Faking It With The Hockey Star

Harper’s POV

The moment we stepped inside the beach house, I stopped dead in my tracks, my mouth falling open in complete awe.

It was stunning. It wasn’t just a simple beach rental; it looked as if someone had taken every single thing I loved and seamlessly crafted it into one sanctuary. Warm light glowed from understated wall sconces, framing floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the ocean. There were plush linen couches, a small brick fireplace, and fresh flowers blooming in a vase on the dining table.

Right in the center of the living room sat a massive, beautifully wrapped gift box.

I turned slowly toward Justin. "Justin...

He grinned, looking ridiculously pleased with himself. "Yeah?"

"How did you get all this here?"

He shrugged, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe. "Smuggling."

I burst out laughing, shaking my head. "You are absurd."

"I planned it out a while ago," he admitted softly, his gaze locking onto mine with deep warmth.

I walked closer to the middle of the room, staring at the box. "Is that for me?"

He folded his arms across his broad chest, an amused glint in his eyes. "Don’t you want to open it?"

I looked back at him, my heart swelling until it felt heavy in my chest. "Whatever is in there is already perfect simply because it’s from you."

His posture softened, the playful smirk melting into something tender. "I know you too well."

"Thank you," I whispered, stepping right into his space.

"You haven’t even seen what’s inside yet."

"I don’t care," I murmured, wrapping my arms around his waist and pressing my face against his chest. "Thank you, Justin. I don’t even know how else to say it."

His arms wrapped tightly around my back, pulling me flush against his warm body. "You’re welcome, baby."

"You’ve completely changed my life."

His grip tightened, his chin resting securely on top of my head. "You changed mine first."

I pulled back just enough to look up into his dark eyes. "You showed me what love is actually supposed to feel like."

For once, Justin didn’t have a quick, clever comeback. He simply stared down at me, his thumb brushing gently across my cheekbone with intoxicating slowness. His gaze dropped to my lips before rising back to my eyes, a faint, breathless smile touching his mouth.

"Come on," he whispered raspy. "You have to be starving."

My stomach growled right on cue, shattering the silence.

Justin let out a rich laugh, the sound vibrating through his chest where I held him. "I knew it."

"Hey, I had McDonald’s earlier!"

"We both did," he teased, taking my wrist gently. "That hardly counts. Food first."

We sat on the rug beside the low table to open the gift together. Inside was a curated collection of things he had gathered specifically for me—a rare edition of a book I had casually mentioned months ago, specialized camera accessories I had offhandedly whined about losing, soft lounge sets, and small personal tokens from moments we had shared. Things I hadn’t even realized he had logged away in his mind.

I stared at the box, completely overwhelmed. "You remembered all of this?"

"I remember every single thing about you, Harper," he said quietly, his voice low and steady.

My heart did a sudden, chaotic drop in my chest. I looked away from his piercing gaze, feeling a sudden flush creep up my neck. "You’re dangerous."

"How am I dangerous?"

"Because you keep saying things like that without any warning."

He chuckled softly, reaching over to ruffle my hair before pulling me up from the floor. "Come on. Let’s explore."

As we walked through the house, Justin stayed close—far closer than usual. His hand settled naturally at the curve of my waist, his broad palm warm through the thin fabric of my dress. When I stepped ahead to peek into the bedroom, his fingers slid down to guide me, his touch sending a sharp, electric jolt straight down my spine.

My breath caught in my throat. I glanced over my shoulder, catching the quiet, heavy intensity in his eyes.

"What?" I asked, my voice coming out breathier than intended.

"Nothing," he murmured, his thumb stroking a slow line against my hip bone.

It wasn’t nothing. Every single touch felt magnified, thick with an undeniable, simmering tension that had been building between us for months. Maybe it was the complete isolation of the beach house. Maybe it was the salt air. Or maybe it was the realization that I had spent so long telling myself we needed to wait, only to find my resolve completely melting the moment he looked at me.

Am I losing my mind? I thought, swallowing hard as a sudden, intense wave of heat settled low in my chest. Why am I suddenly this desperate for him?

Justin showed me the kitchen, then the master suite, and finally pushed open the glass back doors that led out onto a private wrap-around deck directly overlooking the shore.

The sun was sinking low, casting deep golden light over the endless horizon. The private beach was completely deserted, save for the rhythmic crash of the tide against the sand.

"It’s breathtaking," I breathed out, stepping toward the wooden railing.

Justin closed the distance behind me, sliding his arms around my waist and pulling my back flush against his chest. I let out a long breath, relaxing completely into his solid warmth. He rested his chin on my shoulder, his steady heartbeat thumping heavily against my spine.

For a long moment, neither of us said a word. The air between us felt heavy, charged with a magnetic pull that made my skin prickle.

Then, his lips brushed softly against the sensitive skin of my neck.

My eyes fluttered shut, a quiet gasp escaping my lips. He didn’t pull away; instead, he pressed another kiss right below my ear—slow, deliberate, and lingering.

"Justin..." I breathed, turning my head slightly.

"Hmm?’

"I didn’t know you were into public displays," I teased weakly, trying to catch my breath.

He pulled back just an inch, his dark eyebrows pulling together in genuine confusion. "What?"

I let out a shaky laugh. "You know what I mean."

He glanced around the wide, empty expanse of the private beach. "Harper, there is literally not a soul out here for miles."

"I know."

"Then why are you teasing me?" he murmured, his voice dropping into a low, raspy register that sent a shiver straight down my thighs.

"Because you’re making me nervous," I admitted, my pulse hammering in my throat.

A slow, wicked smile spread across his lips. "Good."

I tapped his arm lightly, though my fingers lingered on his forearm, tracing the hard flex of his muscle. "You are insufferable."

Justin laughed softly, but instead of stepping back, he pulled me round to face him entirely. He caged me against the railing, his dark eyes fixed on mine with a raw, consuming hunger that made my knees feel weak. He leaned in, his lips brushing my temple, then the high plane of my cheek, then tracing the sensitive seam of my lips without quite taking them.

My mind reeled. I had built so many careful walls over the past few months. I had told myself we had time. We had graduation to finish, careers to plan, draft stress to navigate. I had promised myself we wouldn’t rush.

But standing in the twilight with his broad hands framing my face, his heat scorching through my clothes, and the dark, intoxicating desire burning in his eyes, every single rule I had carefully constructed vanished into thin air.

"Justin," I whispered, my fingers knotting firmly into the front of his shirt.

"Yeah, baby?"

I looked into his eyes, making my choice without a single shred of hesitation. I pulled him down by his collar until his mouth was hovering an inch from mine, my pulse roaring in my ears.

A slow, knowing smile curved his lips as he felt the shift in me, his grip tightening on my waist.

"Let’s go inside," I whispered against his mouth.

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