Page 105 of Hot Puck
A growl of frustration rattles my vocal cords, but I hold it in. I’d give anything to do what Blake does to celebrate and scream as loud as I can at the sky.
Except this isn’t something to celebrate—be proud of.
I took advantage of a sleeping—probably still drunk—man.
Even if I was asleep too.
And slightly drunk.
That fucking bottle of champagne!
Fucking hotel!
“Fuck!”The curse grinds through my clenched teeth and my eyes focus on the water stain on the ceiling.
Sound in the other room grabs my attention and my eyes, my gaze snapping to the door.
With a muttered, “shit,” I dive for the shower and twist the knob. Water rushes out, drowning out any noise from beyond the closed door and I jump beneath the cold spray, grit my teeth, and suck a harsh breath through my nose. “Fuck that’s freezing!”
The first bang on the door gets ignored. But when the second and third are harder and louder, I know I can’t pretend not to hear.
“What?” I yell.
“The girls.” The door swings open and a naked Chase barges in. “The girls. I can’t find them. They’re not here. Something’s happened to them.”
He’s frantic, his gaze bouncing around the room searching for his sisters. I don’t even think he realizes I’m in the shower.
When his relentless search of the bathroom comes up empty, he grabs his head and fists his hair. “They’re gone. They’re all gone!”
The agony in his words has me moving before I think. I’m in front of him, my hands cradling his face, dripping water onto his feet. “They’re okay. Chase. They’re fine.”
“They’re not here!”
“No. The twins are with Whitney, they stayed with Fenton and Dana Barnes. And Deanne Harper has Candace. She’s had her since after the game.”
His head shakes in my hands, but I fight the movement.
“They. Are. Fine.”
“Fuck!” The curse is rough and raw, lined with the jagged edges of his distress and relief.
“I promise you, Chase, your sisters are fine.”
His head lowers, his forehead bumping on mine. “I thought…”
I can only imagine what he thought. He would have woken in a daze after drinking last night, not to mention the rigors of a tough game; the adrenaline climb and plunge from yesterday, along with the alcohol he consumed would have his brain in a muddle.
And then to find his sisters not where he expected…
“They’re fine. Probably having the time of their lives. And you know Deanne dotes on Candace. Spoils her rotten whenever she gets the chance.” My words are meant to reassure him and when he nods, I let out the breath I didn’t realize was lodged in my chest.
“They’re okay.” His eyes close, his forehead still resting on mine, as he blows out a puff of air. “They’re okay.”
We’re quiet for a few seconds. Both coming down from the panic of the last few minutes.
“Um, Gem?”
“Yes.”
