Page 104 of Puck Love

I frown. “It’s not cute. Nothing about me is cute,Country.”

“Sure, itis.”

“Oh, I agree. Your ass when you turned around earlier? Well, that was totally cute,” the ballbuster says between sips of coffee. Or maybe it’s the blood of newborn babies. Either way, it’s not improving her mood. “I bet if you lost that towel right now, your little pecker would be completelyadorable.”

Stella laughs, and I shoot her a look that says she better shut up fast because no one ever kids about my cock. “It’s notfunny.”

She laughsharder.

“Stella, tellher.”

“I . . . I . . .” Her words are broken by more laughter and I see red, and then I grin, because all that laughter is making her boobs jiggle up and down and my cock is getting hard just thinking aboutit.

“You know what, country? It’s just fine. I’m sure Lana wouldn’t mind another preview.” I grab the corner of my towel and untuck it from mywaist.

“No!” Stella yells, diving for me, but she’s too late. I let go. The towel pools at my feet and I look down at my cock and then back at Stella’s angry face. I chuckle, because if you play with fire you’re gonna getburned.

“Oh, we need to . . . long,” the ballbuster says, her eyes widening as she shakes her head. “LEAVE! We need to leave.Now.”

“That isn’t funny, Van,” Stellasnaps.

“Really, country? Because you seemed to be laughing just a few short minutesago.”

“Okay, I’m sorry I laughed. I won’t do that again, but you need to not show your penis to strangewomen.”

“I should imagine that’s something of an occupational hazard for a hockey player, isn’t it?” ballzilla says, and it’s my turn to shoot her a dirtylook.

“No, usually just my teammates. Say, speaking of teammates, you met Eli, right? Word is he too is hung like a horse, though I try not to look. It seems kindagay.”

Her throat bobs. Gotcha. “Well, I’m sure that’s very nice forhim.”

“I could invite him around if you like? We don’t fly out till midday. The four of us could maybe grab a little lunch at theairport?”

“No!” Lana’s eyes are wide with panic. I grin, but she doesn’t meet my gaze as she straightens her jacket and smooths down herlapel.

Stella has finished wrapping the towel around my waist, and I grab her hand and slide it over my covered junk. It’s completely hard now, and her cheeks pink up while her mouth opens in shock. I waggle my brows at her, and she steps back as if she’s expecting to be ensnared in a spider’s web. “I, um, we have togo.”

“Okay, great. I’ll get my pantson.”

“You’re coming?” She looks pleasantlysurprised.

“What? You’d rather keep me your dirty little secret? That’s not how this works,Stella.”

“No, absolutely not. I forbid it,” the ballbuster says, and Stella and I both turn to glare ather.

Stella turns her attention back to me. “I don’t want to keep you a secret, but you know the second we step out in public together, that’s it. The paparazzi will be dogging us twenty-four/seven. I know you’re kind of used to the media but this . . . thisis—”

“Babe,” I say, cupping her face in my hands. “Iknow.”

She sighs and exhales a loud breath. “Okay.”

“Okay,” I agree and kiss her. I don’t care that her manager is glaring at us, or that she’s late. All I care about is her lips on mine while we have the time. I know it isn’t going to be easy being away from her, not after I finally got her to admit she can’t be without me anymore than I can be without her, but nothing can come between us now. Even if I have to trade teams, leave Canada, and my friends and family behind, we’d find a way to make itwork.