Page 63 of Off The Rush
“Uh, sure,” I say hesitantly. I want to prove that I’ve been paying attention, but I’m also nervous about getting something wrong.
“Okay, first question: What’s the main objective of the center?”
“Um…” I rack my brain, trying to remember what Luka told me earlier. “To win face-offs and control the puck?”
“Close, but not quite,” Luka says gently. “The center is responsible for winning face-offs, yes, but their main role is to support both offense and defense, depending on the situation.”
“Right… I knew that,” I mumble, feeling a bit deflated.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Luka reassures me, giving my hand a comforting squeeze. “How about we make this more fun? For every question you get right, I’ll reward you. Something small and sweet, like a kiss.”
“Really?” I ask, suddenly more motivated than ever. “Okay, deal!”
“Alright, next question: What does it mean to be offside?”
“It is offside when a player enters the offensive zone before the puck does,” I answer confidently, remembering Luka’s earlier explanation.
“Correct!” he exclaims.
He leans in to give me a soft, lingering kiss on the lips. The warmth of his mouth sends a shiver down my spine. His minty breath caresses my senses. He keeps the kiss short and I can’t help but smile as we pull apart.
Luka is an incredible kisser but I won’t think about why that is.
“Okay, ready for the next one?” he asks, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Bring it on,” I reply, determined to prove myself and earn more of those delicious rewards.
“Alright, next question,” Luka says, his voice low and teasing. “What’s a power play?”
“Um, it’s when one team has more players on the ice due to a penalty on the opposing team,” I answer, my cheeks flushing as I recall his explanation from earlier.
“Nice job!” he exclaims, his hand brushing over my shirt. Before I know what’s happening, he tweaks my nipple gently between his thumb and forefinger, sending a jolt of pleasure through my body. I gasp involuntarily, biting my lip to hold back a moan.
“Ready for the next one?” he asks, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.
“Y-yeah,” I stutter, my mind racing with anticipation. “Go ahead.”
“Alright, what’s the role of the goalie?”
“Um, to block the opposing team from scoring by stopping the puck from entering the net,” I answer, my confidence growing with each correct response.
“Correct again,” he says approvingly, sliding his hand up under my shirt until it rests on the curve of my breast. His touch is warm and electrifying, making me shiver with desire. I bite down on my lip again, doing my best to stay focused on the game.
As we continue our little game, Luka’s fingers trace lazy patterns across my skin, each touch sending sparks of pleasure through me. It’s getting harder and harder to concentrate on his questions, but I’m determined to keep learning.
“Okay,” Luka murmurs, his breath hot against my ear. “What’s the difference between icing and offside?”
“Offside is when a player enters the offensive zone before the puck does, while icing is when a player shoots the puck from behind the center red line and it crosses the opponent’s goal line without being touched by another player,” I reply, my voice shaky but determined.
I’m lucky I have an amazing memory.
“Very good,” he praises, his hand slipping lower until it’s brushing against the waistband of my pants. I can barely think straight, let alone focus on hockey, as he teases me with feather-light touches just above my throbbing heat. “I’m impressed, Emma. But if you can’t pay attention, we’ll have to stop.”
“Please don’t,” I beg breathlessly, desperate for more. “I can do this. I can focus.”
“Alright then,” Luka says, a hint of smugness in his tone. “In that case, let’s see if you can answer one more question: What’s the role of the defensemen?”
“Defensemen are responsible for keeping the opposing team from scoring by blocking shots, clearing the puck from their zone, and… and covering their opponents,” I manage to get out, my chest heaving with the effort of concentrating on both his questions and his touch.
