Page 113 of Released from the Sin Bin

Duh, of course it hurts.

“Are you bleeding?” He flinches when I step forward to get a look at it. “Let me see.”

“I may like when you slap me while we’re having sex, but that was a fucking right hook.” He complains with a groan behind his palm.

“Let me look at it.” I tap my foot with my fists on my hips to wait for him to calm down. Now, he’s just being a baby.

He takes a deep breath, relaxing himself from the wall.

“Fine.” He squints above his hand and moves closer to where I’m standing. Blinking upward to stop his eyes from tearing.

Eventually, he leans down so I can get a better look and lowers his hand. There’s no blood. I was expecting an outpouring of red to signify it’s broken, but there’s barely a shade of pink on him.

I inch up closer to examine his smooth skin over the hard lines of his face, and blow out a breath to brush away the loose hair from his short beard on his cheek.

It’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with his nose or the rest of his face. But as soon as I lower to my heels, Carter grabs my jaw and presses his mouth against mine.

Our lips lock together and his tongue taps my upper lip, begging to be let in. With a moan, my lips part to give him the passage he seeks.

My back hits the wall as he deepens the kiss, stealing the breath from my lungs.

“Carter.” His name comes out in a breathless whisper as I break away.

He smiles down at me, making my legs weak and wobbly. I have to hold on to his arms to stop myself from falling over.

“If I’m going to get punched for doing something, I might as well do it.” He lifts my chin and softly molds his lips back onto mine, kissing me as if his heart is reaching out and wrapping itself around mine.

“We have to go inside.” His thumb runs over my cheek as he whispers against my open mouth. “But I need you to know I’m here for you.” He grabs my hands and pulls away. “I want to be good for you. I’ll do everything I can to deserve you. I’m yours.”

If I could breathe, I wouldn’t know what to say.

Is he saying what I think he’s saying? Or am I making it up in my head?

I want to believe what I think he’s saying is true. He kisses me as if he’s keeping all the promises Vic didn’t stick to.

Is it real?

Carter leans in, but this time I see he’s reaching for the handle. He opens the door and guides me through it with a hand at the small of my back.

We walk through the short carpet lined entrance, pausing to take the room in. The arena is breathtaking without the linen lined tables and flowers. With them, it doesn’t even feel like we’re on the ice. It’s not the home I’m used to.

“Ready?” Carter holds out his arm for me.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I snake my arm through his and am instantly more comfortable. It’s like he said; I belong here.

Faces turn our way as we enter. Some ignore us, others glare, and more smile.

“Is your nose ok?” I whisper to Carter to take my mind off the glaring faces.

“It’s fine.” He laughs.

Luca comes through the other entrance opposite from where we were, with Kandi on his arm. She fixes her red hair and smooths down her silky blue-green dress before reaching up to fix a hair that fell out of Luca’s tight bun.

He catches my eye through the lavish suits and dresses between us, tilting his lips in an apology.

The reason he didn’t meet me is obvious, but I’m glad he didn’t see my right hook on Carter’s nose. Or the kiss.

Carter steers me to the right, guiding me away from where his father is talking to Coach Renan. A petite woman stands next to him. She glances over, catching me staring at them, and smiles at her son’s back before turning it to me.

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