Page 54 of Something Like That

“You know my life revolved around hockey,” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I was never really allowed to do anything else. No after school activities, no parties, no girls.” The last one hadn’t been an official rule. Just an unspoken one. Girls were a distraction, and there was no room for distractions in the plan for his life. The plan he never got a say in.

She leaned down and brushed her lips against his in the barest hint of a kiss. Then kissed the tip of his nose. The small gesture, so sweet and pure, reawakened the strange ache deep inside him. No one had ever done something so sweetly innocent to him before.

“Well,” she said, pushing herself into a sitting position. We’d better get moving before the police show up. I don’t really want to have to call Janelle for bail money.”

Her straddling his waist gave him an unobstructed view of her once more. The urge to touch her was too great to ignore. He placed his hands on her waist, running his thumbs back and forth across her stomach in a slow, gentle arc.

She shivered, goosebumps breaking out along her silky, smooth skin. They’d managed to steam up the windows pretty good, so he was confident no one could see, even if they were watching. He slid his hands higher so he could cup her breasts. Her nipples were still tight little points. He gave them both a light pinch.

A small breathy gasp escaped her, the sound sliding straight to his cock. The little bugger actually gave a twitch, which was impressive.

She gave him what she probably thought was a stink-eyed look, but was actually incredibly adorable. He laughed.

Her eyes narrowed further, and she playfully batted his hands away.

Reluctantly, he let her go.

Leaning forward, she reached for their clothes in the backseat, putting her breast right in front of his face. Unable to resist, he swiped his tongue across her nipple. She tasted so sweet he was having a hard time convincing himself it was a bad idea.

She gasped and started, her body jerking against his.

He was about to suck the little morsel into his mouth when she pushed herself back into a sitting position. She continued to give him the stink eye as she pulled her shirt over her head, which made him laugh harder.

“We’ve got to get going.” She climbed back over the console and into the driver’s seat. “I told Em I wouldn’t be too late tonight.”

He nodded, did up his pants, and sat up, grabbing the lever to readjust the seat. The seat back came up fast, thudding him in the back. He oofed and jerked forward.

“Sorry about that.” Even though she cringed, there was a hint of laughter in her voice. “That seat’s a little temperamental.”

“You don’t say?” He kept his voice light, mostly because he liked teasing her. It was fun to see this playful, relaxed side of her. He grabbed his shirt from the backseat and yanked it over his head. His coat would have to wait until he got out. Besides, it was warm enough in the car that he didn’t need it. He buckled the seatbelt.

She turned the key. The engine roared to life, this time on the first try. She flicked on the fan for the defrosters. Yeah, they’d done an excellent job of steaming up the windows.

As the cooled engine heated back up, the fog on the windows disappeared. They were lucky someone hadn’t called the cops. That’s all he needed—an indecent exposure charge, or whatever the hell it was when you were caught with your pants down in public.

What the hell had he been thinking?

He glanced over at her. He’d been thinking he wanted to touch her, to taste her, to see her pleasure. Damn the consequences.

“You okay?” He swept his gaze down to her feet and then back up again.

She wiggled in the seat. “Yeah, my legs are a little stiff, but that’s nothing a few yoga stretches won’t cure.” She swept her gaze along the length of him, lingering on his cock for an extra second or two. The damn thing twitched, again. “How are you doing?” She swiped her tongue over her bottom lip. He bit back a groan.

“I’m fantastic.” His voice had a satisfied slur.

The grin that broke out on her face was luminous. The need to kiss her welled up in him, so fast and furious, he leaned over to capture his lips. The seatbelt got to the end of its give. He jerked to a stop with a grunt. So smooth.

She laughed, the sound bright and light in the confines of the car. Some of his embarrassment melted away. She leaned over and placed a quick kiss on his lips before strapping herself in. “I’ve got to get home and check on Em.” She popped the car into reverse and backed out of the spot. “I’ll drop you off at the hotel?”

Disappointment sloshed through him, all icy and cold. Which was stupid. So, she didn’t want him to come over to her house. It wasn’t that big of a deal. And her reasons were just. They most certainly had nothing to do with him being a fuck up. She didn’t see him as a disappointment.

At least that’s what she’d said. But maybe she’d just been placating him. Saying all the right things to get what she wanted. She wouldn’t be the first person in his life who used him. Probably not the last, either.

But for some reason, the idea of it hurt in a way that was unexpected.

“Sure.” He tried to keep his tone even. He knew he was being dumb, but the hurt and disappointment inside him wouldn’t melt away.

What the fuck was wrong with him? Where had his focus gone? He wasn’t supposed to be worrying about any of this shit. The goal was to get back on the ice for the playoffs, not bed his trainer.