Page 66 of Penalty Zone

“Tonight?” he asks incredulously.

“Meet me in conference room three.” I back away, hoping he’ll come and won’t talk to Coach first. “Ten minutes?”

“Fine.” He tosses his skates roughly in the bottom of his locker.

I’m pacing when he comes in.

“Leo?” He knows I’m lying because there’s nothing set up to watch film.

He could walk away from me right now, but I need to explain how I feel so there’s no regret.

“I miss you.” I stalk over and take his hands. “You deserve more than I can give you right now, but I’ll devote my life to you. It’s selfish, and I have no right to ask, but I can’t let you go. You’re all I think about and we’ll have to tell Mason eventually if you give me a chance, but right now…I hope you want a future for us.”

Caleb stares, mouth open and brows pulled together. I can’t read anything but shock.

“Say something.” I grip his hands tighter.

He drops my hands, grabs my face, and fuses our mouths together.

Chapter 30

Caleb

The last couple of days have been unbearable, and Leo’s words seem like a fever dream. I kiss him to ground myself in reality. At first, I’m sure I’ve made a mistake and heard him wrong because he’s frozen.

I release his face and ease back, but Leo growls and his arms band around me, securing me to him as his tongue seizes mine. I whimper in relief, my rigid spine turning to putty.

“You…you want me?” I ask to be clear because I’m still confused and not at all sure this isn’t a very real hallucination.

“You’re mine, and it’s crazy. We shouldn’t make sense,” he says and I deflate. “But we do.” He grasps my neck, and his thumb strokes my hammering pulse. “I’d be a fool to let one of the best things in my life go. You’ve made my life better, and if you’re willing, we’ll make this work.”

I shut my eyes and listen to Leo’s sharp breaths as I formulate arguments and dismiss them. He’s right, this is crazy. We’re risking so much. Him more than me since he has a stellarreputation and I’m the new kid, playing as hard as I can to make a name for myself.

“You could get in trouble with the team or the league,” I say, unable to stop myself.

“As a mentor, I don’t have any input in your playing time, status on the team, or training. People will judge us and claim it’s inappropriate, but that will happen regardless. I can step back from the team if it will make you feel better.”

“NO!” I yell. “I mean, I like you on the bench and knowing you’re there for me,” I say quietly.

“I want to tell Mason.” He sucks in so much air, his chest heaves against mine. “But not yet. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to have a chance for us to be together without all the complications first.”

“You know I’m a shit liar.” I rest my hands on his shoulders, kneading my fingers, expecting him to vanish.

“You had me convinced you weren’t affected by our night together and moved on without looking back.” His amber eyes burn.

“I practiced my smile in the mirror for hours. I refused to be a whiny little bitch who couldn’t handle a single night of sex.” The admission falls out of me, and he grins.

“Next away game, you’ll have to play poker again and test out your new skill.” He leans in and kisses me again. I swear there are wings on my heart as it flies around my chest, ready to take flight to the moon. “But tonight, I want you in my bed. Will you come home with me?”

“The guys are expecting me to go out. I’ll show my face there and come straight to you.” I hear a noise in the hall and step out of his embrace.

“Don’t make me wait.”

“Benzy.” Mason opens the door, and his eyes flick between us. “He’s not holding you hostage, is he?”

My high-pitched laugh borders on hysterical. “Nah, strategizing goalie stuff. You ready to go?” I ask him, unable to look at Leo because Mason will see my heart eyes. “See ya,” I mutter in Leo’s direction.

“Have fun,” Leo calls.

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