look on her face was priceless. Lips parted, cheeks cherry red, she stared at him like he’d just asked her to strip and strut around the forum naked. His lips quirked. The next part of his plan was almost as bad.
“The other guys?” Her voice squeaked and she turned even redder. “How many of them?”
Hell, she thinks I mean the whole team! “Just four. My line and two defenseman.”
“Ah.” She rubbed her bare arms, then covered her cleavage with her hand. “And what exactly do I do with them all?”
“You don’t have to do anything.” He reached out and curved his hand under her jaw, angling her face up so she could see the camera in the hall right between the locker-room and the bathroom. “We’ll just make it look like you did.”
Her hand slid up to her throat. “Oh.”
Oh? Frowning, he studied her face. She blinked at him and pulled away.
Very strange. She seemed nervous, but Mason always said dilated pupils combined with rapid blinking and—he watched her tongue dart over her bottom lip— that, were signs of arousal. His blood surged downward and his palms got damp. He’d been worried about scaring her, but his suggestion seemed to have had a very different effect.
The metallic heels of her boots clicked as she walked across the room, watching him through the mirror. “So you think evidence that I’m . . . fooling around with the team . . . you think that will be enough?”
“I don’t know—Paul’s got some pride; I don’t see him wanting to be associated with something like that, but this is more about your father.” He paused, meeting her eyes in the reflection. “I have a reputation, Oriana. There are a lot of rumors about me sharing women. If I bring the guys in here, and then walk out with you half naked—”
All the color left her face. “Half naked? You want me to walk out of here—”
He quickly stepped up behind her to hug her before she got all upset for nothing. “In a jersey or somethin’, I know you’re not into exhibitionism.”
“Max.” She squirmed in his arms until she was facing him. Her fingers hooked over the collar of his white undershirt. “I might—”
Please don’t say it. Not unless you . . . Breath held, eyes shut, he waited. And waited.
“Um.” She gave his shirt a little tug. He looked at her, and she looked away. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Sure.” He ground his teeth, then glanced at her hand. “You’ll have to let me go.”
“I know, I just . . .” Her fingers slid up the length of his throat. She licked her lips again, deliberately, as though savoring the last drop of something sweet. Or slightly salty. “Will you—”
“God, woman! You’re going to drive me insane!” He took her face between his hands and kissed her, groaning when her lips and body fitted against his. Slick, peach-flavored lip gloss smeared everywhere. The depths of her mouth held pure, hot sin. But the tentative touch of her tongue was almost innocent. Letting out a gruff sound, he deepened the kiss, loving how she clung to his shoulders and took everything he gave. In this moment, she accepted him. Because her head wasn’t telling her not to.
This woman—this unhindered, passionate woman—usually hid from the world. But he’d gotten glimpses in the past of all her many facets. The sweet, eager-to-please girl. The clever imp. The hot-blooded tease—who didn’t often come out to play.
I won’t let you stash them and be all proper, darlin’. Not this time.
He caressed her tongue with his, then grazed the sensitive spot on the roof of her mouth. She bunched up the collar of his shirt in her hands like she was afraid he’d get away. And he wanted to stay with her more than she’d ever understand.
If only his needs were different. Or hers.
But his body’s needs seemed normal enough now. His pulse raced and his dick got hard. Like any guy who wanted a woman.
“I’m willing to try, Oriana.” He sucked on her bottom lip,
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