Page 30 of Home for the Hockey-Days

August grunts. “I suspect he’s always been an asshole.Losing weight just gave him the permission he needed to let it shine. Hurt people hurting people is no excuse. Go to therapy, get your shit together, work on yourself, do what you gotta do. And don’t bring others down with you just because you feel like shit.” He winces like he relates to his own words, then sighs.

“I made assumptions about you when we first met.” He rakes a hand over his jaw. “I do it with my teammates, too. Damn near every day.” He shakes his head. “Hate myself for it.”

It takes me a moment because I’m waiting for him to finish his thought, but I think that’s it. “Do you mean the de la Peñas?”

He grunts again. Guess that means yes?

“Spoiled little rich kids.” His words drip with disdain as he said them. “But they’re good guys, you know?”

I nod. “Athena and I are friends.”

He nods. “I know.”

A huge sigh bursts out of my body. “I honestly don’t know how they aren’t assholes considering how their dad is.”

His head snaps up like this is a new piece of information for him. “Their dad?”

“He’s a horrible, awful man. You should look him up online sometime.” I wish I was exaggerating, but I’m not. “He’s a cut throat business man.” She shrugs. “Aren’t they all? But he’s really not a good guy. And Athena in particular...” I blow out a puff of air. “Her life is... restricted. Oldest child, only daughter... Some days I fear the weight of her father’s expectations might crush her. She’s the strongest person I know.”

August nods like he might know what that feels like. “I thought you were a spoiled little rich girl too.” He jerks his chin at me.

After a long pause I realize he’s not going tofill the silence.

“You suck at apologies.” I tap his foot under the table with mine.

His face twitches, so I point at his mouth. “Is that...? Oh my God. August Nathaniel Kade. Are you smiling?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t do that.”

Another shush makes us fall quiet for a few minutes, but instead of turning his attention back to his work, he just stares. At me.

I nudge his foot with mine again and mouth the word “What?” at him.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, caressing my face again, making my eyelids flutter shut for just a moment.

“For what?” I’m not letting him get away with it that easily, even if his touch is sending shivers through my whole body.

“For assuming you were a spoiled little rich girl.” His breath tickles my face, like he’s leaned in toward me. His hand touches my knee, and I instinctively part my thighs.

My breath catches as his nose skims along my jaw.

“What if I am a spoiled little rich girl?”

He walks his fingers up my inner thigh, and my body leans forward like a magnet being drawn to another. He nips the shell of my ear. “I’m still sorry for being judgmental.”

When his fingertips skim the panties under my heavy skirt, I gasp.

“Just because you’re rich doesn’t mean you’re spoiled, or that I should assume negative things about you because of your bank balance.” His fingers travel higher.

“In the library?” My voice is breathy, and my heart hammers so loudly I’m sure the shusher is going to tell us to pipe down again any second.

August nibbles at my ear, drawing a deep moan from somewhere inside me. “Depends.” His fingers graze the hem of my underwear.

“On what?” I’m trying very hard not to beg him to touch me, not to pick up his hand and shove it inside my panties. But it’s so fucking hard.

He’s so close, his warmth is consuming me. “Is it possible for you to stay quiet long enough for me to make you come?” He slides a finger under the damp fabric and glides it up my labia. I can’t take it, I need him to sink his fingers into my aching pussy.

I bite my lip, hard.

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