Page 21

Clark

E uropean warehouse music thumped all around me as I made my way into the kitchen of Dimitri’s townhouse. Models took turns lying on the granite counter and doing shots off of each other’s bare stomachs. While a couple of rugby players played cards at the kitchen table.

I grabbed a beer and went back out to the living room, where beautiful people dressed in nice clothes, danced, drank, and talked. Carlos made out with someone on the couch. A group of omegas held court in the corner, talking about whose daddies had a bigger yacht. A business deal was going on in the hall.

Outside in their tiny garden, a few people played with a miniature fútbol, including some hockey players that lived in New York in the summer, and trained with Dimitri and Carlos.

Dimitri’s house parties always brought out the young and rich of New York. You never knew who’d show up. I’d found one of my sponsors this way. One moment, I was talking to a woman who was trying to come up with ideas to impress her dad. The next moment, we were in the bathroom, shooting a mock-up of an ad campaign for cologne. Now I was on giant billboards.

Also, the thrill of running into random famous people hadn’t worn off after a year in New York City. However, I didn’t spy the person I wanted to see.

I saw Carson though, an asshat who played for the Mexico City Tigres. He was hitting on some cute omegas, along with Mitchy, who played defense for the Knights. Carson and Mitchy were local, but spent most of the off-season in Toronto training.

“Clark!” a male voice called.

I turned around and saw a grinning, giant Swede. “Anders, back in town?”

“For Squire Camp.” Anders nodded. It was the summer camp run by the Knights’ youth program.

We found a quiet place and got caught up, as he’d been back in Sweden with his family. Last year we’d been rookies together.

“Any word on that trade?” It seemed like every time I turned on the sports news, that multi-team trade Anders was part of had gotten even more complicated.

“No. I really want to go to Motor City, too. Not that I don’t like the Knights, but…” He shrugged.

“I get it. We’re supposed to get another forward in that trade, I think?” I wasn’t sure. Winston Royce, one of our forwards, had retired, along with his mate, Elias, who played defense.

“I think so. For defense, the Knights are getting Vickers and–get this–the Yeti.” Anders took a sip of beer. “They traded Crowley for Vickers. I think the Yeti is supposed to replace Elias.”

“What?” A weird feeling fluttered through me. I had a low-key crush on the Sasquatches’ giant defender. It had all started when we’d done a calendar shoot together last year.

Though Crowley was an asshole that we’d acquired last season when they’d traded a rookie defender that didn’t fit. I was glad he was gone; he liked to hassle Gwen.

“Rumor has it that the Yeti’s sick of coming in second with the Sasquatches and wants a title.” Anders checked his phone. “It’s a sound move, even if he doesn’t seem like any fun.”

“He doesn’t need to be fun, just do his job. He’s a very good defender.” The Yeti? On the Knights?

Something about the giant, stoic guy did it for me.

Almost as much as a little pink-haired goalie. Well, purple-haired now, judging from the pictures she’d sent me.

Not sure I should be into either of them. There were no rules saying I couldn’t date them, I only had to fill out a form with HR. Though they didn’t like players dating the EBUGs. I was also getting ahead of myself. After all, Gwen had a broken heart.

I needed to get laid. The problem with going back home was that anyone I might want to hook up with had expectations. Not to mention everything that had happened with my high school girlfriend.

Also, I’d recently turned twenty-one, and was going into my second year of pro hockey. While I wanted a relationship and family one day, now wasn’t the right time.

Unless Gwen wanted it.

I pushed that thought back. Gwen would start her hockey career next year, and she most likely wouldn’t be a Knight. It could take years for us to get to the same team. Did she even like me?

Still…

“You okay, man?” Anders asked.

“I was wondering about those omegas. Some of them are hot, but I’m not sure I want to mess with academy omegas,” I deflected. They would be a good distraction, but I also didn’t want to hurt Gwen… just in case she liked me back.

“Just fuck betas.” Anders laughed. “Speaking of hot betas…” His eyes traveled over to the doorway.

Valya and Gwen walked in. Gwen looked smoking hot in some little dress, with her new dark purple hair hanging in her smokey eyes.

“Not sure you want to do that,” I muttered. Gwen was talking to Valya and hadn’t noticed me.

“Oh?” He grinned. “Go for it. She’s single now.”

“Gwen’s more than a one-night stand.” I kept staring at her, willing her to notice me.

“What if she wants a one-night stand? She had the same boyfriend for years. She’s probably itching to see what’s out there,” Anders challenged.

Considering I heard her crying in the middle of the night, probably not.

Dimitri stormed through the room, half-dragging Carson, the player from the Tigres. “You’re not allowed in my house, you,” he called him something in Russian.

Oooh, someone was in trouble. One didn’t mess with Valya’s friends without facing Dimitri’s wrath.

