Page 50 of Play Dirty

This time however, the Reavers didn’t fold.

They held, shift after shift. Grinding. Adapting.

Listening.

Even if they’d never admit it.

“Watch the right side!” I said sharply. “They’re baiting the turnover.”

Mercer was already relaying it. Grayson was already adjusting.

Ares held. Caleb covered.

And in the final moments, the whole rink held its breath. The clock counted down. Ten seconds. Five seconds. Two… one…

Overtime.

The guys skated to the bench dripping sweat, breathing hard. Their eyes were sharp, though. They didn’t look the least bit tired.

They looked hungry.

“Alright, nothing stupid now,” barked Mercer. “Keep doing it.”

Nobody else spoke, including me. It was all out there, now. It was on them, and they knew it.

Overtime began, and things moved quickly. Everything was faster. Edgier. Much more dangerous.

Every opportunity mattered, because it could be the last one.

No mistakes… no mistakes… no mistakes…

Sebastian made the first save. Then another. When the puck failed to clear the zone, he snapped right back into the crease like his ass was a magnet. He deflected a third shot with his blocker, angling it straight to Caleb.

Caleb took the puck and rushed with it, cutting wide. He pulled the defense with him. For a split second, everything opened. Time slowed down…

He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t think. He passed—

Grayson was open, on the left, exactly where he needed to be. He was already rearing back, before the puck even got there.

The puck arrived.

His stick flexed, under the intensity of the slapshot…

GOAL!

The entire rink exploded. Gloves went flying. Sticks clattered across the ice.

Players piled on, leaping over the bench, mobbing Grayson. They were shouting and cheering. Grinning and laughing, totally overcome by adrenaline.

Victory.

Relief.

Release…

Shit, it was every bit as good as an orgasm. I stayed where I was, watching, making note of the reactions going on all around me.

It wasn’t just the win, either. It was how they’d gotten here. The Reavers hadn’t been perfect, and they hadn’t exactly been dominant.