“Your secret is safe with me.”
His gaze catches mine, and it feels like my entire body is coming to life. My toes tingle, my fingertips itch to touch him, and an entire swarm of butterflies takes flight in my belly. His intense green eyes seem to study me. It feels like he’s trying to decide if I’m worthy of his secrets.
“Why do I want to tell you all my secrets, Daredevil?” He seems truly conflicted, like part of him wants to bare his soul and the other wants to run far away from here without ever telling anything he holds close.
“I don’t know, but I have a feeling if you asked for mine, I would tell you every single one,” I answer back, barely above a whisper.
One eyebrow raises, and it feels like he leans even closer to me. “Do you want me to ask what your secrets are?”
A low, shallow breath leaves me. He’s so close I’m positive he must have felt the little puff of air across his cheek. “Not today, but ask me again tomorrow.”
He smiles, and his eyes quickly dart down to my lips. My eyes get stuck there, watching him watch me. When his tongue comes out and licks his bottom lip, I’m pretty sure I completely soak my panties through.
I’ve never wanted someone to kiss me so much in my entire life. My body is practically salivating over the image that pops into my brain. All he would have to do is lean forward a few more inches. His lips would skate over mine. I would reach up and grab the strands of brown hair that graze the nape of his neck to pull him even closer.
The tantalizing fantasy pops just like a bubble the moment Rowan leans back and turns to look out toward the ice.
I hear what sounds like a bullhorn, then I feel a playful jab to my side.
“It’s starting.”
And just like that, I get sucked into one of the most fascinating games I’ve ever watched. My hockey game cherry is officially popped.
Chapter Nine
Rowan
“That was so intense!”
I nod my head and chuckle because she isn’t wrong. That was a particularly brutal game. The two teams have been rivals since the teams were first established. I alsorememberthere being a rumor going around about how one captain was fucking the other captain’s girl, which probably has more to do with the ass beatings than the actual rivalry.
“Are they always like that?”
We’re still sitting in our seats. She seems pretty content to just sit here, and I need to buy us some time until I can enact phase two of this date/non-date.
The second part is what I’m most excited about. I have a feeling she’s going to take to it like a baby ducktowater. Mostly,I’m just honored to be able to help her check something off of her list.
A list that I’m still curious aboutin terms ofits origins and why it’s so important to her, but I have a feeling I’m going to be seeing a lot more of Millie St. James.
“No, not always. Some games are just more violent than others.”
“Why’s that?”
I shrug one shoulder.“It could be anything. There’s a lot of shit-talking that goes on, sometimes that gets out of hand. Or one player has personal beef with an opposing player, and the guys get wind of it. Sometimes it’s as simple as everyone’s all worked up for one reason or another.”
“Like it’s a full moon or something.”
I laugh because I haven’t heard that one before.“Is that a thing?”
She tilts her head to the side.“My mom says it is. She’s always been a little superstitious or whatever you want to call it. She thinks people act differently when it’s a full moon.”
“Huh, I get the superstitious part. Hockey players are notorious for having rituals before the games, but I don’t know about a full moon, though. Do you believe it’s real?”
Her lips form this adorable little pout, one that I’m starting to learn means she’s deep in thought.“I don’t have any reason to believe it’s not. I think anything’s possible.”
I think back to just how damn crazy this past year has been, and I know for a fact that she’s right.Anything is possible.
“Well, full moon or not, I think this one had more to do with one captain fucking the other captain’s girl.”
