Page 91 of Defensive Zone

“Okay, no doom and gloom at this table. We finally got Gabi and Ava here with drinks and we are going to have some fun,” Amanda said.

“Speaking of, I think we should do a girls’ night at Max’s. We’ll kick him out and then we can hang out and you don’t have to worry about finding someone to babysit,” Riley said, turning to Ava.

“Thanks. I would love that. I didn’t really have any girlfriends back home because it was too crazy with the kids, but you guys are welcoming and awesome. I’m glad Max found a team like the Strikers,” Ava said.

“We’re a family. I think most of the teams are, but obviously, the Strikers are the best,” Riley said.

“Yes, they are,” Amanda cheered.

Gabi laughed. These women were amazing, and she was happy that she was here and with Ava.

And Max.

She’d tried to be subtle every time she looked over at him. Sometimes, she barely moved her head, to not make it obvious. She hadn’t missed the pointed look from Riley when she’d initially taken the chair that faced the guys, so she wouldn’t have her back to Max and it would be easier to peek at him.

She’d just ignored Riley. The chair was comfy and exactly like the other five chairs, but that didn’t matter.

This time when she looked up, he was looking right at her. It caused her breath to freeze in her throat and she popped up.

“I’ll be right back,” she said to no one in particular. She headed toward the bathroom, but before she could push the door open, Max was there, linking his fingers through hers and pulling her down the hallway.

“What are you doing?” she whisper-demanded. “Did anyone see you follow me?”

He winked and opened a side door, tugging her inside.

“Max, really?” she said as she pushed aside a mop handle.

“What? I’m thinking on the fly here,” he said.

“About what?” she asked, her breath getting choppy when he leaned closer.

“Of how much I want to kiss you and watching you sit there with our friends and not being able to touch you is making me insane,” he said, his lips an inch from hers. His warm breath sent bolts of desire through her body.

“Holy hell, Max,” she whispered, rising up on her tiptoes and pressing her lips against his.

He groaned and wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging her against his chest. Her nipples tightened and her body pulsed with need. His tongue swiped across her lips, and she melted against him, parting her lips to allow him entry.

The man kissed with the same fierce fire he did with everything else and it consumed her. She wanted everything he could give her, even if it made her go up in flames.

He swallowed her groan and sank one hand into her hair at her nape, squeezing and possessing her. It was overwhelming, yet she wanted more.

He lifted her, her legs instinctually linking around his waist as he pressed her against the wall.

“Ouch,” she said as a broom handle smacked her shoulder.

“What?” he panted against her.

“A broom,” she said.

He growled in frustration and spun them, with her still in his arms.

“There,” she said, pointing to a blissfully empty part of the wall that wasn’t covered in cleaning products.

Before she could say anything else, he dove back into the kiss, stealing her breath.

He slanted his head, deepening the kiss, and she reached up, tugging the hairband out of his hair and sinking her fingers into the soft strands. For as scraggly as he could look, his hair was actually soft, and his beard, while scratchy, was the best kind of scratchy.

She missed it between her thighs. Just that thought had her clenching against him.

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