Page 96 of Wild Ride

“Oh, that’s not what I meant. I know you’re not looking for that.”

A cloud scudded across his features for the barest of seconds.

“What if I was? Looking for that?”

She must have looked shocked because he rushed on.

“It’s just you said that not only do I make you feel good, orgasms, and all that, but that I also make you feel. That you haven’t felt that good in a long time. And the way you defended me there, it felt … really good, too. Something I haven’t felt in a long time. I’m not used to that because people think I’m a fuck-up. I get it if you were just saying it to piss off your ex or because you don’t want your decisions second-guessed. But if there’s a chance you meant it … well, I just think it’s nice that we’re able to be there for each other.”

She hitched a quick breath. She knew exactly what he meant but it seemed so crazy that they could meet these needs for each other. Or was it? Maybe this amazing chemistry stretched to include something more … real?

“I meant it. I think you’re a fantastic guy, and I defended you because I will always have your back.”

His eyes misted over, but before she could analyze that drift to emotion, he picked her up and kissed the breath out of her lungs. His hands cupped her ass and cleaved her close, and her only thought was that, yes, he’s right, we do something amazing for each other.

And then there was no more thinking, only kissing.

27

Looks like the Rebels PR machine is in overdrive. Dex O’Malley is spending his free time with puppies ahead of his court date.

Yeah, we don’t believe it either.

— @Coby “Big Dog” Dawson, ESPN

Ahead of morning skate, Dex walked into the locker room to the tune of whoops and whistles.

“A star is born!” Callaghan called out.

“You mean the dog, right?” Kaz answered. “Because O’Malley and his dick are already mega stars.”

“Ha ha,” Dex deadpanned. Sophie had posted photos and video of him doing his thing at the shelter. He was disappointed that his video with Ashley hadn’t made the cut, but he understood Sophie’s point. He’d hate for Ashley to be a target of his more rabid fanbase.

He had, however, seen the recording of the two of them with Bandit, and damn they were cute as hell together. His infatuation was obvious, at least to him. He’d tried telling her after she defended him against that Greg douche, but it came out as him being all emo about no one having his back, not that he and Ashley were a good fit. While he had no doubt some part of her thought of him as a boost to her self-esteem, what if that’s all it was?

Dex O’Malley, ladies, a real tonic to your sex life!

He’d broached the idea of dating but she hadn’t really responded. Or rather, they started making out because that was easier than talking about anything serious.

Which maybe said it all.

The two of them were acting like safe crackers, turning the dial by fractions and listening for a response that would either click it all into place or doom any chance they had of taking this all the way. Perhaps that was as it should be. What Fitz had said still weighed on him. He needed to focus, secure the contract, and not mess up this volunteer gig by messing around with the person who was on deck to say nice things about him to a judge.

“So, you’ve done your good deed, O’Malley.” Petrov dropped his gym bag on the bench. “When’s your court appearance?”

“Two weeks. Just before the playoffs start.”

“We’ll wave at you when the bus to the airport is going by Cook County Jail.” Kershaw nudged him. “Do they show hockey in the Big House?”

“I’m not going to jail, dickhead.”

“No, it’s called prison,” Callaghan said, which set everyone off.

They were only kidding around—at least, he hoped so—but he was still nervous. Petrov was looking at him, assessing him with those ice-blue Russian eyes.

“I’m going to be okay,” he said, more for himself than any of these losers.

“Let us hope. We need you for the playoffs.”

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