Love on Ice (Manhattan Mavericks #1)

26. Felix

26

FELIX

“ Y ou ready to get your ass handed to you?” I ask Harper as we arrive at an axe-throwing bar.

“Please, it’s a game of skill, not brawn,” she says as we are shown to our private room. The staff run us through the dos and don’ts of axe throwing. The biggest don’t probably should be drinking alcohol when playing, which seems to be totally fine seeing as they brought out a beer for me to drink while I played.

“Care to put a wager on it?” I ask.

“Upping the ante.” She grins.

“If I win, you have to walk around the house in nothing but your sexiest lingerie and heels for a week.”

“And if I win, I want a massage every single night.”

“Done,” I say, holding out my hand, and we shake on it. “Ladies first.” The first axe Harper throws bounces back and nearly hits her. She gives me a look of horror. “I want to see you in something red,” I tease, sending a wink her way. Harper flicks her hair behind her back and concentrates on the board, and the next thing I know, thwack, thwack, thwack. She hits the target every single time. I stare at her in disbelief.

“What, like it’s hard.” She grins, quoting, ‘Legally Blonde’ which I found out recently is one of her favorite movies. She made me watch it when I said I hadn’t seen it because I was a toddler when it came out. She then went on an age spiral as she asked me all these different questions to see if I knew what she was talking about—songs, TV shows, movies.

Now it’s my turn. There is no way I can lose at this. I’m a professional athlete. I try to zone into the target, and the first one bounces off, too, and nearly decapitates us. Then the next ones make it on the board but all over the shop, not perfect bullseyes like she just did.

“Best of three,” I tell her.

“Don’t beat yourself up over it, you can’t be good at everything,” Harper tells me.

“I don’t understand,” I whine. Harper beat me at axe throwing, then at pool, and then at the stupid arcade games. “I’m starting to doubt a lot of things.”

“Golf, we should play.”

“Felix, I think you need to stop. You are perfect at hockey, shit at everything else,” Harper teases me. “Hope you’ve limbered up those fingers, my back is feeling awfully tight after winning all those games.”

I slap her ass, which makes her squeal as I rush her home.

“You look so handsome.” Harper grins as she fixes my bowtie.

“And you are breathtaking.” She’s wearing a black high-neck evening dress that molds to her curves perfectly, then the back scoops low, but there is a long train that falls from her neck all the way down to the floor. Her blonde hair is pulled up into an updo and she’s dripping in diamonds. I lean forward and kiss her gently, not wanting to ruin her makeup. “I’m the luckiest man in the world to be on your arm tonight.”

“Come on, you. We have to walk our first red carpet together and survive the media scrum.”

“I’ve got you,” I say, giving her a wink.

As is typical with New York traffic, things take forever, and thanks to the event it’s even worse. We eventually arrive, and as soon as the press knows it is us getting out of the car, we are assaulted by flashing lights and screaming people.

“Shit, is it always like this?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Not normally this bad,” she says, taking my hand as we walk up the red carpet and pose for the photographers. When we get to the end, there are a couple of reporters. “We need to say hi and that’s it,” she assures me. I follow her lead.

“Felix, do you have anything to say about the engagement of your ex, Cynthia, and your former teammate, Stephen?” the reporter asks. Harper squeezes my hand. I thought hearing that news would make me feel some type of way, but I feel nothing. Oh no. I feel relief because if they hadn’t done what they had, I wouldn’t be here on this incredible woman’s arm.

“I wish them both nothing but the best. They got their happily ever after, and I got mine.” With that, I turn on my heel and walk off the red carpet.

“Are you okay? I had no idea they had gotten engaged.”

“Me either. I honestly don’t feel anything toward them. I’m glad they messed up because, otherwise, I would have never met you.” Harper wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me.

“You guys make me sick,” Sam says, breaking up our moment.

“You arrived,” Harper says, greeting her brother.

“Traffic was a nightmare. Have you seen Mom and Dad?” he asks.

Harper shakes her head. “We’ve only just arrived.”

“Come on, let’s get their meet and greet over with so we can party,” Sam states, leading the way through the crowd.

