Page 10

CHAPTER NINE

Ainsley stood up and cheered as Coulton stopped Washington from scoring a goal. She’d been resisting the urge to pinch herself all night, because she couldn’t believe she was here, sitting in one of the bougie boxes with a great view of the ice. Maren, a huge fan of the sport, would be pea green with envy when Ainsley told her about this tomorrow at work.

She was struggling to recall why she’d ever hated hockey. The sport was wildly exciting, and now that she knew how hard it was to skate on ice, she was even more impressed by Coulton’s agility despite his large stature.

The guy was incredibly talented and strong and sweet and sexy as fuck.

She’d given up all hope of holding the man at bay, of protecting her heart.

It was simply impossible.

“What a save!” Erika exclaimed.

Dr. Erika Nelson had introduced herself the second Ainsley arrived, explaining she lived across the hall from Coulton’s teammate, Blake Mills. Apparently, Coulton had texted Erika this afternoon, asking if she’d introduce Ainsley to the others in the box.

Ainsley was touched by his thoughtfulness, because she had been quite nervous about sitting in a box filled with strangers. Five minutes with Erika and every drop of anxiety had vanished, since the woman was so damn friendly and nice.

“So…you and Coulton,” Erika asked, as the first period started to wind down.

Ainsley wished she’d thought to ask Coulton what he’d told his friends about them. Had he said they were just friends or that they were dating? Did he make it sound like a casual thing or something more? Hell, she wasn’t even sure exactly what they were. She’d been too afraid to ask. Or…trigger shy might be the more accurate term. The last time she’d asked a boyfriend what their relationship status was had been with Montgomery, and he’d let her know in no uncertain terms how little she meant to him. She wasn’t ready to open herself up to that kind of rejection again if Coulton was just fooling around.

“Yeah. Um. It’s sort of new. We’ve only gone out a few times, so I’m not sure there’s a label to attach to it or anything.”

“I’m glad he met someone. The poor guy has been on his own for too long.”

“Coulton told me about his breakup, and that he’d dated his last girlfriend for a long time. It makes sense it took him time to get over her.”

Erika tilted her head. “I guess so. We had a heart-to-heart about it one night after too many tequila shots,” she said with a laugh. “I have to admit, I didn’t get the sense that Coulton had been head over heels in love with Evelyn. It felt more like a comfortable relationship.”

Ainsley frowned. “Is that a bad thing?”

“No, not at all. Being comfortable with someone is great.” Erika glanced toward the ice, her gaze following Blake as he slid from one side to the other with the puck. “But passion should be a part of it too, right? Coulton said that toward the end of his relationship with Evelyn, they’d started to feel more like siblings than a couple.”

“Oh. Yeah, that’s not good.” He hadn’t mentioned that to Ainsley, but they hadn’t exactly spent a lot of time talking about Evelyn. Probably because Coulton had an uncanny ability to constantly turn their conversations back to her.

“But this is just me, talking out of turn. What I’m really trying to say is, Blake told me that Coulton’s been a different person the last couple of weeks since he started dating you.”

Ainsley liked the word dating , even if she wasn’t sure it fit. Regardless, there was another word that stood out more. “Different?”

Erika grinned. “Happy, Ainsley. He’s really happy.”

Ainsley smiled, Erika’s comment having the same effect on her. She seriously hoped she was making Coulton happy, because God knew she’d smiled more in the past few weeks than she had in the last decade. The man was breaking down her defenses, and she didn’t mind it as much as she should.

She was starting to trust him, and while, yes, that scared her spitless, the fear wasn’t enough that she wanted to stop seeing him.

“I’m going to grab another beer,” Erika said, shaking up her empty can. “You want another?”

Ainsley shook her head. “I’m good.”

As the buzzer sounded to end the first period, Ainsley stood and stretched, looking around the arena.

She was in the team box, which was open and connected to several other boxes on this level. Turning toward the box to the right, she froze when she saw a familiar face.

No. Fucking. Way.

She wasn’t sure what she’d ever done to piss off Karma, but that bitch had it out for her. Bad.

Ainsley started to duck her head in order not to be seen, but she didn’t move quickly enough.

