Chapter Nine #2
Her neck felt cramped and strained in this position, but she didn’t care. She did care, however, that in this position, she couldn’t reach back and touch him properly. Couldn’t reach up and wrap her arm around his neck, couldn’t sift her fingers through his silky hair.
A frigid gust of wind blew through, carrying a flood of stinging, icy raindrops along with it. She pulled away from his lips, feeling heavy and achy. How did it take him so little time to turn her inside out?
“We should probably head in.” Her voice sounded breathless and shaky.
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” At least his voice held the same breathless quality. “Before I toss you over my shoulder and drag you into the backseat of the car and have my way with you.”
That tight, hot band of lust that had spent the last week hanging out low in her belly, throbbed. No, she was not turned on by that incredibly inappropriate and extremely hot comment. And no, she absolutely did not want to take him up on the offer.
“Hi, Coach.”
She jumped at the high, squeaky voice, and twisted back around. He relaxed his grip on her waist but didn’t let go.
“Hey, Chelsea.” She waved at the little girl walking toward the door, dragging a large hockey bag behind her.
Chelsea’s mom, Shelly, who was walking behind her, hauling a baby carrier, smiled.
It was the kind of friendly-yet-judgey smile that said I’m trying to be polite, but I don’t agree with whatever it is you’re doing.
Her cheeks burned, heat crawling through her face and trickling down to her chest. She tightened her grip on her bag.
He made a noise in the back of his throat. It was a disgusted sort of noise, like he’d caught Shelly’s look and didn’t think too highly of it. “She’s just jealous because her husband probably hasn’t touched her since they conceived that baby.” His words were low enough so only she could hear them.
She rolled her lips in, barely holding back the laugh that bubbled up her throat. A squeaky, unladylike noise managed to escape. She faked a cough and cleared her throat, hoping Shelly bought the cover. Alex raised her hand and waved. Because the situation wasn’t awkward enough.
Shelly stared at them for a few more judgey moments and then hurried to catch up with her daughter.
Alex slid her hand along the arm he still had around her waist and squeezed his hand. “Come on. We don’t want to be late.” She interlaced their fingers.
He didn’t pull away, stayed right beside her as they made their way toward the door.
She’d never admit it out loud, but she liked the feel of him there.
It had been forever since she’d felt like she was able to lean on anyone.
In her experience, everyone always ended up letting you fall, so it was better to not let yourself lean in the first place.
Maybe with him, things would be different. They were both strong. Strong enough to hold the other person up if they needed to, while also keeping themselves safe and protected. It could work.
The fact she was even contemplating this stuff freaked her out so much, she refused to think about it anymore. No matter how much her heart ached at the idea of giving up so easily.
That was the problem with hope. It always let you down in the end.
Nick gave the laces on his skates a yank, tightening them to the point where it almost made his foot ache. The perfect amount.
His entire body felt light and anxious, his nerves and muscles jumping with excitement. The air was saturated with the smell of crisp, cold ice, which was hard to describe. But one thing was certain, it smelled like home.
When Alex had texted him, asking him if he had his skates with him—like he’d actually go anywhere without his skates—a little kernel of hope had taken root in his chest.
He’d been on skates since his surgery, but the workouts had been very light and non-contact, which meant no twisting, pivoting or crossovers.
Basically, it had been gliding laps around the rink.
Nothing exciting, but honestly, at the time, he’d just been glad to be able to skate at all.
For a while there, he’d been afraid he’d never get back on the ice again.
He pushed himself up to a standing position, the slight ache in his feet invigorating. Yeah, he was weird. But it was just so fucking amazing.
Alex, who was sitting next to him, finished tightening her laces and stood as well. He liked the fact she was so tall. It made kissing her that much easier. Which he was not thinking about right now, because that would lead to things that were highly embarrassing when out in public.
To distract himself, he wandered through the small lobby. The rink was on the small side, as well as the old side. It looked well-kept in some areas, but also a touch shabby in others.
He’d fallen instantly in love with it.
It reminded him of the rink in the small town he grew up in Nebraska, where he and Nate had learned to skate and he’d played minor hockey. Back when things were easy and fun.
