AllFreeNovel
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There’s also an unspoken challenge between us that’s electrifying. It’s there, pulsing through the air whenever he’s around. We push each other. And then we wait to see who will break first. There’s something about it that is equally exhilarating and so frustrating at the same time. But it’s never dull.
I pull my gaze away and glance around at the craziness of the room. Another group of guys is in the corner, taking shots.
“This party is on another level,” I comment, pausing to sip my drink again. “If I breathe too deeply, I’m afraid I’ll end up drunk or pregnant.”
A guy standing to my right spits out some of the beer he just drank as he glances over at me and laughs. Ollie is shaking his head, but says nothing.
“What?” I ask.
Sometimes, I say crazy things just to see how Ollie will react. He rarely does, which only makes me try harder.
“That mouth on you,” is all he says.
One of his thick and bushy eyebrows rises as I wait for him to speak again. Even the hair on his face exudes some weird, testosterone-filled masculinity. He scrambles my brain when he stands this close to me. I pull my attention away again to regain my senses before I do something really dumb, like kiss him to finally see if he tastes as good as he looks.
“So … Carlson?” he finally asks.
A small smile tilts my lips at the mention of the football player.
“Interesting choice,” he comments.
My smile drops as my eyes find him once again. “Jealous?”
“Insanely.” He smirks.
But I can tell he’s not serious. It’s still nice to know he’s been watching me tonight. His attention has always felt good. But I should’ve known he was silently observing. He’s protective like that.
I take another sip of the sweet, spiked concoction. He watches me swallow while casually leaning against the counter as if he hasn’t a care in the world. And I guess he doesn’t. This man has the entire planet at his feet. A fat hockey contract. The job that every boy who laces up skates dreams of having. Money. And fame is coming soon. I glance around the room and notice that every woman here has her attention on him. But he stands next to me, oblivious to it. Or maybe he knows, but just doesn’t care. I’m not really sure which one it is, but somehow, it makes his attention feel even more addictive.
“Be careful there,” he murmurs.
“Huh?” I ask. I was so lost in my thoughts that I forgot what we were talking about.
“With Carlson. Be careful with him. He’s got a reputation.”
“What kind of reputation?” I challenge.
“The kind that leaves women crying at some point.”
“Kind of like you?”
He scoffs and rolls his blue eyes. “No. I’m strictly a class-act gentleman.”
I snort. It’s not that I disagree. Ollie is a class act. But he leaves hearts broken everywhere he goes even if he doesn’t mean to. And besides, he needs someone like me to keep his ego in check.
I see the brunette that’s been attached to him tonight enter the room. Her eyes scan the space and only stop when they land on the hockey stud standing next to me.
“Incoming,” I warn beneath my breath.
Ollie notices her, too, but whips his gaze right back to mine. My mind doesn’t register what’s happening when I feel his strong grip on my upper arms as he pulls me into his chest. My arms automatically snake around his waist, and I rest my cheek against his neck. I leave my cup on the counter behind him so I can tangle my fingers in the back of his shirt. His smell is even more intoxicating when we’re standing this close.
I can’t think. I can’t react. I can only feel.
And I feel too much.
I close my eyes.
“Where’d you go?” I hear an unhappy voice ask over my shoulder.
