Page 23 of Offside Possession

“Pinky promise,” he rasped. I licked my lips before lifting our hands and kissed my thumb, and without taking his dark brown gaze off mine, he kissed his. Warmth rushed through me and my nipples puckered up tightly. And it had nothing to do with the icy chill in the air.

“I remember that game clearly. It was when I decided I was done with hockey.”

“Done?” I repeated, trying to process what that could mean.

“I’m retiring, troublemaker. This is my last season.” It took me a moment to process what he was saying.

“You are?” My eyes widened, and he nodded.

Raising our hands, he pressed his lips to my knuckles, letting his lips linger for a moment. We’d done so much the last night, yet that kiss felt three times as erotic and intimate as any moment we had shared.

“You’re the first person I’ve told.”

“Me?”

“Yup.” His lips tipped upward. Before I could ask him anything else, he spoke again. “Skate with me?” I nodded.

Scott helped me lace up my skates before he did his own and led us onto the ice, where, almost like magic, the moment our skates touched the ice, slow music started to play. I giggled. Bruno Mars crooned on about risking it all, and I had to agree.

Scott just winked at me, taking my hand, and true enough, even though I hadn’t skated in years, it was like riding a bike. Muscle memory kicked in, and we started to skate side by side. I knew I was slower than he was. I mean, he was a professional hockey player after all, but Scott never made me feel like I was somehow slowing him down, not even a little bit. He skated with me like he had all the time in the world. Having had twin older sisters who’d loved old romcoms and made me watch The Cutting Edge one too many times, the whole night felt like a dream.

The best first date I’d ever had in my life, hands down.

And when he wrapped his arms around my waist, skating backwards as I stared up at his eyes as he led us around the rink, I knew if I hadn’t already decided to take a chance, to risk my heart, I would have done it right then and there. I handed my trust and affection as easily as he had.

I just hoped it didn’t blow up in my face.

CHAPTER 10

SCOTT

My phone kept buzzing.

I was late to practice and should have left to the arena ten minutes ago, but I couldn’t get myself to walk out of my bedroom. Not when I had the most beautiful woman, the most exquisite creature ever created sleeping peacefully in my bed. She shifted, reaching for me, and when she found that side of the bed empty, her eyes fluttered open.

Damn, those eyes. Those eyes were the prettiest fucking thing I’d ever seen. I didn’t want there to be a day that passed where I didn’t start looking at those sea-glass-green eyes.

“Morning,” I rasped. She turned. A genuine smile automatically painted her face.

“Morning,” she whispered, licking her lips. “You’re up.”

“I’m up.”

“And dressed,” she observed, lifting the sheet higher over her. I hated losing sight of her curves.

Last night had been hotter, more intimate than the first. Maybe it was because of the fact the rules were set by the wayside and I had talked her into really getting to know me. Into really giving me a chance.

“I gotta head out,” I shared, not masking my disappointment. If it were up to me, I would have spent the rest of the week in bed, only getting up for food and something to drink. Not even getting out on the ice would have been a priority.

“Oh.” That had her waking up a little more. “I can get out of your hair.”

“Stay.” I took her hand in mine. “Please?”

“I should really go back to my place. Finish unpacking and get ready for the week.” A week where I would be gone.

“The week?”

“I start work,” she reminded me, and I swallowed.