Page 57 of Melting the Ice

I averaged five goals a season, but my assists were in the high double digits, and my plus-minus rating was rock solid every year. I’d never been much of an offensive d-man, though, and that never bothered me. If the opportunity presented itself, fuck yeah, I was taking it, but as long as I played my best for my team and didn’t make shit plays or cause stupid penalties, that’s all I cared about. Fortunately, the coaches and GMs all agreed with me.

“Yeah, but yours was pretty sweet.” He locked his arm around my neck and tugged me toward the bar. “Be right back. Anyone else want one?”

Tally, Santa, and Sin called out their orders, and he steered me away from Josie. I instantly wanted to be pressed against her again instead of in Dom’s clutches, where he could interrogate me. I’d seen his shrewd gaze when Josie had coughed at Harper’s comment.

“Want to tell me what that was about?” he asked as soon as we’d given Jack, one of the other bartenders, our order.

“No idea what you’re talking about. Don’t you need to get home to Ally or something?”

He chuckled. “Deflect all you want, buddy. I was wearing the exact same expression a few months ago. And Ally told me to go have a beer to celebrate and then come home so we can celebrate.” He wiggled his brows.

I scoffed. “You’re almost as bad as Sin.”

“Whatever. I’m in love. You should try it.” He paused. “Or are you already trying it?”

“Oh, fuck off.”

“Not a denial. Tell me all about it.” He rubbed his hands together. “And don’t fucking glare at me. You had all sorts of shitto say to me at the start of the season about Ally, and you’ve been wound tight since Josie showed up.”

“Everything’s fine.” Yeah, I’d probably tell Dom about Josie at some point, but I sure as fuck wasn’t going to do it in a bar surrounded by my nosy teammates. Fuck no to that.

“Here you go. Great game tonight.” The bartender slid our beers toward us, saving me from responding further.

“Thanks, man,” I said with a nod, and then I spun on my heel. Dom could fucking pay the tab. I ignored his chuckle as I walked away.

“So, how did you respond?” Josie asked as soon as I was back at her side.

“What?”

“To my brother. Please tell me you didn’t say that to him. Although, I guess he would’ve blown up my texts by now if you had. You look really hot in that suit, Micahtron. Ugh, I want to kiss you.” The last two sentences came out softer than the rest. “I’m babbling.”

I leaned in close, letting her scent wash over me, and couldn’t stop myself from grazing her ear with my lips. I just hoped her hair hid us. “I’ve wanted to kiss you again since I walked out of the condo.”

“You can’t say stuff like that to me right now,” she whispered back.

“You getting all hot and bothered, Hurricane?” I teased, even though I was pitching a tent right now. The suit jacket was staying on.

She huffed out a breath and turned her head to meet my gaze. The heat in her eyes took my breath away.

“Of course I am, with you looking like that and breathing in my ear.” Her exasperation made me grin.

“So, if I were to find you in a quiet corner away from everyone and slip my fingers into your panties, are you saying you’d bedrenched?” My words came out as a low growl, and heat stained her cheeks. I was playing with fire, but I didn’t care because I craved the burn. Cravedherwith everything I had.

“Holy shit, Micah,” she rasped.

Fucking hell, this woman. I should have felt guiltier about her brother’s text. About how we hadn’t told him that Josie was staying with me. Not that I expected him to randomly ask if his sister was living with me, but I felt guilty for withholding that information. And then there was how much I wanted her. I wasn’t going to tell Ray that because it would be weird, but it added to my guilt. I hated keeping secrets, especially from a man who was like a brother to me.

But I’d shoved my guilt aside, misplaced or not, and only replied on the standard responses and then bullshitted with him over text a bit before I’d arrived at the bar.

“You two are looking pretty cozy right now.” Sin’s voice pulled me out of my head, and taking a nonchalant sip from my beer, I turned to look at my teammates.

“Stop stirring up shit that isn’t there,” I said. “Josie was just teasing me about finally scoring tonight. She’s always taunting me.”

“It’s because you’re so easy,” she said, a faint tremble in her voice that did nothing to calm the raging need I had for her.

“Sure, sure,” Dom said with a smirk. “But it is good that he finally got a goal. It’s been a while.”

“Fuck off. Goal scoring is your job,” I fired back. “I’m just here to make sure no one gets the puck past Tucks and to save you from injury.”

---