Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Sparks where our lips met.
Fireworks behind my closed eyes.
Warmth, so much warmth, in his hands as they touched me, one gripping my waist, the other tangled in my hair.
A burning started low in my stomach and spread outward.
Even the chill of the rink wasn't enough to bank the fire.
I was aware of every part of my body from my fingertips to my toes.
And my mouth was sliding against Tolliver's as if it knew his, like my lips really had been waiting for him all this time.
Needing to touch him, my hands traveled up the front of his jersey, pulling him even closer, and he made a noise of approval in the back of his throat.
I shivered at the sound.
At the way it felt against my mouth.
I couldn't get enough.
Of Tolliver.
Of kissing him.
Of this heat between us that seemed to only flare hotter as the kiss went on.
I wasn't sure how long we stood there, burning, caught up in each other, kissing like there wasn't another soul in the world. But it took someone who sounded very close saying, "Damn. Why don't you kiss me like that?" to interrupt the moment.
"I do, just not in public," said another voice.
Tolliver and I leaned back slowly.
Our foreheads still touching, he stared into my eyes.
I couldn't look away if I wanted to.
That deep, sky blue was all I could see.
"You don't look at me like that either," the first voice said.
"Ah come on, I look at you all the time."
"Not like that."
When I leaned up to press another kiss to his mouth, he met me half-way, and I kissed him with fervor.
"For God's sake, enough with the PDA. We get it."
Now, that voice I definitely knew, and as Tolliver and I finally parted, Wayne was glaring hard.
"Classy," he said. His voice was thick with sarcasm.
Standing next to Wayne, his sister Sabrina was grinning. "Hot," she corrected. "That was hot."
Wayne grunted.
"Hi, Freya," she said. "It's good to see you."
"Good to see you, Sabrina," I said, meaning it.
Even if her brother and I hadn't worked out, Sabrina was legitimately cool. The guy with his arm around her shoulders, who was obviously her boyfriend, nodded at Tolliver.
"Sup, Tolliver," he said.
"George," Tolliver said in return.
I gathered that George was the one Sabrina had been talking to before, saying he didn't kiss or look at her like Tolliver looked at me. Peeking up, I saw Tolliver was still staring at me, and my cheeks flared.
"Did you invite her?" Sabrina asked, and Wayne shrugged.
"I was getting to it," he said.
She sighed then said to me, "He was supposed to invite you to my sweet 16. I saw you and asked him to do it, hoping to give you guys some kind of closure or something."
A light laugh.
"Not that it looks like you need it," Sabrina finished, throwing a significant glance at Tolliver. "So will you come? To my birthday?"
"Oh, you don't have to invite me," I said.
"I want to."
"I don't think—"
Wayne gave a short laugh. "I told you she hates parties," he said.
I hated that he was right, that he knew anything about me.
"Freya would prefer to just hide in a corner."
Tolliver grinned down at me. "I can't imagine you hiding from anyone."
"I avoid," I corrected. "Social gatherings aren't exactly my favorite."
I threw my ex a glare.
"But he's right. I don't like parties."
"What about hockey games?" Tolliver said. "Think you'll like those?"
"The scrimmage wasn't awful," I said.
"Ah, you loved it."
"You sound pretty sure about that."
"I saw you watching me, remember?"
His lips ticked up, and I couldn't help but smile back.
Of course, Wayne had to ruin the moment.
"Some friendly advice," he said to Tolliver. "Don't bring Freya to your games. It's embarrassing as hell."
My back stiffened, and Sabrina just sighed while shaking her head. "Wayne, please shut up," she said.
"What? She's way too loud."
Tolliver shrugged. "I like loud."
My gaze shot to his. "You do?"
As he nodded and used his strong hand to rub the tension out of my shoulders, I felt myself relax.
"I like your kind of loud," he said again.
"I can get pretty into it hence needing a distraction," I warned.
"I think I can distract you plenty."
Sabrina sighed again, but this time it was a happy, wistful sound. I was right there with her. As Tolliver pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear, I melted.
"When the season starts," he said, "I would love to hear you cheering for me."
"Well, I'd be cheering for the team," I said, which made him laugh. "But I'll see what I can do."
"Yeah?"
I nodded.
"Oh my gosh, you're so cute," Sabrina said. "Freya, you have to come to my birthday. I won't take no for an answer."
My gaze met hers.
"You can bring your boyfriend," she added.
Before I could put her off again, come up with some excuse, Tolliver stepped in, curling his hand around my waist.
"We'll be there," he said.
Tolliver's fingers flexed, and I lost all my words. He'd rendered me speechless with that one hand tick. Lovely.
"Thanks for the invite."
"Of course," Sabrina said.
"When's the party?"
"Next Saturday at my house. Freya knows the way."
"See you then."
As they left, Sabrina was smiling; George was gazing down at her adoringly; and Wayne was grumbling to his sister. Once they were out of earshot, I took a step back, turned to Tolliver with a frown.
"You didn't have to do that," I said.
"Do what?" he asked.
"Any of it. Agree to the party, play my boyfriend, kiss me like that."
I swallowed, my voice having gone whisper-quiet at the end, but Tolliver simply stared at me.
"Why did you?" I asked.
"Your ex was being a jerk. Looked like you needed the assist."
"Hey, I was holding my own."
"Yeah, you were."
Tolliver's smile softened.
"Wayne was completely outclassed. He never stood a chance against you."
"He's an ass," I said.
"Oh, I know."
My brow furrowed. "How do you know?"
"I've seen him at school. Wayne plays sports too, so I know who he is."
I scoffed a laugh. "Yeah, he plays, but he's not good at it. Not like you."
"Was that a compliment, Freya Kent?" he said.
"Don't let it go to your head, Stone."
"Too late."
His smile grew as I shook my head.
Steeling my spine, I looked up at him. "And the other thing?"
Tolliver arched a brow.
"You know what I mean."
"The kissing you thing?"
I nodded.
"That wasn't about him."
The air grew thick between us.
"Honestly, it wasn't even about helping you."
"It wasn't?" I asked.
My pulse pounded as Tolliver shook his head. He came closer until there was barely a breath between us.
As he leaned down, placing his lips directly next to my ear, my breathing grew shallow.
"I've wanted to kiss you for a long time," he said softly.
"You have?" I breathed.
"Mmm. I imagined it so many different ways."
So did I.
His lips unintentionally brushed the shell of my ear, and I shivered.
"But the reality was better," he said.
My eyes fell closed then reopened as he leaned back.
"I want to do it again," Tolliver said, pushing his hands into his pockets, a small smile on his lips as I gaped at him. "But I'll wait until you're ready."
"You...since when did you get so confident?" I asked.
"Always have been." He sent me a wink. "It's just louder after that kiss."
My heart was a riot in my chest, but I tried not to let it show.
Crossing my arms, I said, "You didn't have to agree to Sabrina's party."
"It sounded like fun," he said.
"Did it?"
"Yeah, plus your ex was challenging us."
"Well now, they're going to expect us to go together," I said. "Like a couple."
Tolliver's smile was really too much. "Then we better not disappoint."