Leo snarls, driving his hips forward with one last vicious thrust that has me crying out as I feel warm liquid pour into me. He slumps down, leaning his forehead against mine.
Neither of us dares to say a word for several moments as we stare at each other, sweaty and breathless, like the world around us doesn’t exist. Until Leo breaks the silence.
“I love you too, Mina.” His ragged exhale warms my face.
“Yeah?” I smile up at him. “Does this mean you’ve got this ‘first’ on camera too?” I’ve searched this room from top to bottom and still haven’t found any.
He grins. “Of course. For safekeeping.” Leo settles back on his heels, brushing his knuckles over my sensitive flesh. “Get on your hands and knees, baby. Put on a show for me to watch later.”
EPILOGUE
Leo
Two years later
“Next time you get into a fight like that, make sure I’m on so I can join. You hook from the left, and I’ll get him on the right.” Ridge grins at me as we finish packing our shit away.
I chuckle. “You have legs and free will. No one was stopping you.”
My new teammate gives me a look that says,fair point, then does up the buttons of his collared shirt.It’s been two years since I joined the Chicago Storms. Getting traded here was the best thing to happen to my career.
From day one, they treated me with the utmost respect because apparently, over two-thirds of the team either hated Jack or the Serpents as a whole. The moment they found out I never attended the funeral, they welcomed me with open arms.
Bar a couple of the players, I tolerate every person on the team—some I might even consider my friends. A fact Minawould argue because it’s not a point of “consideration” if they were invited to our wedding, and Ridge was one of my groomsmen.
Everyone in the locker room is in high spirits, and for the first time in my career, standing in the Serpents’ stadium has me fucking grinning too. I wish I could’ve taken a picture of Coach’s face when I got his star player sent to the penalty box.
Thankfully, footage of Simon taking a puck to the face will be one of tonight’s highlights. I’ve already set a reminder to download it.
This might be the third happiest night of my life: being the one to eliminate the Serpents from the season on their own turf.
Fate works in mysterious ways.
“Can I still hitch a ride?” Ridge checks.
I nod. I appreciate that he asks. It’s been a long time since my answer has been no. Getting out of the stadium takes a long time, and waiting for the Uber to arrive takes even longer. By the time we’re both in the car and en route to the bar, I’m fucking itching to see Mina.
Especially after that text she sent me.
She’s justbeggingto have her ass reddened.
It’s not common for her to attend an away game, but we both agreed there was no universe where she wasn’t coming to this one. And when she provided such an incredible incentive, of course I was going to make sure we decimated the Serpents.
The discomfort of being away from Mina multiplies when we hit another traffic light. It’s irrational. I know. The cops aren’t going to suddenly show up to investigate her when they cleared both of our names two years ago. We had a solid alibi. They couldn’t nail anything on us.
And the guy who was blackmailing Mina ended up being tied to two separate murders, so he isn’t going to see the light of day anytime soon.
For all intents and purposes, the only threat my wife faces in this city is her mother, and the woman who birthed her has made zero contact since the day we left. Actually, the other threat would be any fans who might recognize her now that she keeps hitting the bestseller list and has a book being adapted for TV.
Still, I’m fucking antsy.
And Ridge seems to find it awfully fucking amusing.
I glare at him when he mutters, “Someone’s panties are in a twist.”
I’m finding it hard to remember why we’re friends.
The bar finally comes into view, and I’m out of the car and on the sidewalk before we come to a complete stop. My shoulder aches a little when I push the door open, and I try not to let it remind me that I’ll soon need to make a decision about when I’ll retire.
