32. Hayden

I stare out the window,watching the city lights flicker by. The victory high still pumps through my veins as I lean back in the leather seat of my SUV as Sawyer drives. As we roll towards The Sin Bin, Warren cracks some joke about the rookie winger he flattened in the third, and the guys erupt in laughter. But my mind is consumed with more pressing matters.

Namely, the movers I"ve got over at Cassidy's place right now, packing up her shit. Whether she likes it or not, my feisty little liar is moving in with me. I smirk, remembering how she finally caved. Sure, she said I make her feel safe, but I know it"s the orgasms that sealed the deal. Once I get her in my bed, she forgets about everything but me.

The way it should be.

I shift in my seat, my cock already getting hard just thinking about her. About those full lips wrapped around me, those green eyes staring up in defiance even as she takes every inch and tears run down her cheeks. Fuck, I need to get my hands on her. Now.

Sawyer pulls up to The Sin Bin and I"m out of the SUV before he"s even in park. I push open the door, the guys following close behind me as we make our way inside.

The bar is overflowing after our win, the air thick with the sounds of celebration and the smell of stale beer. Cheers go up as the crowd realizes the team's here. I ignore it all, scanning the room. My gaze lands on Cassidy as she pours a drink behind the bar. Her eyes meet mine, and even from here I can see the fire in them, the challenge. Sparks crackle in the air between us like always. I know she"s still pissed at me for forcing her hand about moving into my house, but that's pretty much her love language.

At this point, I'd be worried if she wasn't mad at me for some shit.

I make my way over to her, my body moving with a purpose so strong, it's unlike anything I've ever felt before, this need to be as close to her as possible. Like we're tethered together at the soul level. It's fucked up, but I'm not even trying to fight it. I don't think I could if I wanted to, the pull is that intense.

I walk behind the bar like I have every right to be there, coming up behind Cassidy, grabbing her waist and spinning her around. Before she can react, I crush my mouth to hers, kissing her hard and deep with a fuck ton of tongue. Reminding all these fuckers she's mine. She lets out a little moan, her body instinctively arching into mine as I finally, fucking finally, taste her.

Whistles and cheers erupt around us, but other than raising my finger to flip them off, I ignore my teammates in favor of sinking into Cassidy.

I nip at her lower lip as I pull away, my eyes burning into hers.

"I missed you," I murmur against her lips, my fingers digging into the hair at the back of her neck, tightening my grip to keep her attention focused only on me.

"Really? I couldn't tell." Her tone is sarcastic, but her swollen lips and the blush on her cheeks don't lie. She missed me, too. Then she grips my arm, closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath.

"You alright?"

"Just a little dizzy. I'm fine. I didn't eat dinner."

My heart picks up, but I make my face go blank. I don't want her to catch on to my excitement. Dizziness is a pregnancy symptom, isn't it? Holy fuck.

I kiss the top of her head and step back when she seems steady, snagging a beer off the bar and pulling out my phone to order her food. If she's pregnant, she needs to be eating and if she won't take care of herself, I'll do it for her. "You watch my game tonight?"

She rolls her eyes, turning back to pour drinks for the guys that've lined up. "Of course I did. You know I always do."

I nod as a wave of satisfaction fills my chest. "Good girl."

She shoots me a glare over her shoulder, but there's a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She loves it when I say shit like that, even if she pretends otherwise.

The guys start to disperse, heading out to the tables in back where they can drink and fuck around in peace. But I stay behind the bar, leaning against the counter, watching Cassidy work. Her movements are fluid, practiced as she pours drinks and takes orders. She"s sexy as hell like this, confident and in control.

The guys are being obnoxious as fuck, trying to get me to come hang with them, so I push off the counter and head for Cassidy. I lean down to talk directly into her ear, letting my lips brush her skin as I do. "Come get me when you"re done. I"ve got plans for you that involve a lot less clothing."

She shivers and I smirk, knowing that she"d drop to her knees right here if I pulled my dick out. "And eat the food I ordered you when it shows up." I step back and make my way over to the guys, sliding into the booth next to Warren and setting my beer on the table.

