Chapter 15 #2
“Yeah, well, you know how rumors fly. I heard you were a real man,” I threw out while grabbing my jeans. “But I can tell they were wrong.”
“Oh!” at least three of the players said.
He moved closer, his chest puffed up. Nick was oh-so intimidating while wearing a towel. “I suggest we see who’s more of a man. You or me.”
Laughing, I zipped my jeans, turning to face him. “You couldn’t handle me, Nick. I’ll give you a piece of advice. Let it go.”
When he remained where he was, I was certain he was smart enough to take my advice.
I was wrong.
Before I knew what was happening, he issued a savage punch to my jaw.
After that, all hell broke loose, punches being thrown.
The sound of two shrill whistles while security started ripping us apart didn’t seem to faze anyone.
I managed to get off a couple of brutal punches to Nick’s face as well, offering a solid undercut that sent him reeling.
“That is it, gentlemen. One more time and you’re both suspended. Now, get the fucking hell out of my face.” The coach turned in a full circle, giving every man left in the room a hard, harsh glare with me taking the ending blow of anger.
He cursed under his breath as he walked away, but Bobby remained in the room, glaring at me as if I’d started the whole thing.
We all stood staring at each other for a few minutes before I finally grabbed my shirt and shoes, trying my best to ignore the others.
Just when I headed from the room, Bobby grabbed my arm.
“I don’t know what you’re doing, Steven, but I can tell you that you have one more chance.
Don’t blow this. Find your center. Somehow.
Some way. What I saw out there was pure magic, but you’re an angry man.
If you don’t fix that, you’re going to ruin your entire career and I would fucking hate to see that happen. ”
He was right. They were all right.
When I’d been with Christine, I felt like myself for the first time in so long it was shocking. But just being away from her for twelve hours and I was losing my shit.
What in the fuck was wrong with me?
What?
The aggressiveness inside was getting worse.
With the thought still in my head, I moved down the corridor, continually looking to ensure I hadn’t been followed. My private life was still my private life, at least at this point.
When I closed in on the maintenance shop, I rounded a corner and there she sat in a pretty little skirt and heels, waiting patiently where I’d gone off the deep end.
The second she fully came into view, I was thrown not only by her beauty but also by my body’s reaction to her. It was ten times as strong as it had been before. Ten fucking times.
While I was no expert, the connection certainly seemed far too strong to just be about our shared passion. There went my hands again, clammy as they were the night before.
And my heart? Forget about it.
It was thudding against my chest wall with enough force the sound was echoing.
I didn’t even get close and she felt my presence, standing and turning toward me. At first, she smiled, albeit sheepishly, her entire body tense as if full of nerves.
“Hi,” I said, feeling as awkward as I had my entire life. As I walked closer, I gathered a strong whiff of her perfume. Today was something deliciously floral mixed with a delicate group of spices. Shit, my cock was completely aroused, making the act of walking uncomfortable.
“Hi. I’m sorry to drop by. I didn’t know if you’d be here.
” She took a few steps closer, stopping short.
“You’re bleeding. What happened?” Reaching out, she brushed her finger across my bottom lip first, brushing the tips to the cut just under my eye, and it was all I could do not to yank her into my arms. “This one looks bad. You might need a couple stitches.”
“Oh, it’s nothing.” When I dragged my tongue across the split caused by Nick’s punch, my tongue danced across her heated skin. “Just a little skirmish with a member of my team.”
Her eyes opened as wide as I’d seen them, a sweet laugh breaching the surface. “Hmmm… What happened?”
“Nothing but a disagreement.” I scanned the perimeter, ensuring we were alone. “What are you doing here?”
She laughed, this time nervously. “I hope you don’t mind I had Steve see if you were in the building.”
Damn it, this was much more awkward than I thought it would be. “No, not at all. Is something wrong?”
“No. Nothing is wrong, but I know exactly how you can repay me for destroying my beautiful, once in a lifetime find flowers.” Her laugh was way too provocative, which meant my cock was already throbbing.
“Once in a lifetime, huh?”
“Yep. You can also call this a big favor.” She was now batting her eyelashes, trying to drive me crazy. It was working.
“A big one, huh? Well, I have been known to enjoy helping out fairy princesses. Now, tell me what I can do for such a beautiful lady.”
Even with her teasing me, I could she was not happy with whatever she was being forced to ask. “Are you busy tomorrow night?”
“Nah. We…” Well, shit. I almost told her I didn’t have practice. “Nope. Not at all.” Oh, this was getting so bad.
“Unfortunately, my parents are very traditional, so much so spending time with them is suffocating. My sister has managed to find herself another fiancé, so they are having an engagement party in celebration. My mother was happy to share that she had a fabulous date, no doubt a man they hope I’ll marry one day so as to improve their standing in the community.
They would love nothing more than to arrange a fabulous marriage that I would absolutely hate.
That’s why I’m considered the black sheep of the family.
So, given the fact I’d promised myself I would never fall prey to their games again, I might have accidentally blurted out I had a boyfriend.
Someone very special. I honestly thought she’d let it go, but she insisted I bring him along.
So here we are. And I’m jabbering. I hate this. ”
The way her lower lip was stuck out kept my attention more than the story. My parents were certainly challenging in almost every aspect of my life, but so far, they’d never insisted I find a mate.
