Beast Behaving Badly
Page 23
What? Blayne demanded. What did I say?
You cannot keep treating every male you meet as some sort of wounded puppy you found on the street.
I dont
And now youre doing it with Bo Novikov of all people. Hes rich, famous, not bad looking, and has had a bevy of females to ride his cock. But you need to believe, for some reason, that hes secretly miserable.
Well, he cant be happy.
Why do you say that? Because hes not running around hugging everyone? Because hes been known to beat up a few fans? Make a few kids cry? Get into fistfights with his teammates on and off the ice?
Thats part of it.
Not everyone is like you, Blayne. There has been nothing to indicate, at least to me, that Bo Novikov is an unhappy person.
Oh, really? Blayne grabbed her backpack and pulled it open, laying it down in front of Gwen. And what about this?
The tigon stared at the bag for a long moment. He did that?
You didnt think it was me, did you?
Good God. Its so . . . organized.
He folded my extra sets of panties . . . who folds panties?
Maybe hes secretly perverted. He wanted to feel your panties
So he organized my entire bag while I was in the shower? Theres not even one pair missing. Gwen, this overly organized bag is a cry for help.
Or hes happily gay. Gay men, for the most part, are very tidy and very happy they dont have to deal with womens bullshit.
I thought about that, but I dont think we have that situation here. Look whats missing from this high level of coordination. . .
Its not color coordinated.
Nope. Its alphabetical and in rigid boring lines.
In other words, something your dad would appreciate.
Exactly. And I cant let anyone live like that, Gwen. Not anyone!
Gwen laughed. That poor guy. He has no idea what hes in for.
Ric skated over to Lock, leaning against the rink wall and protective glass. Who is that? he demanded.
Lock glanced across the rink. Novikov stood talking to a hot little fox. She had to be an Arctic foxshe had on shorts. It was below zero outside! Arctic fox, Lock said while busy readjusting the tape hed wrapped around his hockey stick.
Yeah, but whats he doing talking to her?
Its probably his Arctic fox.
His Arctic fox? What does that mean?
It means shes his Arctic fox.Lock didnt know how he could be any clearer.
Reece Lee Reed, whod moved up from the minors nearly a month ago and was part of the Smith Pack, slammed to a stop in front of Lock and Ric.
Did he buy her on the black market? Reed asked with what Gwen insisted on calling That hick, backwoods Smith accent.
He doesnt have to.
Are you saying theyre going out? Ric demanded.
Is there a reason you sound so upset? Lock asked.
You kinda sweet on him, Van Holtz?
Ric ignored Reed and said, I heard he was with Blayne this morning.
God, Reed sighed. That man is becoming my hero.
He was helping her with derby, Lock clarified. According to Blayne via Gwen he was really nice and completely hands off.
Nice? He was nice? Novikov?
Im telling you what I heard.
Reed chuckled. Blayne would think Satan himself was just misunderstood.
Lock couldnt even argue.
What if she likes him? Ric asked. What if shes hoping it goes beyond some ludicrous derby training?
I still dont see why youre so worried?
Good God, man. Look at her! He gestured to the fox with a tilt of his head. Shes like the porn version of Nanook of the North.
Nanook does the North, Reed muttered . . . then he laughed at his own joke. He was a self-contained wolf, finding entertainment wherever he wanted.
I doubt theyre having sex. Shes his fox, Lock explained again.
Bert, a black bear, skated over and, leaning in, said, Word in the Center . . . Blayne Thorpe dropped the great Bo Novikov on his ass during derby training.
Bullshit, Reed said. Little thing like that. She couldnt drop my sister. Lock had to agree. He knew Reeds sister, Ronnie Lee. She could easily play for the Chicago Bears as a fullback, where Blayne looked like she belonged on the cheerleading squad.
My source, Bert added, impeccable.
Maintenance guys? Lock guessed.
Yep.
Did she really drop him, or was he just trying to get her on the floor and that was the easiest way? Reed asked.
Really dropped him.
Just what I thought. Hes weak. A few years of the good life and hes lettin little gals like Blayne Thorpe drop him.
Ric looked up at Lock before answering, Youre right, you know. Novikov is weak. Completely at the end of his game.
