Page 82 of Fractured Faceoff

Without waiting for anyone's response,he excused himself from the reporters, who gawked at him like moths drawn to a flame. He moved with an effortless swagger that commanded attention, weaving through the throng until he reached me.

I stood frozen for a heartbeat, unable to process what was happening. Before I realized what he was doing, he swept me into his arms. The warmth of his body enveloped me as he pressed his lips against mine in a kiss that stole the breath right from my lungs. It felt like fireworks exploding behind my eyelids—intense and intoxicating.

Time slowed as I melted against him, everything else fading away until there was nothing but the two of us. His hands found their way to my waist, grounding me as our surroundings disappeared entirely. The taste of victory lingered on his lips—warm and sweet—and I felt a surge of emotions swell within me.

The noise faded further into the background, replaced by the thundering rhythm of my heart pounding in my ears. The press? The fans? They were just an afterthought now; all I could focus on was Jared—his touch igniting something deep inside me.

He pulled back slightly, just enough for our foreheads to rest together, our breaths mingling in the charged air between us. His amber eyes glimmered with an intensity that made every nerve in my body tingle.

“Damn,” he murmured, breaking the spell as a grin broke across his face. “That’s what I’ve been waiting for.”

My cheeks flushed hotter than before as laughter bubbled up within me. What had just happened?

“Let’s get you home, sugar,” he said, his voice a smooth drawl that sent a shiver down my spine.

Jared wrapped a possessive arm around my waist, pulling me close as we navigated through the crowd. Icould feel the warmth radiating from him. My heart raced, still caught in the whirlwind of our kiss and the overwhelming energy of the night.

As we stepped outside, the cool air hit my flushed cheeks. The night sky stretched above us, dotted with stars that twinkled like distant promises. He led me toward his truck parked just beyond the throng of fans and reporters.

“Damn, that was some game,” he remarked, his breath warm against my ear as he opened the door for me. The way he said it felt like an invitation to share in the thrill. I climbed into the passenger seat, still buzzing from adrenaline and exhilaration.

He slid in beside me and fired up the engine. The low rumble vibrated through the car as he turned to face me. “You okay?” His expression shifted to one of concern that contrasted sharply with his earlier charm.

I nodded, biting my lip to suppress a smile. “Yeah, just… everything happened so fast.”

His eyes softened slightly as he studied me. “You handled Brody like a champ back there.” He chuckled lightly, and I felt warmth spread through my chest at his praise.

“Maybe I should’ve held back,” I said with mock seriousness. “Don’t want to ruin your reputation.”

“Reputation? What do I care about that when it comes to you?” He shot back playfully, his grin widening. "That fucker got what he deserved. He's lucky there was a piece of glass between us, or I would have?—"

He cut himself off.

I looked down at my hands resting on my lap, trying to gather my thoughts. His words stirred something deep within me—something I hadn’texpected from this arrangement. The idea of being valued felt foreign yet thrilling.

He shifted gears and pulled out of the parking lot with smooth precision. The city lights flickered past us like fleeting memories as we drove into the night.

“Tell me what’s going on in that brilliant mind of yours,” he urged, glancing at me sideways.

I hesitated but decided to meet his gaze instead—those amber eyes held a depth I wanted to explore. “N-nothing,” I murmured.

But that wasn't true.

Because there was too much on my mind.

And it all focused on Jared.

Chapter 24

Jared

Ididn’t get it. The whole game, I’d felt this simmering rage clawing at my insides. Maybe it was Brody’s presence, the way he strutted around like he owned the ice, or how I couldn’t shake the image of him even near Isla. That alone was enough to grind my gears.

But once I finally skated off, that anger evaporated. I could breathe again. Isla was free of him—if only for tonight—and that felt like a victory.

I’d racked up two goals during the game. Usually, scoring fired me up, but instead, all I could do was watch her in my jersey from the bench, her eyes glued to me as if she believed in me more than anyone else ever had. The way she cheered when I netted the second one lit a fire in me that had nothing to do with hockey.

After the final buzzer, I found myself surrounded by the press, demanding to know why I confronted their precious radio host during the hockey game. It was difficult to explain. Adrenaline still pulsed through my veins, and when I saw Isla make her way to me... She looked radiant, hair sticking to her forehead from sweat and exertion, but itwas more than that—it was how alive she seemed in that moment.

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