Page 19 of Dirty Pucker

I notice Del looks over at Coach Porter, who nods at Del as he skates by the team box. I think back to yesterday when Del and I spent the morning together and he told me how he wantsto clean up his image now that he’s playing for Denver. I don’t doubt that he was telling the truth, but seeing him walk away from an easy fight shows just how seriously he’s taking this opportunity to change himself.

He skates over to our side of the ice and says something to Blomdahl, the Bashers’ goalie. He looks past the net and catches eyes with me. A beat later, his expression brightens. He half-smiles and winks at me before he skates off to get ready for the puck drop. My stomach tumbles.

Maya’s jaw drops. “Did I see that right? Did Del Richards just wink at you?”

My face heats as I try and fail to hold back a smile. “Maybe he was winking at the person behind me.”

I hear a gruff-sounding laugh and look behind me.

“I think that was all for you, doll,” the middle-aged guy says.

Maya and I laugh.

“I’ve never seen that guy do that when he plays. I mean, I’ve seen him smirk at his opponents to taunt them. But a playful smileandwink like he just gave you? Never.” My best friend quirks an eyebrow and flashes that knowing look I’ve seen a million times before. “You’ve had quite an effect on Dirty Del in the short time you’ve known him. What exactly did you two do yesterday during your meeting?”

“We talked about his goals for the season and how I could use social media to help him clean up his public persona.”

My best friend narrows her gaze at me. “You sure that’s all?”

Even in the chill of the hockey arena, I can feel my face heat as I think about how I was one second away from kissing Del before that delivery guy interrupted us.

I think about the way Del cradled me in his arms, carrying me like it was nothing. I think about how hard his muscled body felt underneath my hands, how wet his skin was against me, howhot his breath felt when he exhaled, his mouth barely two inches from mine…

I’ve been replaying that almost kiss over and over in my head ever since it happened.

I know I shouldn’t. We agreed that kissing would have been a mistake, and that we’re just friends.

But I can’t help the way my ladybits throb when I think about almost kissing Del. I can’t help the way my clit pulses when I imagine how his tongue would feel teasing my mouth open…

I work up the nerve to tell Maya that Del and I almost kissed. She’s going to freak out.

I finally look over at her. “Okay, so something else might have happened…”

Maya’s big brown eyes go wide.

I lean in close so that no one can hear me. “We almost kissed.”

Her mouth falls open and I instantly cover it with my hand. “Not a word to anyone, okay?” I say in a low tone. I glance around at the people sitting around us. Thankfully they’re all so engrossed in the game that no one is even looking at us.

When I pull my hand away from Maya’s mouth, she looks dazed. She shakes her head. “I need details. Like, now.”

I tell Maya what happened yesterday at Del’s apartment. When I finish, her eyes are wide as saucers. Then she shoves my shoulder and lets out a wild-sounding laugh.

She shakes her head like she’s in disbelief. “Wow. You didn’t waste any time, did you?”

I sip from the cup of beer we’re sharing as I process my thoughts. Maya’s right. I’ve known Del Richards for a total of two days and we almost kissed.

Already I can’t get him out of my head.

“We got caught up in the moment,” I say, my voice pitchier than normal.

Maya quirks an eyebrow at me, her silent way of saying, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“We did.” I fiddle with the zipper on my jacket. “We both agreed that we got a little carried away. I mean, he was shirtless and wet and carrying me and…”

That familiar heat crawls up my chest and neck as I think about a half-naked and wet Del holding me in his arms, seconds away from kissing me.

I press my eyes shut and shake my head. “We’re good now. The moment passed and now we’re just friends.”

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