Page 105 of Cold Carnage

The silence between us stretched on, heavy and charged. My pulse quickened as I wondered what she was thinking, why she was here.

And then she took a step closer, breaking our shared stillness.

“You're here.” Her voice cut through the cold air like a blade.

"I needed to clear my head," I replied, straightening up and meeting her gaze fully for what felt like the first time. I skated over to her before I realized what I was doing.

"I saw your press conference," she said, her voice cutting through the chilled air.

"That bad?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I skated closer.

"I have notes," she replied with a small smile. "I do have a question."

I cocked my head, curious and wary at the same time. "Go on."

"Define special," she said, her eyes boring into mine.

The word hung between us like a fragile piece of glass, ready to shatter. For a moment, I didn't know how to respond. But her gaze demanded honesty, something raw and real.

"For the longest time, I thought you didn't even remember who I was," she continued, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "And when I got here, you hated me because you thought I left your brother at the altar. And now… Now I don't know what special means. And I need you to explain it to me."

I stared at her, the weight of her words settling over me like a heavy blanket. Memories of that night, years ago, flooded back. The night everything changed.

"It means I never forgot that night," I said, my voice rougher than I intended. "It means when I found out you were with Brendan, I wanted to rip him apart limb from limb, but I couldn't because that was my brother."

She sucked in a breath, but didn't interrupt.

"It means I hated you for making me feel all of these things I never wanted to feel in the first place," I continued, each word dredging up emotions I'd buried deep. "And I wanted you to hurt the way I hurt knowing you were with him at all and I could never have you again because I was supposed to be loyal to my brother."

Her eyes widened, shimmering with unshed tears. "And now?" she asked softly.

"Now," I said, stepping closer until there was barely any space between us, "I would walk on glass just to catch even a glimmer of your attention."

Her mouth dropped open in shock.

"It's always been you," I murmured, my gaze locked on hers. "It was then, it is now. And it will always be you."

"Ryker," she breathed out, her voice a whisper that sent a shiver down my spine.

I couldn't look away from her lips, slightly parted and so inviting. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. The air between us felt charged, electric, as if the entire world had narrowed down to this single moment.

Without thinking, I closed the distance between us. My hands found her waist, pulling her against me. Her warmth seeped through our clothes, igniting a fire that burned hotter with each passing second. Her breath hitched, and I could feel the rapid rise and fall of her chest against mine.

I dipped my head and captured her lips with mine. The sensation was overwhelming—soft yet firm, tentative yet insistent. Her taste was a mix of mint and something uniquely Paige. She responded immediately, her hands tangling in my hair, pulling me closer as if she never wanted to let go.

Every nerve ending in my body came alive. Her fingers slid through my hair, sending tingles down my spine. The scent of her shampoo—the same one I used—filled my senses, intoxicating me further.

I deepened the kiss, and she met me with equal fervor. Our breaths mingled, creating a rhythm that was ours alone. I could feel the slight tremor in her body, the way she melted into me as if she had been waiting for this as long as I had.

Time seemed to stretch and contract all at once. Nothing else mattered but the feel of her lips on mine, the way she clung to me like I was her anchor in a stormy sea.

When we finally pulled back for air, our foreheads rested against each other. Her eyes were closed, her breath coming in soft pants that matched my own ragged breathing.

I opened my eyes to find hers staring back at me with a mix of wonder and something that mirrored what I felt inside.

"Paige," I whispered against her lips, barely able to form coherent thoughts through the haze of emotions swirling inside me.

She opened her eyes slowly, looking up at me with a vulnerability that made my chest tighten.

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