Chapter 20

I'm four shots deep at Johnny's Sports Bar.

Ashley and Brynne convinced me to meet them here after the game tonight. I didn't go to the game, choosing to stay in and continue catching up on schoolwork, but my friends went. They blew up my phone after the game, begging me to meet them at the bar.

I was reluctant at first, not wanting to chance running into Duke, but then I realized I couldn't let him control my life. I can't pick and choose where I go based on the possibility that I'll run into him. He has clearly moved on to bigger and better things, so I said fuck it and joined my friends for an evening of drinking and pretending there isn't a video of me getting fucked going viral.

"Let's dance!" Brynne squeals, pointing toward the dance floor.

Swirling a fifth shot of vodka around in my glass, I watch the crowd of people dancing. Hockey players and puck bunnies are everywhere, grinding against each other as though it's one giant orgy. With the championship so close, the puck bunnies are in full heat and the guys know that. I don't intend on going home with anyone tonight, so it repulses me to think about joining in on the "fun." I'd rather sit here and drink, wallowing in self-pity. The alcohol takes the edge off my mood and I'm almost enjoying myself.

"I don't know," I say to Brynne, still eyeing the dancers. "There might be one too many STDs out there for me."

She rolls her eyes, tugging on my hand as she tries to get me to follow her. Ashley is already out there, smack dab in the middle of the crowd with Jace. "You already fucked one of them. What's one more?"

Shock crosses my face, and I sit straighter in my bar chair. "Brynne!" I warn, nearly laughing as I process her words. "I'm not a puck bunny."

She continues pulling on my hand, slightly off balance after downing a few more shots than myself. "I know, but maybe just for tonight? The season is practically over."

I'm about to tell her no when someone walking into the bar catches my eye. I turn to face the door, and my jaw drops when my vision focuses on a male's face.

It's Duke.

He's with a few of his buddies, laughing and mingling as though we aren't the most shared video across the college hockey leagues. I feel butterflies for a split second, then they're abruptly replaced with disgust and anger.

Hedid this.

I've been embarrassed and exposed more than I ever thought possible, and it's all because of him. His long game was never to end up with me but to get to the championship one way or another, and I was an easy pawn caught in his path. I was nothing more than a casualty amongst the masses. I made stupid choices along the way, but that doesn't mean I deserve the consequence of being the star of a leaked sex tape. No one deserves that.

We lock eyes as he reaches a table where some of his teammates have been drinking. There's a tired look on his face as he watches me, far different from the look he gave off seconds ago. I watch him swallow hard, resting his hands on the table in front of him. Tears well in my eyes, and I can't look at him any longer.

Downing the shot of vodka, I slam the glass down on the bar top. I don't bat an eye as the liquid slides down the back of my throat, setting fire to my soul. "Let's go," I announce to Brynne as I jump out of my chair, now energized by more liquid courage.

If Duke wants the world to think I'm a slut, I'll show him one.

Instead of letting Brynne lead me across the room, I practically drag her drunk ass out there. The bass of the music thumps against my chest, making me feel alive as we work our way into the middle. Ashley sees us right away and she waves. There's sweat dripping down her body, but she doesn't seem to care. Her hair is plastered to her face as she grinds against Jace. He looks like he's had just as much to drink as her if not more. They're moving as smoothly as their intoxicated bodies will allow, and I let out an amused laugh as I watch them.

There's a Makos player eyeing me from a few feet away, so I sway my hips to the beat as I bite my bottom lip, watching him with the most seductive face I can manage. He smiles when he sees me, nodding his head as he works his way closer to me. Who would be better to take home than one of Duke's teammates? No one.

The Makos player grabs me from behind, gripping my hips as he drives my ass into him. The music slows to a deeper beat, and I begin grinding on him in long, drawn-out motions, bending forward and pressing my backside into him as he holds onto me. I give him a show, mastering my newly-found slutty side as I ride out the emotions I'm feeling.

I turn to face him as the song changes, wrapping one arm around his neck while placing the other firmly against his chest. He's smaller than Duke, but he's still well-built and strong with an athletic body. His face isn't the prettiest, but I don't care. He's my best shot at hurting Duke, even if it's just a little.

My new friend slinks his arm around my backside and grips my ass with both hands, shaking it so that it bounces up and down. I moan, throwing my head back as he works my body. The alcohol blurs my vision slightly, but I can see Duke still sitting at the table. His sights are locked on us, and his face is bright red. He looks like he's raging and about to explode. The hands he's resting on top of the table are turning bright white as he clenches them, rolling his thumb inside his fist.

Smiling at what I've done, I grab the player's chin, bringing his face down to mine. He doesn't resist, meeting my lips with eagerness as I crash into him. His tongue immediately pokes at my mouth, and I grant him entry, allowing him to dominate me. There's a minty flavor to his mouth, making it that much easier to swap spit with someone I've never even spoken to. We haven't exchanged as much as one word.

He backs me out of the crowd, his lips never leaving mine as he pushes us to the back of the bar. My back slams against a brick wall and the player picks me up. I wrap my legs around his torso, and I immediately feel how hard he is. Reaching down, I run my hand over the growing bulge of his jeans. Moaning into my mouth, he jerks his hips, pressing into me harder. I nip at his bottom lip, tangling my fingers through his hair.

