Page 42 of Heart Taker

I didn’t need to hear a list of Damien’s attributes; I knew them already.

“Next topic, please.”

“You were doing the same.”

“What?”

“Staring at him.”

“Where else am I supposed to look?”

Josiah smirked at me.

“He’s not as ancient as I imagined either.”

“Again, thirty’s not old.” I insisted.

“That’s what I said,” Josiah replied with a grin. “Old, but not that old.”

“For that, you’re paying for lunch.”

CHAPTER 13

SILAS

THREE WEEKS LATER—FIRST WEEK OF TRAINING CAMP

Summer bloomed in Sutton and while the town was packed with tourists, the campus had thinned out.

I didn’t mind at all.

In fact, since classes were done, I’d taken extra shifts at Verdant and played hockey at the rink twice a week with Finn. But I hadn’t seen Damien since our team gathering. I knew he was around somewhere, but his office door was always closed. Probably best that it was.

Not that I was tempted to go near him. Why would I need to do that?

Today, though, I was nervous like I never was. Our first day of hockey training camp and I was already screwing up. First, I slept past my alarm. Then, when I was well on the road to campus, I realized I forgot my phone and had to drive back home to get it. And finally, I spilled my coffee—iced, thank fuck—all over my jeans.

By the time I arrived at the rink, I was late, wet—not in a good way—and irritated at myself.

When I spotted Damien talking to Dean Chancer in the parking lot, things only got worse.

Coach had his back to me, but he was wearing his usual Sutton sweatpants, and for some reason, I couldn’t stop staring at his ass. This time, however, he wore a tight T-shirt instead of his usual jacket. Of course he did, it was hot outside, a balmy seventy-one degrees, so duh, naturally he didn’t have a jacket on. With his hands on his hips, I could see the long lines of his powerful back, and the way his biceps strained against those sleeves. Presumably hearing the rumble of my truck, Damien looked over his shoulder and spotted me. He had those black sunglasses on again, and I couldn’t read his expression, though I did see his lips press together, like he was holding back his temper.

I was late and Damien was going to ream me out good.

I couldn’t fucking wait.

My cock started to fill in my jeans and wasn’t that what I needed right now? A boner for Banning. I nearly laughed out loud at my train of thought and mistakenly hit the brakes too soon.

After realizing what I’d done, I quickly pulled into a nearby spot and parked. I took a sip of what was left of my coffee, did a quick countdown to deflate my horny dick, and reached for my duffel bag.

Feeling calmer, I stepped out and slammed the door.

Every step closer to the entrance, to Damien, had my heart taking off like a sprinter on the starting block.

“Dean Chancer,” I acknowledged as I walked past the two men. “Coach Banning.”

“Moss,” Damien hissed and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re late.”

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