Page 118 of Released from the Sin Bin

“How did you get that scar?”

He smiles and tightens his lips to stop from laughing before answering me. “A stick to the face during a game my freshman year.”

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.” His hair flaps over his forehead, and his grip on my hands loosens.

“Do you get your eyebrows waxed?” There’s no doubt he goes to the barber regularly. Do they also take care of his eyebrows? “They’re always nicely shaped.”

My eyebrows are never perfect. One is always thinner than the other.

“Threaded.” He laughs again.

Another hair falls in my face and I let go of him to brush it away. I don’t remember the last time I got my eyebrows done. They were always thin and light. I never give them much thought, but have gone for special occasions.

“Should we go another turn around?” Carter asks, and it settles in.

We’re moving. We’re not going fast, but Carter is skating backwards as I follow. He’s not dragging me. My feet are moving, one by one, right, left, right.

My mouth drops open as I look back up at his wide grin. He lets go of my other hand and I skate on my own.

“I’m doing it,” I shout, and pick up speed.

“Don’t go too fast,” he shouts back at me.

I try to stop and spin with wobbling ankles.

“Whoa, I’m not ready for that.” I laugh at myself, holding my hands out to steady my balance.

It’s going to be ok. I haven’t skated in months and with some practice and strengthening exercises, I can get back to it. This is step one.

“Are you ok?” Carter comes gliding up to me.

“I did it. I can skate!” Pressing my hands on his shoulders, I jump on him and wrap my legs around his waist. Forcing him back from my spring up onto him, we glide on the ice until his shoulders hit the glass.

“I did it,” I say breathlessly.

“I knew you could.” His hands run over my hips and up my sides.

Just go for it.

No more thinking. My plan was to talk to him after we gave this a try, but I’m done overthinking everything. And I want to celebrate.

Closing my eyes, I plunge in, pressing my lips against his. He melts into me with a groan, molding our lips together as I suck them in.

His hands run over my ass and up my back.

I need him.

I want him now.

I’m desperate to touch him, tugging at his fleece jacket to open and reveal any bit of skin I can get to.

“Willa,” Carter moans when my mouth latches onto his neck, sucking and licking at his prickly skin.

“I want you,” I moan and thrust, rubbing against him.

Shifting us over, he pushes the door to the penalty box open, stumbling backwards into the short bench.

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