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So why is my breath quickening?
“Look at me, Aurora.”
Impatient, I tilt her head back. She opens her glassy eyes, and fuck me, I’m blown away by the vulnerability shining through.
“One: I knew what I was getting into when I invited you over. As did Jackson. He wouldn’t have let you spend the night with me if he didn’t.Iwouldn’t have let you spend the night with me. Two: Give me your trust. I’ll protect it. I promise, you’ll never have to worry about that with me.”
She gives me a doubtful, pointed stare as if to say,You were married when we met.
“That was with you, and my marriage was over, which brings me to number three: You’re a twenty-two-year-old gorgeous cover model, and I’m a thirty-five-year-old washed-up hockey player. If anyone doesn’t have a right here, it’s me.”
A scowl comes over her beautiful face. “Those aren’t your words. Someone told you that, which doesn’t make them true.”
I swear, she’s clawing her way into my heart.
“Doesn’t matter. You’re still far above me.”
She slides her hand beneath my shirt and teases me by running her fingers along the waistband of my jeans. “I’ve seen every part of you, and there’s not a single inch I don’t love.”
Squeezing her cheeks and puckering her lips, I give her a hard, smacking kiss. “Stop, pretty girl, or I’ll put you on my lap right here in this restaurant.”
She gives me that mischievous smile. “I won’t mind.”
And I can’t refuse. I tangle my fingers in her thick hair and devour her until we’re both breathless.
I’m doing a shit job of keeping this private.
“How many placesare we touring today?” Aurora asks as we ride through downtown LA.
She has yet to question why Ricky is driving or why we’re in Jackson’s custom Land Rover, which I’m pretty sure is armored. Where I come from, an armored vehicle means trouble. Where he comes from, it might be a standard of living.
I’m not complaining. There’s a privacy partition I’m quite enjoying, since Aurora hasn’t stopped teasing me.
Ignoring her question, I try to distract her. “Are you always this affectionate, baby girl?”
My words are meant to be playful, but she takes them all wrong, pulling away and apologizing.
I scoop her up and return her to my lap. “Did I say I didn’t like it?”
With her back against my chest, she relaxes into me. “I don’t know what you like.”
I slip my hand under her hoodie and palm our baby. My dick twitches, and I will it to calm the fuck down. I lean in, unable to resist her mouth for even a minute. “Oh, I think you know exactly what I like.”
She parts her lips, and I weave my fingers through her hair and deepen the kiss. The car comes to a halt, and I fight not to smile.
I live for this.
The back door opens, and she tries to break free. I hold her in place, my hand clasping her throat and my tongue dueling with hers.
Not until the door slams and the seat dips next to us do I release her.
Cheeks flushed, her head snaps in the opposite direction, and her mouth pops open. “Jackson,” she gasps.
“You’re a fucking asshole,” he snarls, his chest heaving. “You’re lucky she’s between us.”
He glares at me, and I can’t help but chuckle. Although my captain isn’t afraid to throw down, he’s nothing but a moody, tattooed puppy.
I lift her from my lap. “Hug your boyfriend, baby. I don’t want him fracturing another hand.”