Page 74 of Instigator

“Come on. I’ll get you something to wear.”

“As long as it’s dry, I don’t care.”

His hand slips down to hold mine, and I follow him from the showers to the dressing room. Seven or eight hockey players stand around in various stages of undress, and as we enter the room, all conversation dies.

“What the hell?” Jenkins says. He’s shirtless, but his muscles don’t interest me. “You snuck in a babe? I didn’t think we could do that.”

“Fuck off,” Aidan growls. And whew, his snarl does something to me.

“You work on the helmets,” Easton says.

“Hi. I’m Ceci.” I wave awkwardly. “We’re, uh…”

“We’re together,” Aidan cuts in.

I’ve met most of the guys, but that doesn’t mean they remember me. As a board member, I’m essentially anonymous.

“Damn,” Jenkins says with a low whistle. “She’s a fucking smokeshow, Cap.”

“Fuck off,” he barks again. “Don’t fucking talk about her like she’s not here.”

“I don’t mind being called a smokeshow.” I lean up and peck his cheek, then whisper in his ear. “As long as you know it too.”

“You know I do.” Aidan’s hand tightens on mine, and before I know what’s happening, he’s kissing me again in front of his teammates. His hand dives into my hair, curling around my nape.

No hesitation. No uncertainty. Just pure, unadulterated confidence. He owns me in one simple touch.

It’s sexy as fuck. A shiver runs through me again, and this time it has nothing to do with the cold.

He doesn’t seem to realize that, though, because he pulls back and leads me to a wooden cubby with his name and number on the nameplate.

A stack of folded clothes sits on the top shelf. He pulls a T-shirt and sweats from the pile.

“I don’t know how well these will fit. But at least they’re dry.”

Still holding the towel around me, I take the clothes. They’re both sporting his name and number. I imagine his reaction to my being branded with it, and goose bumps rise on my skin.

Yeah, I think he’s going to like that.

“Let me find you a place to change.”

“I can figure it out.” Unable to help myself, I kiss him quick. “Come to my office when you’re done here.”

“You got it.” He tugs me into his arms again, heedless of our audience, and kisses me slow and deep.

When he finally pulls back, it takes a second for my brain to come back online and my eyes to uncross. Wolf whistles erupt in the room, and my face floods with heat.

“Fuck off,” Aidan snaps at his teammates.

“We’re just happy for you,” Ryan says.

His best friend.

His future brother-in-law.

Shit. I guess Hailey is definitely about to find out. Will she approve of us as more than a simple hookup?

“Leave him alone.” I step in front of him, ready to defend him to the death. I don’t want to fight his friends and teammates, but I will if I have to.