Piper snickered. “Plus, as members, you get other treats.” She unzipped her purse.
Oh. Yeah? A swaddling blanket? A leash? A chastity belt?
“Free stuff?” Liam held up his palm like the good goaltender he was, ready to make a catch. “Give it here, then.”
Mikah shook his head. How much free shit did they need? Didn’t Liam know that bait to catch a mackerel was literally mackerel.
Piper held out four condoms.
What the…? Before he could even process if that was sexy or controlling, they were in the air. She tossed one to each of them.
Damn, he’d never met an athlete who’d refuse to catch. They trained for these moments. Mikah caught his condom with one hand and took a swig of beer with the other in a cool maneuver befitting his skills.
Piper made the shape of a C with her fingers. “Extra thick for your protection.”
Mikah choked on his drink. No way was she going around the bar to all the team with those wonders.
“Ugh.” Kiernan stared at the foil packet and squished the abnormally thick cube. “She’s making sex taste bad.”
Liam tucked his into his pocket and crossed his arms over his chest. “Just one?” He sounded super put out. “One bar. One condom. Does no one else think past their one next move? Why wasn’t the app named one shot at happiness?”
A group of puck bunnies came to their table, Alva in the lead. She looked them over and traced a heart on her chest with her puck-black fingernail. “Want to dance?” She addressed the whole table. He wasn’t and hadn’t gone there.
His bros took the women up on the offer, finally giving him a flipping second of alone time with Piper.
The evening progressed with him stealing time with Piper, dancing with her, coming back to the booth to work his moves. The guys dancing, drinking, and circling back to throw out more challenges to Piper in an attempt to understand what they’d signed up for with the purity program.
* * *
Piper pushed her hair off her forehead and tried to focus on the big random hockey player asking questions in front of her and not Mikah the hot one beside her who she really wanted to pay attention to. She stared at the huge dude and once again explained the program. “The dating app is voluntary.” The last word came out slurred. The two free drinks had made her tipsy. “Vol-un-tary.” She corrected her pronunciation.
The dude bounced back to the dance floor.
Mikah rubbed at the small of her back, playing with the hem of her cami. The motion had begun as a supportive pat. Periodically, he made a circle. His touch felt nice, he was good with patterns. Piper shifted closer to him, encouraging him to make another.
As the hockey-themed bar filled with patrons, the music boomed, the drinks flowed, and the place warmed up. Piper flapped the hem of her cami for more air. Mikah shifted his fingers and they landed against her bare skin. That sensation melted her more than the heat in the bar, but in a good way. Slow, stroking fingers. “Ah.”
Mikah cupped her cheek and turned her head toward him.
Piper stared into his cobalt eyes, and flutters filled her chest. She leaned closer.
Mikah placed his lips on hers. Light, then heavier, the perfect teasing contact. He nibbled her bottom lip. Her lips parted. He tasted like vodka from the shot, masculine talent, and uniquely him. He stroked and teased her tongue with his. He scooped her legs over his lap and rubbed the outside of her thigh, shooting pleasing thrills up her leg.
Yes, more.
Mikah kissed from her jaw to her ear. “Want to get out of here?”
“Yes.” Piper opened her eyes. His were the most romantic shade, blue dipped in a daydream. She forced her gaze away to gather enough sense to stand gracefully. Mikah rose behind her.
In front of them, the team danced with multiple puck bunnies. The guys spun their shirts overhead like rally towels, revealing their carved abs. They had definitely surpassed their two-drink freebie. But they were having fun. She was about to have a good time herself. Her arms rose to make her own rally wave.
Mikah stiffened. “Zee.”
He’d aimed his greeting toward a tall guy with dark hair walking up to them. The newcomer had his arm around a petite brunette. They were both dressed more for church than the bar.
Piper dropped her arms. Given the man’s unusual first name, this guy had to be Mikah’s older brother Zenon Czerski. Zee played for the Canadian ice hockey team the Geels. She’d gathered that much during her mild Internet stalking of Mikah.
“Francesca.” Mikah nodded to his brother’s companion.