Page 197 of Cross the Line
“It’s done,” she murmurs, turning to me. Her eyes are still swollen and red from her silent breakdown in the shower. “We can move on. That’s what you want, that's what we do.”
“Thank you.”
Finley nods. “I’m letting it go for you. Because I love you and I respect you. But—” Sucking in a deep breath, she presses her chest flush to mine. “I’m always going to hate him. There won’t be a day I stop loathing him. I willneverforgive anyone who hurts you or Jayden. That’s whatmylove comes with.”
My girl’s fire blazes in her eyes. Wild and untamable. So fucking strong that it licks up my insides when I drop my mouth to hers. Sucking her lip into my mouth, I smother her in my embrace as I drink down every groan and throaty growl that escapes her.
Because this endless hunger is what my love comes with. For her. For JJ. For us.
CHAPTER 53
JAYDEN
The cherry lights up,The Businessblasts around the arena along with the roar of the fans. Rio rushes me into Bruce with the high of our inevitable win against Vegas on home ice, pounding between us. Shaking them off, I zoom around the ice to the bench where Eli is ready to change back over with Weissman.
A hot as hell grin cuts his face as he climbs over the boards and bumps his fist with him. I swear, it takes everything in me not to assault his perfect lips when he skates past me with a wink, blowing me an air kiss.
Fuck me.
I glance up at the stand behind the bench where Finley is watching the game. She looks sweet as fuck in my oversized jersey and a cute Comets beanie bobbling on her head, celebrating my goal with Dylan’s daughter and baby momma.
He’s on top form tonight, dishing out orders and plays. This is why we call him Daddy, because when he’s on it, he can command a fucking epic game out of the team.
“Keep your eyes on nineteen and thirty-seven,” he hollers at Eli and me, gesturing with his stick to where he thinks they’re going to try to hit us next.
They’re Vegas’s strongest offensive line—fucking brutal with their hits. Even though a goal from them in the next ninety seconds won’t hurt us, it’d be epic to have another shutout.
Rio is in position at center ice with Bruce hanging slightly back andAndersen off to the side. The instant the puck drops, Matheo shoots the puck to Andersen. He slaps it past Auguste, directly to Eli.
I see Brolin dart for him before the puck finds Eli. He’s going to take him clean out, and every instinct in my body drives me forward. Before I get to him, Rio sends the bastard into the boards with a barge of his shoulder.
Thankfully, the play doesn’t stop, and when Brolin tries to get into it with Matheo, he shuts him down. Brolin’s frustration screws the rest of his game. He’s looking for a brawl, not a goal, and that leaves Patterson on his own. Eli and I hardly cross the blue line while the clock runs down.
It’s a fucking perfect game with a perfect score sheet. 4–0. Two fucking beautiful points that shift us four places up the table based on our wins and goal differential.
The atmosphere is euphoric in the locker room. Everyone is fucking blissed out and ready to celebrate when we head out. Thankfully, Coach has Matheo and Erik do the postgame press, meaning Eli and I head straight for the VIP bar where Finley is waiting for us.
The instant the elevator doors close, he closes the space between us. His dirty-blond hair is still damp from the shower, and his face has the flush of the last two and a half hours glowing on his cheeks when his hand hooks around my nape and pulls my lips onto his.
“Good game,” is all he says, voice low and gravelly, before he spears his tongue into my mouth.
The kiss is heavy and too fast, but the fire that was already in my belly blows up all over me. I can hardly see straight when the doors ping open and he ushers me out with his hand on the small of my back.
When we turn the corner, Finley’s hot body launches into me—literally climbing me like a tree before mauling all feeling from my lips. I like it when she comes to watch us play. Love the way she gets into the game. If we’re all ramped up on our win, she’s leaping out of her skin with giddiness.
“You were so good out there,” she coos between hard pecks to my face. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
“Hey,” Eli grumbles, poking her waist until she tumbles into him in a fit of giggles. “I was there, too, you know?”
“I was as mesmerized by you,” she tells him with a hug so tight that he has to gasp for air.
The last week has been hard. Whether we wanted it or not, thingsshifted. The truth jiggled us around, and it’s taking time for us to settle back into our normal.
Finley hasn’t given me the opportunity to talk to her about her conversation with Eli. Between her job, training, and game days, we’re lucky if we get to eat dinner together. Falling into bed together certainly hasn’t been a thing, either.
Eli and I have been studying the game tapes like our lives depend on it, while Fin’s been immersed in getting the final touches for Summer’s nursery mural nailed down, along with taking on a few more responsibilities with the clients and going on her driving lessons.
Life is hectic, and I know we’re good, but it doesn’t make the fact that Finley’s hurt that I knew about what Presley did any easier. And I think her avoiding talking about it is her way of trying to evade the argument that has been brewing since I left her and Eli to talk.
