I cup her face with one hand and lean down, pressing my lips to hers. It’s brief but firm, claiming her in front of everyone here the same way I did on the ice.
Our first real public kiss.
There are a few whistles and cheers from the guys when I pull back, but I ignore them. My focus is exactly where it should be right now.
“Hey, yourself.” She touches my chest, right over my heart. “Good game.”
“Thanks. It’s always better when you and April are in the stands rooting for us.”
“Oh, really?”
“I mean it. The other guys notice it too.”
Her smile makes everything else fade away until it’s just the two of us in this moment.
“I’m really glad you came tonight.” I plant another kiss on her lips, just because I can.
“I am too. I think we made the right decision to stop hiding. I’m really happy, Grant.”
“Good.” I kiss her forehead, then her nose, then her lips again. “Because so am I.”
She leans into me, and I wrap my arm around her waist, keeping her close enough that my lips brush against her ear when I lean in. “You look fucking hot in my jersey.”
“Yeah?”
“But you’d look even better in nothing but my jersey.” I pause, letting my hand drift lower on her back. “On your hands and knees. That perfect ass in the air while I spank it until you’re begging me to fuck you.”
Her breath catches with a sharp little intake that tells me exactly what that mental image does to her. Heat floods her cheeks, turning them that pretty shade of pink I love.
“Grant,” she whispers, her voice shaky.
“What, Hurricane? You don’t like that idea?”
“You know I do.” She swats at my chest, but she’s smiling. “You can’t say things like that here.”
“Why not? No one can hear us.”
“April is literally ten feet away.”
“That’s why we’re whispering. Practicing for later.” I press a kiss just below her ear. “Do you think you can manage that? I know you like to get loud.”
She shivers against me. “Practice makes perfect. I’ve learned that from you.”
Across the room, I catch Theo gesturing at me to join them. “Last chance, Parker. You can bring your lady, you know.”
I shake my head.
He raises his eyebrows, but I look down at Heather, then over at April, who is deep in conversation with Sawyer’s son about something that’s no doubt of the utmost importance.
I’m exactly where I need to be.
Theo grins and gives me a thumbs up before heading out with the others.
“You didn’t have to skip celebrating with them,” Heather says quietly.
“I’d rather be with you.”
“But I don’t want you to feel like?—”
