Chapter 14
Georgia
LA Times: All Eyes Will be on Ford ‘The Wolfman’ Kendrick. A Cinderella Story in the Making
I was going to throw up.
Not just quiet, easy toss your cookies in a bag bile slipping from my throat either. But a full-fledged, retching sound made along with spewing projectiles that wouldn’t begin to fit into a tiny barf bag.
My fingers dugs into the armrests as the plane rattled down the runway and there was no seatbelt made that could keep my butt in the seat. With my teeth jarring from the heavy vibrations, I sensed I was panting like a dog in heat. My vision wasn’t any better since my eyes were filled with tears.
Thank God no one was sitting next to me, or they’d have claw marks on every inch of their body.
Except suddenly, I felt a presence.
Then a heavy, deep breath with hot air cascading across my neck.
Then a warm hand placed on my knee.
Instead of me lashing out uncontrollably like I normally would do, an instant wave of calm rolled through me.
Soft and sweet like a baby’s blanket. Unfortunately, as the runway ended and the plane was in the air, my gasp was one of horror, an agonizing sound that I was incapable of stopping even when I slapped my hand across my lips.
The all-male presence beside me grabbed my other hand, which he learned within seconds was a mistake. I wrapped my fingers around his, squeezing until I knew I was cutting off the blood flow.
He took a deep breath, lowering his head so he was only a couple of inches from mine while bringing my white knuckles to his lips.
“Close your eyes,” he instructed, his voice low and husky and undeniably sexy. Even with the cabin full of excited hockey players whooping and hollering about the trip, I could hear every word Ford whispered with utter clarity.
“I can’t.”
“You can and you will. For me.”
I did as he asked, my stomach lurching.
“Take a deep breath and hold it,” he continued and his lips had to be mere centimeters from my ear.
Three tries later and I finally managed to do as he asked.
“Now, imagine we’re lying on a soft white beach in the tropics, turquoise water lapping at our feet.
The only sound is the waves gently sweeping across the wet sand.
The warmth of the sun is relaxing, the soft breeze tickling your skin.
There’s nothing on your mind but relaxing.
In the background, you sense a delicious dinner is waiting for you on the grill. ”
“Is it chicken?”
He chuckled. “It can be whatever you’d like it to be.” When he stopped providing a beautiful image for me to concentrate on, neither the fear nor the tremors returned because he was rolling his lips across my knuckles.
The action was so sensual, so calming that I felt no need to open my eyes. Only a short time later and the jagged knots in my stomach began to vanish, replaced with an equally evil creature.
Butterflies.
A huge swarm of them, so many that I was lightheaded. All because of the man sitting next to me.
“Feel any better?” he asked, still holding my hand. Still kissing my fingers.
When I felt the tip of his tongue between two, my eyes flew open only to stare into the sexiest pair of emerald jewels.
The shimmer was entirely different on such a beautiful late morning.
If the weather had been stormy, there’d been no way even an entire team of players could have dragged me on board the plane.
Even the one staring at me with more than just concern in his heated gaze.
I tried to pull my hand away, but he wouldn’t allow any movement. Unless by way of his massive body scooting closer to mine. At this rate, I’d be sitting in his lap soon.
Not that I’d complain.
Stop it, Georgia. You can’t do this.
While we hadn’t laid any official ground rules before he’d left my house a couple of nights before, what couldn’t happen was for anyone to think we were together.
I’d seen the chatter on Instagram about us.
With Ford’s ongoing and heavily increasing notoriety, the worst thing that could happen was for some wayward reporter to catch wind he wasn’t America’s latest sweetheart bachelor.
There also hadn’t been any promises made between us or even an exchange of phone numbers. I’d barely seen him over the last couple of days, which was a clear indication he was busy preparing.
And that I’d been right in that what we’d shared had been a blip. Right now, the goal was to get through the next three games, helping any way I could.
Not by canoodling with the star of the show.
“I’m fine. You can let go now.”
“What if I don’t want to?” He leaned in even further, so his lips were far too close to the nape of my neck.
I yanked my hand this time, finally pulling my fingers free. Every inch of me was tingling all over. “Be a good boy and go back to your seat.”
“Better view here.” He continued to crowd my space, squeezing my knee as he did. “I might never leave.”
“What are you doing? You don’t need any rumors flying around. You need to concentrate on the game. Plus, you’ve purposely ignored me.”
