“Yes, ma’am.” He offers his arm. “Shall we?”
I hesitate only a second before slipping my hand onto his elbow. Butterflies riot in my stomach.
“So… you’re part of the team?” I ask as we weave through the glittering crowd.
“Yep. Left winger.”
I nod slowly, pretending I understand. “That sounds… important?”
“Depends who you ask.” He chuckles. “Basically, I’m the guy who tries to score while not getting decapitated by angry men on skates.”
Something in his good-natured tone settles me, just a little.
“Glamorous.”
“Oh, totally.” He grins. “Nothing says glamour like missing teeth and smelling like an armpit for six months out of the year.”
A laugh bursts out of me as we walk, but it slowly dies in my throat as my skin prickles. The hair on the back of my neck stands up like static. My eyes scan the table we’re slowly approaching, full of large men in suits. My gaze is pulled like a magnet to the head of the table and my heart drops to my stomach as I meetthe eyes of the man who’s been plaguing my thoughts since the club.
He’s wearing a black tux. Dark hair brushed back, a strand falling across his forehead. He’s seated at the large round table, broad shoulders relaxed against the chair, one arm draped over the backrest. And his eyes are on me—dark and molten.
I hoped he’d look worse in normal lighting. Hoped the neon of the club had made him look better than he actually does. But seeing him clearly proves me wrong. Everything about this man is annoyingly flawless: straight nose, high cheekbones, sharp jawline, full lips, thick slightly arched eyebrows above slanted eyes the color of whiskey. Even his hairline sits exactly where it should.
Addams is still talking beside me, something about broken sticks, but the words dissolve into static. His captain isn’t looking away. His gaze flicks from me to Addams, then back to me. He’s not just looking—he’s glaring.
The muscles in his jaw flex once, sharp as a warning. I don’t know why it feels like I’ve been caught doing something forbidden. I don’t owe him anything.He’s just a man. A man I don’t know. But still, I feel the heat of his disapproval crawling across the room, searing through the silk of my gown. It compels me to slide my arm out of Addams’ hold and step away.
Addams finally notices and glances down at me, brows quirking. “Are you okay?”
“Just nervous,” I nod too quickly, turning to face him.
Movement draws my attention back to Dominic as he rises from his chair, every inch of him uncoiling like a shadow standing to his full, intimidating height.
He buttons his suit jacket with one hand, his gaze never leaving me as he starts moving toward us.
Addams doesn’t notice the shift until Dominic’s shadow falls over us. “Hey, Cap,” he says cheerfully, unaware of the storm that just arrived.
Dominic stops beside us, presence overwhelming, scent clean and dark. His eyes cut to Addams briefly before landing back on me. “I’ll take it from here, Addams.” His tone is calm, even polite, but there’s an edge underneath.
Addams doesn’t seem to hear it as he looks up at his captain. “Sure thing,” he says easily, giving me afriendly grin before placing his hand on my shoulder. “I’ll be at the table, Jessica.”
“So will we in a moment.” All friendliness evaporates from Dominic’s voice, his gaze locked on where Addams is touching me.
Addams pauses and looks back up at Dominic. Realization crosses his face before it morphs into amusement. He huffs a small laugh, shaking his head. The warmth of his hand lingers for half a second before he disappears toward the team’s table.
“You always talk to your teammates like that?”
“When their hands are where they’re not supposed to be, yes.”
I swallow the flutter trying to escape my chest, dragging in a breath like that might slow my pulse. It doesn’t. I glance down, adjusting the clutch in my hand.
“Well, last I checked, we never even got past introductions.”
His head tilts slightly, watching me. “Jessica.” I lift my hand between us.
His eyes drop to my extended hand and there’s a slight pause before they return to mine. His large handslides along the underside of my palm, long fingers wrapping around my knuckles.
“Dominic.”
