Playing For Keeps Read online

  “It’s so big and pretty. I can’t believe you have multiples of these now,” she comments.

  “Yep, and each one feels just as great as the last one,” I state. I’ve won the cup three times, all with the Eagles organization. “Ready to get out of here? I’m starving.”

  “Yep, let’s go,” she tells me, leaning in for a kiss. I pull her in close, kissing her as the world around us disappears and it’s only the two of us.

  A throat being cleared next to us pulls us back into the moment and the room full of people.

  “Get a room,” Brian calls out, giving us a hard time.

  “Like you don’t kiss Kinley like that in front of everyone every chance you get,” I call back at him. He just shrugs his shoulders like he’s saying, “And your point is?” as he wraps his arms around his own wife and pulls her in for a kiss of their own.

  We all head out, meeting up at the restaurant I made reservations at earlier in the week, when I finalized my plans and made sure everyone important to the two of us would be present.

  The conversation flows over dinner, with lots of talk of the upcoming season, and Matt’s plans of possibly picking up this commentator gig he’s getting ready to fly out and test on. It was kind of weird not having him in the net tonight, but Tyler Jacobson did a great job, and is proving why he deserves his starting position on the team.

  When dessert comes, that’s my cue that I need to move things along. I didn’t want to do anything with having the ring hidden in the dessert or anything like that. I just want it to be special for her. I tipped off Becca and Kinley just after we arrived at the restaurant, when Madison went to the restroom, and asked if they would both take a video or pictures for me. They were both so ecstatic I’m surprised they were able to keep it reined in during dinner.

  Our server sets everyone’s dessert down in front of them and after she leaves the table, I stand, grabbing Madison’s hands and pulling her up with me. I turn her so we’re facing each other and drop a kiss to her lips. She gives me a confused look, not catching on yet to what’s happening.

  Holding her hands in mine still, I let the words fall. I’d kind of rehearsed what I wanted to say to her, but in the moment, I’m not even sure what exactly falls from my lips. I just know it must make sense to her what I’m doing because her eyes fill with tears and before I can drop down to one knee to ask her the most important question, she’s already saying yes and launching herself into my arms.

  “Yes! Yes!” she whisper-yells directly into my ear before pulling back and kissing me. “I’ll marry you.”

  “I love you so much, baby,” I tell her, setting her back down on the floor.

  The shrieks from Madison and the cheers coming from our table have caught the attention of everyone else in the restaurant and we now have their applause as we sit back down at the table. It’s then that I’m finally able to take the ring out of the box and slip it onto her finger, where it sparkles in all its glory, right where it belongs.

  “Oh my God! It’s beautiful!” she cries, and then kisses me before she looks at it again, and it’s that moment she recognizes it’s her mother’s ring. The tears fall down her face a little faster, as she squeezes me tighter.

  “Thank you,” she whispers in my ear. “Thank you for including her, for being willing to use her ring rather than buying a new one.”

  “I knew it was important to you, and your dad insisted when I went to talk to him a few weeks ago. Said he’d been saving it for this moment. Does it feel like it fits right? We can get it sized if it doesn’t.”

  “Nope, it’s perfect,” she tells me, after sliding it around her finger to make sure it won’t fall off.

  “I love you, Mads.” I place another kiss to her lips, and our friends and family all converge on us to offer their love and congratulations.

  Later that night, we said goodnight to everyone at the restaurant and went our separate ways. Madison and I make our way back home with my parents in tow, as they are staying here at our house with us. They head to bed, quickly, seeing as it’s after midnight by the time we make it home.

  I follow Madison into our room, shutting the door behind me, and make sure the lock is engaged. I start removing my suit while Madison sits on the edge of the bed, watching my every move as she slowly removes her own clothing. This striptease we’re both in the middle of builds the sexual tension between us with each moment that passes. As I drop a piece of clothing, I take another step closer to her. By the time I reach her, I am completely naked and so damn ready for her.

  I move to pick her up and slide her up the bed, but she has a different plan and before I can do anything, her lips are around my cock and she’s sucking me deep into her mouth. The wetness and heat of her mouth around my cock has me nearly seeing stars, as she hollows her cheeks and sucks. Her hands find the globes of my ass and her nails dig in as she works her magic up and down my shaft.

  I let her have her fun for a few more moments before I’ve had enough. Not wanting to come down her throat tonight, I pull her off my cock.

