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too close to the surface. He took a large inhale and shook his damp bangs off his forehead. His cheeks were flushed and a bead of sweat trailed down the side of his face from his temple.
    He wet his lips and watched her, eyelids heavy over his blue eyes. He hadn’t spoken a word in over an hour as they’d celebrated Deklan and Kendra’s engagement. But then, she hadn’t asked him a question either. He’d obviously been hot under the black hood, but he’d followed her command without complaint. In fact, he’d been too perfect on the roof.
    He hadn’t shown a single hesitation or sign of doubt once they’d left the office. And now, the calm focus and quiet contentment were signals of a sub floating close to his subspace.
    He was submissive and fucking knew it. She was certain of that. No newly introduced submissive would take to it like this. Not when she’d forced him into a public setting with strangers. She was guessing he’d known all along what his real desires were.
    Did he really think he could play her? Ass. What a waste of her time.
    She dropped the leash, letting it clank against the hardwood floor, and went to the mini fridge. She returned with a bottle of water, thrusting it at him. “Drink.”
    He looked at her, brows raised before he lifted his hands, only to have them halt an inch later.
    For Christ’s sake. She was really off her game if she couldn’t remember that his hands were clipped to his belt buckle. She had no business doing anything with him when her head wasn’t in it.
    And still he hadn’t spoken. His silence was rewarding and irritating. He wanted a game, then fine—she played to win. She could call his bluff or walk out of the room and leave him to flounder in his own issues. After this stunt, he deserved any crap that came his way.
    She twisted the lid off the water and took a long drink before lifting the bottle to Hauke’s lips. The ease at which he tipped his head back, closed his eyes and trusted her to pour the water into his mouth had her breath hitching.
    Once again, his scent surrounded her. Heat seemed to radiate from his exposed skin, enticing her to touch his broad shoulders and solid chest.
    She stepped back, the impulse squashed. Instead, she finally let herself take in the full beauty of the man. He was the perfect example of an athlete in top physical condition. But unlike the gym-bunnies who strove for the chiseled, cut look, Hauke was a picture of hidden strength. There wasn’t a six-pack defining his abs or bulky pectoral bulges marring his chest. No, his power was understated and hidden beneath the stockier mass required to sustain the physical sprints and body checks on the ice.
    She took another drink from the bottle then strolled around him. Her heels clicked on the wood floor, marking her path. The room itself consisted of a metal-framed daybed in the corner, a pommel horse near the opposite wall and a cabinet stocked with supplies. A small dresser and chair were positioned next to the refrigerator by the door, and a set of chains hung from the ceiling, mounted with sturdy bolts about arms’ width apart.
    She paused at his back, enjoying the view of corded muscles that led to the real power hidden beneath his slacks. The sight of the tight, rounded curve of his ass was enough to make her mouth dry. The absent drink she took did little to get rid of the parched state that persisted. Hockey players had some of the best glutes and thighs in the industry—if not the best.
    Hauke had remained still through her lengthy perusal and while that was great submissive behavior, a part of her wanted to see him crack. His lifted chin was the only thing breaking the definition of the proper submissive form of subservience.
    She set the water bottle down and moved in behind him. How far could she push him before he faltered? “Where’d the change come from?” she asked, her breath drifting over the bare skin of his shoulder. Her heels gave her the height to do so, but