“Dimitri, it was all in good fun,” Mitchy protested, trailing after.

“You can stay,” Dimitri replied. “He goes.”

“Look man, I’m teasing you. I’m not going to fuck Gwen. Yeah, I don’t need JP and Double D trying to kick my ass for hitting on her. I just think she’s hot.” Anders shrugged. “Maybe I’ll try those models in the kitchen. Wanna come?”

“Did you and your girlfriend break up again?” I asked. She lived in Sweden.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

Mitchy came over to us, sighing. “Dimitri is such a buzzkill.”

“I have sisters. I can understand. How’s everything going?” I asked. Mitchy was also a forward and had gone to rookie camp with Anders and me. He’d gone down to the Bantams. They’d brought him up when Sarah got too pregnant to play last season.

“Tonight would be a lot better if I scored.” Mitchy made a face.

Gwen waved and came over to us.

I waved back. She looked great, and her outfit and makeup brought out her hazel eyes.

“You’re such a fucking puppy, man.” Anders laughed.

“Wait, is that Ladybug? Fuck me. Did her boyfriend get a big signing bonus?” Mitchy took a swig of beer.

I shook my head. “They broke up. This is the single girl glow-up.”

“Oh, that thing when girls cut their hair after a breakup. Sucks they broke up. She looks great though.” He eyed her appreciatively, and I tried not to growl at him.

“Hey, Clark, hey, Mitchy.” Gwen joined us with a beer in her hand. “Motor City? Why, Anders? Why? They’re the douchiest club in the entire PHL. Captained by the douche brothers and coached by King Douche himself.” She made a face.

The Motor City Gears were owned by the Deloitte family, which was hockey royalty. Grandpappy Deloitte also owned Deloitte Automotive. One of his sons was general manager, while the other son coached, and his daughter ran operations.

Two of his grandsons co-captained the Gears, another was on defense, and his granddaughter was goalie. Yeah, four members of their family played for the team. While other relatives worked in different parts of the team or played hockey for other clubs–or helped run the car company.

They were a family of assholes. The kind who threw big charity balls for the poor, while lobbying for laws that would let them get away with paying their factory workers less.

The Deloitte brothers also played dirty and were giant trash talkers. I’d nearly broken an arm getting slammed into the boards by them.

“I’m a douche. Figured I should go where I belong.” Anders grinned. “Douche or no, Coach Deloitte was once one of the top forwards in the PHL himself. I could learn a lot.”

Gwen made a face.

“Yeah, but we won a championship, something they didn’t,” Mitchy replied.

I didn’t really get along with Mitchy. He was arrogant and flaunted his wealth and privilege.

“Ladybug, are you going to any team camps this summer? This is your last year at university, right? Someone’s got to be watching you after that playoff game with the six overtimes?” Anders asked.

“Haven’t been invited to anything in a while. I went to Mexico City a couple of years ago. They were helpful, but they need me to be five-foot-ten and that’s not going to happen. They called me Pequena the entire time.” She shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind playing for the Tigres. I’ll play for anyone, really. Well, except for the Belugas.”

“Don’t you admire Molly almost as much as Maria Barilla?” I took another pull of my beer. The Belugas were a decent team. Gwen was talented if you could look past her height and designation.

“Oh, I do. But I’d never move to Vancouver. I have a fear of Canada.” She laughed. “So much that I’m still nervous about going to JP’s wedding.”

Oh, right? She’d told me that one night when we were drunk. I think one of her asshole dads was Canadian.

“You’re afraid of Canada ?” Mitchy snorted.

Anders gave him a look. “I’m afraid of Finland.”

I knew that story and it was a whole separate thing.

“It’ll be fine. I got everything sorted out today for the wedding,” I told her. Well, Dimitri had planned most of it.

Anders’ eyebrows rose. “You’re going to JP’s wedding together?”

“We’re traveling on the ultra-bullet as a group. You’re welcome to come with us,” Gwen replied, her fingers absently running the scar on her forehead, which was still a little visible, even with makeup.

“I have my plane ticket booked,” Anders replied.

“I’m taking the ultra-bullet from Toronto,” Mitchy added.

Anders stood. “I’m going to head to the kitchen to talk to those models. Want to come, Mitchy?”

“Don’t have to ask me twice.” Mitchy hopped up, and they left the room.

“Your new hair looks nice,” I added. The dark purple suited her. Her nails had been done and her outfit showed off her toned legs.

Her hand went to it. “Thanks.”

“Did you have fun shopping?” I loved how she sent me all the pictures. I was saving all of them. Hmmm, would it be weird to make the one of her in the blue dress the wallpaper on my phone?

She dropped into Anders’ spot. “Next time Valya wants to go shopping, I’m saying no. I don’t care how many things she wants to get me. After dinner, she dragged me to three more stores. I’m exhausted.”

