Page 16 of Pucking Obsessed

Kozlov.

He’s standing near the bench, watching the aftermath of the scene. His eyes are eerily quiet, not reacting, not even sneering. He’s just… observing. Studying me and what I clearly just orchestrated.

I shove the thought aside, not having the time to waste on some player I don’t know. But it sits in the back of my mind, a nagging sense that I’ll need to keep an eye on Kozlov. He’s clearly up to something and I put nothing past anyone at this point.

As I reach the locker room, I rip my skates off and pull my pads off quickly, tossing them into my locker. The adrenaline is still humming under my skin, but the unease about Madison doesn’t leave me. I need to find her.

I take the quickest shower of my life and then change into gray sweatpants and a navy blue Kings hoodie. I barely glance at my reflection in the mirror before I head straight for the door. Madison better be okay, because if one single thing happened to her, I’m going to turn this whole fucking campus upside down.

MADISON

Kirsten never showed up to walk to the hockey game with me, and I think it’s for the best. Part of me is relieved because I won’t have to face the awkwardness that’s been hanging between Hayden and me. He’s a constant presence in my thoughts, and I hate that because he’s the only person who has ever been able to do that. I can’t stop wondering when he’ll show up next, what he’ll say next, how his voice will sound when he speaks in that low, intimate way that sends a ripple through me. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I’m not about to let him mess with my head any more than he already has.

I’m getting in way over my head, and going to his game would only dig me deeper. I decide to use my time to put my ‘be self-sufficient’ plan into action. I reach the Castlebrook Brew, the on-campus coffee and convenience shop, and I sigh in relief. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, and I can only imagine how delicious it’ll smell once I’m inside. I wore a dress, trying to look professional, but my teeth are on the verge of chattering. I pull open the door, the bell above it chiming as I step inside. The cozy interior greets me, and I can’t helpbut think about how nice working at a place like this would be compared to my last job.

I glance around the coffee shop, trying to find someone who looks like a manager. I spot a girl and a guy behind the counter, both around my age. The girl’s busy taking an order from someone. He looks like he’s probably a professor or a parent here to watch the hockey game. The guy, who’s leaning against the counter, is too engrossed in his phone to notice me at first.

“Excuse me?” I call out. The guy looks up, and for a second, I swear I see his eyes widen like he’s startled. Scared even.

He quickly backs up against the counter, and I can’t help but feel a little confused. “Uh, sorry to interrupt. I was just wondering if you’re hiring? I’m new here and?—”

He stammers, his eyes still wide. “I, um... I’m really not supposed to be talking to you.”

I blink, taking a step closer to the counter. “What do you mean?” I start to ask, but then I stop mid-sentence, because that’s when I feel it.

Someone behind me.

I don’t even have to turn around. I can feel the intensity, the ‘I’m here to fuck shit up’ energy. My body tenses instinctively as I slowly turn. There Hayden is, standing right behind me and definitely not at his hockey game where he’s supposed to be. His hair is mussed, I can’t help but stare at the blood on the corner of his mouth. I try to keep my eyes from lingering there, but it is hard not to. I guess he’s gotten into another scuffle since I’ve last seen him.

The way he’s looking at me like he knows exactly what’s going on in my mind makes my pulse pick up. I’ve never felt this kind of electricity, I can’t decide whether it’s thrilling or terrifying.

“Aren’t you supposed to be razzle dazzling some puck bunnies right about now?” I ask, and I don’t mean it to come out like I’m jealous, but it sounds that way even to me.

He dips his head down, his face so close to mine that I can feel the heat from his skin. His breath ghosts against my cheek, sending shivers down my spine as he lowers his voice in that intimate way that is meant just for me. “Aren’tyousupposed to be at my game right now?”

I glare up at him, resisting the urge to melt into him. Changing the subject, I point at the barista behind the counter, the one who’s still staring at me like I’ve brought a charging rhinoceros in with me. “Did you tell him not to talk to me?”

Hayden rolls his eyes up and lets out an exaggerated huff, pinching the bridge of his nose in a way that’s meant to convey he’s so veryannoyed. “Not directly,” he mutters, but before I can respond the girl behind the counter, chirps up.

“He’s got the whole freshman hockey roster going around letting everyone know the consequences if they breathe near you,” she giggles, clearly finding some humor in this. She shrugs at me and adds, “Hey, count your blessings.”

She points to the guy she’s working with, who’s still gaping at Hayden like his whole life is flashing before his eyes. “He can’t even be bothered to remember my birthday and we’ve been dating for three years.”

I turn toward Hayden, unable to keep the shock from seeping into my voice. “Are you insane? Like, are you unwell?” I’m not sure if I want him to answer, but I push on. “How many girls have you done this to? Do you just become randomly obsessed with?—”

Before I can finish, he reaches for me, unflinching, and cups my face in his hand. I freeze, my heart hammering in my chest as he tilts my head back just enough to force me to look up at him. His eyes darken as he makes a low hum, a sound that makes my stomach drop. “If you let another man touch you—even one hair on your pretty blonde head—you’ll see how obsessed with you I really am.”

My breath hitches, and I hate how my stomach flips, how heat pools between my legs at his words. I’ve never had anyone speak to me like this, and as much as I want to hate it, I can’t help but feel...cherished. He’s showing me the kind of desire that makes every nerve in my body come alive in a way that both terrifies and thrills me.

Hayden sees the effect he has on me. I can tell by the slight smirk on his lips as he leans down, his lips brushing across mine in the softest, gentlest way. It’s barely a touch, but it’s enough to make my head spin, to make my body ache with want. I stand frozen for a moment, completely lost in the way his presence consumes me, the way his touch lingers on my skin, even though it’s gone.

Before I can process what’s happening, Hayden links his fingers with mine and pulls me over to the register where the barista is standing. His grip is firm, possessive, and when I wiggle my fingers, trying to break free, he doesn’t let go. His hand closes tighter around mine, and I can feel the dried blood on his knuckles from earlier, making my breath catch in my throat.

“You’re bleeding,” I blurt, my gaze flicking from his hand to his face. “What happened?”

Hayden smirks, pushing his messy brown hair out of his eyes in that way that makes him look boyish, like he’s just a normal guy who isn’t…stalking me? He’s stalking me, it’s just hard to remember that because I like it. The soft way he’s looking at me is so far from the obsessive psycho stepbrother persona that he’s constantly clobbering me with. I feel his fingers flex against mine, his thumb brushing softly across the top of my hand, sending a rush of heat straight through me. The touch is so tender, so unexpectedly gentle, and I have to fight the shiver that goes down my body.

“I started a fight so I’d get kicked out of the game,” he says, though his smile deepens, and I know he’s enjoying the effect he’s having on me. He shrugs. “I wanted to see you,” he says, like it’s the most logical thing in the world.

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