Her gaze locked with Montgomery’s, and she watched a plethora of emotions cross his face in rapid succession. Surprise to confusion to curiosity to annoyance to—fuck her—that slimy smile that she’d stupidly mistaken as charming during the early days.

He stepped over to the railing that separated the boxes. He was still in his outdoor jacket, his hair windblown, so she assumed he’d just arrived at the game.

“Ainsley,” he said.

She was tempted to flip him the bird, then turn around and ignore him, but there were too many people in the box that were friends of Coulton’s teammates. She wanted them to like her, so she thought it best to move closer to Montgomery so that she could keep this conversation quiet, civil, and—please God—short.

“Hey, Monty.” She looked over his shoulder, studying the box he was in, which was filled with just men.

Montgomery followed her gaze. “Bachelor party for one of my colleagues at work,” he explained. “I got held up in court, so I’m a little late.”

“Oh.”

Then Montgomery gave her box the same once-over. “You know this is the team’s box, right?”

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. What the fuck did he think? She’d snuck in? “I’m aware.”

He waited for her to say more, but she didn’t owe this prick any explanations.

“You look good,” he said, his eyes traveling down her body in a way that made her skin crawl. “Really good.”

She didn’t respond to that creepy compliment. “Well. I’ll let you get back to your party.” She was in no mood to make small talk with the asshole.

Before she could step away, Montgomery quickly reached out, grasping her wrist. She gave his hand a very pointed look before shooting him a warning glance. Montgomery took the hint and released her.

“I was just thinking about you the other day,” he said.

“Cool,” she said dismissively, glancing over her shoulder, wondering if Erika would be able to understand if she shot her a “rescue me” look. They didn’t know each other well, but that look was pretty universal amongst women.

Unfortunately, Erika was talking to a couple of the wives of Stingrays players, the three women laughing as they stood near the snack table.

“How have you been?” Montgomery asked.

“Busy,” she replied, not bothering to look in his direction. She wondered how much longer before the second period began and they could all resume their seats to watch the game.

“Are you dating anyone?” he asked, looking around the box as if trying to decide if she was there with one of the men.

She whipped her head around, giving him a dirty look. “My personal life is none of your business.”

Montgomery gave her one of those condescending sighs meant to make her feel like she was being unreasonable. “I guess you’re still mad at me.”

“I’d have to give a shit about you to be mad,” she retorted. “I feel absolutely nothing for you.”

“I handled things badly, Ainsley,” he said in a voice that almost sounded sincere. “I was under a lot of stress at work and, well, I wasn’t exactly happy about Emma returning from overseas. The truth is, our parents are the ones who pushed the relationship between us, and it’s never been an easy one. That year she was gone was the first time I’d felt free in ages.”

Ainsley wasn’t sure why the hell he was telling her any of this. “Okay,” she said, because it seemed like the simplest reply. “Well, I should?—”

“Emma doesn’t get me. Not like you did.”

Ainsley couldn’t help but scoff. Was he fucking kidding her with this bullshit? “I promise I didn’t get you either.”

“But you did. Things were so easy with you. We had fun together,” he said, before leaning closer. “Especially in the bedroom. Emma is a prude when it comes to?—”

“This is a good place to end the conversation,” she hissed, fighting to keep control of her temper as well as the volume of her voice. There was no way Montgomery thought she’d go back to him after the cruel shit he said to her, did he? Did he also think she’d be sympathetic about his rich-bitch girlfriend not putting out?

“Ainsley, wait.” He reached out again but stopped just short of grabbing her arm. “I’m saying all of this wrong. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. Letting you go was a big mistake, and I’d like to try to make it up to you if I could.”

“Are you asking me out?”

Her question was one of shock, not interest, but Montgomery interpreted it the wrong way. “We could go out for drinks, maybe dinner.”

Ainsley shook her head. “Aren’t you still dating Emma?”

“Well, yeah. But I’m planning to break things off soon.”

And she was going to start shooting lasers from her eyeballs. Once a cheater, always a cheater. Obviously, Montgomery was still operating under the assumption she was a gullible, easy fool.

“I’m not interested in going out with you,” she said, grateful when Coulton and his teammates returned to the ice.

