Page 20 of Captain's Claim

Because what the hell am I supposed to say?Yeah, I was one of them? One of the broke, angry kids who had nothing but a shitty pair of skates and a dream?

No fucking way.

I don’t owe her that part of me.

So instead, I push past it, past the tight knot in my chest, and lean in even closer. Right until she has to tilt her stupid prettyhead back to meet my eyes, sending her fucking silky smooth blonde hair into a tumbling mess.

“You want to change this team so badly, Hart?” I feel my nose scrunch, my top lip snarl. “Go change your spreadsheets. But leavemyteam the hell alone.”

She doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t break eye contact.

Instead, she lifts a single brow, and fuckingsmirks.

“Youreallythink this is just about you?” Her voice is soft against my lips, so warm I can practically taste it. “Captain Maddox, you might be the face of this franchise, but newsflash?You don’t own it.”

The anger rolling through me is white-hot.

Not just at her. But at the fuckingtruthin what she’s saying.

Idon’town this team. I don’t own the youth program. And now? Now after walking in the door ten days ago, she’s been given the keys to it?

This isn’t about her. It’s about the team. The kids. The goddamn program. If I sound pissed, it’s because I am. Not because she’s standing too fucking close, not because her perfume is crawling under my skin. Not because I can still feel her body against mine from that goddamn dance.

Fuck this.

I go to turn around and grab my bag, determined to get the fuck out of here. But a hand on my shoulder stops me.

“Blake, I get it. You want to protect them. But maybe letting them be seen isn’t a bad thing. Maybe it helps more kids, kids exactly like them right across the country, find their way to hockey.”

Kids like them.

My stomach twists.

BecauseIwas a kid like them.

I drag a hand down my face, exhaling slowly. Seriously, she never gives up. “If youreallywant to see what this program’sabout, show your face at the Winter Festival this weekend. Then you'll understand why your idea is worthless to these kids.”

She doesn’t say anything right away.

Just watches me. Still too close. Still too fucking tempting.

My fingers flex at my sides, desperate to touch, to grip, to pull.

I want to slam her against the wall, pin her wrists above her head, and see how long that sharp mouth of hers can keep up the fight when my hands are on her. When my teeth are at her throat. My mouth on her pussy.

Fuck.

My aching cock twitches just from the thought of her gasping beneath me. Arching. Writhing. Giving in.

Because that’s the worst part.

Iknowshe would.

No matter how many quick comebacks she throws, no matter how much she wants to pretend she’s immune to this, she’s just as wired as I am.

I should let her go. Should walk the fuck away before I do something Ican’ttake back.

Better yet, I should bend her over and spank her ass for making me this crazy.

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