Page 129 of Power Play

“I expected transferable athleticism.”

Ryan looked genuinely offended. “My sport happens on ice.”

“Your arms still work on land.”

“That remains under investigation.”

He moved behind me and handed me the next ring. The amusement disappeared from my head the second his chest touched my back.

Ryan leaned close enough that his mouth brushed the shell of my ear when he spoke. “Show me how it’s done.”

My fingers tightened around the plastic ring. “That feels like sabotage.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re touching me.”

His quiet laugh warmed my neck. One hand settled lightly at my waist while the other reached around to guide my wrist.

“That distracting?”

“You know you are.”

“Good.”

I turned my head, and Ryan kissed me.

He kissed me in the middle of everything, surrounded by people moving around us, children screaming on rides, and music blasting from somewhere beyond the food trailers. Public space changed nothing about what he wanted.

His hand moved from my wrist to the side of my face while mine caught the front of his shirt. The kiss stayed brief enough to remain decent, although the slow pass of his thumb over my cheek afterward felt considerably less innocent.

A whistle came from somewhere behind us.

I stiffened automatically.

Ryan didn’t even look toward it. His eyes stayed on mine, but his expression sharpened when he felt my body change beneath his hand.

“You were throwing something,” he reminded me.

I blinked. “What?”

He lifted the ring still trapped between my fingers.

“Oh.”

His smile returned, though something more watchful remained in his eyes. “Distracted?”

“Shut up.”

I threw the ring, and it dropped cleanly over the neck of a bottle.

Ryan stared at the ring while I stared at him.

The booth operator laughed. “You’ve got one.”

I turned toward Ryan with both hands lifting in victory. “Professional athlete.”

He caught me around the waist before I got any farther and kissed me again.