“We’re on a damn plane. Who’s going to see?” Good lord, his smile was practically a leer.
“In case you haven’t noticed, we’re flying commercial. See those people over there, the ones paying way too close attention? They aren’t with the team. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
He offered a casual glance in their direction. “Damn party pooper.”
“Somebody needs to be.” When I poked him with my elbow to try to get him to move, I felt pain lancing through him.
Without bothering to look if the seatbelt light had been turned off, I did so anyway so I could turn to face him.
“I haven’t been ignoring you.” He did his best to act as if he wasn’t in agony, but his clenched jaw gave him away.
“What happened? Is that why you didn’t come get your massage after practice, because I’d figure out how much pain you were in?”
He bristled in the same way he’d done over the first couple of days. At least we were past some crazy sense of being completely uncomfortable around each other.
“I’m fine, Georgia, and I’m sorry about not making a point of talking to you. I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”
“Talk to me. What happened? Your face looks like you were used as a battering ram. Although the bruises have miraculously faded.”
“You know why.”
“You’re a wolf.” I still couldn’t believe I could admit the truth.
I’d paid attention to the headlines, the social media having a field day.
Both good and bad, some bad actors convinced he’d used his shifter abilities in the game.
I’d watched him closely enough to know the accusations were false. “Except you didn’t heal well before.”
“According to the news I’m a wolf.” He shrugged and pulled away, his body language indicating he was shutting down.
“Your ribs are cracked. Right? Those can’t heal as quickly as the rest of you.” I could only imagine what the press would do if they caught onto the fact he’d been in a fight. Somehow, I could feel his pain and knew instinctively he’d been in a brawl, which had led to another injury.
One foot was tapping on the floor and it was the first time I witnessed him acting anything but completely confident about his abilities. “Yeah, but my ribs are fine.”
“Not if an opponent gets wind of your injury. They’ll do whatever they did before. Clock you or something.”
At least he proved he could still smirk. “Boarding. It’s called boarding.”
“Whatever. You can’t go on the ice injured and even you, Mr. Hardhead, know that. You’ve hidden this from the coach. Haven’t you?”
Every muscle in his body tensed and when he turned toward me, the flash of anger was raw. For a brief second, I almost felt fear. “Don’t you say a word, Georgia. I need to play this damn game. It’s my career we’re talking about. Everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“I understand that, but you’re in agony.”
When he leaned in this time, my gasp brought shock to his face. “Did you think I was going to hurt you?”
“No, of course not.”
“My God.” He rubbed his jaw, the foot still tapping away. “I was in a fight. Okay? A guy from my past and we definitely don’t get along.”
My groan at least brought him some sense of amusement. “Neither massage nor physical therapy are going to help before the game tonight. I take it your wolf is working as fast as he can.”
“Something like that. He has a few issues to deal with himself.”
My God, the man was freaking nervous around me. Had I struck a nerve? “I don’t understand, but is there anything I can do to help? Anything at all?”
His suave attitude returned if only for a few seconds.
“Well, there is one thing.” With his eyebrows lifted, his eyes drifting ever so slowly down from my face, I didn’t need to play detective to know what he had in mind.
In truth, a series of tiny thrills coursed through me, rushing directly into my already overheated core.
“Would you like me to tell you exactly what you can do for me? How about coming to my hotel room for a little… Maybe you could wear a sexy pair of underwear and a trench coat. A stunning pair of heels. And nothing else. Bring a set of handcuffs with you. We can enjoy a night filled with kinky fun. Trust me. I won’t feel any pain after that. ”
He was tormenting me on purpose, trying to drive me crazy. With my nipples rock hard and pushing through the thin material of my shirt, he knew exactly what he was doing to me.
As expected, explosive tickling sensations crossed from one side of my jaw to the other. “Why don’t you just concentrate on the game tonight. But your ribs need to be wrapped. Somehow, I don’t think having s-e-x is going to help you. In fact, you might break something.”
Was I actually considering wrapping him without telling the coach?
“You spelled out sex. Really? I’m not twelve,” he said, offering a chuckle that kept quivers sweeping through me. “The funny thing is that sex is exactly what I need. But only with you.”
I wasn’t entirely certain whether to think of his words as a compliment or a criticism. “A wolf thing?”