Page 6 of Melting the Ice

“What? Is this some chivalrous thing? Nope. You need your bed so you can be well-rested and keep kicking hockey ass. It’s almost the end of the season.”

He quirked a brow. “You’ve been watching our team?”

“Well, duh. You know I love hockey, and the Stampede’s doing pretty good this season. So you have to stay in top form, and that requires you keeping your sleep routine.”

“I just feel bad putting you out on the couch.”

“I’m sure it’s the comfiest couch I’ve ever slept on. And I’ll crash in your bed when you’re at away games.”

And breathe in his scent on his sheets.

Damn. That sounded creepy as hell.

Chapter 2

MICAH

Her eyes were twinkling, and it set me on edge. Hell, this entire situation set me on edge. I would not think about her sleeping in my bed while I was away. Or how my pillow would end up smelling like her spicy-sweet scent.

Fuck.

“Can I store my clothes in the closet in your relaxation room?” she asked.

“Uh, it’s full of puzzles.”

Fuck. I sounded like a damn dork. She had me so out of sorts, between her comments about my room being a sex dungeon to her messing with my puzzle pieces just to fuck with me, that I was grasping to keep it together.

She giggled. “What?”

I raked my hand through my hair again. It was probably standing on end at this point.

“Uh, I haven’t made a run to the library in a while. I, um, buy them, and then after I’ve finished them, I put them back in the box and donate them to the library.” I wasn’t going to tell her that first, I took a picture of the completed puzzle and saved it to a folder on my phone. I was only five away from hitting six hundred completed puzzles over the last decade.

“That’s really nice of you to give back,” she said, humor lacing her tone.

“Yeah, I know. Total nerd.”

She stood in front of me and put her hand on my arm. My body stiffened. How had I forgotten how tactile she’d always been?

Right, because I’d actively—but hopefully, not obviously—avoided her over the last four years. At first, it’d been from guilt for kissing her within days after breaking up with Amaya, then that had morphed into guilt for kissing her because she was Ray’s little sister. I also hadn’t missed a glimmer of something like regret or sadness in her eyes when I’d ended the kiss and told her we should never do that again. Not my best moment on any front.

“You like what you like, and who cares if you’re a slight nerd. You’re just fun to tease, and I can’t help it. But really, thanks for letting me stay here.”

I shot her a smile. “It’s nothing. I think I have an extra pillow. Hold on, I’ll go grab it. Oh, and some blankets.” I needed to step away from her before I said or did anything stupid.

***

An hour later, I stared at the ceiling. She’d stopped moving around and making noises at least thirty minutes ago and was probably already asleep, but I was wide fucking awake.

As was my stupid cock.

I hadn’t gotten laid in at least three months, but that was not the reason it was standing at attention right now. The purple-haired hurricane and all her innocent touches and stunning hazel eyes, along with that smile that cut right through all common sense, had me hard as stone.

I was going to hell for this, but I shoved that thought aside as I pushed down my boxer briefs and gripped my dick, gritting my teeth to keep quiet as I moved my hand up and down my cock. It didn’t take long until I was spilling over my fist and sucking in a shuddering, silent breath. I glanced over at my nightstand.

Fuck. I was out of tissues to clean up, and the bathroom was across the hall. I pulled my boxer briefs back up over the sticky mess and tugged on a shirt before I quickly made my way into the bathroom.

And did I forget a new pair of boxers and have to wrap a towel around my waist, hoping she wasn’t walking down the hall as I darted back into my room?

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