All Chapters of THE HOCKEY ALPHA WANTS ME: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Chapter 31MaxI couldn't stop her. "There. He'll come if he can."We waited in the lobby, every second stretched into eternity. I kept hoping Ace would make up an excuse, would say he couldn't make it. Would spare us both the agony of standing next to each other while pretending everything was fine.Then he walked through the door.Our eyes met.And I felt it again, that pull, that magnetic thing I couldn't explain and didn't want to examine too closely. From the way his jaw tightened and his hands clenched into fists at his sides, I knew he felt it too."Hey!" Freya said brightly and went over to hug him. "Thanks for coming. I know it's early.""No problem." Ace said and his voice, flat, careful and controlled. "Couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye."He was looking at Freya, but I could feel the weight of everything unsaid between us. Could see the tension in his shoulders, the rigid way he held himself, the careful way he was avoiding looking directly at me.We walked to

Chapter 33MaxI knocked on Ace's door and waited, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, and that restless feeling under my skin was getting worse with every second that passed."Ace, I know you're in there," I called out and knocked again, harder this time.No response.I pressed my ear against the door and heard movement inside, heard footsteps and then silence, and I knew he was standing right on the other side trying to decide whether to ignore me or tell me to leave."Ace, please, we need to talk.""Go away Max." His voice came through the door and it sounded tired and strained. "I already told you, there's nothing to talk about.""I'm not leaving until you open this door.""Then you're going to be standing out there for a long time."I leaned my forehead against the door and closed my eyes, frustration building in my chest because he was being stubborn and I couldn't blame him but I needed to see him, needed to talk to him face to face."I mean it Ace, I'll stand

Chapter 35MaxIt was a lie and we both knew it but I couldn't exactly tell him the truth, couldn't admit that I'd been thinking about him nonstop.And that I just wanted to see him, wanted to be near him, wanted to figure out what the hell was happening to me.Ace studied my face for a long moment and I saw the exact second he decided to call my bluff because his expression shifted into something almost playful, almost challenging.He stepped closer and I took an involuntary step back, and he kept coming until we were inches apart and I could smell his cologne and see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes."Are you sure that's why you're here?" he asked and his voice was low and dangerous. "To talk about Freya?""Yes," I said but my voice cracked and that restless feeling under my skin flared up so strong I almost gasped.Ace's eyes searched mine and I saw heat there, saw want and frustration and pain all mixed together, and I couldn't look away, couldn't move, couldn't do anything ex

Chapter 37MaxWe stayed like that for a while longer, my head on his chest and his fingers drawing lazy circles on my back. I could feel his heartbeat under my ear, steady and strong and somehow comforting in a way that made my own chest feel tight.Neither of us mentioned leaving or classes again or anything that existed outside this room, and I was grateful for that because the moment we acknowledged the real world this bubble we'd created would pop and I wasn't ready for that yet."Are you hungry?" Ace asked eventually and his voice rumbled through his chest where my ear was pressed."A little.""I have some snacks in my drawer.""What kind of snacks?""The good kind."He shifted under me and I reluctantly moved so he could get up, immediately missing the warmth of his body against mine. I watched him walk over to his desk, noticed the way his shirt was still twisted from my hands, the way his hair stuck up in places where I'd run my fingers through it, and something in my chest

Chapter 39MaxAce laughed and the sound was breathless and genuine. "What sucked?""Stopping. Being responsible. All of it.""Welcome to self control.""I hate self control.""Me too right now."He turned on his side and propped himself up on his elbow looking down at me, his hair was a mess from my hands and his lips were swollen. His shirt was twisted and he looked like he'd just been thoroughly kissed, the sight made my chest feel tight.I'd done that to him."You look thoroughly kissed," I said and reached up to smooth his hair down but it just sprang back up."So do you.""Is that a good look?""On you? The best look."I reached up and touched his face, my fingers tracing his jaw, his skin was smooth except for the slightest hint of stubble that I hadn't noticed before. He leaned into my touch, shutting his eyes in the process. I watched the way his eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks, watched the way his lips parted slightly."You're so beautiful," I said without thinking an