Page 96 of Wicked Ends
Arianna
Lips brushed across my forehead,and I struggled awake. I felt heavy all over, like I had become part of the bed. I couldn’t remember ever sleeping so deeply before. I opened my eyes and immediately felt disoriented.Where the hell was I?Everything was too confusing, so I shut my eyes again. I was tired of waking up in different rooms, different towns and motels. I’d had enough of that to last a lifetime.
“As much as I hate to leave you here like this, I need to get over to the rink. Coach isn’t happy with me for last night, and I need to be a good boy for a while,” Marcus said in my ear.
I snorted disbelievingly, eyes still closed.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever been a good boy in your entire life.” I cracked my eyes open once more to see his face above me.
He was already dressed in his training gear. Pale light ebbed in the window.The Hellions’ dorm.Marcus had carried me upstairs last night swathed in the blanket, with the mask on, no less. God knew what passersby had thought of it.
“What time is it anyway?” I yawned.
“Before six,” he told me.
I groaned and pushed myself up. “Damn. I meant to leave as early as possible, before it got light out.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you didn’t. Creeping out on me again while I was sleeping wouldn’t end well for you. I still haven’t gotten over the first time.” He studied me and the rumpled hockey jersey I’d slept in.
“Maybe I should stay after all. Like you said… I suck at being good.”
I shook my head firmly. “You need to go. After that shit show at the game last night, go and show Coach Williams that you’re sorry.”
His mouth tilted in a heart-stopping grin. “Yes, Professor, as you command.” He grabbed his heavy bag from the ground. “You want a ride home?”
“The motel is the opposite way from the rink,” I pointed out.
He shrugged. “For you, I can be late. And to be clear… last night was a shit show, but that fucker Sinclair offended me, and I don’t let that crap slide.”
“He offended you? It’s just trash talk; you can’t let it get in your head.”
He nodded. “I know, and I never have before. But he found a topic that can turn my award-winning chill to ash.” He reached out and stroked a thumb down my cheek. “It’s you, Ari. Anyone can say anything they want about me… my father, brother, whatever. We’re fair game. But you?” He shook his head. “No.” His tone was deadly.
“No? Just no?” I prodded.
He nodded. “Just no. Not on my watch. Go back to sleep. If you’re still out when I come back, I promise to fuck you nice and gently and wake you up coming.”
I squirmed. God, that sounded good.
“Someone will see. I have to go. My car is here. I’ll drive myself home.”
Marcus studied me and then sighed heavily.
“Why is it that the first and only woman I want to take care of won’t let me?” he grumbled.
I laughed. “Some kind of karma?”
He grabbed his bag, making for the door.
“Is this what it is to love someone more than they love you?” he continued, opening the door and pausing in the doorway.
“Marcus!” I exclaimed softly.
He looked back at me. “If it is, I don’t fucking care for it one bit… but I’ll stand it, for you.”
With a grin, he left, taking my heart with him.
I stopped in town on the way back to the motel to grab some fruit and snacks I could keep in the tiny mini fridge. My stomach protested at the very idea of having stale muffins and instant coffee for breakfast for another week.
