Page 29

Clark

I t was early in New York as the car stopped in front of my building. I got my stuff and went in, waving to the doorman. My place was quiet when I slipped inside, piling my bags in the living room.

“Gwen?” I called. It was about the time she got up in the mornings, so I didn’t feel too bad about looking for her.

The bedroom door stood open, but her room was empty, her fairy lights still on, the sheets and pillows in disarray. It reeked of fear and sweat, like something bad had happened. Fear balled in the pit of my stomach.

“Gwen?” Where was she?

I opened the location app on my phone. We shared our locations with each other for safety. She was in the building?

Oh. Right. Her hockey friend, Tens, lived in the building. Must be a rich boy, considering he lived here and had a truck . I’d gone to community college and lived at home, borrowing my grandparents’ car, or taking the bus.

I’d stayed local, partly because of money, partly because my family needed me. Also, if I’d gone away everyone would assume I was running away from what had happened with my high school girlfriend.

My stomach twisted more. Was Gwen seeing him? Had I missed my chance?

The front door opened, and I headed back into the living room as a barefoot Gwen in her pajamas walked in.

“Clark, you’re back early. It’s only Saturday.” She threw herself into my arms, the look on her face bringing me joy.

“Hi, Gweny.” I swung her around, holding her tight, relieved she was happy at my appearance.

I put her down, but held onto her. Another alpha’s scent coated her, which made my belly clench with jealousy. At the same time, something about the woodsy yet citrusy scent turned me on.

“Where did you go?” The fear, anxiety, and tears underneath the other scents all made me worry.

“I was at Tens’ place.” She shrugged.

“Oh.” My heart fell.

“None of that.” Gwen’s look turned fierce.

I shook my head, swallowing the bitter taste in my throat. “You’re an adult. You can do what you want.”

“I had a nightmare. A bad one.” Her face buried in my chest, though my arms went slack. “I couldn’t sleep. He held me on the couch and I cried myself to sleep. I didn’t fuck him. I’m not ready to date–and he’s not either.”

My arms wrapped around her. “I’m so sorry you had a nightmare. If you want to talk about it, I’m here. Also… you can have sex with whoever you like. Also, fucking and dating can be different things. I also understand not being ready for that. I’m happy you have a friend like Tens to go to when I’m not here.”

It was hard to say, but true. Ugh, I wanted to punch him. Cuddling Gwen was my job.

She clung to me like a burr. “Change of plans? Though I'm so glad you’re back.”

“Yeah. I have a meeting tonight. If all goes well, maybe I’ll have a new sponsor,” I told her, unable to hide my excitement.

“I’m so happy for you. I’m going to make some coffee. Want some?” She padded over to the kitchen.

“Please?” I plopped down on a stool at the breakfast bar, then texted Ma, letting her know I’d gotten in safely.

Gwen started the coffee.

“Apparently the Knights are getting the Yeti? Shit, he’s imposing, but I get this sense that he’s a good dude.” I changed the subject to something neutral. “He’s also so sexy . I mean, I work with some good-looking people, but something about him sort of does it for me.”

Not quite as much as her.

“Have you met him?” Gwen leaned against the counter as the scent of coffee filled my kitchen.

“We did the calendar shoot together last year. He was that guy–the one that walked in on me, twice, while I was changing,” I admitted. “I think I still have a crush on him.”

“That’s the guy?” She got down two mugs. “If you feel something, go for it. He’s nice.”

“You’ve met him?” Hmmm. She’d look cute between the two of us. I’d be fine with that if he was good to her and into it.

“I have.” Her eyebrows waggled.

He probably already moved here, and she’d met him at the rink.

Someone knocked on the door. Maybe she ordered groceries?

I opened the door and there, filling my doorway, was a six-foot-eight, shirtless Asian guy, with a tattoo of a fish on his bicep, holding a pair of purple flip-flops.

All sorts of butterflies filled my stomach.

Why was a shirtless Yeti at my door so early on a Saturday morning?

Hot damn, that was one good looking wall of muscle.

“Oh, Clark, you’re back.” He gave me a shy smile. “Gwen must be so excited. Gwen, you forgot your shoes,” the Yeti called over my shoulder.

“You didn’t need to bring them back. I could have gotten them next time. But thanks.” She took the flip-flops from him, giving him a fond look, and put them by the door.

Wait? What? Jealousy shot through me, because of the way she looked at him–and the way he looked at her.

I’d just confessed to her that I liked him. Confusion also bubbled to the surface, since she’d told me to go for it. It was obvious there could easily be more between them.

“Tens, this is Clark, forward for the Knights. Clark, this is Tenzin, the Knights’ new defenseman.” Gwen slipped an arm around my waist, which settled something in me.

The hurt look in the Yeti’s eyes, the spicy edge to his scent, put me on edge. Tens. Tenzin. Gwen’s rich friend that she’d been spending so much time with wasn’t some spoiled classmate.

