“Possessive much?”
“You have no idea,” he murmurs before he leaves my office.
14
October
Most of the guys on the team warm up by juggling a soccer ball together in groups. Not Bennett, though. No, the captain warms up by riding the stationary bike for ten minutes before jumping rope for another five minutes. Today, he’s aiming to be extra torturous. In the corner of the concourse, our captain—my fiancé—is jump roping with his shirt off.
Shamelessly, I watch the sweat droplets trail down his chest, over each rivet of his abs, before disappearing beneath the waistband of his black athletic shorts. I can’t take my eyes off the way his muscular pecs bounce up and down as he jumps in a steady rhythm. And his thick thighs are showcased beautifully in his six-inch inseam athletic shorts that are hiked up, stuck on his quads.
My stare is brazen, and I don’t even care when Jax walks up to me and wolf whistles, calling me out for ogling my man.
Shit. Not my man—my fiancé. Myfakefiancé, for all intents and purposes.
Is it really fake if you’ve become part of his pregame rituals in the most salacious way?
Shoving my devious inner thoughts aside, I turn and roll my eyes at Jax’s teasing.
“With the way you’re watching my big bro, I feel indecent even as a bystander, Little Red Riding Hood,” he pokes fun at me.
“I didn’t realize you were such a prude, Jax,” I give him right back.
“I can see why he’s been so beside himself over you all these years. Keep giving him hell, yeah?” he suggests as he goes back to juggling the soccer ball with Carson and Griffin. Effectively leaving me to reel over what he just said. Bennett was beside himself over me? For years?
No. Jax must be mistaken. There must be another woman Bennett was hung up on.
Even when I thought you used me all those years ago, I still fucked my fist to thoughts of you time and time again.
Okay, so maybe he got himself off to thoughts of me a few times. So what? It’s not like I didn’t. On the darkest nights, in the far recesses of my mind, he’s never strayed, and the reminder of our one night together often filled me with warmth when I’d realize how lonely I’d otherwise been.
Before Bennett has a chance to spot me, I sneak past the guys warming up and make my way into the locker room. I pull the laminated photo and crystal from my purse and set them in his locker cubby and then slip back out into the hallway before crashing into a solid chest that smells like sweat mixed with hints of campfire and cedarwood. Bennett.
“Whoa, where you headed in such a hurry, Red?” he asks as he catches me around the shoulders.
“I was just headed to the suites to make sure Gunner and Gemma have everything they need,” I tell him honestly.
“Well you can’t sneak away without at least giving me a peck on the cheek,” he suggests.
Rolling my eyes, I place a quick kiss over the stubble spotting his jaw, but he holds me in a tight embrace.
“Careful, Scar. You know how I feel about that sassy attitude of yours,” he warns, and heat immediately pools low in my belly.
“And here I thought you liked when I was a brat.”
“Later,” he growls and I squeeze my thighs at the promise in just that one word.
“Only if you play well so you earn more, Cap,” I toss back over my shoulder as I walk away.
I feel so dazed making my way up to the suite level of the arena, that I don’t recognize McKenna Turner until she’s walking toward me with wide open arms asking for a hug.
Kenna and I have chatted quite a bit over the past few weeks since we caught up at the family and friends skate. She mostly stuck to the stands with their infant son, Rowen, while Griff chased after Cadence on the ice that day, but we exchanged numbers and are hoping to have a playdate for Cadence and Gunner. It’s hard to believe how big Cadence has grown since I saw her briefly at their wedding.
“Scarlett! Was Griff teasing me or do I really get to watch the game with you tonight?”
“You do! Gunner and Gemma are going to sit with my grandparents during the game and then go home with them tonight.”
Kenna loops her arm through mine and walks me the rest of the way to the suite. Not every organization has a dedicated suite for significant others, but I’m happier now more than ever that we do.
