My name is Tess Owens, and my life is officially on fire. I never thought dancing at my best friend's wedding would be the match to light the flames. But with one lingering touch, one longing look . . . and one sneaky caterer holding a camera phone, my almost ex-husband is ready to torch my entire life.
Unwilling to face the heat, I do what I do best: I run. Straight into the arms of Rachel and her team of NHL hockey players. One player stands apart from the rest. Jacksonville Rays star forward Ryan Langley is out with an injury. I get the surprise of my life when he shows up at my door, declaring himself my roommate.
Now I have six weeks to launch a new business. Six weeks to fight for my freedom . . . all while fighting my growing attraction to this All-American sweetheart. Did I mention he's ten years younger than me?
I want to believe him when he says age is just a number. I want to believe that our pasts don't define us forever. But first I have to stop running. With one innocent dance, Ryan Langley helped me start this fire. What if we're meant to fan these flames? What if, together, we're meant to burn?
Why You Should Read This Book
Tropes
Trigger Warnings
Pucking Wild
āYouāre a she-devil. My goddess. My queen. You fucking own me. Do anything, take anything. Itās yours.ā
āSheās fucking everything, alright? Iām fuckingāIām obsessed with her.ā
āJake, I love you. Iāve loved you for ten fucking years. I loved you in secret. I loved you like a coward. I didnāt deserve to be loved by you in returnānot until I got out of my own damn way. But I needed a little help. I needed a push.ā
āAnd letās get one thing crystal fucking clear. You donāt own me, Ryan Langley. Weāve kissed and weāve danced, and weāve flirted, but I am my own fucking person. Iām not beholden to you or anyone. And this shitty jealousy is a huge turn off for me. So, I suggest you pack it away if you ever want a snowballās chance in hell of seeing me naked again.ā
āI want to put you first. I want to see you smile every day and know Iām the reason. I want to be your person. I want to make my home in you, and I want you to make your home in me.ā
āWell, youāre fucking gorgeous, and you know it. Iād be the biggest liar in the world if I said I didnāt want you wrapped around me like naked bark on a tree.ā
āI know people are curious about us. But thereās no reason to be. Weāre just four people living our lives. Weāve chosen to live them together. Who we are to each other, and how we live, is no oneās business but our own.ā
āI know youāre just trying to be her friend right now and protect her. I know youāre scared for her. Iām fucking scared too. What sheās going through is scary. But Iām not going anywhere, okay? Fuck being friends. I am crazy about that woman, so just back the fuck off. All of you.ā
āI love you. I will never let him hurt you. Iām your goddess, remember? I protect whatās mine.ā
āBecause life is short, Ryan. Life is beautiful and short, and you only get one. Live it on purpose.ā
āFor the record, I think sheās wrong. I googled words that mean the opposite. You may have ruined me for all other women, but youāre not a calamity, Tess. Youāre a godsend. A blessing. A windfallā¦I had to google that one too.ā
āI love her, Rachel. Iām in love with her, and I think she loves me too. I canāt breatheācanāt fucking thinkābecause I need to tell her so badly.ā
āThe rules are simple: Weāre friends who fuck to feel good. You canāt offer more. Iām not taking more. Iām asking you, as your friend, if youād like to orgasm on my face. Say yes, and Iāll even let you pick which episode of SOA we watch after.ā
āIām who Iām meant to be now. With them, Iām me. Jake, Caleb, and Ilmari, theyāre my reason. So, Iām not walking down that aisle tonight. Iām running. Iām running to them, Tess. Iām going home.ā
āAll I thought about the whole ride home was how beautiful you are in that dress and how much I want to fuck you in it.ā
āNew house rule. No more apologizing for this. Weāre attracted to each other. I can admit it. I think you can too. Tess, youāre fucking magnetic. I donāt think I can stay away, even if I tryā¦and I donāt want to.ā
āThat sweet man is not gonna bolt. Ryan Langley stays. If you want him, heās yours for the taking. If you donāt, let him down gentlyā¦and soon. Because he is crazy about you, honey. Heās in this. Heās sticking. Let him stickā¦or let him go.ā
āWell, you look like you just got fucked six ways to Sunday.ā
Subscribe to Late Night Reads Weekly Newsletter
Get early access to our TBR list, podcast episodes, bonus content, irresistible book recommendations, and so much more!




