Page 7 of Pucking Obsessed

Secret fantasy?

Sign me up.

To my surprise, D’Angelo’s expression becomes serious, as he places the Guide on the arm of the couch. “Your ex-husband was an asshole. He didn’t know how to show you pleasure. I want to explore it with you. Also, Shay is still on his bi-awakening journey. And Eden hadn’t even been kissed before you. He’s also learning about his dominance for the first time in his life. Together, we can use the rule as motivation in the next home games, as surprises for you, and also drive you in your PR work.”

“Surprises, huh?” I caress down D’Angelo’s clothed thigh, and in turn, he traces circles on my stomach. “I like this idea. But how serious are the upcoming games?”

D’Angelo stills. “We won the California road trip for the first time in the Bay Rebels’ history. But that only put us under more scrutiny. The board are going to want more from us. They’ll be pushing us to make the playoffs. We need to start winning. A lot of the pressure will be on Shay and me because—”

“You’re PR nightmares?”

“Yes, but also—”

“Such big PR nightmares that Dad made me your twenty-four seven live-in PR?”

D’Angelo gives me his warning dom face (which I, of course, ignore). “Yes, but—”

“Dad also rented a house in the middle of nowhere to essentially put you under house arrest to stop you getting into scandals like dancing on the tables of cocktail bars dressed in flashing devil horns?”

“That was at college,” D’Angelo replies, affronted. “And you know that I was dancing at a Halloween party because you admired my tight ass all night. Now, I’m trying to say—”

“That Dad also has had to hire a security team to look into the high level of trolling and death threats directed at you?”

“And—”

“Eden and I deal with your problematic superfans and obsessive hate mail every day. Because you’re such a—”

D’Angelo smothers my next words with an aggressive kiss.

Leaning down, he buries his hand in my hair, tugging hard. I moan, relaxing into his hold.

When he pulls back, he slides his other hand over my mouth like a gag.

He raises his eyebrow commandingly, as if daring me to lick his palm.

Tempting.

Plus, I have form.

Instead, however, I chuckle.

After a moment, D’Angelo does as well, before becoming serious again. “This season is my only shot at hitting the playoffs and giving the Bay Rebels a legacy. Shay is the spark. He’s the best new player in the NHL. Our relationship, however, could break all of us. It’s the best thing that’s happened in my life, and I’ll do anything to protect it…and you. But people have already used our love and past lives against us. It scares me that Shay’s sponsorships, which he needs to make a new life in America since Eden and he have fucking nothing, or your life away from press intrusion, could be wrecked. So, our love is real but it needs to be a secret fantasy for now. This life that we’re building together is too precious to be broken.”

Warmth curls through me.

I clutch D’Angelo’s strong forearm, squeezing. After a moment he relents and lifts his palm from my mouth.

I lick over my dry lips. “That was a much longer response than I was expecting.”

“I’ll edit better next time,” D’Angelo deadpans. “I’m still a baby author, after all.”

He sits back on his side of the couch, dusting imaginary lint off his suit trousers.

I scramble to sit up. “Wait, come back. I liked your sincerity. You’re a better man than you know, Jude D’Angelo.”

He scrunches up his nose. “No need to insult me in rhyme.”

All of a sudden, sunlight glints off the rings on my right hand: a silver22design, which is sunk into a gold signet ring, a flaming phoenix with amber eyes, and a simple silver ring with four stars to represent each of us in this relationship.