Page 46 of Heart Taker

“Thanks. But you’ve gotta admit, we had a rocky start,” I confessed.

I wasn’t sure if Silas was the right fit for the team last September. I still wasn’t sure or maybe that was envy talking. He had a shot and mine was done. Shit, I hadn’t realized I was thinking that way. And I was glad he’d proved me wrong.

“I’m still part of the team. The team you took to the championship. And I think it only gets better from here.”

I nodded, touched by his words. Why did Silas make me feel like I was standing under a spotlight? His chocolate brown eyes never wavered from mine and having all that attention on me was heady.

Oh God, where the fuck were the rest of the guys? This break needed to be over. Now.

“I think you’re right,” I replied, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “But we won’t get there if we don’t get to work. If you want to become the best, you need to improve your communication. Especially with your defensive partner.”

“I think I’m doing a pretty good job right now,” he pointed between us.

Silas gave me a wicked grin, and I forgot that we were talking about hockey.

“With your teammates,” I corrected. “On the ice.”

“I’m here to learn, Coach. Teach me all your tricks.”

“No tricks,” I replied as I plucked one of the pucks with my stick. I passed it to Silas, and he skated off with it. “It’s all about eye contact and body language.”

“Oh, like when I’m trying to hook up with a hot guy?” he announced, then skated up to me, in the face off position.

What did he say?

“Damien?”

I couldn’t speak.

“I came out to the team at the fundraiser,” Silas continued, skating off to circle around the net and then back to me again. “I meant to let you know as well. Not that you’d have any issue with me being gay, I know that much by now. It’s more like FYI.”

“Well… um… thanks for telling me.”

My gaze clashed with his, and fuck, what else needed to be said? Every rational thought in my brain was gone. Zapped. Selwin’s teasing about the way Silas looked at me reverberated in my head, but I shut that shit down.

Don’t go there.

“You were talking about eye contact and body language,” Silas continued, staring at me. “Tell me more.”

My mind veered off hockey and went straight to sex. Fuck, Silas wasn’t the only one who was sweating hard. I pulled one glove off and wiped my face, willing myself to calm down.

I looked around but the rest of the guys were still nowhere to be seen.

“Uh, yes.” I shoved my glove back on and forced my body to move. “Don’t… don’t get so involved in chasing the puck that you ignore what your teammates are signalling.”

That sounded right, but who knew? I was surprised I could speak at all.

“Are you okay?” Silas asked me, skating closer.

I nodded.

“I’m good. Everything’s great.”

“Sometimes I’m too blunt. Did I startle you by coming out like that?”

“You didn’t,” I insisted. “It’s fine.”

You’re fine, but I’m not. I wish I had courage like that.

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