Page 67 of The Player's Club
“That’s what I thought.” She sighed.
“When some strange guy answered your door after you’d ignored my calls and texts? Yeah, I was pissed.” I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her close. “You’re mine. Even if it’s just temporary.”
Her lower lip started trembling. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that you don’t get to see other men if you’re seeing me.”
She jutted her chin out. “And what about you? What about other women?”
“I’m not interested in any woman but you.”
She inhaled sharply. I could see her breathing quicken, a flush crawling up her cheeks. In a moment, her nipples would harden like they always did. When I saw them peak and press against the thin fabric of her shirt, I smiled in triumph.
“What happens from here?” Elodie whispered.
I bent, my mouth a hairsbreadth from hers. “Fuck if I know,” I said before I kissed her hard.
ELODIE
“You did say you’ve been skating before, right?” Mac grinned down at me.
I scowled. “Yeah, once. On a field trip in the fifth grade. So it’s been a second.” I finished tying the laces on my figure skates and almost fell on my face when I tried to stand.
“Whoa there.” Mac caught me in his arms, and I could tell he was trying not to laugh. “You good?”
I stuck my tongue out at him. “I’m good. I’m fine. This is fine.”
Mac wasn’t convinced, and honestly, neither was I. But I wasn’t going to admit that the thought of learning to skate alongside one of the best hockey players in the NHL was intimidating as hell.
Mac had suggested we go on more real dates, take each other to some of our favorite spots and restaurants. This round was Mac’s turn. When he’d suggested going ice-skating, I’d almost wanted to say no. But tonight, we were at a local ice-skating rink. Luckily, there weren’t many people for me to injure.
I wasn’t afraid of the ice. No, I was afraid of looking like an idiot in front of Mac. I said a silent prayer that I wouldn’t break any bones out there. That would put me out of commission to do the far more important things he and I had planned.
I tentatively stepped onto the ice, very slowly gliding across its surface.I probably couldn’t have been going any slower.
“It’s not lava, baby,” said Mac. “It’s not going to hurt you.”
As he said those words, he skated around me, smirking. I wanted to kick him in the shin. But there would be no kicking anything. Lifting my leg would surely mean falling flat on my ass.
Mac could sense my unease. He took my arm and gently started guiding me. As nervous as I was, I certainly didn’t mind his touch.
“Don’t stare at the ground. Dig the front of your skate into the ice to slow down and stop. Glide into it. There you go. You’re a natural.”
I laughed. “You’re such a liar.” I flailed a bit, but Mac caught me.
“Hey, I made you laugh.” He grinned. “I’ll take that as a win.”
“You can’t make me laugh. I’ll fall.”
“Pretty sure you have a high chance of falling without my sense of humor interfering.”
We slowly skated a circle around the rink. Mac eventually let me skate on my own, but I had to grab the sides of the rink multiple times.I was worse than the little kids.
Had I been this awkward when I’d done this as a kid? All I could remember was falling on my ass a few times but getting right back up. I also remembered one of the girls had taken figure skating lessons. She’d spent most of the trip showing off. Considering she’d also loved to bully other students, including me, I’d been euphoric when she’d taken a tumble.
But I wasn’t ten years old anymore. I had farther to fall. I wasn’t going to give up, though. I gritted my teeth and kept moving forward, doing my best not to stare at my feet.
“Are you Cole Mackenzie?” A young girl and boy skated up to Mac, their faces alight with excitement.