Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
We say good night to Baden and Sophie in the elevator since we’re staying on a higher floor.
When we get into our room, Cannon pulls out his iPad. “Do you mind if I make notes of some of the things we discussed tonight at dinner?”
“Of course not,” I say with a playful push at him toward the desk.
He leans in and snags a kiss, and I love that about him. He has these bursts of spontaneous affection in the form of quick but fierce kisses that always serve as a reminder that he digs me.
And I dig him for that.
I take off my makeup, brush my teeth, and shrug into a tank top. I slip under the bedcovers while Cannon works at the desk in the living area. I pull up a book on my iPhone and read, knowing that when he comes in, he’ll have all sorts of delicious things to hand out.
♦
My eyes flutter open and I see Cannon in bed beside me, his iPad propped on his lap. He’s shirtless with the covers over his hips. He’s watching game video, his eyebrows drawn inward with intense study.
“What time is it?” I ask sleepily.
Cannon jolts and tips the laptop down so the glare doesn’t hit me in the eyes. The room is illuminated by his bedside lamp, which is still on, but the glow is warm. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You should have,” I say, pushing up to an elbow and looking past him to the clock on his table. It’s just past midnight. I glance at the laptop and then up to him. “Having a hard time turning off your coaching brain?”
He smiles and reaches over to put the iPad on the table. Sliding down, he turns on his side to face me, resting his head in his palm. “Time slips by too easily when I get deep into something. I’m glad you pointed it out.”
I immediately backpedal. “I didn’t mean you should quit working. If you need to do stuff, don’t let me—”
Cannon presses a finger to my lips. “Relax, Ava. I know exactly what you meant.”
God, I hope he means that because part of me now feels like I’m going to always compare myself to his wife, and I don’t want him to ever see me as disliking the time he puts into his job. I admire him for it.
“I was looking at a new play that Houston’s been using. Want to see it?”
I love when he teaches me hockey, so I nod eagerly.
“Lie on your back,” he says, and I frown at him. His hand comes to my chest, pushing me until I’m in the requested position.
His eyes gleam as he pulls the covers down, exposing my tank. He grabs the hem and drags it up until my stomach is bared to him.
“Okay, this is the ice,” he says softly, running a palm lightly over my stomach, which causes goose bumps to break out. His fingertips skim the waistband of my panties. “This is the goal.”
I smirk at him, and he winks.
“On the power play, Houston is going to position their left winger up high with their center, with the right winger down low.” He tells me this while marking an X on my skin where each player will be. “They’ll execute a series of passes between the left winger and center, wanting to draw our defensemen up high.” Cannon glides his finger over my stomach from my ribs to my sternum, and I wiggle because it tickles. “When they have the opening, they’ll pass it over to the right winger who’s moved down low.” His finger zips across my stomach, just a few inches above my hip bone.
I let out a quavering breath because with each move, Cannon’s voice grows deeper, huskier. I dare a glance up at him, but his eyes are pinned on where his fingertip rests on me.
“The goalie will hopefully be drawn out slightly, leaving an opening. The right winger will already be winding up for a slap shot when he gets the pass, and when he takes a crack at it…” Cannon’s finger shoots straight for the edge of my panties, slips right in and through my slick folds. I groan and buck as his finger presses into me.
Cannon whispers, “Goal.”
He starts to withdraw his hand while leaning toward me for a kiss, but I grip onto his wrist, keeping his hand right where it is. “Let’s leave the puck in the net for right now.”
Cannon’s laugh is booming just before he brings his mouth down on mine.
CHAPTER 20
Ava
“Does this ever seem surreal to you?” I ask Sophie as we’re escorted to the owner’s box. “You know, because you’ve been around this a bit longer than I have, and I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone.”
Sophie laughs and loops her arm through mine. “You’ll get used to it. Somewhat. Tonight’s a really big deal though, because we’re playing the Vengeance.”