When she was finished, she took a deep breath. “So you need a date for tomorrow night for this dinner? That’s no big deal.”
“I do. But it’s more complicated than that.
They’ll be watching to catch any foibles in the relationship.
” She finally lifted her gaze, managing to laugh.
“You’d have to act like you care about me.
Don’t worry. You won’t be propositioned as to if you have enough money to keep me in the manner that I deserve if that’s what you’re worried about. ”
Oh, she had no idea what I was worried about.
One, I wasn’t Danny Wright.
Two, I was a shifter.
Three, I was a hockey player with a sordid reputation.
In other words, I wasn’t certain how I could keep the ruse going. Maybe for one dinner. “I can do that.” Just agreeing and my body was already responding with need to touch her.
Taste her.
Fuck her.
The images flashing in my mind were filthy, ripped with intense hunger and need that…
“Are you okay? You’re panting.” Her tone held concern.
I took a deep breath, trying to laugh it off while my pulse continued to race. What the fuck? “I’m fine. Just a little overheated from…”
“From?”
“Oh, I ran a couple miles before I popped in.” What was happening to me? I was a shitty liar. How the hell could I possibly get through an evening without looking like a fool or telling on myself? This wasn’t a good idea. Not at all.
“Oh, okay. Then if you’re serious, I’ll make it up to you.” She rolled her eyes as soon as she made the offer. “I can’t believe I just said that.”
“But you did and I heard it. You will, huh?” The famished beast side of me kicked in again.
“Yes, and that’s mostly because we’d need to go to Jacksonville.” She cringed after mentioning the location.
“Jacksonville?” Was she serious? I’d certainly never been asked to be a fake boyfriend before. I had to admit, I kind of liked the idea, but heading to Jacksonville would mean an entirely different element of keeping secrets.
I’d need to confess my sins at some point.
And if Ansley managed to get ahold of the information, I’d be doomed. A part of me said this was crazy, but the wolf in me was winning the argument.
She laughed nervously again and I found the fact she was having a difficult time looking me in the eye truly adorable.
Though she’d attempted at making the request seem as if nothing more than an event she needed a plus one for, I had a sense she was suffering from emotional scars left behind by her family.
It was as if she was shamed into bringing a date. Whoever her damn parents were, I already hated them.
All I wanted to do was to protect her, keeping her safe from the assholes of this world, including her own family.
I also felt a sense of possessiveness, which was typical for shifters.
But not until they met someone special in their lives.
“How are you going to make it up to me?” The words were blurted out before I could stop them.
Her smile had the same effect as when I noticed it the first time. Her expression lit up a room and in turn, embroiled not only the man but the beast inside.
All I could think about was kissing her soft lips.
Before ravaging every inch of her luscious body.
“How about I start with making you a nice dinner? Anything you’d like.” She inched closer, her body heat resonating in pulses of white-hot electricity.
Fuck.
Now I couldn’t breathe very well. What the hell was happening to me?
“On top of being a fabulous skater, you’re also a talented cook?”
“I have many hidden talents.”
I took a deep breath, ready to tackle her to the floor and thrust my tongue down her throat.
As if anticipating my seductive move, she pressed her hand against my chest. “Down, big boy. One thing. If you agree, while we need to fake our relationship, that’s all it will be.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I just… I can’t get involved with anyone right now. What we shared before was nice, but that’s all it was.”
Nice? Was she kidding me? We’d fucked like bunnies and she was calling the experience nice?
“Ah, so this is a one-time thing.” Why were my balls tightening? And was my wolf knocking at the door? Oh, hell, no. The last thing I needed was for him to make an appearance.
She nodded and given she appeared nervous, I sensed there was another reason she was pushing me away. “I hope you understand. I wasn’t expecting what… happened. Not that I mind. I’m just at a point in my life where I can’t handle complications.”
Now I was a complication. There was a level of sadness in her voice that confused me, but I wouldn’t push.
“Alright. I can live with that.”
Maybe I could, but my wolf was already scratching at the surface.
I still wanted to kiss her. Leaning over, I pressed my lips against her cheek. Okay, wow. I was about to lose full control.
That’s when we both heard a noise. There was no disguising the fact that this entire charade was about to be burst wide open.
Reporters.
We both jerked back. “Do we have a deal?” she asked.
“We have a deal. Do you have a pen? Unfortunately, I gotta run.”
“Yeah, I think I do.” She fumbled in her purse while I turned my back to the two guys already searching the area. “Another girlfriend?”
“Very funny. I doubt I could handle one.”
With my keen hearing, I overheard their conversation. “No, I was told Steven Masters was still in the building. One way or the other we need to find him.”
This wasn’t going to bode well at all. I was sweating like a pig.
“Here you go.” She held out a purple pen and without thinking, I snatched it from her hand, taking her arm and in a flash, I wrote my number on her skin.
“Call me with the details. I hate to do this, but I’m late.”
“O-kay. Sorry to keep you.” Before I was able to scramble away, she tugged the pen from my hand.
Her words as I rushed out of the area, disappearing into the shadows, were a reminder I was a complete idiot.
“Oh, by the way. The cut under your eye. It’s almost healed.”