Page 62 of Stick Handled

She bites her lip, a soft blush creeping into her cheeks.

“I had to see you,” she says under her breath. This is a sight to behold. I didn’t have to blackmail her to come over this time. Didn’t even have to ask. Shy little Avery snuck out to come to me all on her own.

I finally let the smile out as I take her hand and pull her inside. My girl deserves a reward for her bravery.

Chapter twenty-one

~AVERY~

I snuck out of my window. I ran through the driveway like a thief in the night. And now, I’m finally here with him after waiting hours for him to return.

The second the door clicks shut behind me, I breathe a sigh of relief. I half-expected him to tell me to turn right back around and go home. After seeing him on the ice today, I didn’t know what kind of mood he might be in.

He’s still holding my hand, his grip warm and steady, and when I glance up at him, amusement dances in his eyes.

“You wanted to see me, huh?” His voice is low and rough.

I swallow. “I wanted to make sure you’re okay. After everything that happened at the game…” My eyes flick up toward his face, searching for any sign of the anger I’d seen on the ice earlier.

The TV behind him catches my attention, the soft hum of a sports anchor rehashing the Panthers’ win filling the room. Highlights of the game flash across the massive flat screen, and my stomach twists at the sight of Damien’s fight replaying in slow motion. It took me a while to recognize the person he was hitting. It was that same guy who tried to dance with me at the club. Jake?

“Are you okay?” I whisper, reaching up before I can think better of it and brushing my fingers against his cheek. His jaw tightens under my touch, and for a moment, I think he’s going to pull away. But then he turns his head and presses a soft kiss to the inside of my palm.

“I’m okay now.” His voice is quieter this time, almost tender, and the warmth of his lips lingers on my skin long after he pulls back.

I smile, my thumb brushing his cheek again. “If you want to talk about it—”

“I’ve been talking about it for hours.” His tone shifts, rougher, the tension in his shoulders easing as he steps closer.

The air between us changes, the room going still—the kind of stillness that makes my heart pound so hard I’m sure he can hear it.

“Then… what do you want to do?” My voice is barely above a whisper, my words hanging in the charged space between us.

His lips curl into a slow smirk before he pulls me in, and his mouth crashes against mine.

Every time we kiss, it’s like stepping into a storm.

His kiss is possessive, his hands gripping my waist with a desperation that sends heat spiraling through me. He tastes of whiskey and something that’s just Damien. It’s so intense that I have to clutch at his shoulders to keep myself steady.

His hands slide down to the backs of my thighs and lift me effortlessly. My legs wrap around his waist like it’s instinct. I whimper against his mouth, his fingers gripping me tighter as he carries me deeper into the living room. He sits down on the couch with me straddling him.

God, he smells so good.

When he finally pulls back, I’m breathless, my chest rising and falling. His hands are still on my waist, holding me steady on his lap, and his hazel eyes darken.

The way he looks at me steals the air from my lungs. Gone is the smirk, replaced by something dark and primal. His gaze drags over my face.

“You’re so goddamn beautiful,” he mutters, his voice lower now, almost gravelly. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing my bottom lip. “Do you even know how stunning you are?”

My heart stumbles at his words, and I lower my head, too stunned to speak. Stunning? I would never use that word to describe myself.

“You don’t agree with me.” He furrows his brows in contemplation. “Of course you don’t.” His lips tug into a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. He places a finger under my chin and tilts it up until I have no choice but to meet his gaze.

“Let me make one thing very clear. I don’t say shit I don’t mean. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I try to nod, but it’s hard to focus when his eyes pin me like that.

“I think so,” I manage to whisper, my voice trembling.

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