Page 31

This girl owns me, heart and soul. A little voice in the back of my mind is shouting to slow things down before I scare her off, but I ignore the fucker.

Before I’m able to stop myself, I pull her out of her seat and drag her across my lap then cover her lips with mine. The goddamn voice grows louder as I run my tongue along the inside of her mouth.

I slide my hand up her side and slip it under her silky shirt. When my palm brushes against the front of her silky bra, her nipple hardens, and I slowly run my finger around it. Lana sighs my name, and I finally find the strength to pull back, telling myself that I want more than one night. I lay my forehead against hers. “We have to stop now or I’m going to fuck you in this goddamn restaurant.”

She stiffens in my arms and pulls away. “What in the world is up with me?” she asks and stands up. As I watch, she paces around the table, straightening her clothes. “I can’t believe I acted like an idiot.” She continues grumbling to herself, “Of all the stupid, idiotic moves.”

“Wait a minute, goddess.” I interrupt her little spiel. “I want you more than my next breath, but I don’t want to rush things between us.”

When I reach for her hand, Lana steps away from me. “There isn’t anything between us.” I feel like I’ve been hit between the eyes with a two-by-four as she continues. “I’m sorry I let things get out of hand, but this isn’t going to happen.”

“I’m not going to let you get away.”

“You don’t have any choice.” Lana grabs her purse and straightens. “Thank you for dinner, but I don’t think we have any reason to see each other anymore.”

Oh, you are so wrong, goddess. I think to myself as she turns for the door. But I know I want more than one night with Lana, so I’ll let her leave tonight. Tomorrow, though, I plan to throw myself into wooing my goddess.

Over the next week, I send flowers, fancy-ass chocolates, and even a diamond bracelet, but my goddess sends each and every gift back. Each time she returns something, I get a little more pissed off.

“Who the fuck pissed in your Wheaties?” Atlas, our goalie, grumbles as we head to the locker room after a painful fucking practice. I’m making rookie mistakes since my mind isn’t on my job. As one of the oldest and most reliable guys on the team, I’m usually unflappable, but things have changed.

“Fuck off.” I’m not in the mood to worry about hockey right now. My mind is too occupied with trying to find a way to win over my goddess.

“He’s PMSing,” Colter pipes in, and I turn to flip off the motherfucker.

“I want to see you.” Grayson Marrow, our head coach and one of my best friends, points at his office door. “We need to discuss what the fuck is going on with you.”

We step into his office, and Gray slams the door shut. “What in the fuck, Jensen?”

“I’m having an off day.” I’m not ready to admit to my friend that my soulmate wants absolutely fucking nothing to do with me.

“More like an off week.” He sits behind his desk and stares at me silently for a few minutes.

“Why don’t you take the rest of the week off? I’ll make up some bullshit reason to put you on the Injured Reserve List.” It’s nice that my friend has my back, but I refuse his offer.

“I’ll get my head out of my ass,” I tell him. “I just need some sleep.” And to convince my goddess to give me the fucking time of day.

“This is your last warning.” We might be friends off the ice, but Gray is still my boss and he doesn’t pull any punches. “If you aren’t in a better headspace, don’t bother showing up tomorrow.”

I end up at the Park Avenue Bar drowning my sorrows over my girl. Not my brightest moment.

I’m attempting to order another whiskey when Gray shows up. “What the fuck is up with you?”

I’m too drunk to deal with the asshole. “That’s none of your goddamn business. Go home and worry about your woman and leave me the fuck alone.”

The meathead bouncer from the front door walks up to stick his nose in my business. “Told you he was being a fucking menace,” he tells Gray.

“Can you help me get him out of here?” These two assholes are talking about me like I’m some fucking kid.

“It’s a good thing Razor pays me so well.” The burly asshole walks around me. “If you swing at me again, I’ll knock you on your fucking ass.”

I’m not scared of the asshole. I flip him off and push back from the bar. The room goddamn swims around me as I sway on my feet. “Come on.” They each take hold of one of my arms. “It’s time to get you home before you get into trouble.”

“Whatever.” My stomach rolls as all the fight drains from me.

In my last act of defiance, I let the two assholes carry-drag me the two blocks to Gray’s car.

“You could’ve parked closer,” the bouncer grumbles to Gray.

“There are no parking spots any closer.” My coach struggles to hold me up with one hand while reaching into his pocket to grab his keys.

“You fucking owe me,” Gray growls as the bouncer shoves my ass into the passenger seat.

“Good riddance,” the burly asshole growls before slamming the door in my face.

I bang on the window and yell, “Fuck off, you ugly motherfucker.” I don’t care if I sound like a spoiled little kid. “The bar sucks.”

“Then don’t come back, asshole,” the bouncer yells back through the window then glances around me. “Make sure he doesn’t show his face around here for a few nights.”

“I’ll try,” my coach mumbles as my vision blurs.

The next thing I know, I wake up on my sofa sweating my ass off with one of my wool blankets pulled up over me. I sit up and kick the goddamn blanket off, and a sheet of paper slides to the floor.

I reach down and grab the note. It takes me a few tries to blink and clear the blurriness from my vision.

Hangovers aren’t excused reasons for missing practice. Either take me up on my offer of a few days off or drag your ass in for practice.

G.

I brew myself a strong cup of coffee then sit on my back deck to debate my options. In my heart, I know there’s no way I’ll give up on my goddess, so I guess I’ll have to find a way to make sure she feels the same way about me.

After packing a bag, I send Gray a message.

Me

I’m going to take your offer.

Asshole boss

Go figure out your shit and come back with your head on straight.

Me

I might not come back to the team.

Asshole boss

Fuck me. Not you too?

My friend just found his own soulmate, so he should understand where I’m coming from.

Me

Yes, me too.

Asshole boss

Keep me up to date on what’s happening. We’ll make it work.

Me

I owe you.

Asshole boss

And I’ll collect from you one day.

I have no doubt he will. As I drive to the airport, I make a mental list of everything I need to do to win over my girl. My little goddess is going to find out she can’t get rid of me easily. Worst case, I can always resort to kidnapping. At least I have options.