I spotted Sidney sitting beside Mia in the players’ seats. Her sultry eyes met mine, trapping me to her. She bit down on her lower lip, and my tongue rolled over mine, wetting her phantom bite. Rocky could go fuck himself with his PR bullshit. This girl was mine, and it was time she knew it.
Alex tapped my back with his stick. “Focus, man, before the coach catches you.”
I dragged my attention back to the game and set up for the face-off. The guy from the opposing team crowded into my space and overlapped our sticks. It was legal but an asshole move.
“Fuck off.” I flipped his stick off with my own and took a quick look at him before the puck dropped.
He nodded toward Sidney. “Your puck slut’s hot. Wonder if she’d take me for a ride?”
My gaze flashed white, then black, as rage pulsed through my veins. It was only Alex’s bumping my shoulder that stopped me from taking him down right here. I chuckled, but it was dark and laced with malice. “You’re fucking dead.”
Alex cut in. “You’re fucked now, buddy.”
The second the whistle blew, the guy took off from beside me, running fucking scared. But this was hockey, and there was nothing stopping me from taking him out. My blood pulsed in my ears, blocking out all sound as I skated across the rink directly toward him. I crashed into his side with all my momentum, driving his body into the boards directly in front of Sid. I winked at her, and her cheeks flushed. “That’s for you, Trouble.”
The ref called me on a five-minute major, but I was more than happy to take the penalty.
TWENTY-ONE
SIDNEY
Watching Jax was like seeing the devil incarnate. The way he moved was both like he could kick someone’s ass or take someone on the table. He was sucking down water in between shifts, and I couldn’t help but watch the way he moved on the ice. He was made for this.
Jax gave me the attention that every other girl begged for. Even when he wasn’t looking at me, his body drifted toward mine. We were being tugged toward each other, and I couldn’t slow it down. Truth was, I didn’t want to.
When Mia and I got to Offside, the DJ was already set up.
“You look pretty starstruck.” Mia’s smile took up her entire face.
“Don’t even start.”
“I’m just saying there’s something between you two. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you, and he was playing a freaking hockey game.”
“I’m not talking about this,” I deadpanned.
Mia linked her arm with mine, effectively letting me off the hook. “Drinks?”
“Drinks!” I was going to need something to take the edge off after watching Jax play.
A round of shots later, Mia led me out to the dance floor.
My eyes closed, and I let the house music move through my body. I loved dancing, the way it took over every thought and allowed me to let go.
Thick arms wrapped around me from behind, and I leaned back, expecting to smell Jax’s now familiar scent. Instead, I was met with the reek of stale beer.
“Let go of me, asshole.” I pushed against his arms, anger building in my chest.
“Hey, don’t be a bitch. We’re just dancing. Come on, sweetheart. You know you want to.” His voice was slurred, and his arms tightened, pushing the air out of my lungs. Fear settled in as I struggled to get him to let me go, and I fought in earnest to get him off me.
“Let her fucking go.” Jax was in front of me, ripping the drunk guy away. He lifted him by his collar, his rage pouring off him.
“Man, she was dancing up on me. It’s not my fault your girl is a slut.”
“Wrong fucking answer.” Jax’s fist collided with the guy’s nose and crunched as it broke with the impact. Blood dripped down into his teeth before he covered his face with his hand. “What the fuck? You broke my fucking nose.”
Jax gripped his collar tighter, yanking him close, and I could barely make out his voice. “Don’t touch her again. Do you fucking understand me?” His voice was low and cold. It left no doubt that he meant exactly what he was saying. It should scare the crap out of me, but my nipples were already getting hard.
A part of me desperately wanted to see how far he’d take this, but people were staring. If Jax went any further, he’d put his NHL career at risk. I ran my hand up his back. “Let him go. He’s not worth it.”
Jax gave him one last shake before shoving the guy away. “Fuck off. Before I change my mind.”
I barely registered the guy taking off, all my focus pinned on Jax as he stepped closer, thumb running over my cheek. “You okay?”
I placed my hand on his chest, needing to feel him. “Yeah, it was nothing.”
“It wasn’t nothing.” His low growl vibrated my palm. “He fucking touched you without your permission.”
I shrugged. “Nothing every girl isn’t used to.”
His body tensed, and his eyes darkened. “Never again, Sid.”
I bit my bottom lip, and a thrill went through me as he tracked the motion. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that.” He palmed my waist, tugging me closer until his inhales brushed against my neck. “I should’ve been here sooner.”
Rationally, I knew there was no way for him to know some dick would rub against me. That didn’t stop my core from tightening as his possessiveness washed over me. Everything about him called to me, the overwhelming sense of falling becoming more familiar.
“Dance with me.” Jax’s deep voice was rough in my ear. He was so close his lips brushed my skin. Goose bumps spread across my arms as the warmth of him coated me. The alcohol and heat of the dance floor had me in a dreamlike state.
His arm lowered to cover my hips and guided me against him. His chest heaved against mine, and I could feel his heart pounding out a rhythm that matched my own. A gentle graze of his lips on the shell of my ear sent shivers down my spine. Heavy, broken breaths skated against the delicate skin, and all of my nerve endings came to life. I dug my nails into his shoulders, holding him, not wanting this to end. He nipped my earlobe, and the slight pain was mixed with pleasure. I moaned, and he did it again.
Needing to touch him, I lifted my arms, wrapping my hands behind his neck, and buried my fingers in his hair.
“You’re fucking perfect.” He groaned and yanked my hips harder to him. His other hand trembled as it rose, grazing my skin. It was a slow, torturous ascent that left me desperate. It traveled up my stomach underneath my loose shirt, stopping just below my breast, waiting for my permission. I held my breath, paralyzed with the need to feel him, and he lifted his hand, barely brushing the soft underside exposed to him with no bra as a barrier. He groaned, and my lips tipped in a wicked smile.
“Fuck, you’re hot. You’re made for me, baby.” He pressed his mouth to my neck in open-mouth kisses, sucking hard enough to leave marks in their wake. Each touch was a direct line to between my thighs.
He let me go, grasping my hand before I could protest, and dragged me into a dark alcove created by a triple-stacked row of speakers that only had room for the two of us behind it. He went in first, guiding me backward until my ass was against his cock. I made needy sounds, and he wrapped his hand around my throat, squeezing gently.