Page 94 of Off-Ice Misconduct
I was happily living in denial, though, until Luke started in with his “my princess” thing. Because instead of just his property—a thing I totally wanna keep going—I feel like I’m his in the “belonging with him” kind of way I’ve never entertained with anyone else. When he says it, I can’t pretend this is just my “kinky sex exploration” era, because of fucking, goddamn intrusive butterflies that explode in my chest, leaving me awestruck and speechless.
No way Luke hasn’t noticed. He notices everything.
But he hasn’t talked about it, and so I don’t talk about it.
I’ve upped the denial factor, too, focusing on “behaving myself for Luke”. I’ve been well behaved enough to achieve sainthood status, not wanting to lose my chance to have Luke inside me, but also because if I can focus on that, I don’t think of anything else.
Eat. Behave for Luke. Play hockey. Sleep. Repeat.
Pledge week is something I enjoy, but it’s taking the life out of me this year. I want to be with Luke. But I refuse to let anyone down.
“Shep, Bender, and Hudson will give you items you’ll live in for the next seven days. They’ll stink by day three, you’re responsible for finding ways of reducing the smell.”
As the guys hand out the frilliest pink tutus and laciest pink panties we could find, I go over their life for the next week, which will be spent doing all the house chores, cleaning up after us,working our parties and events, and this year we’ve offered them to Delta Gamma sorority as well, to remain in their good graces.
“You’ll refer to anyone in either house as a Lord or Lady, and we’ll refer to you as maggot or whatever other degrading thing we come up with in the moment. Any lapse in etiquette will be met with punishment or possible dismissal. Each brother is expected to receive the Alpha Kappa Epsilon House tattoo upon acceptance—this is non-negotiable. If you can’t commit to this, you have one minute, starting now, to get up and walk away, no questions asked, or consequences.”
We don’t usually have any nos at this point. They’re already aware of the tattoo and it’s considered an honor, but it’s a good reason to give them a final chance to walk away. Pledge week isn’t for the faint-hearted.
At the end of the minute, no one has left.
I detail their life for the coming days, threading in some over-the-top language to instill the fear of God into them over what we “might” make them do.
“Alright, maggots. Your time starts now. See Aaron and Hudson for your assignments.”
My little speech was only thirty minutes long, but damn, I could use a nap. Won’t happen, though. The team has an early morning practice in thirty minutes. We had to arrange this during Holy Fuck o’clock to make it work with our schedule.
Thankfully, it’s not long before I have a coffee handed to me by one of the pledges and a little satchel of snacks to eat post-practice—perks of pledge week, house members are treated like kings. I rub my eyes and take a long sip of the hot brew.
“Alright, boys. Let’s roll out.”
Two days later, I’m sitting up tall in my seat, paying rapt attention to the sexiest human alive as he uses his now “confirmed as a cane” pointer to underline things he’s talking about. He’s more than smart, a genius. So what if he’s a little unconventional? Maybe they should hire profs with less convention and more skill—that way we’d all get A’s.
I’m lulled by the sound of his voice. My body’s an exhausted heap of muscle and achy bones, but listening to him stretches my lips into a serene smile. I know I demolished his pop quiz, and he’ll probably whisper something to me about it or send a text that’ll have to carry me through the training session the team has after this.
A loud crack snaps me out … whoa, did my eyes flutter shut? If they did, Luke can’t blame me. His voice is like the calming rain on a dim spring evening.
“Since you think it’s okay to fall asleep in my class, McKinnon, you can stay after to write some lines for me. Everyone else is dismissed.”
I do my best to clear the sand from my eyes as rough hands manhandle me out of my seat. I expect to be set before a notepad and paper, but instead my large form rests against an even larger form.
Mmmm. I love it here.
“You smell so fucking good, Daddy,” I murmur. Wait.Shit.I bolt upright, snapping out of my sleepy haze. Who did I say that in front of? Who did I say that to? Heart racing, I dart my gaze around the classroom. There’s no one here, just Luke.
“They left a few minutes ago, and I was left wishing I really was a werewolf so I could carry you somewhere you could sleep.”
But he couldn’t, so he let me sleep on his shoulder. Fucking hell, that’s flipping teddy-bear vibes—not that I’m stupid enough to say that to his face, but dayum. It’s all butterflies again, and a shyness I’ve never felt with anyone but Luke. How does he do this to me?
“Yeah, it’s … sorry. Um, I think you said something about lines? Or was that hopefully just part of a nightmare?”
He chuckles. “I said it, but only so I could get you alone for a few minutes. You’re run off your feet, princess.”
“It’s November and pledge week, and just the way it is,” I explain. “I’ll be fine.”
Luke shakes his head. “No.”
I squint. “What do you mean, no?”
