Page 53 of Desperate Pucker (Denver Bashers #6)

Maddy

Iget to my seat at the Bashers arena extra early, before Maya, Bella, Dakota, and Abby arrive.

Excitement flickers in my tummy as I gaze down at what I’m wearing. I can’t wait to see their reaction.

But I’m most excited for Ryker’s reaction.

“Hey! You’re early,” Dakota says.

When I turn around, her eyes go wide. “No way…”

A second later, Bella and Maya walk up. When they see me wearing Ryker’s jersey, they both gasp.

Maya squeals. Bella blurts out, “Are you kidding me?” with a huge smile on her face.

“You and Ryker are together?” Maya says.

I nod. “We are.”

“Remember at Casino Night when we were all teasing you about him, and you said you were just friends?” Dakota wags an eyebrow at me.

“You went from just friends to wearing his jersey in a month. Impressive,” Bella says.

My cheeks heat as I smile. “You guys knew better than I did.”

Abby walks up a minute later. “Hey, ladies.” Her gaze falls to my jersey. Her eyes widen as she smiles. “Oh!”

“Ryker and Maddy are boyfriend and girlfriend,” Dakota announces excitedly.

Abby hugs me. “Aww that’s wonderful. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. I’m excited to see his reaction when he sees me in his jersey.”

We all sit down in our seats as fans start filtering into the arena.

“He hasn’t seen you wearing it yet?” Dakota asks.

I shake my head. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”

The look in her deep brown eyes turns teasing as she grins. “Best feeling ever is when your hockey guy sees you in his jersey for the first time.”

Maya and Bella nod along.

Abby smiles shyly. “Very true.”

“You wore Coach Porter’s old hockey jersey for him?” Dakota asks.

Abby nods. “I wore it for him when we went to Paris together the night he proposed to me. He went nuts.”

Her cheeks flush. I bite my lip, my entire body buzzing with anticipation.

Warmup starts, and I spot Ryker stretching on the ice. He skates over and takes a practice shot at Braden in the net.

He looks over, and I wave at him, then stand up.

He stumbles to a halt on his skates. Even from this far away, I can see the second his eyes widen. His lips part open, and the corner of his mouth lifts.

He skates over to the glass and beckons me over with a gloved hand.

My face is sore from how hard I’m smiling as I step up to him. Heat simmers in his bourbon brown stare.

“You look hot in my jersey, princess.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah. Turn around for me.”

I do what he says so he can see his name and number on my back.

St. George. Number seven.

My heart pounds in my chest as I peer over my shoulder and see the flash in his eyes. He runs his tongue along his bottom lip. I suddenly feel hot despite the chill in the arena.

He looks at me with raw, unbridled want. Like he’s ready to push me up against the boards and have his way with me right now.

“So fucking hot,” he says in a low voice.

Behind me, I hear the ladies chuckling.

“Oh, he likes it,” Bella teases.

His gaze lingers for a few more seconds before he looks up at me. His mouth curves up in a wicked grin before he skates off.

“How’d that feel?” Bella asks when I sit back down.

“You were right. That was so, so good.”

I watch, mesmerized as Ryker cuts across the ice. He’s moving like a speed demon, darting around the Boston players that are trying to cover him.

This is game one in the next round of the playoffs for the Bashers, and they’re playing the Boston Grizzlies.

It’s halfway through the third period, and I can’t believe how much energy Ryker has, especially with how close the game is. They’re tied two to two.

Del passes the puck to Ryker. Before he can get far, a Boston player checks him into the boards, hard. The entire home crowd gasps. I cringe at the crunching sound of the impact. It’s so hard and unforgiving.

But Ryker doesn’t even wince. He pushes back up, his eyes still on the puck that went flying, and takes off after it.

Dakota pats my arm. “It’s hard watching our guys get beat up.”

I nod and try to smile. I shouldn’t be so tense. Ryker is fine. Yeah, he’ll probably be sore after the game, but he’s not moving like he’s injured. He’s used to this. He knows how to play through it.

But still. I can’t help but worry. I know how bad he wants to play during these playoffs. I know how bad he wants to win.

I want him to win too. I just want him to stay safe and healthy.

Boston has possession of the puck now. Camden goes after their winger. They scuffle, and he takes off with it. Sam trails behind him, and I watch as Camden moves like he’s going to shoot the puck into Boston’s net, but he passes it back to Sam instead.

Their goalie falls for the fake out and dives forward, which leaves Sam the perfect opportunity to shoot. But a Boston defenseman catches up to him and tries to steal the puck. Sam hits it to Ryker, who’s the farthest away from the net.

I hold my breath, my nerves going off like fireworks inside my body.

Ryker pulls his stick back and slap-shots it at the net. The goalie scrambles to block it, but he’s a half-second too late. The puck lands at the back of the net.

We’re all on our feet, cheering and screaming. I look over at Ryker on the ice, getting swarmed by his teammates.

My heart is pounding with pride for him.

When the guys skate off, I catch eyes with Ryker. He looks at me with that hungry gaze. His eyes drop to my jersey before the corner of his mouth hooks up.

My tummy flips over and over at just how much I adore my hockey pro boyfriend.

“You gotta do one shot with us, Georgie!” Camden hollers.

He holds up a shot glass of tequila and stands up at our usual table at Spanky’s. The guys are celebrating their win against Boston tonight with drinks at Spanky’s.

“Only if you never call me Georgie again,” Ryker mutters.

I bump my shoulder against his. “Aww come on. I like it.”

His lip twitches like he’s fighting a smile.

“You won the game for us, man,” Camden says to Ryker. “You gotta celebrate.”

Ryker raises an eyebrow at him. His mouth is a straight line, but the amusement in his eyes is crystal clear.

He shakes his head. “We’re on a hot streak. I haven’t had a sip of alcohol during it, and I don’t wanna start now. It would be bad luck.”

Xander claps a hand on Ryker’s shoulder. “He’s right. Now’s not the time to change things up.”

Camden just shrugs. “More for me.” He downs the shot.

Ryker aims his heated gaze at my jersey.

“You keep looking at me,” I say.

“Can’t help it. You look hot in my jersey.”

I bite my lip, my clit pulsing. He’s been looking at me like he’s aching to devour me this whole night.

I lean my lips to his ear. “It would look even hotter bunched up over my tits while you’re fucking me.”

A low growling noise rips from his throat. He grabs my hand and stands up. “We’re taking off.”

I hold back a laugh.

“Aww, look who’s ditching us to go home with his lady,” Camden teases. “What do we gotta do to get you to stay and hang out with us? Wear your jersey?”

Del rolls his eyes. “Madeline looks better in his jersey than you ever will.”

I laugh. Ryker cracks a smile. “It’s true,” he says.

“Have fun, love birds!” Xander hollers.

We wave bye to everyone and walk out of the bar, the warm spring air whipping around us.

“Someone’s impatient,” I tease as he pulls me down the sidewalk to where he’s parked.

“Really fucking impatient.”

“I thought good things come to those who wait.”

“Lies.”

I giggle. He unlocks his car and opens the passenger door for me, hops in the driver’s seat, and speeds off.