  “Get up on the bed. Now,” I growl. “Grab the headboard and put that ass in the air.”

  She listens, and within moments, has her hands on the headboard and is on her knees, her ass on display and ready for me. I move closer, line my cock up with her pussy that is more than ready for me, and slam myself home. We both groan in pleasure at the same time. I cover her back with my upper body, bringing my lips to her neck and shoulder. I drop open mouthed kisses along her exposed skin as I thrust in and out of her. I work the two of us up until we’re both ready to crash over the edge, the sheen of sweat that coats the both of us is almost as erotic as the sounds falling from Madison’s lips.

  I thrust harder, dropping a hand to find her clit. As soon as my fingertips makes contact, she gasps for air as her orgasm overtakes her body, then goes completely rigid in my arms before collapsing onto the bed.

  The intensity of her orgasm triggers mine and I thrust into her one last time as I spill every last drop into her.

  I roll off her, pulling her with me as I settle us on the bed. Our breathing matches each other as it comes in short, shallow breaths. It takes both of us a little while to recover and our breaths to even out.

  “Hmmm. That was amazing,” Madison says into my chest.

  “I’d have to agree,” I say, as I run my hand through her dark hair. I love lazy moments like this, just the two of us lying here, not a care in the world and everything perfect in this moment.

  “I love you,” I whisper against her hair.

  “I love you, too,” she replies.

  “When do I get to marry you and change your last name?” I ask her after a while, both of us simply content to be quiet and just hold each other.

  “How does next summer sound? I don’t really want to get married during the season. I want to be able to go on a real honeymoon, and I want time to plan the perfect wedding,” she tells me.

  “Sounds perfect. As long as you’ll be there and it’s your dream day, I don’t really care where or when it is. Just as long as I get to marry you, and have babies with you, I’ll be a happy man. You’re my end game, Mads. That’s all that matters to me.”

  * * *

  The End

  Afterword

  I hope you have enjoyed this book, and you would consider leaving a review on your favorite retailer.

  * * *

  If you would like to connect more with Samantha, please join her reading group on Facebook!

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1233417193443321/

  Coming Soon

  Protecting Her Heart

  Indianapolis Eagles Series Book 4

  Add it on Goodreads today!

  Synopsis coming soon!

  * * *

  Marry Me

  Lyrics and Love Series Book 1

  Add it on Goodreads today!

  Synopsis coming soon!

  Acknowledgments

  I must first thank my family! Y
our support means the world to me!

  My Beta team – Thank you for all your hard work. I couldn’t do this without your input!

  Jenn Wood – Thank you for polishing up my words and making them shine!

  Nicole Bailey with Proof Before You Publish – Thank you for your proofreading skills!

  Renee McCleary – Thank you for all your help! From feedback and grammatical errors to pimping out my books, you’re a lifesaver. Thank you for being on my team, I couldn’t do this without all your help!

  Laura Fidorowicz – Thank you for being on my team!

  Gina & Blake – Thank you for gracing the cover of this book and for all your support along the way!

  Shauna Kruse – Thank you for the beautiful image and for all your support!

  Juliana Cabrera with Jersey Girl Design – Thank you for the beautiful cover! You always blow me away with your designs!

  Give me Books and Bloggers – Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can’t express enough how thankful I am that you would take the time to read my books and post about them, so others can find them.

  To my fans and readers – THANK YOU! Thank you for giving my books a chance. For reading and loving the characters as much as I do. Your support means the world to me.

  * * *

  Xoxo

  Samantha

  Also by Samantha Lind

  Indianapolis Eagles Series:

  Just Say Yes - Book 1

  Scoring The Player - Book 2

  Playing For Keeps - Book 3

  Standalone Titles

  Tempting Tessa

  Until You ~ An Aurora Rose Reynolds Happily Ever Alpha Crossover Novella

  About the Author

  Samantha Lind is a contemporary romance author. Having spent the first 27 years of her life in Alaska, she now calls Iowa home, where she lives with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, watching hockey (Go Knights Go!), and listening to country music.

  Connect with Samantha in the following places:

  www.samanthalind.com

  [email protected]

  * * *

  Reader Group

  Samantha Lind’s Alpha Loving Ladies

  Good Reads

  https://goo.gl/t3R9Vm

  Bookbub

  https://goo.gl/4XyyLk

  Newsletter

  https://www.subscribepage.com/SLNL