Chapter 3

My angel's hand was engulfed by my much larger one, yet we fit together perfectly. She was small and dainty, and even from our sitting positions, I could tell that she was at least a foot shorter than my six-foot, three-inch height.

Her beautiful, deep green eyes were bright but filled with worry for me, which caused warmth to spread through my chest. One look at her curves had fire sparking in other areas, and my cock swelled, adding to my pain.

Jet-black hair hung in gentle waves down to her belly button. My hands itched to run through the thick, shiny tresses. I wanted to feel its softness and to tug until I pulled her head back, giving me access to her rosy, plush lips and slender throat.

The intense colors of her hair, eyes, and lips accentuated her pale, creamy skin, and I had the urge to lap at it like a cat indulging in a bowl of cream. These thoughts shocked the hell out of me but didn't scare me. Instead, they filled me with certainty. This woman was mine.

My focus on my angel was broken when the paramedics crouched down beside me. She pulled her hand gently, but I refused to let it go. I wasn't ready to be separated from her. Besides, I still needed to find out who she was.

I answered the EMT's questions and let them help me onto a stretcher to take me over to the ambulance.

Honestly, I could have walked and would normally have forced the issue. But I was taking advantage of the concern written all over my girl's face.

"Come with me," I demanded, giving her a pleading expression.

She bit her lip, and my core clenched in anticipation of doing the same thing. "I don't know. My car—"

"One of my brothers will take care of it," I assured her, my grip on her hand forcing her to follow me into the back of the ambulance. Since we were still connected, she sat beside me on the stretcher.

Wrecker appeared at the open doors and gestured toward her vehicle. "Go ahead. We'll take it to—" I shot him a meaningful look, and he broke off abruptly, understanding what I wasn't saying. "We'll make sure it's taken care of."

"Um. Okay," she agreed softly, giving me a sweet smile.

Wrecker lifted his chin at me, and I nodded, knowing he'd gotten the message to take my angel's car back to the compound rather than meet us at the hospital.

One of the paramedics climbed into the back and shut the doors. He glanced at us and frowned. Somehow, I knew he was going to ask my angel to sit in a more secure place, but I still wasn't willing to let her go, so I glared daggers at him. His gaze dropped to my vest, and he swallowed hard, keeping his mouth shut as he took a seat in one of the jump seats. Then he tapped on the divider wall, and the driver pulled onto the road.

"What is your name, angel?" I asked softly.

"Marnie. Um, Marnie Miller."

"Beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

Her cheeks bloomed with pink, and she smiled adorably. "You're just full of terrible pickup lines, aren't you?"

I grinned and reached out my free hand to brush the pad of one finger over the color on her cheek. "Are they so terrible if they're working?" I teased.

Her blush deepened, and she giggled. "Yes, Ice. They're still terrible."

"Hayes," I muttered.

"Pardon?"

"My name is Hayes," I told her.

"Oh, but your vest says Ice, so I assumed—"

"Ice is my road name," I confirmed. My voice took on a tone of finality when I continued, "But you call me Hayes."

She smiled and cocked her head to the side. "Okay, Hayes."

The sound of my name on her lips shot another bolt of lust straight to my dick.

Giving in to temptation, I used our clasped hands to urge her to scoot up so she was sitting beside my chest rather than my legs. Then I delved my free hand into her hair and ran my fingers through the long, satiny locks. I couldn't wait to feel all that softness brushing against my chest while she rode me. To feel it curled around my hands as I held her head back while I fucked her from behind.

My mind ran wild with images of my fingers plunged into all that inky silk while I guided her head as she swallowed me down her throat. That brought thoughts of my face between her legs, my facial hair leaving whisker burns on the pale skin of her thighs.

Fuck.I needed to get control over myself before I attacked her like a rabid animal.

"So you're a hairdresser?" I grunted, hoping random conversation would help take my mind off all the naughty things I intended to do to her.

"Yes. I work at Chop Chop on Main Street in Old Bridge."

I thought about the little downtown area and remembered seeing a beauty salon. "Near Midnight Rebel?" I clarified.

"Um, yeah. It's just up the block."

I nodded, thinking that I needed to make sure any of the prospects and my brothers who visited our bar should keep an eye on the salon when coming and going.

"What did you mean when you said you were used to pain?"

"I played pro hockey, angel. Pain comes with the territory in that sport."

"You don't anymore?"

I shook my head. "Last time I got injured, it took me out for good."

Relief flashed on her face, and I smirked. "Don't like the idea of me being hurt, angel?" I was glad to see that she was already feeling protective of me since I'd been flooded with possessive instincts the moment I opened my eyes and saw her hovering over me.

Her skin turned pink, but she shook her head. I smiled, happy that she'd been honest rather than trying to be coy about it.

"I'm sorry you had to quit, though."

"I used to be, too," I admitted.

"Used to be?"

Smiling, I played with the ends of her hair while I answered, "From now on, I'll always be grateful that I had to retire."

Marnie tilted her head to the side, studying me curiously. "Why?"

"Because if I hadn't, I never would have met you."

"Oh." Her expression was shy, even as she beamed at me. It was cute as fuck.

"Can, um, can I ask you another question?" she queried softly.

"Anything."

Her whole face flushed, traveling down beneath the collar of her shirt and making me wonder just how far it went. "You said you were out of practice."

