Page 43 of Skating Towards Danger

She’s so fucking perfect, and I was an idiot to make us fuck buddies.

I give her a smile to reassure her which causes her to smile shyly, then switch back to the ref – This next goal will be for…

The puck drops, and I react instantly as Adams gets it first. I quickly skate towards their defender and smash into him before he can get towards my center. I chuckle when he stumbles clearly not expecting me and quickly skate and get into position just in time for Adams to pass me the puck, and within seconds of it hitting my stick, I smack it into the net.

Their goalie just misses it, and the light above the net flashes. I nod with a smirk before pointing my stick at Paige, who is cheering with everyone else, making me grin before I move and get back into position, ready to finish this game.

One down, one to fucking go.

I lean against the wall and cross my arms over my chest as I watch Paige gently run her finger along the old toys she gave Emma six weeks ago.

Fuck, six weeks since she’s been in my life. At least I didn’t take as long to give in to my feeling as Roman did. He took fucking weeks, on the other hand, I took three days.

Paige gently chews her bottom lip, her eyes tearing, and my heart fucking hurts for her more than my body hurts from the game.

We won, but only just, no thanks to Adams getting in his head again when their center taunted how much better Roman was, and of course, he took it to heart. Rhett managed to block the puck, and instead of smacking it to Adams, he smacked it to Brents, our defender, who then smacked it to me and with three seconds on the clock, I managed to score, winning us the game, and then Coach spent half an hour screaming at Adams who is now benched for the next game. If he doesn’t get his head out of his ass, Frankie will take his place and honestly, I’m all fucking for it.

“Apparently Emma demanded they had to stay here,” I say lowly so I don’t scare my girl. She hums before sniffing and then stands. She doesn’t face me and eyes the photos, and I know it’s because she’s trying not to cry.

Pushing off the wall, I walk over to her, eyeing my name on her back, which makes me smile before I gently wrap my arms around her waist from behind, pressing my face into the crook of her neck.

“I thought I asked you to keep your hair down?” I mumble against her soft skin, and she snorts and leans against me.

“But then you wouldn’t have your lips on my neck,” she whispers back, and I smile and hum, “True.”

“When did you put these photos up?” Paige asks after I have held her in front of the electric fire for a few minutes, and I look up at the mantelpiece.

Among the photos of my family and my team are three new ones right in the middle, two my dad gave me at the hospital.

One is of Paige’s parents grinning at the camera while a little Paige smiles softly at her baby brother, who is in her arms. The second is one of her in her leotard, as she called it, holding flowers and a trophy with her parents standing behind her, looking proud, and another is of her and me on the ice at the arena I asked the cleaner to take without her knowing.

My forehead is against hers and I’m cupping her face gently as she grips my shirt, our eyes locked.

“A few days ago,” I admit, “it’s time you start to feel pride when you look at these photos, not guilt or pain.”

Paige sniffles, and I squeeze her tighter but melt when she chokes, “I love you, Dante Marino,” and everything in me settles as I reply, “I love you too, little fairy.”

She turns in my embrace, wraps her arms around my neck, and jumps simultaneously as I lift her. She wraps her legs around my waist before she presses her lips against mine.

“I didn’t know you were shirtless,” she mumbles against my lips, and I smile.

“Is that so?” I ask, and she hums and rasps, “Take me to bed, player.”

I grin and mutter, “Whatever my little fairy wants,” before pressing my lips against hers hard, my cock aching in my shorts, wanting his tight heat.

I squeeze my eyes tight at the ringing before quickly leaning over my girl and grabbing my phone before it wakes her up.

“This better be important,” I answer quietly as I carefully climb out of bed and cover Paige’s naked body with the sheets, and I’m not surprised she doesn’t even stir.

I kept her up all night, so she needs her sleep. I messaged her boss that she wouldn’t be in when she passed out after our third round, then cuddled up to her myself, but it feels like I’ve only been asleep for five fucking minutes.

“Sorry, son,” my dad replies, and I freeze halfway to my living area, hearing his tense tone. He rocks my world and states, “I need you to get to mine as soon as possible. The Cartel has been in touch.”

Mother fucker.

“Okay, what did they say?” I demand as I walk into my parents’ house thirty minutes later.

I left a note for Paige that I had to pop over to my parents' place. I didn’t want to wake her, but I did demand that she stay in my bed and that I called in sick for her – She’s going to have my balls for that one. My girl is stubborn and hardworking, but she needs a break.

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