“Ainsley, please. Just drinks. I’d love the chance to apologize.”

“You already did,” she said, cutting him off. She didn’t bother to say she hadn’t accepted it because she hadn’t, and she wouldn’t.

“I guess what I’m really asking for is another chance.”

She laughed. “Nope. No chance.”

Ainsley should have known her response would be the equivalent to waving a red flag, because Montgomery morphed into counselor-mode, ready to launch into all his counterarguments in order to drive his case home.

Fortunately, she was saved by the return of Erika.

“Hey, look what Coulton just had sent up from the shop downstairs for you,” the kind doctor said, holding up a jersey, laughing when she flipped it around so Ainsley could see Coulton’s name and number on the back. “He’s clearly marking his territory,” she teased.

Ainsley laughed as well, handing her beer to Erika so she could slip the jersey on over her shirt. “This is awesome.”

“Coulton Moore,” Montgomery muttered. “You’re dating the goalie?”

She ignored him completely as Erika glanced from her to Montgomery and back again. Ainsley had no intention of introducing them or giving her ex the chance to keep this conversation going.

“Let’s grab our seats,” she said, turning away from Montgomery, wishing she and Erika had claimed seats on the other end of the box. Instead, they were in the middle, still too close to Montgomery’s box for her comfort.

Especially when the asshole claimed the chair on the end of the row, next to the half-wall between their boxes. Only two people and an empty seat separated them, and he obviously wasn’t finished with her, given the way he kept looking in their direction.

Erika must have noticed, because she leaned close to Ainsley. “Do you know that guy?”

Ainsley sighed. “We went out a couple of years ago. He’s a major douchebag.”

“Ah,” Erika said. “Shitty exes are the worst. Must be killing him that you’re dating Coulton.”

“I hope it is.” Ainsley giggled, then she shut Montgomery out of her mind, all her attention focused on the ice. During one time-out, she saw Coulton glance in their direction. She raised her hand and waved, thrilled when he waved back.

Then, because she couldn’t help herself, she looked at Montgomery, who’d caught the exchange. He looked pissed off, which pleased Ainsley more than she could say. Not because she wanted to make him jealous, but more because the petty part of her wanted him to suffer.

When the second period ended, Montgomery called out her name, intending on starting their conversation again, but she ignored him, walking to the back of the box for another beer and hanging out with Erika, who was all in on helping her avoid her ex.

“That guy is not taking a hint, is he?” she asked, glancing over Ainsley’s shoulder. Ainsley didn’t bother to turn around.

“He’s the typical guy,” she said. “Obviously, I’ve just become the toy he didn’t want until someone else started playing with me.”

Erika nodded slowly. “I get that.”

For the rest of the game, Ainsley continued to ignore Montgomery, who finally gave up and started hanging out with the guys in his box. As the third period started to wind down, the bachelor party heated up, most of the men—Montgomery included—drunk and loud.

As the last buzzer sounded, she and Erika rose, cheering loudly as the Stingrays won two to one in a game that had been more of a nail-biter than she cared for.

“Hey, Erika,” one of the Stingrays’ wives called out. “Are you girls going to Pat’s Pub for the after-party?”

Erika nodded. “Yeah.”

“Awesome. We’ll see you there.”

She and Erika put their coats on. “Did you drive here?”

Ainsley shook her head. “No. I got an Uber.”

“Want to ride with me to the pub? The guys still need to do their postgame workout and shower. They’ll be at least another hour, probably more.”

“That would be great, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” Erika looped her arm in hers. “I’ve had a great time hanging out with you tonight.”

Ainsley smiled because she felt the same. She was very short of girlfriends. Tonight had been one of the first time in ages when she’d had a woman anywhere near her age to talk to, and it had been nice.

So nice, she let herself be pulled into the meet and greet with Coulton’s teammates without a moment of hesitation.

* * *

“I love the way you look in that jersey,” Coulton said, placing his hands on Ainsley’s shoulders when he arrived and giving her a kiss on the top of her head.

She looked up at him from her spot at the table. She, Erika, and several other wives and girlfriends had asked for a large table upon arrival. The bartender, Padraig, had helped them pull several tables together, making sure they’d have enough seats for the players when they arrived.

