Page 105 of Play to Win

“I missed you,” she whispers in my ear as I move over her.

My chest constricts even as I push inside her body.“Yeah,” I whisper roughly back.

Her hands move over me, pulling me closer, caressing my hot skin.Her body closes around me, tight, slick, inflaming me even more.I move against her, unable to resist, my need for her raging through me.I want to take her and take her and take her and never stop.

* * *

“You don’t needto actually measure the water.”

“But it says use ten cups of boiling water.”Holding the measuring cup, I frown at Lacey.I’ve read the directions on the package of pasta.

“It doesn’t matter how much water you use.”She’s starting to lose patience.“You drain the water off after it’s cooked anyway.”

“Well, that’s true, but I think we should follow the directions.”

She grips the edge of the counter, looking like she wants to scream.“It doesn’t matter!”

“Well, it must matter somehow, why else would they put that in the directions?”

“Aaaah!”She lets out the scream I could see building.Then she lets out a long huff.“Oh my God!It’s a good thing I like you!”

I crack up.I can’t help it.I like her too.So much.I wrap her up in a bear hug, squeezing her so tight, because I can’t tell her how much I like her.Or ...maybe even love her.I can’t.“Okay, we’ll do it your way.”I kiss her forehead, pick up the pot, and run water into it straight from the tap.“There.Living on the edge, baby.”

She laughs too.“Damn right.”

We’re making dinner then sitting down to watch the hockey game tonight—the final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs.The teams are tied at three games each, so whoever wins tonight wins the Cup.

We didn’t plan on a bunch of people joining us, but somehow it happened.It always seems to happen, with Lacey here.Everyone is drawn to her.Pretty sure it’s not me who’s the attraction.Taylor arrives, followed shortly by Manny and Wyatt, and another neighbor couple, Rosa and Marshall.Lacey jumps into hostess action, setting out bowls of chips and dip, and platters of appetizers she magically conjures from our fridge and cupboards.

Once again, I have to go with the flow.I’m getting used to it.And I’m actually kind of having fun playing host to her hostess, acting as bartender, serving drinks to our guests.

“Thanks, man,” Manny says as I hand him a beer.“How are things shaping up with the team?”

He knows I can’t really tell him anything, especially since he’s likely going to be one of the guys on the chopping block, so I say, “Making progress.”

“Who’ve you got your eye on for the draft?”

“I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you.”

Manny laughs.“Come on.Everyone knows Koskinen, Rintala, and Smith-Evans are gonna go top three.You have second pick, so one of them is likely gonna be a Condor.”

I smile.

“Who are we cheering for?”Lacey asks as she settles onto the couch next to me with a beer in her hand.

I shake my head.“It’s gotta be Pittsburgh, babe.”

She nods.“Your team.Okay.”

Most people there are cheering for the Sharks, so there’s a bit of trash-talking going on.

“Morrison sucks,” Manny says of a Pittsburgh center.“I’ve seen better hands on a digital clock.”

“Are you kidding me?”I shake my head.“His numbers don’t lie.”

“He has to stop that puck, or they’ll score!”Lacey cries at one point, talking about the Pittsburgh goalie.

I turn and give her a look.She immediately gets it and her cheeks turn pink.

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