Page 54 of Play Dirty

“Financial reasons,” I shrugged.

“You’re a spy,” he said simply. “Management sent you here to report back on us.”

My mouth dropped all the way open.

“Is that what you think?”

“You showed up right after everything went to hell.”

“That’s not proof of anything.”

The big defensemen grunted something that could’ve been a laugh. “You think I need proof?” he almost grinned. “You think any of us feel the need to justify ourselves to you?”

I thought about it a moment. I guess they didn’t.

“You were part of the plan that buried our coach,” he went on, “for a handful of magic beans in the form of statistics. As if you could wave that tablet of yours like a wand, and win games.”

The look of utter contempt on his handsome face was mirrored in my own. All of a sudden, I was very angry.

“Oh yeah?” I shot back. “Watch me.”

I jumped up, without meaning to. I even took a step in his direction.

“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are,” I growled, “or why you think I know anything at all about Coach Trees. Because I don’t. I never met the man.”

I leveled a finger at his broad, sweat-soaked chest, and tried to keep my hand steady.

“You said it yourself, I don’t belong here. And trust me, I don’t. I got roped into this whole thing, the same as the rest of you. But as long as I’m here, I’m going to do everything in my power to help us win.”

Those glacial blue eyes stared back at me, burning with a cold fire.

“Us?” he chuckled.

Holy shit, I wanted to kill him! I wanted to ball my hand into a fist, and punch it straight through that smug grin.

“If you hate me so much,” I growled instead, “why the hell did you even help me the other night?”

Ares stood up quickly, reaching his full, intimidating height. He actually had to bow his head a little, to keep from hitting the hot house ceiling.

“In the parking lot?” he barked. “With that asshole, from the Vipers?”

“Yes.”

His face twisted into an angry frown. “There’s a big difference between hating your role here, and letting you get hurt.”

We were suddenly standing toe to toe, in the brutally dry heat. Matted hair clung to our faces. Every inch of our exposed skin glistened with sweat.

And Ares had tons of deliciously exposed skin.

“I would never let anybody hurt you,” he growled angrily.

I was suddenly very aware of him; his presence, his strength, his raw power. Physically he dwarfed me, in every way. The difference between us was almost cartoonish.

But it was also really, seriously hot.

“No?” I squeaked.

“No,” he shook his head slowly. “Never.”