Page 57 of Captain's Claim

I freeze the moment we step out of the bar.

Because his palm is warm. Big. Unfairly nice and comfortable against my back.

I don’t hate it.

And now, all I'm thinking is…

I can’t resist him any longer.

Chapter Fourteen

Blake

Winning feels good.

Hell,tonightfeels good.

The game was brutal, the Icehawks battled hard, and that final goal? That's the kind of moment the kids I train each week dream about.

The crowd losing their minds, the boys swarming me on the ice - it was the kind of high that sticks with you, leaves adrenaline buzzing in your veins long after the final horn.

And then, in the middle of it all, I’d seenher.

I blew her that kiss. Pure, unchecked, post-win adrenaline.

Now…

Sophia’s clinging to my arm like I’m her own personal escort, giggling like the night air is laced with champagne bubbles, andfuck, I don’t know what the hell is happening anymore.

"Blake, you’re so—so...tall."

The bite of the cold night air apparently activated an even more impressive level of tipsy, like some kind of malfunctioning wind-up toy that just got cranked to full speed.

I glance down. “Not exactly breaking news, Hart.”

She squints up at me like I’m a riddle she’s desperately trying to solve. “No, but like,extratall. Un…unecess…unnecessarily tall.” She waves a hand, wobbling a little as she stumbles over the word with way too many syllables for her right now. “Too much height.”

"That's just the rum talking."

She pouts. Actuallypouts. “I’m not drunk.”

I lift a brow. “Sure. Come on, keep walking.”

“I’m not,” she insists, which might be more convincing if she wasn’t swaying like a goddamn sapling in a windstorm.

The streets of Iron Ridge are quiet, dusted with freshly fallen snow. Fairy lights twinkle in the shop windows, soft golden halos lighting up against the frost-covered glass. Ridgeview Tavern's pumping party in still in full flow, with strings of warm lights hanging between the old buildings around it, glowing against the night sky.

As we walk further away from the chaos inside Eli's bar, laughter continues spilling from the tavern, the hum of post-game celebrations going strong into the early hours of the morning.

Sophia, oblivious to everything but her ownvery seriouscase against my height, lets out a dramatic sigh. "You know what your problem is, Maddox?"

Oh, this should be good.

“Enlighten me.”

She wobbles. I catch her without thinking, my hand curving around her waist as she stumbles against my chest.

Warm. Soft.Fuck.

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