2. Adler #2
By my side, Corbin nudges me. His deer-in-the-headlights expression pleads for me to pull it together. He’s depending on me. Adler Ace never gets lost for words nor nervous around women. Not ever. Until now…
Sabrina tilts her head to the side, amusement playing on her lips as our feet stay rooted to the sand. “Or is there something else you want?”
Something else I want? Can this girl read my mind?
The way her eyes seem to sparkle mischievously makes me think she can.
I swallow hard, all sorts of debauched thoughts rushing through my head.
Fuck, I could spend all day fantasizing about the things I’d like to do to Sabrina Maverick and exploring her perfect body.
She’s the most striking omega I’ve ever seen.
I don’t want to screw everything up before introducing myself, so I manage to collect myself just in time. “We wanted to say hi.”
Is that the lamest sentence I’ve ever come up with? Probably, but at least it’s a start.
“Take a seat.” Sabrina pats the blanket again, tucking her legs beneath her as she reaches for her drink.
“I’m Adler.” I sit down before Corbin, still mute, drops at my side. “Adler Ace.”
Sabrina takes a long sip through her straw.
Watching the way her mouth closes around it seems to slow down time, leaving me mesmerized.
Does she know the effect she’s having on me?
The way this omega is sucking on that straw is practically indecent, causing a surge of blood to race straight to my cock.
“I know,” Sabrina replies matter-of-factly, not seeming to be overly impressed with me the way most girls are. “I think everyone at SVU knows who the Foxes captain is. I’m Sabrina, but everyone calls me Sabs. And this is Nia.”
Sabs. It suits her.
“Hey.” I nod at Nia but quickly drag my gaze back to Sabs, afraid she’ll vanish if I look away for too long.
“And you’re Corbin Hollis, right?” Nia turns her attention to him. “I saw you in Bouncing Bunna last week. You spilled your coffee all over yourself. I hope your shirt didn’t stain too badly?”
“I—I—I…” Corbin struggles to respond, completely floored. Come on, man! Usually, he doesn’t shut up, but right now, I doubt he’s capable of remembering his own name, let alone making conversation.
“That was him,” I answer for him. “He may be clumsy off the ice, but did you know Corbin has blocked the most shots in SVU Foxes’ history?”
Corbin’s shoulders relax, taking an extra-long glug of beer. Hopefully, it’ll help ease some of his nerves because I can’t talk for him all night.
“Mm-hmm. That’s cool.” Nia’s shrewd gaze sweeps over us, sounding almost bored. “I heard that the dean made every sports team take consent and conduct awareness classes after what happened with the Cockburn twins.”
“Those fucking assholes. If I ever see them again, I swear I’ll...” Sabs shakes her head. “Sorry, making threats isn’t usually how I make a first impression.”
“We’re glad they’re gone,” I interject. “They give college sports a bad name. We’re really trying to change the toxic culture.”
Corbin nods enthusiastically in agreement and parrots, “Yeah, change the toxic culture.”
Nia looks over my shoulder at a spot where our teammates are spraying beer over a group of complicit girls, shouting, “Wet T-shirts!”
“Yeah.” Nia wrinkles her nose as they cheer. “It sure looks that way to me.”
“I haven’t seen either of you at one of these parties before,” I change the subject, hoping to fuck that my stupid team and puck bunny tits don’t screw this up for me.
“One of my volleyball teammates recently bonded with one of the Foxes,” Sabs explains.
“And I was here to hand out buttons. You know, to really help change the culture.” Nia picks up and wags a box full of buttons in my face. “It’s a Feminist Society initiative. Would you like one?”
“I do!” Corbin dives in without missing a beat, picking one up that says, “MY UTERUS, MY CHOICE” before proudly pinning it to his shirt in his eagerness to impress.
I don’t have the heart to point out the ridiculousness of it, smirking as Sabs struggles to contain a giggle.
However, Nia beams. “It’s great to see a guy so enthusiastic about women’s rights.”
“Oh, he is,” I chip in. “Corbin’s the best. He went to the rally you did to raise awareness around male omegas, didn’t you?”
Nia studies him skeptically. “You did?”
He nods, finally finding his tongue. “My mom always taught me to stand up for the minority. She’s an omega rights activist.”
Nia finally seems to be softening, her guard slipping as she goes on to explain some of the upcoming events the Feminist Society has planned.
Sabs peers into Nia’s glass. “It looks like you need another cocktail.” She turns to Corbin. “Why don’t you both head over to the tiki bar?”
When Nia’s head tips to the side, interest playing on her lips, I nudge Corbin hard in the ribs to jolt him back to life.
“Uh, yeah.” He jumps up, holding out his hand. “Drinks. Yes. Of course. Let’s… go tiki.”
I snort. Let’s go tiki? I’ll never let him live that one down.
Nia, on the other hand, giggles and seems to find it adorable. “Okay.” She gingerly takes his hand, allowing him to pull her up. “Let’s go tiki.”
Looking back at me over his shoulder, I give him a thumbs up as they head off. Now all he needs to do is keep his cool, and I need to do the same.
“Is he usually so obvious?” Sabs laughs as we watch the two of them head over to the bar. My pulse spikes as her eyes fix on me. “Nia is more than just a total babe; she’s an amazing person. He better be a decent guy, or I’ll have to hit a puck at your balls.”
I splutter.
“What?” She flutters her eyelashes. “I assumed you’d be used to fighting talk with being the hotshot hockey star and all.”