Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

"I thought you were the one who wanted to see what you were missing."Val’s hand didn't tremble. He flattened his palm against Finn’s washboard stomach, the heat of the Alpha’s skin searing his skin through the damp fabric. He slid his hand lower, tracing the lethal line of Finn’s hip until he was cupping the heavy weight of him through the athletic shorts. Finn sucked in a jagged, serrated breath, his muscles locking under Val’s touch."You know what else I wanted to do to shut that smart mouth of yours?" Finn’s voice was a low, predatory vibration."Surprise me," Val challenged. His eyes were dark, fueled by a decade of buried friction as he slid his hand beneath the elastic of Finn’s boxers. He took the thick, pulsing length of the Alpha into his palm."I wanted to force you to your knees and fill that mouth with this." Finn shoved his thumb between Val’s lips. Val didn't flinch. He bit down, then sucked, hard. The vacuum sent a jolt straight to Finn’s groin that made the big man g

"Shut up," I muttered, sliding back onto the gray sheets beside him.The villa was silent, the only sound the rhythmic crash of the Atlantic against the shore. I grabbed Finn’s hand. His palm was a map of brutal history—thick calluses from years of gripping a hockey stick, skin hardened by the cold of the Miami Ice Dome. He was the most lethal Alpha I’d ever met, a mountain of muscle and predator pride. Yet, the way he’d handled me hours ago—it wasn't just heat. It was a careful, focused worship that made my chest ache.I let the silence stretch before I whispered, "You want to hear something pathetic?"He bumped my shoulder with his. The gray pallor was leaving his face. "Give it to me.""When I was a kid, I used to pray for a fever. Mariana caught the flu once, and I practically licked her face just to bring it home."A low chuckle vibrated through his chest. He let his heavy head drop onto my shoulder. "Yeah. That’s twisted, Cruz.""It was the only time my mother actually saw me. S

"Was that a joke?" I snapped, backing toward the hallway. My skin crawled. The idea of him hunting down my pen name just to reenact a chapter for a laugh made my stomach turn. I couldn't survive that kind of mockery again. Not from him.I bolted into the bathroom and twisted the lock. I leaned against the door, lungs burning. Is a hockey series worth this? I cranked the shower to scorching. Steam swamped the room. I grabbed Finn’s charcoal soap and scrubbed until my skin was raw, desperate to wash the scent of him—and the shame—down the drain.I stayed under the spray until the heat died. I emerged shivering, wrapped in a towel thick enough to hide a crime scene. I cracked the door.Finn was sitting on the edge of the mattress, a steaming mug in his hand."I need to get my gear," I said, chin up. I tried to look steady. I failed.He held the coffee out. "Drink this first."The smell of caffeine hit me like a physical blow. I took it, my fingers brushing his. I blew on the dark liquid

"I like being with you, too." Val's smile hit like a cross-check to the chest. Finn tried not to count the thuds of his pulse."Now we have to slow down. Move like we mean it. Real bonding." Finn bit his tongue. The words tasted like a forfeit. If he kept talking like that, he’d have to turn in his Alpha status.Finn’s stomach let out a low, predatory growl."I need to feed you," Val said. "That sugar-coated bowl of kibble isn't going to fuel a shifter."Finn pulled a face. "Breakfast cereal. What’s the point of this partnership again?""We were in a rush," Val countered. "And don't act like those Frosty Paws didn't have you purring. I heard the sounds you made." Val cut him off before he could fire back about the sounds Val made. "Besides, I don't want your credits. We’re trading favors. That's the deal."Val yanked the wheel, steering the car away from the Miami Ice Dome."Where are we headed?""If I'm moving into your villa, I need my own gear. I can't keep wearing your oversized j

"Close your mouth, Val. You’re catching flies."I snapped my jaw shut and swiped at the air. "It's not a date," I muttered, my voice sounding thin even to my own ears."I know." Finn didn't look up. He just stared at the bristles of his brush like they held the secrets of the universe."Finn." I leaned in. I needed to know. Why play the 'date' card? Why dump a perfectly good chance with a blonde who clearly wanted to be his next conquest?Because he wanted to be here? With me?I killed the thought before it could take root. Dangerous. I was reading too much into a guy following a concussion protocol. He needed to be back on the ice for the playoffs. Hockey was his life—his pulse, his pack, his everything. He wouldn’t let a distraction like me stall his career. He deserved that spot in the lineup. That’s why I brought him to this art event at the Luna Azul. It always settled my wolf. I hoped it would ground his."You've done this before?" he asked, redirecting the flow. "This art stuff