A laugh explodes from him. “Fuck, you’re going to be a handful, aren’t you?”
“You can count on it.”
His enormous hand, the size of a dinner plate, wraps around my waist possessively. The heat of his mammoth palm through the fabric makes my knees go weak. “Let’s get out of here.”
A volleyball lands at my feet as we turn to go. When Carmen scampers after it, she looks knowingly between me and Adler.
“Sweet dreams, Sabs,” she chirps with a wink. “If you get any sleep, that is.”
I blow her a kiss. “See you at practice next week!”
“There are golf carts we can jump into up the hill,” Adler motions toward them.
I tear away from him and break out into a run. “Race you!”
Although I’m ahead, he’s fast on my tail, eager to win at least one game tonight. I look back over my shoulder, grinning as I will my feet to move faster. Sadly, I’m no match for him. I might have been better at volleyball, but it’s clear I’ll never beat him in a race.
He effortlessly catches up with me, his muscular arms wrapping around my middle before he whirls me in the air.
“A head start is cheating,” he tsks playfully, putting me down. “I think that deserves a forfeit.”
My heart beats erratically, being so close to him. The moon from above casts us in a silvery glow, an eerie stillness sweeping over the beach as he looks like he wants to devour me.
“What do you have in mind?” I rasp.
“This.”
When his lips hit mine, my body sags against him, fanning the flames of desire in my core. Our kiss turns harder, more urgent as he holds my face in his hands, and his tongue pushes into my mouth. He tastes like spearmint and dirty promises.
Abruptly, I pull away before we’re tempted to find a quiet corner of the beach. I’ve had more than one fumble on the beach, and sand isn’t fun to get out of certain creases. “We should probably—” He picks me up and throws me over his shoulder before I can even finish my sentence. “Hey!” I playfully punch his arm. “I can walk myself!”
“I know.” Although I can’t see his face, I hear the smile in his voice. “But I’m quicker.”
He takes off at lightning speed, darting up the bluff, not lowering me until we’re on the street. I quickly do a scan of the area, hoping that Laz or his packmates aren’t randomly walkingpast. I doubt he’ll be happy to find out that I’m spending the night with a hockey player.
With the coast clear, Adler waves down a passing golf cart with a sober driving volunteer behind the wheel. As soon as we slip into the back seat, he gives the driver his address. I don’t pay much attention, too busy ogling his rippling, corded muscles as he grips the steel bar of the cart.
The cool wind whips my cheeks as I snuggle into him as we hurtle away. His hand rests on my knee, his thumb circling my skin in torturously slow circles that make me think that I’m in for a treat.
“I thought you’d live in the Alpha Quad?” I frown as we drive past its entrance.
“I live close by,” Adler replies. “Somewhere more exclusive.”
“I didn’t think there were any other alpha accommodations?”
The Alpha Quad is the designated alpha on-campus housing area, made up of pack houses for pre-established packs, apartments for lone alphas, and an all-female alpha block.
“I guess there are some perks to being the Foxes team captain.” Adler’s lips quirk at the corners. “That and one of my packmates has special connections.”
“Okay, Mr. Mysterious.”
I should probably message the Stellas to let them know where I’m going, but I figure that Nia knows who I’m with, and I don’t want to be inundated by texts from Kady with reasonsnotto hook up with Adler because of tips TVV has received. Besides, they can check my location on our tracking app, if they’re that interested. Although, I’m sure they’re being kept very busy by their own packs.
Suddenly, Adler taps the driver on the shoulder, telling him he can stop. It looks like we’re in the middle of nowhere. When we get out, Adler hands him a stack of bills before the cart speeds off into the night.
“This way.” Adler strolls over to a ten-foot high gate and motions to the imposing barrier. I can’t see anything over it but tall trees. “Here we are.”
“This is your place?”
