Page 99 of Ice Bet

My lip twitched.

I looked away as he hugged Riley. They had a quiet conversation, and I was sure he was probing her confession of skating again, so we gave them the privacy they deserved. When he left, after telling us to gear up for tomorrow’s practice, Riley blew out a breath so hard it moved her hair out of her face. She turned the stove off, and we all reached for a pancake, but she pulled the plate back.

“These are for me. Make your own!”

“What?!” Ford shouted. “I just saved your ass!”

“Technically, you saved Aasher’s ass. Maybe he’ll make you pancakes.” Her coy smile had me by the balls. I moved closer to her and slipped the spatula out of her hand.

“Nice save,” I whispered.

Then I got to work making pancakes.

* * *

“Do a triple.” I skated backward as I challenged Riley. Loose hair framed her face, and I forced myself to put space between us because I knew that the arena wasn’t officially empty yet. Not to mention, her dad knew that she’d been here daily after our practices. We had to be careful in case he came and watched from afar.

It didn’t matter, though. Not being allowed to touch her only ramped up my touches for later when she crept into my room. Every night since Friday, she was in my bed. Sometimes we watched Netflix, and other times, we studied. It always ended the same, though. Her on her back, and me unable to keep my hands to myself.

The obsession was growing unhealthier every day.

She was mine behind closed doors, but I wanted her to be mine all the time.

“Are you gonna catch me if I fall?” The graceful way she spun on the ice grabbed me by the throat. I followed every sway of her hips and longed to run my hands down the curves of her legs.

“You won’t fall.” I dropped my voice. “Remember who you’re skating for, baby. If you dig down deep, you’ll find that skill still nestled inside. You don’t need me or anyone else.”

I wanted her to need me.

But she didn’t.

Her soft breath hit me square in the face, and my nostrils flared. She knew the effect she had on me, and her knowing little smile was the last thing I saw before she backed up and shook out her hands.

I stayed put.

My skates itched to slide me forward, but I didn’t.

Riley was skilled beyond belief on the ice. She was better than me. More poised, more in control, and more at ease. The ice became compliant to her, not the other way around.

When I played hockey, it was loud and always a rush. For Riley, it was serene and calm. She was captivating. Her fluid movements sucked me in, and when her leg straightened out with a soft turn, I found my lips parting and my jaw slacking. She was right at home. I was pretty sure she forgot I was in the rink with her, but I could never forget where she was. My thoughts were wrapped around her like a blanket, and my future was looking a lot like pretty blue eyes in the morning instead of stark-white ice beneath my skates.

Riley skated backward, and her fluid movements became sharper. I straightened my back and prepared myself for the triple I knew she was trying to perfect. A breath was lodged in my throat, and I couldn’t help myself. I skated over to her mid-spin, and when she landed and leaned forward, I wrapped my hands around her lithe waist and hoisted her up to my chest.

“You’re leaning forward too far.”

The fast pace of her ribcage in my hands did nothing to distract me from glancing at her pouty mouth. “I am not.”

“You are. Do it again.” I wanted to kiss her so fucking badly. I peeked up in the stands and saw nothing but empty seats. Her shaky fingers gripped my biceps.

“Is there anyone behind me?” I asked against her ear. My stomach filled with loose knots that I was pretty sure were a direct cause of having her in my grip.

Instead of enjoying the last few games of the season before the cup games, I wanted to get through them so I could make her mine.

“No one is behind you.”

I cupped the side of her face, and I kissed her so deeply a strangled noise left her throat. A gasp floated out of her mouth when I let her lips go, and her eyes glossed over with need. “Do it again.”

I dropped my hands and skated away. Her arms fell beside her thighs, and she moved her neck to the left and then to the right before evening her breathing and doing it again.

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