Page 54 of Pucking the Team

He gave a small huff. “Or you like teasing me.”

“I can’t imagine a guy like you can be teased by a little thing like me.”

“A little thing like you has me hard as a fucking rock, I have been for the last thirty minutes, but if you want to wait a few days that’s your call.” He released the back of my neck and reached for my hand. “But know this is waiting for you.” He set my palm over his groin. “It’s all for you, every last inch.”

Damn it, he was really fucking hard, his denim pants stretched taut. It must have been uncomfortable.

“And be sure about this…” he spoke quietly. “I’ll teach you things you didn’t even know existed.”

Chapter Thirteen

“Come to practice,” Eduardo said the next morning as he poured himself a coffee in Theo’s and Ben’s kitchen. “And then when we are finished I will take you to a beautiful Italian restaurant I know.” He kissed his fingers and then burst them into the air. “The food is to die for, each dish exquisite. I know you will like every taste on your tongue.”

I sipped my tea and watched Ben shoving things into his kit bag. Theo was pacing outside by the pool on his phone.

“It is quiet here in this big house on your own,” Eduardo went on, “come and make friends at the rink.”

“There’ll be other people watching the practice?” I asked.

“Oui, always a few.” He shrugged. “I don’t know who will be there, but please say yes. I want so much to see you enjoy Benita’s dishes. It is a small restaurant, discreet and known only to a few.”

I smiled. “That sounds nice. Just let me get my purse and I’ll be ready.” I slipped from the barstool and went up the stairs to my bedroom. Lunch with Eduardo was very appealing, and I hadn’t had a really good Italian meal in ages.

After a quick squirt of perfume, I added a slick of red lipstick and re-brushed my hair, which I’d let dry naturally after my shower. I then found a fleece that I hoped would keep me warm enough at the rink.

Eduardo was waiting at the base of the stairs, his hand over the newel post. “Ready,ma choue?”

“What does that mean?” I asked, drawing level with him. “Ma choue.”

His eyes sparkled, and he seemed to drink me up, breathing deep as though taking in my perfume. “It is somethingI save for special people in my life.” He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. “It means ‘my darling’.”

Oh, he was a smooth talker, but I loved it, and it certainly helped fade my traumatic memories from outside Ecclestone church.

“Come,” he said. “We will go in my car so I can drive us to the restaurant afterwards.” He tugged me to the door. “You will loveCiao!I am so glad you agreed to lunch with me.”

We stepped outside into the Florida heat and up to his metallic-blue two-seater sports car.

“Nice set of wheels,” I said. “What is it?”

He laughed and touched his hand to the small of my back. “You don’t know what it is, but you know you like it.”

“I know it’s expensive.”

He opened the door. “There are two things in life worth spending money on.”

“And what are they?”

“Cars and women.”

I raised my eyebrows at him.

“It is a truth.” He shrugged. “And both make me happy. This, you getting in my car, makes meveryhappy.”

His grin was infectious, and I couldn’t help laughing as I sat on the plush black leather.

He also got in and belted up.

“So what is it?” I asked.