Yeah. I grew some balls. Y’all this is rough, not edited, nothing. Its raw and grammatically f-ed up! So please dont judge me for that. I swear, later it will be good. I promise.
Enjoy my beautiful puck bunnies. Y’all are the best.
Prologue
Everyone remembers the moment when they weren’t using their better judgment.
Piper Allen’s moment started with five slow, lusty words that were whispered into her ear.
“I heard you liked me.”
Piper turned quickly from the bar of Wanna B’s to meet a pair of brown eyes that starred in her dreams ever since the very first moment she set eyes on them. Piper didn’t just like the owner of the dark as night brown eyes; she was hopelessly in love him.
Erik Titov.
Her sister’s brother in law. The man who she had been lusting over for years. The man who made her wet with just one simple glance. He was a straight dream boat and she wished she was the dock he wanted to pull into. Erik was everything she wanted, and she would do just about anything to have her chance with him. Even with being half passed drunk, there was no denying her want for him. Was it his eyes? The way they were partly open, giving off the bedroom vibe? Or was it his lips? Full and lush. Whatever it was, she just wanted that moment when their lips would meet, or when their bodies would touch. But that would never happen. He didn’t want her, he wanted Reese, her twin. That was why she couldn’t believe that he was talking directly at her. It had been years since he had done that, but wait? What the hell did he say?
Brushing her light brown hair that she had just got highlighted out of her face, she asked, “Excuse me?”
His dark red lips quirk at the side, and she took noticed that his face was covered with thick dark hair. She had noticed it earlier when she had come to the club with her best friend, Audrey Parker, but being this close, she could see just how dark and sexy it was. He hadn’t shaved in a month maybe, and it did nothing but make her quiver from the inside out. She could feel her inner drunk slut screaming at her to climb up his hard body, wrap her legs around his waist, take a hold of his thick broad shoulders and ravish his mouth. But before she couldn’t even try, not that she would have, he said “I said, I heard you liked me.”
Well that sure did sober her up.
Blinking like a deer in headlights, Piper felt her mouth part as she gazed up into Erik’s eyes. It was like a record had come to a screeching halt and her inner slut was no long wanting to climb up him; more like run along with sweet Piper to the nearest hole and hide. Even in her drunken state and with how loud the Wanna Bs bar was, there was no mistaking what he said.
Piper’s state also didn’t stop her quick thinking. She quickly masked her dismay with a sly grin and said, “Who told you that nonsense?”
Erik gave a throaty chuckle as he pinned her with the depths of his dark eyes, “Nonsense? I think not, my source is very reliable.”
She noticed that he looked off to the side, and when she followed his gaze, it landed on Audrey, who was dancing with her…okay, she was dancing with Tate Odder and there was no time to even try to decipher that situation. At that moment, though, she didn’t care about their situation and was also rethinking her and Audrey’s whole best friend status. “That bitch,” she muttered.
“But I thought it was all nonsense,” Erik said in his slow way, bringing her attention back to him. He took a step closer to her, resting his hand along her hip. She looked down at his hand, before looking back up into his eyes. She wanted to laugh because she knew this was some crazy joke that God was playing on her, but then she saw lust swirling in his eyes.
Hmmm, Okay, maybe Audrey wasn’t such a bitch.
Maybe all these years of lusting and wanting were finally going to be rewarded because at that moment she was pretty sure Erik wanted her. Did all she have to do was tell him she was interested? Would that have saved her the two years of heartbreak of watching and reading about him with girl after girl? Saved her from watching him flirt with her sister? It couldn’t have been this easy, though. Surely, this was all a cruel joke, but what if it wasn’t. There was no way she could pass this moment up.
“Maybe I lied,” she said breathlessly as she tried to flirt and desperately failed.
He gave her a condescending smile before saying, “I know you did.”
Piper rolled her eyes and she chuckled, “Cocky, much?”
“Sweetheart, I’m not cocky,” he said with a wink. “I’m confident. I know you want me.”
Shaking her head, she said, “Wow. I’m speechless”
“I have that effect on woman,” he said with a slow teasing grin. Even though he was probably joking, it was by far a joke. It was the damn truth. He did have that effect on her, and Piper honestly didn’t know how she was still fully clothed when he was pinning her with those eyes.
But she couldn’t have him win like this. Her blood boiled with attraction to him, and she was sure he was feeling the same thing. His eyes were dark and his lip kept teasing his bottom lip as if he wanted to gobble her up. The bad thing was that she was bound and determined to let him. With her own teasing grin, she got up on her tippy toes to whisper in his ear, “Well, I’m pretty sure you want me.”
