Page 80 of Traded

My fingers slip into his hair. “Martin wouldn’t let you play if he didn’t think you were up to it, right? You passed, which is what matters. You never have enough faith in yourself.”

“I don’t need to. You’ve got plenty for both of us.” He inhales as my nails scrape his neck gently. “Fuck, that feels good. When the season’s done, we need a holiday. I’m thinking an island somewhere. Sun, sand, sleep.”

Carter wiggles his eyebrows, and a laugh is coaxed from my chest. “And other things?”

“Lots of things,” he murmurs. “All of them to do with you. Missing you, Ro.”

I nudge into him until I can press my cheek to his chest, against his heartbeat. It feels slower than normal. “I’m right here. We could go back to your room. Talk. Have some dinner.”

As I say the words, I realize how desperately I need that. Needhim.

“You have no idea how much I want that,” he says heavily. “But Mina’s got me on a tight schedule. The pills will knock me out so I can get some decent sleep. Coach was pretty clear on my orders. Why don’t you head down with the others?”

“Nah,” I say eventually, forcing a smile. It’s not a rejection—not in so many words. But it feels like one. Another little dagger in my chest. “Wine and fries in the bath will call my name if you’re not going to.”

“Sounds like heaven. I have a lot to make up for once we lift that cup.” His lips find mine. Softly, brushing my lower lip.Carter makes a sound in the back of his throat and pulls away. “I should go before I change my mind. Coach will have my head if I mess with their plans after everything.”

He swoops in for another kiss. This one is longer. His lips move over mine, his fingers finding the skin at my lower back and gently pressing until I curve into him. When we pull away, both of us are breathing heavily. “Going now. Night, baby.”

“Night.” I watch him head to his own room. He turns around before going inside, a grin playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Stop tempting me,” he calls with laughter in his voice. “I’ll sic Viktor on you for messing with his center.”

I give an exaggerated shiver that’s not entirely feigned. Their defense coach isnotsomeone to fuck with. “What, me? I’m hanging out. Loitering.”

I rub my foot against my leg. “Little lonely down here, though.”

I push out my lower lip, and the faint growl rumbles directly into my bones, invigorating them. “I swear, Ro—”

“Jesus fuck, you animals.” Ryker shoves his head out of a room halfway between us. “We can smell the pheromones from here. No fair, Cap. Coach said no knotting before the game.”

I choke on the laugh that covers my disappointment. “He’s behaving himself.”

“Unfortunately.” Carter gives Ryker the finger. “No partying tonight. Save it for after St. Louis.”

Ryker’s pout is bigger than mine. Grinning, I slip back inside my room, listening to the chirping.

My smile slowly fades as I take in the empty space.

More laughter echoes from the hall on the other side of the door. Jonas’s deep chuckle, Liam’s murmur. My hand slips to my phone, but the screen is dark.

No messages. Nothing to ask where I am, or if I’m coming to dinner.

And nothing from Liam to pull me back into line.

I’d choose a night alone a hundred times over against another bark session.

The complimentary bubbled bath smells like jasmine, and I pour the whole damned bottle into the hot running water, begrudgingly adding a dollop of de-scenter. There’s more of that in my bag than anything else.

When my phone buzzes, I freeze. But the only message is from Katie.

Where are you? Come to dinner, bitch tits.

The lie slips out easily as my fingers tap.

Headache. See you tomorrow.

It’s getting easier to lie. To the team. To my pack. To Carter. To everyone, including myself. Liam was right about that much. The bark helps.