Page 20 of Redeeming the Villain (HEAU Hockey Legends #2)

“A re you sure this is okay? Griffin won’t be mad?” I glance down at the Legends jersey I’m wearing.

Blair insisted that I wear the jersey to the game tonight and I wasn’t about to question her.

She chuckles. “No, not at all.”

“Okay …” I drag out the word. “Thank you for letting me borrow it. I might look like I actually belong now.”

She looks over at me as she starts her car. “And why wouldn’t you?”

“I don’t know …” My insecurities wrap around my throat. “I’ve only ever been to one hockey game before, and it wasn’t exactly a great experience.”

She reaches over the divider and grabs my hand. “Malik told me, and I’m so sorry. But I made him promise that he has no bad intentions tonight.”

I’m surprised he told her about the incident at all. I’ve noticed he likes to keep that version of himself reserved. Well, at least, he used to.

A shiver shakes my bones as the memory flashes in my mind—when Malik had the staff escort me out in front of the crowded arena for being his “stalker.” God … the rumors that started after that were hard to bear. The jokes, the laughter … it still haunts me when I think about it.

But I also know that I’m not that girl anymore. I’m not in that school, and Malik isn’t the same Malik I once knew.

“I wouldn’t have come if I thought this was a setup.” I glance out the window at the Hawthorne mansion. “Were Malik and Griffin friends when you two started dating?”

She nods, pulling onto the street and driving toward campus. “The best of friends.”

“D-did he ever mention me?” I don’t know why this question bubbled to the surface, but I can’t help but be curious.

Shaking her head slightly, she winces. “No, but don’t take that as a point against him. Honestly, I’ve never even heard him talk about his life prior to coming here.”

“Really?” My ears perk up.

She nods. “Yeah, the only person I’ve ever heard him mention is someone named Darius, and that was only in passing when I overheard Griffin and him talking.”

My mind starts to shift back in time, wondering what I might have missed all those years ago. But I was usually so busy hating him that I left no room for empathy.

I want him to open up to me more, tell me all the secrets he keeps locked in his mind. But we just started crossing the line from enemies to lovers, and the last thing I want to do is chase him off and reverse the progress we’ve made.

We pull into the arena and find a decent parking spot. Blair said she wanted to get there before warm-ups so the choices were pretty open.

Grabbing my purse, I pull out my lip gloss and take one quick look in the pull-down mirror.

God, I’m nervous. I wish Sunny could be here just for moral support, but I know she’d be far more comfortable in our room with June than in a loud, cold rink.

My blonde hair cascades down my shoulders in loose, wavy curls. Brushing my light-pink-tinted gloss across my lips, I take a deep breath and check my monitor on my wrist, the one I only usually wear when I’m not with Sunny. Heart rate is under control.

“Ready?” Blair asks me, killing the engine and grabbing her own purse.

“As I’ll ever be.” I close the mirror and step outside of the car, the cold breeze skirting through the jersey material.

When I walk into the arena with Blair, my heart is in my throat, and my stomach is rotating like a rotisserie chicken.

Blair holds her phone up for the ticket guy to scan. He scans the two tickets and lets us through. We must be some of the first people to arrive as the concession area is barren.

I’ve never been on this side of the arena. The only time I was here was when I came to confront Malik, and he pulled me into some equipment room on the opposite entrance.

“Our seats are this way. I always sit in the same one,” she tells me, leading the way.

Turning left, I follow her into a short tunnel until we’re at the top of some stairs.

“Wait.” I stop. “How far down are we?”

She turns around and pinches her brows. “Row eight. Is everything okay?”

When I glance down the seemingly never-ending stairs, my palms start to sweat. I didn’t even take this into account, and I totally should’ve.

“I should probably go to the restroom first. Going up and down a lot of stairs can really wear me out fast. Would you be able to point me in the right direction?”

“Of course. I’m sorry. I could have gotten seats higher up. I should have asked.” She sighs angrily at herself. “Next time, we’ll get seats closer to the top!”

Feeling like a sudden burden, I shoo her offer away with my hand. “Oh, no. It’s okay. As long as I go to the bathroom first, I should only have to get up, like, one time. I should be okay?—”

She cuts me off, “No, no. There’s no reason you should subject yourself to that when I can see perfectly fine from a different seat.”

