Page 33 of Worth the Risk

We stare at each other for a moment. His back is resting against the door and his eyes slowly peruse down my body. My heart rate increases and I take in a deep and shaky breath. I subconsciously catch my lower lip between my teeth, and Luca’s eyes zero in on my mouth. His eyes dilate as he watches me for a long moment, before he drags his gaze slowly down my body. I swear I can feel him. I gasp as heat floods my core, my thighs clenching together as his slow perusal returns to my face.

Luca’s left hand slides down and grabs the door handle, locking the door. Simultaneously we both step toward one another and our lips meet in a clashing of need. Of want. Of denial. I whimper into his mouth as his hands slide down to grab my ass, and he groans in response. Luca turns us so my back is against the wall, deepening the kiss as he pulls one of my legs up to his hip. I feel him against me and I shamelessly grind into him.

“Fuck, Hannah, fuck. God, I’ve missed you,” he whispers as he trails kisses down my neck and onto my shoulder.

“Luca,” I moan quietly. He takes my lips again in a searing kiss.

Voices outside the door make us break apart as someone knocks on the door.

“Ms. Beauregard? You in there?” a voice calls out. I think it possibly sounds like Gabe Dawson, but I’m not sure. Luca’s jaw clenches as he rests his forehead against mine.

“Got a thing for the coach’s niece, Daws?” another voice says with a tease.

“Nah. Just figured she’d be a good quick fuck,” he answers. Luca’s entire body stiffens as he lunges for the door, but I pull him back and put my hand over his mouth. His eyes find mine. Full of fury and anger. Tension is emanating off his body in waves.

“Coach would have your balls, man. Not worth it,” the other guy answers.

“Yeah, I know. But I like a challenge,” Gabe answers.

The voices drift away and Luca exhales heavily against my hand.

“Thank you,” I whisper, as I let my hand drop from his mouth and settle on his chest. He furrows his brow.

“For what?”

“For trying to go to bat for me. You were ready to fight, even if it meant getting yourself in trouble. It’s admirable, Luca. But please, don’t risk your own career for me, okay? I can’t have that on my conscience,” I tell him softly.

“That’s the thing, bella,” he says quietly, “I’m beginning to think you’re worth the risk.”

I squeeze my eyes shut tightly as I lay my head on his chest. I wish it were that easy.

“I have to go, baby. Can I text you after the game?” Luca says against the top of my head, and I nod against his chest. I know we shouldn’t. I know this is going to end badly. But I can’t say no. I’m so drawn to him. Like a fucking moth to a flame, ready to destroy everything for a few moments with this man.

Luca leans down and places a soft and tender kiss on my lips, his right hand wrapped around my neck with his fingers in my hair. He holds me safely, like I’m the most precious cargo in the world. He makes me feel so cherished.

“Let me go out first, and I’ll make sure you can leave,” I say quietly and he nods. I grab my things and open the door, checking to see if the coast is clear. I motion for Luca to follow me. As I’m closing and locking my door, he walks past and drags his knuckles across the back of my hand.

How on earth a simple touch like that could rock me to my core is beyond me.

My first full hockey game is intense and exhilarating. I flit around the arena throughout the game, grabbing great pictures and videos from as many angles as I can. I may have also pulled out my personal phone and snapped some pictures of Luca. He plays with such determination and focus.

I snuck down to the first row, right behind the glass, and got a bunch of pictures. It was at that moment when Luca got into an altercation with some douche on the other team, and he managed to look up right as I snapped a pic. The intensity in his stare as he looked at me? Holy fuck. The man just exudes sex and confidence. I made a mental note to send that photo to myself after downloading all the pictures.

The Wolves won, three to one. The owners, the Crawford family, have requested all employees attend a celebratory party after the first game. I’m incredibly exhausted and would love to just go home and crash, but I know I have to make an appearance. It’ll be great content for the team socials.

Coincidentally, the place they’ve chosen to host this party is called Aurora’s Castle. It’s actually just a building in Denver, but has a huge open floor plan with breathtaking stained glass windows. The space has been decked out in massive hockey ice sculptures and floral arrangements that look like hockey players. It’s weirdly aesthetically pleasing.

I’m not the best at parties. Or any event with tons of people, for that matter. So I’m trying to keep my spot warm against a back corner wall and nursing a glass of wine. I’ve already made rounds and taken some pictures, and now I’m deciding if I want to try and sneak out.

Another employee walks over to me with a cautious smile on her face.

“Hi, are you Hannah?” she asks tentatively, and I nod. “Great. Your uncle told me to come talk to you. I’m Elsie. I’m one of the physical therapists for the team.”

I reach out to shake her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Elsie. What else did my uncle tell you?” I ask her. She laughs lightly.

“Oh, just that you might need a friend at an event like this. Big crowds freak me out, so I was all too happy to come over and talk to you,” she says.

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