Page 106 of Major Penalty

“Ares!” she gasps, hands gripping the sides as she slides across the smooth patio stone, her knees now brushing mine.

I just grin, leaning forward. “You wanna get fucked by a convict, little thing?” I murmur, my eyes locked on hers.

Her mouth drops open, but her eyes flash at the thought.

“You wanna put me in handcuffs?” I ask, my voice low, dark, and playful. “Or would you rather I putyouin them?”

Her face flushes instantly, that perfect mix of scandalized and turned on.

“Ares, this isn’t funny. This is scary,” she counters, butthatlook never leaves her eyes.

“Good thing I’m scarier.” I smirk, brushing a crumb off her thigh.

Chapter twenty-three

~IRENE~

“Thank you for the clothes again,” I say with a quick smile at Avery.

“Don’t mention it,” Avery replies with a small grin, tucking Damien’s jersey she’s wearing into her jeans.

“You guys mind watching them for me for a minute?” I wave my hand around the room.

“We got it,” Livia responds, crossing her arms, ready to keep an eye on things.

They’re both wearing their men’s jerseys, and I’ll be putting on Ares’ soon. This is the moment I show him—and the world—that this isn’t a secret.

“Thank you, both. I’ll be back in a minute,” I say with my head on the door handle.

I shut the conference room door behind me quietly, blocking out the low murmur and chatter coming from the inside, and slip into the hallway with a flutter in my chest.

The muffled roar of the arena crashes over me like a wave

It’s game night. And not justanygame. It’s Ares’ return—his first time back on the ice after nearly two weeks off.

We’re supposed to tell my father about us after the game. He’s always tense before big nights, always wound tight and hyper-focused. And tonight, we’re talking playoffs, which means he’s even more on edge.

So, Ares and I figured that after the final buzzer, after the adrenaline wears off and the dust settles, it might land softer.

My body’s still humming from the last two nights we’ve spent together—naked, tangled, and laughing. These past two days, I’ve seen Ares in a new light. He’s glowing. And it’s not just his hip healing; it’s something deep within him.

The muffled roar of the sold-out arena trembles through the walls like a living heartbeat. They're chanting already, which means the players will be called out in minutes.

And I have a plan. A stupid, sweet, slightly terrifying surprise I’ve been working on with Livia and Avery for him.

I glance down the hallway, making sure no one saw me, but a deep voice stops me in my tracks.

“You hiding something from me, little thing?”

I yelp, turning around to come face to face with Ares in a black and gold Panthers jersey, and my heart does that little flip I’ve gotten too used to.

He’s fully geared up, helmet tucked under his arm, pads tight across his massive shoulders, and the Panthers logo stretched across his broad chest. A sly smirk tugs at his mouth, and his black hair is perfectly messy and falling over his light blue eyes.

Those eyes, that straight nose, the hollow cheeks, that jawline—he looks like he was made for war…and almost too perfect to be real.

“N-no,” I stammer, backing up slightly.

“I thought we said no more secrets,” he murmurs, pinning me in place with just his gaze.

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