Cayden
THIRTY-ONE
I watch her come apart for me, unable to look away. Her lips are parted, and her head is thrown back as her eyes close from the pleasure I just gave her.
The pulse in her neck throbs a steady beat, and the mark I left on her just seconds ago is forming a nice shade of red that has the possessive side of me loving every bit of it.
I was a fool to think I could ever let her walk away. Every wall I’ve ever built around my life to protect myself and my daughter is starting to crumble, and I’m helpless as I watch it fall.
Her eyes blink open as her body relaxes, releasing the last of the tremors. I watch her come back to me as her eyes begin to focus.
I swallow past all the things left unsaid. The words I’m too afraid to speak, but know they can’t be held back much longer. Her eyes show me what I can’t as I slowly slide my fingers out of her, already missing her warmth.
“I should get you back home,” I say softly, tearing my eyes away as I start the car.
“O…okay,” she stammers, fumbling with her seatbelt as I put mine on.
The air in the car feels heavy as I emerge from the parking garage and head in the direction of Crystal Isle.
The only sound is the loud roar of the engine and the occasional shaky breath coming from the passenger seat that keeps pulling my eyes toward her.
The mark on her neck is impossible to ignore beneath the glow of the dashboard lights, and knowing I put it there does something dangerous to my head.
I tighten my grip on the steering wheel and force my attention back to the road when a soft growling noise suddenly fills the silence.
Luna’s eyes widen in horror. “Oh my God,” she mutters, slapping a hand over her stomach.
The tension in the car cracks instantly as I let out a laugh before I can stop it. “When’s the last time you’ve eaten?”
“Lunch,” she admits. “Someone distracted me at Breakaway, and food was the last thing on my mind.”
My mouth twitches as I glance over at her. “You didn’t seem to mind the distraction five minutes ago.”
Her lips part, and a smile threatens to break through. “No, I very much enjoyed that distraction.”
Suddenly getting an idea, I turn on my blinker and do a U-turn at the light. “Change of plans.”
She looks up in confusion as we head away from the road leading toward her apartment.
“Where are we going?”
“To get some food. You’re not the only one who was distracted,” I smirk.
Five minutes later, I’m pulling into a burger shack with a walk-up window. Even this late at night, the place is packed as usual. It’s no secret they have the best burgers in town.
“You do eat meat, right?” I ask. “I guess I should have asked that first,” I laugh.
“Burgers are perfect,” she grins, peering through the windshield at the black and white checkered building that looks like something from a 1960’s burger joint. They even have the red stools lining the bar for those who want to stay and eat.
“Be right back, then,” I say, putting the car in park and stepping outside.
Walking to the window, a few customers do a double-take before asking for a picture. I pose for a couple and finally get my order placed, sliding back into the car a few minutes later.
“Quite the popular guy,” Luna says, noticing the glances now that are coming our way while we wait for our dinner.
“We’re in Bolts country. I can’t even take a piss without someone asking for a photo or handing me something to sign,” I chuckle. “I try to do what I can, especially if they are kids, but privacy is something I rarely see anymore.”
“The bathroom is a little extreme,” she laughs.
“You would think so,” I scoff, rolling down my window when I see our food being brought out.
“Thanks, Sarah,” I smile, taking the bag and drinks from the young girl before handing her a generous tip for bringing the food to us. “Have a great night.”
A grin spreads across her face as she pockets the money. “Thank you, Cayden,” she blushes. “You too.”
Handing the drinks to Luna, I set the bag down on the floorboard by her feet.
“You know, you just made that girl’s entire year, right?” Luna says, watching Sarah walk away. “She’s got a major crush on you.”
“Sarah? She’s seventeen,” I laugh, backing out of the parking lot to drive us somewhere private to eat.
“I’m pretty sure you’ve got all ages covered with crushes,” she chuckles. “But, I think it’s really sweet how you know her name and tip her well,” she smiles.
“She’s here every time I come. She’s a hard worker and deserves it,” I shrug.
