The Sound of the Lock

Nikolai POV

The puck slammed against the glass with a loud crack, echoing through the cold, empty arena. I didn't stop to take a breath. I reached down, pulled another puck toward my skates, and took another hard floor.

It was nearly one in the morning, but going to my room was pointless. Every time I tried to close my eyes, her scent filled my chest. It was drifting through the vents from the top floor where the staff offices were. She was still up working on the team schedule, and her dark, rainy scent was driving my inner demon completely crazy.

I hit three more pucks into the net, my arms burning, sweat dripping off my chin. The ice was tore up around my skates, but the work wasn't doing anything to cool the fire under my skin.

I looked up at the glass office overlooking the rink. The lights were still on.

I glided over to the bench, unlaced my skates with quick movements, and threw on a plain shirt and gym pants. I didn't plan on talking to her. I told myself I was just going to grab a bottle of water from the lounge and head to the compound. But as soon as my feet hit the hallway tile, my legs moved toward her office on their own.

By the time I reached the upper floor, the lights in her glass room went dark.

I stopped near the doorway, staying back in the shadows. A second later, Bella stepped out into the hall. She looked exhausted. Her long dark hair was starting to come loose from its neat style, and she was rubbing the back of her neck as she walked toward the executive washroom at the end of the corridor.

She didn't see me. She opened the washroom door, stepped inside, and left it slightly cracked.

My inner demon slammed against my ribs, demanding to follow her. I tried to pull back, tried to tell myself that cornering her again was a mistake, but my body wasn't listening to my brain anymore.

I walked down the quiet hall, pushed the washroom door open, and stepped inside.

Bella was standing in front of the large mirror, splashing cold water over her face. She looked up, her dark eyes meeting mine in the glass, and instantly went stiff.

"What are you doing in here?" she asked, grabbing a paper towel to dry her face. "This is the women's room, Nikolai."

I didn't answer. I reached behind me, pushed the door shut, and turned the deadbolt.

Click.

The small sound echoed in the room.

Bella turned around fast, her eyes narrowing as she backed up until her lower back hit the edge of the smooth counter. "Turn that lock back right now. If someone sees you in here with me—"

"Nobody is in the building, Bella," I said, my voice low and rough as I took two steps forward, taking up all the space between us. "It's past one in the morning."

"I don't care what time it is," she said, resting her palms against the counter behind her to steady herself. "We signed the contract hours ago. We agreed to keep our distance."

"You think a piece of paper stops this?" I asked, stepping right into her space until my chest was inches from hers. The heat coming off her skin was so strong it made my head spin. "You've been sitting up there all night, letting your scent fill the vents while I'm trying to practice."

"I was doing my job," she shot back, tilting her head up to glare at me. "I was fixing the schedule your old manager ruined. If my presence bothers you so much, go home."

"I tried," I growled, resting one hand on the counter right next to her hip, trapping her. "I can't sleep. My inner demon won't shut up because you're in the same building."

"Then tell your demon to grow up," she snapped, her sharp tongue showing no fear even though her breathing was starting to speed up. "You're supposed to be a captain, Nikolai. Act like one. Stop hovering over me like a brute."

"And you stop acting like a cold ice queen," I murmured, leaning down until my nose brushed against the soft skin of her jaw. "You stand there talking tough, but I can hear your heart racing right now."

"It's annoyance," she whispered, though she didn't push me away.

"Liar," I said.

I reached out and wrapped my hand around her waist, pulling her tight against my front.

The moment our bodies touched, a massive wave of heat crashed over us. Bella let out a soft gasp, her hands coming up to grip my shoulders. She meant to push me back, but her fingers dug into my shirt instead, pulling me closer.

The suppressed energy between us broke like a flooded dam.

"Nikolai..." she breathed, her dark eyes wide and full of a wild, dark hunger she couldn't hide anymore.

"Tell me to stop," I growled against her lips, my dark energy rising fast, turning my eyes red in the dim light. "Tell me you don't want this, and I'll walk out."

She stared up at me for one long, breathless second, her chest rising and falling against mine.

"I hate you," she whispered.

Then she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled my mouth down to hers.

The kiss was wild, fierce, and desperate. All the anger, tension, and fake politeness from the last twelve hours vanished instantly.

I gripped her waist tighter, lifting her up onto the counter so she was at eye level with me. She wrapped her legs around my hips, her fingers tangling in my hair as she kissed me back with an intense heat that made me lose my mind.

I couldn't get close enough. I moved my hands up her back, pressing her body flat against mine, my inner demon roaring with victory. I pulled my lips from hers and buried my face in her neck, taking deep, greedy breaths of her scent.

Bella let out a low moan, her head falling back against the mirror. "Nikolai... we can't..."

"You're mine," I growled against her skin, my teeth grazing the sensitive spot right over her pulse point. The urge to mark her right then and there was so strong my whole body was shaking. "You know you are."

"Nikolai—"

Suddenly, the door to the executive lounge creaked open.

We both went completely still.

The sound of high heels clicked softly across the floor outside the washroom, coming closer with every second.

Click. Click. Click.

Bella's eyes snapped open in absolute terror. Her hands froze in my hair, her legs tightening around my waist as she stared at the closed door. I held my breath, my chest pressed hard against hers, my glowing red eyes fixed on the entrance.

"Bella?" a sweet, light voice called out from the lounge.

It was Chloe.

"I saw your car still parked outside," Chloe said, her voice getting closer to the washroom. "I brought you some late-night coffee from that shop you like near the office. I figured you were working hard on Nikolai's schedule."

Bella looked at me, all the color draining from her face. I didn't move a muscle, holding her pinned against the counter, my heart beating fast.

The heels stopped right outside the washroom door.

Jiggle.

The handle moved down, hitting the deadbolt with a clack.

"Bella?" Chloe asked, sounding confused now. The handle jiggled again, harder this time. "Are you in there? Why is the door locked?"