Page 119 of Captain's Claim

"You're going to be my wife." I brush my nose against hers. "Mrs. Maddox."

"I can't believe you did this!" She smacks my chest. "In front of everyone! What happened to keeping things private, huh?"

"Some things deserve to be shouted from the rooftops." I spin her again, loving how she clings to my shoulders. "Or center ice. Whatever works."

"Blake!" She laughs, the sound pure magic.

"You had to be difficult about it, didn't you? Swapping seats and throwing me off?"

"Me? Difficult?" She raises an eyebrow. "Says the man who just proposed in front of thousands people after spending months yelling at the cameras."

"I didn't yell. Igrowled." I press my forehead to hers, sharing her laughter. "And it's all been worth it. You're worth everything."

"You do realize the media won't leave this one alone, don't you?"

I capture her hand, pressing it flat against my racing heart. "Let them have this one. Because after tonight, you're mine. Forever."

She grabs my jersey and pulls me down for a kiss. I sweep her into a dramatic dip, my arm strong around her waist as she arches backward. Her fingers thread through my hair, pulling me closer as she melts against me.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Connor's voice booms through a stolen microphone. "We are witnessing history here at center ice!"

I feel Sophia's lips curve into a smile against mine, but I'm not done kissing her yet.

"Maddox has complete control of the play!" Connor continues his play-by-play fake commentary. "Look at that form, folks! The captain is showing us exactly why he leads this team!"

Logan joins in with crowd noise sound effects. "Wooooooooo!"

"The kiss continues! What stamina! What passion! This could go into overtime, folks!"

Without breaking the kiss, Sophia reaches up and yanks her Icehawks scarf free from her neck. In one fluid motion, she whips it backward, landing it perfectly over Connor's face mid-commentary.

"Mmmpph!" Connor's voice muffles under the fabric.

Ryder doubles over laughing. "Perfect shot! Sign her up for the team!"

The confetti keeps falling, creating a perfect snow globe moment as I hold my future wife in my arms at center ice.

The guys swarm us before I can steal Sophia away and take her home to seal this victory. And for once, I'm not talking about hockey.

Logan and Connor grab my legs while Ryder and Coach Brody lift my shoulders. I barely have time to wrap my arm tighter around Sophia before we're hoisted into the air.

More bottles pop around us, spraying champagne in golden arcs.

"Don't you dare drop us! I have a wedding to plan!" Sophia warns, but she's grinning so wide her cheeks must hurt.

Another bottle pops, this one wielded by Eli who's somehow made it onto the ice with Natalie and Mia. Eli raises the bottle in a toast, pride shining in his eyes as he watches his protégé finally get the happy ending he's been pushing for.

The guys bounce us higher, and Sophia squeals.

Amongst it all, her hand finds mine, squeezing tight as we float above it all - the ice, the team, the crowd, everything that brought us to this perfect moment.

"I love you, Blake Maddox," she screams from beside me.

"I love you more, future Mrs. Maddox."

And winning has never felt this damn good.

Epilogue I

---