Page 10 of Ice Cold Hearts
I grab my bag from the office cabinet and sling it over my shoulder.
“That’s where I usually park. I only wanted the spot in front because I didn’t want to be later than I already was. You don’t have to,” I counter.
“It’s dark by now. I can’t imagine it’s very well lit. I’d be happy to escort you.”
“I’m fine, really. Besides, the garage has plenty of lights. There’s even a few security stations,” I assert.
Why is he so insistent on this? I can’t imagine he wants to risk being spotted by anyone.
Maybe Alexei’s actually interested in me. He was flirting quite a lot.
Doubt creeps in again.
He was probably just being nice. Or maybe he wanted to get on my good side after I screamed at him in the parking lot. I certainly wouldn’t want someone who was angry at me touching my body. I head toward the door.
Alexei steps in front of me, blocking my path.
“What if I said I wanted to walk you to your car because I wanted some time with you in a non-professional context? Would you say yes then?” His tone is level, but his eyes are soft.
My heart lodges in my throat, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe.
Getting involved with another athlete, especially another hockey player, is a terrible idea. I should say no. I should shut things down in the way I should have when he first started flirting with me. Even if it goes no further than a walk to my car, it has bad idea written all over it.
Except when I try to make myself say no, I can't do it. The way he looks at me makes me feel beautiful, desirable even, and that's something I haven't felt in a long time.
I've been quiet too long. Alexei steps out of my way.
“I apologize,” he says curtly. “I shouldn't have put you in this position. I'd thought you were interested in the same way, but I realize I read the situation wrong. Since you've already shut your computer down, I'll call tomorrow and get myself rescheduled to Jenna for my next appointment. I've bothered you enough today.”
“No!” I blurt out.
He stops in the doorway of my office and fixes his dark eyes on mine.
“What I meant to say was, I'd like that.” I shrug sheepishly. “I was surprised. It's been a while since I've done this sort of thing, and I thought you were just flirting to be nice. I wasn't sure you meant it.”
Alexei runs his fingers through his hair and lets out an exasperated huff.
“I don't flirt to be nice. I don't like wasting my time.” He offers me his arm. “Shall we?”
I didn't think men did that anymore.
Just the feeling of my arm in his sends little sparks of electricity all through my body.
Damn, I really am touch starved.
By the time we get to my car, he’s pulled me as close to him as is physically possible. I'm pressed flush against his side, his arm draped low across my back with his hand gripping my hip. I don't want him to let go, but I make myself pull away.
“This is definitely a better end to my day than I thought it would be,” I tell him.
“I think we can still improve it,” he says, grabbing my waist and pulling me to him.
He leans in slowly, giving me time to pull away or say no, and kisses me. It's gentle at first, but even that soft touch sends a wave of heat to my core. I wrap my arms around his neck, tugging him closer, begging for more. I feel more than hear his low moan as he kisses me harder. His hands drop to my ass. Alexei jerks me closer, and I gasp.
I whisper his name as he plants open-mouthed kisses down the side of my neck. My leg wraps around his hip, and I press even closer, desperate for any kind of relief from the ache in my center.
I let out a small yelp of surprise when I'm completely lifted off the ground by Alexei’s strong arms. My legs lock tightly around his hips.
“Don't worry, Kitten, I won’t let you fall,” he murmurs in my ear.