Ice Bound Passion

Chapter 3

Ace POV

It was a complete shock to my system.

The girl I had bent over a hotel bed and f****d until she screamed in pleasure last night was now my f*****g stepsister.

Instead of the panic I probably should have felt, a slow, dark amusement curled in my chest.

Well, this just got interesting.

I schooled my face into perfect calm and walked into the dining room like nothing in the world was wrong. My father looked relieved. Emilia’s mother looked hopeful. And Emilia… She looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

A twisted satisfaction budded in my chest.

I took my usual seat across from my dad, leaning back casually as the staff brought out dinner. The whole time, I kept my expression polite, almost bored. Inside, my mind was spinning with uncensored thoughts.

Did this technically qualify as incest? The question amused me more than it should have.

“So, Emilia,” I said smoothly, voice low and even as I picked up my fork. “Welcome to the family.”

She glanced up at me, cheeks slightly flushed, eyes wide with panic she was trying (and failing) to hide. Cute.

Her mother beamed, obviously trying to please me. “Isn’t this wonderful? The four of us together at last.”

I smiled politely, but my gaze stayed locked on Emilia. She looked down at her plate quickly, pushing food around with her fork. I could practically hear her heart racing from across the table.

I reached for the salt at the same time she did, our fingers brushed. She jerked her hand back like I’d burned her.

I didn’t. I let my fingers linger for half a second longer, then picked up the shaker with a small smirk.

“Sorry about that,” I murmured, passing the salt to her when I was done. She gave a tiny nod and hastily collected it, doing her best not to touch me.

She was calm but her pink ears gave her away.

As if I didn’t know better.

She was a slut.

Just like her mother.

She had successfully wiggled her way into my father’s heart when he had stayed unmarried for years after my mother’s death. It seemed to be a family talent. First the mother, now the daughter. Spreading their legs and playing innocent until they got what they wanted.

“Hey dad. I have to shower. Early practice tomorrow,” I said, pointing to my sweaty clothes.

My father nodded with satisfaction, his wife smiled. I knew I was doing a good job being the responsible child that night…or so I was making them believe.

The second I was upstairs in my room, the mask dropped.

I pulled out my phone and opened my secondary i********: account, the locked-down burner profile I used to monitor the league without the PR team watching my every move.

A dark, ruthless smile spread across my face. Let's see how tough the little therapist is when the front office thinks she's a corporate fraud.

I took a screenshot of the Frosthammer Rays' official "Welcome to the Team" graphic featuring Emilia’s headshot. Then, I opened a direct message to The Hockey Herald, the biggest hockey gossip and insider page on social media with over three million followers.

I attached the screenshot and typed a quick, anonymous tip:

“Heard from a solid source inside the Frosthammer front office that the new physical therapist, Emilia Benefort, didn’t even go through the standard vetting process. Turns out her mom just married a billionaire. The hiring committee was forced to skip the line and hand her the contract as a family favor. Major nepotism scandal brewing in Manhattan.”

I hit send.

NHL franchises didn't tolerate corporate nepotism scandals, especially when it involved player medical care. By morning, the story would be viral.

I logged out of the burner, tossed my phone onto the nightstand, smiling coldly.

Let’s see how long you last, little stepsister.

The next morning I was running drills with the team, when I heard the angry click of heels echoing. I didn’t even need to turn around to know it was her.

The guys slowed down, surprised.

Emilia marched straight toward me, looking like a fire-breathing sss.

“Ace Gillian, we need to talk.”

I ignored her at first, continuing to pass the puck like she wasn’t even there. She stopped right in front of me, breathing hard.

“Stepbrother,” she shouted, loud enough for the entire rink to hear.

I froze, along with the entire team. No, she did not just do that.

“Wait… they’re related?” “No way.” “Gillian has a stepsister?”

I glared at her with pure rage, jaw clenched so tight it hurt. Her smug little face only made it worse.

Without a word, I turned and skated off the ice toward the locker room. She followed right behind me, stomping her feet angrily.

The second we were inside the empty locker room, she exploded.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she hissed. “You threatened my job? You started a rumor that I got hired because of nepotism? I worked my ass off for this position!”

I turned on her, towering over her small frame.

“You need to leave,” I said coldly. “You’re not related to me at all. You never will–.”

She laughed bitterly. “Well, you made it very clear I used my connection to you to get my job. So which is it, Ace?”

I grind my teeth against each other, stepping closer until she was backed against the lockers.

“You don’t get to threaten my career,” she warned, voice shaking with anger but holding my gaze. “I worked too hard for this. I’m not going to let some rich, spoiled brat spoil everything for me.”

She turned to walk away.

I grabbed her arm and dragged her back, slamming her against the lockers. My arms caged her on both sides. My eyes dropped to her lips, those same lips I had bitten and kissed raw just yesterday.

Voices approached from the hallway. She shoved me hard in the chest and slipped away, walking out without looking back.

I stood there, enraged, clenching my fists until the nails left marks on my palms.