Page 8 of Major Penalty

Her breath hitches just slightly.

“Ares, hey!” Her sweet voice reaches my ears.

I stop, turning my head just enough to see her. She shifts on her feet, clasping her hands together.

Fuck. She’s even more gorgeous up close.

Her dark hair is pulled into a loose ponytail, big honey-brown eyes flicking up to mine before darting away. She’s so goddamn sweet-looking, it’s almost ridiculous. And so familiar.

She wets her lips and forces out, “Um. Hi.”

I don’t say anything, giving her a slow blink instead.

She exhales, shoulders rising. “I just wanted to, um, introduce myself properly. I kind of bolted earlier, and I realized that was rude.”

A tiny wrinkle forms between her brows, like she’s actually worried she offended me.

“I’m Irene.” She sticks her hand out but then hesitates like she’s about to drop it, and for some reason, that hurts. It’s like she’s already bracing for rejection. Like she expects me to ignore her.

I could never ignore you.

So, I take it. Her hand is small and soft—almost too soft.

“Ares.”

My grip engulfs hers, my tattoos dark against her pale skin. The contrast makes something primal coil in my stomach.

She looks up at me, wide-eyed, all sweet and fucking trusting. She’s no clue what kind of man she’s touching. And fuck, all I can think about is how easy it would be to wrap this same hand around her throat instead. Would she let me? Would her breath catch? Would those big eyes go glassy and hazy, not out of fear, but out of something else? Would it make her wet?

My jaw ticks. I let go of her hand before I find out.

This newfound fascination needs to stop. I’ve never felt this pull toward someone. She exudes a sense of warmth and light, of a homecooked meal and laughter—something I’ve rarely experienced. There’s something almost nostalgic about her features. But before I can dwell on it, she speaks.

“You were really impressive, by the way,” she blurts out with a small laugh.

I raise a brow.

“I mean, the, uh, weighted cuffs? That’s crazy. I’ve never seen anyone do that before,” she keeps going, talking faster, like she’s trying to fill the silence.

I was right; she barely reaches my chest, more like my sternum. I tilt my head just an inch, letting her wait for my response.

“You’ll get used to it,” I finally say.

“Get used to what?” She hesitates.

I lean down, just enough to invade her space.

“Me.”

“Oh,” she breathes, the sound coming out small and breathless

And fuck me, I like the way it sounds.

Chapter three

~IRENE~

I step into the rink, and the cold air hits me like a splash of ice water, refreshing and a little shocking. There’s no one else in here yet besides me and my dad, who’s squinting at a clipboard on the side of the rink. Today is my second day, and I’m practically bouncing on my toes. I mean, I survived yesterday! And that was with a full-blown encounter withhim. Ares Black.

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