Page 38 of Home for the Hockey-Days

For the entire shift, he chirps at me. He hooks me twice, but when the refs miss the slash across my shin, I see red. “Fuck off, dick.”

He shoulders me as someone ices the puck and play stops. “Single syllables.” He taps me with his twig. “You know she doesn’t go for dudes with shit for brains, right? She’s just using you for your tiny cock. She’ll move on to someone more on her own level soon enough.”

I ignore him, despite the spark his words ignite in my chest. I’m well hung, confident with the size of my cock, butthe other things he said about my intelligence tug at my insecurities.

“She does enjoy charity work, though. Maybe she’s taking pity on your poor ass. A community outreach project or something.”

As though he smells blood in the water like a shark, he sneers as we lean forward, preparing for the face off. The spark has turned to a flame that’s breathing fire into my veins despite the fact we’re standing on a giant hunk of ice.

I try to find some Zen, whatever the fuck that might look like, but his smug presence lingers like a bad smell.

The fact he had his cock in her makes me insurmountably angry, and I try not to think about it often. But right now? I probably need to be incensed that he’s seen her naked body because he’s gearing up for a fight, and this time he means business.

Johnny keeps muttering under his breath to my right. I’m going to break this shithead’s face, and more than that, I’m going to enjoy it when I do.

Now that she and I are together, I’m not letting her go. She’s my woman, and I don’t give a fuck who doesn’t like it. She’s chosen to be with me, and I hope to God I make her even a fraction of how happy she makes me.

It should be embarrassing just how much a single text from her can light up my whole day. The past few weeks have been some of the best of my whole life. I failed one of my winter exams, but I’m not going to quit. I’ve studied more over the winter break than I can remember, and all because my girl believes in me.

“Dirty little whore, right?” Johnny digs me with his elbow, breaking me out of my happy thoughts.

“Spoiled little rich girl on the streets, freak in the?—”

I don’t even let him finish his sentence before I’ve dropped my gloves, yanked off his helmet, and sent my fist sailinginto his grinning face. I guess I draw the line at kissing and telling, and Idefinitelytake issue with slut shaming, especially in front of both of our teams on the ice. They’re the worst gossips in the world.

This asshole deserves all he gets.

I get a few solid digs in before the refs break up the fight. Johnny grins at me, teeth bloodied from a stream of blood trickling from his nose. “This is gonna be fun.” He drives his shoulder into me again before heading to the penalty box.

CHAPTER 19

August

I’ve barely stepped foot out of the arena, and she’s here, standing in front of me. The team trickles out around us as she stands staring me down from just a few feet away, her face a picture of concern. I stride toward her, closing the distance between us, and use the pad of my thumb to iron out the creases between her furrowed brows.

She grabs my hand, her breath whispering across my busted up knuckles as she inspects the damage, clucking her tongue. “What did he say?”

I debate not telling her, or lying and saying “nothing,” but she’s not stupid, and I don’t want to start whatever this might be between us with dishonesty.

Sliding my hand over her cheek and cupping her jaw, I tilt her head so she’s staring me straight in the eye. Her intensity disarms me, stealing my breath. “He called you a whore.”

She flinches at the word, it’s almost imperceptible because she’s gotten really fucking good at hiding when she’s hurting, but I see it. She doesn’t shrink away from me though, instead, she straightens her spine even more. This woman has balls of steel and seems to be clueless to the fact.

“Did you say anything back?” Her voice is hushed, her breath tickling my face with each spoken word.

I grunt. “I like to think my fists did at least most of the talking. But I told him the only person who gets to call you a dirty little whore is me, when I’m balls deep in your tight cunt, my cock covered in your cum, and I’m making you scream my name.”

Her face colors in seconds, her breath snagging on a small hiccup as she absorbs the words. “You didn’t.”

Nodding, I flash her a smile. “No one insults my girl, Rowan. And now everyone on the ice knows it. Especially that asshole Johnny White.”

“Your girl? How prehistoric. Are you going to bash me over the head with a club?”

I flash her a grin. “I didn’t think it was big enough to be called a club, but if that’s your kink I’ll totally hit you over the head with it.”

She laughs, shaking her head. Her jaw drops open. Closes. Opens again before she breaks into a wide grin. “You’re such a fucking caveman.”

“Maybe so, but I’m your fucking caveman.”

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