Page 109 of The Wingman

“And until then?”

He brings my hand to his mouth and presses a series of soft, lingering kisses over my open palm. The brush of his stubble makes my breath catch.

“Until then, I keep giving you lessons. I show you everything you want to experience and learn.” He swallows. “We don’t have to commit to anything. We can just have fun, like you wanted.”

I should feel relieved that he’s taking the pressure off like this, but instead, something catches and snags behind my ribs.

Hayden Owens never settles down. Of course. I’m a novelty to him, but that’ll wear off. That stuff he said last night about dating women who didn’t look like me? I’m sure that’s true. But it won’t change who he is at his core. Even now, he’s managing my expectations, emphasizingfunand lack of commitment while we agree to an end date.

His eyes hold mine. “Just me, though. No one else. I don’t want to share you. I want you all to myself.”

The determined way he says it is so different from his usual easy-going demeanor. A thrill races down my spine. I wonder what it would be like to be completely owned and cherished by Hayden Owens.

He pulls me on top of him. My legs fall to either side of his body, straddling his hips, and he grins up at me, eyes sparking with interest and mischief.

“What do you say, Darce?” The corner of his lips slides up into a flirty smile. “You want tohave some fun?”

Learning to be a player has been about taking what I want. So what do I want?

I want this. He’s so tempting I can hardly stand it. I want to mess around with Hayden and have the best sex of my life and wake up with him. I can have fun but stay detached. I’m exploring who I am, and maybe this is exactly what I need. It’s only a month; I won’t fall in love with him.

I won’t.

My mouth twists to the side in a wry smile. “Alright.”

My pulse picks up in excited anticipation, and a pleased smile spreads over Hayden’s features as I nod.

“Good.” His eyes heat. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

When the game starts that night, something’s different about Hayden. Within seconds of the puck drop, he’s on a breakaway to the Philadelphia net.

Around me, the crowd starts to holler, and I’m on my feet, watching with fascination as he skates hard with two defensemen trailing him.

He shoots the puck, and when it hits the back of the net, the arena detonates with noise.

“He’s an animal!” some guy behind me yells to his friend as the Vancouver players surround Hayden on the ice twenty feet away. “Owens is an animal tonight.”

I grin big, watching Hayden radiate pride at his goal. He turns to find me and my stomach dips at his heated smile.

“That goal was for you,” Hazel says in my ear with a teasing smile.

I roll my eyes. “No, it wasn’t.”

Hayden skates over, eyes dropping to my jersey, and his grin turns pleased and possessive. I think about his hands onmy hips this morning, running over me like he owned me, and a pleasant shudder rolls through me.

He winks; I blush with pleasure.

My good luck charm, he mouths through the glass before skating off past the bench, bumping gloves with the rest of the team.

“Something you want to share with the class?” Hazel asks as my grin stretches even wider. Pippa smiles on, delighted and curious.

“Nope,” I say, grinning ear to ear, and they grin back at me.

We’re just having fun, I tell myself.

In the box after, he finds me the second he walks through the door. My mouth slips up into a smile as he strides toward me. He walks with that focused determination that has people moving out of his way. Someone calls his name, but his gaze doesn’t leave mine.

“Hi—” I start, but his hand comes to the back of my head and he pulls me to him, mouth meeting mine in a hard, drugging, needy kiss that scatters my thoughts.

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