Page 97 of Icebound Hearts

But it was more than that. Seeing her wearing my number? My name? It hit me in a place I didn’t expect, making a possessive sort of pride well up in my chest. Call me a hypocrite all you want, but I get now why guys do it.

True to my word, I took her home that night and fucked her in nothing but my jersey, just like I promised I would. Hungry to check another item off her bucket list, I used pieces of soft silkfabric to tie her to the bed, spreading her out like a feast with her blonde hair cascading over the pillow and her legs spread wide for me.

Seeing her lying there with nothing but my jersey on, her pussy already wet for me and her hazel eyes dark with desire, unleashed a beast inside me.

I fucked her three times, made her come at least eight times, and I would’ve gone again but we were both so spent that we passed out in a heap together.

I’m fucking obsessed with her. She fills my thoughts all day, every day. No matter what I’m doing or where I am, something about it will remind me of her—and then my brain is off and running with a highlight reel of all the ways she drives me crazy.

Dunaway’s whistle screeches, jerking me out of my thoughts, and I realize that he’s called an end to practice for the day. Most of my teammates are already streaming off the ice toward the locker rooms, but I was so off in my own world that I’m on the other side of the rink. I rush to catch up with them, mentally chastising myself, and Noah is waiting for me as I join them.

“There’s the long-lost defenseman. You were off in space today, Townsend. Everything okay?” he asks, clapping a gloved hand on my shoulder.

“Yeah, yeah. Everything’s fine, I’ve just got a lot on my mind with this house hunt and planning the move and everything,” I cover quickly.

It’s not at all what I’ve been thinking about, but the lie must be believable, because Noah nods and huffs out a laugh.

“Yeah, that’s a big deal. I don’t blame you for being focused on it. But keep your focus on the ice too, yeah?” He keeps his arm draped around my shoulder as we make our way to the locker room, then glances at me, narrowing his eyes a bit. “You sure that’s all that’s on your mind?”

“Everything’s good. Really good, actually.” This is probably the best I’ve felt in years, to be honest, but I don’t want to lay it on too thick and invite more questions that I can’t answer truthfully, so I just plaster on the most convincing smile I can.

Noah grips my arm and steps back. “Good. Glad to hear it. Today’s practice aside, you’ve been on fire lately—so whatever you’re doing, keep it up.”

I nod vaguely, although I’m not sure he’d be saying that if he knew what had me so distracted today.

There’s a boisterous, loud energy in the locker room as our teammates banter, everyone peeling off their gear and getting ready to hit the showers.

“How’s the wedding planning going, man?” Reese asks Noah, and I glance at our team captain curiously. I’ve been so wrapped up in this thing with Violet that I completely forgot he and Margo are planning to get married this summer.

Noah shrugs and yanks his jersey over his head, then removes his pads. “Well, you know how it goes. There are a million moving pieces and a bunch of last-minute decisions that have to get made. But as long as Margo loves it, I’ll be happy.”

“Still can’t believe you’re getting married,” Theo says, smirking. “Kinda seems like we’re all getting domesticated lately.” He shoots Grant and me a look. “Well, most of us anyway.”

Our teammates all chuckle at his joke, and I clear my throat and laugh along, trying to hide my reaction to his words. I don’t know if I’d call whatever I have going on with Violet “getting domesticated,” but it feels dangerously close—and so does the whole team finding out about it. Maybe Violet was right about how reckless it was to ask her to wear my jersey instead of Reese’s the other night, but so far Reese is the only one who’s said anything about it, so I try to shake it off.

There’s a dip in the conversation, so I take my chance to hit the shower before anyone else can hit me with uncomfortable questions. When I’m done, I throw on some fresh clothes and check my phone.

My heart skips a beat when I see that there’s a missed call from Jake’s school.

“Shit,” I mutter and quickly tap into the phone app to listen to the voicemail the school left.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Townsend, this is Principal Chapman.” Jake’s principal’s smooth, calm voice plays in my ear. “Jake said you’re at practice, so I’m sorry to bother you, but he got into a fight this morning with one of the other students, and we think it’s best to send him home for the day. Could you please give us a call back as soon as you get this? Thanks.”

I pull the phone away from my ear and stare down at it, unable to believe what I just heard. What the hell? Jake has never gotten into any kind of trouble before. He’s one of the sweetest kids I’ve ever known, and he gets upset when I have to kill bugs in the house.

I throw my bag over my shoulder, nodding a quick goodbye to my teammates as I make a beeline out of the building and head for my car. Agitation brews under my skin as I drive to Jake’s school, questions bouncing around in my head as I do my best not to speed down the streets.

When I reach the elementary school, I park in the guest lot and slam my car door shut, striding quickly toward the front door. There’s a member of the school’s staff stationed at the front desk, and when I tell her I got a call from Principal Chapman, she directs me toward his office.

I stride down the hallway, taking several deep breaths to try to get a hold on my emotions before I deal with Jake’s principal—but as I approach his office, I hear a familiar voice.

Violet.

They must’ve called her too, since she’s listed as Jake’s caretaker, and she got here before me.

“No,” she says, and I blink, brought up short by the forceful tone of her voice. I’ve never heard her sound quite like that before. I pause, listening, as she adds, “If Jake says he didn’t do it, I believe him.”

“Ms. Sutton.” Principal Chapman’s voice is low and patient. “I understand it’s upsetting, but there have to be consequences for this kind of behavior. Since this was Jake’s first incident, there won’t be any?—”

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