Walking past me, she turns and points down the hallway that wraps around the rink. “They are just down there to your right.”

I smile at her. “Thank you.”

She nods. “I’m going to get a drink. Do you want anything?”

“A water, please,” I say politely as I start to walk away, following her instructions.

“You got it.”

Walking down the hallway, I stop when my eyes land on a poster hanging on the wall. It’s a giant photo, stretched out ten feet wide with nearly life-size photos of some of the players. The main boys—Griffin, Asher, Dean, Elias, Finn, and Malik. But I’m only staring at one.

He’s somehow more intimidating in this photo. If that’s even possible. His face is rigid and threatening as he poses with his stick. With his helmet in his hand, his messy black hair is in full view, as are his stunning eyes, and I take a second just to study unabashedly.

After a few moments, I tear my gaze from his intense stare and continue down the hallway to the restroom.

After using it, I wash my hands and run my fingers through my hair in the mirror before taking a few deep breaths. Giving myself an internal pep talk, I start heading back to Blair.

Turning the corner into the hallway, I slam to a halt, finding Malik leaning against the wall, waiting for me, his arms crossed over his wide chest.

Holy shit.

No one should look that good in hockey gear.

My God .

My eyes travel to his even broader shoulders, his jersey pulled over the pads beneath. I’ve never really found a lot of other hockey players attractive, but he … he is on another level. And standing in his skates and the little skate guards over the blades, he’s even taller.

“Are you done ogling me?” He smirks and pushes off of the wall, walking toward me.

Craning my neck to look up at him, I shake my head. “Not yet.”

His gaze falls to the jersey, and he cocks his head to the side. “Did you stop by the merch shop?”

I shake my head, looking down at it. “No, Blair let me borrow it.”

He growls, his jaw tightening. “Turn around.”

“W-what? Why?” I ask, and he lightly grabs my shoulders, spinning me around.

“No, she fucking didn’t,” he mutters under his breath, his voice deep and angry. He twirls me back around. “Come on.”

Taking my hand in his, he tugs me behind him. My body warms slightly, and my lungs tighten like a warning sign that I need to rest.

“Stop.” The word falls out of my mouth effortlessly.

He turns back with a look of genuine concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Will people get mad if I sit on the ground here?” I ask, waiting for his answer.

Brushing my hair back from my face, he assures me, “No, but I don’t give a fuck if they do. Sit down if you need to, baby. No one will say a word with me here.”

I slowly ease myself to the ground, and the coldness of the concrete floor seeps through my leggings, feeling nice.

Malik drops to the ground beside me and watches me with worry.

“I’ll be okay.”

Reaching over, he wraps his big hand around my thigh, brushing his thumbs back and forth.

“Do you need to lie down? Get your legs up? I can take you to a room that has a sitting area. I can have someone get a Waterboy packet from my bag and some water.” He pauses, studying me while my chest blooms with emotion.

He noticed my Waterboy packets and stocked some in his bag? Maybe he just had some of his own. They are a pretty popular brand.

He holds my stare, and I can see a question in his gaze, but apparently, he doesn’t want an actual answer.

Getting on his knees, he hooks an arm around my waist and beneath my legs. “Actually, I’m not going to ask you, I’m just going to do it. If I leave it up to you, you’ll decline because you’ll be worried you’re being too much .”

He lifts slightly and waits for my go-ahead to continue. I nod, and he gently raises me up as he stands to his feet, cradling me against his chest.

Vulnerability skates across my skin, making me feel exposed and raw. I didn’t realize that he’d watched me so closely. Or that he knows more about POTS than what I’ve told him.

He’s doing research of his own?

“Doing okay like this?” His voice softly caresses my ear.

“Yeah.” I force myself to continue to take deep breaths even though I’m already feeling better.

I want it to keep going that way, even if Malik’s close proximity is threatening my breathing to shallow out.

“Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere right now?”

He lowers me slightly and twists a doorknob with his hand, pushing the door open with his foot. “I’m right where I need to be.”

My heart skips in a beat—in a safe and loving way.

