Page 71 of Captain's Claim

I can tell with a look at her sparkling hazel eyes: the woman knows exactly what she's doing to me.

But I know what's underneath. Know how she tastes, how she feels wrapped around me.

And Ineedit again, as bad as I need my next breath.

Yeah, I fucking hit that.

But this isn't just about the sex.

Not anymore.

It's in the way she challenges me, sees right through my bullshit. How she handled that interview with Jackson, protecting what matters while still getting her story and pleasing the board.

Fuck, even the way she drinks her coffee has me mesmerized.

She's walking straight toward me, the sway of her hips is pure sin in that suit. The knowing smirk playing at the corner of her mouth tells me she's counting every racing beat of my heart from across this terminal.

The team's already boarding - I can hear Logan and Coach Brody rough-housing somewhere behind me - but I can't take my eyes off her.

"Captain." Sophia lips curve into that smile that's been haunting my dreams ever since I had her bent over her desk two mornings ago. "Thought you might need this for the flight."

She hands me a coffee from Summit Café. It's black, exactly how I like it.

"First road trip, huh?"

"I know." She straightens my tie, her fingers lingering. "Guess Big Mike needed someone to make sure you didn't miss your flight."

The urge to kiss her right here, in front of everyone, hits me like a body check against the boards.

I've had plenty of women. One-night stands, casual flings, even tried the relationship thing once or twice. But Sophia? She's gotten under my skin, into my head. Making me want things I've never wanted before.

And that scares the shit out of me.

"Yo Blake!" Connor waves his hand in front of my face. "Flight's boarding."

Ryder whistles low and shakes his head at Sophia, tongue in cheek. "Can't believe Marketing's joining us on the road trip."

"Shut it, rookie."

By the time we step onto the plane, the guys are riding the high of our latest win, the usual pre-flight chaos buzzing around us.

The cabin fills with Logan's enormous laugh as Connor recounts last night's shenanigans in the Player's Lounge after practice. Ryder is busy tossing mini pretzels at the rookies and it's these moments, flying with my boys to another city, another game, that remind me why I fell in love with hockey in the first place.

Bags thump into overhead compartments, someone’s already raiding the snack bar, and Coach is harassing the flight attendant about the “urgent” need for extra protein in all our meals today.

Sophia, however, pauses at the entrance, sweeping her gaze over the interior like she’s stepped into some billionaire’s penthouse instead of our regular team transport.

“This is ridiculous.” Her long, dark lashes flick over the plush leather seats, the glossy wood-paneled bar stocked with top-shelf liquor, and the oversized, personalized menu cards placed on every seat. “You guys travel like this all the time?”

I smirk, tossing my bag into my usual seat at the back of the plane. “What, you thought we flew economy?”

She shoots me a look. “I just assumed it was… I don’t know. More normal. This is like a five-star restaurant on wings.”

I gesture to the empty leather seat next to mine, my eyes locking with Sophia's in a way that leaves no room for argument.

"You'll sit with me."

Her cheeks flush pink at my silent command, but she walks toward me anyway.Good girl.

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