Ainsley patted the empty chair next to her that she’d saved for him. “That was an amazing game.”

Coulton grinned, dropping down next to her. “Careful, wildcat, or you might give people the impression you like hockey.”

She shoulder-bumped him. “Smart-ass. You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

“Maybe in a decade or two,” he teased.

Ainsley’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of the two of them still being together in a decade. Then she gave herself a mental headshake because it was obvious his words were simply a joke.

She grabbed a pitcher from the center of the table as Padraig arrived armed with frosty mugs for the new arrivals. Coulton and the bartender spoke for a few minutes about the game. It was obvious they knew each other, and Padraig was a huge Stingrays fan. Typically, bars weren’t her chosen place to go to on her day off. Simply because she spent too much of her life in Mick’s Tavern. But Pat’s Pub was the polar opposite of Mick’s. Clean and warm and inviting.

With the arrival of the players, the quiet conversation she’d been enjoying with just the women erupted into a full-fledge celebration, and Ainsley was right in the midst of it all, laughing and talking and…fitting in.

She’d spent too much of today stressing out over meeting Coulton’s friends. Wasted time, she realized, as she looked around the table. Erika winked at her from a few seats away, then turned back to start talking to Blake, who was sitting very, very close to her. Erika had mentioned that she and Blake had adopted a puppy together, and while she made it sound like they’d done so as friends and neighbors, Ainsley had gotten the distinct impression that Erika’s feelings for Blake weren’t as platonic as they seemed.

“I’m going to grab a couple more pitchers,” Coulton said at one point, leaning forward to give her a kiss on the cheek.

Her libido had been on simmer ever since he’d arrived at the pub, because Coulton seriously seemed incapable of sitting next to her and not touching her. Not that she was complaining. She loved the way he rested his arm along the back of her chair, toying with her hair or gripping her shoulder to tug her close. He’d given her no less than fifty sweet kisses on her cheek, forehead, behind her ear, and on her lips. She’d never been with a man who was so open about his affection. Ainsley hadn’t ever considered that was something she would like, but when the man was Coulton, she discovered she liked it very, very much.

“Okay,” she said. “I’m going to run to the bathroom while you’re gone.”

They rose at the same time, Coulton heading for the bar, her toward the back. Before she got halfway across the room, a large party arrived from what she’d learned was Sunday’s Side. Earlier, Erika had explained that Pat’s Pub took up only half of this large building in Fell’s Point, the other half a restaurant owned and operated by the same family, the Collinses.

Ainsley groaned when she recognized several of the men who’d been in the same box as Montgomery.

She saw him before he spotted her, but it was obvious he’d come into the bar looking for her when she watched him scan the room, then smile when his eyes landed on her.

She didn’t return it because, dammit, his presence was the thunderstorm to her parade.

“Ainsley,” he said, approaching her.

“Why are you here?”

His grin faltered in the face of her antagonistic tone. “My buddy, the bachelor, is the world’s biggest Stingrays fan. When he overheard that the players were going to be hanging out here, he begged us to move our after-party to Pat’s. We just had a late dinner at Sunday’s,” he said, jerking his thumb toward the restaurant.

Glancing toward the table she’d just left, she realized several of the guys in Montgomery’s group had walked over to talk to the players.

Montgomery leaned closer, and she caught the smell of bourbon on his breath. Dinner appeared to have muted his drunkenness, but only a little. “I’m not sorry I ran into you again. I was hoping to convince you to go out for that drink with me.”

“No,” she said, not bothering to offer a reason.

“Are you really dating Coulton Moore?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

Montgomery gave her a sympathetic look. “Oh, Ains. Are you sure it’s really dating? I mean, look at all those women over there.” He gestured to the gaggle of puck bunnies, who’d been hovering on the perimeter of their group ever since the guys arrived. “The man’s a professional athlete with women throwing themselves at him twenty-four seven. There’s a difference between hooking up and dating.”

“You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?” she spat at him.

He sighed. “I deserve that. But the truth still remains, I’d hate to see you get hurt.”

