Page 62 of On Ice

He tenses. “You know what I mean.”

I shrug. “For the most part, you’ll be protected simply by being mine. But there are always people out there who want to hurt me. I’m a very rich and powerful man, which makes me a target. That’s why I have security at all times, and my family does too. But as for the other mafia bosses putting out a hit on you? That won’t happen. Not if you’re mine.”

“I’m a grown man,” he mutters. “I don’t need to be driven around like a child. This situation will be bad enough. I at least want my independence.”

“It seems daunting right now, but I think you’ll get used to it quickly,” I say smoothly. “I’ll do what I can to make it easy on you.”

“Yeah, right.”

“So do you accept my terms?” I ask breathlessly. I try not to look too eager, but it’s almost impossible. It’s been a long road getting to this moment.

He closes his eyes, lines of strain on his face. When he opens them, he looks resigned. “Fine. I don’t have much choice.”

“Excellent,” I say a bit more exuberantly than intended. I bite the inside of my cheek to help rein in my glee, and stand. “Now, get some sleep. I believe you have practice tomorrow and a game on Saturday.”

“I’m well aware of both of those things,” he grates out. “I wasn’t sure if you’d let me do either.”

“Since you’ve accepted my offer of protection, I see no reason to keep you from doing what you love.”

“How magnanimous of you.” He rubs the back of his neck, looking agitated. “You know, my team is going to wonder where I’ve been. I disappeared immediately after the game. I barely said two words to anyone in the room. How do I explain where I’ve been? I can’t exactly be honest.”

“Already handled,” I say, moving to the connecting door.

“How?”

I shrug. “I texted Coach last night after the game and told him you’d had a family emergency that concerned your mom. I told him you wanted me to reach out for you because you’d left your phone in your locker. I also said you’d be at practice tomorrow.” I glance at my watch. “Or I guess that’s technically today.”

He squints at me. “You don’t think Coach might find it weird that you know all that personal shit about my life, but he didn’t?”

I smile slyly. “Baby, we’re lovers, remember? Of course I know everything that’s going on in your life, my little petunia.”

His face turns pink. “Call me that again, and I’ll cut your dick off while you sleep.”

I give a bark of a laugh and open the door that connects our rooms. “Have fun at practice tomorrow. And be sure to give it all you’ve got on Saturday. I don’t want to be dating a loser.”

He lets loose a string of curse words that would make a drill sergeant blush, but I don’t give a fuck. I got what I wanted. He might act like he hates the idea of being in my bed, but we both know it’s just a matter of time before Evan is under me again, moaning my name.

Chapter Seventeen

Evan

The familiar smell of rubber flooring and gear hits me as I push open the locker room door. Practice doesn’t start for another forty-five minutes, but most of the guys are already here. The room pulses with its usual pre-practice energy, skates being laced, and Murphy’s terrible playlist competing with Torres’ even worse one from opposite corners of the room.

My stall feels both foreign and familiar after only being gone a few days. Someone’s hung my practice jerseys neat and pressed, probably Jerry’s work. Our equipment manager’s always looking out for us, even when we disappear without warning.

Mills spots me first. “Cap’s back,” he shouts. He’s already half-geared up, meticulously working on his stick tape. “How’s your mom doing?”

“Better.” The lie sits heavy in my throat. I focus on unpacking my bag, not meeting his eyes. “Thanks for asking. She was dehydrated and gave us a scare. She’s fine now.”

“Scary shit, man.” Jackson chimes in from two stalls over, wrestling with his shoulder pads. “My aunt had that happen last year. She wasn’t drinking water like she’s supposed to, and she passed out.”

“Damn, she okay now, man?” I ask.

“Oh, yeah. She’s fine. It just scared us.”

I nod. “Glad to hear she’s doing well.”

He sighs. “Yeah, back at you.”

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