Page 45 of Pucking the Team

I’m silent for a long moment, weighing my words carefully. I know how much Ryan has been through, how hard he’s worked to rebuild his life after Madison. And as much as I want to protect him from further heartbreak, I also know that I can’t stand in the way of something that could be truly special.

“Alright,” I say finally, clapping him on the shoulder. “If you feel that strongly about her, then do what you need to do. But be careful, man. I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

Ryan nods, his jaw set. “I won’t let that happen. Not this time.”

We stand there for a moment longer, watching the river flow by in silence. The sun is starting to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. It’s a beautiful sight, but my mind is elsewhere, tangled up in thoughts of Emma and the chaos she’s brought into our lives.

Part of me wishes I could just wash my hands of the whole thing, let them sort it out on their own. But I know I can’t do that. These guys are my brothers, my family.

And if Emma is what they want, then I’ll do whatever I can to support them. Even if it means watching from the sidelines as they navigate this minefield of emotions.

Even if it means burying my own growing attraction to the captivating brunette who’s turned our world upside down.

CHAPTER 20

RYAN

I sit in the locker room after practice, methodically unlacing my skates as sweat drips down my brow. The pungent aroma of well-worn gear and male musk surrounds me, but my mind is miles away, lost in vivid memories of Emma. It’s been a couple of days since I learned she was seeing Lukas and Alex as well, and we haven’t had a chance to catch up since. I know that I need to tell her where my head is at.

Flashes of our natural connection in Detroit replay in my head—her captivating blue eyes sparkling up at me, the conversations that we had over dinner, the confident and sexy way she undressed herself and touched herself in front of me.

Emma understands and accepts me in a way I haven’t experienced since Madison ripped my life to shreds. With Emma, I feel like I can finally break free from the chains of my past and charge forward into something real.

My pulse quickens as I recall the moment she saw me fully naked, her hungry gaze raking over my oversized manhood without a flicker of intimidation. If anything, the desire in her eyes only burned brighter. I’m used to women balking at my size, making me feel like a freak. But not Emma. Her brazen lust and easy acceptance unleashed something primal in me.

I adjust myself as my cock stirs to attention, already semi-hard from just thinking about her. Closing my eyes, I picture notching the head of my thick cock at the entrance to her tight pussy, pushing in slowly until I’m seated all the way in her…

“Yo, Thompson!” Slade’s voice booms, snapping me out of my fantasy. “Team meeting in five.”

I clear my throat and stand abruptly, grateful my lower half is shielded by the locker room bench. I give a curt nod, avoiding his probing stare.

If the boys knew the direction of my thoughts, I’d never hear the end of it. But I can’t help it—Emma has burrowed under my skin, and I don’t want to claw her out. Lukas and Alex may be making a play for her too, but I’ll be damned if I let them keep me from exploring this soul-deep connection. I haven’t felt this alive in years.

I finish changing and steel my resolve before striding out to join my teammates, a new determination burning in my veins. Emma’s worth fighting for, and she will be mine.

Later that day, I stride purposefully through the halls of the practice facility, my heart hammering against my ribs as I seek out Emma. I spot her in the stands by the practice rink, her brow furrowed in concentration as she pores over game footage on her laptop. The glow of the screen illuminates her delicate features, making my breath catch.

Quietly, I slip into the seat beside her, inhaling her subtle vanilla scent. “Hey,” I murmur, my voice husky. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

Emma starts slightly, then turns to me with a radiant smile that warms me to my toes. “Ryan, hi! Of course, what’s up?” She sets her laptop aside, giving me space to slide into the stands next to her.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing pulse as I look into her luminous eyes. “I was wondering if you’d like to grab dinner with me sometime this week,” I say, hoping I sound more confident than I feel. “Just the two of us. I want to take you out on a real date, something more than lunch or coffee.”

Emma’s eyes widen, surprise and delight flickering across her face. “I’d love that, Ryan. But are you sure? I know things are complicated, with Lukas and Alex and everything…”

She’s not wrong. The tangled web between all of us is a mess I’m still trying to unravel myself. But in this moment, none of that matters. All I can see is her.

I reach out, taking her small hand in mine. “I’m sure, Emma. I want to give this a shot. I care about you, and I think we could have something really special.”

Emma’s smile softens, her eyes shining with emotion. “I care about you too, Ryan. And I’d love to go on a date with you.”

Relief and elation burst through me. She said yes.

Against all odds, this amazing woman wants to take a chance on me, on us.

The night of our date arrives, and nervous energy crackles through me as I climb the stairs to Emma’s apartment. I adjust my suit jacket and run a hand over my slicked-back hair, wanting everything to be perfect.

I raise my hand to knock, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. A moment later, the door swings open, and the sight before me steals the breath from my lungs.

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