Page 34 of Ice Bet

“I’m sure the other part is that he wants to impress my dad bykeeping watchover me. I’m not stupid, even though you all think I am.”

His hands tightened on my waist right as Sully’s voice hit the back of my head. “My turn.”

“No.” Ford’s refusal was quick. “Go get your own Duster.”

I stomped on Ford’s foot. “Quit calling me that.”

“Ouch!” He grabbed his foot. “Watch it, babe. I play hockey for a living.”

Sully took the opportunity and slipped in front of me. A drink was placed in my hand, and his calloused fingers went to the small of my back, brushing the sliver of bare skin. “Share, Ford.”

I made eye contact with Ford before I winked. “Yeah,share.”

Sully called over his shoulder. “Ry and I go way back. She’s safe with me.”

Unless Sully considered a brief glance and a simple hello here and theregoing way back, he was talking out of his ass just to ease the tension.

Ford shook his head. He clearly didn’t approve, but it didn’t bother me as much as it did when Aasher disapproved of something. Probably because Aasher was a dick about it. I wondered if Ford knew about the bet, but I didn’t linger on that thought too much. In the end, it didn’t matter who knew—because I did.

Sully and I danced two songs before I needed a break. He was touchy, but I let him toe the line because that was what I came here to do. I caught the eye of Sutton from across the party, halfway through the second song, and she smiled before flinging back a shot. I knew it was my cue to take off my leather jacket, and when I did, I watched Sully gulp. His lustful gaze dipped down my sweaty neck, and he pulled me in closer.

“Need a drink?” His voice was lazy, and the slow brushing of his fingers along my spine was pushing the limits.

“Please.” I smiled.

I waited until he walked away to scan the crowd for another hockey player to mess with. They were all staring at me, so I had my pick of the litter, but when I snagged a pair of green eyes, my body trembled.

Aasher was glaring at me from across the party with a drink in his hand and a perfect scowl on his face. He always wore a scowl when it came to me, like it was a pillar of his haughty, disapproving personality.

He shook his head slowly, the strands of his thick dark hair hardly moving. He mouthed the word,‘Stop,’, which pulled a smile right to my lips.

Absolutely not.

I laughed out loud and ping-ponged my eyes to one of the rookie players. I knew he was a rookie because I didn’t know his name, but I recognized his face from tonight’s game. He got ice time, and that was kind of a big deal when you were a rookie.

He caught my eye, and it took less than two seconds for him to prowl over to me. He wore a hot smirk and was definitely attractive, but his arrogance was a little too potent. “Hey.” His smirk only grew hotter.

“Let’s dance. Or are you too afraid of the repercussions?” I teased.

“Repercussions?” he repeated, glancing around the party. Aasher was perched behind him, so he didn’t notice the death glare he was sending our way. “I’ll deal with them if it means I can dance with you.”

As soon as we started to dance, I began rocking my hips slower. His hands cupped my waist as he pressed my ass to his front, and when his breathing sped up, I knew I was playing my cards right. These hockey boys were going to tripover me, and then I was going to clam up the moment they wanted something more.Serves them right.

A deep whisper came from behind, and I peeked over my shoulder. Ford was dancing with a pretty girl. “Tsk, tsk, Riley. You’re being naughty.”

“Who? Me?” I asked innocently.

Ford grinned, and I mimicked it.

“I’m just having a little fun.” I paused. “In fact, IbetI can have more fun than you guys can tonight.”

Ford’s smile fell, but the girl he was dancing with pulled him away and told him to let me have my fun. I turned up the heat a little, swaying my hips even slower and rubbing against the hard bulge my partner in crime was sporting.

“Move.”

Suddenly, I was jolted away from the rookie, and Sully was back, placing a drink in my hand.

“Oh, come on,” the rookie whined. “That’s not fair.”

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