Page 107 of Make Us Yours
“Oh, thank the lord.” Ellis sighs and places his hand over his heart.
He’s a bit intense with the unwritten rules when it comes to the Stanley Cup. For example, no touching the cup until you’ve won it, no touching at all of any other trophy leading up to the cup, and the winning team must drink from the cup. But the one Gabe was just freaking out over was the rule about only the winning team members or the keepers are permitted to carry the cup. Others can touch it, but they can’t lift it.
“Did you seriously think they actually carried it?” I snort. “From Emma and Morgan? Yeah, I could picture it. That woman is scary strong, and I’ve seen her lift heavy things before.” I point from Em to Morg, then move on to Aubrey and Cece. “But Brey is way too delicate to do anything like that, and let’s be real, the cup is almost as tall as Cecilia. No way she could pick that up.”
“Wow, I see how much faith you have in me.” Cecilia frowns at me as a few of the guys chuckle.
“Just calling it like it is, Mama.” I wink at her.
“And what about me?” Veronica smirks when my eyes widen slightly and I swallow, realizing I may have fucked up here.
She has one brow raised high as she walks over leisurely, that devilish look in her eyes. “What’s the matter, Casanova?” She rests her hand on my chest as she leans into me, my arms coming around her waist. “Don’t think I’m strong enough to liftit?” She flicks my lower lip with her tongue before biting it softly and pulling it back slightly.
Pleasure shoots through my body, my blood running south toward my growing erection that presses against her tight little body.Good, she’s being playful. I can work with that.“Oh, I know just how strong you are, Kitten.”
Gabe comes up behind her, pinning her between us. Her free hand lifts and comes to wrap around his nape. “After all, you do take our brutal pounding quite well,” he says, kissing the crook of her neck.
“Dear lord, that is not information I needed to hear.” Julian runs a hand down his face.
Veronica squeezes out from between us and strolls over to him. “Oh, come on, Mr. Storm. Lighten up, relax.” She undoes the button of his suit jacket and begins to shrug it off his shoulders as he glares at her, like touching his suit is a forbidden act. “Take a load off.”
“HA!” Jason exclaims, a deep, rough laugh expelling from his lungs. “You’re telling Mister Uptight and In Controlto relax? Good luck with that, sweets.”
“He’s right, I’ve known that guy since we were kids, and I’ve rarely seen him loosen up,” Coach says with a soft chuckle.
“He’s the definition of a control freak.” Jessie laughs.
Julian turns his glare on them, then takes Veronica’s wrists in his grasp swiftly. Her body goes rigid instantly in his hold as she gasps. His head whips back to her, picking up on her sudden change in demeanor, and quickly releases her wrists. “Apologies, but please do not touch the suit.”
She steps back, giving him a stiff nod and a tight smile. “If you don’t want me to touch it, then take it off. We aren’t going to a business meeting; we’re just friends celebrating together.”
“Yes, Julian. Take it off! We wanna see what’s under that armor,” Emma encourages.
“Bunny,” Greyson growls with a warning.
“What?” She looks at him. “We did it to Shane, now it’s his turn.” She looks back at Julian, pumping her fist in the air. “Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!”
Immediately, Morgan, Cecilia, and Veronica join in, while Aubrey blushes madly. And us men? We just frown in disapproval.What else can we do?
“Man, just take it off. They won’t stop until you do,” Silas tells him with a sigh.
“They might even tackle you to the ground and take it off themselves. I wouldn’t put it past this one.” Greyson points a thumb at his fiancée.
Julian looks at all the girls with irritation, then turns on his axis and marches outof the kitchen and toward the front door.
The girls quiet down their chants as they all look from one to the other. “Did he really just leave?” Morgan asks.
But then Julian returns in only a black dress shirt, rolling up the sleeves on his way over. The jacket now gone from sight. “Happy?” He stretches his arms out.
“Well, I’ll be damned. Who knew all it took was a bunch of women yelling at him to convince him into something?” Jason guffaws loudly. His laugh is infectious enough to make us all join in, despite the daggers Julian shoots at us with his eyes.
Two hours later, we’ve all eaten, and the girls are now inside cleaning up and preparing the snacks for the fire pit. I overheard Veronica mention babies and wedding plans, so we know that should keep them occupied for a little while.
“I have already been in touch with the agent you sent me. He and I have worked together in the past, and he happened to still be working on Victor’s case, although it had run cold until now,” Julian says quietly with an evil smirk. “He will be in touch with Miss Masters in the next few days to collect the evidence and talk with her about his latest methods of contact.”
“Good.” I nod to him.
“And are we still agreeing to not tell the girls?” Greyson asks, looking uncertain.
