Chapter 4

I'm actually enjoying myself. Way more than I thought I would in a bar full of hockey players.

These guys have always been forbidden to me, prohibited by both my father and brother because they know how hockey players treat women. Many of them jump from puck bunny to puck bunny, never having the time, energy, or the will to stick to one woman.

Ashley and Brynne are buzzed, swaying more toward the drunk side. They're laughing and giggling, which in turn is making me smile and loosen up for the first time in weeks. The cheap beer is flowing from the tap, and we're drinking it as quickly as it comes.

We ran into my brother as soon as we walked in, and he's pissed. He's hovering around me with a few of his friends, making sure none of these hockey players approach me, which is beginning to annoy the girls because that's the main reason they're here. To be honest, it's frustrating me as well. I'm having a good time, carefree and innocent, and he feels the need to be overprotective and possessive. I can't say this is a new behavior for him, though. He's always been this way.

"Don't you have anything better to do, Ace?" Brynne finally asks my brother, eyeing him as she guzzles down another mug of beer. She sets it down when it's empty, then glances around the room, throwing her hand up as she points. "Do you see all of these beautiful girls here? I'm sure more than one of them would like to go home with the captain of the Knights."

Ace looks around, flicking his blue eyes between the women. I watch his shaggy blonde hair sway as he surveys the girls. There's conflict on his face, but I think he's seriously considering leaving me alone, so I encourage him.

"I'm a big girl," I sigh, rotating toward him. "I can take care of myself, you know."

Ace turns his attention back to me, and he's silent for a few seconds as he thinks through my words. "I don't like seeing you in a bar full of hockey players," he admits.

"I know," I nod. "But I can make my own decisions. I'm only here for a few beers anyway. We both know I'm not into any of the guys here."

The beer is well within my bloodstream now, and I'm having a hard time keeping a straight face as I wait for my brother to make a decision. I can't slip up now, not when he's so close to leaving me alone. If I crack one buzzed smile, it's all over.

"Promise me you'll leave after a couple of beers, Aspen. Don't do anything stupid, especially when I'm not here."

"Pinky promise," I smile, holding up my pinky finger.

He grips my finger in his, wrapping them together as he pulls me into a goodbye hug. You'd think he was planning on being away from me for a long time, but the reality is I'll see him tomorrow at the hockey fundraiser. "Pinky promise," he hesitantly repeats back to me.

My friends and I watch him walk away, finding his spot amongst the crowd, then we turn back toward the bar.

"Finally!" Ashley gasps, slamming her hand down on the bar. "I thought he'd never leave!"

"He's just being protective," I laugh.

Brynne silently gestures to the bartender for another round, mouthing "thank you" when he nods, acknowledging her request. "Once Ace leaves, we're heading straight for that dance floor."

There's a small area off to the side of the bar where people are dancing, and I suspect as the night goes on and the alcohol continues to flow, more and more people will join in.

"I don't think I can wait that long," Ashley says, her voice coming out distracted and in a different place.

I turn to look at her, and that's when I realize she's locked eyes with a player across the bar. He's gesturing for her to come over, and she doesn't hesitate when I say, "Go, but be safe."

"Okay, Ace," she teases, giving me a look.

"I'm serious." I return the look, glancing back and forth between her and the guy across the bar. "He has on an NYU Makos hat. You know how gross they can be."

"I'll be careful," she rolls her eyes, then rises from the bar stool.

Ashley's hips sway in a hypnotic motion as she stalks toward him, her green eyes set on her prize. She's locked in on him, and I already know I'll be seeing him in the morning. Several of the men in the bar are staring at her as she crosses the room, and I can't really blame them.

She's absolutely gorgeous. She always has been. There's a natural beauty to her, enhanced further by eyelash extensions, lightly microbladed eyebrows, and a small amount of lip filler. Her hair is naturally wavy and full because of her Colombian roots. It's rare that she doesn't get the guy she wants. Who wouldn't want her?

Shortly after Brynne and I watch Ashley disappear into the crowd, we see Ace leave the bar. He's one of the first to leave, which is somewhat surprising, but he's always been even more focused on school than I have. He's dead set on having a high-ranking corporate job in the city, but my dad thinks he can make it big in the NHL.

The watch on my wrist lights up with a text.

