BEFORE YOU READ: PLEASE SEE THE AUTHOR'S NOTE FOR A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT I AM CERTAIN NONE OF YOU WILL WANT TO MISS <3

"Connor, if you can't keep your hands off of me, someone is bound to find out!" I erupt into a fit of laughter when the buff hockey player tosses me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. We're in the arena parking lot, and although no one seems to be out here, it wouldn't be impossible to be spotted.

"Can't help it," he says, swinging me around until I'm straddling his waist. "How am I supposed to focus during practice with you looking like that?"

Glancing down at my outfit, a grin tugs at my lips. Connor acts as if I'm wearing lingerie, but in reality, I'm in leggings and a cropped long-sleeved t-shirt that fits snugly to my body. The man could see me in a garbage bag and still believe I'm the hottest human to walk the planet. "You're insane," I tease. "Now put me down before someone sees us."

He arches a brow. "I don't see you struggling to get down."

He's right, which irritates me even more. I'm perfectly content being held by my insatiably hot and bulky boyfriend, and the more we try to hide things, the harder it becomes. Keeping my feelings for Connor a secret is becoming a lot more difficult than I originally intended.

"You're going to be late!" I urge. Despite the longing to remain in the same position, I force myself to wriggle out of his grasp. "This week of practice is important for you. With the team on a winning streak, you are the most valuable player. Therefore, your presence is required."

He rolls his eyes but strides for the entrance of the arena anyway. "Semantics. Just say you want me to get all hot and sweaty for you in front of the camera."

I release a giggle that is so carefree and weightless that I'm almost unsure it came from me. Connor notices it too, and the cheesy grin that falls onto his face has my heart ricocheting."I'll never complain about photographing you hot and sweaty. Neither will all of social media."

He holds the door open for me, and when I make to pass by him, he dips his chin down to whisper, "As much as I enjoy getting hot and sweaty for you to photograph me, Aria, I prefer being hot and sweaty in a more intimate way with you more."

Dammit.

Now I'm hot and sweaty.

Connor Holden will be the death of me.

***

Halfway through practice, Brian asked if we could have a chat this weekend before the game. Now, it's not unusual for Brian to want to speak with me often due to our family's history, but I could tell by the look on his face that this wouldn't be a good chat. He wore that same expression after Esme and I snuck home from a party I convinced her to attend.

I'm not naive enough to believe he isn't aware of Connor and I's relationship. At this point, more than half of the team knows we're together, and with Connor having his hands on me every chance he gets, it was bound to get back to Brian at some point.

But what does this mean? Will he terminate my contract? Or worse, will he decide to trade Connor to a different team? And if he does threaten to terminate my contract, am I willing to throw this job away for a man? A job I've worked so hard to obtain?

The way my heart drops at the mere thought of losing Connor tells me my answer, but my brain is screaming to not be an idiot about this. We just started dating. I'm the first Black photographer this team's ever had, and am I seriously considering losing it all?

I'm heading back to the locker room to meet the said person who is upending my life when I'm suddenly pulled into a tiny maintenance closet. A single light bulb hangs from above, showcasing the hard, structured lines of Connor's face. 

"What are you doing?" I hiss.

I suck in a sharp breath when he sinks to his knees before me, taking my leggings down with him. We're in a closet, but fuck I don't want him to stop. I couldn't even if I wanted to.

"Doing what I said I would months ago," he mutters. "I couldn't stop thinking about how fucking good you looked all practice. I...need my mouth on you. Kissing you is one thing, but kissing you here?" He places a gentle kiss on my core, and I throw my head back, accidentally hitting the stick of a broom. "Nothing compares to the taste of this."

I'm breathless when he hooks one of my knees over his shoulder, my leggings dangling off a foot, and flicks his tongue against my clit. He's still in his hockey uniform, so I know he hasn't showered yet, but somehow it makes this whole situation hotter. Curls are stuck to his neck and forehead with sweat, and his skin glistens beneath this lightbulb like he embodies the sun and I'm his orbit.

I bite down on my lip when he drags his tongue along my center, careful not to be too loud. Most of the team has gone home by now, but various staff members and even Brian could be lurking in the halls. "Connor," I gasp.

"Hm?" His voice is muffled between my thighs, the vibration nearly sending me over the edge of no return. I'm weightless as he sucks my clit, shoving two fingers inside and curling just at the right spot. There's no way someone can be this talented. I can feel my thighs quivering when my hands latch onto his curls, and the groan I get when I tug on them has me doing it again and again until I'm driving him wild.

He rips his mouth away from me and rises to his feet. From the feral look in his eye, I'm assuming he's going to strip his clothes off and fuck me, but no. Instead, Connor lifts me into the air and hoists me all the way up until my head reaches the ceiling of this tiny closet. He holds me against the wall and hooks both of my knees over his shoulders, and even with various objects digging into my back, I'm positive nothing has ever felt better than his tongue delving deep into my pussy like this.

He feasts like a starved man, slurping and licking and shaking his head side to side to gather every ounce of me. I can't hide my cries of pleasure now, and there's no way in hell I can hold my release back as my back arches off the wall and I come right onto his tongue.

My upcoming chat with Brian this weekend doesn't seem to matter anymore, and neither does my decision on whether or not I'll give this job up for Connor. Right now, the only thing that I can focus on is coming endlessly against this wall and the dirty, sexy man who made it happen.

I swear I'm seeing stars when I come down from the high. Connor still licks and kisses, careful to avoid the areas that are now sensitive. He's a little too skilled at this, and I know it's due to having a lot of experience. However, I don't find myself jealous of the other women when I'm the one currently reaping the benefits from it. I want Connor to be between my thighs every chance he gets. Having sex with him is more than an addiction. It's a necessity as much as food and water. With him, I feel alive, and without him...

The answer I've been searching for is clear as day when he stares up at me from between my thighs wearing that same cocky grin I used to despise and now look forward to seeing every day.

It's clear as day when he slides me down until my legs are around his waist and kisses me deeply, entwining our tongues so I can taste myself, too.

Connor isn't a one-night stand. What we have is real, and I promised myself I'd stop running from things that make me happy. I want Connor to know that I'll always choose him no matter the circumstance.

So, if Brian gives me an ultimatum, my choice will be easy.

It's Connor.

I'm pretty sure it always has been.

Author's Note:

BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!

Okay, guys... Keeping this information from you has been SO difficult. You have no idea.

However, I think you will all be VERY pleased to know that My Brother's Best Friend will be coming to PAPERBACK THIS FALL!!!!!!!!!

Because of your endless support and love for this series, W by Wattpad Books has picked it up to be published! It will be distributed by Random House all across the US inside of every Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble... You name it, it'll be sold there.

Truly, I don't have words. I think I'm still trying to process it???

Maddie and Cameron will need to be aged up to college due to the erotic scenes, so the book will be SLIGHTLY different. However, have no fear. All of the smutty scenes you love (closet scene, mirror scene, etc) will still be in there :)

We needed to come up with a title for it, so although the SERIES will still be My Brother's Best Friend, book one will be Playmaker

Don't you love it!?!?? The football lingo, but also because Cameron is such a playboy in the first book!?!!!!

Okay, I'll shut up now.

If you want to keep up to date with the release and also vote for the cover (will be happening in a month or two) follow me on Instagram! @ deannafaisonbooks

Again, I seriously can't believe this is happening, but because of this, I will have to go back to once-a-week updates for this story. I'm sorry it can't be more frequent, but a LOT is happening behind the scenes that requires my focus, too.

I HOPE YOU ARE AS HAPPY AS ME AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS BOOK TO HIT SHELVES.

-Deanna :)