Page 69 of The Puck Secret

“Good morning, love birds,” he sing-songs, eyeing us both with a cocky smirk. “Sounds like you had quite the catch up.”

My blush deepens, especially as I catch Alexander's stare, which he diverts immediately. I wonder if it will ever not be awkward between us? When I turn back to Nova and find him completely focused on him, I guess it won’t be any time soon. “Knock it off,” he warns his best friend, moving to make us both a cup of coffee, which I gratefully accept.

“You’re the one I heard knocking it off, Captain,” he replies with a smirk. “Oh god, Captain, yes please, Captain, right there, Captain,” he moans, humping Alexander’s leg with disturbingly accurate thrusts.

“I always knew I was your type,” is all their goalie replies, still avoiding my gaze, making Archer roll his eyes.

“You wish, Alexander, you were just the closest thing to me.” He pushes away from him and moves back to his chair. “I’d have done it to baby Peters here if I didn’t think Nova would gut me with a fork.” He gestures towards me and I feel Nova bristle at my side. He’s gonna have to get used to these kinds of jabs from his teammates if we are going to make it anywhere, otherwise they will eat him alive.

I know boys like this, I grew up with boys like this, and they make their jokes and share some playful banter, but they can be easily handled.

Before Nova can say anything, I step in. “Oh please, Archer, like you could handle all the inches I’ve heard Alexander is packing.” I make sure to keep my focus on him, and not let it travel to the two others now staring at me slack-jawed. I’m sure they both remember how well I handled it. “You might have to do some jaw workouts first,” I add sweetly with a smile.

Archer groans, “No, not you too, Mads.” He looks betrayed which I am finding amusing, especially as he gives me puppy dog eyes. “Come on, fess up, all the dick jokes can’t just be about Reign, you have to have heard what I’ve got going on too.”

This time my own smile turns wicked as I joke, “Oh, I don’t feel comfortable discussing other people’s shortcomings, there are ladies present.” The other three guys, and Jake’s girlfriend all crack up, especially as Archer’s jaw drops at my statement and I add, “Oh yes, keep up that kind of practice and you’ll be able to satisfy Alexander in no time.”

Another round of laughs as Archer points at his best friend. “You caught yourself a wicked little thing,” he grumbles, just as the doorbell rings and he stomps off to answer it.

Nova spins me around and presses me into the kitchen island. “He’s right, you are a wicked little thing aren’t you.” It’s not a question, especially not one I could answer when I feel his thick length hardening between us.

“Yes,” I breathe, turning delirious with need for him as I add, “You better watch out, I bite.”

His gaze darkens. “Oh, I am counting on it, Princess.” His lips lower to mine but before he can capture them, a throat loudly clears beside us.

We both turn our heads at the same time to find Josh staring at us, an impassive stare covering his face. “Maddie, can I borrow you for a moment please?” His tone is clipped and I can tell how hard it is for him to be here, and I instantly feel bad for not responding to his messages and turning off my phone.

Slipping from Nova’s hold, and ignoring my brother’s stare as it takes in my clothes, or lack of, I gesture for him to follow me back outside, and to my surprise Nova follows. Once we get there, my brother looks between the two of us, and before any kind of showdown can occur I cut in, “Whatever you need to say, you can say in front of him.”

Josh sighs, looking so tired and vulnerable in this moment that fear grips me entirely. “We need to go and see Dad,” he starts, and before I can refute he adds, “now.”

Nova stiffens beside me, but I slip my hand in his as I keep my focus on my brother. “Okay, I just need to go home and get dressed.”

As I say that, he holds out a bag towards me. “I got Hallie to pack you some fresh clothes,” he says with another sigh. “You know what she is like so there are about seven outfits in there.” That makes me smile, and I take the bag from him, thanking him.

No other words are said as I slip back inside and head up to Nova’s room to get dressed. He doesn’t say anything either, just watches me get ready while also pulling on his own clothes at the same time. When I move to leave he holds out his hand and asks, “Ready?” When I frown he smiles, “You didn’t really think I was letting you go without me, did you?”

A feeling like I have never experienced floods my insides. He’s coming with me. I’ve never had anyone have my back outside of Hallie and my brother, and this is so new to me that I’m not even sure how to react. Nova crosses the room and pulls me into his arms. “It’s you and me now, Princess.” All at once the love I have for him blooms even more and I just nod, letting him lead me back outside to my brother.

Nova and I take my car, following Josh to our parents’ estate, and I can tell the closer we get, the more on guard Nova becomes. Yet still, just like last night, his hand remains entwined with mine. By the time we are pulling up it’s almost lunch time, and I am nervous for whatever awaits me inside.

Their housekeeper answers the door and advises us that our father is waiting in his office. I can tell from the tone of her voice that the mood awaiting us isn’t good, but it’s now or never. Tightening Nova’s hand in mine, we follow Josh down the long, elegant hallway until we reach my father’s haven.

When we push inside, my father’s eyes rise from whatever he is working on, and there isn’t even a hint of surprise that flashes across his stare as he takes in Nova by my side. We wait in silence as he finishes what he is doing, before he looks at me and sighs, “Your brother said you were busy.” He’s angry, that much I can tell, but still I keep my head up high.

“I had things that needed my attention,” I reply smoothly, not letting him get to me, not with Nova and my brother by my side. “Plus I thought you would be busy handling your situation.”

A smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth and for a second I think he might be proud of me for standing up for myself, but he quickly covers it. “The situation is handled, and as I can see you have already found yourself a new match that I suppose I can deem worthy enough.” I almost scoff at his words, and Nova is crushing my fingers between his, no doubt biting his tongue so hard he can probably taste blood. “Thankfully your brother has more of a keen interest in keeping our family name in-tact, and he has stepped in to take your place.”

That instantly shatters the armor I wrapped around myself before coming in here, as my head snaps towards my brother. “Stepped in? What does that mean?” I ask, looking at my brother with nothing but confusion, but he keeps his gaze locked on our father.

“I will do my duty,” is all he replies boredly, looking as if he would rather be anywhere else but here, yet I know my brother better than that. He may be standing in a casual manner, but his spine is snapped straight. His words may be laced in disinterest, but his jaw is locked.What the hell is going on?

With my brother ignoring my existence, I look back to my father, who looks gleeful to give me my answer. “Joshua here has agreed to further the family business by marrying someone of my choice,” my father beams, and I feel as if all the air has been emptied from the room.

“What?” I gasp in shock. “No, please,” I start, but Joshua finally snaps.

“Enough, Maddie, it’s already done.”

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