Page 21 of Blindside Sinner

“… only if they apply to you as well.”

I choke on my laugh. “Excuse me? Last I checked, this was my house.”

“And the staff apartment is mine.” She shrugs. “It’s in my contract that you don't have control over what I do there. I could host an orgy every night, so long as it doesn’t interfere with my duties. So, if you want me to follow your rules, you'll need to follow mine.”

Now, it’s my turn to be frustrated. Heat sears the back of my neck as I try to keep my calm. I refuse to let this irritating woman get the best of me. “I don't think you understand. This is my house and these are my rules. You don't like them? Get out.”

“I'm not leaving.”

“Then you'll do what I say.”

“Not a chance. You want me to give up sex, you can do the same.” This time she gets close, her hair brushing my arms as she invades my space. Her voice is low and soft, something better suited for dark rooms at midnight than the sunlight of early morning. “Don’t play chicken with me, Beckett Daniels. I'm just as stubborn as you are, but I have way less to lose. So if you want me to follow your rules, then they apply to us both. Deal or no deal?”

For a moment, I just stare at her. There’s something about the way she holds herself that tells me she’s telling the truth. It’s been a long time since I’ve had something I cared about losing, but Sloan is a distraction I can’t afford. Not when my career hangs in the balance.

So be it. I know I’m going to play her game, but only because I have no doubt that I can outlast her. I don’t accept bets that I’m not sure I’ll win.

I definitely don’t agree just because I don’t want to see some random dickhead hanging all over her. Not at all.

“Looks like you’ve got a deal, Sloan Reeves. We'll be celibate and miserable together.”

She holds her hand out. I shake it once, then let go before the warmth of her skin can draw me in. Two seconds into my forced celibacy and I can already tell I’m going to hate this.

The only upside is that I’m an asshole on a good day—and without sex as an outlet, any good days I might’ve had are far behind us.

“Now that that’s settled, get the fuck out of my house until it’s time to leave.”

12

BECK

With Sloan gone and the house quiet, I try to go through my regular game day schedule. I make a smoothie and take it outside in the sunshine before I change my clothes. Usually, I’d have a gym session, then fall into bed for a few rounds of sex before heading to the arena, but the interlude with Sloan completely fucked my routine and I’m not sure how to get it back on track.

Like clockwork, my phone lights up a text.

STACY:I’m available if you need to relax. I know you’ve got a game tonight.

My fingers are already flying across the screen with a firm yes. Shoving myself face-first into the warm pussy of a casual hookup is exactly what I need to get my head on right before I hit the ice.

Too bad the faint sound of music rips that idea out of my head.

I look up. It’s coming from the staff house windows.

Sloan.

I may be an asshole, but I’m still a man of my word. I made her a deal and I’m not going to break it on the first fucking day.

“Goddammit!” I snarl, dangerously close to throwing the phone. Especially because the more I think about it, the less appealing Stacy’s offer is.

With gritted teeth, I delete my text and send two short words instead.

Not interested.

I need to get into the gym and work out some of this pent-up frustration. Hockey’s a rough sport, but the refs still frown on outright slaughter and that’s exactly what I’ll be giving our opponents tonight if I don’t get my shit under control.

Especially since I won’t be able to fuck the irritation out of my system.

I march downstairs to my home gym and start ripping into a brutal workout. By the time I hear Sloan’s car start up an hour later, my body is slick with sweat and I’m almost desperate for a different kind of release.

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