Page 25 of Goaltender Interference

Saints alive, Connor thought.What did I do to deserve this?

“In the morning,” he said emphatically, spinning on his heel. “Get up on time or I will drag you out of bed by your ear.”

“But that’s like … three and a half hours of sleep!”

“Guess you should have thought of that before you got here so late,” Connor said without an ounce of remorse, slamming the door closed behind him.

In the hall, he took a deep breath. And then another.

If he didn’t murder Jesse Webber, it would be a miracle. But if he did, there was always the Charles.

That was the only thing getting him through this nightmare.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Huh?” Jesse slurred when he was hit with a sudden wave of cold air. “The fuck?”

He curled in on himself, groping for the blankets, but couldn’t reach them. He cracked his eyes open, blinking when he saw a glowering Connor O’Shea staring down at him.

“It’s eight-fifteen. Get your ass up.”

“Noooo. Too early,” Jesse protested, grabbing weakly for the blankets that were out of reach. “I got no sleeeep.”

“Too damn bad. This is called the consequences of your actions.”

“Fuck the consequences of my actions.” He mashed his face into the pillow.

“Do you want me to throw you over my shoulder and dump you in the shower?”

Jesse cracked one eye open again. “I mean, that does sound kinda hot.”

Connor pursed his lips. “It’ll be ice-cold water and you’ll be soaping offalone.”

“That’s no fun then.” Jesse shifted fully onto his stomach, presenting his bare ass to Connor. “No thanks.”

Connor let out a strangled noise. “Webber, so help me God …”

“Night-night.” Jesse made an exaggerated snoring noise.

He shrieked, flailing when he was rolled onto his back then went flying through the air, the breath leaving his body in a noisy rush when he was flung over Connor’s shoulder in a fireman carry.

Fully awake now, he pounded on Connor’s back. “Fuck! Put me down! Not the cold water. Pleaaase!”

Connor’s shoulder dug into Jesse’s stomach as he marched them across the bedroom. He stopped abruptly, then let go of Jesse, who slid down Connor’s body, nearly sprawling on the floor from the unexpected change in position.

He clutched at Connor’s shoulders to steady himself and looked Connor in the eye.

God, he was hot. In this light, Jesse could see the dark blue shade of Connor’s eyes with a little ring of brownish gold around the pupil.Pretty. And damn, the dude could toss him around.

“Mmm. Now this is more like what I’m talking about …” Despite the earlier scare, Jesse still had a nice case of morning wood going, so he pressed against Connor’s hip. “C’mon, let me blow you,” he wheedled. “You’ll be sooo much less tense after.”

“No.” Connor’s face was beet colored and he pushed Jesse away. “Not a fucking chance. Shower. Andhurry. We leave in forty.”

Jesse scowled, quite certain that Connor would make good on his threat to throw him in a cold shower, so he sighed and walked over to his suitcase. “Fine. I’m going, I’m going.”

Connor didn’t move, just crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m staying here to make sure you don’t go back to bed.”

“God, I feel sorry for your children having to deal with you,” he muttered, pawing through his clothes for something appropriate to wear for the PR shit. They might give him some team gear to put on but he wanted a pair of jeans that would make his ass look good.

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