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“No, but you are the one with more experience,” I snapped. “You should know better, you know how much you need to get along off and on the ice. You don’t have to be best friends, but something other than enemies helps.”

“So, this is my fault,” he scoffed.

“Well, you should take some of the blame,” I said, rolling my eyes. “If not all of it. You know this game isn’t your first rodeo and do you remember your first year? Or has it been too long and have you had too many hits to the head?”

“You too?” he sneered. “Yes, this isn’t my first rodeo, but why does my age always come into play? I had no one show me the ropes. I scrambled until I got my footing. So, why should I baby him?”

“So, just because your team didn’t help you means you can’t help your own teammate?” I looked at him in disbelief.

We stared at each other, and I assumed he wasn’t going to go back to looking out the window.

“How do you help someone who always has to quip back?” he asked, his voice soft. “I got enough shit on my plate, I can’t force him to play well and if he doesn’t take advice well, what the hell am I supposed to do?”

“You should help, but you should also stop antagonizing him,” I said, crossing my arms, getting more and more frustrated. “Maybe act your fucking age because you’re an amazing player and even I see the potential you guys could have together.”

The rest of the drive was quiet and as we got closer to the stadium, I worried that I shouldn’t have said anything. Me and my big mouth were going to get us in trouble one day… well, in more trouble. Once we parked, I grabbed my stuff, hating that I felt like I had to say something.

“Look, all I’m saying is you could be great, but you're letting petty shit get in the way,” I said looking at him. “And you know when one part of the team suffers, you all do.”

His whiskey-colored eyes stared at me, and he nodded. I didn’t know if he was just doing it so I would shut up, but I figured I had said my piece, and hopefully they could get their shit together because they could be fucking amazing.

11

Hunter

Iwas exhausted enough that I was trying to talk myself out of going to another Cam night at The Atelier. It was Halloween, giving me another excuse to use a mask and see her again. That night from a few months ago still played in my head and even though I wanted to be anywhere but here, I was walking into The Atelier.

I’ll be celebrating Halloween at The Atelier dressed as a cat.

Her message was the only thing keeping me up. The place wasn’t as full as I had expected it to be, but it was almost midnight. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of the people had already moved to rooms to get their real party started. The bar wasn’t busy, but it was the best place to look around without looking desperate.

I recognized a few of the returning cam people walking around and flirting, but I didn’t see her. Ruby Dix had been my latest obsession. When Genevieve mentioned her name as they planned the first Admirer’s night, I knew I had to meet her, but what I didn’t expect was to have a night with her and one other man.

It was the best threesome I had ever had. The other man had tied her up so beautifully, she was at our mercy and the wayhe spoke Spanish to her was equally sexy. Don’t get me started on his body because I loved a ripped man I could wrestle with. There was a time or two I had wanted to see if I could push his boundaries and see if he wanted to play too. The mask only added to his mystery, and I wondered if he would be here too. Another threesome would be fucking awesome, but I was here for Ruby.

I sat at the bar looking around, and saw Genevieve with her married couple at the other end of the bar. They made a lovely throuple and I would pay to have one session with them. I’d love to see Luke on his knees for me and I would be more than happy to get on my knees for Camila and Genevieve.

My mind still couldn’t believe Genevieve was tied down. The mistress of The Atelier was a taken woman; I didn’t ever think I’d see the day. She was disgustingly happy and a part of me was jealous she had found her someones, but she deserved them and so much more. Love had a way of healing the broken parts of us, but it also had a way of showing us what we needed to work on. Love was broken and whole and while I wanted it, some things were better left broken.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked, pulling me from my depressing thoughts.

“I’ll take a Casamigos Reposado on the rocks with an orange slice,” I said.

“Make that two.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I knew it was her.

“I didn’t think I would get to see you tonight,” I said, turning around, seeing her in the skimpiest outfit with her signature cat mask, blatantly looking at her like she was a mirage of water and I was thirsty as hell.

Fuck me.

“Hello,” she purred, leaning close to kiss my cheek just below my mask. “I was worried you weren’t going to show up.”

“Work kept me late,” I said, deflecting.

Rule number one of sex club anonymity was not talking about what you do for a living. You could tell the wrong girl, and she could have a whole file on you in less time than it would take a PI.

“That’s rude that they made you work late,” she said, taking in my Mask of Zorro outfit.

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