’ll sign. But…” He curls his arm around my waist and pulls me toward him. “That means you need to apply to grad schools in whatever city I land in. Or,” he mulls it over, “I suppose we can see where you land and then I’ll tell G’s agent to get me in with that team.”

“We’ll figure something out.” I love how we’re already making plans for the future. And why not? I’m excited for it. I want nothing more than to work toward my master’s and open up a counselling practice, while the man I love plays—

“Oh fuck,” I blurt out. “I forgot to tell you I love you!”

Hunter’s startled gaze snaps to mine. Then he starts to laugh. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I forgot to tell you I love you. I wanted to say it the night you said it, but—”

“You weren’t ready, I get it.” His voice comes out husky.

“It wasn’t the right moment, given the circumstances. But I do love you.” I feel my cheeks heating up. I never thought I’d fall for Mr. Hockey, with his cocky dimpled smiles and strange sense of humor. But life is full of strange surprises. “I love you, Hunter Davenport.”

“I love you, Demi Davis.” He leans down to kiss me. Meanwhile, his warm palms slide underneath the back of my shirt to stroke my back—and then he squawks in horror. “Holy shit, you’re like a block of ice, baby. C’mere.”

I grin as he begins to expertly tug off my clothes. “If you’re trying to warm me up, you should be putting more clothes on me.”

“Nah, I should be putting me on you.” He wiggles his eyebrows playfully and nudges me toward his bed. Then he lifts the corner of the comforter and we crawl underneath it, our naked bodies tangled together.

He slips one hand between my legs, probing, stroking gently. “How are you already so fucking wet?”

“That’s what happens when you’re around,” I mumble, and then my fingers find his dick. Big, thick, so warm.

Except he robs me of enjoyment, shoving my hand away with an outraged shout. “Oh my fucking God, Demi! Never touch my dick again.”

I let out a howl of laughter. “Hands are too cold?”

“Too cold is an understatement. Nope. Nope nope nope nope. You’re not allowed to touch me tonight.” Hunter pushes me onto my back, locks both my wrists with his left hand, and thrusts my arms over my head. “Don’t move,” he warns.

“Or what?”

“Or I won’t fuck you.”

I pout. “That’s mean.”

“No, what’s mean was that war crime you just committed against my penis.”

Gales of laughter shake my body. I love this guy. We have so much fun together, no matter the circumstances. We could be studying or sitting in a jail cell or lying naked in bed, and he’d never fail to crack me up.

His grip tightens on my wrists. “I’m warning you…”

“Oh fine. Go ahead and do your thing.”

Grinning, he lowers his head to kiss me, and I let him seduce me with his mouth, his tongue, his calloused fingertips. Eventually he releases me, but I keep my hands over my head, letting him have his way with me. His mouth is warm, wet, as it closes around my nipple. He sucks gently, swirls his tongue around that aching tip, and my hips move restlessly, seeking relief.

Hunter reaches between us, his knuckles grazing my clit before one long finger slides inside me. “Aw, fuck,” he groans. His hot mouth stays latched onto my breast as he starts fingering me. “Jesus motherfucking Christ, babe, I need to be inside you.” He’s grinding shamelessly against my bare leg, his dick leaving stripes of precome on my flesh.

I grumble impatiently when he leaves the bed to get a condom. “You should have done that first!” I scold.

He responds cheerfully. “Please don’t lecture me when I’m about to give you an orgasm.”

“Who says you’re going to give me an orgasm?”

He grips his dick and wags it at me. “This guy.”

Another laugh shudders through me, but it transforms into a throaty moan when Hunter climbs on top of me and enters my pussy in one smooth glide. He fills me completely, my body stretching to accommodate him, and I stroke the sinewy muscles of his back as he fucks me in slow, sweet strokes.

“I love you so much,” I whisper.

“Love you too.” His hips retreat, then flex forward in a deep thrust that makes me see stars.

Pleasure forms a tight knot in my core and then slowly unravels, ribbons of heat traveling through my body. I’m not cold anymore. I’m on fire. Hunter’s body is a furnace. His tongue is hot and eager. His dick elicits the most incredible sensations inside, stoking my arousal.

When the orgasm reaches the surface, I cry out and cling to him. He swallows my moans with greedy, desperate kisses, and then grunts huskily as he gives in to his own release.

“I’m never gonna get tired of this,” he croaks. He rolls us over so that I’m lying on his warm chest.

“Good thing you never have to,” I tease, still shivering from the aftershocks of release.

His strong arms wrap securely around me. “Oh really. So what are you saying? We’re going to be together forever?”

Smiling, I peer down at his gorgeous face. Then I brush a light kiss over his lips. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”