Chapter 5 #3
“Damn, Colbs. I’ve often wondered what it would be like to kiss you, and—” He lets out a low, satisfied hum, shaking his head almost in disbelief. “Damn, it was better than I could’ve imagined.”
Wait, Tyler’s thought about kissing me? On more than one occasion?
My cheeks instantly heat, not with embarrassment, but with anticipation to find out what other things he’s imagined doing to me.
A rush of warmth spreads through my chest at the lust-filled glint in his eyes, and I raise my hand to my mouth, trying to hide the wide grin that stretches over my face.
He takes a step forward and wraps his fingers around my wrist.
“Don’t hide your smile, Colbs. It’s one of my favorite things.”
I go to duck my head out of habit but manage to stop myself. It’s not that I lack self-confidence, but these are uncharted waters. I haven’t got a fucking clue what I’m doing, and I’m so conscious about messing it up.
I don’t want my rookie moves to hinder this opportunity with him.
It might be the only opportunity I get.
“You won’t mess up,” he says, like he can read my mind. “Just… follow whatever feels natural to you. I’m an open book. You can do what you want to me, and I’ll tell you if I feel uncomfortable.”
“Will you tell me if you like it?”
He smirks. “Colby, you’ll know if I like it.”
My laugh comes out in a huffed breath.
“If we do this, the ball’s in your court, okay? If you want to stop at any time, just say the word. I won’t take it personally, but I will be upset if you do something because you think it’s what you should be doing, not what you want to be doing.”
I nod, chewing on the inside of my cheek. I swear, his honesty is making him ten times hotter. If that was even possible.
“I will.”
“Good. Well, I better get going. I still haven’t packed, and…” He glances around at the pile of clothes spilling from my closet. “By the looks of it, neither have you.”
“Yeah, I kinda had a moment earlier.”
His eyes meet mine again. “Anything you want to talk about?”
I shake my head. “No, it was just nerves.”
He takes a step forward, slipping his hands around my hips and tugging me closer. He presses a kiss to one corner of my mouth, then the other side.
“I know it’s easier said than done, but please don’t be nervous with me. When we’re together, try and forget about everything else. Just be you.”
Sucking in a shaky breath, I lick over my swollen lips. “Okay.”
His smile lights up his eyes. “Good. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He kisses me one more time, then picks up his discarded hat from the floor. The door clicks when he unlocks it, then looks over his shoulder before he opens it.
“And just so you know, Colbs? That kiss?” He tugs his bottom lip between his teeth, a sinful grin appearing on his face. “If that’s your level as a rookie, I can’t wait to see you ace everything else.”
“You’re stressing me out,” Stassie grumbles from where she’s sitting cross-legged on my bed.
“Why?” I ask, though it comes out more like a grunt.
I didn’t end up packing last night after Tyler left.
Instead, I lay awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling while I replayed the kiss in my mind.
The feel of his mouth on mine. His tongue in my mouth.
The heat of his body under my touch. I went through almost an entire box of tissues from the number of times I jerked off before eventually passing out at 4:00 a.m.
And now I can’t get my bag zipped up from where I’ve thrown anything and everything into it in a panic.
“You need to leave in approximately twelve minutes, and you’re not even dressed.” She gives me a pointed look. “This isn’t like you, Colby. What’s going on?”
Giving up on the damn zipper, I throw my arms out wide and blurt, “Tyler kissed me last night.”
Surprise flickers over her face before her expression turns confused. “And now you’re freaking out about it?”
“And now I’ve got to go and play in a tournament knowing what my defenseman’s tongue feels like in my mouth and how I want to be doing that instead of putting pucks in the net.”
Her eyes glisten in the early morning sun, a bright, gleeful grin spreading across her face.
“So he’s definitely going to be your sex tutor?”
I cringe. “Don’t call it that. It sounds weird.”
“But it’s true! Oh my gosh, Colby!” She flings her arms out to her sides and falls back onto my unmade bed. “You’re going to lose your virginity to your hot teammate, and then you’re going to go and earn loads of money in the NHL while I wither away here like a grumpy nun.”
Laughter bubbles up my throat. “A grumpy nun?”
“Yes! Have you seen the potential prospects of Whilton U?” She gags and slashes her hand through the air like she’s defeating the idea with an invisible sword. “Absolutely not.”
Grinning at my best friend, I shake my head and grab a change of clothes. I leave her in my room and head into the bathroom to brush my teeth and get changed. When I step out into the hall again, Stassie is there waiting with my phone and a packed bag that now looks a lot less full.
“You’re going to be late,” she states, handing over my things.
“I’ll text you when I get to the hotel,” I tell her.
As I reach the stairs, she calls out, “And Colby?”
I turn around to face her.
“I hope this weekend works out for you and you win in more ways than just your hockey game.” She winks.
Unable to stop my smile from splitting my face in two, I give a small nod. “Thanks. Me too.”
Then I leave to meet the waiting bus, wondering how lucky one person can be in one weekend.