Connell (Carolina Reapers 3)

Bloody hell.

I turned the corner and saw Wade—one of the security guys—ushering a group of women out of the hall, including Annabelle.

“Wade, hold on a minute,” I called out.

He paused and lowered his outstretched arms when he saw me. “Sorry, Mr. MacDhuibh. I don’t know how they snuck in here.”

“I didn’t sneak,” Annabelle argued with narrowed eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m with him.” Shit, her face was bright red.

The lass was pissed and likely embarrassed, which was even worse.

One of the bunnies behind her scoffed. “Yeah, right. And I’m with Sawyer McCoy.”

“Wade, kick those three out,” I motioned toward the women with the skin-tight jeans and cropped hockey jerseys. “The classy one is with me, aren’t you gorgeous?”

Annabelle cocked an eyebrow at me but uncrossed her arms from her black, form-fitted Reaper jacket.

“Come on, Annabelle, let’s go home, lass.” I held out the hand that wasn’t carrying my sticks. For the barest of seconds, I worried that she might turn me down.

“It’s a good thing you’re hot, MacDhuibh,” she said with a tilt of her head, but she took my hand.

I didn’t miss the way one of the bunnies’ jaws dropped, and neither did Annabelle.

“Wade, she’s always allowed back here, okay? I can get her a pass or whatever she needs, but she has full access,” I told the guard.

“Absolutely, Mr. MacDhuibh. I’ll make sure the other guys know, but it would help if Mrs. Pierce-Nyström got her a badge. Ma’am, I’m sorry. But it’s my job to keep…fans out of this area.”

“No offense taken,” Annabelle replied softly, but her hand tightened in mine.

Wade ushered the other women out the door as Annabelle and I turned to head toward the parking lot.

“You know, that might not have happened if you were wearing my jersey,” I teased. But the thought had merit. Just the idea of her in nothing but my jersey stirred my cock. My name on her back. My number. Mine.

I knew I was in for it when she huffed a fake laugh.

She was silent on the thirty-minute drive home, and by the time we pulled into the garage, I’d played out every possible argument in my head, trying to arm myself with rebuttals for whatever she came up with.

“Does that happen a lot?” she asked as we walked into the house.

“Wade kicking fans out of the halls?” I dropped my keys on the counter.

“Women waiting in the halls,” she answered softly, tucking her chin.

“Fuck,” I muttered. Of all the arguments I’d run through, this was the one I feared most. “Come with me.”

I held out my hand and sent up a prayer of thanks when she took it and followed me upstairs. We didn’t stop until we reached the large shower in the master bedroom. Letting go of her hand, I stepped inside and turned on the water, then got out before it could soak me.

“Get naked.” I stripped off my shirt.

Her mouth popped open. “I’m sorry?”

“I’ll answer the question once you’re naked.”

She looked at me like I’d lost my mind, but started stripping. Great, and now I was as hard as the tile in the shower. Clearly, I hadn’t thought this part out well enough. But how could I not be when she bared every delectable curve?

I almost forgot the whole purpose of doing this up here when she stepped out of her purple lace panties and stood there in all her perfection.

“Shite. God give me strength,” I muttered a prayer.

Taking her hand, I pulled her into the massive shower. Then I pressed Annabelle against the water-warmed stone wall and caged her with my palms on either side of her.

“Why are we naked?” she challenged, only letting her gaze dart down my chest before jerking it back to my face.

“I thought it through and decided it’s harder to argue while you’re naked.”

Her jaw dropped, and not in a good way.

“Think about it, lass. Have we ever traded cross words while we were both undressed?” I leaned in just enough so she could feel how badly I wanted her.

She rolled her eyes, but a faint smile lifted her lips.

“Listen to me, Annabelle.” My voice dropped. “Yes, there are always women in the hallways at the rink. They’re in the hotel bars, and the elevators and the really sneaky ones are outside our hotel rooms. I’ll never lie to you, lass.”

Her gaze dropped, and I lifted her chin with my thumb.

“But I’ll never touch one of them. Not as long as you’re mine. Ye have my word.” That was something I didn’t give lightly. I wondered if she knew that.

“Our lives couldn’t be any more different,” she whispered as her hands grazed my waist. “And I’m not saying that I don’t trust you, but confronting the reality is hard to swallow.”

“You’ll hear things. It can’t be helped. You’ll hear rumors that I’m sleeping around at away games. You’ll see old pictures of me in the tabloids that they’ll publish like they’re new. You’ll have a million reasons to doubt me, and only one reason trust me.” I just hoped it was enough, that my strong, stubborn Annabelle wouldn’t take the easy way out and run.