Rule Number Five: A College Hockey Romance (Rule Breaker Series Book 1)(20)

“You played rough last night? I heard you were good at that sort of thing.” Oh. My. God. Please tell me I didn’t just say that. I meant his practice. I could feel the heat climb up my neck, covering my cheeks. He chuckled, and his dark gaze skimmed across me, pausing on my mouth, taking his time before meeting my eyes. He was clearly thinking about what I’d just said and everything I’d implied. His tongue darted out, and he licked his lips. I was struck again by how intense it was to have all of his attention on me. There was something irresistible about him, and it wasn’t only the attraction.

“Something like that.”

The air whooshed out of me all at once as his deep rumble rolled over me. I wanted to know exactly what “like that” meant. Shaking my head, it was my turn to stare straight ahead. This conversation had gotten me nowhere good. For all of my “hockey players are the worst” pep talks, it sure didn’t take him long to break through my resolve.

He turned his head forward and went back to his grumpy demeanor, his pen rattling against the table as he flipped it from side to side. All the tension returned to his body like he wasn’t smiling seconds ago.

By the time the class was over, I’d had enough of his attitude. I was going to snap him out of his mood, and I knew exactly how to do it. I grabbed my stuff and stood too quickly, causing me to lose my balance. His hand darted out and caught my wrist, stabilizing me.

“Careful,” he said, fingers still wrapped around my arm.

The spot we were connected tingled under his touch. This was my opportunity to make “Operation Relax Jax” a go. I pushed all the hesitation to the back of my mind.

“Come on. I’ve got something to show you.” At the risk of looking like a complete ass, I shifted our hands and closed my fingers around his, gently tugging. I wouldn’t put it past him to resist, but he surprised me by sliding from his seat, grabbing his bag.

“Lead the way.” Rough calluses moved against my smooth skin before he laced our fingers together, stroking his thumb over the pad of my palm. The feel of the barely there touch sent tingles through my arm. He was staring at my mouth, and I bit my bottom lip. He took a step toward me, but I stepped back, needing a little space between us to breathe. Neither of us let go of each other’s hand, and I turned toward the door, dragging him behind me.

I smiled, knowing I was going to fix whatever was eating at him.





NINE





JAX





“Come on, let’s go.” Sid looked back at me, piercing hazel eyes searching mine. I was more than happy to follow. She was like a lifeline, dragging me toward the surface.

At this point, she could lead me off a cliff. I was that curious about what she had in mind. She looked at me with determined eyes, and the corner of her lips tilted up. She was definitely up to something. “Where are you bringing me? I’m in a shit mood, Sid.”

She didn’t slow down. If anything, she pulled harder, laughing. “I know. You were a sour ass for the entire class. Get over yourself for a minute, and trust me.” She gave my hand a firm squeeze.

“Fine, but don’t expect good company.” Grumbling under my breath, I followed as she led me out of the building but didn’t head to the parking lot where I expected. Instead, we cut across the soccer field and headed for an eight-foot-tall chain-link fence.

“I’m not sure if you looked at yourself lately.” I gesture to her already short skirt. “But I’m not sure hopping fences is the right idea.” I was a fucking idiot. If she wanted to climb this fence, my only response should’ve been thank you.

“Sounds like wishful thinking on your part.” She lifted the corner of the green chain-link closest to the pole. The end folded up like a flap that she easily climbed under.

I eyed it. “Bit small for me, don’t you think?”

“You can always try climbing.”

I groaned and crouched so low my knees felt like they were in my armpits as I shuffled through. I went to stand, only to be yanked back hard. My shirt caught on one of the sharp ends, pinning me in place. I tried to detach it, but it was just out of reach. “A little help here?”

Sidney was only a few feet ahead of me, hands on her hips. “I don’t know. I kinda like you tied up like that.”

I shot her a dark look. “That can be arranged, but for now, get me loose.”

She didn’t move, and I groaned. “Please.”

“Since you asked so nicely,” she said with a smirk. God, all the ways I could make her pay for that.

My thoughts were cut off when her hand slid down my back, leaving a trail of heat. With a few quick tugs, I was released and stood to my full height, shifting to stretch myself out. “Over. I definitely should’ve climbed over.”

“You think you’ll live?” She raised a brow.

I ran a finger over the hole in my shirt. “Whatever you have planned, it better be worth it.”

“Don’t you trust me?” she said, mischief in her voice.

I let out a quick laugh. “Not really.”

“Relax. I’ve got you.”

We walked a couple of blocks in silence until the pressure was creeping back in, pushing down. A bit of fresh air wasn’t doing anything for my mood.

Up ahead was an old junkyard. The sign on the front read, “You Ditch Them. We Wreck Them.” It looked dilapidated, even by junkyard standards. “What are we doing here, Sid?”