“Shopping is hard work. Going to the store with my sisters is a serious affair,” I agreed. Of course, we were also pretty far from a mall or even a big shopping center.

“The single girl glow-up was fun, and I… I posted it.” She ducked her head. “That’s all I’m going to put up regarding the breakup. I just felt like I should do something.”

“I’m proud of you. How do you feel?” I’d seen the picture.

“Better. Like I’m ready to move past all this.” She nodded.

Happiness burst inside me. Not in the sense of her wanting to date or anything like that. More like being proud of her for being ready to explore what life was like without him.

“Dance with me.” Gwen took my hand and dragged me into the living room.

The music thumped so hard I felt it in my soul, and Carlos was nowhere to be seen. Gwen’s eyes went half-lidded as she jumped and twirled to the music. I bopped along; I was never sure how to dance to music like this.

“Here.” One of Valya’s friends handed us shots.

Gwen toasted me with her shot glass, then downed it, and I did the same. We continued to dance, and do shots, and everything got pleasantly warm and buzzy.

“Ooh, I love this song.” Gwen got close to me. Her body touched mine. That fresh minty scent of her invaded my nostrils, even though the house was thick with so many smells and pheromones, as some sort of banger in French came on.

I put my hands on her hips, drawing her close. The song dropped so hard I felt it in my balls and my body took over.

A sultry look crossed her face as she leaned in and out with the beat, tantalizing me with her scent, her body. She licked her lower lip, an almost hungry look in her gaze, as she entwined her fingers with mine and twirled around.

The alpha in me wanted this to be an invitation to throw her over my shoulder, take her upstairs, and fuck her until she screamed my name.

Another part warned to not read into this. Gwen was letting off steam. She was also a little drunk. I was safe. She trusted me.

The song ended, and another came on, but Gwen stopped dancing. Instead, she leaned on my chest. “Fuck, I’m hot.”

Don’t I know it?

Her hand was still entwined with mine. She was sweaty, which enhanced the scent of her arousal. At least she wasn’t leaning on my hard-on.

“We can go outside,” I told her.

“You have such pretty eyes.” She tipped her head up as she gazed at me.

Her lips were so close. It would be so easy to kiss her…

“Gwen, come. I have someone you need to meet.” Valya took Gwen’s free hand, pulling her from me. Shooting me a giant smirk, she and Gwen left the room, dancing.

“Oof, cockblocked.” Some guy I didn’t know laughed. The alpha was tall, broad, and had those rich boy good looks. By his hands, he hadn’t done any hard work in his life.

“Probably for the better. She’s a little drunk, and she’s not someone to take advantage of,” I replied, fanning myself.

“Who is she? That omega she’s with is smoking. ” His eyes flickered to the doorway she and Valya had left through.

“Valya, the omega, is Dimitri’s sister. This is Dimitri’s house,” I added, since sometimes people came with friends and had no idea. “He’s a defender for the Knights. Gwen’s basically the little sister to half the Knights. You hurt her, they’ll end you, after she’s kicked you in the nuts.”

I didn’t want Double D kicking my ass because I kissed Gwen while she was drunk. No, if I ever kissed her, I wanted it to be consensual–and I wanted her to remember it.

“Yeah, you don’t want to touch Belikov’s siblings unless you have a death wish. He’s a fucking asshole,” another well-dressed man added, handing his friend a drink. “Probably rip your arms off.”

The first man laughed. “If Belikov’s an asshole, why are we at his party, Holden?”

“He throws good parties.” Holden held up his glass. He also looked like an entitled rich boy, from his expensive shoes to the fancy watch on his wrist.

Dimitri came into the room and glanced at us. Holden held up his glass and smirked.

“Get out of my house, Hardwick,” Dimitri growled. “Get laid elsewhere.”

“You’re no fun, Belikov. I’m here with my friends, not to annoy you or get laid.” Holden Hardwick rolled his eyes.

Dimitri growled again. “Out or face the consequences. I already threw out one person tonight. I’m not afraid to throw you out as well.”

“Fine. No one fun is here tonight, anyway.” With a roll of his eyes, he and his friend left the room.

“Um, what was that?” Gwen joined us.

“Curing sick kids doesn’t make him better than everyone,” Dimitri fumed. “Fucking asshole alpha.”

“Hardwick? Like the department store?” I added.

“Yes.” Dimitri followed them to make sure they left.

“Clark, I’m ready to head home when you are. If you’re not, I’ll go play video games until you’re ready to go,” Gwen told me, still a little tipsy.

“I’m ready, but I’ll play Go-goKart with you.” In the kitchen, I grabbed us some waters, before heading downstairs to the game room. The models were now playing a drinking game with the Rugby players. Anders and Mitchy were nowhere to be seen.

Gwen hooked her arm through mine. None of those models compared–and well, I was pretty sure no one but Gwen would do.