Skating Into Forever – By Caitlin Loggins #3
Liam didn't flinch, he just shrugged, his lips curving into a mischievous grin. “Guilty,” he said, his voice filled with amusement. “But can you blame me?” His eyes drifted lower once more, but this time, he didn't hide the desire in his gaze.
“So, you're still not going to tell me where it is that you want me?” she prodded, her voice filled with curiosity.
“Oh, I know exactly where I want you,” he said in a low rasp. “But I think I'll keep that to myself… for now.”
“Guess I'll have to pry it out of you then,” she said, stepping past him, her shoulder deliberately brushing against his arm as she worked to slide the pizzas onto baking trays.
Liam let out a low chuckle. “Looking forward to it.”
The oven beeped, signaling that it was preheated. Sophie moved over to it, sliding the pizzas inside, her back to him. She could feel him tracking her every move, his eyes burning into her back as her heart raced in anticipation of what was to come.
She closed the oven door, taking her sweet time before she turned around to find Liam simply standing there.
Without a word, he stepped forward and his hands wrapped around her waist, lifting her effortlessly.
The next thing she knew, she gasped as the coldness of the marble countertop on the kitchen island suddenly seeped through her jeans, her legs dangling over the edge.
Liam didn't step back, instead he leaned in closer, his body mere inches from hers, close enough that she could smell his cologne and feel the heat radiating off of him.
“You don't know how badly I want you, Sophie,” Liam almost growled as his fingers slid down the curve of her hip, brushing against her thigh, letting his hand rest there for a moment before sliding his hand down to her knee.
With a soft nudge, he tapped her leg, silently urging her to move. Sophie's breath quickened but she stood her ground and refused to let him in, keeping her legs pressed tightly against the front of the island. She leaned back slightly, her hands bracing against the edge of the countertop.
“Come on Soph, let me in,” he whispered, his voice thick with desire as he gently pressed his knee against hers, enough to nudge it open. He stepped forward, sliding between her legs and pulling her towards the edge of the island, his body pressing against hers as he leaned down to meet her lips.
“That's my girl,” he growled as he trailed kisses along her jawline, his stubble sending sparks of electricity across her skin.
Sophie tilted her head back slightly, giving him better access as she slid her hands up to grip the collar of his shirt.
She pulled him even closer to her, if that was even possible, as she pressed her lips to his, deepening their kiss.
Her hands roamed over his body before slipping under his shirt, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath the soft fabric and the steady but quickening beat of his heart against her fingertips.
“Liam…” she whispered his name, her voice breathless, a quiet plea of need and desire but it was all the invitation he needed…
SOPHIE
The next morning, Sophie sat on the visiting team's bench in the nearly empty rink, wearing Liam's hoodie that he had left on the porch swing last night.
Sipping on a to-go cup of hot chocolate, she watched Liam glide across the ice, each stride powerful and with precision as he ran through drills with his teammates.
He was in his element but on this particular morning, there was something different about him - he looked more focused, more intense.
She hoped she wasn't a distraction to him as every now and then, his gaze would flick toward where she was sitting as if he was checking to see if she was still watching.
Oh, she was still watching…
Sophie exhaled sharply as she tried to force herself to focus on anything but him. But it was impossible as the memory of last night lingered, unshakable.
Once the coach blew the whistle signaling the end of the session, the rest of his teammates headed for the locker room but Liam took one last lap around the rink before skating towards her. He stopped short, sending a light spray of snow into the air.
“Didn't think I'd see you here this morning,” he said, his voice husky and low enough that only she could hear him.
Sophie raised an eyebrow, trying to play it cool despite the fact she could feel her body betray her when he leaned in, resting his forearms on the boards in front of her, his gloves hanging loosely from his hands.
She shrugged. “It’s not like I have anywhere else to be, so I figured I'd stop by and see if you actually work hard or just look good doing it.”
“After last night, I think you already know the answer to that question,” he said, shaking off a glove and reaching up. His fingertips grazed along the bare skin just below her jaw and over her pulse point where he lingered for a moment.
“Admit it. You're still thinking about last night,” he murmured, picking his glove up off the ice and slipping it back on. “I felt how fast your heart's beating right now and I know exactly what you're thinking.”