When she moved away, Erik was smiling and it wasn’t a cocky or teasing smile. It was a lusty one, one that sent chills up her spin. It also had her thinking he liked her flirty side, which was different since she was a complete dork when she was drunk. She was surprised she wasn’t talking with her pinkie in the air, asking him questions, “How do you do good sir?”
Her inner princess always came out in full force. But maybe, Princess Piper was lock away because she knew that this wasn’t that kind of moment. This was a holy crap things are about to get hot moment. She felt it and she knew he did.
Still grinning down at her, he asked, “What evidence do you have to support that statement?”
She bit down on her lip as she glanced down at where his hand was, tightening on her waist. Her gaze traveled up some to where an impressive outline of a hard on was on display in his fitted black jeans. She looked back up at him, and said, “I’m pretty sure there isn’t much room in those tight jeans.”
He ran his tongue along his bottom lip again, his eyes holding hers in a fire hot embrace for what seemed like forever. It was always like this when their eyes met. It didn’t happen much, but when it did, it was explosive and she was sure that he felt the same. Was it the alcohol or was it him, she didn’t know but before she could do anything or say anything, he declared, “I want to dance.”
Well didn’t that just ruin the moment?
Looking away, Piper scoffed at his proclamation, and was a little confused as she waved towards the floor, “Then by all means, there is the dance floor.”
When he didn’t say anything, Piper looked up and Erik’s eyes held hers as a grin played on his lips, “I want to dance with you.”
Piper blinked twice before she realized she was being pulled onto the dance floor by him. Lemme See, by Usher blasted through the speakers of the club and Piper knew that she would never forget that song for the rest of her life. Erik brought her body close to his, swallowing hers in his large body. He had large arms, and sexy tattoos adorning them. Soon she was being caressed by his large coarse hands and her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she let out a sigh. His hands traveled from her waist, down to her bare thighs where he gripped as she began to move against him. His hands tighten on her as she found the right spot, before rubbing her bottom against his growing erection. It was mind blowing, what the hell had brought them to this moment, she wouldn’t question. She couldn’t.
She had waited for this for the past two years. So she would dance. She would rub and she would caresses, even if she didn’t think anything would come out of it. She had to do it, she couldn’t regret not taking this chance.
But it wasn’t a onetime thing. They had spent the whole night dancing. When they weren’t dancing, Erik always had his hand somewhere on her. She had spent no time with Audrey, but really she didn’t have too. Tate had her completely distracted which was good. They belonged together and Piper honestly didn’t think she could handle trying to keep her cool about the attention Erik was giving her. If Audrey came over, Piper was sure to burst with excitement. She had told Audrey about her love for him countless times and this moment still wasn’t real to her. The whole night wasn’t. The way his fingers would slowly drift along her cheeks and over her lips or the way he would look directly into her eyes and laugh when she knew her jokes were horrible! He was funny, he was cocky, both traits she loved in a man. He had dimples, big ones, that made her squeal in delight every time he smiled. He had amazing stories of about his hockey career and he listen when Piper talked about the boring stuff about her job at the jewelry story. Erik was everything she imagined he was.
He was perfect.
Not once did she think of anything she had heard about him. The serial dating was no where in her mind and she sure wasn’t remembering the way she had spent two years lusting over him. All she could do was think that they were there. They were in the moment together and she wasn’t looking back. She had to jump in with both feet or she would forever regret not doing it and she would never ever do that to herself. She wouldn’t burden herself with the ‘what ifs’.
It was well into the wee hours of the night when Piper, Audrey, Tate, and Erik finally left the club. Standing outside in the cold, since their other friend Phillip Anderson, who was also their ride, left with his date of the night, they were thrilled when two cabs pulled up. Tate threw the door open and held his hand out to help Audrey.
“You’re good, Pipe?” Audrey asked, her beautiful caramel eyes locked with Piper’s as a worried expression came over her face. Her best friend was such a sweet heart, crazy and a bit suborn, but a still a breath of fresh air. She knew from first glance that she and Audrey would be great friends and they had been. She could see the questions in Audrey’s eyes and knew that they would be on the phone for hours tomorrow. Piper only hoped that she would be going to Tate’s bed instead of her own, but knowing Audrey and how damn stubborn she was, it was more than likely not going to happen.
“I’m fine. I promise,” she said with a reassuring smile.
