Page 48 of Hockey Boy
I’m not sure if it’s his words or the intensity of his gaze, or maybe the way his lips tip up when he realizes that he’s left me speechless, but every single thing about this moment has my brain screamingshamrockover and over again. Everything about this man spells trouble for my heart, and I have a feeling tonight is the beginning of my downfall.
“Ready?” he asks softly, his hand traveling down my jaw until he grips my chin.
In response, I lick my lips. There’s no stopping the reaction.
His smile is wicked. “If my girl wants a kiss, all she has to do is ask,” he teases, dipping in close.
And then his mouth is on mine.Fuck. Why is he so good at this? His lips shouldn’t be so soft, and his tongue shouldn’t know precisely how to slide against mine to make my kitty purr. But here we are. I’m about to walk into a family party I’ve been dreading for days, yet I’m happily preparing to maul my fake date. Clutching the lapels of his suit jacket, I pull him closer, deepening the kiss.
“Excuse me,” a nearby voice mutters.
Aiden pulls me closer, out of the way of the door. I reluctantly break the kiss, and as I pull back, Aiden wipes that thumb against his lip again, chuckling. I should be bothered by the way he’s always wiping away my kisses, but I’m too busy searching for oxygen. When my head stops spinning, the pink lipstick smudged on his face registers. Cringing, I wipe at it as well.
“Sorry,” I say. “It’s a stain, so you might need to wash it in the bathroom.”
Aiden grins that schoolboy grin, and my heart skips like it’s a rock floating across the water, creating life-changing ripples.What is happening to me? I don’t do heart flutters. I don’t dolove.
“It’ll sell the relationship. My new girlfriend can’t keep her hands—or lips—off me.” With a wink, he pulls the door open.
Right. Because this is all to sell the relationship. The flirting. The winking. The earth-shattering kiss…fake.
I swipe both sides of my mouth, straighten my back, and step inside with my head held high, pink hair and all. This night is going to be an epic disaster.
Parties in generalare where I excel. I’m a fun guy. The life of the party. My toes are already itching to boogie, and my shoulders twitch along with a beat I know I can crush. But I happily remain plastered to Lennox’s side. Proud doesn’t begin to describe how I feel to be on her arm. Her hair is pulled back with wisps of light pink hair framing her face, the color making her blue eyes look practically electric.
She scans the entryway, likely searching for her parents, though I’m not sure whether it’s because she wants to get this meet-and-greet over with or because she’s working out a plan for avoiding them all night. I’m game either way. This is Lennox’s show, and I’m just along for the ride. Honestly, I’d follow her to the gates of hell. I can guarantee even that would be more enjoyable than any night out I’ve suffered with the devil herself on my arm over the last few years.
“My cousin Nick is at your nine o’clock. We’ll want to say hi to him at some point. His wife is well-known as a gossip, but she has absolutely nothing on him. Every person who wishes him a happy birthday will hear the story of how besotted you are with me.”
Lips twitching, she looks up at me. I have to work hard to hide my smile. She’s teasing me because I kissed the life out of her outside and she doesn’t knowwhat to do with herself now. She thinks this is all an elaborate game. If that’s the case, then I’d happily play it for the rest of my life.
“One juicy story coming up,” I tease, pulling her back against my chest so that her ass is flush against me.
As a surprised gasp escapes her lips, I run my nose against her bare shoulder and press soft kisses all the way up her neck until I reach her ear. “Let’s start with a little show and tell,” I murmur with a nip of her lobe.
She melts into my embrace, and when I spin her to face me, she whimpers. Once again, the element of surprise works in my favor. This time, I cup her face and kiss her, allowing my desire for this woman to speak volumes in the crowded room.
Unlike yesterday’s kiss, or even the one we shared moments ago, I allow myself to get lost in this one. Why not? It’ll only make it more realistic. That’s a poor man’s excuse, for sure, but I own it. Because right now I’m selling our love story to the masses. Showing them precisely how gone I am for this girl so that not a single person can question Lennox when she finally tells them she’s agreed to become my wife.
I don’t allow myself to even focus onthosewords. I don’t allow myself to get attached to the possibility that she’ll ever truly be mine.
But I do let myself enjoy the hell out of her lips against mine.
Pulling back an inch, I lick my lips, giving us both a second to breathe. “Think they’re watching?”
Lennox blinks, shaking her head. “Huh?”
A low chuckle slips out of me. “Your family. The birthday boy. You think we gave him enough of a story to run with, or should I take you over there and tell them how madly I’ve fallen for you?”
“Right.” She lets out a soft, almost sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, I think they got their story.”
I tear my gaze from hers and immediately catch her father glaring in our direction. There’s no stopping the smile that spreads across my face. I always loved pissing off Jackson Kennedy. He never liked the idea of his daughter dating an athlete, but I think what he hated more was how happy I made her.
Or maybe it was the way I kissed her. He certainly doesn’t look happy right now.
This power dynamic is one I’m familiar with. I grew up surrounded by people like her father. Walking overtohim, shakinghishand, and acknowledging that I need his approval is what is expected.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t play these games. Beckett and Gavin are much better at keeping up a façade in these situations. I’m the entertainment. The puppy. People approach me. If they don’t, then I don’t interact with them. I couldn’t care less what these people think they can do for me or my family.