Page 80 of The Puck Chase

“Arch,” he croaks out, voice hoarse and causing me physical pain in the pit of my stomach, but still I nod.

“Yeah, it’s me, baby, you’re okay, everything’s okay, I got you.” At my words he relaxes instantly, sinking into my touch, and I will my heart rate to calm down, glancing back towards where Josh is still standing at the door. “We’re okay, Peters,” I nod, and he eyes us one last time, before he retreats and shuts the door.

“Sorry,” Daemon whispers, scrunching his eyes closed, seeming utterly exhausted, and I release one of his arms and grab his chin, startling them back open.

“Don’t fucking apologize, not when you haven’t done anything wrong.” He nods, though I can tell he doesn’t believe me, so I don’t press the matter further.

Instead, I flop myself back down beside him, and pull him into my arms. He tenses at first, still not used to how touchy feely I am with him, but he’s getting there. I hold him tight until his breathing evens out and he falls back asleep, and only then do I reach for my phone.

Archer - We can’t wait any longer, it needs to be done now.

It only takes a few minutes for his response to come in.

David - I’m on it kiddo, trust me, Ellis Forbes will never see the light of day.

Sleep doesn’t come easy after that, and it won’t. Not until I know his father can never hurt him again.

We have our first game of the year today, and despite working out every day since I got back from the city, exhaustion still clings to me like never before. I know the added stress of my father’s parole hearing, slowly creeping up, is taking its toll, just like I know I’m probably going to have to call a lawyer on Monday and work out my options if he gets released. It doesn’t help that my brother won’t stop calling and texting me, even after Archer put him in his place.

The man in question is currently stretching beside me, ignoring everyone else on the team, including our captain, and shooting me secret, filthy stares. “Kinda wishing I was that piece of ice you’re grinding on right now, Forbes,” he grunts beneath his breath, watching as I bend forward and backward to warm up.

“Stick around after this and we can play a different kind of game, if you like,” I purr back, my need for him never sated, and his smirk widens.

“You do owe me a round of truth or dare.”

“Since when?”

“Since I let you fuck me in a maze.”

“Let me?” I scoff, at the mention of this again. “I don’t recall you complaining. In fact, if I remember it correctly, you were begging,” I tell him, giving him a pointed glare, and his stare heats, as if remembering the moment perfectly.

Pushing up off the ice at the same time I do, he skates closer, too close to be casual, but everyone is distracted by the madness of the game. “I thought you liked it when I begged, Forbes,” he taunts, his lust-drenched voice licking up the back of my spine, and let’s just say it’s a good thing I am wearing my base layer.

Not that it matters, his stare is knowing anyway. “You’re gonna pay for that, Gray,” I toss back, his grin only getting wider.

“I can’t wait,” he replies, as Nova skates toward us, and Archer pulls his focus from me to him. “Princess Peters is looking especially good tonight,” he greets him, forcing his stare to travel over to where Maddie and Hallie are sitting in the stands. Nova grinds his jaw, and I roll my eyes at his attempt to rile him, and at our captain for falling for it.

“And you’ll look good bleeding out at my fucking feet if you say another word,” Nova snaps back, leveling his best friend with a look full of warning, but Archer only winks at him.

“Fuck off, you know you love me, Cap.”

“Yeah, what’s not to love about you,” Nova replies, rolling his eyes. His smile is still playful, but I can’t help but think about what Nova just said.

My eyes find Archer’s again, and the question plays on repeat in my mind as we finish our warm up and the game begins. The sound of the buzzer is usually when my mind clears, when Ifocus on just the ice and forget about everything else, but as the object of my affection flies past me every few minutes, my mind is only on him. The way he moves, the way he dominates the ice, the way countless girls scream his name, but most importantly, the way his eyes keep finding mine.

Nova’s right, what’s not to love about Archer Gray?

It’s a thought that plagues me for the entirety of the game, even when we win, as we skate off the ice to head to the locker rooms. Archer, of course, finds his way to me with no trouble at all, his stalking knowing no bounds, as he purposely maneuvers himself until we are both at the back of the group.

“What do I need to do to tempt you to let me into that shower stall of yours?” he whispers under his breath, eyes forward, as if he never even spoke, and my mouth curves into a smile.

“Two 6 foot hockey players in one stall, it would be a tight fit,” I toss back, keeping my voice low enough to ensure nobody hears us.

Archer’s head instantly whips around as we reach the locker room, and he turns until he can push the door open with his back. “Oh, I know it would be a tight fit,” he taunts back with a wink, before making his way to our bank of lockers.

I’m smiling as we make quick work of taking off our skates, the atmosphere abuzz with another win under our belt, then I pull off my jersey and open my locker so I can toss it in my bag. My phone sits on the top shelf, and it lights up with an incoming call as I reach for my towel, so I pick up my phone instead, barely looking at the screen, and I am greeted with an automated voice.

“You have a collect call from…” the robotic voice pauses, as another voice I would recognize anywhere cuts into the call. “Ellis Forbes.”

---