Page 30 of Pucking my Enemy Boss

“No, Ethan. You don’t get to play this game with me,” she says, her voice trembling with the intensity of her emotions. “I asked for time this morning, but now I want you to tell me. You either let me in or you let me go.”

I feel a surge of frustration, not just with her, but with myself. “It’s not that simple,” I mutter, more to myself than to her.

“It is that simple!” she insists, stepping even closer, her face inches from mine. “You’re the one making it complicated!”

My breath catches, and before I can stop myself, I reach out, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her against me. “You drive me crazy. You know that?” I say, my voice rough with frustration and something else, something I don’t want to name.

“Good,” she snaps back, her eyes blazing with defiance. “Because you’re driving me crazy, too.”

The next thing I know, our lips crash together, the argument forgotten as we’re consumed by the heat of the moment. I kiss her hard, pouring all of my pent-up frustration and desire into the kiss. She responds just as fiercely, her hands fisting in my hair, pulling me closer.

I push her against the wall, the cold tiles pressing against her back as our mouths move together, hungry and desperate. My hands roam her body, tracing the curves I’ve memorized in the dark, feeling the warmth of her skin through her clothes. Her nails dig into my shoulders, pulling me closer, and I’m lost in her, in the heat and the intensity of the moment.

We break apart just long enough to catch our breath, and then I’m kissing her again, harder this time, needing to feel her, needing to lose myself in her. She moans against my mouth, herbody arching into mine, and it’s everything I can do not to tear her clothes off right then and there.

But then, just as quickly as it started, the moment is shattered by the sound of a door opening.

“Is everything okay in here?” Lauren’s voice rings out, concern lacing her words.

We freeze, our breaths coming in ragged gasps as we pull apart. Holly’s face is flushed, her lips swollen from our kiss, and I’m sure I don’t look much better. For a moment, we just stand there, staring at each other, the weight of what just happened settling between us.

“Yeah,” I manage to say, my voice hoarse. “Everything’s fine.”

Lauren raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, but she doesn’t press the issue. “Okay ... I’m glad you two haven’t killed each other. I’ll be outside.”

She leaves, and the door clicks shut behind her, leaving Holly and me alone again. But the moment is gone, the tension that was there before replaced by an awkward, charged silence.

Holly pulls away from me, her eyes avoiding mine as she straightens her clothes. “I should go,” she says quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. There’s so much I want to say, but the words won’t come. I watch as she turns and walks out of the locker room, her shoulders tense, her steps hurried.

As the door closes behind her, I feel a wave of frustration and anger wash over me. Not just at her, but at myself. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. I shouldn’t be feeling like this, shouldn’t be so damn wrapped up in someone else’s life.

I’m in trouble. I can’t seem to stop thinking about her, can’t seem to stop wanting her. And that scares the hell out of me.

I punch the wall, the pain barely registering as I try to get a grip on the emotions swirling inside me. I’ve spent yearsbuilding walls around myself, keeping people out, and now, with Holly, those walls are starting to crack.

And I don’t know how to stop it.

I don’t know if I want to.

9

HOLLY

The hospital atriumis a bustling hub of activity behind me, patients and visitors alike navigating the maze of hallways and waiting rooms. Outside, on the manicured lawn, the Chicago Blizzards are putting on a clinic for a group of young fans.

I stand at the window, watching the five men interact with the kids—Ryan Connors, Liam Callahan, Tyler Jenkins, Alex Mason, and of course Ethan Carter. It’s surprising to see Ethan with natural charisma shining through as he high-fives the kids, dishing out pointers as they set out to play a few one-on-one games.

He had a sour look on his face during the drive here, clearly not thrilled about the event. But now, as he passes a small puck around with the kids on the grass, there’s a faint smile on his lips. The laughter of the children floats up to the window, light and carefree, mixing with the sound of their playful shouts.

I cross my arms, leaning against the window frame as I take in the scene. Ethan’s not the kind of guy who usually smiles, especially not when he’s forced into something he doesn’t want to do. Yet here he is, interacting with these kids, and for a moment, he looks content.

The Ice King, melting just a little under the warmth of their joy?Not to be jealous, but I wish he’d smile at me like that.

“He’s doing better than I expected,” Lauren’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

I glance at her, then back at Ethan. “Yeah, he is.”

---