Destiny on Ice (Boys of Winter #1)(56)

He silences my concern with a kiss.

“We’ll just have to be overly cautious,” he says when we break apart.

When a star suddenly shoots across the sky, I make a wish, hoping he’s right and we’ll be fine.

Sighing, he says, “I can’t wait for when you’re no longer working for the team.” He kisses my forehead. “Then we won’t have to worry anymore about sneaking around.”

We’ve already discussed the next six weeks, the time remaining on my contract. We’ve decided to give our relationship a real shot out in the real world once I’m free from any contract restrictions.

I love Brent, and I’m pretty sure he loves me. We haven’t said the words yet, but I suspect it’s only because we’re both waiting for the perfect time.

“Yeah,” I say, agreeing that I can’t wait for my contract to end too. “I’ll have a couple months off afterward for sure. I can stay here in Vegas with you until my next assignment. And until I have to leave, I can still travel with you to your away games.”

Once I’m no longer under contract with the Wolves, I can do whatever I want. We can do whatever we want.

“That sounds perfect.” He closes his eyes and adds, “December can’t get here soon enough, Aubrey.”

“It’s just a few weeks away,” I remind him.

On the way back home, we take a different route and spot a diner on the side of the road. A big neon sign on a pole out front informs us it’s the Area 51 Café.

“Oh hell, Aubrey.” Brent starts to laugh. “Check out that sign. We totally have to take a picture of you next to it.”

I reach over and whack him in the arm. “That’s so not funny.”

I’m not really mad, I’m just playing. It is actually kind of funny.

When Brent sees I’m not upset in the least, he pulls into the lot. “Uh, out of curiosity, do you still have that Area 51 toy?”

Ooh, opportunity!

“Why do you want to know?” I coquettishly ask.

“Well, we had so much fun with that double-penetrating thing last night that I thought maybe we could invite your green friend to join us later tonight.”

“My green friend, huh?” I laugh. “He has a name, by the way.”

“He does? You’re shitting me. What is it?”

“Um, it may be Brent 51.”

“It may be, or it is?”

“Okay, it is.” Clearing my throat, I confess, “I obviously named him after you.”

After a long pause, he says, “I don’t know if I should be happy about this or offended, seeing as that thing’s a pretty weird shade of green. Not to mention, it freaking glows in the dark.”

“Not always. I found a switch where you can turn off that feature.”

“Ah, that’s why my upstairs hallway no longer lights up like a toxic swamp.”

That earns him another whack. “Brent, be serious.”

He laughs, and God, I love how happy he sounds. Placing my hand on his hard thigh, I assure him, “You should feel happy I named my toy after you. He’s what I use when I fantasize about you and me together.”

“You pretend that thing is me?”

“Yep.”

“What about DPMB?” he asks, though it’s clear he’s now teasing. “Who do you pretend it is?”

“No one.” I make a face. “I told you I never used it before last night. That one used to scare me.”

“Does it still?”

“Not as much. But it is…a lot to handle.”

“Maybe we should reserve it for special occasions, then?”

“Like once in a blue moon?” I joke. “Get it, Brent? Moon?”

When Brent doesn’t fall into hysterics at my joke, like he damn well should, I sense something is wrong. “Hey, what’s up?”

In a worried-he’s-not-pleasing-me tone, he says, “Do you still use Brent 51, like, often?”

“Aw, don’t worry, stud.” I pat his leg, inching up closer to a part of him that’s near and dear to my heart. And near and dear to other parts of me, as well. “I haven’t taken Brent 51 out for a long time. He’s been sleeping peacefully since we hooked up.”

He shoots me a mischievous grin. “Well, then, I say we wake him up, for sure. Damn, the things I could do to you with that thing, Aubrey. You do realize it’s much more maneuverable than the DPMB.”

“Shit, Brent. Forget about taking a picture with that stupid sign. Hit the gas and get us home as fast as you can.”

Laughing, he says, “You got it, babe.”

Damn, Brent Oliver is turning me into a toy-loving sex fiend.





A Bad, Bad Decision





Aubrey likes all the things I do to her with her green toy. But not before I make certain the switch to keep that weird green glow feature is indeed turned off. The last thing I need is for my neighbors to think I’m conducting bizarre experiments over here. I think the team would be more freaked out over that—imagine the press!—than if they found out about Aubrey and me.

Then again, maybe not.

The day after our drive out to the desert, I have one more home game. And then the team goes on the road. I decide to drive to the arena separate from Aubrey to maintain appearances. And though I don’t blatantly look for her in the stands, I know she’s there, cheering me on.