Corbin and War are recounting plays from tonight"s game, while King broods silently with his beer. My gaze drifts over the crowded bar, landing on Roman holding court at a table surrounded by puck bunnies. His eyes meet mine, cold and challenging.

Fuck that guy with a rusty skate blade.

I lean back in my seat, taking a swig of my beer as I watch him. He"s been a prick since day one, but ever since our little bathroom confrontation, he"s been more of an asshole than usual.

"You okay?" Sawyer asks, nudging me with his shoulder as he slides into the booth beside me. His hair"s messy, he smells like some flowery perfume, and I'm pretty sure he's got lipstick smeared on his jaw. He smirks as I eye him.

I nod, turning my attention to my brother. "Yeah, I"m good. You blow off some steam?"

Sawyer opens his mouth to answer, but before he can, a shadow falls over the table.

I look up to find Morozov looming over the table like some supervillain about to launch into a monologue. "What the hell do you want?" I ask just as the back of my neck prickles and I know Cassidy"s looking our way without having to see her.

"We need to talk," Roman says, his accent thicker than normal as his eyes dart to Sawyer and back to me. "Alone."

Warren snorts. "Anything you have to say to Vaughn, you can say in front of us."

Roman"s jaw clenches, but he doesn"t argue. "Fine." His eyes flick to somewhere behind me, or more likely someone based on the tingle spreading down my shoulders and into my back. "That girl"s only looking to—"

"What girl?" Cassidy says from right behind me. I twist in my chair and hook my arm around her waist, pulling her into my lap. "Me?" She narrows her eyes up at Roman, whose nostrils flare like a bull. It"s pretty funny, actually. "Are you talking about me?"

Roman scoffs, his gaze raking over her and the way I'm holding her against my body. "You know I am. You"re nothing but a hockey groupie who"s using Vaughn for his money and fame. I would know."

I stand, dropping Cassidy gently to the ground before I take a step toward Roman, curling my fingers into fists. It"s Sawyer who catches my fist before I even register it's flown, and fuck my brother for knowing me so well. I"m breathing hard, my muscles tense as I fight the urge to beat Roman"s face into an unrecognizable pile of meat and bone.

"Easy, Hay," Sawyer murmurs. "Not worth it."

Roman smirks and then turns his attention to my girlfriend. "I"m calling in your debt, babe. Twenty grand by tomorrow morning or I"m taking your bar as collateral," Roman says as a parting shot as he turns and moves to leave the bar, stopping only long enough to snag a girl for each arm on his way out.

"Hey, Dickhead," I call out and Roman turns. I smirk because that"s all I"m going to call him from now on and when he realizes it, his smug expression melts into a scowl. Sucker. "Give me an hour and you"ll have your money."

"Like I said... using you for your money," Morozov sneers, needing to get in the last word.

Everyone that was watching our little scene starts to disburse, and before Cassidy can stop me, I"m on the phone with my accountant arranging the transfer. I"m not about to let that jackass hold any power over my future wife. This is what I should"ve done from the beginning.

When it"s done, I turn back to my girl. She looks like she"s reached a new level of pissed, and I grin because the hate sex should be next level hot.

"What did you do?" she snaps, her eyes narrowed as she glares up at me. "I don"t need you to do this. I can figure something out." Behind her anger, though, I see how upset she is with Roman"s words. With the idea of losing this bar. I step closer to her and she deflates. "I"ll pay you back."

I shrug, falling back into my seat and pulling her with me. "Why? It"s just money. I"ve got more than I could spend in this lifetime." Especially with the trust fund my grandfather set up for Sawyer and me, but she doesn't know about that. No one but my brother and our father do.

Her jaw clenches, and she shakes her head. "I hate that you just did that, but thank you."

I wrap my arm around her waist, holding her to me and wondering if she's got my baby inside of her. My fingers stroke against her stomach. "Anything for you, Princess."

She sighs and relaxes against me. We both know we"re fucked up, that this obsession between us goes too deep to be healthy. But I"m not about to stop it and it doesn"t seem like she is either.

"But if you"re dead set on settling this debt, I take payment in the form of blow jobs," I say, and her smile as she smacks me in the chest is everything.

Every good goddamn thing in this world.

And I"ll do anything to keep it.