Ainsley couldn’t decide if she should laugh at the irony of his warning or punch the dickhead in the throat for being such a clueless bastard. The one thing she refused to do was point out that he’d hurt her, because she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing just how badly he’d knocked her down.

“I’m a big girl, Monty,” she said instead. “And I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

Montgomery smiled. “That’s one of the things I loved best about you. You are a total badass,” he said. “Unlike Emma, who has a complete meltdown if she breaks a nail.”

Ainsley closed her eyes briefly, praying for patience. So far, she thought she’d been making a good first impression with Coulton’s friends. She’d hate to lose that advantage by kicking Montgomery in the nuts. Though given they were hockey players, they’d probably love it.

“Good to know,” she said sarcastically. “Now if you’ll excuse?—”

“Please, Ainsley. I know I fucked up. You were always so easy to be with and you never made a bunch of demands. I made a mistake, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”

Ainsley shook her head. “No,” she started, more than ready to walk away from him.

As always, he talked over her. “We set the sheets on fire. God. You and me…we were combustible in the bedroom. Surely you must miss that. Why don’t you ditch this crowd? We can go back to my place and?—”

“ Hell no,” she said, loudly. “You and I are history, and I have no intention of repeating it.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Coulton on his way from the bar. He tilted his head curiously when he saw her with Montgomery. Dropping the pitchers off at the table, he walked over to her.

“Hey, Ainsley. Everything okay?” Coulton asked as he approached. Then, bless his soul, he looped his arm over her shoulders, tucking her against his side.

She leaned into him, soaking up his strength.

Montgomery, who was just shy of six feet tall, looked like one of the seven dwarfs standing next to Coulton.

Rather than wait for her to make the introductions, her ex took charge, thrusting out his hand. “Montgomery Miles.”

Coulton clearly recognized the name, because the temperature surrounding them dropped at least fifty degrees as he scowled.

“Coulton Moore.” He accepted Montgomery’s hand, and given the slight wince on her ex’s face, she’d say her sexy goalie’s firm grip was a little too on point.

“Ainsley and I were talking about what a great game it was,” Montgomery lied.

Coulton nodded, the smile she was used to seeing on his face uncharacteristically absent.

Montgomery, the idiot, tried to shift closer to her. “Have to admit, I didn’t realize you were a hockey fan, Ains. Always got the impression you didn’t care for the sport.”

Ainsley sucked in a deep breath, ready to eviscerate her ex for being such a douchebag, but Coulton beat her to the punch as he pulled her tighter against him, grinning. “I showed her the errors of her ways,” he said to Montgomery, even though he was looking at her.

She laughed, placing her hand flat against Coulton’s broad chest. “Oh, you think so, do you?” she teased.

Coulton chuckled. “I know so.”

“I don’t know. After spending so much time with Slade this afternoon, I’m starting to think I might prefer baseball.”

“So how did you two meet?” Montgomery interjected, unhappy at being cut out of their conversation.

“At Mick’s Tavern,” Coulton replied coolly.

Montgomery laughed, mistaking Coulton’s reply for a joke. When neither of them joined in, he sobered up. “Seriously?”

Montgomery had only been to Mick’s once, early in their relationship. He’d offered to pick her up for their date. It was the first and last time he made that offer, because he’d been too worried about someone stealing or messing with his precious car. After that, all their time was spent at his place, and she’d had to make her way to and from there by public transportation or rideshare.

Coulton ignored Montgomery’s question. “I’ve got a couple of friends at the bar who’d like to meet you,” he said to Ainsley.

“I’d like that,” she said, accepting his hand as he quickly guided her away from Montgomery.

Once they were out of earshot, she grinned. “That was an aggressive handshake there, hotshot.”

Coulton growled. “I should have broken his fingers.”

“Bit rude of us to walk away like that,” she added, though her tone and smile let him know she was grateful for the save. “Without saying goodbye and shit.”

“I don’t like that fucker.”

This was hands down Ainsley’s favorite conversation ever. “Me either. FYI? You are getting sooooo lucky tonight.”