“I’ll make sure she gets home okay, Audrey, you can trust me,” Erik said but Piper could tell Audrey didn’t trust him at all.
“Don’t make me kill you, Erik.”
With that, Audrey shut the door with a glare, but it fell when Tate wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Tate, of course, had nothing but pure admiration in his eyes for Audrey. Piper could still remember the first time, around a campfire in the front yard of Audrey’s condo, when she saw how much Tate cared for Audrey. He wore his emotions his sleeve but Audrey was too blind to see them. All Piper could do was pray that changed.
“She’s funny,” Erik muttered as they got into their out cab.
“She wasn’t joking,” Piper said with a laugh. Erik chuckled as he scooted closer to Piper, wrapping his arm around Piper’s shoulders. His chuckles shook her small body and she couldn’t help the grin or the butterflies that went crazy in her stomach. She felt like a fourteen year old school girl being held by her crush, who of course was Justin Timberlake. But this man was no Justin Timberlake, no, he was Erik Titov and at that moment, Piper was honestly thinking that Erik was better.
He was intoxicating and the way he made her feel was insane, but Piper loved every minute of it. She wanted to scream out in victory. ERIK TITOV WAS HUGGING ME! But instead, she glanced up at him and smiled. His eyes locked with her, and she watched as his head slowly dropped towards her. Holy mother of everything good and gracious, he is going to kiss me, and then their lips met. Piper couldn’t breathe or move for that matter. All she could do was bask in the feel of his soft red lips moving along hers. When his hand came up, cupping the back of her head before his other hand gently held her chin, she finally remember that its way more fun when the other person participates and started to kiss him back. Her lips moved smoothly against his, and when she ran her tongue along his bottom lip, she heard his growl of appreciation before he deepened the kiss, taking her out of this world.
She wasn’t one of those girls to pass up a moment. Piper believed that in life there were moments that changed everything and this was one of those. She could go home and live life with those what ifs, but why? Why do that when this man, this sex on legs, had her basically in his lap, kissing the stuffing out of her. When they parted, only for air, his eyes searched hers as his breath was hot against her swollen lips. She couldn’t believe this was happening. For the past two years, she went on thinking he wanted nothing from her, but after a kiss like that, she was sure she was an idiot for thinking those things.
“I thought for the longest time you didn’t see me,” she found herself saying.
Erik eyes soften, his thumb running slowly along her bottom lip, “Maybe I wasn’t looking Piper, but now I am,” he placed a kiss to the side of her mouth before going on, “and sweetheart, I’m not looking anywhere but at you.”
“Alright folks, we’re here.”
Breaking their heated glance, Piper looked out the window to see that they were in front of her apartment. The cabbie was looking at her through the rearview mirror and when she glanced over at Erik, he was looking at her expectantly. She had a choice to make, she knew that, and it took only a month later to realize that the choice she made wasn’t the right one. At that moment though, she thought it was the greatest idea since slice bread.
“Are you coming up?” she asked.
Erik smiled and for some reason, she could have sworn it was a shy smile before he said, “Only if you want me too?”
“Oh, I want you too.”
Erik slapped a bill in the cabbie’s hand quickly as she threw the door open and jumped out, with him right behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her close to him, his rock hard length stiff against the small of her back. Dropping her head back into his chest, she looked up at him as he grinned down at her.
“Ready for some fun?” he asked.
She nodded before she said, “I’ve been ready for a while.”
And that was that.
Little did she know; that wasn’t it. A month later, Piper found herself sitting in the middle of her bathroom with tears gushing down her face. She was still wet from her shower, the water dripping from her long hair that fanned out against her back. She wasn’t sure if it was tears or water that dripped down her face, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was that night a month ago with Erik and what she held in her hand.
How did she not know better? He hadn’t talked to her or even noticed she was around until that night. Of course, he said all the right words and even when he called her a week later to talk, he was as nice as he could be. He explained that their night together was a mistake. That he couldn’t be with her because of their families, and because he wasn’t the kind of man to settle down. He never meant to hurt her, he assured her, but he couldn’t let this go any farther than it already had.
He was sorry.
It was hard not to think that he was up to no good, though. That he was probably just using her, she couldn’t help the feeling that he did. How could he spend the whole night make sweet, hot love to her and then leave so quickly. Did her love for him cloud that much of her judgment? How could she have been so stupid? But it didn’t matter no more, what’s done is done. There was no going back; there was no way to change it.
