Page 49 of Pucking Secret

He’s suddenly up and out of his seat. He kneels next to me.

“Hey, hey, hey,” he says in a soothing tone. He wipes the tears from my cheeks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overwhelm you.” Closing the distance between us, he tenderly kisses my lips. “Should I take you home? Give you space to think about everything?”

I shake my head.

“I don’t want to go home. Lilah is with Millie and is going to sleep over. I was planning on being home late anyway. My plan was to stick around the stadium after the game and get some paperwork done…”

I realize I’m rambling and press my lips together, my cheeks heating in embarrassment.

Owen gives me a soft smile.

“Do you want to go to my place, then?”

I blink at him and swallow the lump that rises in my throat before nodding. “Yes.”

My heart is pounding as we approach the door to his apartment. Owen unlocks it without a word, but gives me a small smile as he opens it. Walking inside, I’m immediately struck by how barebones and simplistic it is. He has nothing on the walls and very little furniture. There’s a leather couch in the living room, and a lamp. In the dining area are unpacked moving boxes.

“You’re still unpacking?” I ask, glancing toward him.

He shrugs. “Yeah, I don’t know how much is in those boxes that I’ll actually keep. I want no real trace of the life forced on me in Canada, so I’m keeping things pretty minimalistic for now.”

I nod and give him a small smile. “People might look at this place and think you’re boring.”

I was really just trying to tease him, but he looks self-conscious. “Sure,” he whispers.

“Owen?” I say. “What’s going through that head of yours?”

“I want to show you something.” He smiles. “Something I don’t show to anyone.”

“Um, okay.” My heart starts to hammer. I have no idea what he could be talking about.

Stepping closer to me, he takes my hand and raises it to his lips, kissing my knuckles.

“Will you let me take care of you tonight?” he asks. “I want to make you forget about everything for just a little while. Don’t think, just feel. Surrender to me totally and I’ll make you feel so good.”

I stare at him, baffled. “I… I’m not sure what you’re asking.”

“I’m just asking you to trust me.”

He holds my gaze, waiting for my response, and I’m not entirely sure what to say. I don’t really know what he’s offering me, but there’s something deep inside me that wants to say yes. Throw caution to the wind and give myself to him. I’m curious to know what he has in mind for me.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly reply, “Okay, I trust you.”

His lips curl into a wide smile. Leaning down, he brushes his lips over mine and I shiver as my eyes flutter shut.

“I need you to come up with a safe word.”

My eyes fly back open. “What?”

His gaze flashes with amusement. “You’re trusting me, remember?”

I am. I am trusting him, and for some reason, the idea of a safe word and total surrender fills me with excitement.

“How about ‘offsides,’ then?” I finally say. “Is it okay that it’s two words?”

Owen nods. “That works. Only say ‘offsides’ if you really want what’s happening to stop, all right?”

“Okay…”

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