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I lean my forehead against hers. “So will you come? Will you give me a pep talk so I don’t piss myself in front of a crowd?”

The lightest laugh escapes her. “You’re Alexander O’Conner. You’re talented. You’re caring. You can do anything life sends your way—more than any of those people know. Youlovemore than anybody knows. You’re persistent and determined no matter what. But do you know what else you are?”

I feel her warm breath reflect off of my lips as my nose grazes hers. “What?”

“You’re mine.”

Two words.

Two. Goddamn. Words.

And my heart does the kind of shit people write books about.

“If I didn’t have to leave, we’d both be naked right now and I’d be buried inside of you,” I tell her, letting my lips hover above hers.

I can feel her smile against me. “You might want to calm down before you walk in front of a bunch of cameras sporting a giant boner.”

I chuckle. “That would be unfortunate.”

“They’d definitely stop talking about me,” she agrees, pressing hers lips against mine once before pulling away.

Brushing hair behind her ear, I give her one last look before I nod to myself. “I should get going soon. But I want to give you something first.”

Her brows furrow together when I dig through the papers collecting on my kitchen island before passing her the internship application. “It’s up to you what you want to do,” I begin, watching her read it over. “But if we’re really a team, then be part of mine. You already know your shit. The Penguins could utilize someone like you. And I…”

She looks up at me.

“Well, you won’t see me complain if you decide to apply,” I conclude, lifting a shoulder. “But if you decide to go somewhere else, or do something else, know I’ll support you there too.”

Her eyes dip back down to the paper.

“Just think about it,” I say, gesturing toward the door. “If you’re ready, we can head out.”

She stops me by the wrist, squeezing it once and locking eyes with mine. “This means more to me than you know, Alex.”

I glance down at our hands. “I get to claim you too, you know. I can’t be yours unless you’re mine.”

“So this is you claiming me?”

My lips curl up. “It’s one of the ways I plan to. The other involves a lot less clothing and a lot of cum.”

Her eyes flash. “Not fair.”

“Don’t you know?” I tease, pecking her cheek. “Life isn’t fair, baby.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Olive

Watching Alex’s pressconference is nothing like watching him on the ice. The man who reeks of confidence when he’s in uniform skating across the rink is nothing compared to the subdued version of him answering questions from the media right now. He doesn’t look uncomfortable to the naked eye, but I see right through the façade. I always have.

He wants to jump out of his skin.

But he’s doing it.

For me.

“Mr. O’Conner, what would you like to say about the recent photos that have surfaced of you and Sebastian Henderson’s sister?”