Glancing back down at the little stick she held in her hands, her eyes clouded again, making it hard to see the two little blue lines that screamed the truth at her before the tears spilled over her cheeks.
And the truth was that Piper was pregnant.
With Erik Titov’s baby.
© 2012 Toni Aleo. All rights reserved.
“Don’t make me kill you Erik.”
^^ LOVE it! 🙂 I love it so far (: Then again, you should have already known I was going to say that 😀 Good way to start it of too! I like when there are issues in the beginning – you can tell it’s going to make for an interesting story!
Tate and Audrey’s story is my favorite, but I think this one might run a close 2nd.. && yes, I can tell that just from this 😀
OMG!! How soon can you finish this process up lady?! You are killing me! I want to read it now, and you need to have the next book in line cuz you are one Helluva writer! Welcome to the Big Leagues! I rate you up there with Nora Roberts! A MUST READ WHEN YOU RELEASE A BOOK!
Toni, I loved it ! I’m so excited for Blue Lines!! WooHoo GIRLIE!!
I cannot WAIT for the book…. Even though I love little samples, it makes it SO much harder to wait for the whole thing!!! It’s going to be SOOOOO good!!!
I love it as is! Seriously cannot wait for Piper and Erik’s story. I’m sure it’s going to be AMAZING!! 🙂
So good! I can not wait until it comes out
ooohhh, I love it! So cannot wait! It’s going to be another smashing hit! You’re the best Toni!
OMG!! HOT, HOT, HOT!!! I need to run the a/c now to cool off!!! So looking forward to the finished stories!!! You rock, Toni!!
WOW!!! I loved it and I am sure I will love the rest!!! All I can say is hurry, hurry, hurry because I want more, more, more!!! You have some serious writing skills Toni Aleo!!! EEEEEEE so excited to read more!!!
I know it will definitely be a page turner, but I always want as a reader to feel like I’m there the first time they make love. It’s like watching a movie on tv and just before the couple makes love we go to a commercial break. When we come back from the commercial its already a month later. That happened with Lucas and Fallon and it left me unable to fully connect with them. Why did you mention that she just got highlights it didn’t have anything to do with the scene.
I loved it!! I can’t wait for this book to come out, I really want to see how you are going to take this relationship. I am so excited, I know the rest will be just as fabulous!!! You rock!!
I can’t wait for the release. This is a great way to start Blue Lines. I already want to kill Eric Titov but I can’t because he’s a hottie 🙂
OMG!!!! Can’t wait till I get to read this book I love Pipet but like Audrey’s I want to kill Erik… Keep up the great job you are doing creating all this awesome character.
I have been waiting not so patiently for this book to come out since I finished Empty Net :O) Now it’s even worse. LOL! Great job Toni!
Absolutely can’t wait to read this and just adore the way the teasers keep giving us little glimpses into the Assassin’s world while we wait for the next book 🙂
Love your work, Toni!
Yikes! I can’t wait for this book to come out so hurry lol. From just reading this small bit I’m already hooked and I know I’m going to laugh and cry really love piper so far can’t wait to read it love all your books!!!
AMAZING!!! Can’t wait … x
Wonderfuuulll!!!!!
HOLY CANOLY woman I cannot WAIT for “Bluelines”!!!!!! Awesome intro Toni!!! All I gotta say woman is…..I am so glad you are an author and write the words you do BUT feel sorry for the patients that are going to miss out NOT having you for a nurse!! DEF their loss…..I bet you were a heck of a nurse cause I couldn’t picture you not doing something half heartily. Congrats girl & my hockey cohort on another winner!!
Ohhhhh I can’t wait until it comes out. Waiting with baited breath
Psyched!!! Cannot wait to read it!!!! Hurry, hurry, hurry!!!
Can not wait for the entire book this is going to be great!
Ooh yeah! This is going to be great!!!! Hurry!
Natalie
My interest has been sparked by the above preview. Can’t wait for the complete story!
OMG – how do you manage to make me want to rape my husband and bawl my brains out in a matter of minues? And how am I ever going to wait until spring to read this one? You have outdone yourself yet again!!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You rock!
Absolutely wonderful Toni!!! Can’t wait to read it, I try not to read the snippets but just couldn’t help myself with this one, to anxious I guess! Have a great day!!!
OMG I can’t wait for the whole book this was such a teaser that I was looking at my IPad like how do I flip to the next page! I know this will be another AMAZING book from you Toni just what I needed to help make me forget about the stupid lockout for a few minutes!
