Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
His brow furrows. “What happened?”
“Misstep.”
“You need to pay better attention,” he grumbles. He looks mad at me, which makes zero sense. Men are so confusing sometimes. “Let me help you up.”
His arms reach out, and then he's lifting me until I'm on my feet. The moment I am, my ankle gives under the weight.
In a split second, I'm cocooned in warmth. I blink. What the heck?
That's when I realize that Aiden's strong arms have wrapped around me. Before I can object, he's lifting me effortlessly off the ground.
My heart beats frantically in my chest at the proximity of our bodies. The fresh, minty smell of his soap infiltrates my nose as I bury my face into his shirt.
“What are you doing?” I squeak out.
“Making sure you get back home in one piece.”
“I don't need your help.” Jeez, I sound like a toddler having a tantrum, but my crushed ego can only take so much. Having Aiden come to my rescue runs the risk of shattering me into pieces.
He leans closer, his lips tickling my ears. “Remember you're my girlfriend. You shouldn't be objecting so much,” he whispers.
“I might be your girlfriend, but that doesn't mean I want you carrying me around like a sack of potatoes.”
“And I'll stop once I get you home and see if I need to call the team doctor.”
My mouth opens and shuts. He’s being ridiculous. Surely, he’s not really going to call the team doctor. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack.”
I roll my eyes at him. How can this get any more embarrassing? As if the universe could hear me, it answers in the only way it can. At that moment, the sky opens up, and big droplets of rain begin to fall on us. Soon, the water is cascading down. My dress is getting drenched and clinging to my skin.
Aiden stops moving, and I tilt my head to see what made him stop. He’s looking down at me, heat in his stare.
It feels like he’s undressing me with his eyes.
A shiver runs up my spine, and I start to tremble in his arms.
The chill causes my nipples to pebble, and that’s when I realize what he’s looking at. My skintight dress is now clinging to my body like a second skin.
Aiden looks at me like a hungry predator, and I’m his prey.
My pulse pounds, and as he stares at me, he leans closer.
I think he might kiss me.
I hope he will.
Closing my eyes, I move closer.
Waiting.
Waiting.
Then I hear a car door open, and I’m placed into the car.
And just like that, I’m thrust back into reality.
And I feel like an idiot.
Again.
23
AIDEN
It was a grueling fucking practice. Coach was none too pleased with our last few games. First, we lost game one, and sure, we eventually won game two, but it was close, too close. It should’ve been a blowout.
Personally, the first game against the Bulldogs is probably the worst game I’ve played in my career.
I was still out of sorts from the reporter trying to gain access and then from Billy picking at Cassidy. Something is going on with him. He’s always been an asshole, but he’s been abnormally bad lately.
He wants her.
Too fucking bad. Never happening.
When this contract ends, the last thing I need is for her sticking around and dating a teammate. Not that I think she would. It was pretty clear that she despises Billy. Probably more than I do, which is saying something.
If I’m being honest, it’s more than that. Something about Cassidy feels safe. She takes care of me in ways I never knew I needed. I can trust her.
There’s only one problem, I can’t stop thinking about touching her. Kissing her. Fucking her.
Last night, when I held her in my arms, I almost lost it. The way her dress clung to her, the way her perfect nipples pebbled under my touch.
Fuck.
Thankfully, she wasn’t hurt. Just a twist, but being that close wasn’t a good idea.
Now I need to get my head out of my ass before Coach catches me zoning out.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m skating drills when I see Billy talking to Stefan. As I go by, I shoulder check him.
“The fuck, man? What the hell is your problem?” he yells to my back.
I smile. Good. Come at me, dick.
I loop around to see him skating at me. His helmet hits the ice, followed by his gloves. I follow suit, throwing off my gloves and stand tall. Hoping to convey that I’m not playing around.
“You know exactly what my problem is.” I skate closer, getting into his face.
We’ve drawn a crowd, but nobody attempts to get between us. They wouldn’t. Nobody loves Billy, and nobody would get in my way when I’m this angry.
“You think I didn’t hear the fucking shit you said to Cassidy?”
“The hell? I didn’t say shit.”