He pushed open the swinging door that led to the ice. The crisp, cold air was sharp, stealing his breath.
Because that’s what happened. Somewhere along the way, it had stopped being fun. The thought made him stop short.
He stared at the ice, his heart pounding, but aching at the same time. The smooth surface shone under the overhead industrial lights. He closed his eyes and heard it call to him. Calling him home.
An ache grew in his throat, the back of his eyes burning.
“You okay?” She placed her hand on his arm.
He opened his eyes. She was staring up at him, a hint of concern in her eyes. Her gaze roamed over his face. Shit, were there tears in his eyes? He blinked hard a couple of times.
“Yeah, I’m good.” His voice was rough and scratchy. He cleared his throat and nodded. Because he actually was good. Better than he’d been in a long time. “Thank you.” He grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss on the back of her fingers.
Her breath hitched, the look in her eyes shifting from concern to something hotter. Something he couldn’t wait to explore. Later. Because now they had stuff to do.
She must have come to the same conclusion because she scrunched up her nose in the cutest expression. He wanted to kiss her so badly. She extracted her hand from his and grabbed the whistle hanging on a string around her neck. “Ready?”
A weird sort of giddiness welled up inside him. “I am,” he said, and felt his lips tilt up in a huge grin.
She smiled up at him, her eyes dancing. The joy in her gaze was like a dart right to his soul, but instead of poison, it was filled with hope. Hope he hadn’t felt in a long, long time. She tossed him a cheeky wink and pulled open the door that led to the ice. The white expanse lay before him.
For the first time in forever he felt something akin to wonder race through him.
She stepped onto the ice and glided forward. When she got a few feet out, she spun to look at him. “Are you coming?”
He nodded. The stupid grin on his face made his cheeks ache. He stepped up to the door. The smell of the ice hit him first. It was indescribable, but comforting. He stepped onto the surface and pushed off, gliding toward her.
The unbridled joy inside him was so overwhelming, he laughed. The sound echoed across the empty ice. He and Alex were alone, the team still in the dressing room getting ready. There were a few parents milling around in the stands, but he didn’t care.
She grinned at him, gliding backward, away from him. He pushed off, the muscles in his legs stretching as they readjusted to the familiar movement. It would probably take a while to get them back to working via muscle memory, but it was a challenge he’d most willingly take on.
She skated over to the player’s box. A young Asian woman, her black hair pulled into a long ponytail, had come from the direction of the dressing room, and was standing in the box. Alex stopped next to the boards and they fell into an easy discussion.
He turned and skated toward the end of the rink. The cold air brushed against his skin, raising goosebumps. The sensation was so familiar, so welcome, he could barely breathe. He pushed off with his right foot, letting himself glide for a moment, and then repeating with his left.
Faster and faster, the glide and then the push. The push and the glide. The sound of the sharp blade cutting into the ice. Over and over until he was flying around the rink. Although, it felt like floating, too. Flying, floating, whatever it was, it felt fantastic.
And then Alex was next to him, a grin on her face, happiness dancing in her grey gaze.
He slowed, decreasing the power behind each push.
She moved in front of him, spinning around so she faced him.
She wiggled her hips to keep her backward momentum.
He let his gaze trail the long, lean length of her.
Man, he wanted to eat her up.
He must have given himself away, because her eyes widened, and she wiggled again. He got the distinct impression she was trying to get away. Not happening.
Another deep push and she was within range. He grabbed her, wrapping her up in his arms. She gasped and then laughed, holding onto his upper arms to steady herself. “What are you doing?” Her voice was amused and breathless.
Overwhelmed, he pulled her close for a hug, lifting her off her feet. Buried his face against her neck. “Thank you.” The words came out cracked and rough.
She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight as they glided across the ice. “You’re welcome.” She rubbed her hand up and down his back. “But I didn’t do anything other than remind you of what was already there.”
He didn’t know what to do or say, so he just held on.
Alex blew her whistle, and the little girls on the ice all stuttered to a stop. Chelsea, the girl from the parking lot, slipped, falling on her butt. Nick swooped in, scooped her up and set her back on her feet.