Can’t wait for the rest!!! Wonderful, as always!!!
Waaah! Thank you Toni for sharing this Prologue of Blue Lines.. When I finished reading the Empty Net and read a snippet of this book, I def say, You were killing me of waiting for the next book to be released, it’s like waiting for another century, that bad I’m feeling ‘coz you really left me hanging, and that awesome writer you are~! Did I mention that you are awesome?! Oh, that would be an understatement to describe you, ‘coz you’re def much more to it as a writer of 3 amazing books -Taking Shots, Trying to Score, Empty Net, & now this, Blue Lines! I’m def waiting for this book and to witness the roller coaster ride of their love story, it may comic or tragic, I won’t mind so long as I could read it and did I mention that I love how you put twists to all your stories? Oh well, I just mentioned it, yes! I so ♥♥♥ your twists~! ㅋㅋㅋㅋ~! ^^ 사랑해요! ~♥~
OMG,,,,, I cannot wait for the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUCKED UP WRITING I THINK NOT…….. THIS IS FREAKING AWSOME CAN’T WAIT
FUCKED UP WRITING I THINK NOT…….. THIS IS FREAKING AWSOME CAN’T WAIT ……..
OMG…I cant wait for the book to come out. Thanks for the treat 🙂
Please! Can you finish this story now. Ive been dying to know what will happen to Piper and the beby. I dont care about Erik. He ‘s a jerk! Piper is soo sweet and too awesome for him. Lol. But you’re one of the best wtiter Ive ever known. Thank you for making us happy whenever we read all your stories. WE ALL DESERVE A HAPPILY EVER AFTER. 🙂 BTW, When are you going to release it?
OMG, I am so addicted to this series already! I can’t wait to see what you do with Piper and Erik! PLEASE HURRY UP 🙂
I can’t wait!! Love your books Toni- , I hope for a happy ending for Piper – she needs it.
EEEKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am soooo excited!! I can’t wait for the rest of the book!! I am so addicted to this couple and all your books!! You are amazing!!!!! I cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!
Loved it Toni!!!!!! Was amazing and can’t wait to finish Piper and Erik’s story!!!!
I can’t wait for this one! I loved the other 3, but i’m glad this one is going to be a little different! You are amazing and I can’t wait for Piper’s story! Love It!
The prolouge to Blue Lines is by far so Amazing! I love it ! Wow, just hope we get to read it in January! That would ease the pain of waiting cause it’s almost November and we would only have 60 days or so! lol. I will be ready for it ! Love your books, Toni, !!!
anxiously waiting for BL!
Love love love – Just finishing Empty Net, this makes me look at those hockey players in a whole new light, too bad they are on strike:( Can’t wait for Blue Lines
OMG!! The wait is going to kill me!!! I’m on Empy Net right now and I can’t wait for this book!!!
Hi Toni, I also love hockey and I’m very upset we haven’t seen any this year. I wish they would go back to work. My favorite team is the San Jose Sharks. Who do you like?
Love the Prologue, thank you.
Toni, when I heard this song it just me think of Erik and how he would send Piper this song
I Never Told You By Colbie Caillat
The prologue is great! I’m really looking forward to reading this book!
can’t wait.i’m dying to read blue lines.wanna see how our sweet piper is gonna tame dat badass erik.i’m sure its gonna be a hit among all the others.i’ve never been impatient for anything like this! So pls hurry!
Thanks for the snippet, now hurry up and finish it! Can’t wait any longer!!!!
I totally loved Taking Shots and recommeded it to others! I’m reading Trying to Score right now and am almost done. I LOVE it SOOO much! I will read Empty Net when I’m done….I bought it when it first came out. I can’t wait for more Assassins books!!!! I love that they are long stories too. I’m snowed in by the blizzard here in CT and reading this series makes me totally happy. Keep’em coming!!!! (After falling in love with Shea last year….it inspired me to go to two hockey games & I totally loved it!)
Toni:
From the moment I read Taking Shots I knew you would be one of my all time favorite authors!! You have not disappointed me with Trying to Score and Empty Net, but I have been waiting -rather impatiently- for Blue Lines…can’t wait to see what else you have done with the Assassins series. I look forward to so much more from you and am truly happy with all of your recent Random House success. Keep doing what you do…we all love it!! Look forward to seeing all of my favorite hockey players in August.
Omg!!! This sample makes it harder to wait for the book. Can’t wait!
Please please please release this sooner…