We eventually find them and walk over where we spend the next hour talking and smiling to whoever approaches that donated money to Harper’s mother’s charity.

“I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into this. It’s nearly over,” Harper whispers into my ear. Then she stills.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Sam asks angrily. When I turn around, I see a smug-looking Josh, with some young blonde on his arm, walking up with a sour-faced older couple.

“You need to leave,” I say, getting up in Josh’s face. Sam moves and stands behind me.

“I can assure you I’m not going anywhere.” Josh sneers at me.

“Where’s fucking security,” Sam curses as he looks around the room.

“Sam, Felix,” Mr. Rose says through gritted teeth.

“Yes, Sammy boy, stand down. My family just donated two million dollars to your charity, I think that is enough money to let us party, don’t you think?”

“That is a lot of money for a worthy charity,” Harper’s mother adds, and I can see the anguish on her face over the dilemma she’s been put in. I step back and place a reassuring hand on Harper’s back while I continue to glare at Josh.

“You look beautiful, Harper,” Josh says, turning his attention to her. “You remember, Ashley.” He grins.

“Oh, that’s what she looks like standing up. Last time we met you had her bent over your desk.” Josh’s parents gasp. “Felix, let’s dance.”

“With pleasure,” I say, grabbing her hand and pulling her through the crowd onto the busy dance floor. “Are you okay, princess?” I can feel her body trembling beneath my fingers.

“What did I ever see in that slime bag?”

“Honestly, I have no idea.” This makes her laugh.

“Guess we both got surprised tonight by our exes,” she says as I swing her around the dance floor. “I want to forget about them, they are not worth our time.”

“Consider it done,” I tell her as we disappear into the crowd.

Hours later, I am getting us some champagne when I feel my skin crawl as I wait at the bar.

“Enjoy her while you can. She’ll be mine again soon,” Josh gloats in my ear. Quick as a flash, I grab him by his suit jacket and push him up against the wall, guests gasp at the commotion.

“Stay away from her,” I sneer at him.

“Or what, hockey boy?” He grins.

“He’s not fucking worth it,” Sam says, pulling me off him.

“Tell Harper the clock is ticking.” He laughs.

“That man is crazy,” I say to Sam.

“He’s definitely letting his crazy flag fly. Can’t believe he got his parents to donate all that money so he couldn’t get kicked out of the party,” Sam says, shaking his head.

“Truly not fair.”

“Look, my parents are disgusted by it, but the money is going to charity,” Sam explains.

“And in the meantime, your sister is fucked over.”

“She’s not completely fucked over, she’s got you,” Sam says, slapping me on the shoulder. “Go back to the table, forget about that ass, and give my sister a good time.”

“I can do it better at home.”

“Ew. Man, what the fuck,” Sam curses at my innuendo.

“You kind of set it up for me.”

He shakes his head. “I kind of did. Never ever imply you and my sister, you know …” He tries not to gag as he walks away.

“Everything, okay?” Harper asks as I arrive back at the table without our drinks. “You forgot my champagne.”

“Sorry about that … um …”

“You ran into Josh?” she asks, noticing my agitation.

I walk over then lean down and kiss her. “I won’t let him claim what is mine,” I tell her. Harper appears surprised by my comment.

“I think we’ve been here long enough,” she tells me, standing up and taking my hand. Harper says her goodbyes to the table.

“We don’t have to go,” I tell her as she snuggles into my arm.

“Yes, we do. I don’t need to be here anymore. I’ve shown my face. The money has been transferred to the charity. I want to take you home and show you how thankful I am for everything you did for me tonight.”

“Your brother did tell me I needed to show you a good time,” I tease, sending her a wink.

“Felix!” She gasps before scrunching up her face, giving me the exact look her brother gave me. I grab her hand and lead her through the gala. She nods and waves to people who stop her along the way as we escape, they do the same to me, wanting to chat about hockey. It takes us nearly another hour to get out of the event.

“I don’t think I can wait,” I tell her as I haul her into the accessible bathroom of the event.

“Felix,” she squeaks as I slam the door behind me.

