stellar attitude.”
“Must be getting laid,” Theo commented.
Someone snorted behind Cal. When he turned it was his least favorite person in the world: Reid Durand.
“Something on your mind?”
Durand merely shook his head and skated on.
“Fucker,” Cal muttered under his breath.
“Durand?” Bond stared after him then back at Cal. “He’s all right. A bit moody but who isn’t?”
“Except Foreman, apparently,” Theo said. “Guys who are getting laid play better. At least that’s what Harper says.”
Vadim chuckled. “I’m fairly certain my sister-in-law has said that men in love play better.”
A roar went up from the bench in the gentle tone of Coach Calhoun. “Are we playing hockey here or just being chit-chatty assholes?”
“Pretty loaded question, Coach!” Theo yelled back. “We’re obviously being chit-chatty assholes.”
Laughing, they split apart with Vadim following Cal back to center ice.
Vadim eyed Cal. “Is it true?”
“Is what true?”
“That you are getting laid?”
A chill slithered down his spine. He had once in the last week—okay, three times in one night because damn, this man’s sister had the sweetest curves a man was blessed to touch. But was he getting laid, present tense?
“Nope. My good mood doesn’t have to be related to regular sexual activity, Russian.”
Vadim shook his head and got back into formation, leaving Cal to breathe a sigh of relief, but not for long. A couple of minutes later, over at the bench, a deep voice spoke in his ear. “How do you think he’ll do it?”
Durand again. Cal should have known better, but he still took the bait. “Do what?”
“Perhaps he’ll waterboard you in the showers. Or slide a skate blade across your Achilles. Maybe colonoscopy-by-hockey-stick.”
“Stay out of my way, asshole.”
Cal skated away from Durand, who was doing a fairly good impression of his conscience these days. The man was right: Vadim would make his life a misery if he knew Cal had taken advantage of his baby sister.
A virgin.
Jesus, not good. Well, really good. Best sex of his life, but not good because of the peril it placed Cal in with his friend. A few years ago, he’d made a decision to keep something from Vadim, information that ensured their friendship would carry on untroubled. Yet here he was risking that same friendship for a woman who had made it clear he was not even her first choice.
Ten minutes later, practice was almost over, and a movement over by the bench caught his eye. Think of the temptress and she will appear. The yapping confirmed it.
Mia stood off to the side with Gordie Howe in her arms, waving at both of them.
“Mia’s here,” Cal said to Vadim, jerking a chin toward her.
Vadim skated over to her. Cal wanted to but figured he would not be able to school his expression around her, not since he now knew what it felt like to have her grip his cock and make him come harder than he’d have thought possible. He avoided Durand, knowing if he made eye contact he wouldn’t be able to hide a thing.
Vadim called him over.
“What’s up?” He pulled off his helmet and leaned on the bench wall.
Mia was looking at him, eyes bright, biting her lip. Christ on a Zamboni, he couldn’t stop staring back. It was just so good to see her.
“She got in,” Vadim said.
Cal was still staring at Mia because he couldn’t not stare at her. “You got in?” Awareness dawned. “Team USA? You got in?”
“I did!” The dog yelped in excitement, and Mia put him down so he could run around the bench.
Screw Durand and Vadim and the whole damn lot of them. Cal pushed Petrov aside and wrapped Mia in his arms. “You got in! Well, of course you did. You were a freakin’ lock but now everyone knows. So proud of you, Mia.”
She smiled at him, her tongue flicked to wet her lips, and there it was again—that carbonation in his blood, that elation in his chest.
You’re happy for her. That’s it. Nothing more.
No, idiot. You’re more than happy. You’re so much more than happy. You’re in trouble.
She was still in his arms, her hands laced around his neck, her breath sweet against his lips. Even with her parka and his padding, he could sense her curves and her heat.
They were this close to kissing in front of her brother.
He dropped her like a hot coal. “We should celebrate. Tonight, we should all go for a drink.”
She smiled at him, all glitter and glow. “That’d be great.”
Vadim divided a look between them, then asked, “What happens next?”
“I have to