Chapter 3 3

Stefan Todd liked the feeling of being liberated.

He was the oldest of five siblings, not including himself. His family was great; he had no complaints there. But his whole life, he lived as a role model. His rebellious and free-spirited nature always contested this "role model" image his parents desperately wanted to force on him.

Hockey was his only vice. The only place where his fire and aggression were encouraged was where he could really be himself. He excelled at the sport at a young age. His parents were never too thrilled about the dangers, but that was the exact part Stefan loved. Ever since he was a teen, he would hit on the girls giggling in the stands and then hit his opponents on the ice. He was a rowdy kid. Always getting into trouble, he sticks his nose where it shouldn't. There was never a time when he wasn't bruised or scratched. And as he grew up into his teen years, all that stayed true. All that was new was that now his head was stuck up girls skirts instead of stuck up in a tree. Everything about hockey came naturally to him. So, when Stefaan was offered a full ride to play hockey at the best college in the state, He immediately took it. His parents were just thrilled that he was going to college. Playing hockey for his college soon turned into him getting scouted his senior year. And before he knew it, he was playing for a professional team right after graduation. Stefan could hardly blink before all this happened. His parents were insanely excited for him, as were his siblings. His littlest sister, Honey, told him that he had to win all his games for her. And that's exactly what he did. That's what he continued to do. He hasn't lost a game yet, and he hasn't broken his sister's promise. Stefan sure as hell doesn't plan to break it any time soon. He has been playing for his team for three years now; he's easily the best player in the league, having been completely undefeated this season. Even though Stefan is insanely good at hockey, he's never let that get to his head. His team matters to him, and without them, they wouldn't be undefeated or even as good as he was. He owed everything he had to hockey. Especially his freedom. Because of hockey, he could buy his first house in Citrus Grove at 26-a million-dollar house at that

Stefan made sure to find a house located in the most secluded part of the community he could. His realtor delivered, landing him a gorgeous, huge home nearly in the woods of the community. He was pretty sure both houses next to him were vacant, or maybe he remembered his realtor saying an old lady lived to his right. Whatever, something like that. Regardless, it wouldn't stop him from throwing his huge parties, like the one tonight. He wanted his first night in his new home to be something to remember. He called his hockey team and invited them over, telling them to bring anyone and everyone they knew. Stefan invited all the people he knew, and before he knew it, people were spilling out the seams of the house.

After Stefan's 4th shot of tequila and 8th beer, the alcohol officially stopped tasting like anything. His smile fell easily on his face, and his drunk eyes slurred hungrily over the scenes in front of him.

Dancing supermodels, the pool glowing with LED lights, and an inviting roof conveniently close to the deepest end of the pool

It was as if someone was whispering in Stefan's ear, "Do it pussy."

And that was all the encouragement he needed.

Stefan vaguely registered the scene of some chick in pyjamas getting tossed into the pool as he walked by inside his home. He climbed to the second floor and exited one of the windows that led to the roof. Stefan couldn't even hear his own words over the cheering of everyone. He smirked and took the final gulp of his beer before jumping in.

He was laughing hysterically as his buddies crowded around the pool. He effortlessly lifted himself up the side of the pool and out, his large, defined muscles flexing against his tanned skin as he did.

"That was fucking crazy, man." His best friend Matt, who was also on the team with him, said as he grabbed his arm and roughly pulled him against his chest. Stefan smirked and sent a flirty wink at some hot girl ogling his wet body. "Waters, great guys." He had stripped down to just his boxers, which shamelessly had a large horse printed on them. "But hey, Jamie told me some girl is here and is looking for you. She said, She's pissed as hell." Matt remarked. Stefan threw a towel over his fluffy, dark brown hair. He ruffled it a few times before resting the towel around his neck.

"Fuck me. Please tell me it's not destiny. This is why I promise I'll never fucking have a girlfriend; I can't stand any girl after hooking up twice. They get all clingy and expectant." Stefan made a face as they walked inside. He grabbed a solo cup from some girls he was hand-walking past and chugged the rest of its contents. Matt shook his head. "That's why you date these stuck-up and bitchy models. But no. It's not destiny."

"Thank god. I can't deal with her today. Or ever, for that matter." He groaned and grabbed the bottle of wine from the gift basket his mother had given him. He jumped up onto his huge island and said, "All I want to do is have fucking fun, man!" Stefan yelled as the head of the bottle was raised to his lips. He didn't waste a second and started to chug it. People turned and looked at Stefan. Their cheers and hoots only fuel the drunken, fiery spirit inside him. The red wine spilled from the lip of the bottle and dripped down his chin. His lips then started to sloppily chug the drink, letting a lot of it drizzle down his neck and abs. It looks like streaks of blood highlight his tanned and chiselled figure. After a moment, he finished the bottle and panted, a stupid grin on his lips as everyone cheered. A string of concerns started to knit Matt's eyebrows together. He took the empty bottle from the slurring Stefan while he got down from the counter. How he didn't fall? Matt didn't know.

"Oh, buddy, I think you should wash that off. You're going to stain your horseboxers." Matt said, knowing that would motivate him to actually do what he said and step away from the party for a moment. Stefan gasped and looked down as the red "Shit, you're right! I'll be right back."

He walked over to his stairs and ran up to the second floor, where the rooms were. He blinked against the spinning room and managed to stumble into a bathroom.

Stefan had not registered the whole room to even know which one of his bathrooms he walked into. All he could think about was water. I need water. He went to turn on the sink when a voice sounded behind him: "What the fuck are you doing in here?" Stefan whipped around to see a woman leaned over his tub, the end of her shirt lifted slightly in her hand, exposing the soft skin of her stomach. She obviously just got done ringing the bottom of it out.