His mouth leaves mine to trail wet kisses across my jawline and down my neck. One of his hands is kneading my boob, playing with my nipple over my thin shirt and bralette. I close my eyes, trying to let my arousal take over.

A glass breaks across the bar, causing me to open my eyes. I immediately see Duke stalking across the room. The crowd has stopped dancing and they're moving out of his way as quickly as they can. He's heading straight for us, and the look on his face tells me he's ready to kill his teammate.

"Get the fuck off of her," Duke spits as he grabs the back of the player's shirt, dragging him off of me, straight to the ground, where he doesn't hesitate to begin beating the shit out of him.

Blood sprays at my ankles as Duke smashes his fist into the player's nose, forcing me to jump back. "Duke!" I scream, frantically tugging at his shirt to get him off the player.

My strength is no match against him, and it's like I'm not even there. He's lost in a rage as he pounds the life out of the player. He's not even putting up a fight, too drunk to muster the coordination to hit back.

"You film us fucking, release the video after blackmailing me with it, then you have the audacity to try to fuck her in front of me?" Duke's words are full of hate as he holds the player off the ground by his shirt.

"I don't know what you're talking about," the player spits, spewing blood and a tooth all over his shirt.

The rage in Duke's eyes lights up again, and he draws his fist back in preparation to hit the guy again. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. You wanted my seat and my girl, and you were willing to set my life on fire for it. You're a fucking coward, Bishop."

Bishop's eyes drop and I notice the look of defeat on his face. "I'm sorry, man. I don't know what you want me to say."

"I want you to admit what you've done, and stay the fuck away from Aspen. I was willing to give up everything, and that wasn't good enough for you. My scholarship, my career. Fucking everything, man. You were supposed to be my teammate, not my biggest enemy." Duke lets go of Bishop, letting his drunk body sink to the floor.

Glancing up at me, Bishop says, "I'm sorry."

My jaw drops and my lips part as I gasp, looking between Duke and Bishop.

It can't be true.

It wasn't Duke? He wasn't trying to hurt me? He was willing to give up hockey and his scholarships for me. The NHL? My heart sinks into my stomach, realizing I've been angry at the wrong person.

Duke turns and scans my body, clearly looking for any sign of injury. "I'm sorry," he mutters when all he finds is Bishop's blood on my ankles.

I'm speechless as Duke begins walking away. The entire bar is silent, watching the event unfold as though we're their new favorite reality TV series. I look around, taking in each of their faces. Even my friends are standing there, motionless and in awe as they observe the chaos.

Duke is a few feet away when I snap out of it. I leave Bishop bleeding at my feet and race to Duke, taking his hand in mine before dragging him out of the bar. He doesn't resist as I lead him to the alleyway out back.

"You were going to give up everything for me?" I ask, tears welling in my waterline.

He's still out of breath, and there are hundreds of blood droplets plastered across his face, but he looks more sexy than ever. He's amped up, testosterone flowing through his body, and suddenly I'm the one who feels like a puck bunny in heat.

He nods, confirming my words. "Everything."

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him to me at the same time as he lifts me off the ground, pressing me up against the building behind us. I can feel the music in the bar as it begins playing once more, vibrating through the wall and into my back. Our lips collide, moving in perfect unison as we take each other in, desperately craving more.

Duke raises my dress over my hips, then unbuckles and unbuttons his jeans, freeing his dick. It presses against me, but it's stopped by my lace panties. Duke uses a finger to swipe them to the side, then dips it inside me. He pumps a finger inside me two or three times before inserting a second finger, coating it in my arousal.

Nobody makes me as wet as Duke Lexington. He drives me absolutely insane in the best way possible.

His thumb rubs over my clit while he works my pussy, stretching me in preparation for his cock. My head falls back as I let out a moan, crying out into the alleyway for more of him.

"I need you to fuck me," I beg, grinding up against his fingers as I seek more girth.

Duke smirks, letting out a light chuckle. "I'm getting to it." He withdraws his fingers from me, then grips his dick, lining it up against my entrance. "I'm going to fuck you tonight, and every night, and I don't care who knows. You are mine, Aspen Anderson. No one else's. Your body belongs to me."

His words spark something deep inside me, igniting a fire as I process them. He does want me. He was willing to give it all up for me.

I don't care what Ace or my dad want. This is what I want, what I need.

I'm right where I'm supposed to be.

Duke presses into me, working his way inch by inch until he's fully inside of me. He slides out, then thrusts back in with enough force to nearly knock the wind out of me. I cry out, digging my nails into his back as he begins pounding into me, fucking me as fast and hard as he can. His breath quickens, and he's breathing harder with each stroke. My moans can probably be heard from down the street, but I don't care.

I don't care what anyone has to say.

Duke Lexington is mine.

His hands are holding me so firmly that it almost hurts, but it drives my adrenaline higher. Using his shoulders as support, I match his pace, bouncing up and down on his dick. He's slamming in and out of me so quickly I can't breathe, and I'm going to explode instead.

"Duke!" I scream, coming all over his dick as I reach my climax. My core tightens and my toes curl as he draws out my orgasm, pounding me like our lives depend on it.

Seconds later he follows, spilling himself inside of me as I come down from the high.

I sigh, closing my eyes as I rest my head against his chest. We're both breathing hard and I can feel his heart racing.

He's mine.