Carrying me through the threshold, he brings me into some kind of lounge room, locking the door behind us.

Walking over to the couch, he turns and sits down on the far-left cushion, setting me in his lap with my feet resting up on the armrest.

“Better?” he asks, and a smirk lifts his lips.

“Much.” I grin, feeling almost as good as new. “You didn’t care about my well-being at all. You just wanted to get me alone, huh?”

He throws his head back on the couch and laughs. “Absolutely. You’ve figured me out.”

His smile is big, his pearly whites on full display. I don’t know if I’ve seen him smile like this. It’s reaching all the way up to his eyes, twinkling at me as he gazes down.

“Do you need to lie like this for longer?” he asks.

“Oh, I’ll be okay if you need to go. I’ll be fine. I can find my way back?—”

His hand cuts me off, sliding over my mouth.

“Stop.” His spine straightens, and I feel his excitement shift beneath my ass, pressing into me. “I’m not leaving you, Bug. I’m just wondering how long you need before you can sit up.”

My cheeks burn at what I’m about to do, and I haven’t even done it yet. I sit up in his lap, moving my hips left and right as I hook my arm around his neck.

“Alora.” My name leaves his lips in a mix of a growl and a groan, his hand snaking around my waist. “Careful. You aren’t feeling the best right now, and I don’t want to exhaust you even more. But if you keep that up, it’s going to be very, very hard not to.”

My core pulses from his words. “What are you going to do? You have a hockey game to get to.” My lips tip up into a smirk.

His stare darkens as he runs his finger across my collarbone before wrapping his tattooed hand around my throat. “You think I won’t stay up here with you and say fuck the rest of the world? Test me, Alora. I dare you.”

He wouldn’t actually though, right?

Like, he has to go back downstairs at some point. I’m sure he’s supposed to be somewhere right now even.

But … he did tell me to dare him.

Tilting my head toward him, I press my lips against the base of his neck. Sticking the tip of my tongue out, I run it up the length, over the black ink running vertically on his skin.

“Alora.” His chest vibrates as his deep, spine-tingling tone rattles through the room.

This is such a bad idea. But then why am I so excited?

“One more move, and I’m not letting you out of here until I get to taste you,” he warns me, as if that’s not what I’m trying to achieve.

I breathe against his ear, “I dare you.”

All of a sudden, I’m on my back on the couch, and he’s leaning over me, his hair falling forward and his chain dangling out of his jersey.

He eyes me like a starving animal. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, baby.” He attacks, his mouth assaulting my neck in torturous kisses and flicks of his tongue. “Mmm. You smell so good.”

It’s like his mouth knows where all of my buttons are and his tongue pushes every single one. I moan, and his hand clamps down over my mouth.

“You’ve got to be quiet for me if you don’t want me to stop.” He pulls away, and his lust-blown pupils find mine. “Are you going to be a good girl and keep that pretty mouth shut?”

Nodding, I pull him back to my neck as my breathing quickens. He scoots forward on his knees, forcing my legs further apart as his kisses trail lower.

“Lift your arms,” he orders, and I obey, stretching them over my head.

Grabbing the bottom of my jersey, he scrunches it up and peels it off of my body, leaving me in my bra. He doesn’t stop there.

Hooking his fingers in my leggings, he wiggles them down my hips to my ankles. “I’ll never tire of seeing you like this. So fucking beautiful.”

My heart hammers at his compliment. I want him to show me exactly how he feels.

Running his fingers down my stomach, he slides them between my bent legs and over the lace of my panties, rubbing my clit in small, tantalizing circles.

“Oh my God … yes,” I whimper from the heat pooling in my core.

“You are so fucking pretty with my fingers on your pussy and your back arched like that.” He slips his hand beneath my panties and finds the same rhythm as before.

Sliding two fingers through my center, he groans and licks his lips. “So wet for me already? I can’t wait to feel you soak my hand.”

Gently, he sinks a finger inside of me, easing it in and out. The sensation is foreign at first, but then it bursts with pleasure as his pace increases.

I watch him as intently as he’s watching me when he inches another finger inside of me, pumping them in and out as his thumb circles my clit.

