“Got it.”
“I hope so. Now go play whatever video game is cool right now, or go get laid, go hunting and kill some wild animal—whatever you need to do to get some of this temper out of you.” He shoos me away with his hand and I leave his office.
I’m not going to do any of those things, but I am going to deal with Paisley. That somehow feels equally as dangerous as dealing with a wild animal.
“I can’t control the man, Mr. Gerhardt.” I pace my hotel room floor, the television paused on the Sex and the City rerun I was watching.
“He’s not getting any better. Pretty soon he’s going to get himself in more trouble than he’s worth.”
I blow out a breath.
“I mean, Canada is known for their polite people,” he says. “The fans couldn’t have said anything that bad.”
“I’m not sure why he did it. He’s not exactly the easiest man to crack,” I say, regretting my words immediately.
“I get the whole Russian silence act, but something tells me you have it in you to get to the bottom of this issue. Protecting your teammates is one thing. Spraying fans with water bottles and flipping them off is another. Fans are the ones who pay his salary.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I say.
A knock on the door sounds. For a moment, I’d forgotten I ordered room service. I tuck the phone between my ear and my shoulder, opening the door and expecting to find a tray of food. I do, but it’s accompanied by Maksim’s smiling face. He nods into the room, and I open the door wider, allowing him in. He sets the tray on the dresser and peeks under the stainless steel lid.
I say loudly enough for Maksim to hear, “I need to run. My dinner just arrived.”
“Report back to me when you get back,” Mr. Gerhardt orders.
“Will do.”
“Have a good night, Paisley.”
The call dies, and I tuck my phone in the back pocket of my jeans.
“Who was that?” Maksim asks.
“Your boss,” I say
His eyebrows shoot up. “He pissed about the flipping off situation?” His back falls to the mattress and he stares at the ceiling.
“Of course. What were you thinking?” I’m slightly pissed myself, because I know he can control himself better than that.
“I wasn’t thinking. I was pissed, which is why I’m here.”
I cross my arms. “You shouldn’t be here. Someone might have seen you.”
“You’re ruining me,” he says.
“What?”
“I want you so bad it aches. I thought I could do it. I mean, I have the kind of willpower it would take to push you out of my mind, but damn, you’re too much. You won’t leave my head.” He sits back up.
I stare blankly, unsure how to respond. No man has ever said anything like that to me.
“You barely know me.”
“And I want to get to know you. I want to know everything.”
I shake my head. For a brief moment, I was enamored by what he was saying. “You mean you want to know what kind of panties I wear. If I’m loud when I come and if I like dirty talk in bed. Those are the things you’re thinking about.”
“Fuck yeah, I do.”
I nod, pleased with myself that I was correct.
“But I also want to know why you picked a pretzel over nachos today. And why you ordered a salad with grilled chicken right now. And I fucking love that you ordered dessert even though you tried for a nutritious dinner.”
“Because I have a sweet tooth. It’s not unique.”
“Still, what’s your favorite dessert?”
I shake my head. “I have a lot.”
“I’m not really asking. I want to discover all this stuff by being with you. All the small things that make you, you. Do I want to have sex with you? I do. But I also want all of you. Your thoughts, your fears, your desires and pet peeves. Everything.”
I walk toward the window, turning my back to Maksim so I can clear my thoughts. He’s too gorgeous for me to not fall to my knees and beg him to take me. But he’ll only hurt me. I know it. “How many girls do you take back to your room in a season?”
“Is that where your reluctancy is coming? You think I say this to every girl?”
I shrug, not turning around.
“I’ve never had a shittier season with the amount of time I’ve been in the penalty box. Ever since I met you, I haven’t been myself.”
“You have no idea if it’s me or not.” I continue to look at the dark sky of Toronto and the city glittering out for miles below.
“When I was skating down the ice tonight, I was searching you out. I know you saw me.”
I did, but a guy like Maksim Petrov knows how to woo a woman. He’s not a stranger to going with gusto after what he wants and getting it. And there’s something appealing about that. Something that makes me want to say yes to tonight. To cross that line with him and allow him to show me how a woman should feel in bed with a man. Give me the kind of orgasms I hear other women talk about. The only question that needs answering is whether I can walk out of here tomorrow morning without developing any feelings for him because that’s all we could ever be—a one-and-done.
“I’d have to refer you to someone else,” I whisper, afraid of the thoughts going through my head. Am I really thinking about doing this?
“I signed that paper and I meant it.” The bed squeaks from his weight lifting off of it. “I don’t need therapy anyway.”
I blow out a breath and tighten my arms around myself. His hands land on my shoulders and my eyes drift closed.
“Why are you fighting so hard against this?” he whispers.
His aftershave hits my nostrils, filling me with the same feeling I had on New Year’s Eve. That kiss felt so magical, as if I was warped into some fairy tale, only for me to open my eyes to a nightmare as though Mr. Gerhardt was my wicked stepmother.
Take this, Paisley. Take something for yourself and to hell with the consequences for once.
I circle around and his hands fall to my hips.
“You’re so fucking stunning,” he says, his eyes pouring affection over me like lava, slow and hot.
“You don’t have to keep complimenting me. You’re going to get what you want tonight.” I raise on my tiptoes and close my eyes just before my lips press against… a stubbled cheek? What the heck?
I open my eyes and fall back down on my heels. Maksim turns his head back to me. I’ve never seen this look before.
“What does that mean?” His sweet syrupy voice turns cool.
“You want to have sex and I’m saying okay.”
He steps back. “That’s not what this is about, Paisley. It’s not just sex.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t have to put on an act. I know exactly why you’re in my hotel room. I’m flattered to make the cut, and you’re right, I’m attracted to you.”
He shakes his head, shoving his hands into his pockets. “You still think you’re just some piece of ass for me.”
I walk over and sit on the bed. “I’ve been around hockey guys most of my life. Sure, there are some good ones out there, but most just want sex. Don’t act like your pride is hurt because I’m calling you out on it. I said okay. You’re finally getting what you want.” I grab the hem of my shirt and tear it off over my head.