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“You’re such a health nut,” I murmured, finally relaxing against him.

“Hmm, especially your health. It’s my new top priority, so prepare for rehabbing that foot, and gym workouts, and stretching routines, and plenty of saunas and cold plunges. I need to make sure you’re here with me, for as long as I can keep you.”

“That sounds awful,” I murmured, my breath catching as he nipped at my neck, his teeth deliciously sharp. “But I guess I’ll do it, if we’re together.”

Brody pulled back and smiled, sending my heart thundering. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than literally anywhere with you. I really fucking felt it in New York. By your side is my home.”

I had no answer for that, because what could you say to words that took your breath away?

Then he stood and lifted me against his chest.

“Now, let’s go and strengthen your muscles with a nice soak.” He carried me toward the stairs. “So I can fuck you until they give out.”

Brody

EPILOGUE

One month later

It wasthe first important game of the season. Sure, we’d played a few here and there already, but none that would test us. The Wraiths were that team.

We warmed up on the ice in near silence. Music boomed around the rink, spectators filing into their seats. The air was electric. I’d played in a few places, but nowhere felt like Hade Harbor when it came to hockey.

“You know what’s riding on this game, right?” Marcus asked as I skated past the goals where he was stretching. “Can we count on you to bring it?”

“What do you think?” I asked him. “I don’t lose, you know that, Bailey.”

Marcus nodded. “Yeah, I’m starting to see that. Glad you’re on our team, Sinclair.”

“Yeah, I’m happy for you, too. It was about time to start winning.” I laughed and skated easily away from Marcus’ stick when he went to smack me with it.

I skated up the side of the rink, past Cal and Asher who stretched side by side, engaged in quiet conversation. I reached the players’ bench and spied a row of Ice God jerseys sitting just behind it. Martino, West, Anderson, and even Bailey were all there, worn by the women who loved them. Even Ari, Marcus’ older fiancée, who looked far too classy to be sitting ice-side in a polyester jersey, but hey, women liked funny guys. Funny guys who treated them well.

There was someone conspicuously missing, however. I stared pointedly at Winter, who just shrugged, twisting around to look at the top of the stairs at the end of the aisle.

So, my little heathen was late. It wasn’t a surprise; after all, she was often late. She didn’t care too much for appearances, or strict timelines, deadlines, or making polite small talk. She was a heathen through and through, and she was mine.

I’d never been richer.

The ref ended the warm-ups, and we skated into formation.

The whistle blew, and the game started. The Wraiths were just as good as Coach Williams had warned us they were. I’d studied their previous games, researched their star players. I knew how the team ticked. Yes, they were good, but we were better. Or so I thought, until second period, when we were one down, and time was slipping through my fingers. The jovial atmosphere of the rink had shifted. Wraiths fans cheered loudly, carrying the energy, while the Hellion fans had grown nervous.

At the end of the period, we stepped off the ice and made toward the locker room to have Coach Williams tear us a new one.

I tried to listen, I really did, but all I could think was… where was she?

I knew she’d had rehearsal right before. I knew it often ran over. My girl had been making new friends, ones that shared her interest in the theater, and I supported that. I was even able to stand the fact that half of them were male.

But she never missed the whole game. Tension swam through me, making me snappy and irritable. I exchanged glances with Cayden. Half the weight of the game felt like it was resting on our shoulders. More than half. It was the mark of the forwards to feel that way. I’d never thought I’d get on as well as I’d ended up doing with Cayden West. We couldn’t be more different in so many ways, and yet, surprisingly alike.

Coach released us, and we made for the tunnel back to the rink.

“You got your head back in the game?” West asked.

No. I didn’t bother answering. He’d see it soon enough.

“Why not?” West asked.