Faking it with Tyler Holt

4

CHAPTER 4.

~LUCY POINT OF VIEW~

My stomach drop…..No. No. No. This has to be a joke. I glance at Tyler and his mouth twitches. Of course he found this funny.

“I’m sorry, miss. Due to the sudden storm, we’re fully booked. It’s just one room left.”

I groan.The raw idea of sharing a room with Tyler Holt makes my skin crawl.

“The keys, and every other thing we need, please.” His smirk grows while I stand there wrecked,praying the ground will open up and swallow me whole.

God, I can’t— Same bedroom with Tyler?

Oh, this has to be the craziest day of my miserable life. From Owen and his annoying piece-of-s**t girlfriend to entering the devil’s car and now spending the night with him.

Tyler gets the keys and gives me that infuriating winks. The walk to the room is silent except for the rain hammering the roof and my own pounding heart.

I step into the room first. It’s quite spacious and luxurious, but there’s only one king sized bed and a couch.

“We’re not sleeping on the same bed,” I blurt, pulse racing. “ Since you paid for this, you can take the bed. I’ll take the couch. And you must respect boundaries—never come anywhere close to the couch.”

Tyler drops his bag with a thud then sprawls across the couch completely catching me off guard.

“Bed’s yours, Bunny. Ladies first.” His voice is low, velvet rough.

His answer catches me off guard. He’s never given a f**k about women, according to the stories I’ve heard.

Gosh. I’m not falling for this. He’s performative.

I settle into the bed, my heart hammering in my chest as I think of Owen and he simply used me to make his girlfriend jealous.

I cross my arms, trying to ignore the rain and stop thinking about the past.

My fingers are slightly shaking,my clothes still damp from the rain, but the thought of removing them never crosses my mind. I’m certainly not undressing with Tyler Holt in the same room.

I sit up, staying alert, but he peels off his damp jacket and starts unbuttoning the top of his shirt like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

I turn away trying not to look,but my eyes betray me as he peels off his soaked jacket. The black shirt underneath is plastered to his torso, outlining every ridge of muscle.

Water droplets trace slow paths down the ink swirling over his skin—tattoos that look perfect and match his skin tone. Broad shoulders. Defined arms that could easily pin someone down.

The V-line disappearing into his belt makes my mouth go dry, and my thighs press together involuntarily while heat blooms low in my belly—unwelcomed. I feel betrayed.

Damn, now I see why every girl falls for him on campus. Well,every girl except me.

I force my gaze away, staring at the ceiling, but it’s too late—he’s already caught me.

His lips curve into that knowing smirk as he hooks his thumbs into his belt and slowly undoes it. The metal clinks loudly in the quiet room.

My breath hitches.

“What the hell are you doing?” I snap, bolting upright while my cheeks burn.

“Changing,” Tyler replies, voice low and amused—his tone husky, edged with something darker.

Then he shoves his jeans down his hips, revealing black under-pant briefs that do nothing good for my sanity. I stare at his thick thighs—powerful legs built from years of ice time and the gym.

Then he grabs a towel, but it barely covers his narrow hips, threatening to slip with every shift. He’s soaked and glistening.

“Have you ever heard of decency?” I manage a hiss, but my voice comes out breathy….almost needy.

Tyler steps forward, and my breath catches. “Decency?” His gaze drops deliberately to my chest, where my hardened n*****s are clearly visible through the wet hoodie. “Is it really decency… or are you scared you’ll get turned on by just looking at me?”

Heat floods my core. I press my thighs together, hating how slick I already feel. “This could be considered harassment,” I manage to croak out.

His smirk deepens as he moves closer until I can feel the heat radiating off his bare skin. His touch is feather light when it brushes my arm—yet it sends a spark straight between my legs.

“Harassment?” he murmurs, lips inches from my face. “C’mon, bunny. that can’t stick with me? I have a clean record.” His eyes flick over me, dark and amused. “Actually, It’s been the other way around.”

“The last two games,” he adds with a rounded smirk, “one of the girls grabbed me by my bul-” He pauses like he’s savoring it. “Aren’t you a sports journalist? You should have the records of s****l harassment against me.”

The image flashes vividly…..my hands grabbing his bulge.

For a second, I actually think he might touch me back, but he laughs and side-steps out of reach. He grabs a fresh shirt from his bag and tugs it on slowly, giving me one final, torturous view of his abs before he leaves the room.

I climb back into the bed as soon as he left. The silence feels charged, not awkward, and my body stays hot. My n*****s are still hard. I think about touching myself, but I push the thoughts away and sink under the sheets.

******

The next morning, as early as 6:45 a.m., I’m awake. I pick up my phone, and step out onto the balcony to call Owen.

I know he must be worried that I didn’t make it as planned. As his personal manager I'm supposed to be here before the games. I dial Owen’s number and wait. It rings five times with no answer. I hiss,frustrated, then try again. This time, he picks up.

“Hey, Wen,” I say softly trying to mask the slight pain shooting up my chest.

Silence greets me from the other end.

“Wen, can you hear me?”

“No,” Ivy’s voice cuts through, and I freeze. “His name is Owen, not Wen. And besides, he’s not here. What do you want, Lucy?”

I grind my teeth, my fists clenching around the phone. “Where’s Owen?”

“Somewhere important. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“Just give him the phone, Ivy,” I say, trying not to snap. “Please. I don’t have time for this.”

I hear her slow, mocking laugh. “What do you want with Owen? Tell me, and I’ll pass the information to him.”

I scoff. “Come on, Ivy—it’s about hockey. You don’t know s**t about that. I need to talk to Owen directly. This has to do with his professional career. Put him on the phone.”

“Urghhh… Always so stubborn.” She sighs. “I don’t know why Owen still tolerates you.”

“I just told you he’s somewhere you shouldn’t bother with, but here you are again acting like the damn nerd you are!”

“Since you want to know where he went so badly,” she continues, her voice sickeningly sweet, “he went to the last floor to ask Finn for more condoms. The two we have here won’t be enough for us.”

Her words make my grip on the phone tighten so hard I think I might c***k the screen.

Before I can say another word, her annoying voice returns. “Well, if you don’t mind, I need to leave now. Owen’s back. I need to go give him a sloppy b*****b before the games.”

With that, she ends the call.

My chest burns. I stand there for a moment, trying to calm myself.

I should be used to her by now, but I’m not. The easiest way to rage-bait me is Ivy.

I turn back, ready to wake the lazy, spoiled hockey star from his sleep until I turn and see a figure standing at the door.

I nearly jump out of my skin. It’s Tyler.

“I can help you deal with that,” he says, his demeanor unbothered.

I raise a brow. “Deal with what?”

“What you were just discussing over the phone,” he replies.

I frown. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I move to walk away, but he blocks my path.

“Ivy Blackwood.”

I stand still. The name rings in my ears, and her words flash back.

She’s probably f*****g Owen right now.

Tyler leans against the door frame. “You want my help with that?”

I blink. “Your help?”

“Yes.” His smile is slow. “My help, Bunny. Don’t you want her to feel the pain you’re feeling?”

I narrow my eyes. Of course I want to but not if it means asking the devil for help.

“Don’t worry. I’m good,” I say, stepping around him.

But he grabs my arm, pulling me back. “She has an engagement party next weekend,” he whispers.

“You can kill two birds with one stone.”

I blink. “How’s that?”

“Get back at her for the way she’s been messing with you by ruining her engagement party,” Tyler says, “and also ruin her relationship with your best friend Owen.”