Page 106 of Cold Carnage

This kiss had changed everything and nothing all at once.

“I love you,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them. They hung in the air, fragile and terrifying. “I want you.”

Paige swallowed hard, her eyes searching mine for a moment that felt like an eternity. Then, she smiled, a soft curve of her lips that made my heart ache. “I love you too,” she breathed out, her voice barely more than a whisper.

The world seemed to tilt on its axis, everything narrowing down to this singular moment. I captured her lips again, unable to hold back any longer. My hands roamed her body, feeling the curves and warmth through the fabric of her clothes. Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, deeper into the kiss.

Every touch was electric, every caress sending jolts of desire through me. The rink's cold air was forgotten, replaced by the heat between us. Paige's breath hitched as my hands explored, memorizing the feel of her. She pressed closer, as if trying to fuse our bodies together.

I pulled back just enough to look at her. Her eyes were half-closed, pupils dilated with want. Her lips were swollen from ourkisses, and it took all my self-control not to claim them again immediately.

“Paige,” I murmured, my voice rough with emotion.

“Ryker,” she replied, her voice shaky but sure.

I kissed her again, more slowly this time. My hands continued their journey over her body, learning every inch of her through touch alone. Her fingers traced patterns on my back, each movement sending shivers down my spine.

Her breath came in soft gasps as I trailed kisses down her neck, savoring the way she arched against me.

She tugged me back up for another kiss, our lips meeting in a dance that felt both familiar and brand new. The ice seemed to shimmer with an ethereal glow, reflecting the intensity of what we shared.

Nothing else mattered in that moment but Paige and the overwhelming feeling that this—she—was what I had been searching for all along.

When we finally broke apart, our breaths mingled in the cold air. Paige’s eyes searched mine, a question unspoken but understood.

"I’m taking you back to my place," I said, my voice firm. "And keeping you there."

A slow smile spread across her face. "We’ll have to tell HR in the morning."

I frowned, confused for a moment. "You aren’t fired?"

She shook her head; her smile widening. "I signed Crowder. And Gideon saw your press conference. He knew you would rather have cut your left nut off—his words, not mine—than to willingly call a press conference yourself. But knowing you did that for the team meant a lot to him. I get to stay."

I smirked, a sense of relief washing over me. "Crowder, huh? That’ll be… something."

Paige shrugged lightly. "I don’t know. I think he’ll be good. I think this year will be the Serpents' year."

I said nothing, letting her words sink in. In truth, it didn’t matter whether Crowder turned out to be a game-changer or just another player on the roster. What mattered was that Paige was here, with me, and she wasn’t going anywhere.

Without another word, I pulled her close and kissed her again. This time it was softer, more tender, but no less passionate. Her lips were warm and inviting, grounding me in a way nothing else ever had.

As we pulled back once more, I rested my forehead against hers, my breath mingling with hers in the cold air of the rink.

"Let’s get out of here," I whispered.

She nodded, and together we made our way off the ice. Hand in hand, we walked toward whatever came next, ready to face it together.

For the first time in a long while, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I could let someone else in without everything falling apart.

And even if it did fall apart, at least I'd still have her.

Epilogue

The Snake Pit loomed in front of me, a stone fortress that mirrored the cold, relentless nature of its occupants. The rink's steel girders crisscrossed like a skeletal cage, and the fluorescent lights above cast a sterile glow that bounced off the ice, making it shimmer like a frozen lake under moonlight. The walls bore scars from countless clashes, and the air held a faint metallic tang mixed with sweat and ambition.

I wasn’t sure if coming here was the right decision. Hell, nothing about this felt right. But something had to change; staying stagnant would be worse. I clenched my teeth at the thought ofher.

No.

---