“I’m sorry, princess, but I can’t wait. Now hands on the sink, ass in the air,” I demand of her, she does as she is told. I slide her dress up over her hips and she is wearing the daintiest black G-string. “You’re not going to need this.” I growl as I rip her underwear right off her skin and shove it in my pocket.

“Felix.” She gasps as she looks into the mirror right in front of her. I look almost feral as I stare at her gorgeous bare ass in front of me.

“You’re mine, Harper,” I tell her as our eyes connect. Her blue eyes sparkle with unspoken understanding as my hazel eyes reassure her that I’m falling for her. Then my hand comes down and slaps her ass, making her moan. “Mine. Do you understand? Not his. Mine.” Harper bites her bottom lip as my hand comes down again against her peachy skin blooming pink across her, while my other hand slides down the zip on my tuxedo pants and pulls my hardened cock free from them. Harper’s eyes never leave mine as I slide myself through her wet folds. “This feels so fucking right.” I moan as I slide myself into her. “You feel so fucking right, Harper.” Whimpers fall from her lips until I’m all the way in. Then I bring my hand down across her ass and the moan that it rips from her lips as her cunt strangles my cock has my knees buckling. “Shit,” I pant as I slowly start to move inside her. My eyes move from the mirror to where I am sliding in, then back to hers watching me. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” I tell her. “I’ll never get sick of fucking you. Only you ,” I declare. A gasp falls from her lips in surprise at my admission. I don’t want anyone else. These past couple of weeks living with her have been great. Waking up next to her every morning, where she’s all soft and pliable as my cock slides into her making her moan, is the best way to wake up, I never want to wake up any other way. Then, walking her to the office every day and picking her up in the evening, and her excitedly telling me about her day as we walk hand in hand. We might stop at a local restaurant to grab some dinner, but most nights it’s me cooking for her while she sips on her wine, watching me with heated eyes as I move around the kitchen. Most of the time, she does ask me to cook without a shirt on, and I must oblige her. I love the fact that she ogles me. We then have dinner in front of the TV, curled up on the sofa, watching whatever is on together until she falls asleep in my arms, and I have to carry her to bed. Fucking bliss. I pull Harper up so my chest is against her back. “Look at us, we fit so well together.” She hums in agreement. “You look so beautiful taking my cock.” Harper nods. “I want it to be the only one you take this summer.” She stills and I slow my thrusts.

“What … did you say?” she asks.

“You heard me,” I say, thrusting into her deeply, slowly, punctuating my words. “I only want you for the summer.” The truth is I want her for a hell of a lot longer but she’s not there yet.

“You want to be exclusive?” she asks as I continue to thrust into her.

“Yes,” I moan into her neck as my teeth nip her sensitive skin. “I don’t want to share you.”

“Not even at the club?” she asks. We haven’t even visited The Paradise Club since coming back from the resort because all my time is spent with her. Am I obsessed? Maybe. A little. Okay, a lot.

“I only want you,” I say as our eyes meet again in the mirror. “Can you handle that?”

Harper bites her lip as if she has a choice in the matter, and I continue to fuck her. “Just for the summer?”

“Yes,” I say. I’ll agree to anything if she says she will be mine.

“Okay,” she groans. She agreed. I’m a little surprised, I thought she would argue a lot more. “Now hurry up and fuck me.” And I do. I give her every last bit of me until we both tumble over the edge.

Harper tidies herself up with some toilet paper after using the toilet.

“That was interesting dirty talk.” She turns and looks at me after washing her hands.

I push a strand of hair from her face. “I know.”

“You seriously don’t want to hook up with anyone else?” she asks.

I shake my head. “I have my hands full with you.” This makes her smile. “I didn’t want to say anything that might scare you, but I like what we have going on at the moment.”

“You do?” She seems surprised.

“I do,” I reassure her. “You’re the highlight of my day.”

“Oh.” Harper’s breath quickens.

I hold out my hand for her. “You ready to go home?” I ask her.

She nods and takes my hand as we walk out of the accessible bathroom. Thankfully, no one is around because we sure as hell were not quiet. Harper snuggles into my arm.

“Seeing you standing outside my office every afternoon is the highlight of my day,” she confesses. I lean over and kiss her temple as we hail a cab.