“I wish I could do a lot more than that.” But I can’t, so I drop my head a little, keeping enough distance between us to keep things from looking suspicious as I murmur, “You look so fucking hot in my jersey. I want to spread you out and eat you out like a feast while you’re wearing nothing but that. I want to fuck your face while you kneel for me, then fuck you so hard you won’t be able to walk tomorrow.”

Hannah shivers, and a tempting flush rises on her cheeks as her eyes meet mine. “Is that a promise?”

“Fuck yes, it is.”

There’s so much tension swirling between us that I swear I can feel it melting the ice under my skates. Hannah’s eyes never leave mine, and we’re so close I can see her heartbeat throbbing in her neck, pounding so fast it’s amazing she doesn’t pass out. And it takes everything I have not to lower my mouth to her neck to kiss every inch of her beautiful, exposed skin.

Thinking about what I want to do to her, of seeing her splayed out in front of me in nothing but my jersey makes my throat run dry, and the scorching look she’s giving me makes me sure that similarly dirty thoughts are tearing through her mind right now too. But neither of us makes a move because we’re both intensely aware of just how public we are right now.

“I should go,” she whispers, her voice raspy.

My hand instinctively reaches out to stop her, but I catch myself and shove it in my pocket instead. The physical pain of not touching her is almost unbearable. She smiles at me and nods, then turns to skate away.

I hate this. Hate having to let her go.

It takes me right back to that first night we spent together, puts me right back in the fear that I might have to go months without seeing her again. I don’t think that’s going to happen, especially not now that we’re so much closer literally and figuratively, but I still can’t forget the way it felt to go back to the club night after night hoping to see her again—and coming up empty.

This is different, and I know that, but I still hate it. Because the truth is I’m completely head over heels for this woman, and I honestly don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to keep pretending this is all just for fun.

39. Hannah

Chapter 39

Hannah

A week after the charity event, I’m sitting on the edge of my seat, watching Declan’s every move out on the ice as the Aces play the Nashville Coyotes—and trying not to give myself away in the process.