Page 24 of Game Misconduct

CHAPTER FIVE

Leif took deep, calming breaths as he closed his hotel room door behind him.

So, maybe he hadn’t been paying attention to where his room was earlier. He’d walked past it. He’d stayed in dozens of hotel rooms already this season; was it any wonder that he hadn’t remembered his room number?

He might also have been somewhat distracted by arguing with Tanner, but who wouldn’t be? Tanner Clayton was the single most annoying human being on the planet.

What had Leif ever done to deserve any of this?

Fine, maybe he could be a little bit …particularabout things. But he wasn’t a horrible person. He did his best to be a good teammate, son, and friend. He’d never intentionally harmed anyone!

So why was he being punished this way?

With a sigh, Leif twisted the dead bolt, then walked farther into the room. He flipped on the light by the bed before stripping his clothes off. He hung them neatly before wandering naked to the bathroom to turn on the shower.

Leif let the water heat as he pulled out the toiletry kit he’d set on the bathroom counter earlier when he checked in and unpacked.

He showered, letting the water loosen his tight shoulders as he went through his usual routine, finishing with a careful shave. His facial hair was too light to show much anyway but it was one less thing he’d need to worry about in the morning.

After the shower and shave, he dried off, then wrapped a towel around his waist. He mentally rehearsed everything he needed to do tomorrow as he laid out clothing. They’d have a couple of hours of meetings before warmups and hitting the ice for their first practice.

He’d just finished mixing an electrolyte packet into a bottle of water when he heard a knock on the door. He frowned and continued shaking. Probably someone knocking on the door across the hall. Or somehookuparriving for Tanner.

Leif groaned aloud. If Tanner and hispersonwere loud enough for Leif to hear through the wall their rooms shared, he was demanding a new room. He didn’t carehowfull the hotel was.

There was no way he was going to be forced to listen to that all night.

The knock came louder and Tanner called out, “I know you’re in there, Ice Princess. Just answer the door.”

Leif scowled and stalked over to it. He tried to yank it open, realized the dead bolt was locked, cursed, then finally wrenched it open. “What do you want?”

Tanner—who was dressed in a ratty old pair of plaid pajama pants with a rip in one thigh and no shirt—eyed him up and down.

“Daaamn. Nice to see you too, Princess. Do you always answer the door looking so fuckable?”

Leif flushed and resisted the urge to tighten his towel. It was hanging a little bit low at the moment. “Isaid, what do you want?”

“Well,” Tanner said, planting a hand on Leif’s chest and gently guiding Leif to step back. “I came to ask if you have a spare charger but now I’m thinking about something else.”

Leif’s back hit the wall just as the door closed behind Tanner. Leif gulped when he realized Tanner was in his room and they were alone.

“A charger?” he asked hoarsely. “Why? Did you forget yours?”

“No!” Tanner protested, his warm palm still pressed to the center of Leif’s chest. “I mean, kind of.”

“How can youkind offorget something?” Leif scoffed.

“Umm, well, I packed the charger, but it doesn’t actually … work. I kinda forgot that part.”

Leif sighed. “And of course youneverpack a spare?”

“I travel light!” Tanner protested.

“You’d forget your head if it wasn’t attached,” Leif scoffed.

Tanner dragged one fingertip down Leif’s chest and stomach. “Speaking of head …”

Leif sputtered and brushed his hand away. “Not that kind!”