“Not to me, but to others.” He curled his arms, pulling me closer to his chest. “Enough to be a warning to us all. I know that River is picky as hell, and had a booty call that he made sign an NDA contract. Though he hasn’t seen her in a while,” he said thoughtfully. “And I make it real clear about what I expect early on. You get better at picking the girls who just want to ride you so they know they can, and the ones looking to trap you as a meal ticket.”

I frowned. That was so fucking sad. “I’m sorry.”

He laughed, cuddling me to his chest. “I know, right? Poor little manwhore.”

Still, I wrapped my arms around his neck tighter, hugging him closer. “Abusing your trust isn’t a joke, Rigby. Next time someone does that shit, point me at them and I’ll beat their ass.”

Rigby snorted as he climbed the stairs easily, even with my body weight. “Are you going to get into a catfight for me?”

I frowned up at him as we reached the landing. “Not for you. I’m protecting your honor. It’s chivalrous.”

“Can women be chivalrous?”

“They told me I can be anything I want to be,” I announced like a PBS special, making him laugh. He stopped outside my door, lowering me to my feet.

“That you can, baby girl. You can be anything or anyone you want to be.” He stared down at me with intense eyes, his hand cupping the back of my neck like he was going to kiss me.

I realized I wanted him to. Really, really bad.

Instead, he stroked my jaw with that huge mitt he called a hand. “Goodnight, Nova,” he murmured softly.

“Goodnight, Rigby,” I breathed back. He stared down at me for what felt like an infinite amount of time, before turning and walking back down the short hall toward his own bedroom.

I stayed in the hallway until his door closed softly, breathing deeply. Moments later, the water of Rigby’s ensuite shower turned on. My brain jumped to what he might be doing there, and I shook my head vigorously.

No. Bad Nova.

But it didn’t stop me from dreaming of lips sliding across my body and Rigby’s sexy smirking face staring down at me.

Chapter Thirteen

RIGBY

I skated onto the ice as they called my name, the crowd going wild, and I couldn’t help my grin. Out there in the sea of faces was Nova, and I was determined to find her. Devan hated the family box, so they’d be out in the crowd, but still in good seats.