Ace

Don't stay out too late. Text me when you get home. They boys know to stay away from you.

I shake my head, still annoyed with how overbearing Ace has been tonight.

I quickly text him back for reassurance.

Me

I'll leave after this drink. No need to worry. Focus on your homework, not me.

He immediately responds.

Ace

Text me when you're home.

I sigh, rotating my watch away from my sight. The beer has settled into both me and Brynne, and I notice her eyeing the dance floor.

"Let's go," I say as I nod toward the growing group of people dancing.

"Really?" she asks. "You'll dance with me?"

The liquid courage is snaking its way through my body, and I'm overly excited as I jump off of the bar stool. Grabbing her hand, I lead her into the middle of the dance floor. It's late, and the lights have been turned lower as the mood of the bar changes into something a bit darker, more thrilling. Brynne and I begin dancing, playfully grinding up against each other as the music feeds our souls, freeing us from reality.

Brynne's long brown hair cascades down her back, swaying in time with her hips as she dances, catching the eye of a large man wearing a Makos t-shirt. He steps closer to her from behind and grabs hold of her hips as she moves. She backs into him when she feels his touch, allowing her body to melt into his.

I'm left dancing by myself, but I don't mind with the strong buzz I'm riding. My eyes wander the room, finding Ashley in a corner making out with the guy she left us for earlier. She looks content and safe, so I continue dancing to the beat.

A man I don't recognize approaches me, and he begins dancing with me. He's wearing a ball cap with a hockey team logo on it, but I don't recognize it and I'm hesitant to dance with him. Everything in me is telling me to stay away. Hockey players are bad news and they're all in this bar for one thing: a slice of puck bunny.

If Ace were here, he'd be having a stroke right about now. Something stirs inside me, a little bit of rebellion perhaps, and I go against my gut feeling.

I begin dancing with him, keeping a little bit of distance between us as we move to the music. He's respectful at first, but it soon becomes apparent that he's had more beer than I have, and he gets a little grabby. I remove his hands from my ass, but continue dancing, trying not to ruin the mood or the vibe.

I look at Brynne, and she's completely lost in the music with the Makos player. They're bumping and grinding as though their lives depend on it, and there's sweat rolling down both of their faces now. She isn't even looking at me, so she doesn't notice when his hands begin roaming my body once more.

His hand slides up my torso, then suddenly cups my boob, squeezing tightly. I yelp, trying to jump away from him, but he holds onto me.

I turn to face him, and my voice does not waver when I say, "Let go of me."

The man doesn't acknowledge my words. He's too drunk to even comprehend that I'm speaking right now. He's sloppy and intoxicated. It's appalling, so I try to pull away again.

His grip does not budge as his hands continue groping my body.

I push against his chest, trying to get him off of me. "Let go of me!"

A large hand is suddenly on the man's chest, right in front of my face, and I hear a male voice. "She told you to let go."

This catches the male's attention, and he's slow as he looks toward the man standing beside me. "What are you going to do about it?" The words are a slur as the alcohol takes hold of him even more.

The stranger removes his hand from the player's chest. His voice is cold as he says, "I'm going to take you out back, and I'm going to slit your throat. I'll watch you bleed out on the cold pavement while I sip on a bottle of top-shelf whiskey, and then I'll pour it over your dying body and set fire to it. You'll burn in my version of Hell long before you get to yours."

The music thrums through my ears, pounding against my eardrums, but I can hear him loud and clear. My blood runs cold when I realize he isn't making jokes, and he's really about to set this guy on fire. I close my eyes briefly, praying this drunk idiot has enough common sense to let go of me.

Releasing me, the drunk man glares at this stranger before staggering off into the crowd in search of a more willing piece of ass.

"Are you okay?" the stranger asks, pulling me out of the trance I put myself in.

"Y-yes," I stutter as I try to form words.

I glance around, looking for my friends, but they're both nowhere to be seen. It's apparent they've both left the bar with the players they found. I'm here alone.

Looking back at the man, I find him still staring at me. He's a lot taller than I am, with dark brown hair and eyes that match, but I see specks of gold throughout his irises. He's gorgeous, but I need to get out of here. Tonight has been too much and I'm regretting coming out.

"Your friends left," he confirms. "I can call you a cab if you'd like."

