Page 98 of Pucking Forbidden

“Julian,” I choke out, my voice barely a whisper, my entire body locking up in sheer terror.

Julian’s muscles strain as he holds himself still inside me and carefully places his hand over my mouth.

If whoever is out there walks into this hallway…if they decide to check the PT office…what will happen to us? To Julian? Could this affect his career? If my father finds out, will he drag me to Colorado Springs to live with him, taking away what little independence I have?

For a seemingly endless moment, neither of us moves. We don't even breathe. Both of us are listening, eyes strained in the dark, waiting to see if the sound gets closer.

The footsteps approach the end of the hallway. I can feel the frantic, heavy thudding of Julian’s heart against my chest. His breath is hot and shallow against my neck. It takes me a moment to realize he’s protecting me. Shielding my body with his own large frame. His eyes are locked on the frosted glass of the door.

The footsteps pause right outside the ladies' locker room.

I squeeze my eyes shut, whimpering against Julian’s palm. Oh, God, oh, God! We’re so fucked!

Then, after a lifetime of agonizing silence, the footsteps turn. They don't get closer. They move toward the main offices at the front of the building. The sound fades away, growing fainter and fainter until the heavy, industrial click of a distant door signals that he’s left the immediate area.

My entire body goes limp against the treatment table. The fear drains out of me, leaving me shivering.

Julian pulls his hand away from my mouth and leans back just enough to look down at me in the dim light, his dark eyes searching my face. I expect to see regret. I expect him to pull away, fix his clothes, and tell me this was a mistake.

He doesn’t do any of that. Instead, his gaze drops to my lips, jaw clenching. His hands, still gripping my thighs, tighten. Letting out a low, rough growl, eyes flashing in the dark, he leans down and buries his face in the crook of my neck. He shifts his hips, driving back into me with a sudden intensity that makes me cry out. I wrap my hands around his neck to pull him closer.

We are playing with fire, and we both know it. But as Julian holds me tight against him, I realize I’ve never wanted to burn more in my life.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: MOVING

HADLEY

I’m down at the rec rink, finishing up my last class for the day. God, I love this place. I love the quiet independence of earning my own keep. Of doing something purely because I chose it. I’m out on the ice helping clear the cones after a youth clinic, my gloves damp and my cheeks flushed with cold, and I can’t remember being so happy as I am right now. Not only because of this job, but because of Julian. My mind flashes back to what we did at the arena yesterday. The way he felt inside of me. No barrier between us. Stretching me until I felt the sweetest ache…

My cheeks flush, and I shake my head. Gah, focus! The sooner I finish up here, the sooner I can text him and see if he’s up for a repeat performance tonight.

When I make my way back into the locker room area to change my clothes, I dig my phone out of my bag, intent on messaging Julian. My heart plummets straight through the floorboards when I see I have twelve missed calls…all from Dad.

A heavy, suffocating weight drops onto my chest. He knows my class schedules down to the exact minute, and only ever calls me when I’m done with classes for the day. He expects me to be tucked inside my apartment right now. Sitting at my desk, studying, and available to answer his phone calls.

My fingers tremble as I shove my sneakers on, not even bothering to properly tie the laces. I don’t try to call him back. Some sickening intuition tells me that the time for phone calls has already passed. I throw my duffel bag over my shoulder and practically sprint out to my car. I don’t want to have this conversation in public. I doubt it’ll go well. The drive back to my apartment passes in a blur.

The moment I unlock my front door and push it open, the air inside hits me like a solid brick wall. The apartment is thick with a terrifying tension.

He’s here.

Dad is sitting on my sofa. His posture rigid. His hands resting on his knees. He’s wearing a tailored charcoal suit, looking like he came straight from his office. His hair is slicked back. His face doesn’t have a hint of stubble. He glances up as the door clicks shut. His dark eyes narrow when they land on me.

“Where have you been, Hadley?” His voice is low and measured. A shiver runs down my spine. “I’ve been calling you for two hours. I came to Denver for a conference, thought I’d surprise my daughter, and instead I find an empty apartment. Your classes ended at noon. I called your Grandfather, and he had no idea. Where have you been?”

I swallow hard, my throat feeling dry as sandpaper. I grip the strap of my duffel bag until my knuckles are white. I can’t lie anymore. The walls are closing in, and the truth is the only way out.

“I was at the rink, Dad,” I say, trying to keep him from hearing the slight, nervous wobble in my voice.

His brow furrows. “The rink? What rink? Why on earth are you wasting studying hours at a rink?”

“It’s the rink at a local rec center, and I wasn’t wasting time,” I reply, forcing my shoulders back and my chin up. “I was working. I took a job there a few weeks ago. I tried to tell you about it.”

For a second, the silence is deafening as he stares at me.

Dad stands up from the couch and starts moving toward me. “A job? Why do you have a job when your sole focus is supposed to be school?”

Frustration flares within me. Why does he continuously underestimate me?