Page 106 of Broken Promises

“Where’s the puck blocker going?” Belle asks. I look up to see Finn skating to the bench. The cameras zoom in on his face, which is red and angry. He’s yelling at his coach but ends up getting off the ice. I don’t even bother correcting Belle’s terminology before I’m out of my seat.

Kai quickly explains to her that they pulled their goalie so that they could have an extra guy. It’s a risky strategy and onethat could go either way for them. I can see the thought behind it. If they lose, they still have one more game. Or they could cinch the victory now. They really don’t have anything to lose.

“I’m so nervous I might pee,” Maggie says, squeezing in next to me. We’re all right up front watching, so the space is a little tight.

It feels like I’m watching the puck drop in slow motion. Then time speeds back up when Gideon wins and passes to Ivanov.

“No,” I grumble. Ivanov is surrounded in seconds, and I think that’s the end of it, but he manages to pass to Declan, who slaps it across the ice. He doesn’t get far before he’s slammed into the boards, but the attention on him and Ivanov leaves Gideon open. He gets to the puck before San Diego’s defense and slips the puck around the net as they chase him.

I hold my breath, watching Gideon take his shot on the empty net. The puck hits the defenseman’s skate, bounces off the goal post and then skims right over the line. The lights flash and the buzzer blares.

Maggie and I are jumping and screaming in each other’s arms. My friends surround us doing the same thing.

“They did it!” Maggie yells, tears falling from her eyes.

We all separate long enough for me to look down and see Declan. He smiles at me and winks. I bite my lip, knowing what that look means.

“You’re going to want to get some lube,” Maverick whispers in my ear, snickering when I look at him in horror.

Oh. Fuck.

FORTY-NINE

declan

“Ben,I need you to cover for me if anyone comes looking.”

Ben looks up from his phone with a frown. “Where are you going?”

“To Willa’s hotel. I booked us a room there for the night. I swear I’ll be back early so no one notices.”

Ben laughs. “Go be with your wife.”

“You’re the best!” I yell as I run out the door.

It takes me no time to get to Willa’s hotel, even with the stop I made for supplies. Checking in at the front desk took more time. Or I was possibly more impatient at that point.

My whole body hurts. I need to ice my knees and sleep for the next three days. But I need Willa so much more.

I bang on the door to her room, and it flies open like she was waiting for me. Her smile is brilliant before she leaps into my arms.

“I’ll have her back before your flight tomorrow,” I call into the room, hoping one of them heard me, but not waiting around to find out.

“You did it,” Willa says, kissing along my jaw. If I didn’t have to see where I was walking, I would’ve already claimed her mouth. “You’re so close to winning, baby.”

I fumble with the keycard when I get to my room number. The moment the light flashes green, I turn the handle and rush inside. Willa giggles as I toss her on the bed and strip my clothes off in record time.

“Naked. Now,” I growl. She laughs again but does as I ask. I kiss my way up her body. Nipping her gently just to hear the small gasps she makes. “You promised me something, Princess.”

Willa stiffens beneath me, and I look up from where I was kissing along her stomach. I frown at the nervousness I see there.

“If you don’t want to, that’s okay,” I tell her, not wanting to force her to do something she doesn’t want to.

“It’s not that,” she says, turning her head and looking away from me.

“Look at me, Willa.” She meets my eyes and bites her lip. “What is it?”

“I’ve never done that before,” she admits, pink tinging her cheeks.

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