Shaking my head, I decline. "It's okay. I need some fresh air and I don't live far from here, so I think I'll walk."

There's seriousness on his face as he watches me. "I can't let you walk alone. Let me walk with you."

I just met this man, and he's trying to walk me home in the middle of the night. There's still a little bit of a buzz circulating through my head, and I watch him for a moment, assessing the situation I'm in. He's wearing a black hoodie and jeans. He doesn't have a hockey logo anywhere on his body, so he seems like a safer choice than any of the other men in this bar. It's pitch black outside and I really don't want to walk home by myself, but I also don't want to spend money on a cab.

"You'll walk me home, then you'll leave? I'm not inviting you in," I say, letting him know where we stand.

A sparkle appears in his dark eyes, and a smile spreads across his face. "Just a walk."

"Okay," I nod. "Let's go."

"Lead the way." He gestures toward the door, then guides me there with a hand on the small of my back, maneuvering us through the crowd with ease. It almost seems as though people are parting for us, moving out of our way as we pass.

The breeze is cold as we step outside, blasting into my lungs as I gasp for a larger breath of air. I hadn't realized how shallow I was breathing until we stepped out into the open, away from the chaos inside the bar. He allows me to breathe for a moment, staying silent until I begin walking toward my apartment.

I still feel decently buzzed, and it encourages me to be more talkative than normal. He asks me questions about myself as we walk, and I'm more than happy to answer. What puzzles me, however, is when I ask him a question, he seems to brush it off and move on to the next subject.

"Why vet school?" he asks when we're over halfway home.

The wind passes through the fabric of my shirt, making me shiver and causing goosebumps to appear along my arms. My nipples harden, and I suddenly regret wearing such a thin bralette. I cross my arms over my chest, hiding the obvious peaks. "I've always loved animals. They're so much more forgiving and loyal than any human I've ever met. Plus, I've had an interest in medicine since I was in middle school, but I don't like people enough to be a doctor. Why help the cruel when I can heal the innocent?"

His hands are in his pockets as he walks beside me, and I can see him mulling over my response. "I'm not sure I've ever thought of it in that way."

"Most people don't," I admit. "The majority of the human population puts their lives above all other life."

He's silent as we approach my place. I'm not sure whether or not he liked my answer, but I suppose it doesn't matter, considering I'll likely never see this man again.

"Thank you," I say as we reach the walkway leading up to my house.

"It's been my pleasure," he smiles. "I'll watch to make sure you get in safely."

I fumble for my house key, pulling it from my tight jeans.

"Have a good night," I wave as I leave his side, heading for the front door. "Thank you, again."

"It was my pleasure," he smirks. Stepping through the door, I turn to watch him for a moment. He's standing tall, seemingly unphased by the chilly night. The body under his hoodie is athletic and built. I have zero doubt he could have taken that drunk idiot out back, but after talking with him for a while, I don't know if he's dark enough to slit a man's throat and set his body on fire. A shiver runs down my spine, and I shake away the feeling.

"Goodnight," I grin, closing the door quietly.

Locking the door, I slip out of my shoes before running toward the couch. There's a window behind the couch, but the blinds are closed, so I gently lift one of the panels to get a view of the man outside. He looks hesitant as he begins walking away, and he looks back at the house a few times. He can't see me, but it feels like he can. His dark eyes penetrate my soul through the glass, and my breath catches in the back of my throat.

Who is he?

A small bit of disappointment washes over me when I realize I'll likely never see him again. I don't know anything about him. He was dedicated to staying mysterious and uncooperative in answering any of my questions about him.

I sigh as I slide off the couch, rising to my feet. After checking both of my roommates' bedrooms and finding them empty, I send a text to our group chat.

Me

Made it home.

I copy and paste the same text to my brother, then strip out of my tight clothes and into an oversized t-shirt. My bed is warm and inviting as I climb into the white silk sheets.

My head is spinning from both the alcohol and the mysterious stranger I just walked home with. He was quiet, but he seemed to genuinely listen to what I was saying. I smile as I nestle down into the sheets, feeling giddy.

Visions of him play through my mind for several minutes before I force myself to take a melatonin gummy. I work early in the morning and can't be up all night thinking about someone I'll never see again. Within ten minutes, the gummy kicks in and I fall into a deep sleep.