ak

li

system. But three hours later, as I sat in the locker room staring at my skates while

uldn't get the feel of

ee the way her hazel eyes had widened, the soft, breathless gasp that had escaped her lips when I touched her.

! Earth t

breaking my trance. I blinked, looking up to see

nd unlacing his skates. "Coach noticed it during drills. You missed two easy

ng forward to grab my water bo

I'd pay to see some poor kid try to survive living with you. You're like a drill sergeant when you're in

ly, taking a long dr

er that afternoon, my carefully construc

nstead, the loft was filled with the warm, rich sound of indie-pop music drifting from a small

ere sh

g room rug, surrounded by a chaotic sea of sketchbooks,

one of her delicate shoulders, exposing a devastating expanse of smooth, golden skin and the sha

hing on the paper in front of her. She was humming along to the music, totally unaware of how the afternoon sunl

en, my hockey bag suddenl

asculine world of hockey. My dad's house was a shrine to trophies and

h. This was pure, unadulterated temptati

if she finally sensed my presence. Her eyes met mine, a

than it had been this morning, lacking the sha

ed out, my throat sudden

ck to the bare skin of her shoulder, to the messy strands of hair framin

r and hide in my room like I promised. But as I passed her, my curios

e. A flower. Some abs

my hear

ice, his jersey flowing, his posture aggressive and powerful, frozen mid-shot. And stitche

been dra

crambled forward, desperately trying to flip the sketchbook closed, but her foot caught on the edge of th

ed before my brain c

re she hit the wood. The force of my movement pulled her flush against my ches

eart against my ribs. Her hands were pressed against my chest, her fingers curling into my shirt, while

y. And she fit p

essed right against the rough fabric of my jeans. Up close, she smelled intoxicating,

dilated, and dark with a mixture of shock and s

ot and shallow against my neck. Every time her chest rose, it brushed ri

o deep it was practically a purr. My chest rose and fell heavi

er throat. Her gaze dropped to my mouth, lingering there for a long, ago

t looking down at her, seeing her cheeks flushed, feeling the heat of her body radiat

had just brok

f an inch higher against my body, letting her feel the heavy,

nted to see exactly how