When he lifts his head to look at me, he says, “The circumstances of why that happened are very ugly and I didn’t want you to be exposed to it.”

Those words give me pause, cooling the anger in me a bit. It doesn’t take my brilliant brain but a mere second to understand exactly what happened. Claude Amedee does not like me. I got that loud and clear from our meeting week before last. I had heard through the grapevine he was the most vocal of my player opponents, but I let it ride. I let it ride because I was never going to judge him for the stuff that came out of his mouth, but rather for how well he played on the ice.

“What did he say about me?” I ask with curiosity.

“It was nothing,” he says, trying to blow me off.

“It was something,” I say as I take a step toward him, my shoulders set firmly and my chin raised so he knows I mean business. “What did he say?”

“I don’t think you—”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Evans…what the fuck could he have possibly said that would cause you to hit him? I think you need to learn some restraint.”

Ryker’s eyes flash with fury and he stands up from the bed. One step toward me, his voice low and guttural. “I’m just paraphrasing here, but I believe he said that you wouldn’t look so high and mighty with his dick shoved down your throat.”

I grimace, completely disgusted with Claude.

But Ryker’s not finished. He gives it to me straight. Another step toward me and he leans down so our faces are just inches apart. “He said your ass was fine, which I have to agree with, but I took extreme exception to him saying he’d fuck it hard to make you learn your place.”

I gasp and take a startled step backward. Ryker moves with me, not about to let me get too far away. His eyes are glazed with anger over the memory of what Claude said. “So I brought that fucker down and I taught him a lesson. And if you think I was wrong to do it, then release me from the team right now, because I’d do it all over again. My only regret is that Alex was there to stop me.”

There are no words to describe how I feel in this moment. The timbre of Ryker’s voice, the way his fists are clenched in fury, the proprietary look in his eyes as he practically snarls out his hatred of what Claude said. I’m going straight to hell, I know for sure, when a slight shiver of pleasure races up my spine.

In this very singular moment, I have never felt more protected and valued in my life as a woman. I find I like this feeling so much that another shiver moves up my spine that is pure fear.

Fear of letting this man inside.

I take another step back and put on my general manager face, because I need that boundary between us right now. “You should have walked away. Let management handle it. Instead, I had to listen to Frank rant again about what a bad choice I made bringing you on, and trust me when I say I don’t like having to argue with Frank. As it stands now, we have a meeting set tomorrow where I’m going to have to again defend my decision to sign you.”

The heat and passion of the moment swiftly dies out of Ryker’s eyes. His lips flatten and he gives me a short nod that he accepts what I just said. Then he throws me for a loop when he brushes past me, right to the door, and opens it up. Giving a jerk of his head to the hallway, he says, “Understood, boss. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to get to bed. We have an early flight tomorrow.”

What?

He’s dismissing me?

This conversation is over?

Why isn’t he insisting again that he did the right thing by defending my honor? I reach out internally, seeking that feeling of cherished protection he made me feel just seconds ago, and it’s gone.

All gone.

Ryker’s eyes are aloof, and when I don’t move, he makes another jerk of his head toward the door. The message is clear. He wants me to leave.

I square my shoulders and turn to face him fully. He holds my gaze for just a second, then lowers his face to stare at the floor. I move my feet, feeling like they’re stuck in molasses and the door looms closer. Just as I reach Ryker, I pause but without looking at him ask, “Out of curiosity, did you defend Gray Brannon the woman you’re interested in or Gray Brannon your general manager?”

My body remains absolutely still, my breath frozen in my lungs while I wait for his answer. I think the mad thumping of my heart is a good indication to me of just how important this answer is.

His voice barely makes it to me, it’s so soft. “You know the answer to that, Big Bang.”

Warmth blossoms, unfurls, spreads throughout me.

I do know the answer to that.

I turn swiftly, my hands grabbing on to his shirt, just below the edge of each collar. I only have a moment to see Ryker’s eyes pop wide with surprise before I pull him down toward me.

Right down onto my mouth.

He doesn’t hesitate or give any token resistance. His lips meet mine in a fiery clash of pent-up desire and yearning. I have no control over my body as it leans in and finally melds to his frame. Ryker’s hands slide to my backside, his fingers digging into my ass, and he’s pulling me into him closer.

Right there…on my lower belly…I feel him start to swell as he kisses me. I moan softly over the knowledge that he wants me.

Gray Brannon…the woman.

Ryker bends, lifts me up, and wraps my legs around his waist. I ignore the slight tear in the back seam of my skirt as my legs are forced wide. I feel rather than see him kick the door shut and then he’s walking me toward the bed. His lips never falter once against mine, a testament to the Brick Wall’s strength. He makes me feel tiny and vulnerable, yet safe at the same time.