Glancing over, Luna is still smiling.
“What?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Nothing,” she shakes her head. “You just keep surprising me, is all. I have a feeling most people see just a goalie when they look at you, but I’m realizing there are a lot more layers to you than you let people see.”
My fingers flex on the steering wheel as I stare straight ahead. Something tightens in my chest, and I glance down when I feel her hand wrap around mine on the console.
“I only let people see what I want them to see,” I quietly say, as my fingers intertwine with hers. The feel of her touch immediately relaxes me as I slowly stroke her palm.
“I guess that makes me the lucky one,” she whispers.
My jaw tightens as her words slip past the armor I’ve spent years building.
It’s like every emotion I’ve locked away deep inside wants to claw its way out all at once.
So, I do the only thing that makes sense.
I take her to the one place that understands me the most.
The rink comes into view a few minutes later, and I turn into the empty parking lot before pulling up front.
“Which rink is this?” She asks, peering up at the massive building.
“It’s our practice facility,” I say, shutting off the engine and taking the drinks from her. “If I’m going to let you see more of me, then this is part of it.”
A smile touches her lips as she gets out of the car with me. Taking our food with us, I hold out my hand, and she doesn’t hesitate to take it as I lead her to the side door.
Using my key card, I get us in and lead us down the hallway toward the rink. With a flip of a switch, it comes alive, and the ice gleams under the soft glow of the lights.
I watch her eyes take it in and smile. Even though she doesn’t play hockey, I can tell she feels it. Her stage may be made of wood, but this thin layer of ice is mine.
“You can almost feel the energy of the crowd and hear the roar,” she whispers, closing her eyes briefly to the imaginary sounds before smiling broadly.
“I know,” I grin, pulling her with me. “We can eat over here.”
Sitting on the team bench, we pull out our food, and when she takes her first bite, her eyes go wide.
“Holy shit, this is a good burger,” she says, with a mouthful.
“Why do you think I know the staff by name?” I grin, taking a big bite. “Fuck, that’s good,” I moan, taking another.
“How did you get started in hockey? Does your dad play?” She asks, bringing the straw to her lips and taking a drink.
“No,” I chuckle. “He’s a big fan, though, and I started watching games with him by the time I could walk. Once he saw me mimicking the players on the living room floor with a plastic hockey stick and puck, he got me into lessons. I was hooked from then on out.”
She smiles at the memory and asks, “Why the goalie?”
“Because once I got in front of the net, I never left. It felt like…home. That, and I realized real quick that I had a gift with hand-eye coordination and was really good at reading people,” I grin, popping a fry in my mouth.
“What about you?” I ask. “Why dance?”
“Similar situation, I guess. My mom loved to put on music to clean the house, and as soon as I started walking, I would dance around every chance I got. She got me into lessons, and I never left,” she smiles. “Being a dancer was all I ever wanted to do.”
“What made you want to start teaching?”
“After high school, I got in with a production company up in New York, that’s where I met Connor,” she adds. “It was grueling, long hours, and I would spend months away from home. My love of dance became something I had to do, not something I wanted to do.”
She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear and stares out at the rink, lost in thought.
“I finally left after a couple of years and came back home. I took a job here in Bayside teaching, and I found my love of dancing again,” she smiles, turning back to me.
“After that, I knew I wanted to own my own studio. It was also a lot of grueling, long hours to get to where I am today, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
Dance has given me so much, and to be able to give that love of dance to someone else,” she shakes her head, and I see the love of what she does shining back at me, “it’s been the biggest gift. ”
Her smile radiates with joy.
I let it soak into me as I become entranced.
“Well, I, for one, am glad you decided to teach. For Scarlett…and for me,” I add quietly.
“Me too,” she smiles softly.
Reaching out, I brush back a strand of her hair and feel the familiar pull of her that always manages to suck me in.
“But what I really want to know,” I smile, bending closer to her ear and placing a soft kiss on the red evidence of my lips on her skin from earlier, “is if you can skate.”