He was my team’s new defenseman.

Which she’d failed to mention, as had Carlos and Dimitri, who’d both met him. Shit. She was friends with the guy I was crushing on.

He was crushing on her. I was crushing on her…

Tension filled the room, and a growl came from my chest. Tenzin huffed at me, nostrils flaring.

“No. None of that. I will absolutely not tolerate it. You both mean so much to me, more than I can say. So, I need you to cut out the alpha posturing and get right to being friends with each other. Or more than friends. I don’t mind that. Both of you are very loveable in your own ways.” Her voice broke as she took her free arm and put it around his waist, too, so she was holding both of us.

She did not say that. My face burned with embarrassment.

“Okay, Gweny. I’m sure Tens and I will be great friends.” I gave her a little squeeze.

Tenzin nodded. “I’m looking forward to getting to know him.”

“Good. The idea of you not getting along makes me want to vomit.” Gwen shook a little as she looked from me to him, a pleading in her hazel eyes. “I… I need you both so bad. I’m not ready, but I need you both.”

She pulled us close, until we sandwiched her between us, sideways, so she wasn’t facing either of us.

Tenzin was right there.

“Not ready for us to be friends?” I blinked, not understanding, as my mind struggled to comprehend that her friend Tens was the Yeti.

Gwen turned to me, tipping her face up. Her lips grazed mine as she kissed me, soft and sweet. It was more than a peck, but not a full on tongue kiss. “We’re already friends. I have a crush on you, you big dumb-dumb.”

Shit. She liked me back! I couldn’t help but grin as giddiness filled me. Gwen liked me. And that kiss…

That sweet kiss. I wanted some more. Gwen needed me. If I was a puppy, my tail would wag so hard, I’d sprain it.

She turned to Tens, who had a startled look on his face. Rising on her toes, she grabbed his head, pulled it down, and kissed him. His eyes widened, but he didn’t push her away. His arm tightened around her, as I got hit with a whiff of arousal.

Seeing them kiss was sexy, and I was glad she’d positioned herself in a way where my hard-on wasn’t digging into her.

“I’m crushing on you, too,” she told Tenzin, breaking off the kiss. Her eyes teared. “I know it’s unfair to ask you to wait for me, but I want you to. I’ll try not to take too long. In the meantime, please be friends with each other–or more. I can’t choose between you. It’s not me being some fickle, indecisive beta. I truly need you both. Um, I really hope you both like me back. I’ll be so embarrassed if you don’t, and I could have just ruined everything.”

Those tear-filled hazel eyes pleaded with us again. She’d taken a risk. After all, she lived with me and she hung out with Tens a lot.

“Gweny, I’m here. I like you back so much and have for some time. I’ve waited this long, so I can wait a little longer.” Wiping away her tears, I ran my hand down her face.

She wanted both of us? I could deal with that if Tenzin was as nice of a guy as he was hot. There was something about the way he smelled…

Tens gulped, tension in his face, as he gazed at Gwen. “You’re easy to fall for, Firecracker. Take as long as you need. By the time you’re ready, maybe I’ll be, too.”

“Um, I need to get dressed if we’re still going to make it to yoga in the park. Tens was coming with me. You're welcome to come too, Clark. We’re going to the zoo after. You can see Marty. He misses you.”

Without looking at either of us, she ducked out from between us and darted into her room, the door closing behind her.

Leaving me standing in the living room with a half-naked Yeti.

“Well, that was unexpected,” I breathed. She liked me back. Such a relief.

Tenzin’s eyebrows rose. “You didn’t know she liked you?”

I shook my head. “No idea. I’ve liked her for a year. You okay, man? You like her back, right?”

“There’s so much to like about her. I just don’t know if I can give her what she wants.” His eyes flickered over to her closed door.

“Oh.” I deflated and looked away. “I… I’ll step back for you.”

Because I couldn’t fight him for her. Tenzin was bigger, stronger, richer.

More ripped.

He shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. Next year she’ll be off with whatever team signs her. I don’t know if I can be with her, knowing I’ll have to give her up.”

“Give her up? Do you honestly think that you have to quit her when she goes pro? Do you not do long distances?” I looked up at him, confused.

“I… I could. But the last thing I want to do is hold her back. She’s so young.” His look grew wistful.

“Young? She’s a year older than me.” An angry yowl came from by my suitcase. “Oh, shit, Snowball.”

I went to the plush, soft sided cat carrier I’d gotten and retrieved a pissed off white kitten. “Sorry, Snowball. I got wrapped up in everything. Welcome to your new home.”

“Isn’t our building no pets?” Tenzin eyed the kitten cautiously.

“You won’t tell, right?” I grinned. “Oh, are you allergic?”

“No. I’ve never been much of a cat person.” He stared at her as she squirmed in my arms. “I should get dressed.”

With that, the Yeti left my living room.