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  He wanted her, bad.

  The look on her face told Tate he had surprised her by his skills. Tate grew up being Matilda’s dummy when she needed a dance partner. Matilda had danced since she was 3, and was amazing. She had won a lot of titles back home, even some in Norway and Finland. Helping her train gave Tate the knowledge and confidence he needed to impress Audrey. He wasn’t a pro, but he knew his way around the dance floor and he could tell she liked it.

  Taking Audrey’s hand, he spun her around, before dipping her, and bringing her body in close to his. Stopping to glance into each other’s eyes, her hands slid down his rapidly sweating back. When her hand ended right above his ass, he gave her a wide grin before spinning her quickly out then back in. The music was hard hitting, and everyone was dancing quickly around them, but Tate kept up pretty well. When Audrey turned in his arm, running her gorgeous ass up into his groin, it took everything for Tate to keep his hands at her waist. Weaving her fingers with his, she moved his arms around her, having him hug her tightly from behind.

  Tate loved being his close to her, and he also knew that she could feel every inch of him. He was harder than the two goal posts he stood between during a game, and he was itching to be inside her. Tate moved in closer, running his nose up her neck. When her hands tightened in his, he smiled against her neck, before spinning her out, and then back in, moving his body against her just as the song ended. Glancing up at him, Audrey took a few steps away, shaking her head.

  “I’m pretty sure, friends don’t dance like that.”

  “Oh, my bad, must have slipped my mind,” he answered giving her a playful wink.

  “You aren’t making this easy,” she muttered.

  “I am done making this easy, it hasn’t been easy for me at all.”

  Audrey rolled her eyes before moving away. But she didn’t get far before he took her hand in his, while making their way back to the table. Tate heard Erik and Phillip laughing before he even reached the table. When Erik held up his phone, and a still of Tate spinning Audrey was on the screen, Tate glared.

  “Dude, I already uploaded it and tagged you on Facebook. Now the world will know that not only can you turn into ninja goalie but if your hockey career ends, you could so be on Dancing with the Stars.” Phillip laughed, “Oh my God, that was awesome, play it again, Erik.”

  “You are such an ass, Anderson,” Tate spat as he shook his head.

  Audrey squeezed his hand causing him to look down at her, “Ignore them, and do shots with me, then we’ll go dance some more. Also, you own me a back story on those mad dance moves.”

  She looked so happy, so carefree. Smiling Tate said, “Sounds like a great plan, and I’ll tell you later, but I’m curious where your moves are.”

  Audrey laughed before smacking his arm, “Oh, the night is young, dear sir!”

  Finishing off one bottle and half of another one later….

  “We only have 3 minutes to get upstairs,” Erik said drunkenly as he leaned against Tate’s arm.

  “Shit, let’s go,” Tate said looking over at where Audrey was basically asleep on the table.

  They were all drunk. Very, very drunk.

  Tate reached for Audrey’s hand to lead her out the club. How he did it, he had no clue. All he knew was that he was following behind Phillip and hoping for the best. Before they could reach the elevator Audrey tripped, falling to the ground, laughing her ass off.

  “Audrey, shit, baby, get up,” Tate said, looking down at her flushed face and bright grin.

  “No! Go on without me! I’m done! I’ll sleep it off here,” she laughed, lying back onto the carpet.

  Erik and Phillip were by Tate’s side in a flash, all three men looking down at her. Erik then pointed to Audrey and said, “No man left behind! Pick her up, Goldie! Vamanos!”

  Tate nodded as if what Erik had said made sense. Picking Audrey up, he threw her over his shoulder. She let out a loud shriek before she dissolved in a fit of giggles. Tate shook his head, holding her by her thighs waiting for someone to do something.

  “Let’s go!” Phillip yelled and then he took off. Tate followed behind with Erik bringing up the rear. They made it to their floor right as Adler came out of his room for round up. Pointing at Adler, Phillip yelled, “Fuck! He’s going to get us!”

  Erik and Phillip started laughing before they disappeared into their room. Audrey was still giggling, and Tate was getting dizzy as he dug out his room key. Putting it in the slot, he pushed the door open and kicked it shut.

  “Is this my room?” Audrey asked, her arms smacking his ass with every step he took.

  “No, it’s mine.”

  “You don’t have a roommate?”

  “Not on this trip, Lucas is rooming with another rookie to keep him on the straight and narrow,” Tate groaned before falling into bed, landing across Audrey’s mid-section.

  The nightly knock came, and Tate yelled out, “Sleeping!”

  Audrey giggled as she kicked off her heels, and moved her hand into Tate’s hair. Her dress was scratchy against his face, but he was too drunk to move. What really blew his mind was that, even in his drunken state, his body was burning for hers. The whole night was a tease with her rubbing and touching him all over. With each shot of the potent liquid, both their hands started to wonder. Taking in a deep breath of her scent, Tate let out a groan before snuggling closer into her stomach.

  “Shit, I want you so bad,” he muttered, “I’m hard as a rock, but there is no way I can move right now.”

  Audrey giggled, “Good, ‘cause I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t say no.”

  “Because you are drunk, huh?”

  “No, ‘cause I want you too.”

  Tate had to smile at that.

  Chapter 15

  Audrey didn’t stir until she felt the bed move. She was afraid that if she opened her eyes the night before would have been a dream. She had never had so much fun in her life. Erik and Phillip were hoots and Tate was magnificent. She never wanted it to end, but she knew it had to. Her body was still tingling in the spots Tate had touched and she was pretty sure she was still wet from the night before. There was something about a man moving his hips to sexy drumbeats that made Audrey slick with want. She had never been so turned on in her life.

  Well, she took that back… their night together she was basically extinguishing the fire with her wetness.

  Opening one eye, she saw Tate lying beside her with his eyes closed. She remembered him falling asleep on her, not beside her and he was wearing a shirt, unlike now. Opening her other eye, she took in Tate’s statuesque body. Lord, he was beautiful. Taking in his gorgeous chest, she noticed the names that were written under each black bird that flew across his chest. She hadn’t noticed that before; sitting up, she read each name.

  Pappa, Mamma, Matilda.

  She smiled as she looked up at his swoon worthy face. Before she could ask him about the names, Tate opened his eyes and said, “I’m surprised I made it through practice.”

  Audrey giggled, “Was it rough?”

  “Yeah, no more drinking with you when I’ve got practices or games.”

  Still giggling, Audrey laid back, “Told you I party hard.”

  “Uh yeah, but that wasn’t the worst part.”

  Audrey glanced over, “What was?”

  Tate shook his head, “When I came out on the ice, all the guys had sombreros and maracas. They were shaking them, and screaming out ‘Ole’!”

  Audrey laughed out loud as Tate only glared, “It was not funny”

  “Whatever, that is epically awesome!”

  “Traitor,” he sneered before poking her in the ribs. She jumped and moved away but before she could get far, he was on top of her, tickling her to death.

  “Ahh! Tate, quit!” she screamed as their laughter filled the room. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she cried out, “Okay, okay! It wasn’t funny!” while happy tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “That is what I thought,” Tate la