Skating Into Forever – By Caitlin Loggins #2
“What can I say? Your love of these might be rubbing off on me,” he said before quickly changing the subject.
“But anyway, enough about the book, although I am intrigued to continue reading it,” he said as his eyes met Sophie's and he shifted his attention fully to her.
“So, how has your day been?” he asked, leaning down and softly kissing her forehead.
“I know before I got here, you had your nose stuck in that book, but anything else exciting happen?”
Sophie thought for a moment before responding.
“Well, I did a little work this morning, wrote a couple of book reviews, had lunch, and then I came out here to read my book before somebody decided to show up and interrupt me,” she said jokingly.
“How about you? What did you guys do at practice today?”
“Practice was pretty intense and I'm definitely starting to feel it,” he said, stretching his arms behind his head before wrapping one back around her.
“We did some power play work and the usual stuff, but there was also a lot, and I mean a lot , of conditioning drills.
There's also one drill that Coach added not too long ago that I'm still trying to get the hang of, but I'm pretty confident that I'll nail it soon.”
Sophie nodded, her focus hanging on every word as she listened to him talk. “I know that you'll nail it, you always do. It sounds like you pushed yourself pretty hard today. How are you feeling? Is there anything that I can do for you to help?”
“Honestly? I'm sore all over, my arms, my legs, my back - everything hurts,” he said, letting out a slow breath as he rubbed his neck, wincing slightly.
Sophie studied him for a moment, watching his movements as he shifted in the swing, trying to find a more comfortable position. “Come here, turn around with your back facing me, and off with the hoodie and shirt.”
Liam raised an eyebrow, seeming surprised by her request. After a brief pause, he grinned. “You're not afraid to ask for what you want, are you?” he teased as he slowly pulled the hoodie and white t-shirt over his head and draped them over the arm of the swing.
SOPHIE
Sophie smiled as she watched him remove his T-shirt, trying to hide the brief flash of heat in her cheeks, but she quickly turned her focus back to the task at hand. “Alright, now lean forward just a bit,” she said, placing her hands on his shoulders, gently guiding him into position.
Liam did as she instructed, rolling his shoulders before dropping his head forward slightly as Sophie placed her hands on his upper back.
His bare skin was soft and warm under her fingertips.
The moment her fingers pressed into his sore muscles, Liam sucked in a sharp breath.
His body tensed under her touch. Sophie immediately paused, her hands stilling against his back.
“Hey,” she whispered, her voice laced with concern at his reaction. “You're in control here, okay? If something hurts or it's too much, just tell me and I'll go easier.”
Liam exhaled slowly, his breathing slightly uneven as if he forced himself to relax and let her help him. “No, you're fine. I just didn't realize how bad it was until now.”
Sophie frowned, smoothing her hands lightly over his shoulders before applying pressure again, letting him adjust.
“Jeez, Liam,” she murmured, pressing a little deeper. “You're wound up like a coil, what did they do to you at practice? Throw you into a brick wall or something?”
“Basically,” Liam muttered. “Coach ran us through back-to-back forechecking and puck battle drills. Then we had a full-contact scrimmage on top of the stuff I told you about earlier.”
“Sounds like torture,” Sophie said softly as she moved her hands lower on his back. “I don't know how you guys do it almost every day.”
“You have no idea,” he murmured, almost a whisper as he closed his eyes. His body finally began to relax under her touch. “This might be the best part of my day so far.”
Sophie smiled softly at his words as she kept working on his lower back. She loved how he allowed himself to let go of everything else and just relax when he was with her. “I'm glad I can help,” she whispered back.
“I'm seriously gonna fall asleep out here if you keep going like this, although it wouldn’t be the worst way to pass out," he admitted.
“You sound like you're half asleep already," she teased as her fingers worked gently along his shoulders, working the last bits of tension out of his muscles. “Maybe I should just let you take a nap out here, you've definitely earned it, but you probably have to get going soon, huh?”
Liam glanced down at his smartwatch, the glow softly lighting up his face in the dimming late afternoon light as he checked the time. “As much as I don't want to, I should get heading home,” he said softly, a hint of reluctance in his voice. “It's getting late and we have morning skate tomorrow.”
