Page 217 of Snap Shot

“You taste better, sweeter.”

“Hockey?” Her voice quiets, smaller than a whisper. “It's your passion.”

“Being with you feels better than winning.” My forehead bows to hers. Our noses touch, eyelashes fluttering. “I'm so in love with you.”

Indi blows out a controlled breath. “That doesn't change anything.”

“I've changed my mind.” I pull back, wanting her to see how much I want this. “Marriage may be a piece of paper to me, but it means something to you. And you meaneverythingto me.”

“I won't let you go through with something you don't believe in.”

My fingers find her chin, to tip it up. “I believe inyou. In us.” Her body relaxes when I lean in again. “You know why I stopped drawing when we got together? It's a nervous habit. An outlet to manage my anxiety. I focused on a faraway dream to keep calm. I've drawn the same image again and again for years.”

One hand brushes through the magnetic tension between our bodies and dives into my jacket's inner pocket. I retrieve a stack of sketches and reveal the top one. My favorite one. The one that looks most like her now.

Indi's eyes gloss over, swirling the brown hue like dark clay on a pottery wheel.

“It'syou. I didn't have to draw anymore because that dream isyou. I don't care how we do it. Marriage, big wedding, whatever you want. When I see my future, I don't see fast cars or Twinkies or winning the Stanley Cup. I seeyou.”

Long, lean arms break from their sides and climb quickly over my shoulders, locking around my neck as she stifles a sob in our hug. Heat spreads from my chest to the tip of my toes.

“How am I supposed to say anything after that?”

“I'll help.” I grip her tighter, nuzzling into her hair. “Say you still love me too.”

That gorgeous laugh under my ear makes my heart jump. “I still love you.”

“Say you still wanna be with me.”

“I couldn't accept being with anyone else. I still wanna be with you.” The backs of her fingers stroke my cheeks, trim nails scritching and scratching the unshaven stubble. “However you want. I don't wanna be without you either. Married or not.”

Restraint unravels as my fingers stretch the taut, tied-back hairs at the back of her head. “Remember how you said friends don't kiss?”

“Yeah?” The end of her nose slots against my cheek, lips parting, waiting for me.

“Don't be my friend, Indi.” An unintentional swipe of my tongue wets my bottom lip. “Kiss me and bring me back to life.”

Electricity crackles as the centimeter of space between us closes. Her warm mouth and soft, plush lips invite me to keep going and I slip inside to taste every corner. Saltwater taints the sweetness. I wipe the tears away.

“I'm happy,” she murmurs with a sniffle. “Don't stop.”

Another extended kiss steals both of our breaths. My forehead connects with hers. “Take me home, Indi.”

“How can I do that when I'm already there?”

“Youlivehere?”

“No, you dummy.” She slaps a hand on my chest. “You. You're home to me. Also, I can't physically do that. I live with my parents right now.”

“Are they home?”

Indi blinks for a second. “Actually, no.”

“Oh, man. I'm trying to get you to have your way with me and you keep saying things that make me wanna dodisgustingthings to you at your parents' house.”

“What are you waiting for?”

This woman will never cease to challenge me. I wouldn't have it any other way. Hands reaching to cup her ass, I lift her around me.

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