“And what's that?” She crossed her arms tightly over her chest as if that could slow her racing pulse.
Before she could respond, the sound of approaching skates sliced through the silent tension between them.
Liam's teammate, Adam Jesse, skated up beside him.
“Liam Holtz!” he said, an amused grin on his face.
“You coming, or are you going to stay here all day seducing your girlfriend?
I'd suggest if it's the latter, you guys get a room before we all get a show that frankly, none of us wants to see.” Adam said, laughing as he skated back across the ice to head to the locker room, then turning.
“Oh! And by the way, Coach wants us for a meeting in ten so you'd better get your backside moving!”
Liam made no attempt to move away, instead he kept his gaze locked on Sophie's, a silent challenge sparkling in his blue eyes.
Finally, he exhaled sharply and pushed off the boards, but not before stealing one last glance and smirking as he growled, “Don't you go anywhere Sophie, I'm not finished with you.” Then he skated away with a cocky grin.
He knew damn well exactly what he did to her. And worse? He probably enjoyed it. Sophie sat on the cold bench, gripping the edge as she exhaled slowly, trying to steady her breathing and calm the thundering in her chest.
Liam's words replayed in her mind.
‘Don't you go anywhere, Sophie. I'm not finished with you.’
After nearly four years together, Liam Holtz still had the ability to completely unravel her with nothing more than a smirk and a few little words. It was almost unfair. The way his voice made her heart race and her thoughts scatter, and the way he could leave her breathless with only a look.
She glanced toward the tunnel that led to the locker rooms that he had disappeared down moments before. He probably thought she'd still be here when he came back, that she would be waiting for him.
But she wasn't planning to make it easy for him. Smirking to herself, she stood and carefully made her way across the ice towards the exit. If Liam wanted her, he'd have to come find her.
LIAM
Inside the locker room, Liam sat in his stall, barely registering a word the coach was saying.
He knew he should be focusing on their game later that night but his mind was still out there with Sophie, stuck in the moment, in the way she'd looked at him.
The way he knew that she wanted him to finish what he started even though she was trying so hard to fight it.
A sharp elbow to his ribs from Adam quickly yanked him out of his thoughts and back into reality.
“Holtz, you're about as checked into this meeting as a goalie who has wandered out of his crease.”
“I'm listening,”
“Oh, yeah?” Adam challenged, raising an eyebrow in amusement. “Well, what did Coach just say, then?”
Liam opened his mouth, then closed it. He had nothing. He was screwed and he knew it.
“That's what I thought,” Adam said, grinning. “You're thinking about her, aren't you?”
Liam shot him a glare. “Shut up, Jesse.”
Adam chuckled, leaning back against his locker. “I don't blame you one bit, if Sophie looked at me the way she looks at you? I'd be in my own little world all the time, too.”
Liam grinned. Adam could tease him all he wanted but he didn't care.
Adam didn't understand what it felt like to have someone like Sophie.
A girl who knew him better than any of his teammates ever would, who challenged him, pushed him, drove him absolutely insane, and yet still chose him every single time.
The second the meeting ended, Liam was out of his seat, yanking on a hoodie, grabbing his bag, and practically sprinting toward where he had left her.
He could hear Adam teasing him as he made his way down the hallway back to the ice, but he just threw him a middle finger over his shoulder and kept going.
Liam rounded the corner to the bench, expecting to find Sophie waiting for him. She'd typically be sitting on the boards or leaning against the wall playing innocent as he closed the distance between them, but when he stepped onto the bench, she wasn't there.
His eyes narrowed, a slow satisfied smirk tugging at his lips. So that's how she wants to play it? he thought as he changed direction and headed toward the exit.
Fine.
She wanted to try and run? He'd hunt her down.
His stride was confident as he made his way out to the parking lot. He knew she hadn't gone far. Even though she loved to make him work for what they both wanted, she wanted to be caught and he was more than happy to oblige.
SOPHIE
Sophie leaned against the hood of her car, watching the entrance of the rink, and waited. She knew Liam too well and knew exactly what would happen next.
And right on-cue, the doors to the rink burst open and Liam stepped outside, hockey bag slung over his shoulder, his jaw tight as his eyes scanned the parking lot.