Sophie tensed slightly at his words but didn't respond right away, hoping maybe if she ignored what he had said, he wouldn't go.
LIAM
Liam moved to stand, but she reached out, wrapping her fingers around his wrist, pulling him back down next to her. “Stay,” she said softly. “I know you need to go home but I don't want you to leave.”
Liam sighed, hesitating, knowing he didn't want to leave her either. He tried to stand again but she held on even tighter.
“You always have to leave too soon,” she said, swallowing hard, trying to ignore the lump forming in her throat.
Liam ran a hand through his hair. “It's not like I want to go. You know I'd stay here all night if I could,” he said, his voice filled with affection as he slowly ran his hands up and down her back.
“Then stay.”
Liam picked his T-shirt up off the arm of the swing and slowly slipped it back on as he thought about what she had just said.
He knew he should go; he knew he needed to get some sleep to be sharp for his team's morning skate, but Sophie was looking at him with those eyes, the kind that he just couldn't say no to.
“You don't need to rush off. Why don't you stay for dinner? I was planning on making homemade pizza and I could always use some extra help in the kitchen,” she said, a tempting smile playing on her lips. He knew she was trying her hardest to convince him to stay longer.
“Homemade pizza, huh? That's a tempting offer,” he said, raising an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. “And just exactly what kind of help are you looking for?”
“Well, you could knead the dough, help me chop toppings, or you could just look cute while I boss you around…”
“Well, when you put it that way, how could I say no?” he said with a chuckle, allowing her to take his hand and lead him inside to the kitchen.
She handed him an apron, and the two of them got to work.
“You're supposed to shape it into a circle, not whatever that is,” Sophie giggled as she watched him struggling to stretch the sticky dough into something that remotely resembled a pizza shape.
“I think I just invented a new shape,” Liam joked as he brushed a lock of hair off of his forehead with the back of his hand, leaving a streak of flour in its place.
“You definitely invented something," she teased as she moved behind him. “Here, let me show you.” Reaching around him to guide his hands, her body pressed against his.
Liam's breath hitched, his pulse kicking up a notch as he became acutely aware of the warmth of her body against his, the delicate scent of her perfume wrapping around him, and the way her fingers lingered over his for a moment longer than necessary.
He allowed the moment to hang between them before she finally stepped back, smirking.
“Now that that's finished, it's time for the sauce,” she said, setting the jar on the counter.
Liam let out a shaky exhale in an attempt to slow both his racing heart and mind and avoid showing how flustered he was. He picked up the jar of sauce and a spoon and poured some over his crust before passing the jar over to Sophie.
“You're really enjoying this, aren't you?” he teased as the two of them stood side by side at the counter assembling their pizzas.
Sophie shot him a glance. “I definitely am. But I don't hear you complaining either.”
Liam chuckled. “No complaints here,” he admitted, glancing over at her and lightly brushing his fingertips over her forearm.
SOPHIE
Her skin tingled at his touch and her pulse quickened, but Sophie refused to let him see how much that little touch affected her.
Instead, she met his gaze and leaned in ever so slightly.
“Careful, Liam,” she said, her voice soft but laced with challenge.
“Keep playing with fire and you just might get burned.”
Liam’s grin turned wicked as his fingers skimmed her arm again, this time a little higher, before he pulled away slowly.
“Funny, I was about to say the same thing to you.
But then again… you never seem to mind a little heat, especially in the kitchen.
I can't wait to get these pizzas in the oven so I can get you right where I want you,” he said, his tone husky and his blue eyes dark with desire.
Sophie swallowed hard, her breath hitching in her throat at the intensity in his voice. She wasn't sure if it was the preheating oven behind them or the way that Liam was looking at her, but suddenly, the kitchen felt much warmer.
“Right where you want me, huh?” she said, her voice soft but dripping with mischief. “And just where exactly is that, Liam?”
She waited, expecting him to elaborate. When he didn't, she crossed her arms over her chest, shifting her weight slightly, which caused the fabric of her shirt to tighten over her breasts.
Liam's gaze dipped, just for a second but she caught the way his eyes flickered to her chest before snapping back up to meet her gaze.
“You're staring,” she said coolly, a sly smile playing at the corners of her lips as she took a slow step towards him, keeping her gaze locked on him the entire time.