Page 27 of Body Checking
“It was a team loss, Ludwig. Nothing is one person’s mistake. That’s something you should learn real quick if you want to be on my team.” His nostrils flare and his eyes darken.
“Sorry Coach. You’re right.” My head cocks back like it’s been punched, very surprised by his remark. “I heard you talking about escorting someone to their car.”
Sasha suddenly arches a brow with a sultry smile. “Yeah. Me. These two are running off and leaving me to walk all by myself to my car.”
Maren’s mouth falls open and I bite my tongue, trying not to laugh.
“Well that isn’t very nice. Why don’t I drive you there. I’ve got nowhere to be and nothing to do right now, and I would hate for something to happen to such a beautiful young lady.”
Maren gives Sasha another dramatic eye roll and this time I do laugh.
“Thank you….” Sasha lets her words trail as if to wait for Ludwig to introduce himself.
I don’t know for a fact, but I’m pretty certain she knows exactly who he is.
“Bram. Bram Ludwig. Superstar left wing.” He holds his hand out for her and she slides hers in. “And you would be?”
“Sasha Carroll. Best friend extraordinaire.” They smile at each other and then Sasha says, without taking her eyes off Bram, “Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow Mare. Bye, love you.”
Bram holds his elbow out, Sasha grabs it and they walk off without a second look at either of us.
“He better be on his best behavior with her,” I mumble.
Maren flips her head to look at me and scoffs, “Oh I think Bram is the one who should be worried. Sasha’s a country girl who can shoot a gun and gut a fish. She has no problem doing the same to a man. I’ve been meaning to get her a sign to hang from her neck that readsCaution. Wild Animal will bite.”
I laugh and watch her face light up, her cheeks tinging pink and her lips glossy and plump. I know where we are. I know I should refrain, but all of my good sense is nowhere to be found when Maren is near. My hand cups her jaw and I pull her face to mine. I kiss her hard, my mouth swallowing her moans, and I grow hard remembering what her face looked like when I made her moan while I ate her as she was spread out on my kitchen countertop.
“Let’s get out of here before the people remaining in this arena get a show I don’t want them to see.” My hand slides from her face, tracing over her curves, and my hand comes to rest with hers.
I lace her fingers with mine and lead us out of the arena. Our eyes stay zoned in on one another the entire way to my truck, and I’m shocked that neither of us runs into a wall with how focused we are on the other. But I remember that Maren is the light, guiding me and all I have to do is follow.
“I COULD use a beer to nurse my wounds,” Cade tells me once we are in his truck. “Mind if we stop and grab some before we head to my place? I don’t usually keep beer stocked in my fridge.”
He reaches for my hand the moment the engine is roaring and holds tight as he steers with one hand.
“Why don’t we go to a quiet bar. I wouldn’t mind something strong made by a bartender and not a drink that comes in a mason jar made by Sasha’s cousin Beryl.”
His face contorts and he looks at me. “The fuck?”
I laugh and tell him, “That’s a story for another time, but not now. I’m still dealing with the trauma.” I shiver just thinking about the fire climbing its way back up my throat.
“I’m holding you to that. But until then, I know a great place we can go to.” His fingers tighten around mine as he takes us to destination unknown.
When we finally drive up, I see he’s taken us not to just a bar but to a Honky Tonk bar.
“Big Joe’s?” I ask him. “I didn’t take you for a line dancing fan.”
He puts his truck into park, tucked away in a dark corner of the lot, and turns to me. “I am neither a line dancing or country music man. But my friend owns this place and she’ll seat us in a private spot.”
His voice is deep and low when he saysprivateand I think of all the things we can do in a dark, private spot. “Okay, Cowboy Cade. Let’s get that drink.” He growls and reaches out to tickle my side.
I yelp and try to scoot away, but I’m stopped by a little thing called a locked door. So all I succeed in is knocking my elbow against the handle and my head on the window. I rub my head and sayouch, and Cade practically climbs over the center console.
“Maren. Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?” His hand reaches behind my head and smooths over my hair.
“I’m fine, Cade. Just bumped my head. It’s pretty hard so you should check on your truck. I don’t think I cracked a window but you better take another look.”
“Stay right there. Don’t move so I can come around to open your door.”
