Page 124 of Risking the Pucking Defense

Every muscle in my body relaxes as his arm bands around my back, holding me up with very little effort.

His tongue pushes between my lips, gliding against mine, and I join without a second thought.

The relief I felt when Anthony told me he trusted my judgment and respected my professionalism was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

I was convinced I was walking into his office to be told it was over, that my life as I knew it had ended, all because I’d accidentally started caring for someone.

He had every right to fire me, and I told him that to his face. I understood the seriousness of the situation. I will be forever grateful that he’s giving me the chance to prove myself. That’s he’s allowing us to have a chance.

“Fuck, I missed you,” Hayden confesses as he kisses across my jaw and then down my throat.

“I missed you, too,” I gasp as he sucks on the sensitive patch of skin beneath my ear. “I wanted to be there so badly. I’m so proud of you for going out there and smashing it, though.”

“You called me. When I needed you, you called me. It meant everything to me.”

“Hayden,” I shriek when he suddenly sweeps me off my feet, lifting me into his arms.

I wrap my legs around his waist and hook my arms behind his neck as my lips find his once more.

I’m vaguely aware that we’re moving, but for once in my life, I don’t worry about not being in control; instead, I’m more than happy to hand it over.

It’s in this moment that I realize just how much I trust Hayden. It should terrify me. All my life, I’ve been let down by men in one way or another. But when I’m with him, it’s easy to forget all of that and just live in the moment.

My eyes finally open when he pulls his lips from mine and gently lowers me from his body.

My fingers twist in his shirt, far from ready to lose his lips against mine.

But the second his own hands lift and his fingers begin working on the buttons, I allow mine to fall to my sides.

My chest heaves as I watch him work each button. I swear, he moves more slowly than he ever has before, revealing only an inch of skin at a time.

“Hayden,” I whimper.

He looks at me from beneath his lashes, and the darkness in his eyes has me rubbing my thighs together.

“Tell me what you need,” he rasps.

“You.”

The smile he gives me is everything.

“You’ve already got that. Have for a while now.”

I shake my head, a laugh erupting out of me.

“What?” he asks, his brow wrinkling as if he’s done something wrong as he hits the bottom of his shirt, tugging it from the waistband of his pants and throwing it to the floor.

Christ. He is fine.

“You. You’re just…”

He quirks one brow, waiting for me to finish that sentence.

“Perfect.”

His chin drops as shock ripples across his face.

“I mean it,” I say quickly before he has a chance to tell me I’m wrong. “I know this started with me taking care of you, but you don’t realize how much you’ve given me in return.”