Page 47 of Hockey Halloween

Gunther

I slide my arm around her and pull her in tight. Acting possessive, like I want her, need her, is not the hard part. The problem is doing it while she’s trying to make another man jealous. A man she might actually leave with tonight.

Yeah, and there’s one more hard part.

It’s between my legs, doing a damn poor job of hiding just how notfake this is for me.

She presses into my side, her arm gliding around my back like it belongs there, and I feel the whole damn room shift. Heads turn. Eyes widen. Even his —Jaxon’s. He tilts his head, studying Paisley with something new in his gaze. Interest. Heat.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

This shit actually works?

“Okay, who’s ready to play?” Gina grins, waving the mic at us all. “It’s karaoke costume night, and the winner gets an all-inclusive trip to Aruba.”

“Seriously?” Roman pipes up as he strolls out of the bathroom, clearly refreshed and clueless.

“No,” Gina laughs. “But close. The winners get a romantic night at a cozy bed and breakfast in Vermont. Courtesy of Jaxon’s family.”

Of course, it’s from Jaxon. Because this night wasn’t complicated enough and if Paisley and I win couples karaoke, she’s going to want to take the guy who donated the prize.

She’ll think it’s kismet or some shit. A sign.

Meanwhile, I’ll be the guy in the Wonder Woman costume getting kicked in the heart.

“Who’s up first?” Gina calls, scanning the room.

Usually I’d be the first to volunteer—especially if there’s a spotlight involved—but I keep my damn mouth shut as Brighton lifts her hand.

Paisley turns to me, confused. “I thought you wanted to win this.”

I shrug, casual on the outside, imploding on the inside. What the hell am I supposed to say? Actually, Paisley, I don’t want to win because the idea of you sharing a candlelit breakfast with Jaxon in silk pajamas makes me want to punch a wall ?

No. I can’t do that to her. Not if he’s who she wants.

But damn it, for a second—in that bathroom—I thought it was me.

The way she touched me. Kissed me. That sound she made when I pulled her close, when our mouths met like they’d done it a hundred times before and never wanted to stop…

That wasn’t fake. That couldn’t be fake.

Because no one can pretend that kind of heat. That kind of need .

Unless, of course, you’re Paisley, who’s throwing herself into this role like she’s gunning for an Oscar. She’s got one goal tonight. Get her guy. And spoiler alert. It’s not me.

Fuck my life.

But honestly, I did this. I screwed it all up. I’m the idiot who went off with another girl in high school after she told me how she felt. I let her walk away thinking she wasn’t enough when she was already everything .

Now she’s using me to make someone else jealous.

And maybe— maybe —this whole fake relationship thing is my shot to show her what we could be.

That we make sense. That it’s us. All of this is under the guise of pretending, which means if it blows up in my face, I can retreat without losing her. That’s the theory, anyway.

“Hmm.”

Yeah, brain, I get it. She wants someone else.

“What’s that?” Paisley asks, her voice light, oblivious.

Shit. Did I just make that sound out loud?

I fake a cough. “Uh—just need a drink. Throat’s dry. Have to get the pipes ready if we’re singing later.”

She nods. “Same.”

As Brighton wails her way through a ballad, we slip into the kitchen. My hand stays planted on the small of Paisley’s back—not because I’m playing the part, but because Ineedto touch her. She gives Melanie a quick nod on our way through, and Melanie’s grin is Cheshire-cat level smug.

Figures. Those two were scheming earlier. Plotting this whole “make-Jaxon-jealous” plan. When I caught them whispering, I thought…God, I don’t know what I thought. That she was flirting with me? Interested? Turns out she was just drafting me in this ruse.

A ruse that seems to be working. Jaxon’s still watching like he’s trying to solve a puzzle he didn’t know existed.

“He’s watching,” she whispers, her voice low and satisfied.

I glance over at her, and there’s this look in her eyes. Hope . Expectation. Like she’s waiting for me to seal the deal.

Well, all right then.

Just before we’re out of view, I stop by the wall, spin, and pull her in close, right between my legs. Her breath catches. I’m not usually one for public displays of affection but screw it. If this is the game she wants to play, I’m going all in.

My hand moves up the back of her neck, fingers grazing that soft, sensitive skin just beneath her hair. Her shiver is immediate, full-body and unmissable. She tips her head up, and I swear, time slows.

Then that tongue.

That slow, pink sweep over her bottom lip like she’s daring me to kiss her.

Jesus .

She has noidea what she’s doing to me.

I dip my head, the brim of her witch’s hat brushing against my face as I lower my voice to a whisper.

