Page 40 of Pucks and Books

“Oh, totally,” I giggle, grinning back. “Don’t know if you realize, but we could be in the smuttiest romance novel.”

He chuckles at that. “Oh damn, you figured me out. I’m testing all my ideas out on you for my own novel.”

Our laughter is better than the music playing. “Oh, I love that! Can I be in your dedication?”

He brings my hand to his lips. “You are the dedication, love.”

My toes curl, my stomach tightens, and I’m not a fan of this no-car-sex rule he has made. “Are we still not doing it in the truck?”

Ciaran’s laughter hits me square in the gut, but then his brows furrow. I look out the windshield, seeing the rink he has parked in front of isn’t lit and it’s obviously closed. “Well, shit,” he says, his voice laced with disappointment. “I didn’t realize they would be closed.”

There is not a single soul out here. “That sucks.”

“We could go to the arena—” He holds out his phone and then shakes his head. “Nope, too late.” He looks over at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t plan this well.”

I wave him off. “It’s totally cool. We can plan this for another day.”

Ciaran’s eyes twinkle. “So, I get to see you another day?”

“I thought you said daily, hourly?” I tease, and he brings my hand up to his lips again.

He presses his lips to my knuckles. “I did. I wasn’t sure you’d still want that.”

“I do,” I confess, locked in his gaze. “There is no one out here if you want to ignore that no-sex-in-the-truck rule.”

He chuckles, but there is no humor to it. His eyes look sad. “I’m not a fan of hooking up in the car.”

“No? Need more room?”

He nods. “That, and it’s the only place Mikayla and I could do anything. She kind of ruined it for me.”

My stomach sinks, and I hate that for him. I slowly nod, my thumb moving along his. “Okay.”

“So—”

“Don’t you apologize,” I warn, holding his gaze. “But know that when you’re ready, I will eagerly make new memories with you in a car.”

CHAPTER 25

Ciaran

I’m in so much trouble.

Her words ignite every desire in my body, and soon, I lean toward her, meeting her lips to mine. I’m not ready, not even close, the story of Mikayla still heavy on my mind, but I can’t deny the need to do exactly what Lou is suggesting. To take her right here, accept the mind-blowing pleasure she’s offering me until I can’t remember the name of the girl who broke me so long ago, but I won’t. When I take Louisa in a car, it’ll be because I want to make new memories with her, not because I want to forget the bad ones. I owe her more than that. To use her to forget. I won’t do that. I care for her.

I quickly realize that thought is truer than I could have imagined.

Louisa… She… Well, she is the sun.

I know that sounds beyond corny, and I cringe even thinking it, but it’s true. She’s hilarious, and I love her laugh. It comes so easily, and the way her face lights up has me tight everywhere. She listens so intently, never interrupts, and makes me feel like every word I speak is important. Mikayla never cared to listen to me talk about hockey, but Lou has hung on every word I’ve spoken. She makes me feel like I’ve known her my whole life. I know that only happens in books, but she is my reality.

And then how her eyes shone in the candlelight, fuck me, I wish we were in a time where electricity wasn’t used, because this girl belongs in the candlelight.

My lips move with hers in a dance I crave. She tastes like the wine she drank and feels like heaven. I cup her jaw, stroking it with my thumb as we part. I open my eyes to find hers still closed, her lashes kissing her cheeks. “You’re so intoxicating, Lou.”

Her eyes flutter open just as her lips form a small smile. I love the blush that comes over her cheeks when I compliment her. It’s as if she is taken aback by my words, as if she’s never heard them before. Which I can’t fathom. I’m sure she’s had a long list of guys chasing her. I have to know, and I know that’s dumb because I’ll more than likely get jealous, but I ask, “Have you been in love before?”

She’s visibly surprised by my question, but she recovers quickly. “I’ve never loved a real man, but I can give you a list of fictional men I’m in love with.”

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