Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Um. Okay,” she agreed softly, giving me a sweet smile.
Wrecker lifted his chin at me, and I nodded, knowing he’d gotten the message to take my angel’s car back to the compound rather than meet us at the hospital.
One of the paramedics climbed into the back and shut the doors. He glanced at us and frowned. Somehow, I knew he was going to ask my angel to sit in a more secure place, but I still wasn’t willing to let her go, so I glared daggers at him. His gaze dropped to my vest, and he swallowed hard, keeping his mouth shut as he took a seat in one of the jump seats. Then he tapped on the divider wall, and the driver pulled onto the road.
“What is your name, angel?” I asked softly.
“Marnie. Um, Marnie Miller.”
“Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
Her cheeks bloomed with pink, and she smiled adorably. “You’re just full of terrible pickup lines, aren’t you?”
I grinned and reached out my free hand to brush the pad of one finger over the color on her cheek. “Are they so terrible if they’re working?” I teased.
Her blush deepened, and she giggled. “Yes, Ice. They’re still terrible.”
“Hayes,” I muttered.
“Pardon?”
“My name is Hayes,” I told her.
“Oh, but your vest says Ice, so I assumed—”
“Ice is my road name,” I confirmed. My voice took on a tone of finality when I continued, “But you call me Hayes.”
She smiled and cocked her head to the side. “Okay, Hayes.”
The sound of my name on her lips shot another bolt of lust straight to my dick.
Giving in to temptation, I used our clasped hands to urge her to scoot up so she was sitting beside my chest rather than my legs. Then I delved my free hand into her hair and ran my fingers through the long, satiny locks. I couldn’t wait to feel all that softness brushing against my chest while she rode me. To feel it curled around my hands as I held her head back while I fucked her from behind.
My mind ran wild with images of my fingers plunged into all that inky silk while I guided her head as she swallowed me down her throat. That brought thoughts of my face between her legs, my facial hair leaving whisker burns on the pale skin of her thighs.
Fuck. I needed to get control over myself before I attacked her like a rabid animal.
“So you’re a hairdresser?” I grunted, hoping random conversation would help take my mind off all the naughty things I intended to do to her.
“Yes. I work at Chop Chop on Main Street in Old Bridge.”
I thought about the little downtown area and remembered seeing a beauty salon. “Near Midnight Rebel?” I clarified.
“Um, yeah. It’s just up the block.”
I nodded, thinking that I needed to make sure any of the prospects and my brothers who visited our bar should keep an eye on the salon when coming and going.
“What did you mean when you said you were used to pain?”
“I played pro hockey, angel. Pain comes with the territory in that sport.”
“You don’t anymore?”
I shook my head. “Last time I got injured, it took me out for good.”
Relief flashed on her face, and I smirked. “Don’t like the idea of me being hurt, angel?” I was glad to see that she was already feeling protective of me since I’d been flooded with possessive instincts the moment I opened my eyes and saw her hovering over me.
Her skin turned pink, but she shook her head. I smiled, happy that she’d been honest rather than trying to be coy about it.
“I’m sorry you had to quit, though.”
“I used to be, too,” I admitted.
“Used to be?”
Smiling, I played with the ends of her hair while I answered, “From now on, I’ll always be grateful that I had to retire.”
Marnie tilted her head to the side, studying me curiously. “Why?”
“Because if I hadn’t, I never would have met you.”
“Oh.” Her expression was shy, even as she beamed at me. It was cute as fuck.
“Can, um, can I ask you another question?” she queried softly.
“Anything.”
Her whole face flushed, traveling down beneath the collar of her shirt and making me wonder just how far it went. “You said you were out of practice.”
I played back our interactions in my head and couldn’t figure out what she was talking about. “What?”
“Um, you said something about flirting and being out of practice.”
“Ah. Yeah,” I acknowledged, remembering my comment from earlier. “That’s not a question, though,” I teased.
“It’s just that…well, I imagine a professional hockey player, especially one as hot as you, has women throwing themselves at you all the time and—”
I placed my finger over her lips as I chuckled. “First of all, I haven’t noticed a woman in a long time because I was too busy focusing on my career. Sure, puck bunnies were always around, but they learned quickly that I wasn’t someone they’d have any luck with.”