“You know…I think you cast a spell on me tonight.” She laughs softly, like she doesn’t believe me.

I inch back and flash her a grin that tells her I’m not joking.

“All I want to do right now is put my mouth all over you.”

Her breath catches, throat working as she swallows. And then, something flickers in her eyes. Heat. Real, scorching heat. Or maybe she’s justgood at this little act. Too good. But I’m done playing it safe. Maybe it’s time to push, to see if that fire is for me.

“You know… toreally help nail this,” I say.

She gives me that smile again, the one that punches straight through my chest. “Nail it, yes,” she says quietly. “But your mouth all over me…we can’t do that here. Not with everyone watching.”

I tilt my head, lips brushing her ear. “No, you’re right. Besides, doing it in private wouldn’t help your plan, would it?” I glance over her shoulder, right at Jaxon. “The point is to make him jealous, yeah?”

“Right.” One word. Soft. Barely audible. And laced with disappointment so thick I feel it in my bones.

Jesus, does she want my mouth on her?

Let’s find out. I close the gap and crush my mouth to hers.

I kiss her like I mean it—because I do. My hands slide down her spine and pull her flush against the hard line of my body.

I don’t care that the entire damn room is behind us, or that Brighton’s voice is still echoing through the speakers.

The only thing I can hear is the rush of blood in my ears and the soft, addictive sounds she makes when I deepen the kiss.

She moans, and that sound lights me on fire. Her fingers dig into my biceps, her hips rocking into mine like she needs this just as badly. I grind against her, and her entire body arches. I’m gone. Completely gone.

“Get a room.” Roman’s voice breaks through the haze. I pull back, and turn just in time to see him wearing his signature smug look. But it’s not Roman I’m worried about. It’s Jaxon.

He sets his drink down. His expression tightens. And then, he starts walking toward us. Every instinct I have fires at once, half of me wants to throw Paisley over my shoulder and claim her in front of the whole damn room, and the other half wants to shove Jaxon through a wall.

Fight or flight?

Do I hand my little witchy woman over to him… or do I drag her someplace dark and private and make good on that promise to put my mouth all over her?

“Hey, Gunther. You’re up,” Brighton calls out.

She’s not wrong. Iam up. In more ways than one. If I turn around now, half the room’s going to see the reason why I should never have worn spandex. But then I realize she means karaoke.

Right. Karaoke. Not thisrising situation in my pants.

“I need a drink first,” I say, voice hoarse. “Someone else can go.”

Before Jaxon can make his move, I grab her wrist and tug her with me, straight through the kitchen and out the back door. The October air rushes over us in a chill, but it’s not enough to cool the fire burning through me.

She shivers. “What…what are we doing out here?”

“It was getting warm in there,” I say, keeping my voice casual while my pulse jackhammers in my ears.

She fans herself and glances skyward. The moon is full, big and silver, casting shadows across the yard like it’s conjuring magic. Or maybe temptation.

“You’re right, it was. Full moon… Big Bad,” she murmurs, almost to herself.

“Dangerous night,” I say, watching her chest rise and fall. “You know a wolf can’t control the beast when the moon is like this.”

“Beast,” she whispers, dazed, like she’s caught in some kind of spell. Her eyes flick over her shoulder, back toward the house. “Do you think Jaxon saw us leave?”

“He might’ve. I was thinking?—”

“I was thinking too,” she cuts in, and that tight little note in her voice makes every nerve in my body go on alert .

I pull her close when another shiver rocks through her, and yeah, it’s cold, but I don’t think this is about temperature.

“You go first,” I murmur.

“When you said you wanted to put your mouth all over me…”

My breath catches. “Yeah?”

She swallows. “It might not be a bad idea. Even if it’s just in private. I think it could help.”

“Help?” Jesus. “Help how?” I ask, already moving. Her fingers thread with mine and I take the lead, guiding her down the flagstone path to the pool house.

“Make it easier to fake intimacy. For the crowd.”

Right. The crowd.

Jaxon .

“Before…” she continues.

I stop at the change room door, reach for the spare key hidden on the ledge. My hand shakes just a little as I slide it into the lock. “…before the ‘breakup’ later?”

She nods. “Yeah.”

I open the door and step aside, letting her walk in first. She does, and her steps slow in the dark.

I grab the lantern, turn it on, and the small room is bathed in a golden glow.

Her hair catches the light. Her skin practically shines.

And I swear to God, it takes every ounce of strength I possess to tame the beast growling inside me.

“Cozy,” she whispers, taking two tentative steps toward the small sofa.