You cannot keep treating every male you meet as some sort of wounded puppy you found on the street.
I dont
And now youre doing it with Bo Novikov of all people. Hes rich, famous, not bad looking, and has had a bevy of females to ride his cock. But you need to believe, for some reason, that hes secretly miserable.
Well, he cant be happy.
Why do you say that? Because hes not running around hugging everyone? Because hes been known to beat up a few fans? Make a few kids cry? Get into fistfights with his teammates on and off the ice?
Thats part of it.
Not everyone is like you, Blayne. There has been nothing to indicate, at least to me, that Bo Novikov is an unhappy person.
Oh, really? Blayne grabbed her backpack and pulled it open, laying it down in front of Gwen. And what about this?
The tigon stared at the bag for a long moment. He did that?
You didnt think it was me, did you?
Good God. Its so . . . organized.
He folded my extra sets of panties . . . who folds panties?
Maybe hes secretly perverted. He wanted to feel your panties
So he organized my entire bag while I was in the shower? Theres not even one pair missing. Gwen, this overly organized bag is a cry for help.
Or hes happily gay. Gay men, for the most part, are very tidy and very happy they dont have to deal with womens bullshit.
I thought about that, but I dont think we have that situation here. Look whats missing from this high level of coordination. . .
Its not color coordinated.
Nope. Its alphabetical and in rigid boring lines.
In other words, something your dad would appreciate.
Exactly. And I cant let anyone live like that, Gwen. Not anyone!
Gwen laughed. That poor guy. He has no idea what hes in for.
Ric skated over to Lock, leaning against the rink wall and protective glass. Who is that? he demanded.
Lock glanced across the rink. Novikov stood talking to a hot little fox. She had to be an Arctic foxshe had on shorts. It was below zero outside! Arctic fox, Lock said while busy readjusting the tape hed wrapped around his hockey stick.
Yeah, but whats he doing talking to her?
Its probably his Arctic fox.
His Arctic fox? What does that mean?
It means shes his Arctic fox.Lock didnt know how he could be any clearer.
Reece Lee Reed, whod moved up from the minors nearly a month ago and was part of the Smith Pack, slammed to a stop in front of Lock and Ric.
Did he buy her on the black market? Reed asked with what Gwen insisted on calling That hick, backwoods Smith accent.
He doesnt have to.
Are you saying theyre going out? Ric demanded.
Is there a reason you sound so upset? Lock asked.
You kinda sweet on him, Van Holtz?
Ric ignored Reed and said, I heard he was with Blayne this morning.
God, Reed sighed. That man is becoming my hero.
He was helping her with derby, Lock clarified. According to Blayne via Gwen he was really nice and completely hands off.
Nice? He was nice? Novikov?
Im telling you what I heard.
Reed chuckled. Blayne would think Satan himself was just misunderstood.
Lock couldnt even argue.
What if she likes him? Ric asked. What if shes hoping it goes beyond some ludicrous derby training?
I still dont see why youre so worried?
Good God, man. Look at her! He gestured to the fox with a tilt of his head. Shes like the porn version of Nanook of the North.
Nanook does the North, Reed muttered . . . then he laughed at his own joke. He was a self-contained wolf, finding entertainment wherever he wanted.
I doubt theyre having sex. Shes his fox, Lock explained again.
Bert, a black bear, skated over and, leaning in, said, Word in the Center . . . Blayne Thorpe dropped the great Bo Novikov on his ass during derby training.
Bullshit, Reed said. Little thing like that. She couldnt drop my sister. Lock had to agree. He knew Reeds sister, Ronnie Lee. She could easily play for the Chicago Bears as a fullback, where Blayne looked like she belonged on the cheerleading squad.
My source, Bert added, impeccable.
Maintenance guys? Lock guessed.
Yep.
Did she really drop him, or was he just trying to get her on the floor and that was the easiest way? Reed asked.
Really dropped him.
Just what I thought. Hes weak. A few years of the good life and hes lettin little gals like Blayne Thorpe drop him.
Ric looked up at Lock before answering, Youre right, you know. Novikov is weak. Completely at the end of his game.
