Page 5 of Ice Block

“You never know if you don’t try! Maybe do it on the side until you get some clients built up? Mags, I’m serious, you could totally do this.”

“Maybe, if I drink enough bourbon tonight, I’ll get the courage to tell Bill off and I won’t have a choice but to start my own business after they fire me.” I sigh with a snarky grin, Liv and I laughing at the ridiculousness our jobs bring us every day. I glance around the room, seeing everything I worked so hard on for so long.It looks damn good, if I do say so myself.With a little liquor in my system, my brain whirls thinking about the compliments they’ve just doled out.Could I really start my own business?God, I would love to not have to work with people like fucking Bill every day. I glare at his powder blue tux across the room, shaking my head and refusing to let him steal any more of my joy today. Tonight’s not the night for that. Tonight, I’m going to get lit, flirt with a hot ass goalie who wassochecking me out, and have some fucking fun.

4

vladi

I’m never going to admit it, but this bourbon is good. Almost as good as some of the premium vodkas I collect. I don’t drink much during the season, not willing to leave my play up to chance, but I’m out the next game so fuck it. Would I rather be home reading a good book? Yes. But this isn’t the worst situation I could be in.Especially given the view. The brunette bombshell standing before me, with her tits on full display, is one hell of an upgrade from the view in my living room.Maggie James.She is the kind of distraction I need tonight. What I wouldn’t give to take her home and have my way with every inch of her. Her dress hugs her body, showcasing every delicious curve and making me want to peel it off with my teeth. The way it molds her perfectly round ass, the way I want to bend her over and take her in every way possible. And her lips…plump and red…fuck…what they would look like wrapped around my cock. My cock that’s currently aching in my slacks as I watch her place her mouth fully around a shot glass, throwing back her head as she knocks back another drink.Fuck. Me.

There’s only one problem. My eyes glance around the room,annoyed anxiety simmering in my gut.Larsy.He knows I don’t do relationships and will murder me if I sleep with Olivia’s friend and he finds out about it. But goddammit, do I need this. It’s been a while. Too damn long if you ask my cock. Plus, I had a shit day. She said she had a bad day.Does she need this too?I admit, she has me intrigued beyond her looks. She’s got a good sense of humor, her laugh coming easy and often, but there’s something hidden behind her eyes. She gives zero fucks about what comes out of her mouth, giving everyone a hard time without discretion.I bet the filthiest things roll off that tongue of hers.She doesn’t seem phased by the fame that goes with our careers. More bourbon is on the cards tonight for sure, but my God, the things I could do with this woman.

I take a sip of my drink, finishing my scan of the room. Larsy and Olivia have wandered off to God knows where, which means it’s only Maggie and my teammates. They are preoccupied with childish things like sneaking more of the mini bottles in their pockets for later and daring each other to take more of the bourbon-infused shots. I meet the eye of one of the vendors, silently apologizing for their behavior.Why do I always feel like their parent at events like this?At least they are distracted enough I can see what kind of trouble this gorgeous woman and I could get into tonight.Fuck it.Larsy is gone, and there’s only one thing I need to turn this day around.

“Larsy said you did the design work for this event, yes?”

She nods, a smile curving her lips. “The banners, the signs, everything in the room and everything that will go in the ads rolling out over the next week. I designed it all.”

“It is very nice.”

She laughs. “Do you really want to talk about bourbon posters right now?”

“No,” I say with a chuckle. Sheisentertaining.

“Good, me neither. Can I tell you something? I know this is an event for my work, but I fucking hate my job right now.”

I tilt my head to the side, not expecting her boldness. “Tell me about it.”

She takes a step closer, her face right next to mine as she points across the room. The heat from her body floods over me, shooting straight to my dick. I adjust myself, feeling the strain from her body being so close. “See that old fucker over there? The guy wearing a powder blue suit with one too many buttons undone on his shirt and his glasses falling off his old-ass face?” I look to see the man picking food out of his teeth with his bare fingers. “That’s Bill. He’s a partner, the head art director actually, and I got kicked off a campaign today so that cocksucker could take over. I hate him so much.”

“That pathetic man picking his teeth made you have a bad day?” I look at her out of the corner of my eye. “Do you want me to take him out?”

She lets out a boisterous laugh, placing her hand on my arm as she does. “Are you secretly a Russian spy? ‘Cause that would be cool as shit.”

“Sadly no, only a Russian goalie. But tell me if he gives you any trouble.Hedoesn’t need to know I’m not a spy.”

“Noted,” she giggles, raising an eyebrow and tapping her nails on the table. “So…what about you? Why did you have a bad day today?”

Fuck. Why am I even considering talking about myself to this woman? Her cleavage must be the secret spy causing me to spill my secrets. “See that idiot rookie right there? Bougie? He had a bad game, which caused me to have a bad game. Shit rolls downhill when you’re the goalie.”

“Ah, yes, always the goalie’s fault. I see it on the Riders socials all the time. Everyone blames the goalie even though it’s a teamsport. Shouldn’t your teammates have scored more goals? I never understood why fans don’t complain more about everyone else missing shots, but if you let one by, you get crucified. You know what I say? Fuck ‘em,” she snaps as she knocks back another shot and slams the glass on the table. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone knock back shots of bourbon, it’s usually sipped. But she’s throwing these back like it’s vodka, and somehow it makes her even more intriguing.

I raise a brow.No one ever understands it’s not only the goalie’s fault when a goal is scored. More intrigued than ever, I raise my glass. “Fuck ‘em,” I agree, knocking back my own shot.

“So, Vladi. Tell me about your buddy Larsy. Is he really as good of a guy as he seems? Liv’s my best friend, so I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t do some investigating.”

“I can say with all honesty Hayes Larson is a good man. I trust him with my life. And he seems like he’s a goner for Olivia.” I grin, unable to properly express my happiness for my teammate. “Knowing Larsy as long as I have, I can assure you he will give her the best life she could ever imagine.”

She smiles, tilting her head to the side inquisitively. “I didn’t realize you two were so close.”

“He’s the only family I have, especially after…” I take a sip of my drink hoping she won’t notice me trailing off. Tonight is not about my past. Tonight is about letting loose and giving the demons plaguing me an outlet. It’s not about spilling my guts to a new acquaintance. Albeit a damn beautiful one with a pair of tits I can’t keep my eyes from. “And what about Olivia? She will take care of my brother?”

“Liv is basically perfect. Damn her. The voice of an angel, innocent as can be,” she says in a sing-song voice waving her arms about. “Why do they have to be so damn sickeningly sweet?”

I laugh at the accuracy. Their obsession with one another issomething out of a book. “He goes on and on about her all damn day. It’s annoying as shit. Some days I can’t decide if Larsy droning on about Olivia or Bougie talking about his social media is more annoying,” I confess. “But I am happy for them. They are good together.”

“They are. And what about you, Vladi? Are you good?” she asks with a gleam in her eye.

This woman has the blood racing through my veins with the bad thoughts of what I’d like to do to her.Fuck, she is perfect.“Depends on what you mean by good?”

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