His eyebrows pinch together in curiosity. “You are so fucking tight.”

Oh God, I didn’t think he’d be able to tell that nobody has ever done this—or fucked me either. He’s taking almost every one of my firsts.

The mountain of ecstasy builds with every thrust of his fingers and circle of his thumb, and I can feel that I’m not going to last much longer.

“Malik …” I exhale his name as he brings me closer to the edge. “ Please .”

His purple gaze grows even darker. “Say it again. I like it when you beg.”

“Please, please, please,” I whimper, giving him exactly what he wants.

And he does the same, his pace quickening just enough for my orgasm to tear through me.

“Ahh!” I cry out, and his hand slaps down over my mouth, a stinging sensation spiking the pleasure.

“Shut those lips before I shove my cock down your throat and use it as a gag.” His voice is menacing and almost cruel, and it makes my core pulse with desire.

I think I like this side of him too. I want all of it, every version. Nice Malik. Dirty Malik. Villain Malik. Give me every one.

I ride my orgasm out on his hand until it starts to fade, and I decide to tempt him just one more time. I stick my tongue out, and it hits his hand; he pulls it away, grinning.

Sliding his other hand out from my center, he sucks his fingers into his mouth and groans.

Pushing my tongue out of my mouth, I lean back against the headrest of the couch, my head falling back as I hold my mouth open and show him what I want.

It takes less than a second for him to realize what I’m offering. “Oh, really ?”

Tilting my head back up, I nod. “I’ve only done it a handful of times, so I might not be very good at it … but I can try.”

His jaw tics, and his eyes darken. “First off, never mention another man’s dick in your mouth. Secondly, I’m going to need all of their names. Thirdly, anything you do with your mouth will make me come in seconds. You have no idea how long I’ve fantasized about how good your throat would feel.”

He steps off the couch, takes his skates off and strips his bottoms from him, leaving him in only his boxers. Doesn’t he usually have to wear a cup with that? Never mind that.

My brain empties of every thought, except for … Holy shit …

When he cups himself, my jaw drops as the huge bulge throbs against his hand. His eyes twinkle as he walks to the edge of the couch behind my head, standing over me.

Hooking his thumbs in his boxers, he tugs them down his hips, freeing his rock-hard erection. It bounces from release, and I wet my lips.

Nerves start to flood me. I want to be good at this. I want to make him feel as good as he makes me.

“Should I stay like this?” I murmur.

“Is it easier for you to lie on your back?” His dick pulses above my face.

I nod, less than an inch between my mouth and his tip.

“Then open that filthy mouth, Alora,” he demands.

Sticking my tongue out, I take his tip into my mouth as he inches forward, sucking and running my tongue along the soft skin.

“Oh, yeah, baby, you’re going to do perfect,” he moans. “Open wider. I want to feel my dick fill your goddamn throat.”

Stretching my mouth as wide as I can, I take his thick cock as he thrusts forward, pushing it as far as it will go. I gag immediately.

“Fuck, that feels like heaven.” He threads his fingers into my hair on each side of my head. “Try again. You can take more than that. I know it.”

Nodding, I flick my tongue back and forth across the underside of his shaft, earning a soft moan.

Gripping my hair tighter, he thrusts hard into my mouth, and I fight the sensation to gag, focusing on taking him as deep as I can.

“Oh fuck, baby. Just like that.” He pulls back, and then he jams it back down my throat, using my mouth as his own personal toy. “Such a good little slut for me, aren’t you, Bug? Taking this dick so well.”

My pussy pulses at his praise. I want more of it.

Resisting the urge to gag, I last as long as I can without inching away, but eventually, I rear my head back.

He reads my cue and slows down, sliding his dick out of my mouth until just the tip and an inch or so remain. Catching my breath for a second, I tip my head back, taking more of him between my lips.

“That’s my girl. Greedy for this cock, aren’t you? Let me give you every inch.” He fucks my mouth with abandon, his face contorting with pleasure as he brings himself to the edge. “I want my cum dripping down your throat when you cheer my name at the game tonight.”

His words are his own undoing, and he spills into my throat as a deep moan grumbles out of him. He whimpers, “Oh fuck, baby.”

