Page 113 of Icy Pucking Play

"TMI!" Mike groans. "Some of us are trying to play actual golf here!"

"Whatever!" She turns back to me. "Now, where were we?"

"You were about to explain why my saves improve when I'm happy."

"Oh, that's easy." She wraps her arms around my neck. "Because when you're happy, you're not overthinking. Not trying to protect yourself. Not…"

"Being the Ice Man?"

"Being afraid." She meets my eyes. "You're just...you.”

"Sophie..."

"The guy I fell in love with." She smiles softly. "The guy who finally let himself be happy."

And maybe that's the real victory here.

Not her improved golf game (which remains horrific).

Not my improved mood (which everyone comments on).

Not even the success of her article (though that helps).

But this. Us.

The way she saw past my ice to find my warmth. The way she makes me brave enough to be happy.

"I love you," I say because I can now. Because she made me brave enough for that too.

"I know." She grins. "The data supports it."

"The data?"

"Mmhmm. Increased smile frequency. Improved save percentage. Dramatic decrease in grumpy grunts per practice."

"You're impossible."

"You like it."

"Yeah." I pull her closer. "I really do."

"So," she says against my lips, "about that golf cart..."

“Ha! You know we can’t do that in the golf cart. Not with all these prying eyes.”

She shakes her head, laughing. “I was just kidding.” She glances back toward the clubhouse. “Isn’t there a private changing room at the clubhouse?” She raises her eyebrows seductively.

I can already feel my cock stirring in my pants. I think back to the time I had to relieve myself in the men’s room at the clubhouse.

I grab her hand and quickly lead her to the golf cart. We jump in and take off like a shot, not even bothering to explain ourselves to Tom and Mike. They’ll know exactly what’s going on anyway.

After we’re in the changing room (thank God no one else was in there!) and I’ve locked the door behind us, I sit down on the bench and pull her onto my lap, so she's straddling me. The intimacy of the position sends a rush of heat through my body. Sophie's eyes meet mine, filled with desire and excitement.

"You sure about this?" I ask, my voice low and husky.

"More than sure," she whispers, her breath hot against my ear.

I capture her lips in a deep, passionate kiss, my hands roaming over her body. She responds eagerly, her fingers tangling in my hair as she presses closer to me. The feel of her against me, the taste of her mouth, drives me wild with need.

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