Chapter 19 Cocky
Ava Reed
The practice had barely started when Liam began his antics. At first, it was small things; stretching his arms with exaggerated groans, rolling his shoulders like he was in excruciating pain. I ignored it.
But then came the real torment.
“Ava,” Liam called, his voice cutting through the rink like a blade. “I need you.”
All heads turned. The team paused mid-drill. Even my father’s whistle stopped before it reached his lips. Liam never asked for help. Not from me. Not from anyone.
I folded my arms and leveled him with a glare. “For what?”
“My shoulder,” he said smoothly, rubbing it in slow, deliberate circles. “Hurts like a bitch.”
A muscle twitched in my jaw. I knew what he was doing. Playing games and testing me. I should’ve ignored him, but the eyes on me made it impossible.
I should even blame myself, considering I went finger fucking myself in his house without locking the damn doors. Yup! I blame me
With a sharp breath, I skated onto the ice, kneeling beside him. My fingers dug into his shoulder, pressing into the tight knots of muscle. He let out a low groan so deep, so guttural, that my stomach twisted in ways it shouldn’t.
I would sell this body is it kept letting his man turn it into a little needy bitch.
“Too hard?” I asked.
“Not hard enough.” His lips tilted, eyes glinting with something wicked. “Come on, Snowflake, don’t be shy. You’re supposed to be my savior, right?”
Heat burned in my cheeks, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. I pressed harder, working out the tension, though my fingers ached from the effort.
It didn’t stop there. Every five minutes, he needed something. A stretch. A readjustment. A goddamn sip of water. And the worst part? No one stopped him. The entire team watched with wide eyes, barely masking their amusement, as if they couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.
My father on the other hand was glad that his star player was finally finding some humility to ask for help and wasn’t killing himself in the rink like every other day.
88888
I regretted every life choice that led me to this moment.
Kneeling beside Liam, my hands were pressed firmly against his thigh and my fingers flexed, pressing into the taut muscle as I helped him stretch. His skin was warm beneath my palms, the hard ridge of his quad flexing slightly at my touch. Every brush of my fingers sent sparks through me, and I cursed my own reaction.
This wasn’t a big deal. Just basic physiotherapy. A simple recovery session. Professional. Clinical. Nothing more.
Then why the hell was he making it something else entirely? What was wrong with this man?
“Careful, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice deep and laced with amusement. “Keep rubbing me like that, and I might start thinking you want something.”
How did I get here?
I froze. My fingers twitched against his skin, but I refused to react.
“You wish.” I shot back, rolling my eyes, though my body betrayed me with the heat pooling low in my stomach. I had to sit down and have a word with my hormones.
His smirk was pure sin. “I don’t have to wish, Snowflakes. I already know.”
I pushed his leg harder than necessary, earning a grunt from him.
“I don’t know what delusion you’ve cooked up in that thick skull of yours, but let’s make something clear. You need me. I don’t need you.”
He chuckled, but there was something dark in his gaze, something that sent a shiver up my spine. He leaned back on his elbows, stretching out further, the movement making his abs flex deliciously under his sweat-soaked shirt.
“I don’t know, princess. I think you need me more than you’re willing to admit. I mean, considering you didn’t finish yesterday night? I’m certain you need my help”
I would end this man here and now! I bet I could survive prison, right?
I scowled, refusing to let him get under my skin.
“You’re supposed to be stretching, not stroking your ego.”
He gave me a slow, lazy grin. “Oh, I can stretch and stroke at the same time. You’ve seen”
Heat flared up my neck, and I sucked in a sharp breath. He was impossible.
“You’re insufferable.” I yanked his leg into position, ignoring the way his body tensed beneath my hands.
“Only for you, baby.”
I nearly strangled him right then and there. Fuck, I should’ve
88888
By the time practice ended, I was seething.
The team huddled together, tossing around plans for the night. Drinks, laughter, a casual hangout with a few rival players they were friends with. Then, because the universe hated me, Ethan suggested I come along.
And that’s when my plan clicked into place.
I turned to Liam, tilting my head in mock consideration.
“I don’t know… should I come?”
“You?” His brows lifted.
I shrugged. “Well, since I’m your personal assistant now, might as well make sure you don’t overexert yourself off the ice, right?”
A slow smirk spread across his lips, but I caught the flicker of suspicion in his gaze. Good.
“I’ll be there. Liam would drive me” I say, making the boy cheer
I leaned in just enough for him to hear.
“I hope you’re ready, Liam. Because tonight? I’m gonna make sure you regret every second of today.”
His smirk widened. “Oh, Snowflake. I can’t wait.”
Cocky bastard.