Page 101 of Empty Net

“Not just anyone,” I say, pushing off his car and rocking back on my heels. “Only wives and girlfriends andfiancées.”

His grin grows at that as he stops in front of me. “That so?”

“Yep. I just flashed this bad boy, and they let me right in.” I hold up my hand, showing off the ugly-as-hell ring I’ve been wearing more and more lately. At first, I took it off every chance I got, only wearing it when I had to meet up with my mother, who has been far too invested in planning our engagement party. Then, one day, I forgot to take it off, and it’s been there ever since. I try not to think too much about that, about how natural it feels on my finger.

“That’s worrisome. Anyone can find an ugly ring and flash it.”

“Hey! It’s not ugly.” I manage to hold my laughter in for all of two seconds before it bubbles right out. “Sorry, I couldn’t even pretend.”

Fox shakes his head, hooking a finger through a belt loop on my jeans. He hasn’t even touched me yet, but my body lights up at his proximity anyway. “It’s the most hideous thing I’ve ever seen, but it’s kind of growing on me.”

“It is not.”

“Is too.” He jerks me forward, and I fall against him. He catches me easily, his hands dropping to my waist as I curl my own around his biceps. I squeeze them, loving the way the defined muscle feels under my palms, especially when he’s thrusting into me and whispering dirty things into my ear.

He leans down, his nose brushing against mine, his lips so close I can feel his breath ghosting over me. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to kiss him so badly before, but I chalk it all up to the leftover buzz of the game.

Yeah, that’s all it is. Nothing else.

“Is not,” I argue again.

“You make it pretty, Lilah.”

And then he’s kissing me, his warm lips pressing against mine in a soft yet commanding way, and I’m wrong. I am so fucking wrong.

It’s not the buzz from the game. It’s Fox. All him and nothing else at all.

I should have known it was him. It’s that same buzz I’ve had since the birthday party back in January, the same one that’s been simmering just beneath the surface since. Fox’s fingers dig into my hips as he draws me even closer, our bodies pressed together so tightly I don’t know where he ends and I begin and vice versa. I don’t care to know either. All I want is this—Fox’s hands and mouth on me and that hum of pleasure rolling through me.

His touch inches higher, slipping beneath the Serpents jersey I’m wearing, the one with his name plastered across the back, and I shiver when he hits bare skin.

“Cold?” he asks, kissing the corner of my lips.

I shake my head, leaning it back to give him access to that spot on my neck he loves to taste. “Opposite.”

He sinks his teeth lightly into me, then chases the sting with his tongue before trailing his lips back to mine, sealing our mouths together once more. I groan against him, pulling him closer if that’s even possible.

“As hot as this is to watch, do you think I could get by?”

My eyes fly open, and I wrench my lips from Fox’s to find Keller standing nearby, his hip pressed against a familiar-looking truck.

“Uh, hi, Keller.”

He grins as much as Keller can. “Hey, Lilah. You mind if I get into my truck?” He nods toward the vehicle we’re standing just inches from.

I look at Fox, whose lips are rolled tightly together.

“I, uh, should probably mention this isn’t my truck.”

“What?” I look back at it. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” He points at the car Keller is leaning against. “That one is mine.”

It looks identical. How did I not notice there are two of them?

“You have matching trucks?”

Keller points at his teammate. “He copied me.”

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