I played back our interactions in my head and couldn't figure out what she was talking about. "What?"

"Um, you said something about flirting and being out of practice."

"Ah. Yeah," I acknowledged, remembering my comment from earlier. "That's not a question, though," I teased.

"It's just that…well, I imagine a professional hockey player, especially one as hot as you, has women throwing themselves at you all the time and—"

I placed my finger over her lips as I chuckled. "First of all, I haven't noticed a woman in a long time because I was too busy focusing on my career. Sure, puck bunnies were always around, but they learned quickly that I wasn't someone they'd have any luck with."

Marnie's lips lifted at the corners, and she lost the tension that had crept into her shoulders.

"Second…you think I'm hot?"

She rolled her eyes and giggled. "Like you don't know how sexy women think you are."

Grasping her chin, I looked straight into her eyes when I responded. "I only care about what one woman thinks."

"B-bu-but you just met me," she sputtered.

"Didn't take more than a second to know you were mine, angel."

Before she could reply, the ambulance came to a stop, and the doors flung open.

Blade glanced in, and his brows went up when he saw Marnie sitting beside me and our hands still melded together.

Marnie tried to untangle her fingers from mine and sighed when I refused to let go. "Hayes, I should probably get out of their way."

Blade's lips spread into a grin at her use of my given name. I knew he was gearing up to make a smart-ass comment, so I scowled at him, making him roll his eyes and shrug.

The paramedic who'd ridden with us scooted to the back of the truck and hopped out. Then he held his palm out toward my girl. "Here. I'll help you down."

A growl rumbled in my chest, and Blade quickly nudged the guy away, stepping into his spot. "They need to get you out of the truck," he grumbled at me. Then he reached for Marnie, and I reluctantly let her go. Only because Blade was a happily married man, and I knew he wouldn't be remotely interested in Marnie. Not that it stopped me from grinding my teeth at seeing another man's hands on my angel.

As soon as she was steady on the ground, he released her, causing my irrational anger to recede.

My gurney was removed from the truck, and as they wheeled me past Marnie, I reached out and snatched her hand once more, forcing her to come along.

"Sir—" one of the paramedics began, but he was interrupted by Blade.

"She's fine, Danson. Leave it alone."

No one said another word as they took me to a private room and transferred me onto the bed.

Blade paused just inside the room and withdrew his phone from the pocket of his long white lab coat. "Wolf," he grunted at me as he swiped his finger over the screen. His eyes darted to Marnie as he put the phone to his ear, then he pivoted and strolled out into the hallway.

A nurse took my vitals, and just as she was finishing up, Blade stepped back into the room.

He waited for the staff to leave, assuring them he would make sure I changed into a hospital gown and was given an IV. Then he smiled at my angel. "Marnie, right?"

She nodded with a slight curve to her lips.

"I'm sure you and Ice are probably hungry."

Marnie's stomach chose that moment to growl, and she blushed adorably. "Um, yeah. I didn't eat during my shift and then the accident…"

"Mind running down to the cafeteria and grabbing some food?" Blade asked her.

"Sure."

I wanted to protest, but if Wolf had information about the accident, I wanted to hear it before Marnie found out. And if it was club business, she'd need to be out of earshot anyway.

"Come right back to me," I ordered her gruffly, digging in my pocket to give her some cash.

She gave my hand a gentle squeeze, then let go and walked to the door. My eyes were glued to her swinging hips and curvy ass until she disappeared into the hallway.

"I take it Sheila needs to get working on another vest," Blade drawled as he grabbed a hospital gown from a cupboard near the head of the bed.

"Damn straight," I muttered. My face twisted with disgust when he held out the folded clothing. "I'm fine. Not gonna put on one of those stupid things. Do whatever and let me get back to the clubhouse."

Blade rolled his eyes and shook the garment in front of me. "According to Marnie, you hit your head pretty fucking hard, Ice. You've got scrapes and bruises and a few cuts that need stitches. Not going home until I've treated everything and determined that you don't have a concussion."

"You can do all that shit without making me wear a fucking nightgown. Now, what did Wolf have to say?" I asked, changing the subject.

Blade sighed and tossed the garment on the end of the bed. "Fine. I won't keep you overnight, but your ass is staying in bed tomorrow."

I opened my mouth but shut it when he scowled and pointed a finger at me.

"Or you can stay here tonight and tomorrow."

"Asshole," I grumbled.

He shrugged unrepentantly, then walked to a cabinet across the room and opened it, fishing for supplies as he filled me in.

"Brake line was cut."

I frowned. "Wolf did a full maintenance on my bike last week."

"That's what he said. This wasn"t an accident. Besides that, the line was sliced just enough that it wouldn't fail at first, which is why you were able to get as far as you did without noticing."

"Shit," I muttered, scrubbing my hand over my face and wincing when my bent arm tugged on some raw skin.

"Fox and Mav are looking into options for anyone who might be targeting you to get to the club, but they don't think that's gonna pan out."

Fox was the club president, and Maverick was our vice president. If this was related to club business, they'd figure it out quicker than anyone else.

"Only other person I can think might be behind this is Keith Franks," I mused, my brow furrowing low. "Assumed he was too much of a pussy to take things this far, but maybe I was wrong."