Outside this arena, we had something—I'm not surewhat,but something, undeniably. And when I thought of Hunter, my heart thumped in my chest with a giddy beat, excited to find out what our future might hold.
Inside this arena, though, we had to pretend like we didn't know each other. At all. No feelings, no crushes, definitely no make-out or phone sex sessions. That meant no stealing glances at each other. No trying to catch each other's eye to silently communicate on some small detail. Because someonealwaysnoticed those things.
It'd be hard. Damned hard. I knew that. That's why I was scared. And when I stepped into the arena and made my way for the girls' dressing room, my flighty stomach began to flip and flop.
Even though we couldn't talk, or maybeespeciallybecause we couldn't talk, I wanted to leave Hunter a little hint that I was thinking of him. So, before I left for the arena, I did my hair in the Dutch crown braid that he said he liked so much.Would he notice?
At last, I arrived. I opened the girls' dressing room door, and heard Madison recounting last night's game to her group of loyal followers.
“And, ohmyGod!Did Hunter play amazinglast night orwhat? That goal he made at the last second? Amazing. Last time he tried it, he missed. But after that game, I told him not to be discouraged, because next time Iknewhe'd make it. I can't wait to ask him if he made that goal because of me . . .”
I tried to slip in unnoticed, and not interrupt Madison's story, but she whipped around and saw me.
“Oh. If it isn't Honor.”
“Hi Madison, hi everyone,” I said.
Madison sucked her cheeks in. “Listen. Honor. I meant to tell you this earlier. I know Hunter said he wanted you here for this shoot, right …”
Uh huh.
“But, actually, I have to veto that idea. See, like I told Hunter earlier, this shoot is for the second-year girls only. No rookies allowed. And it just wouldn't be veryfairto the other girls if you participated.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, so … you can sit this one out.” She smiled at me and waved, her hot-pink nails flashing. “Buh bye!”
Stunned, I could only shake my head and mutter. “Oh, er, alright …”
I reached for the door knob, but it twisted the second I put my hand on it. I jumped back as the door opened up.
And there stood Hunter Rockwell. Rippling muscles bulged against his tight, black athletic under-shirt. From the waist down, he wore hockey gear—the puffy pants, the leg pads and socks, the skates.
Hunter's eyes locked on mine for the briefest of seconds, but it might as well have been an eternity. The essence ofhimraced through my brain in a flash like lightning: his salty smell. His demanding lips, taking mine. The electric taste of his tongue slithering against my own. His long, rock-hard bulge, sliding between my legs. The sexy grunts and groans of his self-pleasure over the phone: “I'm cumming!”
It all sizzled through my brain in a single flash.
Hunter broke eye contact, stepped past me and into the dressing room. With his skates on, he loomed even taller over me. “Hey girls. What's going on?”
“Oh, nothing,” Madison answered. “We were just talking about what a great game you played last night.”
“Thank you.” He smiled and folded his muscular arms. “Well, I just came to say hi and make sure everyone's here. The camera crew's already set up on the ice, so they want us out there ASAP.” Without looking my way, he pointed a thumb at me. “So you better crack the whip and make surerookieover here gets dressed in a hurry.”
Madison smiled cheerily. “I wasjusttelling her that, Hunter.”
“Great. See you on the ice, ladies.”
Hunter turned around, winked at me, and left.
Once the door had shut after him, Madison rolled her eyes at me. “You aresolucky, by the way. You know that? Go ahead. Get dressed, because now heexpectsyou out there …”
An outfit was hanging for me in my stall. I grabbed it and quietly changed into it.
My phone chimed as a text from Hunter arrived. I quickly peeked at it, not wanting anyone to catch me: “I just had to see you. Love that you did your hair like that again. You do that for me?”
I answered. “Glad you noticed.”
“Wow…so how about dinner at 6 tonight? I'll pick you up at your place.”
