“Liz, have you seen my bank card?”

Throwing things around, looking for my bank card, I let out a long breath. My head was pounding, I had dry mouth like crazy, and I was so sexually frustrated I was sure I was going to snap in half. I tried to get a release last night, but every time I tried, Gus’s stupid face came into view, and back came the dream. Nasty cycle. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t like him, not even a little bit. He was everything I hated and more. Yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about him, and all I wanted was his lips on mine once more. I wanted to press myself up against him. Feel his length against my swollen pussy, and fuck, I wanted him between my legs. As long as he didn’t open his mouth, I could ride him for hours.

Oh my God, I was becoming like the other girls! After one night, I was under that stupid, cocky asshole’s spell! How in the world! I was not that pathetic. But then, what if I did just give in? One night and done. He was known for that. No, I wasn’t that person! I was better than that. But damn it, I wanted him. As if I didn’t have enough to worry about. Why was my life so hard?

No one to blame but myself.

“Where the hell is my card!”

I grabbed the jeans I wore the night before and shook them as Lizzy, looking like a hot, tired mess, stumbled out of her room and leaned into my doorway. “Can you stop yelling? I feel like death.”

“You look it too,” I snapped back at her as I tore my purse open again.

“Wow. Thanks.”

“Dude, this isn’t funny. I need my card. Fuck me,” I groaned, almost in tears. This wasn’t me. I was very good about keeping up with my stuff. But no, I went to a bar, I drank, and ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves to meet idiot Bo.

“Did you call the Penalty Box?”

I hadn’t. I picked up my phone and dialed, tapping my foot on the ground as I checked the time. I didn’t have much time to get to the rink for my lessons, which meant I could kiss eating breakfast goodbye. When the waitress answered, she informed me that my card hadn’t been turned in.

Letting my hand fall to my thigh, I groaned loudly. “No, it’s not there.”

“I’m sure it’s in here somewhere. I’ll keep looking. Go to work,” Lizzy said as she slowly fell into the couch, burying her face in the pillow.

“Please look for me. I’m about to be late.”

She waved me off, nodding her head. “I promise I will look as soon as my head stops pounding.”

I wanted to cry, but I had no choice but to agree and rush out the door.

Ugh, it was going to be a long fucking day.

* * *

I wanted to say I was one of those really great coaches that left everything at the door and taught my kids, but unfortunately I couldn’t say that. I coached to the best of my abilities, but my mind kept going back to where the hell my card could be. I was completely panicking. Between each session, I texted Lizzy, but she hadn’t found it. It was driving me up a wall because I couldn’t figure out where the hell it could be. I stuck it in my pants after I paid last night. I didn’t even transfer it to my wallet when I got home. I just went to bed after throwing my clothes everywhere. Lizzy had said she had searched my room, but no luck, which meant I was screwed.

On top of that, there was still another problem—my rattling loins. Yes, I said my rattling loins. Too many romance novels had ruined me. But my life was not a romance novel. If anything, it was a biography of all the dumb shit I had done in my life. Wanting to sleep with Gus Persson took up half the book. I mean, what was I even thinking? It went against everything I wanted! It went against everything I’d said! I would basically be the person he said I was if I went through with it.

But I couldn’t shake the yearning I had for him.

It had to be voodoo. I swear I was fine before he opened his mouth. Before he touched me and looked at me with those sinful eyes. Before his lips moved along my cheek and my lips. I was just dandy before, but now, all I could think about was him, and I swear I could still feel his lips on mine. That was absurd! It didn’t make any sense. He wasn’t worth my time!

Yet, I just wanted five minutes.

A quick, wonderful orgasm, and I’d be done.

That’s all I wanted.

But first, I had to get through another lesson. Thankfully, my student’s mom was cool cutting the session short, and I promised to make it up to her. I was good for it. Or at least I hoped she knew that. Once I was paid and had hugged my student, Lily, tightly, I rushed off the ice and was almost to the instructor room when I heard my name.

Or, better yet, my legal name.

“Hey! Yo, Bocephus.”

My face scrunched up as I slowly looked over my shoulder, seeing the star of all my wet dreams strolling down the hall like he had no cares in the world. He looked absolutely stunning in a pair of athletic shorts and a loose tee, his hat backward with sunglasses on them. He had shaved, and he looked all clean and sexy. I bet he smelled fantastic, but that didn’t matter.

Because I was not happy to see him.

Narrowing my eyes, I crossed my arms before leaning into the tip of my skate. “What are you doing here?”

He shrugged, such a careless motion that he somehow made sexy. “I had practice.”

“Oh.”

“And I’m pretty sure I have something of yours.”

My brows came in. “I highly doubt that.”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a card, and when he held it up, I realized it was mine. I almost came out of my skates rushing to snatch it from his hands. “My card!”

I looked up, glaring. This son of a bitch stole my card! But he didn’t look guilty. Instead, he was smiling as he said, “Yeah, I went to get my beer and saw it on the floor. I went outside to give it back to you, but I guess you had already left. When I went to give it to one of your friends, I wasn’t sure if I could trust them, so I just kept it. Figured I’d see ya.”

My face twisted in confusion. “What if you didn’t see me today?”

He never stopped grinning. “Oh, I knew I would.”

“How?”

Smugly, he leaned in, his eyes in line with mine as he whispered, “’Cause I wasn’t going to stop until I found you.”

I took in a quick breath and got lost in his gaze. I was supposed to hate this man. He was everything that had gotten me in trouble before. I knew what this kind of guy did to me. I knew the pain, the heartache, and the pure rejection, yet I had every desire to close the distance and press my lips to that lush mouth of his. I was insane, that was all there was to it. His gaze burned into mine as he took a step forward. Our bodies were so close, but then it felt like they were so far apart.

Jesus, what was wrong with me?

I swallowed hard. Breathless, I just stared at him, and then, without warning, I was hit with the memory of the dream from the night before. The vision of his lips pressing into mine fueled an erotic and molten-hot fantasy. I could feel his lips everywhere. My breasts, my stomach, my thighs, my pussy—everywhere—and looking at him right then, it was like experiencing it all over again. It made no damn sense. I almost didn’t even know who I was, but just then I didn’t care.

I just wanted to kiss him.

So I did.