Dirty Secret (Slayers Hockey, #1)

by Mira Lyn Kelly

Still, I need to work with what I have. “I understand that you’re upset. But look at what your team is doing this season. Look at what Quinn and Vaughn did in the game last night.” Scrubbing the back of his head, he blows out a harsh breath. Translation: Yes, they really tore it up. Vassar is a true asset to the team. “You guys have a solid chance at the Cup. Everyone is talking about it. But what do you think happens if Vaughn is suddenly up and gone?” He scowls at the ceiling. Translation: I may not like it, but I know you’re right.

“You sure about that?” Greg looks down at his hand, rubbing his thumb over his wedding band. “Because the way I see it, if Vassar is actually into you for you, every minute you spend with the guy is a threat to the kind of life you’ve been promising yourself since you were old enough to recognize how bad you needed to break free of mine. Nat, what if you fall in love with this guy? What then?” I open my mouth to protest, to tell him it’ll never happen. That I’m smarter than that. But I can’t.

It’s in that last questioning look before he kisses me goodbye the next morning. But all I can hear is my brother’s warnings still in my head. God, I don’t want to let him go. I don’t want Greg to be right. I don’t want him to take anything else I love away from me.

After a moment, she draws back, but just enough to get a look at me. Her fingers come up to feather over the skin near my stitches. “Does it hurt?” Yeah, but not the way she’s asking. The ache I can’t get past is all about her. “Not much.” She nods, and her touch trails lower, whispering over my jaw.

Jesus, that feels good. Too good. I swallow roughly, my hand fisting at the small of her back so I don’t slide it into her hair. But she feels it and her eyes come back to mine. That look. Searching and uncertain. Vulnerable. Baby, don’t look at me like that.

Her thumb skims the edge of my bottom lip, below the split. It’s soft and light and I feel it all the fucking way through me. It short-circuits my brain and jumpstarts ...