Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“I don’t think that will stop her from bitching at you tomorrow, though. She’ll feel safe surrounded by her teammates. When will you challenge her?”
“Outside my team’s headquarters after the game. Why, you want to watch?”
He smiled. “As if I’d miss watching you kick someone’s ass. I have every intention of being there to support you. And to make sure that none of her team get the dumb idea to jump into the fight and help her.”
“I don’t think they would, but I suppose it’s possible. Especially if they lose the game.”
“They will. Your team is fucking spectacular. And I’ve yet to see another player perform anywhere near as well as you do.”
Casey’s mouth curved. “You would say that—as my mate, you’re biased.”
“Biased, sure, but I’m also being serious here.” He pressed a kiss to her neck. “Your team has every chance of winning. My pack mates have been taking bets on how many goals you’ll score.”
Her smile shrunk a little. “Miles used to do that. Before he dated Sherryl and went down a bad path, he used to go to every one of my games without fail—he was always my biggest supporter.”
“Did your sister or mother ever go?”
Casey shook her head. “The only reason they even know I play for the Hounds is that he told them. He’d say to me, ‘oh, I told Mom and Emily about your game; they said congrats on your win,’ but I don’t think they really did. I doubt they even care.”
Eli truly didn’t understand how they could turn their backs on Casey, but he figured she was better off without them. “Your sister doesn’t deserve the worry you’re putting yourself through for her.”
“Maybe not, but I can’t help worrying. I don’t think Ira will back off and give her time, or that he’ll be anything less than a complete asshole when she finally comes out of hiding. He’d never be sorry if he drove her away. To feel remorse, you have to acknowledge that you fucked up. Ira Frost is always right, and he never makes mistakes.”
Eli snorted. “He’s a fucking prick. I’d say the best thing you ever did was leave your childhood home and move here.”
“Nah. That was the second-best thing.” She lightly stroked his hair. “The best thing I ever did was find you.”
Warmth filled his gut and flowed out to fill every part of him. He didn’t know how to handle it when she said stuff like that. The sweet, raw honesty with which she spoke always reached deep inside him; made his blood heat and pool low.
He caught her earlobe with his teeth but didn’t bite it. Instead, he let it slowly slide out of his mouth, grazing it with the edges of his teeth as he did so. “Saying things like that will get you bent over the arm of this sofa.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“In that case …” He snapped open her fly and shoved his hand in her panties. “Let’s get you nice and wet for me.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Watching Casey fuss with her smoothie the next morning, Eli reached across her small dining table and gave her hand a supportive squeeze. “Your team will win, baby.”
She put down her glass. “I know.”
Eli sensed that she fully believed the Hounds would be victorious—she was always that way before a game. Always filled herself with a bold assurance that they’d win, no matter how good the other team were. Well, self-belief was a powerful thing. “Then stop worrying.”
“I’m not worrying … per se. I’m—”
“Thinking too much. You’re focused, but you’re not in your usual zone.” His wolf was worried about her. Eli tipped his head to the side. “Is it because you know you’ll be challenging Sherryl later?”
“Not really. I hate that the game will be tainted by the shit going on between me and her, though. I want it to be about soccer, nothing else. I want both teams to strive to win, not to hurt each other out of spite.”
“I get it.” He took a sip of his coffee. “It might be that way in the beginning, but you can bet your ass the focus will shift to the need to win as soon as the first goal is scored. That’s when everyone’s competitive streak will flare.” But none would ever burn as bright as hers. Eli never would have thought he’d meet anyone more competitive than him or his sister, but Casey had them both beat.
“You look good in my jersey,” she said.
His mouth kicked up into a smile. He’d insisted that she get him one, determined to wear it at her game. The moment his pack mates saw it, they’d all whined that they didn’t have one. His mate had seemed somewhat befuddled by it all, but she’d agreed to their request to get them each a jersey of their own.