Page 5 of Pucking the Team

I can’t help but laugh, even as anxiety twists in my stomach. She’s right—it’s been forever since I put my own desires first. But giving in to this temptation could make things very messy very fast…

Taking a deep breath, I nod. One night of flirting and fantasy. Then on Monday, I’ll be the consummate professional.

As we exit the restroom, I collide with a solid wall of muscle. Strong hands grasp my waist, steadying me, and I look up into Slade’s shimmering gray-blue eyes. Time seems to come to a standstill between us.

“Careful there,” he murmurs, his deep voice pulsing through me. His thumbs rub gentle circles on my hips, igniting sparks beneath my skin.

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. “Thanks for the save,” I manage, trying to ignore the way my body curves into his touch.

Slade’s gaze drops to my lips, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Any time, Emma.”

The way he says my name, like a promise and a prayer, leaves me breathless. I’m acutely aware of every point of contact between us, his hands burning through the thin fabric of my dress.

Selena clears her throat, breaking the spell. “We should get back,” she says, amusement lacing her tone.

Slade releases me, stepping back with a wink. “After you, ladies.”

My legs feel unsteady as we weave through the crowd, my mind reeling from the charged encounter. When we reach the table, Lukas immediately pulls me down beside him again, his arm draping possessively over my shoulders.

“Took you long enough,” he teases, his fingers toying with the strap of my dress. “I was starting to think you’d ditched me.”

I laugh, leaning into his solid warmth. “And miss all the fun? Never.”

The guys are lining up shots, the amber liquid glinting under the pulsing lights. Lukas hands me one, his green eyes holding a dare.

“Bottoms up, beautiful,” he grins, clinking his glass against mine.

The tequila burns down my throat, a trail of liquid fire that mirrors the heat coursing through my veins. As the night wears on, the shots keep coming, and the flirtation reaches a fever pitch. Lukas’s hand roams my thigh again, each touch stoking the embers smoldering inside me.

But even as I lose myself in the moment, a voice in the back of my mind whispers a warning. I’m playing a dangerous game, blurring lines that could jeopardize everything I’ve worked for.

I love hockey. It’s woven into my soul. Getting to be a part of the Blizzards, for real, as an official employee…this is everything I’ve ever wanted. What the fuck am I thinking?

Abruptly, I stand, swaying slightly on my heels. “I think it’s time we head out,” I announce, ignoring Lukas’s pout of disappointment.

“So soon?” he cajoles, his fingers grazing the small of my back. “The night’s just getting started.”

I steel myself against his charm, shaking my head with a rueful smile. “Early morning tomorrow. But this has been…incredible.”

Selena and I make our goodbyes, a chorus of protests and pleas for us to stay rising from the group. As we walk away, I can feel the weight of Lukas and Slade’s gazes, twin flames of desire and unfinished business.

The cool night air is a shock after the stifling heat of the club, and I suck in a deep breath, trying to clear my head. Selena links her arm through mine, grinning like the cat that got the cream.

“Well, that was something else,” she says, waggling her eyebrows suggestively. “You sure know how to pick ’em, Ems.”

I groan, covering my face with my hands. “What am I doing, Sel? I’m supposed to be their coworker, not their…whatever this is.”

“Hey, you’re not their anything yet,” she reassures me, squeezing my arm. “You’re just a girl who had a fun night out with some seriously hot guys. No harm in that.”

But as we climb into a cab, my mind is a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Attraction wars with apprehension, desire with duty.

I’ve stepped onto a dangerous playing field, and the game has only just begun.

CHAPTER 3

EMMA

My stomach twists with a heady mix of excitement and nerves as I step into the Blizzards’ practice facility on Monday morning. The sleek, modern building practically screams success and prestige.

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