Page 124 of Icebound

“Yeah, fine.”

“You sound mad. Are you mad? Don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you, Nina.”

“But you sound really mad.”

“I’m not. Promise. Just thinking.”

What do I do? I didn’t think I’d realize I loved this girl while I was driving home. I can’t tell her tonight. Not when I still have my own shit to figure out with the League.

I’m still reeling when I park the car and walk into Nina’s apartment. Gwen’s pacing the living room, and her eyes pop when she spots us walking through the door.

“Nina?” She rushes over. “How’d the speech go?”

“It went amazing. I’m amazing.” Nina spins around the living room, almost knocking into a fern. I steady her and then the plant.

Gwen’s brows pinch. “What’s wrong with you?”

“The bartender gave me the wrong mojito, and I’m a wee bit tipsy. This is what I get for not drinking for over a year.” Nina spins around again, catching herself on the wall before I get to her. “But the good thing is I’m not mad at you for kissing Rhode anymore. No, I’m not.”

I tense, snapping my head to Gwen. “You told her?”

“I had to.”

Is this why she ended things? No. Nina might pull away sometimes, but she would’ve talked to me if it bothered her.

My breathing quickens, and I grip Nina’s hands, looking into her half-lidded eyes. “Nina, listen to me. You know that meant nothing, right? It was before I met you. Please tell me that’s not why you ended things.”

She gives me a sleepy smile, patting my cheek. “No, I’m not mad at you, well, I mean a teeny bit because I want you to kiss me, but I ended things because I didn’t want to be a WAG. No wagging for me. I’d tell you if I was mad. I’ll tell you lots of things. Like I want your dick in my mouth tonight.”

A laugh bursts out of me. My girl’s such a mess, but she’s mine. “Not tonight. We’re sleeping tonight.”

She taps my nose. “Yes, tonight.”

Gwen points over her shoulder. “Think I’ll go to bed. You got this?”

“Yeah, I’ll always take care of her.” I keep my eyes on Nina’s lopsided smile, tracing the corners of her lips with my thumb.

“Come on. Let’s go.” Nina leads me into her bedroom down the hall. The cross-stitch I made hangs on the wall, and pride flares in my chest. It’s right there in the center above her bed. She takes off her shoes, throws them across the room, and looks me dead in the eye.

“Okay, I lied. I might be a little mad about the kiss because Gwen always sparkles and gets everything. I want to sparkle, but no one sees me. I’m like… a glimmer. You have to look hard to find me.”

“I found you, and now, you’re the only thing I see.”

Her mouth falls open in shock, and a second later, my girl launches herself across her bedroom to attack my face. Her fingers tangle in my hair and her soft lips meet mine.

There’s nothing I want more than to coax her mouth open with my tongue, but I muster all my restraint and gently push her back. “Wait. Not like this, Nina.”

Her neck turns splotchy, but she lifts her chin, which I’ve learned is her signature move when she’s trying to challenge someone or hide her feelings. “Do you not want me anymore? Because if you don’t, just tell me. I can handle it.”

I scoff. Ridiculous question.

She’s getting a ridiculous answer for that one. “I want you on your knees, ass up, with your pussy gripping my cock as I take you from behind, and then, I want to wake up next to you every morning, but we don’t always get what we want, now, do we?”

Her chest heaves in short, shallow huffs as she seems to debate something. With a deep breath, and a devious look in her eyes, she strips her bra right off.

I go rigid. “What’re you doing?” I might be in love with her, but the only thing she’s getting is tucked into bed.