“Isn’t he perfect?” Skylar asks, admiring him. “He didn’t want to come either, but once he’s in his element, he’s fine. He was a bad boy, and I’m sure his ass still hurts. You’d never know it, huh?”
My jaw drops at his words, surprised at how comfortable he is talking about his relationship. I am very aware of the way my actions are perceived, which is why I have anxiety at events. I’m not sure if he’s trying to tell me that he fucked him into the mattress or spanked him, but I find myself watching Rhodes to see if there’s any hints of soreness.
The alpha has a great poker face, because I can’t see anything that’ll tell me he’s uncomfortable.
“You wouldn’t,” I mumble, allowing Skylar to pull me toward the group.
“You talk a really good game, Rhodes,” one of the men says as we join them. “Besides, it’s for the kids, right? Will you make sure this gets into the correct hands, please?”
Rhodes takes an envelope with a nod, and others fill out checks and hand it to him as well. My jaw goes slack as the group disperses, and Rhodes sees me.
“Skylar, did you make a new friend?” he asks, his full lips smirking.
This is the Angels’ main goalie, and I think the only thing he does better than sweet talking money out of people is keeping people out of his fucking crease.
“I did,” Skylar says. “Meet Koen Jeffries, Captain of the Lakeview Cougars.”
“You’re a long way away from home, no?” Rhodes asks, surprised. “Or did you want to meet your competition? Though, I have to admit that a charity event is a weird place to do that. Picking up chicks here isn't really an option either. Everyone is in their sixties.”
“I’m not here to pick anyone up,” I say, chuckling. My sexual orientation isn’t something I’m very fond of discussing, especially since I’m not out to my parents.
It would upset them to find out through a press piece, or worse yet, a rumor rag.
Rhodes leans forward as he listens to me before blinking as if he’s trying to pull himself out of some kind of spell.
What the fuck was that about?
“Well, that’s unfortunate,” he mutters under his breath. “I need to unload some money. Walk with me so I can get all of this to someone else. I feel like a high priced hooker.”
“You’re so dramatic,” Skylar says with a laugh. “You left your heels at home, baby. Your strut doesn’t have the same impact.”
“This is true,” Rhodes admits. “For real though, this is a lot of money. Make sure I don’t drop an envelope, and please check out my ass the entire time.”
He can’t be real. My lips curve into a smile as I’m dragged toward the coordinators. I know I’m not in danger, so I’ll let Skylar lead me around for now. I can leave in a few minutes.
“He’s quite serious about checking out his ass,” Skylar says. “The man will be insufferable otherwise. He’ll pout until I have to spank him again.”
It takes a lot of effort to keep my mouth closed, and I force air into my lungs through my nostrils instead. I can’t smell anything due to my scent blocking cream. For the first time in years, I wish that I could. I want to know what these alphas smell like.
“I was wondering why his ass hurt,” I admit softly.
“It’s a toss up between the butt plug and the spanking,” Rhodes says over his shoulder. Not one person glances in our direction and I can’t figure out why.
I’m always painfully aware of my words and actions, yet these two seem to give zero fucks about it. Thankfully, I don’t have to figure out what to say, because one of the coordinators for the charity is walking toward us.
“Help. I’ve had money thrown at me and I need to rehome it,” Rhodes jokes, his hands full of checks and envelopes.
“That’s quite the problem to have,” Tilly says with a grin. “I can definitely help with that.”
Tilly and her colleagues head up the youth branch for their charity organization, and I have to say they did a great job tonight. If what Skylar said is true, they have all of their bases covered.
Tilly relieves Rhodes of his bounty, organizing it so it’s easier for her to carry.
“Thank you so much for coming tonight. It’s always nice when people can discuss the importance of these programs with people who have utilized them,” she gushes.
It’s no secret that I grew up in the lower middle class range. If my parents had breathed wrong or had lost their jobs, they would have easily dipped below that. My father managed to get a really good job while I was in high school, and it changed our lives.
My parents knew hockey was my life very early on, and they applied to every scholarship program possible so I could keep going. I paid my parents mortgage off the second I was able to, even though they insisted it wasn’t necessary. They may make me insane, but I’m very aware of how much they sacrificed for my sister and I. Silvia’s obsession was the violin, and lessons aren’t cheap.
