Page 45 of Hooked
I took a breather on the bench, nervously watching my hung-over teammates get pinned in our defensive zone.
C'mon, boys, clear the zone. Get me back out there.
Honor. That's all I could think. Those sexy moans of hers—I wanted them in my ear again. Only this time for real. Her breath, hot against my bare neck. Her nails digging into my back. Her legs wrapped around my waist, pushing me deeper into her.
I needed her, god damn it, and that meant I needed to win this game.
My tired teammates finally managed to flip the puck out of the zone, and coasted back to the bench for a line change.
I hopped over the boards in a hurry and filled my defensive lane at center ice. The Toronto puck-carrier, a speedy little d-man, turned on his jets and tried to blow right by me. Any other night this season, he would have beat me.
But not tonight.
As soon as he went for it, I lunged with my stick, and caught him from behind. Snatched the puck right off him like a sneaky purse thief.
And then I was off the races: a break away.
I coasted in, all alone, one-on-one with the goalie. And all I could think was,I hope Honor's watching, because I was about to pull the same move.
I cut left and faked the shot—the goalie bit. I swept the puck to the backhand side. Goalie kicked his leg out.
Get the puck up six inches, that's it, that's all.
I shoveled the puck over his leg. It rang off the cross-bar and deflected into the net.
Goal. We took the lead with seconds remaining, and my teammates mobbed me.
***
“You saved ourasstonight, captain!” Vinny shouted over the dressing room ruckus.
The boys all around me pounded my shoulder and mussed my hair.
“What the hell got into you these past couple games, Rockwell?” someone else hollered.
“I dunno,” I lied.
I checked my phone. A text from Honor awaited me: “So, that was cool.”
I answered: “Yeah, and now you owe me a date.”
“Remember, I said MAYBE … let's see how the shoot goes tomorrow first.”
Pff, there was no 'maybe' about it: I was getting that date.
“Can't wait,” I answered her.
Chapter 15:
She Can Shoot
Honor
I employed a little lawyer-speakwhen I told Hunter that Imightsay yes to a date, if the Blizzard won their game. But after seeinghowthey won it, I knew it'd be tough to weasel my way out of it.
Hunter absolutely took over that game. I don't know what was wrong with the other Blizzard players, because they looked lazy and unmotivated. Not Hunter, though. He was driven. A man on a mission. He looked like he could skate through a brick wall.
And knowing that a datewithmewas his motivation? That he wanted to spend time with me so badly, he would throw grown men to the ice like they were nothing? That was … flattering. To say the least. I couldn't wait to see him again.