He pulls out to the tip. His dick pulses in my mouth for a moment until every drop drips onto my tongue, and I swallow. Flicking my tongue, I clean him, looking up with hooded eyes.

With a dirty smirk, he steps back, removing himself completely. Reaching over, he grabs Griffin’s jersey from the back of the couch and wipes himself with it.

My jaw unhinges.

“Malik!” I scold him. “I still have to wear that!”

Ignoring me, he balls the jersey up, cocks his arm back, and launches it across the room, throwing it straight into the garbage can.

“Oh my God! Wait!” I reach for it, but it’s far too late. “Now I’m going to smell like garbage and your cum. Great .”

Bending down, he kisses me ferociously. “There is no way in hell I was ever letting you walk out of this room with anyone else’s name on your back.” Reaching behind his head, he grabs his jersey and lifts it off his gear, handing it to me. “My name only, Alora. Only mine. Always.”

“Always,” I murmur, taking it from him with hearts in my eyes. “You don’t need it?” I ask, dumbfounded.

“I’ll get a new one. Even if I had to play in someone else’s jersey or sit the game out, I’d rather have it on you.”

He slowly helps me sit up and watches me carefully as I slip his jersey over my head and thread my arms through the sleeves.

It’s oversize on me, and it falls to the tops of my thighs as I rise to my feet and pull my panties and leggings up. “How does it look?”

He whistles and clicks his tongue. “Sexy as hell.”

My cheeks burn.

Quickly, he gets dressed before we walk to the door. He puts his ear against it and listens for a second.

“I’d better get you to your seat before Blair accuses me of kidnapping you.” He smirks, taking my hand in his as we step out into the hallway.

A few girls walking toward us glare at me with murder in their eyes when they see our hands interlocked before eye-fucking Malik right in front of me.

“Look the other fucking way,” he snaps, and they gasp in shock but listen to his order anyway.

As we reach the top of the section Blair and I are sitting in, I spot Blair and her black hair bow. But she’s definitely not in row eight anymore.

Only two rows down from the top, she must sense our stare, turning to us almost immediately. She waves kindly, and I wave back, knowing I’m doing a shit job at hiding the redness on my face.

Turning me to him, Malik grabs my jaw and pulls me up for a kiss, sinking his tongue into my mouth. A few people break into cheers and shouts in the crowd as they watch us.

Oh God.

Pulling away, I can feel my cheeks darken even more. “Good luck.”

He winks at me. “Don’t need it.” He kisses me once more on the lips and then places one light one on my forehead. “Have fun.”

“ Malik Ravenwell .” Griffin’s voice is deep and scary as he calls out Malik’s name a few feet away. “Get your ass in the locker room. You’re late as shit.”

Walking down two rows, I stride over to Blair and sit in the chair to her left. She’s giggling as I approach, a knowing gleam in her eye.

“Find the bathroom okay?” she asks mockingly.

I cover my face. “I mean, yeah, I found it just fine. Ten out of ten experience.”

She laughs. “I bet it was.” Her gaze falls to my jersey. “New look?”

My face pales. “Oh God. Malik, he?—”

She reaches out and gently touches my arm, calming my worries instantly. “I know. I figured as much when I gave it to you to wear.”

My jaw unhinges.

“How do you think he knew you were in the restroom? He came to find you when you were gone.”

Sitting back, I look at her in awe. “A little mastermind.”

She flips her hair over her shoulder. “What can I say? I just love love , and I knew him seeing you in Griffin’s jersey would drive him absolutely insane.”

“It certainly did.” I can’t contain the smile on my lips. “I can buy you a new one.”

She bats my offer away with the back of her hand. “Please don’t. I bought it just for this reason. It won’t be missed.”

“ Blair ,” I scoff.

She shrugs. “I figured a little shove wouldn’t hurt anyone. Besides, Malik can be dense sometimes, and I knew this would get under his skin. Something about these guys, their girls, and their jerseys. They foam at the mouth when we wear someone else’s. It’s not my fault they’re all so predictable.”

Laughing along with her, I reach down and pick up the bottle of water she got me as an announcer’s voice roars through the speakers.

“Here are your HEAU Legends!”