Coulton laughed loudly, then turned her toward him, cupping her cheeks in his hands. “God, you’re gorgeous. And I can see I’m not going to be able to leave you alone for fear that every other guy in here will try to snatch you away from me.” He placed a quick, hard kiss on her lips, then continued dragging her toward the bar to meet his friends.

Another hour passed as she and Coulton bounced around the bar, socializing with his teammates and various members of the Collins family. He’d even introduced her to Lucas Whiting, so she had the opportunity to thank him for letting them borrow his yacht, and she’d been pleasantly surprised by how nice the billionaire was, part of her expecting him to be a major snob.

A cheer captured their attention, and they watched Tank taking shots with four puck bunnies, two of whom were hanging off him.

Coulton rolled his eyes.

“You realize you could have your pick of any woman in here tonight,” Ainsley pointed out, hating that Montgomery had planted that seed and she’d let it take root.

“Don’t want any of them. I’m already here with the smartest, sweetest, sexiest girl in the bar.”

Ainsley looked around as if searching for someone. “Really? Where is she? I’d like to meet her,” she joked.

Coulton wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a gentle kiss that lingered. “We’re going to have to work on your ability to take compliments.”

“Yeah. I think we are,” she admitted begrudgingly. “I don’t have a lot of experience with them.”

Coulton’s eyes softened. “I know you don’t. But I intend to change that.”

In that moment, Ainsley swore she must be hovering several feet in the air, her feet no longer touching the floor.

The entire night had been surreal and fun and a welcome relief from her real world, where she spent too much time with miserable, grumpy assholes.

“Damn, I still need to go to the bathroom,” she said, pulling away from him. “Never made it there the first time. Fucking Monty.”

As the night progressed, the crowd in the pub had grown until the place was so packed, Ainsley had lost sight of Montgomery completely. She was hoping that meant he’d left.

“How about I settle up the tab and we head home?”

“Home?” she asked, in no hurry to see the night end.

Coulton tapped her nose playfully. “Home. My place.”

Ainsley nodded in agreement, secretly wishing his place was her home. She shoved that thought away quickly because there was such a thing as dreaming too big. Tonight had been amazing, but she had to keep her expectations reasonable. She recalled Coulton’s little voice, the one that kept him from getting too disappointed if he didn’t get what he wanted. She needed that voice right now, she thought, as she slowly made her way through the swarms of people to the bathroom.

She stood in line for a few minutes, cursing herself for not excusing herself earlier. By the time the bathroom was available, she was all but crossing her legs.

Once she was finished, she washed her hands, then fluffed her hair. Coulton had told her countless times how pretty she was. So many times, in fact, she was starting to believe it, starting to see herself through his eyes.

She’d always thought herself too thin, her cheekbones high and sharp. She didn’t have the full lips or long lashes or bright blue eyes or wavy blonde hair that seemed to be the standard as far as puck bunnies went. But she realized she liked that she wasn’t a cookie cutter of every other woman in here. She was unique, and Coulton liked her for who she was, not what she looked like.

Walking out of the restroom, she was surprised when she felt a rough tug on her upper arm. She twisted as Montgomery pulled her farther down the hallway, away from the main room of the pub.

Ainsley jerked her arm out of his grip. “What the fuck is your problem?”

“You look so hot tonight,” Montgomery said, slurring his words.

“You’re drunk,” she said.

Montgomery didn’t hear her as he continued, “Come home with me, Ains. I promise I’ll rock your world.”

She laughed. There was only one man who’d ever rocked her world, and it wasn’t Montgomery Miles. “For the last time, I’m not interested! Go home to Emma.”

She turned to leave, but Montgomery grabbed her again, his hands on her waist. “Don’t be like that. You know you want me.”

Ainsley twisted around, trying to dislodge him and failing as Montgomery pulled her against him. Bile rose to her throat when she felt his erection through his pants.

With her hands on his chest, she pushed him hard. Hard enough that his grip slipped. When he tried to recapture her, she took off the kid gloves—kneeing the son of a bitch in the nuts.

Montgomery gasped as he lurched forward, his hands covering his balls. The forward motion, pain, and alcohol worked against him, and he fell to his knees. “Fuck!” he cried out through gritted teeth.

