Page 49 of Behind the Net

Across the bar, Jamie’s mouth tips up as he watches me, and he winks. Right. Getting back on the ice. I’m not ready to play my own music, though.

Everyone’s waiting. I hold Jamie’s gaze, and I hear a song in my head. A song by Roxy Music that my dad used to play when Hazel and I were kids.

I play the opening notes and start singing. My heart is still banging like a drum, so I look at Jamie while I sing, because something about him makes me feel like this is going to be okay.

After the second verse, my jitters fizzle out. While I play, I remember my dad playing this song in the living room as Hazel and I danced around to it. Our goofy dance moves made him laugh.

During the chorus, I let my voice fly higher, testing the response. I launch into the next verse, and the stage feels steadier under my feet. The other players listen with rapt attention. Hayden’s grinning his boyish smile at me, and I smile back. My gaze swings back to Jamie, and his eyes are so warm, they make my breath catch on one of the notes.

I finish the song, and the bar explodes with noise—cheering and applause. My face is on fire while I set the guitar back on the stand.

I can’t believe I just did that.

“You want to play another?” Jordan asks, arching a brow at me, but she’s smiling.

I shake my head. I feel like I could, though. “Not tonight, thank you.”

Everyone is staring at me, smiling. They aren’t laughing, so that’s good. My gaze darts around, looking for an anchor, but I’m swarmed by people congratulating me. It’s overwhelming.

“Just a moment,” I breathe before walking to the hallway with the washrooms.

I need to catch my breath, to let my heart settle down. The wall is cool and solid as I lean against it, closing my eyes and dragging in those deep yoga breaths Hazel’s always going on about.

Footsteps make my eyes open. Jamie stalks toward me with a furious look on his face.

“Wha—” I start.

His eyes flash with heat. “That was fucking amazing.”

His hand comes to the back of my neck and he drags my mouth to his.

CHAPTER24

PIPPA

Jamie’s mouthtakes mine hard, like he’s been wanting this for years. He grips the back of my hair and tilts my head back, dragging his tongue along mine, and my knees go weak. His movements are urgent, hungry, insistent, and demanding. His intoxicating, masculine scent is in my nose, and I can barely breathe. I don’t evenwantto breathe if this is the other option. My hands move up the firm planes of his broad chest, and he groans into my mouth.

Oh god. He licks into my mouth like he wants to fuck me.

I’veneverbeen kissed like this.

“Fuck,” he mutters between kisses, and my whole body pulses with heat.

I’m wet. He’s made me wet from a kiss.

I’m not sure if my eyes are open or closed. I can’t feel anything except the needy pressure between my legs, Jamie’s demanding mouth, and the light pull of my hair in his fist. He grips my hair like he owns me. His other hand rests around the base of my neck, heavy and huge. He doesn’t apply pressure, but just the contact of his big hand holding me in such a vulnerable position, it makes me never want to move. I like this way too much.

His stubble brushes my mouth and I moan into him. Something about that noise sets him off, because he presses his entire body against me, pinning me to the wall.

His hips push into me, and I gasp against his lips.

He’s hard. The thick steel length presses into my stomach. Warm pressure twists between my legs, and I moan. Jamie’s kissing me, his erection is huge, and I’ve definitely lost my mind.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Pippa,” he growls, pulling back to look at me with dark eyes. He’s breathing fast, glaring at me, towering over me. He releases my neck, and I almost whimper in protest, but he rests his forearm on the wall above my head, staring down at me with a glazed look that sets my underwear on fire.

Jamie Streicher is so fucking hot.

“What’s happening?” I breathe.

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