Mia drew every shred of strength she had together into a fragile string. “He can be captivating,” she managed. “I know.”
“But I…” Ashlee’s brow dipped in confusion. “There’s nothing anywhere to indicate he has a girlfriend.”
Rafe opened his mouth against her throat and scraped his teeth along her skin. Mia sucked a breath of surprise, of titillation. He was getting way too into this role. But that was what she’d wanted, right?
She mentally slapped herself out of her stupor. This was just a game. One of many he’d been playing over the last year. And Mia didn’t like it. She didn’t like any of it. And for the millionth time, she wished she didn’t care so much. That would make it easier to tell him to shove his games. Make it easier to walk away. To turn her back and let go.
Only that wasn’t who Mia was. And it certainly wasn’t how she felt about Rafe.
But she was angry, so she grabbed for the careless role and laughed. “Someone’s had a little too much to drink. He’s always frisky when he’s been drinking.” She slapped his chest. “Stop that, naughty boy. Save it for the bedroom.” To Ashlee, she said, “We’ve been trying to keep our relationship quiet. Media is such a headache.”
She tried to straighten, but Rafe didn’t let her go. And when she turned her head and met his gaze, the heat there punched her gut. His eyes were stormy and hot. And the emotions floating there seemed to encompass everyth
ing from shock to finally.
“I’ll warm up the sheets for you.” Mia stroked her hand across his cheek. “Wake me when you get home. You know how I like it.”
The fire that flashed over Rafe’s face was sure to keep Mia warm for a decade to come.
With every inch of her skin tingling, she pushed to her full height, forcing Rafe to release her. But she kept one hand on his shoulder and used the other to comb at the hair over his nape. Mia smiled at Ashlee, ignoring the way Rafe grabbed her wrist like she was abandoning him in the middle of the ocean.
“It was good to meet—” Mia started.
“Oh no.” Ashlee pushed her chair back. “I’m so sorry. If I’d known I would never have kept him so long. Rafe, thank you for an absolutely wonderful evening. You’ve been so gracious to let me go on and on and run well over the two-hour time allotment—”
“You know…” Mia cut her off, glancing at Cole. His big hazel eyes were locked on Mia and Rafe with that just-slammed-against-the-boards look. “Cole, are you free for a little while?” She glanced at Ashlee. “I mean, if you don’t mind the company of two handsome Rough Riders tonight instead of one, I bet Cole wouldn’t mind staying to chat for a bit.” Mia beamed at Cole. “Would you?”
“Really?” Ashlee’s big blue eyes grew round and latched on to Cole.
Cole diverted his attention to the walking wet dream. “I’d love to.” Then darted a cautious look at Rafe. “If it’s okay with you, I mean.”
Now Rafe did that just-slammed-against-the-boards thing, and Mia wanted to pound both men with a dinner plate. Instead, she pinched the skin of Rafe’s neck.
He flinched out of his shock. “No. Yes. I mean, fine. Fine with me.”
He stood so fast, he nearly toppled Mia right along with the chair. But he used the hand still on her wrist to drag her against him and caught her around the waist with the same speed and grace he used on the ice.
One second, Mia was cool and in control, the next, she was up against Rafe, looking into his steel-colored eyes, her brain scrambled by the sheer hardness of him, the raw heat of him.
Rafe’s gaze slowly lowered to her mouth, then lifted to her eyes again before he murmured, “Let’s hit those sheets, beautiful.”
5
After living with the physical discomforts hockey wrought on his body all his life, there was little that really bothered Rafe. But having a hard-on for his best friend’s little sister? Yeah, that seriously bothered him.
He kept his arm tight at her waist as they passed through the restaurant, the bar, and finally into the lobby, trying like hell to ignore how damn perfect she felt at his side. The way his heart skipped and jumped at the reality of being close to her again.
They stepped beyond view of Ashlee and Cole, where the other Rider had taken Rafe’s place at the table. Rafe cut a look around the lobby for familiar faces. When he found none, he steered her to a corner, released her abruptly, and forced himself to put distance between them. Fast.
He paced a circle, trying to collect himself. But he’d had too much to drink, and all the emotions and desires he’d tucked away for so long didn’t want to get stuffed back in their box. With his back toward her, he rubbed both hands over his face. But, shit, he couldn’t get the feel of her lips off his skin or her husky insinuations out of his head. In fact, Rafe was fully, painfully hard.
Down, boy. It’s not real. She’s off-limits.
Rafe pushed all ten fingers through his hair, took a deep breath, and dropped his arms on a heavy exhale. “Jesus, what a night.”
Bracing for the sight of her, Rafe clenched his teeth and turned. She stood several feet away, arms crossed, one hip cocked, head tilted, a look of irritated contemplation carving a tiny V between her brows. All that thick, luxurious hair the color of bittersweet chocolate was tousled in a way that made him crave the sight of her in the morning.
Naked.