She quickly stepped away, even though he was in no condition to retaliate. Ainsley hadn’t made it more than a few feet before she backed into a wall of muscle.

“Easy there, wildcat. I’m here.”

She glanced over her shoulder at Coulton, who was shooting daggers at Montgomery with his eyes. “You beat me to him,” he said, sounding equal parts impressed and disappointed.

Ainsley chuckled. “I owed him that.”

“You did, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t want to be the one to teach him a lesson for grabbing you. I saw it from halfway across the bar and had to fight my way through the crowd to get to you.”

She soaked in his warm embrace, her pussy clenching when she felt his hot breath near her ear as he bent lower. “Watching you take him down was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” Coulton murmured.

Given the fact her back was still pressed to his chest and she could feel his erection against her ass, she took him at his word.

“FYI,” he added, tossing her own words back at her. “You are getting so lucky tonight. But you’re going to have to do something for me first.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Be my shield. There’s no way I can will this hard-on down, so you’re going to have to cover the five hole for me.”

Ainsley giggled as Coulton turned her toward the pub, both of them ignoring Montgomery, who was lying in the fetal position, groaning, and cussing the two of them out.

Coulton kept his arm wrapped around her waist, holding her in front of him as they said their goodbyes and made their way to his truck.

“What was the deal with Montgomery back there?” he asked, as they pulled out onto the street, heading for his condo.

“So much shit that pisses me off,” she said.

“Like?”

“Like his girlfriend is apparently frigid, and when he realized there was someone else who wanted me, he thought I must be worth a second look. And because he believes me to be easy and a pushover, he thought he could wave his hand and I’d go running back to his bedroom.”

“Jesus. I’m glad you kneed him in the nuts.”

She giggled. “Me too.”

Coulton pulled into a parking spot near his building, then grasped her hand as they walked across the street to the entrance.

The moment they crossed the threshold to his condo, he closed the door, then turned her, pushing her back against it.

He hadn’t lied about his erection not going anywhere, because he was still rock-hard and ready to go.

Coulton’s lips slammed against hers as his hands worked quickly, divesting her of her jeans. She followed his lead, unfastening his belt and ripping it from the loops. Then she tackled the button and zipper of his pants, reaching in to tug his cock out of his boxer briefs.

Coulton groaned as she wrapped her hand around his thick dick.

Her jeans and panties fell to her ankles. “Kick them off,” he commanded, as they came up for air. “But leave the jersey on. I like you wearing my name.”

Ainsley wasn’t sure if he intended the double entendre, but she let herself pretend he did.

Coulton’s hands landed on her bare ass, lifting her so she could wrap her legs around his waist, his pants hanging low on his hips. They were both too worked up, too ready to take the time to undress properly and make their way to the bedroom.

Ainsley reached between their bodies, guiding his cock to her opening. Once there, Coulton finished the journey, shoving inside with one hard, fast thrust.

“God,” Ainsley cried as he took her, pounding with a force that should hurt, but instead set every part of her body aflame. “More!”

Coulton bent his head, his lips gliding along the side of her neck before he bit her shoulder through the material of his jersey. “Never going to get enough of this. Of you.”

Ainsley locked her ankles at the small of his back, using the wall behind her for leverage as she tilted her hips on each of his returns. The slight shift in position meant he was stroking her G-spot, and within a half dozen more thrusts, she was there.

She clenched her eyes shut as a million nuclear bombs exploded inside her, his continued fucking detonating one after the other until she thought she’d pass out.

Or maybe…

When she lifted her eyelids, she realized Coulton was no longer moving, his grip on her ass still firm.

She blinked a few times. “Did I black out?”

Coulton grinned widely. “Yep. Just for a few seconds.”

He was clearly pleased with himself.

Hell, she was pleased with him too.

“You’re going to remind me about this a lot, aren’t you?” she asked sardonically.

He chuckled. “All the fucking time.”

Ainsley sighed blissfully, then realized he was still inside her and rock-hard. “Think you can do it again?”

He wiggled his eyebrows.

If there was one thing she’d learned about Coulton Moore, it was that he couldn’t resist a challenge.

And…for the first time in her life, she was a very lucky girl.