Page 61 of For the Win

“My pleasure.”

A lot of hockey players do various community work.Everly manages the Condors Community Foundation, so her job is probably similar to this woman’s.I’ve helped Everly out with fundraisers, and I’ve been involved with Big Brothers in Pasadena for a few years, but this season I was getting called up more and I haven’t actually been mentoring a little brother for a while.I forgot how good it feels to do something like this.

Karen gets one of the other staff to take a picture of her, Arya, and me in front of some of the boxes.“For our blog and newsletter,” she says.“I hope that’s okay.”

“Sure.”

We chat with the people there a bit, as they start unpacking things.Karen holds up a package of diapers to show a woman cradling a tiny baby, and she gives a small smile of gratitude, though her face is tired and drawn.My chest tightens.

I catch Arya’s eye and I can tell she’s moved too.I move over to her and slide my hand up her back as she talks to Karen.

“Okay, I guess we’re done,” she eventually says to me.

“Thank you again,” Karen says.

“We’ll be back,” Arya replies.“Everyone at Prana was eager to help out.We gathered all these things in only a couple of weeks.”

“It’s greatly appreciated.”

Back in my vehicle, I turn to Arya as she fastens her seatbelt.“Thanks for letting me help.”

“Thankyoufor helping.”

“Do you have classes to teach today?”

“Nope.I’m done for the day.”

“Me too.Want to do something?”

She tilts her head.“Like what?”

“Make out?”

She chokes on a laugh.

“Just kidding.I really do want to kiss you right now, though.”

In the small, enclosed space we eye each other.The air around us vibrates.She’s so goddamn beautiful, her eyes liquid, her lips parted.A fierce ache burns from my belly to my balls.

“I want to kiss you too,” she whispers.

I lean over and press my lips softly against hers.Once.Twice...then more firmly, opening my mouth, opening her to me, licking over her bottom lip.

My dick thickens, heat sliding through my veins.She lets out a little moan.

I lift a hand to slide it over her cheek, her jaw, her neck, cupping it as our mouths move together, and she curls a hand over my forearm.I want to touch her everywhere.Taste her everywhere.I can’t get enough of her.

I draw back.We’re parked on the street in a public place so we should probably stop.Still close enough to see every one of her long eyelashes, some of them coated with dark mascara but tiny ones at the corners still a pale gold, close enough to see the flecks of silver in her blue eyes, the texture of her plump lips, I breathe in her fresh floral-citrusy scent.

“We could go for a walk on the beach.”I suggest, contrary to what I really want to do.“Or we could go to my place and I could, um, make us mojitos on the patio.”

I await her response.I know what I want her to say.She’s been so guarded with me at times, I expect her to opt for the beach.

Finally, she answers.“Let’s go to your place.”

Perfect.

My heart leaps into a galloping rhythm.

---